DWx

how do you know insects don't taste as good as a steak? Deep fried cicadas for example are supposed be pretty close to lobster (which coincidentally were once upon a time the food of poverty). ....and, have you substantiated this yet???? Never had the opportunity but I'll give anything a go at least once. Fried cicadas, locusts, even tarantulas are popular street food in places like China and Thailand so if I ever get to go to that part of the world I wouldn't say no to trying them. Though actually thinking about it, I would bet nearly everyone on this forum has enjoyed insects as part of their food at some point in their life. Anyone who has had foods containing the red colouring E120 or Carmine has as it is made from ground cochineal insects. Also shellac (used as a glazing for sweets and pills etc.) is sourced from bug excretions.

how do you know insects don't taste as good as a steak? Deep fried cicadas for example are supposed be pretty close to lobster (which coincidentally were once upon a time the food of poverty).

Honestly I think other places we visit on a day to day basis are dirtier than the martial arts dojo. Unless you are compromised already (cuts and open wounds) it shouldn't be too much of an issue. In some parts of the world people go around barefoot outside regularly anyway. I think learning to train in barefoot is better for the beginner as it teaches you to feel and grip the floor properly rather than relying on the grip of the shoe sole. It also enforces correct mechanics. Later on everyone should absolutely take some time to train wearing shoes. Preferably the shoes they wear on a day to day basis. FWIW I always teach beginners to break in shoes and will train breaking in shoes myself. Helps with the psychological aspect of it.

Welcome Prince

Agreed. And kicking a bag with the crescent kick really changes that whole thing up. Practicing in the air and with paddles, you get the follow-through. On the bag, you don't.Same as any kick or strike really. Need some sort of feedback. Anyway, how about this as a nice, non-head shot, application for the crescent kick: We use the same in TKD as well.

Alan it sounds like you are talking about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which is different from what most people encounter on a day to day basis.

I don't think you need to worry so much as long as the dojo floor is regularly cleaned and everyone cleans their feet. Staph bacteria live harmlessly on our skin anyway and skin is a pretty effective barrier to infection. It's only if you have cuts or open wounds that you should be particularly worried. Shoes aren't necessary really. I would only insist if you have a pre-existing condition like athletes foot or verucca's etc. as it is better for your training partners if you wear shoes to stop the spread of infection. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/staphylococcal-infections/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Insects are an interesting one as they are quick and cheap to produce, a good source of protein and their impact on the environment is considerably less than commercial meat farming. A number of cultures already practice entomophagy or eating insects but the West struggle with the concept.

Congrats

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37935116 What do you think to this? Do you think the women will gain much from an army led short course? Would a similar programme work in your country?

Could always try a pair on so you know what we have to put up with Now I've always wondered what ballroom and Latin dancers wear. Watching Dancing with the Stars (or Strictly Come Dancing in the UK) how the heck can they move that easily in those shoes!

I was demonstrating makiwara to a 16 yr old girl and showed her my hands. In horror she exclaimed "OMG I'm not doing that to my hands!" I had a good chuckle over that one.... In all fairness I totally understand this. I specifically don't condition my fist because I don't want callouses either as a female. I've strong enough wrists I can break a couple of pieces of wood but beyond that I choose to focus more on knife hand and ridge hand because I don't want to have hands that look like that I know a surgeon who trains who also won't condition his hands too much because any injury would put him out of work.

Korean dojangs do though it isn't as common. Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do and Hapkido all typically have a tameshiwari component to their training. With that goes hand in hand some sort of body hardening practices including the makiwara.

Welcome Tyler

In other words, KISS (Keep it Stupid Simple). It also tends to be a very Western answer to problem solving. Many Eastern cultures worry more about saving face. I prefer Miss Congeniality's aka Sandra Bullock's SING method Solar plexus, Instep, Nose, Groin In all seriousness though, if all else fails, scream and shout like a banshee till someone else hears you

Welcome aurik

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees

Depends a lot on style and individual school. Generally we start with time in grade with the person who's been at that grade the longest considered senior. If that's they same, we go by total time training. If that also happens to be the same, then the oldest person is assumed to be senior. I do know some schools however who just take the eldest student and treat them as senior.

Reminds me of Schrödinger's cat....

It's difficult when its in a school setting and I get not wanting to leave anyone behind. Half ranks could work. Or you could split the curriculum up into smaller chunks and just test students on that. Do you have to work through the ranks at all? Can it not just be a yearly course and if they want proper ranks and all that they have to join your dojang?

Best of luck with everything Bob. Never great to get a diagnosis like that but congratulations on taking a pro-active approach with this and making the change yourself. If you have any questions about diabetes or the medicines you're taking, and don't want to ask your physician, let me know. My sister and mother are both pharmacists and unfortunately we have a very strong genetic disposition to diabetes. Growing up, both parents, all grandparents and all of my aunts and uncles had it so I know how life changing it can be.

I also think that a lot of instructors want to help. They see what they do as a community service. This is a great thing, they have great hearts and are a tremendous value to their community. But to survive, you need a profit. That's a good point. Unless you can get community grants or some other outside funding you still need to turn a profit.

Thanks guys. I agree. I think people can get wrapped up in the idea that if it's not immediately translatable to combat or self defense, it's not useful. They overlook other benefits to be had.

Great stuff Devin. I'm reading Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" and he describes the sames things as you do. That it is absolutely possible to develop leadership skills and that everyone should try to do so. Not because you are going to use them all the time but that it is a valuable life skill.

Great article John. I think the crucial thing is to take online training for what it is. Realize its shortcomings but that there are some benefits to it also as a supplementary method of learning or when physically attending a school isn't possible.