TigerDude

My school does light sparring after about 6 weeks. At 9th kyu & above it is once a week.

I don't know if it's normal or not, but progress takes time. The Law of the Harvest.

Welcome aboard!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate

That's a different way to win - busting the opponent's elbow with your head!

Different activities fatigue different people differently (that didn't quite sound right, but you get the idea). Running is an all-over activity that for some is quite easy, for others, it is quite hard. Yes, your running technique could be a factor. Over that past year, I have found that my stride has become more efficient. Keep your arms bent at the elbows & curve your fingers "as if you were holding a potato chip." Try to glide along. It's the up and down motion that takes up energy. Shorter strides are sometimes more efficient as well. I think that practice is the best method of improvement. Most people link their breathing to their strides. In 2 steps, out 2 steps, or 3 steps for 2 breaths. The harder you run, the more breaths you will need. It could also be that you just do not have a good pace. You may just need to run much slower than you want to. If your cardio is good (sounds like yours probably is) then there should be a pace at which you do not wear yourself out.

Not really. This is right in the range of a normal set. Gains after 2 sets drop off.

Take one, then the other. Most people seem to say that you need both to be well rounded, but you have time.

Watch some Muay Thai clips to see how they use their shoulders, arms, elbows, & legs to block. It's too hard for me to decribe in words. And if he's a counter-kicker, who says you still have to attack first? Wait him out.

Well, I don't see where you are located, but possibly you are in a country where you are not protected by the law? I think you should have the right to do as you wish, but without knowing your local istuation, it's hard to tell.

I've seen that guy before - students jumping through glass windows, hitting them with canes, etc. That looks more like training for masochists. Letting yourself get beaten by your instructor is not martial arts training, in my opinion.

See how long the battery lasts. Most people get a new iPod when the old one stops holding a charge. You can replace batteries easily enough yourself, but you shoudl cocnsider the cost. Also, a standard iPod will not take the same amount of jostling that a Nano does. Standards are hard-drive based, versus memory based for the Nanos.

I think loyalty is a two-way street. It is clearly wrong for an instructor to limit a student's learnings. I see the instructor as both a leader of the student and also as the provider of a service (which generally toady people pay for). My advice to you is that after 13 years, maybe it's time to move on.

Losing weight & buildign muscle are two things. Building muscle takes eating. Losing weight generally means not eating so much. The posts above describe how to lose & build, but I think you will have trouble doing both.

The crescent kick worked for Billy Jack!

One way to tell is how tall are your parents? A friend in high school was 5' 9" through high school & ended up about 6' 2" in college. I saw him after a year & was like, "Dude! Where'd that come from?" I can say that in high school he didn't quite look quite right, which was probably his body getting ready to sprout.

Seems like a great idea. Also legal to carry on an airplane. I've seen videos, but I'm leary of learning from the TV.

No websites I know of, but Saks Off Fifth, & Nieman Outlets can have good prices on designer clothing. I got a Zegna suit at a great price.

Seconded!

Well, I won't way that all Goju dojos are that hardcore, but a key concept is that you will be hit, so you need to be in shape so you can take it.

I think a side kick against an untrained opponent. Against a trained opponent, I would probably try for a round kick to the upper leg, using it as a stunner to set up a strong hand technique.

GET HIM OUT OF YOUR LIFE! Seriously, you are worth more than this, and shouldn't have to worry about such things. Don't let him in your home.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!