ramymensa

I'd go with experience too. I've never been a natural talent and I know how much I had to work to come to this point. I've worked twice as much as many natural talents and now they all think I'm a natural talent So I say WORK hard and everything would follow. I've seen too many natural talents failing to become great martial artists so I stick with experience. It's a difference in the mindset. The talented ones know they are good (at the beginning, cause then the differences are the greatest) so they tend to relax, knowing we, the stiff and uncoordinated, are way behind. We, the "unnaturals", work hard in order to overcome our handicap and usualy succeed in some years to become good. There are many times when the talented ones remain behind because the refuse the idea of hard work. Just my 2 leis

As far as I remember from a documentary Wu Shu is a waterred down Kung Fu (I'm not trying to offend anyone ... ) more like gymnastics made up in order to still compete in MA. It was a ban put by the Government and Kung Fu was a bit put aside (or at least that's what they thought). The martial artists hid the techniques in this "style" and could still compete and teach what they knew. It's like gymnastics, but it still involves the fighting techniques ... I might be wrong. Still, if I'm right then wushu san shou and wushu are really different

It look weird indeed ... the money stuff. And a strong mixture is not good (when pretending to do a "pure style"), though sometimes it's OK to solve some of the shortcomings of a certain style. We've learnt to break some falls, do grappling and learn some locks taken from Aikido, so I say everything you can learn is good. Shotokan is our main style, but we did some techniques for self defence and I'm sure it won't hurt knowing them. Still most of the time we do what's in Shotokan

Self confidence goes the same for both sexes. Men and women should study diligently and not feel super human from the moment they've entered MA classes. In a street situation they both must have good reactions and a good technique base ... so let's not put only women in this matter.

Congratulations. I've joined my club after the first night. Got hooked and nevel left

UNSU is indeed an interesting kata. I'm posting now to draw your attention to SPELLING. When writing about specific katas, techniques and styles at least do proper spelling. It's unacceptable to mess their names like that. And don't tell us you don't know how to spell. In that case some reading would be useful. Now shoot me PS ... I'm babbling in English and spell like .ell, but at least let's try to do the stuff right when comming to "exotic" names

You are not going to do some research in other styles when you think yours is the ultimate, best, godlike, and there are many out there who think like that. That's the first problem ... lack of respect and uderstanding of other styles ... not to mention not proper training.

The extra weight must be used though ... I've grappled with heavier men (not unusual since I'm skinny and tall) and they couldn't put me to the groung yet. The lack of suplementary kilos can be made up by skill and snake like movements

Forget me for being so picky, are we talking here blue belt (5 kyu) or a smaller rank? To become a 5th kyu it takes more than 7 moths ... around 3 years ... Anyway great job on the contest. Keep on training and competing and the results would be more and more pleasant

Now that's something I've never seen in our federation. At tourneys Kumite is free, you fight from white belt if you feel capable. Ippon Kumite is done ONLY in dojo, to learn techniques and the only time you are tested on it is when grading for 5th kyu and above, afterwards you do Jyu Kumite as well. I don't want to offend, but I don't see the use for a competition in this matter. You either fight or do forms (katas). Ippon kumite seems irrelevant to me. Keep us posted. Anyway my advice, look determined. In kihon kumite (gohon, sanbon and ippon) you must look as if you are about to tear apart your oponent. Take care of the stances. In kihon, the technique must be perfect, no raisen heels or bent rear knee in zenkutsu dachi. The kiai must be loud and the techniques convincing. We keep our fingers crossed

Women outnumber the guys in the students classes (at the "official" training we, girls are kinda outnumberred). Still it's great so many women start taking MA. Enough with prejudices, time to do something for yourselves

ONG-BAK? It's indeed great (hope we're talking about the same thing). I really admire the guy. He did his stunts and even got injured. And I'm almost certain he didn't get the millions the Hollywood guys get for every grin in a movie

It's not always about winning or losing a competition. You've won something more important: experience, new friends and an open minded spirit. Glad you had good time and fought well. Keep on working hard and one day somebody will talk or write in a forum about you in the same way you told us abut the man who won the male open. We all start as beginners and admiring somebody and little by little we become the object of admiration for others. It's just pain and sweat

You can't possibly forget your thing in 2 weeks; it means you didn't get the basics as you should. After 14 days, you should remember PERFECTLY (or almost perfectly) your katas and stuff. Even if you don't practice at all at home, thinking about the moves should help you remember the stuff. A reason enough to postpone your testing. I took my green belt after 2 YEARS of training and I would be able to do my stuff even if woken at 3 AM from my bed. You should really discuss with your sensei and consider moving. Get yourself a good dojo and a serious instructor. Of course you you could stay and become soon a BB. Prepare for the others to mop the floor with you and become just another crappy shodan. You're in a McDojo, without doubt and can 2 things. Convince your sensei to really slow down and get your stuff relearnt and a second nature to you, while not rushing through the ranks or move to other dojo (if your instructor is too hard-headed) or just be happy to hold a rank that's undeserved (because of lack of proficiency and experience). It's your choise. And we are here to help with an advice. Tell us how it's going on

Heian ichidan? perhaps SHOdan ... And it's YONdan (at least in my dojo)

Now that's quite a good idea. And it really adds some "reallity" to your training. Most of the times when in a conflict situation the martial artist is hinderred by the environment. It's easy to kick in karategi and with all the freedom of move in a dojo, but wearing high heels, pants, street clothing and having to cope with all the crowded areas ... now that's an achievement.

