LeaF

1st kyu (brown belt) Goju ryu karate-do 1st kyu (Brown belt) okinawan Kobudo

[color=yellow]I agree with you fully the first thing I would strike at is the throat. The eyes are a good idea but I find the throat to be a much easyer target to hit. One good punch or finger jab to the throat can end the fight immedatly. I prefer if my oppenant strikes first then I can do a quick block and instantly strike at the throat through te opening my oppenants punch will create.[/color]

well I suppose that could be said about all the weapons? There is no "perfect" weapon.

I do not train to preapre for fights, I train so I know how do avoid them. A little humility in this word could go a long way...

well I can't speak for any art except the ones that I study. I study goju ryu karate-do and I firmly believe that this is a great multi attacker art. When we do our katas it is not difficult to visualize the multiple oppentants attack from different directions and it seems pratical and simple enough to apply in real situations. We also do spar against 2-3 oppenants at once so that gives us the opertunity to apply some of the things we learn for multiple oppenant situations. I think arts that rely on getting the person on the ground and putting them in a hold/lock might be at a disadvantage in this situation because if you are holding someone on the ground his budy could easyly kick you in the head or something.

[color=yellow]that is true but you can "prepare" them for the test. See at my dojo they are told they are going to grade 4 months in advance and they do the stuff I mentioned before. Now in this 4 month peroid you can work them really hard and you will see a huge improvement in their capibilites so that when the grading comes they are ready and not "sloppy" that is why I think this system is better then if they are told like two in advance. It helps prepare them mentally and well they are going to get "prepared" physically whether they want to or not so that is a nice bonus too.[/color] [color=yellow]I agree with this and I don't...hmm how do I phrase this.......ok when someone gets their yellow belt they are rewarded for the time they commited and the skills their learned to get that yellow belt. Now I don't want to say that this time goes in the garbage when the grade for orange (because it doesn't ) but I believe when that person grades for orange they are being graded on their total commitment yes but also on the ablity to learn the skills need and their commitment from yellow to orange...follow me, maybe not. What I am trying to say is that someone who has traded for lets say 6 years and is a brown belt has already been rewarded for their commitment and perserverance up to that point (they've been rewarded with a brown belt) Now when someone grades for black they should not just get a black because they have been around a year or two longer they should get it because they deserve it and can demonstrate that in their test. I don't know if this makes any sense(rather difficult to explain my theory in words. Anyways the way you wrote that it sounded like there was no point in having a test at all because they have all ready shown this hard work and commitment well what I am trying to say is that I disagree but agree. I think if they have worked hard enough and shown that commitment then they should have absolutely no problem with their test because they know what to do so I don't see why they should have to prove themselves and prove that they know it in a formal manner i.e. the test. I pity the person who has to try to read through this post to be honest I have confused myself while trying to express my thoughts good luck [/color]

[color=yellow]I agree with blackI cehck out the schools in your area. People could tell you about great arts but if the sensei and dojo are **** then what people here tell you is useless. Go to the schools talk to the sensei and find out what fits your needs [/color]

[color=yellow]no problem I hope it was useful [/color]

http://w3.blackbeltmag.com/featurecontent/view.asp?article=219 Go there and scroll down...you'll find it

you know what I would totally go for....badges/chrests. I would buy i few of them and put them on my back packs and stuff like that....and maybe the visor maybe....

he he he she has a point

Oh us too. We don't block with our fingers or hands...but accidents happen...

Karate comes from okinawa, kempo was oringinally chinese. Many of the founders of the karate styles founded their style on a basis of chinese kempo and okinawan Te.

HA HA HA

Best of luck to your sons spongebob. It is really a great think if people so young can hold an active interest in the art and show it through their actions.

Personally I am all for letting them get black belts. I would not even judge it on the severity of the situation. We have a guy in our club that has down syndrome. He has been around for like 8 years ad worked is way to black belt. I truely believe he does the best he can. He has respect for the people around him and trys hard although it is impossible for him to do somethings(when the situation arises he supervises ). I don't see any way he could be held back for something that is not his fault at all. He cannot be blamed for his situation so we should not have any predjudice against him. couldn't have said it better myself

Another topic in this forum has got me thinking about this topic and I am curious to hear what people have to say. Please post in this thread and go into more detail why you believe the way you do. I will post my opinions after I hear some response.

I don't think you can compare a senior to a child. Seniors are fully mature (mentally of coarse alothough there are exceptions) so they should be able to handle the mental protion of being a black belt. Physically well the can vary. I have seen some seniors who can kick the living $hit out of people a third their age. And others who well have troble doing push ups but the compensate for this. By doing other tasks... around the dojo and for the dojo community. I definatly believe they have earned their place because I believe the mentiallity of the person is the most important thing, and te still did the katas and stuff...

To be Frank I don't think there should be an age placed on it. I agree with the belt type of system. When you reach a certain rank you become eligable to join kobudo. You'd be surprised how many sick adults there are out there. We once had this guy come into our dojo wanting to train in weapons right away. He had told some of us in the change room about is past and he had a history with fighting and gang related stuff. Now this may be an extreme but this helps reenforce that fact that absolute stranges should not be touching weapons. Now age can be a factor. At my dojo adults are allowed to join kobudo 3 ranks before children are and I believe this is good for the reasons stated above. btw and adult in you dojo s considered 15(if mature) or 16 + and a child is 6 to 15 or 16. I feel that if you don't allow people to train in weapons until the reach a certain rank it also gives the students and sensei the oppertunity to get to know them and trust them with weapons.

when your down there I suggest just walking around and if you find a place walk in an ask to participate in a class, you'd be surprised at the fact that most clubs welcome visitors and enjoy having them

I also would not call it very dangerous all the throws can be applyed to fit the human body...ie rather then grabing a shirt you grab their neck

Oh yea I agree with you for sure, just like g95 said don't get them to do anything you haven't done yourself

I understand what you are saying but that can put the sensei in a very difficult situation. You see without generalizations and standards my problems can arrise. Say you let kid A join kobudo...when he goes back to karate class and tells all his friends and they start asking but they are obviously way too immature what do you do. Or even worse he tells his friends what he said to join kobudo and suddenly you got 20 little kids asking what the sai were oringinally used for. Exceptions can be made but I do not think it is a good idea for them to be made too often and/or with merit.

ok point taken....I thought that was a little harsh but I used it to stress the point that I personally see absolutly no advantage to taking weapons before oepn handed arts. Now you being home taught is completely different...have you ever been in a karate class full of 6 year old?(yes I know your son is 9)

well congrats kickchick this is a big year for you indeed ...not married....still in highschool...turned 16 ....9th year of karate ...and well yea thats about it....suppose I got a long way to go