ramymensa

Keep us posted. And best of luck with the surgery too

This is indeed frustraiting sometimes. Not matter how much we keep telling ourselves that rank doesn't matter, it still matters. When we have gone through fire and water for a rank (at least my instructor is very demanding) we start valuing that rank because we know how much effort we have put into that. Seeing people who are sub-rank as skill but over-rank as the actual belt really gives one a bad taste in the mouth ... Just see the adults classes (kids classes are most of the time not good for adults since we get the feeling we;re in kindergarten). If the adults are not skilled either, as others have already said, time to shop for another dojo ...

I am not an instructor yet, but I can tell you what my sensei does and what I do when I teach lower ranks. We are demanding ... Sometimes a student would be pushed a lot and really test his limits. It happened to me, but it was a good thing in the end.

psp? I think about Paint Shop Pro, but something tells me this is not what you are looking for ...

well, for a non-MA admin this is indeed an achievement. Proves that one can talk about something one never practiced Great post count indeed, Patricks. And the project too. Yet another good ifroggy project I have the pleasure of being a part of

We used to go to the clubs and have a soda together, maybe some movies, parties. As long as people feel nice together they'll start planning their time together too

I can't vote for anything. I WISH you would get the title you are aiming for. So far, congratulations for the current achievement. And best of luck for everything you have planned in the future.

It was indeed a tough call, but sometimes we need to realise that our goals have changed over time. BEST OF LUCK with boxing. Keep us posted on the progress

Although I am a radio DJ and I love music, i can't stand it when training. Our instructors tried something in the warm ups but I was very angry about this. My moaning and others' made them forget this and train quietly

I am also thinking about movies. They depict MA as something easy to master (you need to wash some cars and paint some fences and you;re a black belt), the unrealistical fighting scenes using wires and special effects more than actual skills, the bad reputation of some MAs because poorly trained students and masters who are giving a BB in half an year if possible ... Everything that convinces people that MA is simple and we are just not as good as a boxer. In boxing it's pretty simple. They see KOs, they see blood ... usually boxing is taken seriously by instructors and students, there are no BB to be handed down to 3 year olds and so on ..

I have received some insults over the time, but I can't recall any that was as serious to be remembered over time. I usualy ignore them

I was also a noob once (can't say I'm such an expert now either ), but there are lots of topics you can contribute. where you can tell us how things are in your MA class, describe the way you train and so on. Just relax and look at the topics. You'll find some topics you can really contribute, not to mention that only by being a member here you are already contributing to the community

I would have recommended something I alsi have ( packard bell vibe 300), but it's a HDD mp3 player so not good at all for what you need. Not to mention it's also expensive. Night Rider's idea is indeed good. Something not too expensive and not HDD based. Still 10-15 songs are not too much if you're a serious jogger. But this can be changed with the appropriate memory card if I am not wrong.

Had both .. the satin ones were better looking, but I found the cotton ones to last longer

Maybe we're dealing with the question: is this a good way to get the girl into the fight? As an instructor the person in the story KNOWS she'll hae a lot of "feelings" as she's preparing for this. Knowing the big night is still unknown is OK for her, that's why she's training 'normally'. As she would know the day approaches she'll be emotional as many of us are when before an exam or tourney. My guess is that we are asked here if by this "trick" the instructor could save her those sleepless nights. When you're fighting in 10 minutes time you can either be too shoked or maybe don't have time to THINK about this. It could mean that she'll "cut off" some days of thinking "what if" and having bad thoughs about it. In the end we're talking about a serious event in her life. what would I chose? Don't know .. for me it would be a nice idea to just put me to fight with no other information .. I wouldn't be shoked. But she might get a "mental block" and be unable to fight. In the end it's about the instructor to know her and to deliver the "news" the best he can. Although a bit cryptical at first, I find the thread quite challenging

Arthur, you do have a point In the end it's not the style, but the teacher/practitioner. The fact TKD is so popular has it's downsides as it does have advantages. Still people can train AS they like and know. Those who don't like it in a place, can join another. As a good change, though, getting it off the Olympics would indeed be good.

Agreed with Andrew here It's indeed something teenage related. And not only male but also female youngsters have similar attitude. 10 years ago I would have gone to the "war", now I just smile and say "yeah, I know you can beat me. What about a nice cappuccino?"

Woohoo. Time for a drink Warm congratulations on this. Be happy about it, it's your work

You'll meet many people with other priorities in life, so just focus on yourself. 5 years ago I would train for 5 times a week, never skipped a lesson. Couldn't understand why people would miss a class. Now I work at a firm and have a lot of sites. I am involved in more than just my good Karate. Had some health issues too and imagine I haven't trained for 3 monts now after another hiatus of 8 months. How can I stand myself? I know I have other priorities now. I need to earn some money and then when I have time and will be fully recovered I'll be able to train. Morals: watch your own evolution. Study as hard as you can now. You'll never what happens tomorrow

I wash my gi, i have 2 of them (cannot afford more) so I can wait till they dry. I haven't used bleach since it would kill the sewings and I don't have money for another one too soon. As for the belt. I wash it. I have a 150 Euro Karategi. I won't have a dirty 5 euro belt ruin it because it's dirty

I think drinking and smoking are bad for MAists and nonMAists too. As a "normal" person I don't drink and smoke since I don't like it and think it's bad for my health. Being an MAist makes it easier since I should have some more control

Well, I've learnt it from you people. When I started posting in KF I found about the roundhouse kick .. it made me laugh at first, but I got used to it eventually

First congratulations Second .. let them bad mouth you. Just do your stuff and prove to yourself you're worhty. there are always people who'll envy you

Agree with you I wouldn't take him off stage, but would seriously consider getting him in a demo again ...

I am not running my own school yet, but I helped my instructor a lot. I used my computer and web design skills to promote his dojo ... in the end it's not a bad use