Red J

Sorry for the late response. Black belt - $250 and covered two seperate days of testing with each day being 4-7 hours long. Brown - $100 for a 4-6 hour test Intermediate ranks - $70 for a 2-3 hour test Beginner ranks - $40 for a 1-2.5 hour test If you don't pass you can retest when invited back for no additional fee. I have seen this happen a few times with students who were not prepared and yes, even black belt candidates.

Hey, Patrick. Thanks. You wouldn't recognize the place, not only from the latest storm but also from all the growth.

I believe that Desmond's hatch mate was named Kelvin (or Calvin?) What led me to believe that AL is paramilitary is the way that she disarmed Sawyer. She knew how to handle a gun and how to handle Sawyer. There is some obvious tension between those two!

Red J checking in: Wilma caught Palm Beach County with both sides of the eye wall. Being ground zero, we did experience the "eye" of calm for a good half hour or so after getting pounded by the leading eye wall. As fast as the calm came it went with the back half of the storm being worse than the front. Everyone is safe. I lost 16 trees, one on the roof, and have been cleaning up since Monday afternoon. Luckily it was not the impact of Katrina or nothing like the Yucatan, but it was nerve racking. We had 90 mile an hour sustained winds with gusts well over 100. My neighborhood came together immediately and everyone helped out whoever needed it. It has been our 3rd cane in 14 months and this was worse than Frances or Jeanne. The trees that survived those two got toppled by Wilma, not to mention the roofs, screen rooms, fences, etc. I hope this is it for a good long while. Living without electricity and the things we take for granted is tough, but I am very grateful that I made out so well as there are those that lost so much more.

Kicks, I've been thinking about you. Glad to see your posting. I just made it through Wilma. We were smack in the middle of the eye for 45 minutes. It was so surreal. Luckily it was no Katrina, but none the less I lost 16 trees, one on the roof. Everyone is safe.

42 minutes. I can't escape the numbers! I don't think the bear belongs to Alex. Did you guys notice how the others walked? It was like they were in digitized motion. Weird. I really liked the exchange between Sawyer and Anna Lucia. What's her deal? She must be para-military or something. She's tough.

I'm a runner as well and just got over the same injury. The problem was not my running or running shoes so much as it was the fact that everytime I trained in MA I would re-injure (rip) my plantar. I train in wrestling shoes which is close to being barefoot and recently put in a 3/4 arch support and Viola, plantars is gone! I finally figured it out when I took 10 days off MA training and was increasing my mileage. The injury was healing and the day I did MA again I could feel it immediately. The arch support really helped in the dojo. It only took me three months to figure it out. Other things to aid your recovery: Stretch your foot by pulling your toes towards your knee by using a towel for a few minutes before getting out of bed in the morning. When you sleep the plantar contracts and tightens so if you don't stretch it you will step on your foot and re-rip the fibers during your first few steps. Also ice after running and a mild anti-inflam should help you as well. Good luck.

Absolutely. 1. It will help you with your ground game. 2. It will allow you to learn how to use your body and how to leverage your weight against a variety of opponents. 4. You will learn some great moves, legal and not legal (for HS) 3. You will get into excellent conditioning. 4. It's free! Go for it.

I think most large orgs have some politics that go into promotion of the higher ranks (e.g. 5th Dan and above). I can say that everyone that I've seen make 5th dan or higher in the Villari org really earned their rank. I can say the same. There is no guarantee for black belt ranks especially 5th degree. I'll also add that I don't know of anyone that was promoted just to open a school.

Hey Pacificshore! I have been laying low. I'm trying to check in on a regular basis now. Good to see you are still hanging around.

I will help out if needed and teach the odd class if someone is out.

The funny thing about the Villari's schools is that they must be different. At the school that I train at all the students pay the same rate and all of the classes last an hour. Students pay $80.00 a month, which is about average for South Florida, can attend 3-4 classes a week, and if you take privates they are private. There are no contracts (which is a great advertising point) and no pressure. This is what attracted me and why I continue to train there. For Ruujinblade, there is probably a Villari's or spin-off school close to you that is not so commercialized. Shop around, if you can't find SK in Mass, then you really can't find it anywhere. It's the capital! Good luck.

Yes. There is something to be said about rest and recovery, and doing sensible exercises/drills that don't overload your joints and ligaments, but help you improve your skill level.

I'm glad to see this thread is still alive! Welcome to all the new kempo posters.

I'm giving this thread a bump as I have seen new kempo posters out there. Welcome!

I am sure that he left Villari over a difference of opinion or philosophy, I am just not sure why USSD does not publically recognize the years spent and ranks earned with Villari. I think that if they did they would gain some credibility as everyone who has been around a while knows that both USSD founders were in leadership roles with Villari for many years.

Shaolin Monk, I'm curious why the lineage of the system is incomplete. Could you respectfully ask your instructor why Villari is taken out of the lineage. Both founders (Mattera and DeMasco) were high ranking belts in that organization. I'm not clear on why he was left out as it is documented quite well by many sources including the following: http://www.urbin.net/EWW/MA/KF/famtrees.html

Yes: Weather is not a factor inside and treadmills tend to be easier on your joints. If given the choice, I prefer outside everytime, even in extreme So Fla heat. I find the treadmill extremely boring.

That was the best fight I've ever seen. Talk about trashing each other. If you guys haven't seen it, try to get it on a re-run. It went the distance with no down time.

I asked about this technique of a loosely closed fist from a high dan. He proceeded to show me how it was done, explaining that this was an advanced concept. He even hit me with it, thankfully not full strength. It was heavy and felt connected. There was no mention of chi, but he did emphasize proper alignment of the wrist and forearm.

If its from a university, you probably have to study quite a few philosophies, not just one.

Hi Pineapple, For me treadmill running can never beat being outside, on my favorite path. I don't have one at home, but I certainly use the ones at my gym and when I visit my mom. Same here.

I guess the real misconception is in the semantics as I took "straight" and "erect" to mean the same thing. I will still maintain that correct posture and alignment, in any sport, is fundamental. No slouching please.

Or the April Fool! Nice job staffers.

HOO WAH! Congrats to Shorin Ryuu!