Women in the Martial Arts's topics - tribe.net

funny tales from testing

2008-07-04T01:44:38Z

my son was asking me this the other day
thought I tell you
but you have to tell me a funny tale when you tested

Last year all ready to black belt test(okay , sort of ready)
I put my hair in my usual pig tails(like Abby on Ncis)because pony tails hurt my head
had my white gi on, my testing sheet,etc.
anyway, since I'm in the morning class-some other instructors don't know me-
as I come up with my sheet to the table with the instructors
I let them know my name
and one of them asks, "Are you testing in the kids division or adults?"
as she finished -I thinking to myself are you serious ? I smiled/laughed -no, I think I'm too old for the kids.
A couple of people who know me where laughing behind me.
I was 37-I don't think I could pass for anyone under 18-but I think the pigtails threw them off
I laugh at that all the time-makes me feel good

now your turn to tell a tale

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Chocolate movie

2008-06-24T09:12:02Z

the actress does her own stunts-ow
and it looks pretty good
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OGjUyu9c8Ng

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Female Masters

2008-06-24T09:00:42Z

a blog pondering
http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Women in the News

2008-06-15T11:05:03Z

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/14/sports/sports04.txt

http://www.hbtoday.co.nz/localsport/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3774927&thesection=localsport&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Selling Unused/Barely Used Gi's

2008-06-08T23:49:07Z

Hello Friends,

Before I post to Craig's List or Ebay, etc, I wanted give you all first shot.

These are two karate uniforms I bought when I go my black belt (medium and heavy weight) that I barely wore because shortly there after I stopped practicing martial arts.

Note that I am only 5 foot tall and round... at the time I bought these about 175 pounds with size DD breasts and these gi's FIT. Because I am short - the black set I had to alter/shorten the legs and arms. However -the white Gi I did not ever get altered and never even wore it.

See below - pictures in gallery. Thanks everyone!!!
************

KD Elite White Medium Weight Karate Uniform NEVER WORN

Size 6/200 - Top and Pants
55% cotton, 45% polyester
Pants with elastic band / drawstring

http://www.karatedepot.com/un-md-13.html

$30, plus shipping

Bu-jin Design Black heavy Weight Karate Uniform BARELY WORN

Size Large - Top and Pants **** Pant length and Arm length HAS BEEN ALTERED (Shortened).
Pants: Hip to ankle 30 inches, Inseam 20 inches
Top: Shoulder to wrist 10 inches
100% cotton
Pants with elastic band / drawstring

http://www.bujindesign.com/index.php?cPath=76&osCsid=966ce97fe570e77ad4272939380bc840 (pants labeled as Aikido Pants)

$100, plus shipping.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 1 reply

Article about fellow student -X-posted from my blog

2008-05-26T07:29:42Z

This young lady is in my Tang Soo Do class. It's only been a little over 6 weeks, but she's been making amazing progress. She came to class the other weekend. She went through some basic kicks and punches and did some of her forms (very well, I might add). She still has a way to go, but I'm so inspired by the progress she's made. She also has a very strong spirit. After all she's been through, she is so positive. She's a remarkable young lady.

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=10793

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Saying Goodbye

2008-05-25T15:01:26Z

to one of my instructors who passed away last month.
Tommie K. Bogolawski
http://www.indianrivertoday.com/content/view/2198/36/

Even though he moved away less than 4 year ago
I still missed him teaching-he was nice, funny and a great teacher.
I remember one time I was about do Heian Nidan kata(meaning peaceful mind)
and he ask the meaning
I said, "Peace of mind". and he laughed and said , " and You go ahead give them a piece of your mind."

I feel bad for his son, Aidan.
I remember his son interrupting class to say out loud to his father, "I love you Daddy".

Lots of love and prayers to his whole family.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 4 replies

Cynthia Rothrock video

2008-05-12T11:25:11Z

didn't know she made teaching videos
I like her
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAOCxH68Zqo

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

kootchie kootchie KIYAP!!!

2008-05-01T10:29:48Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2QQtwkmlyY

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 1 reply

"Men are stupid."

2008-02-29T19:12:11Z

Lol...no, that's not what I said. I was mentioning to my teacher last night how much more I get out of this tribe than any other martial arts tribe, and that's what he said. "Oh, men are stupid."

Case in point, though...My brother and future brother in law were talking about fighting (they're eat up with Ultimate Fighting these days) and about my cousin (who has studied a couple of different styles in the past). My brother says "Oh, I'd just like him to teach me what he knows."

What am I? Chopped liver?!?! I said "Helloooo, I'm right here. Why don't you want me to teach you what I know?"
"Er...uh..."

I showed him a couple of releases for grabs the next day, but I was a little stunned then. I mean, I've offered before, and I see them a couple of times a month at least. And he wants a guy he rarely SEES to teach him?!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 25 replies

Problems women face in the Martial arts

2008-02-29T19:08:40Z

http://www.essortment.com/womenmartialar_rcmc.htm

lets discuss

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 19 replies

What's for dinner?

2008-02-29T19:03:24Z

I'm curious how much (if at all) practicing MA influences your dietary choices. Do you eat to gain/lose mass? Load your carbs? High protein? We're very gently encouraged to eat lots of vegetal foods, with some fish thrown in if we need an animal protein. Being a veghead is supposed to help you have a clearer mind and a lighter spirit. I've heard of some MA practitioners going macrobiotic, others following a "Buddhist" diet, and still others trying the "fit for life" program.

