DeeLovesKarate

I disagree with age restrictions on teaching. At my school, at the level of brown belt, you can help teach a class of younger, and lower ranked students. I help teach some four-year olds. My sensei believes that part of learning is learning to pass what you know on to others. As you rise in ranks, from brown belt, you teach older, and higher ranked students. At blackbelt, teaching becomes a full-time job at the dojo. A great system, I believe. Grrrr, Dee

I'd like to think I look at the itten, or the hara, but I highly doubt that I do. I honestly couldn't tell you where I look because it's become automatic now. Grrr, Dee ::

" There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."- Hamlet, Act two, scene 4 (I believe) Grrrr, Dee

Recently I heard a young boy who takes karate at my school say to his friends, " Yeah, I'm a blue belt. I'm going to quit once I get my blackbelt. There's no reason to stay longer." While practicing kanku dai outside before class, a friend said to me, " What's the point in forms? After all, you can't do a form on an attacker. " The very same friend had recently asked my to demonstrate what to do if someone had a gun. Logic did not work with him, even as I showed him the motions on an invisable attacker, he still failed to believe that my knowledge of forms and other tecniques would do me any good. Has anyone else had this happen? With a doubtful friend, or stranger? I'm curious as to how many of you have had the ::cough:: pleasure of dealing with these ::cough, cough:: people. Grrr, Dee

I think anyone can make their body type work for, or against, them.

What about the karate kid flicks? Croaching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Bloodsport? I'm sure there are much more, also.

This is what I've been tryying to explain to people who get mad that I don't label myself as a religion. Their automatic answer is that I am what my parents are. Does that mean beliefs are hereditary? Is it in the genes? I hardly believe that it is my DNA. Just because I'm not a religion doesn't mean I don't believe in god, or that I'm rebelling against a church, or a book, because I am not. Thanks for saying it all, Grrrr, Dee

Shotokan, and BJJ

I couldn't explain the feeling of belonging to a good dojo. It's like a sixth sense : the way you know it's for real. Grrrr, Dee

I wouldn't push yourself Mike, I think your health is very important, and I wouldn't risk hurting it more until you have a proffessionals opinion. Sorryy, get well soon. Grrr, Dee

IMHO, I don't think of taichi as a martial art as much as an internal art, like yoga ( which I do, so I'm not dissing it, this is my opinion, and all of you have a right to yours). Eg, more of a Way than a martial art. Martial is "suitable for warfare". I take Shotokan now, and I consider it a useful art. Another to cosider would be kempo or bjj. Those are rather enjoyable too.I recommend that you try each one out, by taking an intro class, and then decide. Grrrr, Dee ::

I agree with this post. I take shotokan, and my school is not just for sport. We learn a lot about, not just the basic shotokan stances, but strret fights, jujitsu, etc. You should never stand in a front-facing lowstance while sparring. It should always be sideways, if anything. I do not believe this guy was teaching it right, and I don't think it's right to mock another style. Everyone should know that no one style fits everyones needs in any given situation. "There are no superior martial arts, only superior martial artists." Grrrrrr, Dee

I agree with Anon. I stick by my philosophy that kata is a great supplement for sparring, and a few other things that help you in sparring, like muscle memory, spped, accuracy, and combos. Unfortuantly, it does not always help you remember how NOT to get punched in the nose. Although, I also agree with angus in that, in order to fight, you need to fight.

Congrats!! I told you you could do it!!! I'm so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::party hat:: GRR, Dee ::

I very much agree. If I ask someone at my school to help me with something, they'll either ignore me, tell me no, or get very frustrated with me. At karate, if I ask someone to help me with something, they'll take it onto themselves to help me. They almost seem like their success rides on mine. They will stop whatever their doing to help me. I have come to use that courtesy on everyone that needs my help, and it disappoints me when people just want the quick answer, when it's much better for them to understand it and not have to be co-dependant on me. The teachers don't help much by telling us not to help each other in class, but they don't know that most of the kids feel uncomfortable asking a teacher, when they can ask a peer. I believe that respect and manners are contagious. There always seems to be alot of that at a dojo. Without the teachers having to force them, kids help each other, and enjoy it. That is one aspect of the Way that I could never really explain to a non-warrior, but just to you guys, because you experiance it first hand. Don't you feel proud? Grrr, Dee

Kata is a suppliment that will help you in all aspects of your training. You must understand this. Grrrr, Dee

Wow! I gave Patrick an idea!!! Don't I feel special!! A new Forum, inspired by Dee! What an honor! Grrrr, Dee ::

Okay, so we all know this drill already, but here are some books I'd like to recommend for all of you seekers of the Way of the Warrior: 1. Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo 2. Living the Martial Way by Forrest E. Morgan 3. Go Rin No Sho by Miyamoto Musashi 4. The Art of War by Sun Tzu 5. Karate-do-My Way of Life by by Gichin Funakoshi Any others? Oh, and if you noticed the change in my siggy, yes, I did get myy brown belt, and saw my blackbelt. Feel free to send cake. j/k Grrrr, Dee

Thanks to all of you. I had seen an ad that told me that some blackbelt got thrown in jail for using karate and "it could happen to you!" so I thought I'd check it out.

go 2 http://users.binary.net/thomcat/Stupidma.html#define. It's very funny

I've heard that using what I know as self defense brings up a legal issue that may put me in jail. How does this work? Anyone have any details on martial arts and the law? Thanks in advance, Dee

Can anyone tell me how to learn this beautiful and mysterious weapon. I have chosen it for a free style musical form, and need to learn it. I prob have about 1 1/2 to 2 years to learn. Where can I purchase a set?

I finally figured out how to load my avatar!! It took me foreva to do it. How can I change my buddy icon to match it on AOL 7.0?? I've heard it's possible, by some (kickchick) people. LOL. But how?? And do you like my avatar? and how do i make it my buddy icon? I'm repeating the same thing over and over aren't I? Sorry, I'm getting drowsy. drowsy getting am I. Sorry. Please reply, even though I forgot my origional question, Grrrrrrr, Dee

maybe on a pressure point?? Grrrr, Dee

I've always been great at kata outside of class, but in class with all the other people, I do awful. One day, I tried doing kata at home with a blindfold on, and I did better than ever, and didn't mess up once. I figured out that I get distracted, and can't do kata if I see a lot of outside visuals and activity. When I say distracted, I mean clueless and oblivious to the kata I was doing, not just momentarily confused. Now, I know what's wrong. My sensei doesn't know this because he's only seen me doing kata in class. I can't wear my blindfold in class, because other people are around, and we're in close quarters, so I may hit someone by accident. My sensei has never seen me do kata without distractions (visual: I can handle noise, and stuff.), so he doesn't know my full potential. How do I solve this problem? I can't explain it to him. Does anyone else have this problem? i thought I just was awful for a while. Please, please reply asap, Dee