Red J

Tiger: Goes through the opponent...Ripping, tearing, crushing, head on. The tiger shows no fear and plows its opponent. Dragon: Uses whipping motions, spinning, and sudden directional changes. The dragon uses a more thinking philosophy and builds momentum differently than tiger.

Good choice Sans.

I love hard workouts...and some are harder than others. My favorite is when we grapple because it is intense. I also run 3 or 4 times a week (3-5 milers) to keep the cardio strong.

When I read the topic I thought you were going to say you were over 50. IMO, 15 is a great age to get going. BTW, I know a guy who started in his 50s and is now in his 60s as a 3rd degree and is a real bad *. Age is all between your ears.

I have noticed many health clubs cater to women only. They are showing success. Could MA studios be picking up on that to expose a market niche?

I prefer black. White really washes me out! In my current school, and in many Kempo/Kenpo schools, beginner students wear white, advanced wear black, and black belts can mix it up with the permission of the instructor.

Mainly just the spelling. The words are interchangeable (in a general MA sense) until you refer to a certain style then it is specific either kempo or kenpo. My style spells it kempo as in Shaolin Kempo which has a Chinese influence.

Mainly just the spelling

If someone pulls a bat, you need to either run or jam him before he can swing. You do not want to get hit with a bat.

Just when I thought I had it. Guns don't kill people, people used to kill people, now laws kill people. How about statistics? Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I personally think that individuals need to be held accountable for their actions on any and every level. Education always helps. Agressive accident prevention curriculums are easily available and almost always have something on gun safety/awareness.

Good move Sans...., your second point also raises an important point which is the limitations, or as I like to call them opportunities, that everyone must face/overcome to reach excellence. If you dig deep enough, every proficient MA has had a challenge of some sort to deal with. It is what seperates the excellent from the average. Keep pushing the limits.

That could qualify you for the "Hottest Job" award . Serious heat.

I understand the point that you are trying to make regarding mental and physical toughness. You make a valid argument for schools that teach MA on a hard-core level versus schools that take a lighter approach. However, the generalities and stereotypes that you use are glaring, crude, condescending, and offensive. I find it amusing that you don’t want anyone to take offense to your opinion. That is very hard when you refer to people that are physically challenged as “cripples”. Perhaps when you present your opinions you could do it in a way that does not put others down.

$40.00 a month, sign me up. I can sell my lawn equipment and be ahead for at least 2 years! Seriously, try to stay out of the heat on those blistering days. It just sucks the energy out of you. You eventually get used to it. I know, I have lived in Florida all of my life. Thank goodness for A/C. I try to get my running in early morning or late afternoon. Of course, with my schedule I find myself doing things when I can. Many times it is in the heat and I just suck it up and get it done. It helps to get plenty of rest and to stay hydrated. I like your closing...it's time to sweat. We doing a lot of sweating down here! Good luck.

The most popular animals or the most referred to "five" are the Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Leopard, and Snake. They can be found in many MAs, especially Chinese based systems. Other lesser known animals are the monkey, mantis, eagle, and a few others. Try the internet search as suggested by Ninjanurse.

One guy, who knows his stuff, told me to learn quickly you must get the footwork down first. I have have noticed that it makes a huge difference in learning new material and keeping up with the old. As another training partner says, "It's all in the footwork". Hey, it works for me. Good luck!

I train in Shaolin Kempo and have found it to be a complete system. It works around four ways of fighting (striking, kicking, felling, grappling) and the kempos focus on self defense. There are also traditional forms that are learned and practiced. As you progress through the curriculum you move from a hard style linear karate approach to a softer and circular Shaolin philosophy. There is a chuan fa influence as you are exposed to the five animals of the system. All in all, it is a complete system. Do a search on the web for Shaolin Kempo and you will get some good info. Also check out http://www.urbin.net/EWW/MA/KF/kempohistory.html and you will see the different variations of Kempo/Kenpo and how the majority of American kempo comes from Hawaii. To be honest, the bottom line will be the school and the instructor. Good luck.

The dragon represents wisdom and its mythological influence is part of many MAs. The real reason that I picked it was that I liked it.

You would be lucky if you got a few seconds to react. I have been put into situations where you don't have time to think and you just have to do. That is where your training comes in. If you have trained using the gauntlet or other drills where the predicabilty factor is not present then that will help you handle a real situation. I also believe that when you get put into a situation, that you will rely on a few techniques that you have proficiency in because it fits the situation and you have ingrained them into your being. The mastery that is referred to is having the ability to know how to respond without having to think about it. The better you get at something the less you have to think about it until it becomes second nature. When you get to the second nature part then you have reached that subconcious mastery level.

Whenever you do any full range of motion exercises, you will probably have to adjust your gi. You should try some grappling and see what you look like.

Good one!

I own a german shorthair pointer. She is a great dog. She loves to exercise, is great with the kids, and was the easiest dog to train (she responds to hand signals and can walk without a leash). My tip is to check your homeowner's policy as many insurance companies will not cover your liability with several of the higher risk breeds. Good luck.

I believe that the origin of modern "American" based Kenpo/Kempo styles were from Hawaii, including Kajukenbo. Check out http://www.urbin.net/EWW/MA/KF/kempohistory.html for more on this subject.

Good one!

1. YES! 2. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. LOL. Seriously, there are several NFLers that take martial arts for flexibility and coordination. You should be fine, but if it gets to much for you make an adjustment in your training schedule. Good luck.