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"Since our school doesn't actually teach any weapons, the insurance we have doesn't cover accidents arising from misuse of weapons. " If your school doesn't teach weapons, there's no reason for him or anyone else to bring them into the dojo. I can't imagine your sensei allowing such a situation to go on. It's a disastor in the making. My sensei would have a cow if someone did that.

We did have an interlocking pad but it didn't work out. Sometimes you would plant your foot really hard and the floor would come loose (very dangerous). Sensei finally got fed up with it and we ripped the thing up. Now we're training on a bare concrete floor. We have a foldout mat for ground fighting. Sensei plans to have carpet installed but I'm wondering how that's going to work. Seems like you would get carpet burns on the bottom of your feet. The concrete was really tough at firts but I've gotten used to it now.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe your Sensei omits certain things on the test because he knows your capabilities. If he's seen you execute a particular technique time and time again in class and is confident of your proficiency, does he really need to see you do it on the test? I realize I may be reaching a little. Most senseis (mine included) require you to execute everything on the curriculum in testing. Your situation does sound a little unusual in that regard. However, you've already stated that your Sensei is an excellent instructor. If you're confident you know the material and your Sensei is confident of that as well, is the testing issue really important enough to risk damaging your relationship? Not offering an opinion, just curious.

Wouldn't your Sensei notice if you showed up for class with a different colored belt? Don't know about your Sensei but mine would be deeply hurt if I tried something like that. I wouldn't do him that way for anything.

Ohtsuka Sensei already accomplished this task. Just kidding.

I guess I'm lucky. Our adult class is really small. Most nights it's just me and one other guy. He just started last summer. Before that it was just me a lot of the time so I've had lots of private lessons for the same price as group training.

I agree with your sensei but I'm puzzled about something. You say he (I'm assuming your sensei is a he) told you you're gonna get your block knocked off if you don't fix the problem. How does he expect you to fix it? Didn't he give you any pointers? If my sensei tells me I'm doing something wrong I expect him to take it a step further and show me how to correct my error.

Our Sensei is on vacation until Jan. 11th. He closed the dojo for 3 weeks. Thankfully, he gave me a key and me and two other guys have been training Tuesdays and Thursdays in his absence. One of the other guys is our Senpai who happens to be home from college for semester break. He was given strict instructions not to teach anything new and not to let us practice anything that might get somebody injured (sparring, self defense, etc.). So, we're just spending an hour or so doing warmups, floor exercises and kata. At least we'll still be somehwat in shape when Sensei gets back.

It may be in the soft tissue and not in the joint itself. If it was bad knees I doubt both of them would go bad at the same time, especially at your age. You may need to see a rheumatologist. I had the same problem several years ago (still do sometimes). In my case it was reactive arthritis (a type of rheumatoid) that started in the knees and then spread throughout my body. The Rheumatologist was able to get it under control with prednisone and sulfasalazine. After a couple of years I was able to go off medication altogether. These days I have a minor flair up once in a while but manage to grit my teeth and work through it.

What a stupid premise. Just because you're a martial artist doesn't automatically mean you'll be able to win in a 2 on 1 situation like the one in the video. The question is, if attacked by 2 thugs like the ones in the video, would you rather face those guys with or without self defense training? In other words, are the producers of the video suggesting that you'd be a better fighter with no training at all? I know that's what they're saying and, as I said, it's a really stupid premise.

Unless you're looking for trouble, the chance you'll ever get into a fight with a street thug is pretty slim. Should it happen, I doubt you'll be worrying too much about the law. You'll be too busy trying to keep him from kicking your butt.

It's right across the street from my office.

Here's another one. Again, assuming this is a one wrist grab, his right grabbing your left. As he pulls settle into a strong horse stance while at the same time tilting your wrist upward and trying to pull it out of the gap. If he lets go, fine. If not, cave his right knee with your left foot and follow that with a right elbow strike to the face.

I had it real bad over the summer. I wiped out water skiing and compressed the lower 5 vertebrae. It took several trips to the chiropractor but that coupled with a lot of extra stretches that my Sensei helped me with fixed it up good as new. Sensei told me last night he's really impressed with my progress in the flexibility dept. Have you thought about visiting a chiropractor? Sounds like you could use an adjustment or two.

Just out of curiosity, how can you tell how reputable they are from their ad in the phone book?

I guess our Sensei is a man of the Tao. I was there when he was promoted to 3rd Dan and he almost seemed embarrassed he was so humble.

No no one goofs off in our dojo. Sensei won't tolerate slackers.

I agree with Bearich for the most part. We practice front and side wrist escapes in Wado but our techniques are a good bit different from the ones described in that book. Our Sensei once mentioned that it's highly unlikely anyone will ever grab you by the wrist unless you're a woman in which case it happens a lot. For some reason, men who abuse women like to grab them by the wrist and try to drag them away. Any man who tries that on a woman (or man for that matter) who's well trained in Wado is likely to end up with a broken leg!

My wife is Korean and I've been around asian people (mostly Koreans) most of my life. I've always had an interest in MA and also in Eastern philosophy. When I finally decided to take the plunge it was because I wanted to improve my fitness and mental focus and gain self confidence and discipline. Natually, I originally wanted to study TKD but the best dojo in these parts is Wado-ryu. I've been training hard for 6 months now and loving every minute of it. Wado has become a way of life for me and I have gained more than I ever dreamed I would. I'm 49 years old and in the best shape of my life both physically and mentally.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. Do you mean that when someone new comes in your sensei is extra strict or hard on the rest of the class? If i'm right, then i think this may be a little harsh." No. What I mean is that our warmup routine and our workout in general is more intense than usual. Could be a coincidence but I don't think so. I'm not complaining. I need all the work I can get.

My bass boat is a Black Xpress X70.

Sometimes I wish our Sensei wouldn't allow past students to come back. Anytime someone stays away for a while and then comes back we all get punished. He's the same way when a new student comes in. Anytime I see a new face or someone who hasn't been there for awhile I know I'm going to be really sore the next day. Tuesday night another guy joked to me that we were going to start scoping out the parking lot and shooting new students before they have a chance to make it inside. Oh well, I guess we can all profit from the extra intensity.

I'm sure it's possible to kill somebody with that move but, as others have pointed out, the operative word is "possible." Still, a strike to the solar plexus is a very effective move. It may not kill your opponent but it should stop him from wanting to fight you, at least until he gets his breath back.

Interesting. We were just talking about that last night. Sensei was pointing out that you lose power if you're too close to your target because you're unable to get full extension. On the other hand, you don't want to be too far away from the target because you expend most of your energy before you actually make contact. The most powerful strike is one that makes contact just before full extension and then drives through the target.

What Sohan said. Personally, I would rather not be the one to throw the first strike in most cases. Most of the self defense moves I know are designed to work as reactions to a strike. They take the aggressor's momentum and use it against him.