DeeLovesKarate

No Ma stores in these here parts. LOL. There is a sports gear shop... uh, Decathalon, I think? It's a french company, less expensive than olympia. Can't find that many MA zines here either. Any other ideas?

Okay, I have been studying MA for almost three years and am training for my blackbelt now. I study Shotokan. Can anyone tell me how to find tournaments in my area that I can compete in? Ous, Dee

I agree, but when you've reached the point where you can do it without thinking, take that as a hint to NOT THINK. When you know a kata, and can do it automatically, just be calm about it, because when you get yourself nervous and think, you start to look like a disoriented sea cow. Trust me, I've done it

Century, Adidas, TKO, and a few more that i can't think of now, are really good, but century is #1, at least to me.

I read anything i can get my hands on; sci-fi, comedy, fantasy, mythology, new age, shakespear, MA books, classic literature, horror, and ANYTHING else I can find. I'm writing a book now, though, so that takes up a lot of my time, too.

Thanks all, how bout the techno sites though? Anyone??? LOL Dee ::

Can anyone tell me where to purchase a light bo for myy musical form? Also, does anyone have any good musical sites for m musical kata and me? I need some techno, but I can't seem to find any sites.... I'm back from a small injury, if anyone wants details, I'll tell, but I'm just glad to be off my crutches and re-training. ous, Dee

" Men aren't pigs. Pigs are cute, intelligent little animals." " I need gopher-chucks!" " My favorite band is Nsync. My favorite member is Harpo. I think there is a Harpo, If not there should be. I could write their next hit, maybe. A-boom chicky boom, chicky chicky." " Run Away!" " Sir Robin ran away. Sir Robin ran away, bravely ran away away. When danger reared it's ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled." " Where ever I go, whatever I do, I constantly shout 'I Know what's going on!!", just in case I'm on hidden camera or something. You can never be too careful." Dee

I personally like the belt system. It gives higher ranks a quicker way to get an idea of what point you are at in your training. Although I don't agree with very young ADULT blackbelts ( such as elementary school children ), I agree with the system of the a few types of blackbelts. We have tiger blackbelts, and then they advance to a young adult lower color, and then when young adults get blackbelts, they become, say, adult greenbelts. It's really not as complex as it looks. Dee

Uh, probobly pushups, and sometimes forms, if I can't practice. I really do like class, don't get me wrong, I just hate pushups. I have a mate, fortunatly, who hates them, too. We can be in misery together. Oh blast these pushups!!! Dee

I usually say I'm going to class. Unless I'm helping teach, then I say "Ai-yi-yi". Most of my friends know I take karate, they just don't usually remember what the name of it is. Tae kwon do and kung fu are the most recognized arts, by the general public at my school. I can understand why some of you wouldn't tell that you practice. It comes with a lot of (ahem) comments of unpleasant nature. Especially if your short. And a girl. Not that I'm complaining. Being small has advantages in shotokan, and bjj, plus other arts, I'm sure. I think I'm about 1.67 or something like that. Anyway, monkeygirl, I agree. Short people rock. Dee

Ninja turtles rock, mate!! What about power rangers, though? They remade all the good shows from when I was three, slapped the words " new series" on them and sold the heck out of 'em. What about Mr.Miyagi? I think he got jipped on the promo deal. So did "Bloodsport". I should sue. What were we talking about? Dee

I've gotta say some kind of pasta, with chicken chopped up and mixed into it!! Or tuna fish. My favorite colors are (ironically) Black, blue, and green. Hmmm... Where'd that come from?? Grrr, Dee

The purpose of MA for me, started as wanting to learn self defense. Now, it's about the fact that I enjoy a lot of the aspects of the arts themselves, and the culture behind them, but mostly, it's about being a better person. People often ask, when is it okay to fight? Often, you don't have to think about that when the time comes. I think a more valuable lesson to teach is, " when NOT to fight" to the people who ask. Once you've trained for a while, and tried a variety of arts, it becomes as much of an instinct as " Me hungry. me want eat. where food?" Mostly, personal growth, and spiritual conditioning Grrrrr, Dee

