ramymensa

Agree ... In Shotokan we do the same thing. I sparr with you, apply a technique in a 'lighter" form ... enough power to demonstrate you it could get nasty Full speed and still some control, Nobody gets in to the hospital and when I'll have to send someone to the Intensive Care unit, trust me, I'll do it These days I had the opportunity of doing some training with a TKD BB. Well, the guy rocks My deepest respects to him and to your style. I still think shotokan is the greatest (FOR ME, not in general), but I do respect martial artists from whatever style if they prove me they deserve my admiration and, if they worked to become good, they have already got my respect

"Indoiti genunchii !!!" It's in Romanian

It's quite a discussion Regarding your partner ... if she wanted lighter contact, she had some reasons. Maybe she was uncertain, maybe scared, bored, ill, who knows. If I was her, I would have turned my back and find anothe partner. if I were you, I would turn my back and leave. I'm not willing to work with somebody who doesn;t seem to do the things serious, but if I wanted to be more relaxed and my partner would't ease up, I'd leave. I train for myself and can tell how I want to do. It doesn't matter her previous deeds. It's the moment. And she wasn't arrogant I guess. Have you thought she could have been sick? or ... Well I don't know ... I'm puzzled

As I already said in our dojo we learn Taikyoku Shodan and afterwards Heian Shodan. The first kata is good for the beginners because it helps them learn and understand kata. Heian Shodan is a little bit hard to perform, because of that Tettsui and Shuto Uke. It adds a new stance, Kokutsu dachi, quite hard to perform. Thus Taikyoku is OK. They are not that scared I guess when it come to Heians. Just my opinion. It helped me too ...

Never leave MA because of the others. You are the one who chose this, you are the one who's sweating in the dojo ... You don't feel ok, leave the dojo. If you love your activity it would be easy to fin into another school. When you think you've done with MA, leave it. Don't stay if you don't love it anymore. The one who must ask and answer is yourself. The answers are within you. Search them and act accordingly. Then you;ll be happy. As far as I can feel you dislike the ways in the dojo, thus finding a new one is a very good idea. Good luck and keep us posted

LOL ... guess you should continue like nothing happened. If your gi snappes when you move they could mistake your "masterpiece" for a snap ... or ... Anyway don't let anything disturb you. perform like it was somebody else and finish your kata with all the attention. It is said you must continue if you've done a mistake, let's say it was a mistake Kick ... nice thread ... you know what ... ya men/women are twisted indeed

LEAVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You got involved in MA because you wanted something different than being hit wiht stick like some slave on galleon. It's your right to prevent this from happening. Talk to the instructor, just to show you are civilised. than leave. Find a school where techniqies are taught without this bad habit. If I were to be punished for all my bad stances, katas done while dreaming and so on I think i would heve been long gone from this world. Repetition makes it better (quite perfect) not some weird with his medieval ways.

I don't train in the same dojo you do, but we also use a hired hall and it's dirty. sometimes we slip because of the fine dust on the floor. My gi is always dirty so of course I wash it. When I was a beginner my white belt, afterwards the yellow and so on got quite gray. and they looked pathetic put on an imaculate gi. So I washed them. Not as often as the gi, but when the got colured a little they were cleaned. And this didn't affect my ascension and Funakoshi doesn't visit me in my dreams to tell me I'm a sinner and I've done a great disgrace to my holy belt. If you train outdoors and get as dirty as I saw in the picture I guess you wash your gi, don't you? And knowing how nice were the places it got dirty you still prefer to wear a dirty belt, just for the sake of a myth? I think because I'm not a guy I'm almost maniac when it comes to personal hygene. I don't give a d..n on traditions like those (although I doubt AGAIN they are real). It feels better to be clean from head to toes so be it.

And for ruining the belt while washing it ... It's not necesary to use brushes of "heavy" programs in the washing mashine. Use a mild detergent or soap and if you do it from time to time it would be enough. If the colous don't fade and stain the gi from sweating in the dojo, they should resist the action of clean water. And for not having these problems get a good belt. Maybe not as cheap, but better.

