ramymensa

I began Shotokan in University and after taking the rank 9 kyu (white belt) I left the club because I left school for 2 years. Afterwards I got back. I've tested for the second belt (8 kyu- yellow belt) and got a sort of a temporary grade. In fact I got the belt, but sensei told us (we were 3) in 2 months we'll grade again and then we'll get our diplomas. I was frustrated and sad although I was a yellow belt. Needless to say I refused to wear my belt (I used the white one instead) and in 2 months I got my rank with "standing ovatins". Sensei was thrilled with my progress and only then I wore the belt. About temporary ranks ... I'm against. I would have felt better knowing I failed (well I failed, but they said I got the rank ). For me and for my 2 coleagues it worked. We strived to get better and had no problems since then. We also decided to train twice as much (from 2 days we got to 4 days a week).

There are times when you come across things you are not gonna stand. Maybe sensei does or says something that is not OK. There are some limits everyone sets for oneself. I won't agree with some reactions from my instructor or from my coleagues and perhaps it's your case too. (Hopefully we are treated like royals there ) For instance, I wouldn't let my instructor hit me with no reason. I don't stand mockery. I make fun of myself, and I accept jokes about myself. When the limit is crossed ... war begins I also demand respect. I respect the others thus expect the same treatment. How do you feel about these things? Are there limits you set, or are you going to let anything happen to you?

In every family (MA too ) there are some things that don't work OK everytime. Have you ever had this feeling? Did you ever feel mistreated? We could learn something from this

If you were in Shotokan, guess the problem would have come from our low stances. Anyway, try to take care of your knees. They are irreplaceable And surgery can solve it, but it would take you out of sports for a long time. Perhaps you could try a gym or something. I don't know how much they would charge for using their bikes and other stuff. Maybe it's under 100 $. Or maybe not ... Perhaps you might consider some "cream" ... BenGay or something similar. Honestly I'm not good at this, but perhaps you could find something to help you. You could talk to a doctor. Take care of youself. Good luck

It's Shotokan. Got into it because it was available for me as a student at the University. Now I'm training twice as the other students and feel great about it.

I sparred a few days ago with my instructor (sensei's assistant). I managed to hit her in the chest. She wore the protective gear, I had gloves, but she still felt it. It wasn't such a powerful punch (or was it?), but it hurt. Imagine how would she have felt without protection ... So I'm again for protective gear. Now I know it's OK. And I guess she won't learn many things from this pain. Except for (God forbid) ... she's got some problems with her "chest" after the match. And feeling the pain there won't make her a better karateka.

Hmm Yeah. The benefits ... They always see this "benefit" ... a beautiful body and a good condition. Guess this is how we could trick them into "allowing" us to go to karate

Withers M.A.A., well said All of here thank you Confidence is important. One must show this, even though inside it's a "storm". Feeling nervous a little is OK. BUT don't let nervousness get you. I've seen good karatekas fail just because they were "desperate". Sometimes nervousness turns into panic and then it's all lost. Think you've worked hard, you are doing OK ... and it's gonna be fine.

Tournaments would be ok if it wasn't for those guys. It's great to get face to face with some strangers and to try to win or just to learn from this experience. Unfortunatelly power, money and other "dirty" interests are here, too. And who has to suffer? The kids, teenagers or mature people who dedicated a lot of time in order to study a martial art, who just wanted to "test" themselves, who bled and sweated in dojos, dojangs (and others ...), who have chosen to go a few times a week in another place than near their family and loved ones, those who maybe still suffer from health problems due to sparring or too many hours of training, those who went to school or to their job with a blue eye, or having pains because of some strained muscle or fracture. I think it's a lack of respect ... and many other "lacks" Those who are corrupted forgot a long ago how hard they've trained in order to win a match, or how dissapointed and frustrated they felt when a similar thing happened to them ... Guess money and power are good to gain a selective amnesia They've forgotten the DO (The Way), although they preach it in almost every MA. "Perfection of character"? Yeah sure

Hmmm They are dangerous (well we all were dangerous at the beginning.)When I first sparred I made sure I would do this with someone my rank or a beginner, you know, cause I would be better. Unfortunatelly the lesson was quite painful, they had no control at all. thus I mage a big change in my "strategy" and accepted to sparr only with higher ranks. it's better. They control their technique and it's OK. My instructor does some self defence classes and a friend of mine plus my wonderful person decided to take them too. The students have no MA training at all and they are learning some kicks and punches. yesterday a boy wanted to work with me, and although I work with my friend we decided to change the partner. He was terrified that I would hit him. After 2-3 repetitions he realised it's impossible. It wasn't my intention to hurt him (that would be silly) and stopped the punches so I would just touch him. He liked it. Well for my case, I was scared, because the guy had really no control nd I was supposed to trust him Fortunatelly it went well. So my conclusion ... avoid beginners ... Or train them so they'll learn they don't have to knock their partner unconcius

About "it's not a real fight" ... hmmm well I guess it's kind of a fight though. Yesterday I've received a punch in the face and it hurted when I tried to eat. Also I had the wind out of my stomach, or how you call it I've deliverred some serious attacks though. The person sparring with me is my instructor (sensei's assistant). She received a similar treatment We used "reasonable" force. We were using gloves and the techniques weren't performed full power. We got hit more serious because we were attacking at the same time BUT we are also friends and decided we won't kill each other. In tournament it's kinda different. They don't kill you, but everybody wants to win, so their tecniques won't be as light as when it comes to sparr with a friend. They want to hurt you, guest it's a fight then Just a thought ...

