ramymensa

You need some time to get into shape and to have your body enjoy the training as much as you do Welcome to KF (C? - God I'm hungry ). Enjoy the company and let your mind be prepared for what's to come

Well ... it's true ... sometimes he was hard to live with ... still the site was good and we could take from there what we liked ... The MU section was an eye opener. Though in Romania things are slightly different from the USA, some information was really useful. Maybe we'll get some info about the event. Nothing could predict it. The site was well run and in the stage it was it needed little administrative work. Not to mention the forums. If Rob couldn't find the time to do the work there were moderators to help. Strange ... very strange

Unbelievable. What an idiot. For 5 bucks? (is that dollars?) ... Good you got away with a suspention (though it's not fair). It was really sad to lose your job because of a neanderthal Hope you'll be OK. I cross my fingers.

Now that's quite weird. It a good informative site. I wonder what could happen. We'll see these days.

I would kick in the shin. It's imparrable. And if done properly you'll have an oponent crawling in pain. I've done it before and it's simple and paiful. Or the kneecap if it's nasty. I can't believe the excrucianting pain would be very easy put aside so the attacker could stand up and fight. Of course there are cases and cases. Sometimes you can solve your problem with a roundhouse kick, sometimes the attacker could catch it and your technique wouldn't work and so on. We can only hope at the time being we'll be able to feel the technique needed and end the fight. We can train and try to be realistic about everything.

The guy should really buy a new belt It's the way we tie ours, though. I needed few weeks to learn it. I found out my newest coleagues have troubles too, so I'm not such a dork

Wait dear, you'll get your share of that Congrats for your success. Looks like you've let them without gold

And your job? Still yours? Now that's even more inspiring ...

You don't need to brag about it in front of your colleagues. They would hate you Still, if they are amazed how well you move (it will show, trust me), you can explain why (to those who really deserve to talk to). I said talk to your instuctor, because he can help you learn Karate in a comparing way. You are good with a style. Know the basics and think the moves. Switching to another style is great and you'll gain knowledge by comparing the things and the mechanisms. After some time in MA we tend to become theoreticians as well as executants. And the new style is a great challenge for an open MA mind.

I'm into a TMA. So I stick to it. If trained properly the results would be good. If not, the most rounded style would do nothing. When a practitioner stinks, the style really doesn't matter.

As long as you work like you should in the class and she does it too, I really don't know what the problem would be. Just don't get distracted. Life is sometimes a great jester and likes to play with us. I've met my BF in a weird way too. I'm a radio DJ and he's been writing for almost 2 years to ask for some songs (it's a show I do on sundays). After 2 years we just went for a coffee. To meet like some old friends who never saw each other's face. No need to say we got hooked. I don't know when it happened, but it did. So, even though it would be considerred funny, go for it. Maybe you'd find the love of your life. And yes, I say go to this girl and tell her what you feel about her (not just like that, ask her out ... you know ...) And GOOD LUCK. PS. Having her in the same class could solve the problem of "yeah. of course. you are going to that stinky karate class. Instead of staying with me ...."

The red devil is still here Very red and hot ... you can call me at ....

And with the eyes ... Some say it's good to look into the opponent's eyes, because they can tell you when he is going to strike. Unfortunatelly you can't find out what limb is gonna hit you. So I'd watch for the entire body. You could be superman. Still to hit you've got to move the leg or hand in order to get into my head or abdomen. So with a good reaction the problem can be dealt with.

Are we talking about URAKEN? (back fist) ... Nice tesnique and indeed hard to spot sometimes. I'd agree with the others. Let's leave aside the myth of looking into the oponent's eyes. You're trying to beat him not to make him fall in love with you Well, I'd say we should look at him as an ENTIRE BODY. And do it so we can rely on peripheral vision too. And forget to think. It's about feeling the other, not thinking like in a math theory (easy to say, I know).

In our dojo ... you help out with the technique from blue belt (5th kyu) or higher (depending on your skills and the how the instructor trusts you into doing this). A brown belt can even do the entire training (with sensei inside). A BB can do it without having anybosy assist him (again if he is trusted by sensei). To be able to correct somebody and teach the right form you've got to be really good. Some teaching skill is needed. And being a class with adults and some kids, I wouldn't let a 10 year old show me something when I know I can kick his ..ss right away and make him eat the 2.50 meters of black belt around his waist. You'll tell me some old senseis couldn't stand up in a serious kumite. But few years ago they were full of strenght and they've got a life long experience. The little BB was years ago not a fearless sensei, but a cell waiting to divide God I'm MEAN Hopefully in my dojo there's no kiddy with BB. They are all adults and sweet persons.

