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I started under Vallari's schools and then went with Masters Self Defence Centers when that group split away. Even that group has widdled down to just a few schools, with all the others going off and doing their own thing or joining together in little bands of 2-3 schools. As for the quality... it all depends on the instructors. While some from Vallari's were only concerned about being high rank and seemed very McDojo-ish, others were very competant. I was alot younger then but from what Ive heard there was alot of the head instructors playing politics which messed alot of things up. Once some of the schools broke away and didnt have to deal with it, they seemed to improve.

I dont have much to add that hasnt already been said, but one thing about pivoting on the base leg vs not pivoting on it... I used to not turn the base leg (it would be 90 degrees from the target) which allowed a much faster kick. I could still get to about rib height this way. Recently an instructor told me while this may be faster, its not as powerful becasue the way your body is aligned. I always knew it was weaker but apparently thats becasue when you pivot your base foot 180 degrees, your frame lines up so the hip socket doesnt have as much tension on it. While it may be not as good for the knees, its better for your hips. Ahh, the tradeoffs...

I have a friend who is interested in learning Sais. The style of martial arts I'm in, you dont use them until black belt, which is the same with many of our weapons. I was curious if there was a sai equivalent of Kendo and what that is for the sword. I havent come across anything in the forums thats a specific style for sais, only people mentioning seminars or select classes here or there. Thanks all!

For me its more the level of my opponent then anything else, both in sparring and in practice during classes. If I'm practicing against a lower rank, I'll go easier on them then I would a fellow black belt. We practice with very light contact. One of them women I sometimes work with has stated she prefers me coming in normally and not weakening my grabs or strikes becasue it works the techniques much better. Its the same with me... I'm only 5-8 and there are some pretty well build guys who can easily overpower me. By having them come in strong, it lets me know if my defence would really be effective against them or if I would simply be laughed at. I think the guys that go weaker are doing a dis-service to the women they practice with. Another instance of going lighter though, is if someone has injuries and cant be taken down or have any sort of lock done to a certain joint or area.

In the studio I study, there seems to be an age gap from the teenagers up to the adults. I'm 25 and the next oldest is probably early thirties and the next youngest is 19. I know a couple pairs of the students are mother-son, so you'll naturally have give or take around 20 years difference there. I just thought it was.. not odd, but interesting that I was the only one in their 20's of all the people that study there that Ive seen atleast. Has anyone else noticed a similar age gap in the students where they study?

right... back to topic... http://www.myspace.com/lobstarodoom

Ive learned that in my style some of the belts were "created" to give students a sense of progress. There are 4 different ranks with stripes that were made to breakdown the length of time at one belt. Youch. I dont have any problems with taking my time through the ranks. Ive been studying for 15 of the last 18 years and am only a 1st degree black. I'm up for a test in 2 months and in a way, dont want to take it. I dont need any more material. What i need and want to work now is precision and adapting techniques for different situations. IN my mind, stuff like that doesnt come with more materiel but length of time training and how much dedecation you put into it. I certainly dont mind the ranks though.. i think they are needed to determine what materiel a student should have. In most cases the higher the rank, the better they are as well. Most of the time anyway. Cheers!

I think it depends on the person. While I agree many people give out way to much too fast, there are those who dont. There are people online that I now consider friends. While we've never met in person, we'll talk online, through e-mails or occasionally over the phone. Ive known them for almost a year and met through chats or forums like this one. As far as myspace goes, I dont have my name posted and for my location I only list the state becasue a stranger that stumbles across it doesnt need to know anything more. I dont understand all the kids in HS that use it to keep in touch with friends they see everyday. For me its good becasue now that I'm out of college, its a good way to keep up with friends and relatives in other states. There are only 2 people (those mentioned above) that I talk to through myspace that I havent met. Everyone else is a friend Ive known prior or they're family.

My best friend at the time was into karate so I started too. I was 7 at the time.... so this would have been.. '87. That was really my first exposure too it.