I'm taking a nutrition class based on traditional chinese medicine (I'm an acupuncture student) and have recently cut waaaay back on the amount of meat that I eat. I'm only eating about 6 oz or less of animal protein a day and eating a lot more whole grains. If nothing else, it's a hellovalot cheaper then my former diet of MEAT at every meal. Although I refuse to give up dark chocolate, I dont care if it does "create dampness".

Is your diet something that you think about while training?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 11 replies

What belts/sashes...

2008-02-26T21:48:06Z

I was talking to Qatana and we thought it might be helpful to start a thread discussingwhat we each have for Belts, Sashes, no belts etc.. in our various systems!

I'll start in teh next post!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 35 replies

Do you spar?

2008-02-26T21:31:31Z

I have been wondering if there are many women that do actual fighting matches or spars. What kind of competitions are out there to use your strength and knowlege of fighting? I'm interested in matches with other women to train and gain more experiance at martial arts. Where I live is a small town of 28,000 and there is not many women in the area that do martial arts and even less interested in full contact. I really like Jujitsu and Kenpo. these are the two that I currently train in. Do you have any suggestions?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 11 replies

Hi!

2008-02-25T15:34:09Z

Thanks for letting me join in the fun! Sorry that I dont have any pictures to share, I might have to get the camera out and have the big bald fuzzy one (aka boyfriend) snap a few of me once all of the snow is gone and I feel l like playing outside again. I've only been training for about four years. Last July I ended up moving from my home in Michigan to Pennsylvania in order to attend acupuncture school. I've been really missing my dojo brothers/sisters, so when I found this tribe I started hoping that this community might help me with some of the loneliness. You ladies appear to have great discussions going on. I look forward to joining them soon!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 6 replies

I Just Had to Share...

2008-02-24T22:20:40Z

So I get a request from a man to join this tribe and I respond politely as I normally do and decline his request. Then he emails me back all preachy and I'm sorry, it just pissed me off!!!

Vron initial reply with decline of request:
> > Hello and thanks for your interest in our
> > tribe. Unfortunately this tribe is only for
> > women. There is another tribe about women in
> > the martial arts which is open to all called
> > "budo babes".

Guy's response:
> You guys need an equilizer. The things you
> ladies say in the forum is a contradicatory
> towards being a martial artist.

My pissy response back:
No, I don't think we do actually. There are like 20 other tribes about martial arts, which are mostly men. I do not see any harm in having one where it's women only. You think all the feedback from those 20 other tribes does not equalize things? You think that the fact that we train with 99% men does not "equalize" things. Come on, get real and let it go. I think judging folks is also not in the way of martial arts. Practice what you preach buddy.

******

I signed off as "sincerely" and then proceeded to mark him in my ignore list.

I mean - come one, if you really wanted to get in, I think coming off like a pushy condescending as*hole is NOT the way to go about it.

Discuss please...

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 10 replies

"Ballet or Karate?"

2008-02-24T02:21:52Z

This is a quote I heard recently from a parent I work with. She has a wonderful little girl in first grade with big blue eyes and beautiful blonde hair. The mom is wonderful and she was asking me for my input on whether she should put her little girl in ballet or Karate. She had intended to put her daughter in dance in January, but the little girl attended a birthday party at a Tae Kwon Do school and really enjoyed it. This gave the mom the idea of maybe signing her up for martial arts instead. I told her that if it was my little girl, I would put her in martial arts for all the typical various reasons (discipline, self defense, etc...). Mom thought so too, and will probably persue the martial arts path. I just figured I'd share this story on this tribe because it once again plays into the gender rolls we all know so well. Conventional logic dictates that the pretty little girl should be a ballerina. It simply hadn't entered in to mom's mind to put her in martial arts before the party. I'm glad it did. I think her daughter will learn alot and really enjoy it.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 11 replies

Reality check

2007-11-22T23:17:35Z

... In exactly one month , I test for my Black Belt. Oct 14th- yip!
Its not real.. Im not working my a** off (cuase its still there with the attendant hips attached), and Im not feeling liek I wanna throw up. No.. thats not reality....ut uh...no way..

One of my mentors told my Master today i was gunna look awesome.. and that he had planned to force me to swallow a Valium before I step on teh mat on the 14th. I SOOO need to chill out. I have always carried so much stress with me. Chill, girl! easier said than done.....

I wanted to be 30 pounds lighter by now, I wanted to be exquisitely trained by now, I wanted my most revered Mentor to see me test and NOT be in Iraq right now, I want to look liek Water flowing down a fall. Looking back - it didnt seem that any of these things seemed liek too much to ask 6 months ago! Now.. oy.....

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 95 replies

Testing is over

2007-08-28T23:05:37Z

I am now a purple belt in Gaijin Ryu. YEA!!! My highlight of the test; I had to perform a judo throw on a guy that had to be at least 2 1/2 times my size. I actually pulled it off without the guy falling on my face!! LOL!! Someone was video taping. I'm going to have find out if I can get a copy. I don't believe it myself.

I hope everyone is having a great day!!! Even for a Monday.

Erika (2)

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 6 replies

Moved: Need New Dojo

2007-08-12T19:25:54Z

Well I've moved, and I finally hit the point where I really need to start training again. I moved out to Santa Rosa, and I'm trying to find a karate or kung fu based style (Kenpo/Kempo, shotokan, Wu dong, etc.). The only problem is I work until 7pm so it would have to be a later class as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 1 reply

Intro to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Submission Wrestling Seminar is SF (THIS Weds!!!)

2007-07-31T10:08:43Z

INTRODUCTORY BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU SEMINAR

(BEGINNERS WELCOME!!!)