HEY !!! Well congrats too all. It's great to take part to the discussions here and find out so many interesting fact. The forum is a great project and it pays of. Guess it's good to have so many members and all this traffic ... Congratulations again. Looking forward to participate in 2003

Yep ... me too. i know it's an "old" model, but I like it. I need the phone to call and to be called, not to make some heads turn into my direction. For this all I have to do is appear

As Blue observed ... go see a doctor. i don't think it's such a big problem (hope ), but you could get more answers. Talking to your mother is also essential. This time ... without ... seems great. In a few years the problem would normally disappear and these "holidays" would remain sweet memories. The changing in your eating habits is also a good choise. Good luck and enjoy evry moment in your life

Thank you KickChick for making me feel better about my lack of knowledge I've visited the link you provided. Hmmm Interesting, but no thanks I think that style is too "hardcore" for a girl And I also like my pijamas. Abot another link ... http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/knifefighting.html ... Very intersting. Thank you again. I'm reading the stuff now at the same time with browsing the forum

Chocolate ... fruits ... chocolate again ... Fortunatelly i'm quite thin, well to be honest I'm not even in the statistics 1.70 m and 48 kg ... I could use some extra weight ... and even my bad nutrition habits won't do the job

I think I can't help you, because we have a different time here Anyway ... congratulations for you score It's a great site. One day we'll come to be online 500 at a time

As a karate practitioner I must confess this thread gives me head-aches, because there are so many possible interpretations ... Karate in the Olympics would be a good thing on one side, because of the promotion. Karate is famous, but one could always use some "extra promotion". The downsides are important though . Losing many of characteristics that made karate known and loved. Losing it's traditional "touch" already happend to karate, as we have now dojos that emphasize only sparring, dojos where dojo kun is not recited anymore and so on. Karate is facing this problem for some years and entering the Olympics could worsen the things, but the harm was already done. Should karate go into this stage? maybe yes, maybe no

Dancers are those who started karate only few months ago or who didn't have time to practice a lot (It's not a general rule, just an observation). After many many training sessions, dancers are able to add power and "spirit" and thus make their performance better. They can convince then The higher ranks and BBs are even more proficient and they seem quite frightening They have everything, speed, power, determination, low stances, fluent moves and thus perform the forms (katas) like many mortals could only dream of doing

Hmm Guess I'm not the only one who found out age is not an impediment. I've noticed guys who are more mature tend to spoil their lovers .... Love it

G3. Yep. Got this. I would have been great to see them there I used to have a weekly radio show (besides my daily 4 hours on air) in which I presented an album. I presented G3 also, "A Momentary Lapse of Reason"(Pink Floyd), "Nightingales and Bombers (Manfred Mann's Earth Band), Tom Waits '"Mule Variations", Laurie Anderson's "Strange Angels", Return To the center of The Earth and the 6 wives of Henry the 8th (Hope I rememberde it right) done by a genius called Rick Wakeman, Ladder (Yes, love them), American Prayer (Doors, after Jim's death) .... and so on. Those were good times. Now I moved to another station in which we play music for teenagers, Spears, Enrique Iglesias, and all those guys. I miss the old days

BlueDragon1981 you'll get better. The only thing good in having some very nasty times is that you cannot get lower than that, it could only get better, and I will eventually. It's difficult, but you'll survive. Hope you'll write us soon you are doing great. Take care and get better

Hmm The 3 gods of guitar If malmsteen was there too, I guess you would have really melted If you could only see me ... I'm green ... envoius ...

Perhaps now Jack is off that dojang, but the subject is quite interesting and I'll bore you with a post. Leaving a dojo/dojang is extremelly hard, but it must be done, if you feel like you've done your job there. It takes a lot of courage to come to the conclusion: well, I've done all I could, it's useless to stay, ... let's move... Jack had the brains to analize his goals. if MA training no longer helped him achieve them, he left. It's a hard lesson, but I guess we must all learn it. He is quite an example. Karate training is for life, this is how many tell us... well it's for all life as lond as your life is connected with it. If not, why spend years doing something that no longer means something for you? Sometimes one must review one's goals ... Right now I'm in love from my head to my toes with karate. i hope I'll be this way for my whole life and then I'll train till I die But if I'll feel this no longer means much, I hope I'll find the strenght to say. ENOUGH. It's been great. Now i must move on. Sorry for the lenght of the post and for the "melodramatic" words ... it's just a thought.

Well ladies and gentlemen ... I've found HIM The only problem is he's 35 (11 years older than me). If I think of it better it's no problem Wish me luck PS I'm amazed. He is almost perfect. Hope I'll see him this way later