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To be honest I agree with the club that wouldn't teach them until they got a blue strip. The use of weapons takes much more control then alot of people think. When someone reaches a certain level (in this case a blue strip) that is the level the sensei believes the person will have gained the control and maturity required to handle weapons. I find in todays society people do not want to wait , have patience. OUr society is filled with things that give is instant gratification (ie television) that it would sound obserd to many people to actually have to wait for something they want. This satement is true enough except you have made exceptions to you "rule". They can still learn weapons if they are willing to work hard enough in karate to earn the blue stripe and have the desire to succeed in what they do. Frankly I believe that any dojo that will just let any 9 year old off the street train in weapons is either despirate for money or well I can't think of any other reason. I assist in young childrens classes and I tell some children are just way to immature, they cause alot of problems and miss bahave constantly (fortunatly for them karate builds character and maturity in the participates and my sensei is straightening them out) Now could you even concieve the chaos of an entire class of the children armed with weapons....Oh my God that would be an assistant worst nightmere. Altough I am not a parent I began karate at a young age and I do remember times where I lost interest but my parents made me stick it out and then at the ae of 11 or 12 my interest really picked up and I was really thankful my parents made me stick it out. If you are actively involved in your childrens training whether you train with them (which I think is the best way to keep their interest)or just show up to watch them I think they should be fine. All I can suggest in done let them quit when it gets hard force them to stick it out no matter what and they will thank you some day it worked for me Now I support your encouraging your children in the weaponed arts. There are many mental as well as physical element that they will learned. Remember the martial arts teach you how to avoid fights not how to start them!

ok I agree with you fully taikudo-ka I agree with you in the sense that if someone can't do 100 push ups that is no reason to fail them. People are given "exercise" amounts based on what they can do there is no general number. Also at least in my dojos gradings exercise is not part of the actual grading altough they do what you said they have to do something like 16 katas so they do get tired but are doing it wiht relivent purpose. Now the exercise is done in the 4 month period I mentioned before. Doesn't it make sense that the people who want to get their blackbelts should be the ones who sweat the most after class and work the hardest in class. If no extra stuff was done to them what would separate them from the rest of the brownbelts. Not to mention the adjustment to their blackbelt class would be a hell of alot harder. I do not think it is like a "boot camp" because if they can't do something they are given a second chance they will do it if they want it bad enough. Not to mention it is good and heatly for them.

I totally disagree with have young blackbelts there is no way a children could ever understand or fully appreicate what it means to be a black belt. At my dojo we may not grad for shodan unti;l the age of 18. This would seem llike a problem (since I joined at age 8 ) but frankly I like it it teaches you patiences and really seperates the people who come to train seriously and are commited from the people that simply don't care.

OK firstly why do you hate tae kwon do so much...this is not the first time you have put it down.... now secondly because you obviously are unaware that TKD is the most praticed martial art in the world at this time perhaps that will explain why so many people chat about it. Now you may also not know that there are hundreds of "martial arts" out there and you can't possible expect them all to be represented in the forums and if you want something to be represented you message just becomes spoiled when you down play someone elses martial art. And if you had any knowledge of the systems you say are so much alike (karate and TKD) You would realize that they are completely different in modern terms and have completely different roots......there I got all the anger out now to your post...sorry but I honestly know nothing about the style you mentioned, perhaps someone will be able to help you, sorry if I came off a little hard I just don't like hearing someones art of style being critized without explaination. Good Luck with your search

oh yea for sure it becomes a real acomplishment when you have to work that hard for it

These web sites look like they could be useful.... http://www.okinawan-shorinryu.com/ http://www.shorin-ryu.net/general.html http://champloo.com/okinawa/information/karate.htm I also believe that shorin ryu was a direct decendant from shuri te (te meaning hand and shuri being the village in okinawa where it descended from.) where as goju descended from Naha-te, the developement of shorin ryu led to the creation of Wado ryu and skotokan. the combination of goju and shorin ryu led to the creation of chito ryu. hope that helps

awsome book.... I don't study kung fu but it looks like the type of thing I would love to read thanks for the heads up

you want them to work do what my dojo does.....it is a 4 months of h.e.l.l..... They must attend class at least 5 days a week.... they get added resonsiblitlies such as cleaning the washrooms they do little things likie an extra 40 push ups after class they get to be in the spotlight for the last ten minutes of each class where they do activities like.... -lieing on their backs while the rest of the class runs in a circle steping on their stomach as they go. -walking accross the room while dragging the biggest guy in the class (who is holding on the their ankles) -trying to raise their arms while 2 people hold down each of their arms. and the list goes on...for 4 months....then they have their grading which takes at least 3 hours and is generally the hardest thing they have ever done...then if successful they must participate is another grading in front of the highest ranking members of the assoiation. Not to mention the mental portion of the grading...they must write an essay in the 4 month period, answer questions on at least 4 chosen books, and have a verbal test in front of everyone during their first grading...... or you could just do to them what was done to yourself.... hope this helps.....