WHERE: K-1 Fitness, 2001 Van Ness Ave (at Jackson), San Francisco
WHEN: August 1st (THIS Wednesday!) at 7:00pm
PRICE: $20 for non-members, FREE to members of K1-Fitness

Professora Jessi Taran, (2 time winner of the US Open in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), 1st place winner of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in BOTH Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as submission wrestling, and currently ranked by grapplers.com as the number 1, female BJJ heavyweight in the world) will be teaching an introductory BJJ/submission wresting seminar this coming Wednesday night, at K-1 fitness in San Francisco at 7:00 pm. For almost ten years, Taran has studied under and trained with some of the most well-respected BJJ fighters in the world today, including Ralph Gracie, Renzo Gracie, David Camarillo, Ricardo de la Riva, and Sergio Silva. She is one of only FIVE American women to have ever achieved the rank of Black Belt in the art of BJJ. She also holds a Master's degree in philosophy from the Katholiek Universitat Leuven, in Belgium. She wrote her thesis on 'The Role of Courage in Women's Moral Action'.

Often referred to as 'the world's most practical martial art', Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is grappling based, combative art. Primarily focused on the 'ground game', in recent years, BJJ has won substantial notoriety due to it's unparalleled success in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) venues such as the UFC. Like Judo (which shares a common history), no strikes or kicks are used in Jiu Jitsu. The object of a BJJ match is to achieve a dominant position and immobilize your opponent. This is done by trapping the other person in a submission hold, (usually a joint lock or a carotid artery choke) and applying just enough pressure in order to get him to 'tap out' or verbally submit.

Because of the enormous popularity of televised fight shows such as the UFC and IFL, many people think that BJJ and MMA are the same thing, or that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's primary importance is it's functionality in winning MMA fights. While it's true that the study of BJJ is an integral element of any MMA fighter's education, it's important to remember that BJJ and MMA are NOT the same thing. Despite it's practicality and proven combat effectiveness, a BJJ match is NOT 'a fight' - it's a GAME, an ART, and a SCIENCE. Only when the art is viewed as a whole, and not just as a means to an end (i.e. : cool submission holds for MMA fights... ) can the beauty, complexity, and subtle, non-verbal, truths that lie at the heart of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, be fully understood and appreciated .

Professora Taran is the co-founder of the Open Door Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Oakland, California, where she has been teaching for the past four years. She currently teaches at both the Open Door Academy in Oakland, and also at World Jiu Jitsu in Marin. Taran's stated goal is to make the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu accessible to ANYONE who wants to train, regardless of age, fitness level, gender, or sexual orientation. According to Taran, 'Most BJJ instructors focus the majority of their energy on those students they think have the best chance at becoming tournament champions. Personally, I feel that if a student really wants to compete, that's fine. But if he doesn't want to compete...well...that's fine too! You do learn something from competing in tournaments, but honestly, I really don't see the karmic value of taking a bunch of really tough, athletic, guys, and turning them into really, REALLY tough, athletic, guys. Where's the challenge in THAT, you know? I myself am much more interested in taking regular people of average, or even sub-standard, athletic ability, and giving them something that they never had before, or even knew existed. Now THAT means something! I love seeing how people's lives change when they don't have to worry about feeling afraid anymore. You don't need to be 'tough' in order to be successful at Jiu Jitsu. That's the whole POINT. That's why it's so amazing!'

Aside from her many accomplishments, both as a competitor as well as an instructor, (Taran's students have placed in multiple high level BJJ and submission wrestling tournaments, including the US Open and the Pan American Games) what truly sets the Professora apart from other BJJ instructors, is her precise attention to technical detail, and her 'philosophy of control'. Says Taran, 'Despite popular misconceptions about the art, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is really NOT about injuring or hurting one's opponent; it's about controlling him. We know this because it's the ONLY martial art in which you can spar FULL FORCE, without necessarily getting injured or injuring your opponent. Of course, like any sport, injuries can happen sometimes, but only accidentally. You certainly aren't trying to hurt anyone! As a matter of fact, I believe that if you DO hurt the person you're rolling with, it's same as a loss. This is because both results are ultimately rooted in the same cause - a loss of control. In order to be able to physically control another person stronger or larger than yourself, you must first learn control of your own body. '

Professora Taran will be teaching at K-1 Fitness on a regular basis starting the second week of August.

For more information please write to: info@karate-one.net , or call (415) 474-3322

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Altering a Dobok?

2007-07-21T12:02:40Z

So, you other ladies who sew...have you ever altered a dobok (gi) for a better fit? I had my black belt test Saturday, and he's ordering uniforms now. Since the women's uniforms don't go above a Large, I had no choice but to order another men's uniform. However, I know it's probably not going to be roomy enough through the hips and thighs for my comfort. I was thinking of opening of the side seams at the hips and inserting gussets there. Have any of you done something like this? I know I'll have to reinforce the new seams to keep them from ripping during takedowns. Any other tips? I'd like make the jacket narrower at the top as well, but I think that's a bit out of my skill level as far as alterations go. I've got a duct tape dummy now, though, so I may experiment with some other jackets to see if I can figure something out. I will likely do the same with my older pants to see how well I can do with it. If the trial pieces work, I can wear those too because he'll let us switch between black and white.

Assuming it doesn't work, though, anyone got the link to that company that makes the uniforms for women that go up to plus sizes?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 8 replies

Test Pics

2007-07-20T20:41:55Z

So, my mom went a little batty with her camera at my black belt test. She took 618 pics. They're a little dark, but if anyone's interested in seeing them, PM me your email address. At some point I will go through them all and pick two or three to post to the tribe album.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 7 replies

yay!