It's a nasty tradition and not even a tradition. A make-believe from us westerners. WASH your belts ... When you a low grade you change the belt in few months so it's not that bad, but when achieveing BB ... Imagine how nice it would smell and how "healty" would be to wear a durty, bloody, sweaty belt ... It's against any rule of hygiene. and don't think japanese guys wear stinky belts. Them ... maniacs of tidyness and order ... Even a rotten belt and looking very old is too much in my opinion. I care a lot about my gi. Try to have it clean and white, almost new. Then, how could I tie a dirty belt on my plain white, extremelly clean gi?

I guess it's not kata that is a waste of time but this thread which is quite useless. We all KNOW kata is important for a karateka, If in your style you have to study katas, do it. If you don't like, move on to another style. It's that easy. Coming here to say kata is a waste of time is like saying karate is detrimental, remember that beautiful thread Let's become mature OTOH, the subject is quite thrilling ... look at the number of posts here

Shotokan ... 2 "nasty" ribs from a fall in self defence class , some knee problems, "issues" with muscles, minor things anyway. Bruises from not so light contact ... The good side: a very good condition, perfect abs, nice muscles and a lot of modesty

Avoid Shotokan It would kill your knees ... And I gues Muay Thay or something similar is OK. Anyway have fun. It's never too late to get back your groove

Indeed. I feel the same. Training in karate is almost intimate for me. Speaking about it feels like I would walk topless Unfortunatelly there are some people who know about it and everytime I make new friends I try to hide this "side" of me ... And when an older friend tries to bring this into discussion i say shhhhhhhhhhh and change the subject

I think it's always the first step. When you are sedentary and have the intention of doing SOMETHING, the hardest thing is to begin. Afterwards it's simple. I see myself doing MA for the rest of my life (long or short) and it's simple. because I've been training for some time and it's quite rewardin. I wouldn't stop no matter what. I prefer a short life full of action and activity than a long boring one

Congrats ... It's great to hear this from you. I like your new instructor already Take care and hope you'll be happy

I've read something about not having to take a MA just to go to some self defence classes. Well I do karate, but I also went to self defence classes held by my sensei and his assistant. There were many students who came to learn something in order to defend and only few had some MA training. The rest were out of shape in such an extent they couldn't cope with the training For them blocks, kicks, grappling, escapes and so on were hard to understand and to perform and it will take a lot of time to perform the techniques properlly and safe. For those who did some MA everything was easier and we really enjoyed it. Knowing the basics is OK and thus you can accomplish new things.

I've read Eiji Yoshikawa's book abot him. I was young and stupid and thought I'll become a samurai one day. Now I've grown up, I realised a girl would have some problems in becoming a samurai Well I do karate and I became sort of a samurai, an european one and with more soul

Liked your LONGGGGGGGGGGG post Great Unfortunatelly you are speaking to the wind ... Some won't listen. And we'll have to go on the same road again Twwnty and mant years? My respect and admiration.

Nasty ... Sorry for you ... You could train with you mates, like other members already sugested. Maybe your instructor would spare some time once in a while to give you some advice. If you trained long enough, you could do something on your own. You also could join a style that's near yours and just add sometimes the thechniques that made your style special ... It's a pity because it's not a very popular style. The good thing about those is that whenever you have to leave a dojo there are hundreds waiting for you Take care and good luck. Shop around a little and I'm convinced you'll find something. Merry Xmas anyway

RUN as fast as you can. Don't stick to the karate if you dislike kata. An important part of your life as a karateka would evolve in the kata "business", thus you'll feel bad. Try to find another style that suits you better.

10x. Done the chewing thing ... I ate too much ... again About feeling better when hearing about others misfortune ... it's a nasty thing, but it works ... And regarding soap operas. Hate them i don't know hoe you're in America when it comes to these "masterpieces", but here in Romania it's going crazy. For some years we are invaded by Brazilian, Mexican and you name it soap operas called here "telenovele". They are awful and still quite popular. Fernanda, Esmeralda ans other "aldas" are on the TV all day long for the joy of "couch-potatoes".

Never do this while I'm eating. I almost chocked with the food and was very close to having a very bad day Excellent stories. Thank you for taking care od our mood

I don't have calluses, but I got new blisters from the double training we had yesterday. It was the last this year and we played almost anything with or without a ball I've "received" a ball in the face. My nose is a little swollen and darker Hope it will heal. I don't want Santa to see me like this. He'd think I'm doing karate