Sohan

You take a dance class and count your steps in Japanese. Every picture in your home is a kanji scroll. You have Jhoon Rhee's cell phone number on speed dial. You have more KF posts than Patrick. You wear your gi to work on casual day. You have been banned from Habitat for Humanity because you can't resist showing off your knife hand breaking skills on the 2 by 4s. Your friends comment on your cool ninja costume at the yearly Halloween party, and you reply, "What costume?" With respect, Sohan

The miracle of photography... With respect, Sohan

I love kicks, too. Most of the guys in my Shorin ryu/Shudokan dojo use their hands about 75-80% of the time. I mix it up with about 60% kicks, which throws many of them off. I just feel comfortable with my feet and have pretty good balance and agility, so it works for me. With respect, Sohan

No music during traditional MA training, but I like hard rock during boxing. With respect, Sohan

Here's a pretty good description: http://www.subfighter.com/article933 With respect, Sohan

The TKD enthusiasts I know would be insulted if someone referred to their art as "karate". Tang soo do and karate have many of the same origins, I seem to remember, so perhaps it is not as much of a slight there. Karate has become a generic term for many people in the US to represent any martial art that involves kicking, punching and blocking. I've even heard Muay Thai referred to as a "karate class" with a "sensei". I almost choked on my energy bar when I heard that.... With respect, Sohan

Wow. Had no idea so many schools charged to test. We have no belt fees, no testing fees. Our monthly rate is a mere $30. We have trained for 19 years at the local community center, so our needs our few. My karate training has been the best bargain I have ever received. With respect, Sohan

Not from my sensei, but one of other instructors: "Pain is your friend" and "Can I borrow you for a moment?" Not a couple of phrases you want coming from the same guy. With respect, Sohan

Absolutely. Kind of like buying a car. You won't know how it really operates until you peek under the hood and take it for a test drive. With respect, Sohan

Though there are many different kicks and variations of kicks, I'm going to stick to some basics for a poll. Feel free to add a post with your favorite if it's not listed. We all have a technique that we perform better than others. I love the Thai roundhouse but I also have a sneaky sidekick. So what's your favorite kick to use? With respect, Sohan

We always use a straight back leg in a front bo stance because we are more grounded and can generate more power from the floor. I think the biggest fault I see, though, is not maintaining the knee over the toe during the stance. But, as Holland said, different grips/stances, for different systems and katas. With respect, Sohan

Ouch, that's reaaallly cold, KK. You forgot one more: The one where the woman dials the fire department to handle the blaze the man has set trying to light the grill... With respect, Sohan

That's funny! With respect, Sohan

I really like the way you express your thoughts, patusai. With respect, Sohan

He certainly isn't 40 with that song list he listens to. With respect, Sohan

Everywhere? I found these in 30 seconds on Google. http://www.dentokanhombu.com/kata.htm http://www.karatevid.com/clips.htm With respect, Sohan

Sounds like a muscle pull, probably an oblique muscle. It should heal quickly if you let it, but the problem is it's part of your core which you use for everything. Don't do anything that causes pain of discomfort, because that means you're reinjuring it again. With respect, Sohan

I like Juka, myself. They will ship to Greece. http://www.juka.com/ With respect, Sohan

I don't care for labels. A martial art is what it is. You either find it useful for your goals, or you choose another art. Choose an MA, work as hard as you can for a few years to gain proficiency, and then step back and analyze MA as a whole. You don't yet really have that perspective to applying meaning to these labels you're using. With respect, Sohan

Try different arts to gain new skills and perspective, but keep at least one MA as your home base. You'll be glad you did as you get older. With respect, Sohan

DCMS, would it be out of line to ask how old you are? I am 39 (about to be 40) and am starting to experience some arthritis in my hands as well. I think it is from boxing and TKD as a youngster since we don't do breaking in Shorin-ryu. With respect, Sohan

You sound like a very mature young woman. We need more like you in MA. Respectfully, Sohan

Isn't that the truth. People on very low fat or fat-free diets are ALWAYS hungry, and they end up eating more calories anyway. With respect, Sohan

Here's a great site for keeping track of your caloric consumption, and it's FREE: http://www.fitday.com/ With respect, Sohan

Heh. Sohan does it for a living, I'm just a talented amateur. :D Aodhan With an emphasis on talented. I told Aodhan that he missed his calling. With respect, Sohan