2007-07-20T20:39:19Z

so, I went back to my shaolin school and the old si tai gong is as crazy as ever and talks much sexist shit in his class, but i learned that I can take class from his black belts on another night and they are much more respectful. they also have a strange reverence for me which is useful.

AND

I they gave me an hour to do a presentation on pilates for martial artists at a conference they had with people from 3 states from that same school and I TOTALLY KICKED ASS!

so now, the si tai gong was so fucking impressed that he gave me the dojo space to teach a pilates class to his students and anyone i want! i mean this guy never lets anyone teach there except his black belts and they can only teach shaolin! so its almost like he has given me an honorary black belt in pilates for his students!

but even better is that because this school is so eclectic and encourages people to collect information from where ever they can in life, its a PERFECT place for me to develop pilates in a martial arts direction.

I have no idea if any of you can understand what is so fucking cool about that and I have no idea if i can even verbalize it, but lets just say, i'm fucking happy as all hell for myself! this is like the beginning of something huge that I never saw coming!

my pilates career is about to take off. its amazing. and somehow, strangely tied to the martial arts and that shaolin school, even tho i haven't been there for 12 years.

fantastic!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 6 replies

NFBSKing Hop Front Kicks!!!

2007-07-12T02:09:08Z

Okay, anyone else have problems with extreme delayed muscles soreness in the Biceps Femoris Short Head ( http://www.getbodysmart.com/ap/muscularsystem/legmuscles/bicepsshort/tutorial.html ) after doing hop front kicks? Last time this happened, I thought it was tendonitis from maybe kicking too hard, but after just a couple of days of ice, it was good as new with not even a trace of soreness left. Both times the pain has been delayed (as in more than 24 hours after doing the kick), and both times it's been extremely sore when flexing the knee. Last time it was just the left, but this time it's both (though the right is only a little sore).

I don't know if it's the pushing off with those legs on the hop part that's making it so sore (I've got a lot of weight to push off so may be really taxing that muscle), but does anyone know of any exercises to strengthen that muscle? Or should I just practice that kick more often to build up the strength there?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 11 replies

Testing

2007-06-04T15:40:33Z

this Sunday. Just got told yesterday.

I hope I can endure a 3 to 5 hr test.
Bringing lots of ibiprofrin? and water.

Wish me luck.

Erika

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 15 replies

Very cool video clip...

2007-06-03T23:56:21Z

My teacher sent this clip to me to show the close relationship between Japanese and Korean styles. I do Tang Soo Do. These are Shotokan, but the forms in this video are almost identical (minor differences in execution only--not different moves) to our Pyung Ahn forms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU2hqaaK8AA

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

coming back

2007-06-01T18:16:49Z

oh m'gosh.
i mean, hello all!
i haven't been around for a long time. mostly 'cause while there is a part of me that seems to permanently identify as a martial artist, i just haven't actually been doing any for a while. not since i blew my acl in 95. i mean i did keep up a little but not really.

anyway, plus my school, my shaolin school, its a strange place. its incredibly real as far as just being a bunch of folks trying to learn how to fight. the "school" is in the boiler room of a huge apartment building, and if things haven't changed much, our "mats" are just piles of old carpet. so its really "underground" martial arts. its based on southern style shaolin but with hardly any focus on forms. its almost all fighting. and its eclectic. if someone learned something in some other school, they are encouraged to teach it to the others. in this class i learned a little tae kwan do, some escrima & some wing chun, among other things. in that way its a very cool place. we learn in earnest. its beautiful.

the weird thing is a gender thing and also the strange beliefs of the si tai gong - the master dude man. i quit in part because the woman who was getting tested for her brown belt was sleeping with the teacher i believe. i was better than her. i was not offered the test. there were other strange things going on. and then i blew my acl. and so it all just fell apart.

now i'm becoming a pilates instructor and i've been invited to present to my old school on pilates for the martial artist during some 3 day conference they are doing.

i began to reminisce. i love to move that way. i miss the community. what a bunch of freaks we are. :) its such a part of me.

i think i'm going back, y'all.
now that i know how to work with my knee.
now that i'm older and can navigate bullshit better.
wow.
its kind of emotional and significant in ways i don't know how to describe.
i think i'm going back.
didn't know who to tell!
i'm telling you. :)

(sorry its so long)

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 10 replies

Hi all

2007-05-18T18:27:55Z

Just wanted to introduce myself to you all and thank-you for welcoming me into this forum. I hope, btw, that i haven't crossed any ettiqitte boundaries by posting on some threads before formally introducing myself, my apols if this is so.
I've been practicing Ba gua zhang as my core MA for 5 years now, whilst picking up a smattering of Muay thai kickboxing, Zi ran men (nature boxing), Xing yi and Taiji along the way. I know that this isn't the traditional way to learn ba gua (usually only taught once you have mastered a more external wushu style) so i am probably more of a ba gua beginner than most with the same experience! :-) Before taking up Chinese MA i also did about a year of Capoeira, but my knees gave out at the constantly heavy landings they were subjected to.
I'd love to meet any other women martial artists living in Victoria, Australia - don't care what style, in fact i'm always keen to cross-train and see what other ppl are up to.

Hope yr all well;

megan

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 2 replies

Training with / studying under men

2007-05-15T10:08:35Z

Hi everyone,

Just a question, to see what people's opinions are. I've been studying Isshin-ryu karate for the last 5 years or so, always in a co-ed setting & usually with male senseis, and I've been fortunate enough to have had great men to work with. I've also gotten really interested in the dynamics of a co-ed dojo vs all all male or all female dojo. What are some benefits and challenges that come up in both situations? Physically, psychologically, socially, emotionally, etc.?

