Muki

Yup! Crazy.. More than an hour and a half of tough training was behind us and we were both getting tired. It was like - just one more time... Concentration was low and that's when accidents happen. That sounds bad... How long did it take before you could breathe without pain? I heard that sternum/rib injuries take more than 2 months to heal.

Congrats!

Windows XP for now. I used a couple of Linux versions but had plenty of what mostly turned out to be driver problems, so I always ended up back at Billy's front yard. Otherwise I'm a huge open source fan.

The topic is quite old, but someone else might find the info useful, so here it goes... Totally different experience from my side. My Tokaido heavyweight gets plenty of use (cca. 5hrs/week) and needless to say it's washed often. After 2 years it still holds it's shape, it hasn't gone noticably softer, the pants don't stick to my legs when the sweat starts running, it has a nice snap when kicking and punching and it shows no signs of wear... In short it's the best thing I've ever had. One of senior instructors at my school has had one for 10 years and altough it has some tiny holes and it is a little softer - you can still see and feel it's made of quality fabric.

A stupid mistake in kumite. One of the partners was supposed attack with a mae-geri and the other then block and counter strike. Well, we both attacked at the same time and this was the result. The "funny" thing was that I didn't notice anything seriously wrong. Yes it hurt, but I didn't care. Only when I tried to make a step forward it started to feel weird...

An open subluxation of the middle finger on the right foot. This translates into having the finger hanging only by the skin of the instep and a very nice view into the opened joint... Received a Kirchner wire (it took 3 tries before the doctor inserted it correctly), a couple of stiches and a cast. The finger was almost as good as new after 2 months, but with limited flexibility and sensation.

I agree. In my school this means assisting at classes two times a week: both in one day, each class 1 hour long, usually children classes. But nobody gets forced into doing anything they don't want/don't have time to do... As an assistant you're not paid for your work, but you are exused of paying your monthly fees for compensation. Head instructors do get paid. aigaios: you should first decide what YOU want. Then sit down with the folks at your school and sort it out. If you want to work for them - they should prepare a contract so you'll be able to decide whether you're taking the job or not. After 8 months of free labour - I think it's time for some honest and straightforward talking... Let us know how things turn up.

Sounds to me like they were exploiting you... Like 2007 said: that's like a ful time job! Can I ask you why don't you just train (without teaching classes)?

I totally agree with this. That's why it's important to stretch before physical activities. Flexibility gives you some kind of wonderful freedom of movement (we all know how fast, agile and flexible cats are.) In my style it is important as you have to be able to do head high kicks by the time you test for the green belt. (Kumite and kata followed by the green belt have elements that require such flexibility.) I don't think that high kicks are weaker than punches or lower kicks. They might consume more energy, but I don't know about that. They might be more difficult to perfect (most of the beginners I see are more aware of their hands than their body altogether and tend to learn the hand involving techniques faster than footwork). But a high kick - if coming from a flexible person with strong legs - shouldn't be weaker than a punch... Or is it?

Keepin' my fingers crossed for your knee...

City of Ljubljana, Slovenia (Yugoslavia at the time).

Running! (Why am I the first person to mention running??) Cycling, roller skating, hiking and snowboarding. Oh, and on summer holidays nothing can beat a game of beach volley.

1. Full price is €34 (=$44). Students and kids pay €25=($33) (I'm one of the instructors, so I don't pay.) 2. Sankukai karate (originates in shito ryu and shukokai karate styles) 3. 3 classes/week. Each class 1.5h long. 4. After you get promoted to a higher belt and move to a different group (i.e. from a group of yellow and orange belts to a group of green belts) you can still attend classes of the belts that are lower than yours. That gives you the total of 5 classes/week.

I still have butterflies in my stomach and adrenaline rushes before every testing, but with time I learned to use them in my favour. First tests were the hardest, but I kept telling myself to breathe, focus and perform the required techniques like it was an oridinary day in the gym. Once I asked a buddy who was very calm before every exam - How can you do it? Funny, it turned out he was more nervous before everyday training than on exams! He knew that testing was just icing on the cake. And no super duper icing could change the taste of a crappy cake. What he tried to say was that the most important work was done in past months of training. If you train hard, it will give you the confidence you need to perform well. Don't let the fear of failing consume you. Try to do your best, pay attention to the stances, don't forget the kiai in the katas, remember the tips and pointers your sensei gave you. Our sensei keeps telling us he never flunked a student who couldn't perform an advanced technique learned a month ago. But he also never promoted one to a higher belt, if he messed stuff like heiwa shodan or if his tsuki sucked. So don't forget to keep your basics sharp and clean. Relax and good luck!

I absolutely must eat something when I get up, even if it's 5 in the morning. Otherwise I'm all woozy and nauseous. Müsli with yoghurt is my favourite. Sometimes just a bagel while driving to work will do too. No coffee for me anymore, just tea.

Didn't know that! I'll try this with my new gi and I hope it'll work for me too. I wash mine on 90°C because I can't get out some of the stains on lower temperatures. I only use regular detergent and a generous dose of fabric softner. Hang to dry. No ironing, I just smooth out the wrinkles before folding it. The only time I machine dry them is when they're brand new and need some shrinking time in the drier.

Smaller than I thought!

Hi everyone! I'm Tanja, from Slovenia (the teeny tiny country right next to Austria and Italy). I've been training karate for 6 years and tomorrow will be my first day in the gym after an injury from a year ago. I can't wait!!! I found this place while browsing for advice and motivation to start over, but it turned out it has much more to offer so I decided to join. Hope to bring something good to this wonderful community myself.