Shotokan-kez

Yes i know what you mean, relaxed but firm and strong.

Yeah i see where your coming from hun, well listen beat of luck with it all hun!

Hey guys, just a quick question! What do you have, if anything embroided on your black belts, and is it satin or silk? I have already been considering what to have on mine when i grade in six months. I was going to have my name in english on one end, and maybe my sensei's name in chinese on the other. I wanted to ask you guys what you think of that, do you think it would be a bit silly and cheesy to have my sensei's name on it? And also i would be wondering what he would think of that I only thought of that out of respect for him. My black belt is going to cost me a lot of money and it's going to be very precious and important to me. Basically it'll be all down to him, teaching me, and helping me achieve my goals in karate. I dunno what do you think? Kez x

Yeah karatekid it's great when your the only female in the sense that the guys reckon they should be nice to you and go lightly in sparring. That's until they get a big shock when you beat them up lol

Hello and welcome aboard!

Thats a nice idea! Hope it's a better xmas for you this year badclams.

Yeah i guess so Cathal, sensei has just turned 60, im dreading when he decides to retire! If you look on our website then click video on the side it shows him performing Unsu...he is still awsome at 60!

So how long is it required to wait between dans? Is that in your TKD?

Well Carolyn all you ladies should come and train at my club because i am the only one! There are girls but they are all under the age of 10 so i am the only grown up lady!. Sometimes i feel a bit lonely on that note, although i get along well with the men and i don't get any kind of special treatment. I was really happy to see that on a wednesday night the instructor's wife has started to come along, it really pleased me because now i have someone i can feel comfortable to partner up with, just in case i do get any 'hits or bumps' in those sensative area's. I once heard my sensei say to one of the other instructors, "we need to get more ladies in, and we need to keep the young girls coming". Women are just as good at MA as men, so i think there should be more encouragement for women to train. Kez

I agree with you Carolyn, just because there is a large person that does not mean they will win the fight. I'm only very small myself but i think that gives me more agility and speed. I think if this is something that bothers you i would go to improve fitness speed and agility. My mum used to say to me when we were growing up and going through high school. "the bigger they are, the harder they fall"

Wow that was a brilliant read, and yes it brought a tear to my eye too! I can also relate to a lot that you were saying, as i am sure a lot of others can to. I myself am an ex alcoholic and suffered with severe post-natel depression, as a result i have a panick dissorder. My karate also helped me throughout it all, i can now have 2 beers and then go home, i no longer take medication and i can keep my anxiety under control. You are an inspiration to us all...i truly mean that, well done and keep being proud of yourself! Kez x

any excuse P.A.L On my first attempt i got 0.268.

We never get anything like that here, very rare you see a tv programme with karate, or any other martial arts to be honest. The only one we get to see is martial law.

Hi, a requirement for which black belt grading? Are you talking about tkd? I have never broken boards or anything, we don't do it in karate.

Oh no another Bushido....quick everybody hide! hehe only kidding. Welcome to the forums Bushido's bro hope you enjoy it! Kez x

It is very nice, when you have a friend that covers all that, i think it would be a friend for life!

Yummy! Turkey turkey turkey! So what's everyone hoping to get off santa this year? I have got my son a nintendo ds and a game to go with it. My youngest is getting something to do with trains, he's only 2 and a half so he's easy to buy for, he just adores trains. Money is really tight this year so they can't have half as much as i normally get. I asked my mum for some slippers and a dressing gown! Like Bushido said it's about the family and love ect, i love seeing the kids faces on xmas morning when they see tree and pressies....woohoo

Bushido, what grade are you now? Do you know hun i have the upper-most respect for you. The way you take things like this in your stride and keep working hard to reach yopur full potential. I think you should tell yourself that because you deserve a pat on the back matey! Kez xx

I'm sure your a pussycat really. I have a friend who's a leather biker chick and she's lovely...don't tell her i told you I don't particulary find kiai's intimidating but i'm the kind of person who does get intimidated easily. Think thats a lot to do with my confidence when pairing up to someone a higher grade or bigger than me. I do try to look confident who-ever when i'm sparring but i think it works, i have to much of a cute, young face

There are some brilliant tips here i will defo follow them up, hehe i like the push-ups idea, mean but good lol. Thanks Bushido i dio have some focus pads and we have the sparring gear so i'll defo do that. Funny i think i'm more nervous than him lol. He has a lot on in the coming month, he has a grading this friday for his purple belt, then this comp in december. Mind you he's off on a carrabean cruise after that...lucky thing!

Hi guys. In december my son Ryan is entering a kids competition within the club. He is entering the fighting. Yay go Ryan .This is going to be his first competition so i'm really rooting for him. During class sensei has been putting the kids through their paces in sparring to get them ready for the comp. Ryan shows some really good accurate moves and techniques, but unfortunatly he isn't making the touch so not scoring the point...hence he loses his fight. So can anybody help me devise some good training regimes for him, he needs to get his distance and make that touch. Bearing in mind he is only 9, but i would just worry for him if he had to go up against a brown belt. How can i get him to increase his speed and accuracy? What methods and preparations would you advise to get him ready and prepared. Cheers guys. Kez

That sounds lovely Carolyn, never heard of having a chinese meal on christmas day. But what counts the most is that you and your mum will have a great time and enjoy every last bite lol.

That does sound kinda cool! Strong as an ox. There was one time when i leant on the cooker and turned on the nobs without realising. Went about my business and suddenly smealt a strong smell of gas. I did panick! Ran around opening all the windows!

For me Christmas this year is going to be very special and exciting. My mother used to live next door to me, until my step-dad got a promotion at work and so they re-located to Scotland. Of course we all miss each other like mad and i visit once a year. They bought a run down farm in Scotland for £50,000. It has taken them four years to build it up and they now have a beautiful bungalow converted from a barn. It now stands at £500,000. Anyway to cut a long story short, me and my two sons are going there for christmas and it's our first christmas in mums new house after four years of hassel, building, designing, ect, so this makes it that extra special. So this year i have volunteered to make christmas dinner! Arrrggghhh for seven people I'm going to get the biggest turkey ever, roast parsnips, roast potato's, swede and carrots, peas, yorkshire pudding...yummy! Mum has got a huge bay window where she is going to put the biggest tree ever. My boys are going to help her decorate. Should be fun So what do you guys normally do over the christmas period, what plans do you have? I adore christmas and i wanted to share this because as i say it's extra special this year and my mum and step-dad deserve it!

Thanks Bushido...i'm like a walking illness lol. I'm keeping my chin up though. I get the ringing too. And often when i speak to people they shout 'what!' loads of times on purpose lol