Love to hear your thoughts!

**Testing for green belt a week from yesterday!!!!** :)

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 45 replies

unexpectedly terrified.

2007-05-04T13:18:32Z

after a whole lot of months of rehab exercises (severe ovarian cysts floored me for a long while), I'm returning to MMA classes this week.

..and i'm scared to death, actually. Not sure why, either. I've accepted that i'm not going to be functioning at the same level i used to be at, but there's this irrational "OMG, i can't do this" thing going on.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Ever get asked?

2007-05-03T13:39:59Z

Do do soemthing you dont quite feel ready for, or not worthy for by your Master?

... and if you do , how do you deal with it?

My Master informed me teh other day that he wants me to Demo the 6th Dan empty hand form that only he and I know out of the association. Now mind ya , I have aske dhim about 4 time sover the last 18 montsh to go over the form with me... becuase Im dropping places and I needed to know what I may be forgetting(or needing to do serious work on). he has never had teh time or has forgotten about it. Last week he sez at teh end of a class... " Step fwd with me.. " (then messes with me a bit and makes me sweat some before asking..)
" DO you remeber your "Sip Pal Gauy?" 'ummm... I think so, but I might be missing some small parts..'
" I'll decide what you've forgotten or not"..
After which him and I go thru it and he tells me an dteh otehsr that he wanst me to Demo it at teh Black Belt test. We'll go over it and polish up teh parts that arent smooth.
So far he hasnt remebered to go over it with me.. and I DONT feel wortrhy to demo thi sform which is SO far above my head it make sme dizzy... I dont want others to get the impression that it looks that crappy. HE can do it an dit looks So wonderful!

Oy.. I may shut up.. or I may mention my angst this afternoon.. I dont wish him to go all " Im teh Master, and why are you questioning me?!?!" .. ooog

Nin

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 5 replies

oakland?

2007-05-01T21:55:07Z

looking for a school in oakland, preferably in jeet kune do but am open to other styles. i have some experience in choy lay fut and ussd's kempo so i'm open to other styles besides jkd. i'm really interested in a good school with the kind of instruction that will make me look forward to building my practice. i am a total beginner.

any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

solar.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

You chicas are awesome!

2007-04-28T01:53:39Z

It's been several months since I checked the message boards, but everytime I log on, I always see some new, interesting, and thought-provoking discussion. I just want to say I think this tribe is a great place for female martial artists and I'm glad it's still around. :-)

--Tracey

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 1 reply

Why the hype?

2007-04-05T18:37:43Z

This isn't to bash on anyone, so please don't take it that way.

But why the hypeon belts, and rank? What truly is the point of what color is around your waist?

In traditional styles the way it used to be was you were either a white belt or a black belt. You were a teacher, or student. There was no ten different steps, with the 2-3 sections in between colors. Those are basically an Americanization, and a tool for the teachers. Those colors and mark are so the teachers can keep track of what you should be learning because there is such a constant ebb and flow of students anymore.

A pretty bit of colored material around your waist makes you no more of a martial artist, than a $3000 dollar SLR camera can make you a professional photographer.

You may think I sound bitter. Maybe I am. But I have come to the realization that no matter how many belts I get, in how many different styles. It's my drive for the martial arts, my heart for what I am learning and teaching that makes me the martial artists. Not what they hand to give me a pat on the back.

Someday maybe I'll open my own dojo. And I'll actually take the time to learn and know my students like in the old days, that way there would be no belts. Just them, me, and the style. No pressure to be like the OTHER students. No one feeling like they are not training hard enough, fast enough. There would be no distractions.

It would definitely weed out anyone who was only there for status.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 15 replies

One more month!

2007-03-28T18:13:04Z

He said Saturday we'll test for our black belts in about a month! Wow. Not nervous as of yet, but I imagine I will start to be so a little closer to time.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Self defense, besides hand-to-hand combat

2007-03-15T23:26:39Z

Has anyone else found themselves looking into other means of self protection, besides martial arts?

I, for one, pack a keychain pepper spray, and just bough another canister (foam spray, for close distances) that will be kept in the car. I'm also looking into various home defense gadgets and systems. While I love pocket knives, I don't feel comfortable relying on one for self-defense. My knife fighting skills are not impressive, and I can just envision the dark irony of being stabbed with my own knife, heh. I'd be curious to hear if anyone's had experience with air tasers (as opposed to stun guns)...

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 18 replies

I DID IT!

2007-03-15T23:13:53Z

MARCH 10, 2007 -

AFTER NINE YEARS OF TRAINING, JESSI TARAN HAS BEEN AWARDED THE RANK OF BLACK BELT IN THE ART OF BRAZILIAN JIIU JITSU. THE BELT WAS AWARDED BY SERGIO SILVA OF THE OPEN DOOR BJJ ACADEMY IN OAKLAND, CA. MS. TARAN WAS AWARDED HER BROWN BELT IN 2005 BY BJJ LEGEND, MAESTRO RICARDO DE LA RIVA, AND IS CURRENTLY RANKED THE NUMBER 1 FEMALE HEAVYWEIGHT BJJ FIGHTER IN THE WORLD BY WWW.GRAPPLERS.COM . SHE TEACHES AT THE WORLD JIU JITSU ACADEMY IN KENTFIELD, CA, AND ALSO AT THE OPEN DOOR BJJ ACADEMY IN OAKLAND.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I still can't believe it. I have NEVER worked harder for anything in my entire life. Getting a black belt in BJJ isn't quite the same as getting a black belt in any other martial art. There are fewer than 20 female BJJ black belts in the entire WORLD. I never thought that I'd actually manage to be one of them. Wow....

