ramymensa

Hmm 20 dollars? I wish. well here the cheapest karategi is around 50 dollars. And the minimum wage is 80 $. So ... Well she is not from Timisoara. Her parents are doing a great effort in order to have her in University in another city and it's quite expensive. She has to pay for training and food and so on and she can't afford to give 50$ on a gi or 100 for a good one. I think it's impresive her and other students in the same situation keep on training and do the best they can. In the end that's what matters

In our federation everybody is wearing white karategis. The beginners, advanced, even the 7th dans So we'll have to take care of the white stuff.

It's good your friends will be back. Chose very cautiously your partner and try to talk to the instructor. It's not OK what happened there. Bad temper and personal problems should be left at the door. That's what I always do, because the person I'm working with is not responsible for me having a bad day when doing throws I only work with certain persons. Few days ago I almost sprained my wrist and now I'm very attentive when it comes to letting someone fly me on the tatami

Shorin Ryu is a great style and you and your friend could indeed spend some time together. It's interesting seeing another style that is similar but also different. I had a very interesting discussion with a guy hho studies Kyokushin. It's interesting how things are done different some times and in other ocasions it's very alike. About Shotokan ... it emphasizes speed. It's just only those who have studied for some years develop such a speed. At first they are all clumsy, but repetition makes it perfect.

It's not the cloth that matters !!! My friend is also in Karate and she doesn't wear a karategi, because she can't afford one (still. She is saving up). So when it's grading time and tourney time she just borrows one from another coleague. That didn't hinder her in practising karate for almost 3 years.

Well, in a way we are human. And some have their little affairs. It's a pity, but that's how it is. Well who knows, maybe we could change something.

wcnavstar: i wouldn't be so hard on those who dan't study katas in their styles I still agree with many of the things you said about the use of katas. Welcome to the Karate forums

Another girl here or like my boyfriend says "kiddo" You could see my real profile by coming to Europe

First of all it's SHUTO UCHI not SHOTO If you want to see some images try http://www.dojo.ro/tehnici.htm It's in Romanian, but don't be discouraged. Look for Shuto Uchi and even Shuto Uke and maybe it'll help

Some misconceptions and a bit of truth. Karate helps with self-confidence (so does any sport that teaches the person to pass his limitations and to become better in everything he does). Being in front of the others (at gradings, competitions and dojo training) helps them become more relaxed in front od "crowds" and some timid persons became confident and turned into quite popular persons. The permanent "quest" in finding the limits and breaking them allows a person to excel and so become again confident. The activity in Karate, done to achieve a perfect techniqe improves concentration, beneficial again. The disciplin and auto-discipline together with learning to concentrate at the tack at hand is again a point won by the student in dojo and his everyday life. The list could go on and on. Interaction with others helps in the social life, the body benefits from the workout ... About perfecting characters ... hmm I doubt one could become a better person by taking Karate. I've seen jerks who are BB and I've seen some very decent people. One could be a great person and not be involved in MA. You are a good person or not. It's not Karate's fault some become monsters

In our dojo all ranks are together cause it's a small dojo with only 2 instructors. One teaches the newbies the other takes care of the "doctors" in Karate Having such a group is not always a good idea, but still the job can be good, cause you can always give them separate tasks (hard for advanced, some easier stuff for the beginners). If they work hard it really doesn't matter that much

I'm kinda optimistic about this. I think MA world is gorwing (generally speaking). All the media coverage does a good thing: it promotes the MA world. This is good. The person watching TV wants to start MA training to be like Van Damme, Seagal and so on. In a way it's a bad thing, but at least they are attracted to the thing. They come to a dojo/dojang and find out that unlike Karate Kid you can't become a champion after 2 weeks and that the fancy stuff is for the high ranks. Some leave and never get involved in MA. Some realize the truth and are willing to go all the way. It's good. They become martial artists and some become instructors and so on. Many styles emerged in the last years and this would continue. Some are really good, some are "fakes" money-making business. It's good and bad. People would eventually learn to distinguish good from bad and this would be good

I use to wear tight jeans (the normal ones, without stretching posibilities). I have nice legs (MA thank you ) and I like to show them. Sometimes i tend to be more like a woman and even wear a skirt. Those times (tight jeans and skirt) I tend to be very polite and peaceful I'm a kicker mostly and love to do very high kicks (should have gone to TKD, but gues Shotokan is OK still) and I can't do my stuff dressed like that Anyway here in Romania the guys in the streets are not that dangerous like the American ones seem to be

Had the same problem and now I've changed the tactic I use to wear my gi and a short sport top. Now I try to get rid of the spots, while not making them worse, so I started wearing a t-shirt under. It's sometimes hot, but it's really doing the job. The stains are gone (since I wash the gi like before, but the skin doesn't touch it anymore). The only problem is summer is coming. Then will be too hot so I'll have to wear only the karategi pants and a t-shirt, otherwise at 40-45 Celsius degrees (it can get there), I'll be dying

