ramymensa

I was assuming we're talking about the splits with one leg in front of the other (that I can do). The Van Damme splits are still to work for me. I have 2-3 inches to go to full extension. And now I can touch my toes, though I couldn't at first.

Well that's a good idea indeed. I guess you'll have to have some unexpensive equipment along with the "great names", expensive but useful for those who'd like to give some money for quality. It's important to have some costumers that afford expensive things. A good place and promotion are also important.

Guess I'd have to wait for 20 years to be able to have my school. We are allowed to open a school when shodans. It take almost 7 years to get to BB or even more ... so I guess we're kinda qualified.

We also use WKF rules. Now there is some ground work involved and we try to catch up with the change.

Poor Patrick. And I've PM-ed him thinking there was something wrong with the forums. In Romania we are not that determined to prepare all kids of pranks so it took me some time to realise the fact Anyway, great idea. It felt good to be a KF sensei.

It's Kalaripayattu. They learn empty handed techniques, then wooden weapons, then metal ones. It takes years to get to the next stage. I've seen a documentary on National Geographic about this style. Very interesting, still very far from what I desire in an MA world. Can't help but admire the stylists involved there, but I wouldn't practice it. Looks like Kung Fu and Wushu in the acrobatics. It's a very old style. It was transmitted by Bodhidarma and it's thought it inspired Karate and Kung Fu (especially this style with the animal stances). It was banned by the British colonists in the last part of the 18th century. Still gurukus (their senseis) could run some secret kalaris (dojos ) and keep it going. It's practiced now even in temples and the religious side is very important. In the "modern" part of the world this style would be hard to teach. I guess there would be great chances of frauds Kalaripayattu belongs to its country ... and the practitioner must be endowed with a lot of knowledge, belief and PATIENCE.

Taikyoku Shodan is the first at our club, too. We skip the other taikyoku's because they have only a small variation. After learing the kata, students are kinda ready for the heians.

I quit once and I remained outside of MA world for 2 years. I came back really determined to never let it happen. When I started we were many students at my rank, and I had a friend with whom I worked. She's quit last autumn and I feel more and more lonely. I've grown into ranks and there are fewer coleagues with the same belt. And I expect to be even lonelier. Still I've got friends and I relate to my instructors and I tend to take care of some new friends. They are 3 girls, students at the university like I am, 2 white belts and one orange (9 kyu, 7 kyu). They are my little students and I help them whenever I have the time. I don't have a coleauge at my level, but I'm moving towards the teaching phase as I always intended. Sometimes MA means you have to cope with losing some friends who weren't determined enough to carry on. Still you can remember them and always feel gratefull for learning something from them. They were another good experience and you must stand up again and continue your way up.

We do knuckle push ups. Some don't, because they can't, but for me they are more "comfortable" than the others. It has helped me a lot. Though I've got tiny wrists they are quite strong and my BF stopped laughing at my skinny fizique when he noticed my wrists are not weak as he thought. He had the same "surprise" with my neck

DON'T PUSH TOO FAR. Try to have some more patience. There are flexible people that are born like that and of course some stiff poles like US It comes with time, just don't try to hard. It took me almost 3 years to improve flexibility and I could have got the result in half the time if I wouldn't push myself too much. I had 3-4 strained muscles and I never recovered fully after the last one. I can bend on my left leg, touching the hip with my chest, but the right part is stiffer, because of the injuries. It's better to have a continuous effort with smart dosage than ups and downs due to overtraining and injuries. They heal hard and you lose many precious classes because of them.

I preffer striking. It comes more naturally for me. I'm tall and slim so at grappling I don't have the same advantage as in striking. Still I learn some techniques so I won't be completelly unprepared. It's good also to learn to stand well so I won't be taken to the ground to easilly. Fortunatelly my feet almost glue to the floor when in such situation

Maybe it could be better. I know someone who did surgery and now is feeling way better. It's unpleasant and you are out of MA for a while, some months or so, but then you can get back and recover. If you don't deal with your problem it won't heal and you'll be out forever (God forbid). So just do what the doctors advice. Maybe get a second opinion and be prepared for anything. It can't get worse than now. Good luck and tell us about your progress.

Side kick. It always lets them in amazement ... and out of air I start the kick like it's front kick and then rotate the hip and hit with a side kick on their attack. It's a great counter attack.

Name: Ramona God/Goddess type: Burning Bush Worshippers: Hoboes and Orphans They show devotion by: Not working on the sabbath (or any other day) Name: Ramona Iftode God/Goddess type: God of Lazyness Worshippers: Hoboes and Orphans They show devotion by: Not working on the sabbath (or any other day)

About the ossing problem My boss at the radio station was telling me something and afterwards he asked me if I understood that .. I replied . Oss. He looked quite amazed .. in Romanian Os means "bone" and he really had no idea about what I was talking about and what bone I was having in mind. And yes, I also try to wear clothing that could help me kick and move Guess we're sick

I put Japanese, though if we were to be picky Shotokan has very strong roots in the Okinawa island. Still I consider it kinda japanese

Glad to hear about your health improvement. It's good it happened this way and the training didn't aggravate your previous suffering. Little by little you'll be able to remember or to relearn what you need and you'll feel even more happy than now. Good luck in your journey and always tell us how it's going.

Now that's something woths discussing It's nice she did protect herself and win, the fact she can't remember all too well I guess is due to the adrenaline rush. Since he was in hospital afterwards it's OK ... Holy cow ... I'm a SENSEI ...

It was the curiosity, but it's OK this way too.

I couldn't see the whole performance, but I've caught the last part. The guy did move great It was a pleasure seeing him.

Last night I've learnt i can still bend my back, though it hurts sometimes and I just skipp this part at warming. My instructor asked me to work with her at stretching (we did it in pairs) Also I've learnt that I'm way more flexible than her, though when I started karate I was stiff.

I haven't got any and I'd like a little one on my ankle. still my BF doesn't like the idea and I guess I might regret it .. so I quit the thought.

In an ideal situation whenever sick I shouldn't train. I know I won't be able to work 100 % and it would be deemed as a waste of time. Still I go because I want to be there and to learn more. You can learn by seeing others too, and I always discuss with sensei. When I don't perform too good it's because I'm not feeling OK and he gets to know it first. Maybe it's not a great idea but I still push myself. The only time I skipped class because of sickness was in january this year. I had a very nasty flu and it just wouldn't go. So I thought I should really stay home and take care so it wouldn't turn into something more dangerous.

Now that sucks. You shouldn't be paired with kids. We have a mixed class too, but we, grown ups are working together and the kids are in th left side of the class and work separatelly with an assistant. We "meet" only at the stretching time (it's 30 minutes in our dojo) and at the line up. Competing against your coleagues in the school is OK, but NOT enough. You need other schools in the tourney to be able to relate to the "real" world. Discuss with your instructor all these problems and be ready to make the move if you feel the things remain the same after the little chat. The extra ranks ... they are not OK, but ..

We've all went through it or some even got stuck After some time you'll feel the opposite ... you lack any good technique, you'd get your ..tt kicked and so on ... afterwards you'll feel overconfident again and so on. Just don't get carried away. Don't let these feeling controll you. Use them to better yourself and to reward your efforts but always try to relate to better coleagues and you'll be more realistic