Withers M.A.A.

Well I'm still here :brow: :brow:

Welcome to the forums. Feel free to share some of your knowledge as we will do the same. Pete

Get plenty of rest the night before. Eat right and as soon as you wake up you need to focus on what you want to accomplished. Don't be sidetracked and most important HAVE FUN!!! Pete

I couldn't train in a system that didn't train with weapons unless it was a secondary system for me.

What do you need to know about the Battle of Atlanta? I've been there many times. It's a great torn. You should go if you can afford it and feel better. Pete

I haven't heard of them. However, Tokaido, Shuraido, and Ki make great uniforms. I've had all 3 and they've all been great. Hope this helps. Pete

Welcome aboard. I hope we can share some great stories and training tips. Pete

I did buy that book and hopefully it will help. I'm quite flexible already but I am just looking out for my students. I want to maximize their progress as much as possible. So if there is anything I can buy or do to help them then I'm for it. Bottom line!!!! Pete

Well good for you. Hopefully your hamstring will heal quickly. Just take it easy until it does. Don't overtrain or it will never heal properly. Maybe someday I'll be able to watch you compete. Pete

You must take extra caution when performing pushups on the fists. They will give you caloses on your hands which are good for toughening your hands but can cause problems in your knuckles. If you feel too much pain then just switch back to normal pushups. We do them on our fists then jump to our chickenwrists so you should be fine. Pete

To gain mass you need to lift weights... bottom line. At 15 I wouldn't recommend lifting any weights unless you are doing light weight and high reps. This won't make you bigger but will help get you cut. when you are around 18 then hit the heavier weights to bulk up. Be patient. Pete

I relax everything. I don't tighten anything until either impact or I'm blocking or defending. Even during defense depending on the technique there is still no need to tense up. By clenching your fists you will be making your hand techniques slower. Relax until the moment of impact. Good luck, Pete

I recently bought that book and am waiting for it. I personally don't need the stretching machine. I've used one a few times and wasn't very impressed. I was just curious if people used them and figured if it would benefit my students then I would buy one. Looks like they won't so there is no need to buy one thanks to you guys. Pete

I'm just curious who uses a stretching machine or not. if you use it do you recommend it or is it just another piece of equipt. that will collect dust? The reason I ask if I'm opening a school and I already have most of the equpt. I need and I'm debating about buying one. I'll prob. wait till I open before buying anything else but I want to see what everyone thinks on the topic. Pete

If you've never had any problems with firearms as of yet chances are you never will. I've NEVER had any run ins with one nor do I even worry about it.

I'm sorry but if you have to sneak around behind your instructors back then you are with the wrong instructors. As an instructor myself, I strongly believe you can benefit from multiple instructors. I'm open minded and strongly feel if you train at my school and another school but you learn a different technique from the other school feel free to share it with us because if it works then we all can use it. I think instructors that don't allow cross training are just insecure and close minded. These instructors should not be your choice to train under. There is no right or wrong way to defend yourself. There may be a better or more effective one for you but we can always learn from other systems so why limit yourself or your students. Just my $.02 Pete

One comment.... If you plan on doing an open form then I hope you are a good kicker. Most of the emphasis on open forms revolves around kicking. Work on kicking drills and incorporate a pop up front kick, 540, or 720 into the form. If you are doing a tradition form weather you slightly modify it or not, make sure you have DEEP stances and strong technique. Good Luck, Pete

When I was competing Nationally through NASKA I competed at the torn. for a few consecutive years. It was always a great time. Their night time show is one of the best in the NASKA circuit. I would say that the US Open and Battle of Atlanta put on the best night time shows. I hope to be at the US Open next year. Are you competing? What divisions? Pete

I've trained with the sword for a while. I've never actually trained in Kendo with the armor but I plan on training in that system within the next year.

I used to compete nationally in both Naska and Krane. I competed in blackbelt American forms. It was a great division and I've even competed at the nighttime show for the grands but never won. I miss competing but I'm in the process of starting my own dojo so I will train my students to compete and also get myself back into competing. Ever heard of Team Straight Up? I was a member and coach for them while I competed.

Kata is a form. Kama is a weapon that is usually used in pairs and is basically a farming sickle. Original name of the weapon is NichoGama (spelled wrong)

I love K-1. They are some of the elite fighters in the world. Always great matches.

Actually, if there is a firearm for every man woman and child then there are prob. 100's of rounds for each. Just a thought..

Actually, thank you for giving us a place where we can interact with other great Martial Artists. Pete

THe way to build muscle is to shock them. If you are lifting and doing the same routines over and over your muscles will get used to what you are doing and will not get any bigger or stronger. You need to do a routine for 3 weeks or so then change it up to s hock the muscle. You also need to decide what your purpose of lifting is. If you want to gain mass then realize you will lose some range of motion. I started a lifting program a few years ago to bulk up. I gained almost 50 lbs. but I lost tons of range or motion. I cut back and now I'm at a perfect weight.