LeaF

Well I would move...but if that is not an option I would most likely buy alot of videos and books and learn whatever I could although it will not be the same as attending a class....or perhaps you could hop on a bus or something if there is a dojo reasonalbly far away...the only other thing I can think that would most likely not work is if you get enough people together I would get in contact with a big organization of the style of your choose and notify them that there is a mass of people interested in training in that style...you never know they might just open up a dojo there.... _________________ Goju ryu karate-do Okinawan Kobudo Given enough time, any man may master the physical. With enough knowledge, any man may become wise. It is the true warrior who can master both....and surpass the result. [ This Message was edited by: LeaF on 2002-08-02 16:56 ]

I personally cannot offer my opinion on your purchase because we do not train with nunchukas at my dojo (some kind of legal issue) But anyways I do train in several other traditional weapons and I would highly suggest joining a school and getting proper training espeically when using weapons. You will most likely ending up hurting your self and I don't know if your five minute background with the weapon is going to help you all that much. I don't mean to sound hostile just trying to give a friendly warning. Good luck with whatever you decide

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but anyways.... I have had the pleasure of reading several martial art oriented books and I was hoping to get some suggestions for further reading. So just post the martial arts books you have read and give it a rating between 1 and 5 1=horible 5=a must read oh well here is my list(rather short): -The 47 Ronin Story by John Allyn---5 -Karate-do my way of life by Gichin Funakoshi---5 -the classical man by Richard Kim---4 -The weaponless warriors by Richard Kim---4 The karate Dojo by Peter Urban---3 -The book of 5 rings by miyamoto Musashi---4 - The Bubishi---4 -The Code of the Samurai---3 And I am currently part way through -Zen in the art of archery by Eugen herrigal---so far so good

Wow!!! Your right I can't lick my own elbow....I wonder why that is perhaps my stubby little neck.....yea... I haven't heard a duck quack recently though....

hey bob welcome to the site....if your interested in joining the martial arts may I suggest looking around this site and asking questions....the following site will also give you a basic idea about different types of martial arts to help determine what you may be interested in. Good luck and welcome!! link....: http://home1.swipnet.se/budo/

Perhaps these quotes are a little late but if anyone is still interested here are my favorites An old man stooped by age and hard work was gathering sticks in the forest. As he hobbled painfully along, he began to feel sorry for himself. With a hopeless gesture he throw his bundle of sticks upon the ground and groaned"Life is too hard, I cannot bear it any longer, If only death would come and take me." Even as those words were out of his mouth, death in the form of a skeleton in a black robe stood before him. "I heard you call me sir." he said, "what can I do for you?" "please sir" replied the old man, "could you please help me put this bundle of sticks back on my shoulder again" Be as hard as the world forces you to be. Be as soft as the world allows you to be. Seek wisdom not knowledge There is only one thing worse then a quitter, someone who is afraid to begin It is easier to follow then to reason Show me a man who has never failed, and I’ll show you a man who has never tried. A Zen master out for a walk with one of his students points out a fox chasing a rabbit. “According to an ancient fable, the rabbit will get away from the fox.” the master said. “Not so” replied the student “The fox is faster” “but the rabbit will elude him” insisted the master. “Why are you so certain?” asked the student “Because the fox is running for his dinner and the rabbit is running for his life” replied the master A man who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in every action -Samurai Maxim Knowing others is wisdom knowing yourself is Enlightenment -Lao-Tzu Nothing is impossible to a willing mind -The books of Han Dynasty What does a mouse feel when he encounters his first cat? Can our souls recognize things our eyes can’t? -HP.Lovecraft Cry in the dojo, Laugh on the battlefield- Japanese proverb "JUST AS LIGHT CASTS A SHADOW, IN FRONT IS SOON BEHIND THEN SO LIFE BECOMES DEATH NOMATTER THE PATH" "YOUR ART AND STYLE IS NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, YOU WILL BE CLUMSY AND OFF TARGET IF YOU DON'T GIVE YOUR ART A LITTLE OF YOURSELF" “THINK LIKE THE DRAGON FIGHT LIKE A TIGER" "MY STYLE IS PLATFORM ON WHICH I PROTECT LIVES & PRESERVE MY OWN" "HE WHO WON'T FIGHT WON'T WIN, BUT HE WHO ALWAYS FIGHTS NEVER WINS" The writer is an engineer of the human soul.-stalin I believe in one thing only, the power of human will.-stalin Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.-stalin

hmmm...the geezer, well in the opinion of me, a 16year old I wouldn't call and older person who is active, healty, and strong a geezer before someone who is bedridden and falling apart. I do believe it is more of a mentality then physical reality however. I feel it is possible for an older person to act young thereby avoiding the state of geezerness for a period of time.

The best advice I can give would be to go around to the dojos in your area, ask questions and find out which school best fits your needs, and which atmosphere you feel comfortable in. I study Goju Ryu karate-do and in my experence hight or size is not really a big factor, you find people barely 5 feet tall and people who are 6 foot 5. I also don't think age is a huge factor either, Some people start when they are very young children and others don't join till later in life, so you being 18 should not be a problem...

What are your favorite martial arts movies? Personally I really enjoyed Iron Monkey, Kiss of the dragon and the hunted( a little older).

Personally I feel the most common "weapon" is the eku or boat oar. In today's society will not be looked upon as a weapon in the same respect as sai or kama would. I also do agree that the jo and bo are other common "weapons" found in todays society. To answer the question on whatt are kali sticks, they are roughly 2 feet long bamboo or cane sticks used in the art of kali and escrima. they are reffered to as ulesis(sp?) where I train. Hope that helps....btw this is my first post YAY!