Now if I can just find another job and a new place to live, I'll be FINE! ;-)

Jess

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 6 replies

Oh, my toe!!!

2007-01-29T15:40:37Z

I managed to bruise my toe while sparring with a fellow red belt tonight. I can't see the bruise, but I sure can feel it. I think I got hit in the face three or four times tonight by two different people, but the one I feel like being a baby about is my toe. It hurts! Guess that'll teach me to land that kick in a nice, soft spot instead of an elbow! (granted, his feet met up with my elbows a few times too)

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 13 replies

UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!

2007-01-16T16:21:53Z

Okay....I'm super excited about this but I don't kow how to tell everyone without sounding like I'm being arrogant and stuck-up. On the other hand....I just HAVE to tell you guys this!!!!

The website www.grapplingleague.com has just published it's fighter ratings for 2006...and guess what?

According to that particular website, I'm now rated the NUMBER 1 female BJJ heavyweight in the WORLD!!! (Women's advanced division: purple/brown/black) If you go to the site and do a search on 'Jessie Taran' you'll see my name right up there with the #1 ranking next to it...I'm stunned. If one of my students hadn't brought in the print out and showed it to me I would never have known! (Now if only that recognition came with a check....Siiigh.... ;-) )

Cyclops Queen (aka Jess)
www.opendoorbjj.com

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 17 replies

Funny

2007-01-06T17:36:29Z

I can't believe I just found this funny again...

hhehehehehe...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=1592474844

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 2 replies

let me introduce myself...

2007-01-05T15:37:50Z

my name is sarah. I practice(and love) DZR Jujitsu. I'm a blue belt. i really like some of the grappling stuff i've learned. I'd like to become more comfortable at freestyling/sparring (my mind tends to go blank when someones coming at me ..even in that slo-mo fake punch way) but i suppose that comes with time and practice.
glad to be here. !mwah!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 7 replies

Going Back

2006-12-30T23:21:32Z

I have decided to go back to my first dojo. I find my need to train over throwing my want to stay out of the drama.

Does anyone have any adivce on how I can stay out of the politics? Or how to make new students feel more comfortable around me since there's been some harsh rumors of how tough I am in class going around?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Score!

2006-12-19T18:25:02Z

My old school is opening a satellite location about 40 minutes away from me. I'm going to check them out next week and see about rejoining.

I'm terribly excited... :-D

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 4 replies

Protection for pierced ears

2006-12-17T01:31:35Z

Hi all,
So I recently got my ears pierced, and they are not fully healed yet. I don't want to take any more time off of training, and was wondering if anyone can recommend some good ear guards. They would have to be hollow enough not to press on the jewelry, but flat enough that they don't get caught during grapling (jiu jitsu). I read a good review on Cliff Keen's soft halo ear guards... Any other recommendations? Any good supplyer in the Bay Area, where I might be able to try on the guards before purchasing?
Thanks!
~Slava

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 4 replies

Anyone training in BJJ?

2006-12-13T09:25:15Z

Hi all,
I am considering supplementing my Aikido training with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and will be looking at several dojos/academies in the bay area. If anyone has any recommendations, or insight on women studying BJJ, please drop me a line. Thanks!
~Slava

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 15 replies

1st Gup

2006-12-05T18:43:49Z

I forgot to update at the time, but I tested for 1st Gup on the 18th. I think we had the bulk of our test on the 13th, actually, but he was *not* happy with us when we did our Bassai form, so we got to test on the 18th after all. We did much better then. We got notice by email last week that we had passed. Now, I've got about six months to prepare for my black belt test. Yikes!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 9 replies

Time for New Art

2006-11-26T05:46:12Z

For the past two years I've been practicing submission grappling (similar to brazilian jiu jitsu, but without the gi and therefore not nearly as refined). I've recently moved to start working on my graduate degree and need to pick up a new art. Which makes me sad because I'm really going to miss grappling.

I know that I want a martial art that "vibes" with my personal philosophy. I don't like hurting people. I don't like forceful arts, where you have to initiate the attack (i.e. MMA or Muay Thai). Nor do I want an art that emphasizes machismo and bravado over skill and technicality. Basically, I want a gentle art.

So far, I'm really interested in picking up judo. A couple of other arts I've heard tossed out are aikido and japanese jujutsu. Before starting classes again, I thought I'd ask the wonderful ladies here for their suggestions.

Please help! :-)

P.S. There isn't another brazilian jiu jitsu or submission grappling place up here so those two arts are off the list. Thanks.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 10 replies

Martial Arts Friends

2006-11-23T05:10:45Z

We have started a new web site for martial artists world-wide: The MartialArtsFriends.com Online Community.

http://martialartsfriends.com/

The "Martial Arts Friends" web site is designed to help people of all martial arts get to know each other on a more personal level than possible on online discussion groups and web sites. The personal profile pages allow individuals to present their martial arts background, as well as other dimensions of their life, such as family, career, interests, endeavors, philosopy, etc. This is also a "community" so that people will be able to interact with each other, conducting dialogue publicly or privately. This is a community that will continue to evolve, based on needs and desires.

Please come join us

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Beautiful

2006-11-21T12:27:45Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiCuGJD1u58&NR

Lovely video

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

New around here!