It was easy for me. I entered college and the sports I could do were quite a few. Karate was one of them. Since I wanted for all my childhood to do Karate, I just went there. For a semester I did it like a sport (getting a mark after the end of the semester). Though I didn't need it next semester anymore, I still went. Talked to sensei and joined the club for even more training. Been there for almost 3 years. They are excellent people and I keep going. Not to mention I've brought them some students too

I think you should have an open discussion with your new instructor. Telling him all about your previous experience is fair and needed. The guy must know about your skills. Maybe you could get a higher rank. If not, it's not the end of the world. Being a BB in TKD is a advantage. Regarding karate being better ... I do Shotokan Karate ... still I wouldn't claim this ... there are some differences and we'd come to the apples and oranges being compared Good luck and tell us how it went.

I am kinda sore too after training, though I've got a good condition. It's a slight feeling and I find it OK. It tells me I've worked some.

I think you should really express your worries to your instructor, in a very delicate manner, but you must find out what he thinks about it. Rushing through the ranks and katas is a mistake in my POV. I've learnt one kata for every rank and only after 6th kyu I started learning a second one (that was neede afterwards). When I was yellow I studied Heian Nidan for the next belt and rehearsed Taikyoku Shodan and Heian Shodan (needed in the previous exams). Some coleagues were doing Bassai Dai with the higher ranks, saying they got bored. Though I could learn some fancy and nice katas, I just swallowed my pride and continued with my Nidan. No need to say the guys didn't pass the exam (they culdn't perform the kata as good as needed and nobody was interested they knew the "dance" in Bassai Dai). I'm kinda old fashioned but I say .. stick with the natural order. The kata curriculum is made up so one would get from easy to hard and simple to complex. Follow the steps and you'll find the way. Thus you'll master the katas and perform them CORRECTLY, with kime, timing, zanshin and so on. Kata is not a dance. Coregraphy is important so you won't mix the movements. But add the others ingredients, take a lesson in patience and the results would be good.

i think it's great when there's discipline and respect. And a willing student can study 2 arts at the same time (I can never get enough of training )

Good indeed. And you are right about the basics. We all want to do all kinds of fancy stuff. Doing this without proper training leads to nowhere. For instance I thought Ura Mawashi Geri was impossible to do. I tried it and couldn't even get close to that. After doing some time in Kihon I suddenly realised I can do it. Now it comes naturally because my body got use with the dynamic of the movement, I have better ballance and I understand how it's done. So KIHON rules ...

I kind of understand him. I'm not willing to be punished (kicked and so on) because I've made a mistake. Punish me (push ups ...) if I'm lazy and unbehaved. Otherwise just teach me and leave me alone. Being called stupid and idiot is not good, too. Because I'm a 25 years old female (teacher and college graduate in just 2 months) and with a high IQ. So I wouldn't recomend anybody to treat me disrespectful. For the other problem ... take kickboxing, muay thai and similar styles. Or just get a GUN.

You shouldn't feel bad. After all he's sensei and SHOULD be a match and even better Not that you couldn't win against instructors, is just that they should be really good. I've noticed from your post he didn't beat you (he had control) so it was just a great sparring. You should be glad you had some challenge (winning all the time could get boring). So head up and look for another oportunity to work with the guy

If your sensei said you should go, it means he's sure you can hold yourself. About kata. You must KNOW them not almost know Practice them zillion times and only them you'll be able to perform OK (remember it's a competition and you'll be over emotional ... they must be a second nature.) Perform only the katas you've done for months, not one you've recently learnt. You could win a competition even with a Heian Shodan, if it's perfomed perfect (has happened). At kumite ... spar frequently and have sensei look and give advice, you can't do wonder in days, but at least get rid of some bad habbits And ... be confident and it will be OK. Tell us how it went. GOOOOOOOOOOOD LUCK

I'd say just go. Maybe you'll get your ..tt kicked at first but at least you'll know how it feels. You'll be able to see your limits and stuff that needs to be worked out to become better. What does your Sensei say about it?