kkennedy219

You'll also be learning a lot of Japanese in the classes most likely, so maybe the French/English thing won't be too big of a deal.

You and I seem to have a lot in common. I'm 33 and I just started pursuing my lifelong interest in the martial arts. I only wish I had started sooner because I find that I really love doing it. Anyway, I don't know too much about kyokushin, but I train shotokan and it's totally awesome. Definitely recommend it. Good luck!

When I first began my karate training, my sensei told me that I kick like they do in tae kwon do. I kind of had a feeling that this may have been his way of saying I kick like a girl(don't get me started on this expression...I happen to be a woman and my girlish kicking style has proven very effective in getting me out of many a sticky situation in the past), but I tried to look on the bright side and took his comment to mean that I tend to kick very high, knowing that tae kwon do uses a lot of kicks to the head. So the other day, in talking with my sensei, I find out that he has some very strong, very negative opinions on the subject of tae kwon do, due to some negative experiences he had in the past with tae kwon do dojos. So what do you think? Knowing his opinions on the subject, should I be insulted by his initial comment about my kicking style, or take it as a legit observation of technique?

Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a gi cut especially for women? The ones I have used have been the traditional style, seeming to be cut for men because the ties hit me right at the widest part of my hips. So I can't really even make the ties meet properly unless I hike the jacket way up, which is uncomfortable and looks crummy. Most of the women in my class have this problem with the dojo-issued gi. Thoughts?

What an awesome story, Sai. A good friend of mine suffers from MS, and often she cannot even get her son to school because of her physical challenges. I truly admire your strength and ambition. You are the bomb!