In our dojo, Fudo Dachi is by far the most used stance Aefibird, didn't know you are a girl, as well. I'll punish myself doing 482396576 push-ups

Now that's not OK. I don't care of anybody's agenda or plans when they include me in a dangerous way. Competing in a high level class is crazy, when you know you haven't got at least 2 years of very serious training. I refused to compete when I felt I wasn't ready. That's what I told my sensei right in the face. I DON'T FEEL READY. And he let me stay (though he knew I could do OK). This sounds like a McDojo or something similar. I'd leave if I couldn't make it clear that I have to decide if I test or not, even if sensei thinks (or has the interest) that I could take a rank. Of course it's nice to wear a darker belt, but always try to imagine your real value. We all could buy some BB (with embroidery too) and wear it to feel like supermen. Still that rank should be backed by REAL PROFICIENCY. So I say talk to the instructor and get to a conclusion together. You don't train 7 days a week 7 hours a day, so it's kinda rush. Tell us how it's going

Still I wouldn't turn the class into a kindergarden circus. They came to karate to learn karate, not to play around. If they can't focus .. there's the door. They may come back when mature enough. In the problem with ththose kids. Maybe you could manage to expell them on disciplinary issues .. something like that. Or just plainly REFUSE to train them. Say they are distracting class .. something like that. Don't know .. it's not that simple

Well, 4 matches were with boxers The TKD guy was trying to hit at head level, but kept on falling after applying the kicks. If he managed to stay on the feet, maybe he would have stood a chance. The kyokushin guys hit at thighs, but looks like our fellow boxers were quite conditioned and knew damn well to come into punching distance. One of the oponents tried to punch his way .. bad idea

Well it's a learning experience, though you might not believe me You've been there, done it once ... next year you'll have this experience and it would work better, maybe you'll be in, if not, there's always another time. Try to plan your life (job maybe) so you won't suffer (financially) and keep on drawing If you are determined to enter the darn school, you'll be there whether they like it or not. And the fact you couln't do OK after entering because you didn't get passing mark now ... that's crap (I've had some problems in college because I work and couldn't make it to school. I had to take my exams in other session, later than my coleagus. Does that make me less student? No. I'm still the smartest in the class and get high marks). So just focus on your "training" and give us the good news next year

Yes, I'd subdue an attacker with a flashy kick, if it's done properly, with a fair amount of force and I've done it so it became a second nature. Sometimes these techniques work, sometimes they don't. It's all up to the very situation. Sometimes the attacker could for instance block a punch, but a spinning kick done with speed and force could take him by surprise. Any martial artist should put emphasis on the techniques that best suit him/her. I'm not looking for fancies, but I can kick really good and feel the legs more suited for my attacks than punches. For some people punches are better. We are not all build the same, some could have injuries and rely on other limbs to compensate ... Know your technique and then it will work even if it's flashy or the most boring in the world

OUT!!! This is not the way to do it. Trust is the most important thing in the dojo and if a person can't be trusted to perform a decent technique without putting somebody elese in jeopardy, then I say out. Doing what he did was stupid, mean and disrespectful. I don't say a sensei should be put on a pedestal and having his feet kissed 3 times a day, but there must be respect. When you are asked for a demonstration (one of the greatest honors in the class), you must perfom a perfect technique and obey the instructions. Trying to impress this way is imature and again stupid. It ruins the entire goal of the demonstration. Had something similar when I had to explain a guy how to do a combination with a partner (kizami zuki/harai uke and "reply" with gyaju zuki on plexus area). Simple like that. The guy for the reason he's an idiot couterred with a hard punch on my nose, just to know how it feels to hit like that. I didn't react, though I felt the need to sweep the floor with him, but NEVER EVER showed him anything again. When I'm asked to help people with some combinations I just let sensei take care of the "superman". I've told him I'd never work with him and I'm keeping my promise. (At least until he learns how to behave). Maybe your instructor could think of a way to educate the guy or just expell him.

Last week in Cluj (a Romanian city ) took place a MA gala. 6 matches with opponents coming from different styles. There were some boxers who WON EVERY MATCH. They fought kickboxing, TKD and Kyokushin guys who were totalled. Why? Because they couldn't impose their style. Those who tried high kicks got into the high guard, those who have tried to box, got even more punishment and it was kinda funny. The most important when fighting a boxer is keeping him in distance, but it's hard since they know how to get into striking distance. I've noticed those who were defeated didn't work "intelligent" and got their ..tt kicked. It doesn't matter the style is bad, just that there's much to work for them.

No action at all would be worse. So I guess you should try to work with your coleagues and the assistent instructor and something in between. Focus on your karate training too so you keep in good shape and I'd say find a dojo with a similar style. You could even try some grappling and thus you'll be indeed well rounded. Keep us posted