New to karate and already being picked on!

[Spodo Komodo]

Oops, sorry, using jargon again. Karateka just means a karate player or student (ka meaning man/person type of thing) a Judo player is a Judoka and an Iaido person is an Iaidoka. Some schools do add a red belt before yellow these days, it varies from place to place.

[joesteph]

Some [Wado] schools do add a red belt before yellow these days, it varies from place to place.

Soo Bahk Do and Tang Soo Do have a red belt in place of brown, symbolizing that you're in training for dan membership. Perhaps Tae Kwon Do uses red for that purpose also?

[Koke]

This reminds me of something my sensei did in a beginners class. He told everyone they were going to spar a black belt, one point match. Everyone froze up. Then sensei took one tiny little child out of the class room and told him it was easy, all he had to do was run up and punch him in the belt. In the other room the students went up one at a time, and each one didn't score his point. After a little bit the black belt got cocky and started playing a little, leaving himself wide open and such. But the students were to afraid to do anything because, how could they ever beat a black belt? After everyone had gone, sensei brought the little child, who was hopping and ready to go. As soon as the match started he popped forward and made his point. The black belt was shocked. The students were awed by this little one. Sensei used this as an example, like the little engine that could. Wether you think you can, or can't, you're right. Even if you're the smallest one in the group. It was also a good lesson for the black belt. The power of positive thinking. lol.

[Pajarito21]

Fitness has nothing to do with the way you look. Everybody has a different body type and a different way to gain muscle. I am a shorter stout man and I gain muscle very easily but its hard for me to get a six pack. Fitness is all about how you feel. Do you feel great and happy? If so, then you are fit.

If you get angry when you are sparring then you are looking at sparring in the wrong way. Sparring is not a fight, it is a learning experience. You must treat each match as a way to polish your technique and work on control. You must treat karate as a battle with ones self not with an opponent. Don't look to be better than one person or be bigger than some one else. Train, learn, gain confidence, and make yourself better.

Discipline is your beginning objective in karate, after you gain this, then you can truly start your adventure.

[ninjanurse]

Some [Wado] schools do add a red belt before yellow these days, it varies from place to place.

Soo Bahk Do and Tang Soo Do have a red belt in place of brown, symbolizing that you're in training for dan membership. Perhaps Tae Kwon Do uses red for that purpose also?

Yes, in TKD, red is the highest gup(kyu)-just before Black.