um I don't know about your frisbie thingy but if a foe throws something at me there is no way I am going to try to catch it...just avoid it

I am not 100% sure but I think a hammer fist is a tetsui(sp?) it is a close handed strike which is performed by striking down from above a target. You are striking with the bottem of your hand down on parts like the shoulder neck and head although I may have my techniques mixed up

well balence is simple enough stand on one foot and close your eyes for as long as you can...(This is what the docs told me to do when I broke my ankle so I guess it might apply) If you want to pratice all of these thing I sugust doing your katas they pretty much sum up all the things you mentioned....if you don't study katas in your style get a heavy bag/makiwara and hit it. Pratice combos, kicks strikes etc. and try to stay in shape, work out whenever you can ... I found when I miss great lenghts of training reading martial arts books are extremely valuable in building your knowledge and keeping and interest.(I don't mean the books that teach you katas...if you want some suggestions I can make another post just ask.) hope this helps Good luck!!

welcome to the boards justb

I am not to familar with american geography but here are a few sites that may be of use http://ryueiryu.com/start.html http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Products/Pages/ryueivid.html sorry if this is not helpful it is a really difficult style to find any information on. good luck!

check out this site (it may have already been posted) I really like the section titled "Common Students that Martial Arts Instructors See" enjoy http://users.binary.net/thomcat/Stupidma.html

I understand what you mean kickchick...I do drills simular to the ones you mention alot they are considerably longer and are done for considerable lenghts of time. The pain I feel from doing these drills is painful by all means but it is also kind of a high and I enjoy continuing the drills. The only problem I have with them is that I am concerned with the damage they may be placing on my forearms, this is why I wanted to seek advice for alternative methods to strenghten the forearms. Thanks for all your advice, keep it coming

my gi seems to be really good at fixing that...the pant legs are abnormally wide so there is lots of air and breathing room they don't stick half as much as my old gi did...

well I train about 5 to 6 days a week, the number of hours is varyed but my week total is around 15 hours. The most I have ever trained in one day would be 18 hours, but thats only once a year.

when do you think it will be all done patrick?

I don't hate it, I look pretty good it in and I like the fact that it makes me look bigger because well lets just say I am not the most intimadating person out there. I suppose when I first started I didn't like the idea of a uniform but now I have no problem with it. I have participated in a few special classes where we had to wear street clothes (to make the self defenses more pratical) and it felt really really weird. the only problem I have with my white gi is that I have to wash it every second day because it gets completely filthy with sweat, the blood and sweat stains really stand out on a white gi

try this site it looks like it could be useful http://www.wle.com/store/chinna.html

when you spar where are your eyes focused/ looking. I always try to look the person in the eyes because I find the can reviel many things about the person you are sparing...I was watching television today and they were talking about the negatives of looking at someones eyes, they said it was easyer to recognize and prepare foot sweeps and low body shots. Personally I also look at their eyes as a subtle way of intimadation...where do you look and why?

um well my favorite katas are probably...Empi Ha, san sei ryu, wando and well I am rather fond of saifa and sanchin even though they are realitvly early taught katas

Great to have you, welcome to the boards

I understand the benifits listed here to being relaxed and a fully agree with them. The only thing that I would be consious of is to watch you fingers. If your hands are open your fingers are vulnerable. I have seen too many cases ( and participated in some) where people try to block a kick or strike with in open hand and end up braking their fingers, so be careful and aware of what your hands and fingers are doing. Altough this may be slightly off topic I believe that the part of you that should be most relaxed is your mind. You cannot enter I fight think "oh I am going to kill this guy lets go come on" or "oh my god he is going to rip my head off, what am I going to do" you must relax and quiet your mind and focus your thoughts on the task at hand.

here is some more: Benjamin Franklin The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of the wise man is in his heart. J.R.R. Tolkein All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost. Unknown It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out, it's the grain of sand in your shoe. Dana Bidne Pace yourself...an elephant can be swallowed, one bite at a time. Unknown Don't be afraid to take one large step because you can't cross a chasm in two small leaps. Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Fail to plan, plan to fail. Better bend than break.