Withers M.A.A.

Bugei has them handforged for over $1000. Paul Chen also makes hand forged blades and prices range from $120 for a practical katana up to the thousands. I own a Paul Chen katana and the quality is great. The expensive swords have real sting ray skin under the leather wrapped handle. The balance on these swords is great. I'm sure the Bugei swords are great but I've never personally seen one up close. Pete

You don't need to be able to do full splits in order to kick high. For side splits get into the split and tighten your muslcles as if trying to pinch the ground with your butt. This is called isometric stretch. It builds strenght in your muscles while making them longer. That is the reason people can't ge t into full splits. However, if you're still young then don't do this exercise. Pete

I was being sarcastic when I said I work for a gun manufacturer. DUH!!!

I have 2 of them. A body opponent bag and the wavemaster XXL. They are both great pieces of equip. and Century has a warranty on them.

Actually, this all happened at a firearm plant that I'm working at. I know how afraid of guns you are and how scared you are to come into this country for fear of your life. Unlike you, we can deal with the pressure of real society. We are in the real world not locked up in a bubble in front of a computer being online quoting everyone else about how unsafe it is to live the way we do. You'll be that sorry dude who lives in this bubble and the second he steps out gets squashed by a bus. Have a nice day.

Damn thats a lot of info!!!! I love firearms and enjoy shooting. I own them for sport and recreation and seldom every carry. However, I have a liscence to carry concealed if I choose to. My firearms are locked in a safe which only I have access. So I truly believe I am just as safe if not more than a nongun owner. THe safe is in my room near my bed so if I did need it however, would be readily available to me. Pete

If you want to perfect your high kicks you need to first perfect your lower kicks. A way to develop the muscles need to kick high is to put one hand against a support such as a wall. Raise your knee in chambered position for round, hook, or sidekick. Slowly extend the leg and perform the kick. Make sure to do the motions SLOWLY. This will develop the muscles needed to perform high kicks.

Iron you are just too cool for the rest of us. You must be my hero and I wish I could be as cool and funny as you. If throwing paper clips wins a fight then hey I'm game.

Tyson was totally outclassed in that fight. I thought he would have won but he didn't. Oh well.

Both work equally as well. Closed hand works good at stiking you opponents arm as you block. Open hand blocks do the same except allow better hand positioning to grab his arm.

I agree with most of what has been done since 9-11. Bush has done an excellent job with the security of our country. His response to terrorism and destroying the Taliban has been pretty successful. I'm sure things could be better but I feel safe living here.

I have 3 cats... They are fun to test your reflexes with. when you lose you bleed... hehe

NO sorry I've never been to prison. I work as a computer programmer for a printing company and the coworker was actually a temp doing menial bindery work.

Tyson used no technique or skill. He went in there looking like he was ready for bed. Trying to hit an experienced fighter with a haymaker is never going to happen. Oh well too bad his career is over now.

Iron Arahat I totally disagree with you. Competition is great for many reasons and it has its place. Musical forms are VERY entertaining and difficult to perfom and they help create interest in the Martial Arts for new or potentially new students. Not every aspect of the martial arts needs to be combat oriented. Because a school teaches sport karate does not make it a McDojo in any way shape or form so long as it only supplements the true martial art.

Welcome to the forums. Hopefully we can all share some great experiences... Pete

I've used it before and got a great workout. It is harder than it looks. After 10-15 minutes I was sweating like a pig.

I agree that it is our responsibility to keep the meaning of the martial arts alive. We need to instill the true Martial Spirit into our students and see to it that the heritage continues in the right direction.

Put your hand against a wall or chair, basically anything for support. Raise your knee chambered for a roundhouse, sidekick or hook kick. Slowly extend your let and perform the kick but do the entire range or motion slowly. This will develop the muscles needed to perform the specific kick. Pete

Just as I figured... I'm not really gay at all!!! I'm only 23%. I thought I would be a little lower actually... hehe My g/f says I'm gayofobic. haha

I think they should be allowed to adopt because there are so many children without homes. It is better than foster care. However, these children should recieve some sort of counciling because other children will MOST DEFINATELY harass them because of the odd nature of the situation. This is a fact because children are cruel. Pete

Well with anything the more popular something is the more chance for poor quality. If Martial Arts become more and more popular then YES more McDojos will pop up but hopefully with the number of GREAT instructors out there this will help minimize things. As for not teaching for money. That is a double edge sword yes, but like any service that is offered people must pay. If you go to a restaurant then you expect to pay for your meal and service so why should martial arts be any different? Gincin Funacoshi was one of the founding fathers of modern karate and had trained over 10,000 students. He wanted to promote people to instructor status so they could teach here in the U.S. Do you think some of these students were top notch? Prob. not. But I bet the majority of them were. just my $0.02

I def. see there will be some problems still with the billing service. However, I would rather deal with a few complaints than with a few nonpaying students. Plus with the billing company I now only have to focus on teaching and not collecting dues. So money won't get in the way of my teaching. Pete

If you fix something and don't do it right it will just break again.

"That which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger. -unknown masochist " Posted by Ti-Kwon-Leap Haha Good point....