The thread about SCARS and the fact any material on that is quite expensive, its origins are debatable and the adress is quite "empty" brings a very important thing in my mind. Nowadays there are hundreds of different styles, some old some very new, almost all claiming to teack the ultimate skils, to form the perfect fighter. Some styles were made up by real masters after years and years of studies, styles based on thorough scoentific studies and long experience in the "field". Unfortunatelly sometimes among these masters are some who just took the name. They are high ranks (sometime quite beginners) who had a problem with those who were "bosses" in their dojo. What's the recipy? The (usually) young student feels he'd rather be the boss, so he/she leaves the dojo, invents a new style (copying others), puts a very apealing name, opens a dojo and grants him/herself a very high rank (7-10 Dan).Some do so just to gain some very good money. It's all about money and power. Could you tell me it never happened? No, unfortunatelly. Those who have to suffer are the students who just try to learn something and give money and a very important part of their own time. So let's ask ourselves ... how many of those great-perfect-ultimate styles made up recently are really what they claim to be?

I wouldn't accept to lose a belt after 3 months of not training. This could lead to some problems, like the clubs making a new possibility to take even more money from me I could have some problems, be in a long journey or who knows and I don't think it's fair. As far as I know, a rank can't be revoked. The solution would be to let the person train, keep the rank and improve till he/she would get back in a decent shape. When the person is ready for the next step, then let he/she test. The 6 months for BB. Could be a good idea ... could also bring some problems. don't know

You are contadicting yourself from post to post. Before making statements about something you don't know, please try to achieve some knowledge. It's boring and annoying to have to deal with so many posts made by peopla that are assuming things and present their thoughts as general rules. It's a forum for information not desinformation Good luck in your attempt to become a martial artist

I've come to 6 training sessions a week (one on mondays and wednesdays, 2 on tuesdays and thursdays). I'll add another in the fridays, so they'll be 7. I would train all day long, but nobody's to work with me. They all say I'm crazy But it feels great. 12 hours of traininf a week is quite OK. Hope I'll add some more "effort". I feel great.

Congratulations. I also think judo is a great option. I intended joining a judo dojo, but this year at the University my instructor put together a self defence class and they learn there Aikido, Judo and Shotokan techniques. Imagine I'm there all the time (although I don't have to take the classes). I just said PLEASE to my instructor and she's happy to have a "crash test dummy". She wouldn't throw a beginner, cause they are all freaked out, so she uses me. And I love every flight Go study Judo. You'll learn some useful things. Hmm O Goshi. OUCH. A beginner tried that on me. My left hand still hurts

Laurie, that's great. I like your instructor A relaxed teacher is always good to have around. I don't mean he should have a sloppy technique, but a perfect technician should always have a good human side You'll do wonders in the new dojo. When you really love the place and the people you work with everything looks simple and the progress is visible.

Yeah, I agree. I think quiting MA because of a bad teacher is not OK. If you have to deal with a sensei who is not good and you feel that, just go to another dojo. Quiting a hobby just because you didn;t find the right teacher ... no, don't do this. You deserve the best, go and find it When you feel your MA passion is gone, ask yourself why. If there are more "cons" than "pros", then quit. Hope you'll never have to do it, but it's your choice, you should be happy in what you do

Parting in good terms is always a good tactic Congratulations. In this way you'll be welcome in any place you've been before. I was almost certain it would work even with your loved one. You'll benefit from this, both. Have fun and work hard. It's different when you are happy in the dojo. You can do a lot of effort and still enjoy. I just went to a dojo run by another sensei (a friend of my sensei's and a higher rank. He and another one are the "biggest" in Romania: 7th Dan in Shotokan). I feel akward in his class, I really don't like him a lot and it's kinda strange. Still in his dojo only champions train and he is a great technician, although not such a pleasant person as my sensei. I'll go to his dojo once a week just to absorb information and to correct my technique. I have an interest in "stealing" info from there. Then I train in my dojo and enjoy it, while applying what I've learnt from the "big guy". Now I know how it feels to not love the place you train. Still I'm into it because I know he is the best and I intend using this opportunity. (He only trains with a limited number of people. He's chosy)

You'll do just fine The new instructor granted you your rank, and even if it's higher that before it means you looked impressive in his eyes. Good luck and be happy. You really deserve it.

WOW. Great. Now you'll be happy at last. What's your bf feeling towards the big change? Guess he'll understant eventually

Yeah indeed BKJ. In Karate we gather in order to drink tea, recite haikus, take care of ikebana and of course writing Kanji Wake up to the real world and stop saying nonsenses. When judging a certain art be sure you know enough to last you in a direct "combat" (in the words of course) with the practitioners and instructors in that style. Karate is for self-defence. Yeah it is, if you've read some posts in karateforums you'll come to notice we had many debates cause other "genius" said karate is not for self-defence. Karate is combat for Goodness sake. It's hard, it's effective, it's "war". Read more about the stuff. You'll be amazed Till then happy reading and posting. Prepare for the big day. May 12th? or something