I am a taoist, so I believe in this principle. If you think about it, the Yin-yang concept can be found in every aspect of living. I commonly have a hard time explaining it to westerners, but some good books to learn about it in are " The Te Of Piglet", "The Tao of Pooh", and " Living the Martial Way". There is also a brief reference to it in most Taoist books. Grrrr, Dee

Okay, we're jumping all over the place here. The concept of a bow is respect. I don't see how a full bow is so different from a "small bow". Either way, it's a bow. A sign of respect. No one is trying to disrespect anyone by bowing. Meditating is something everyone does, clearing your mind to be able to think about your problems, whether formally or not. It's a natural human reaction. Another thing, is that meditating is different from trying to achieve mushin, which is much more spiritual than just contemplating. Mushin is a journey for self truth and fulfillment. It can be read about in "Living the Martial Way", and in "Stargirl". Trying to erase yourself to connect with everything, and truly BE you. I don't like to hear how I belong to a cult, and all of us. There is already a thread about this called " Christian Martial Artist?". Grrr, Dee

Okay, now that I'm a brown belt, I help teach a class of four year olds in sparring. Part of my job is to suit them up. They always complain about having to wear the mouthguards and take them out. When I was suiting up one little boy, I warned him that if he didn't wear his mouthguard, he couldn't "play sparring", or would get hurt. As I put his helmet on, He opened his mouth, and I leaned close, because I thought he was trying to say something. Big mistake. Before I knew it, I had to jump back because he was puking all over the rug. I didn't know what to do. This was probobly my fourth class teaching. My sensei wasn't where I was, and he hadn't taught me what to do in this situation yet. I jumped up, pointed to the kid and yelled, " Uh, sensei, could you come over here." He came over, looked, laughed, and then told a parent to clean it up. I was still satnding there dumbstruck. None of the adult class knew what happened because there class was later, but sensei was sure to tease me about it in my next class, laughing about how green my face was. Fortunatly, some of the other adults and kids in my class had sympathy for me, with their groans and "oh no"'s . Dee

Congrats! I believe that the Martial Arts help us all grow as people. I have noticed how much more respectful I've gotten, and have learned when to ask for help, but most importantly, to help others. Although, I still can't help feeling like I must bow into my school and home, and that it is improper to wear shoes inside a building. Also, it helps me learn more about the Japanese culture that I grew up with. God bless the martial arts. Dee

Thank you all. Now I am so happy knowing that he is doing better, and hearing it from him was so wonderful. I now sleep with the letter next to my bed, behind a picture of me doing Bassai. I am hoping to know more about him, and if any of you have some fan sites, please send them to me, or anything about KDOA. Thanks! Dee

Can someone tell me why I just recieved a letter from California, and I live on the east coast and know no one there? Can someone tell me why I opened the letter and started jumping up and down, and screaming uncharactoristically? Can someone tell me why? I can. It was from HOWARD JACKSON. It was hand written. He is one of my heroes. I can't believe it. It was addressed personally to me, and he wrote my name and replied to what I had written. You see, he has cancer, and is currently being treated with chemo. I found out his address in Black Belt Magazine, and wrote him my well wishes. I signed it " From a fellow warrior, and martial artist," and then my full name. I still can't believe it. He sent me his card, and Chuck Norris' card. They are part of "Kick Drugs Out of America." I needed someone to talk to, so I called my friends. Unfortunatly, they didn't know who the heck he was, but I found someone to listen to me obsess for a half hour, and at least pretend to listen. ( LOL, Ben, Thanks ) I Hope you guys will write back too. GRRRRRRRRR, DEE

YAY!! Keep those members rollling in!! Patrick, congrats on a great site!! Grrrrrreeeeaaat! Dee

Ah, and again, we meet the double-edged sword. Don't forget that the little guy can also use the bigger guys weight as a weapon against him. I believe it's mostly skill, not size. Oh, and one more thing, it's not only physical strength that matters. " There are different kinds of strength, Julie-san." Focus is one kind of strength, and paired with spirit, it will always conquer. Grrrr, Dee

Does anyone have any training schedule that I could use? One that's intense, and requires little equipment besides a couple of three and 5 lb dumbells? Or equipmentless? I really need a new, exciting, strength building workout. Please help me, super trainers!! Grrrr, Dee PS I'm talking moves too here, people!! Not just time schedules.