2006-11-01T15:28:03Z

Thought I should introduce myself. I'm Jill, I'm 35 and returning to martial arts after 15 years away from the art and plenty of self-neglect. I'm learning taekwondo and hapkido and I've been back in action for a month. I've earned my first 3 stripes so far, so I'm just a little newbie compared to most of you.

I have been really really trying to keep a positive attitude about doing this, but there's definitely a little voice in the back of my head that's still telling me that I'm too old and too out of shape to do this. Some nights I'm on fire and everything just flows, and then nights like tonight I struggle and struggle and wonder if I'll ever be able to do this. It's like I leave my brain at home and I just feel like I'm disappointing the Master after I was doing so well.

Anyway, I'm glad to be here.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 15 replies

Am I really done with all this?

2006-10-27T21:11:01Z

I think I've posted something like this before, but it's time again for me to think on it. I think I have some guilt over it. First some history.
I have an anxiety disorder, very well managed now - so I almost say I "used to". I started MA when I was not managing it very well. It was my 2nd year of college and MA ended up being a big challenge for me, but also it HELPED me soooo much. During my 3rd yr of college I even did a video project for a coping and adjustment psychology class about how MA directly helped me manage my anxiety disorder. I remember in my 4th year of college saying "if you don't see me coming to class, be worried, very worried" As in something may be wrong because I needed my MA class.

Then I did the kiss of death in that same year. I started dating a man in class I had a crush on for the last 2 years. He was a black belt, had taught me many things the whole time - was 10 years my elder and married! Yikes! Luckily his wife knew and we all hung out although no threesom action happened. Well as fate would have it we ended our relationship and that was hard to keep going to class, but not that bad.

What really happened though was that my sensei decided to go back to school and moved away. It broke my heart in a sense - the upper level belt belts became instructors, but it wasn't the same. They knew skills, but didn't really know how to teach or how to motivate. Worse - they thought they had to motivate and instead made me feel very pressured. It was as if my success was tied into their egos of how good they were teaching... ugh. Worst of all Dojo politics started coming up - which is expected when you have more than one person sharing the teaching of the school. It made me sick to hear them all talk behind someones back about their teaching style/life and yet to then preach to white belts about respect and leave ego at the door. Now, by this time I was a brown belt, I had graduated college, met my future husband - so maybe 5 years alltogteher in this MA. Since I was part of the long timers I heard all the bullshit and as I stated above - it made me sick.

And lastly - maybe related maybe not - my anxiety got worse... first year out of school, just married, just got my blackbelt, ect. I felt attacked and pushed on all ends. I'm sure they were trying to help, but they amped up how they worked with me - more agressive to try and get me used to being a BB. That's fine, but I just couldn't cope. I left feeling beat up and sore, and worse of all - I dreaded coming to class. I didn't want to go into this drama filled class where I didn't even want to be touched. I hated working with the upper belts - i fear getting hurt. I burnt out basically. So I stopped, but whenon and off for two years hoping it would regain the magic it once did or that the class dynamic may change, but it didn't.

Finally I moved to Hawaii - I started a MA with my husband for few months, but again - I just dont' feel motivated to do it - it's like I have some post tramatic stress about it. I don't want to be touched - I don't want to touch others.... how can you do MA if you don't want to do that! ;P

In it's place I started spinning Fire - Poi and hula hooping..... so I can stay physical... those have been great! But there is still a place that lingers inside me that wonder what happened? Am I really "done" with MA - was it just a phase? I'm sad that something which brought me such joy has changed.... I keep telling myself I'm just taking a break. Maybe I need to do a "softer" art, I don't know.....

Anyways - I love reading all of your posts and it makes me proud that I did stay in MA for so long, but it also causes a bit of guilt and remorse. This is a partial explanation of why I don't post too often... what can I contribute at this point? You all motivate me so much - keep being your great selves and I'll keep you all updated. Namaste.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 6 replies

Seminars

2006-10-03T18:07:34Z

I finally got to take my teacher's teacher(Soke)seminar. He comes like every 2 years or so and I never ever had the chance to go due to college/work.
It was great, hard but awesome to take his class. He's a 10th degree-so he's quite awesome.

Is their any seminar you would like to take or have taken lately that just makes you love MA more?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 2 replies

Silly Young Girls

2006-09-03T01:52:48Z

Okay, so My Monday and Thursday class is 13 and up, but the Saturday class is 7 and up. This does not seem to be a problem with the boys, but for some reason the girls act like total goofballs sometimes. It's really hard to get them to take what they are doing seriously. These aren't little girls, but ages 10-13. When they do what they're supposed to, they're really good, but the problem is that they don't seem to want to put anything into what they're doing. They giggle and talk (until the teacher tells them to be quiet) sometimes with each other, and about half the time, they do things half-assed. It's not the giggling itself that bothers me because I've done that with other women in class. But you still get down to business even if you get your giggle box tickled. When they start laughing, even their fighting becomes mock play.

It's not that they *can't* deliver a good punch or kick or that they can't do well at what they're doing. They just *won't* unless you're constantly on them. It's like they're deliverately squashing any agressiveness they have in them. Has anyone else noticed this in girls in their classes? How do you deal with that? I'm hoping they'll grow out of it and that it won't take someone walloping them good once for them to start taking themselves more seriously.

They're doing better than they used to, but sometimes they revert to the silliness--especially when working with each other or other women. I try to set a good example by being serious myself and by not going easy on them, but I don't know what else to do other than be patient and wait for them to grow out of it.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 10 replies

fight girls?

2006-08-05T12:09:10Z

Just saw a commercial for a reality show about about a bunch of Muay Thai girls going to Thailand to train for a tournament. Its on Oxygen, I didn't catch the time. But I don't watch TV at night so I just don't retain that information.
Might be good. Might be awful.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 1 reply

On teh lighter side...

2006-06-17T21:40:43Z

Does anyone else feel a very unZenlike thrill when they totally surpise a member of thier school?

I have to admit, I do. Todays moment came during testing . We had frestyle knife defenses and I was one armed(shoulder injury) with my partner.
The pair next to us are young, an dteh young man is newly come form an TaeKwon Do dojang with his Mom. They are new to our system and Hapkido.

I had to giggle... Im kinda intense when Im testing. Ok.. I Really intense.. but I had to giggle.. I had just thrown Mr Glenn about in 2 different ways, disarmed him and been rather brutal about the "way" I had left him
*Note: (I say if someone comes after me with a knife.. they intent to kill me.. I dont feel any compunction to Not eviserate them just becuas eteh Law sez Im now in "control" if Im holding teh knife.,. I can do so while teh perp is still gripping it after all..) to look up to see this young man staring at me with a horrified look upon his face.
I giggled, grinned and his partner pretty much looke dat him when he turned about like:
"Ok, so you know what we know now.. never come at Ms Ninnian with a knife!".

Omigosh.. its twisted.. but it was just precious!

;) nin

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

What does Karate(substitue your art here) mean to you?

2006-06-17T21:31:46Z

For my black belt grading I have to submit an essay on what martial arts mean to me. I can think of a few reasons:

1. Sense of Community. I developed a strong bond with my Rohai (dojo brothers & sisters). Being a part of something bigger then myself.
2. Sense of Discipline. Keeping my word and fulfilling responsibilities.
3. Physical Power. Being physically fit and more aware of my body.
4. Dedication & perseverence. I never wouldve thought I'd be going for my black belt at this point in my life. Now I'm going back to school too. I haven't let circumstance push me off my path.

So I must make that into a 1000 word essay. In the mean time I would love to hear the different perspectives that some of you might have?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 4 replies

Karate Girl

2006-06-04T21:34:10Z

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-s61lvZ2fn0&search=karate%20kata
amazing flexiability

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 5 replies

War Wounds

2006-06-02T03:37:43Z

It seems like I keep a steady supply of bruises. Right now I have a thumb-sized bruise on my righ shin (can't quite remember what I did to earn that). I also have a much larger one on my right shoulder from some self defense exercises we were doing the other night.

So what bruises, cuts, scrapes, etc. are you sporting right now from class or practice?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 9 replies

Kick ass girl

2006-05-22T14:46:11Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjGKRK4OwZU&search=martial%20art%20fan%20weapons

thought this was awesome

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

WOW in M.A.

2006-05-06T00:58:15Z

*Whiny Old Woman in Martial Arts

Sorry I've been quiet so long. I scan everyone's posts but don't have much to offer. And now I show up just looking for support... or maybe a kick to the butt, I don't know... skip this if self-centered whining bores you...

These days I'm making things really hard for myself. I find fault with everything I write and keep putting off jobs that would make me money if I just did them. I sit too long at the computer doing stuff like micro-managing my schedule... which would go much better if I spent the time working instead of moving tasks around on the calendar.

I've stayed away from aikido classes because I have yet to do the daily stretching at home that would keep me from being a hazard on the mat. I attend tai chi classes almost daily, though I can't get into the low crouch and leg movements that I crave. Worse, I've developed shoulder and neck pains that apparently are from upper back and belly muscles being out of shape. Too much desk and computer sitting, not enough exercise!

This afternoon, watching an exciting aikido seminar from the sidelines, I realized I need to go back to the basics: renewed eating discipline, daily stretching, and sit-ups or crunches or whatever core strengthening exercises someone recommends.

I don't know that I can do it on my own. My self-doubt is that strong these days.

Whine, whine, whine. With a side of self-pity. (Ha ha.) Tomorrow morning I'll sit Zen with the sangha for almost three hours, then attend a new tai chi class for 90 minutes. Thank goodness for classes and group action!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 19 replies

New Tribe -- Strong Women

2006-04-17T02:48:45Z

I've been looking for a place to discuss, celebrate, and support female strength, physical and otherwise. I couldn't find just exactly what I was looking for, so I decided to create it. Hope to see you there!

tribes.tribe.net/strongwomen

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

5 years, 10 years, +

2006-04-05T09:44:13Z

~~We all know that over time our reasons for following the Martial Arts path change and we continue to study for partially or completely different reasons. My question:

1) Why did you begin training?

2) Why do you continure training?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 6 replies

Women warriors and Prenancy

2006-04-04T17:46:29Z

I have a very good friend.. who is also a martial artist..

Who is concerned about how having a child will affect her training.

I have told her first account stories of friends who have been pregnant.. and trained right up until the day before they went into labor.. and were back a WEEK later! But of course.. there are the others.. who never come back.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the matter.. that I can forward on to her.. (Or I could just get her to join the tribe too.. so she can read them herself!)

Anyway.. I thought it would be an interesting discussion.. I personally think.. if someone really wants to have a child.. they will find a way to train.. And that maybe this concern is just her way of justifying not being ready to have a child just yet.

Any thoughts?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 6 replies

MA blunders

2006-04-04T17:25:50Z

Tell us your silly blunders trying to attempt a move, throw, etc.. that you ended up giggling and in a deep red face.

Mine
as a white belt tring to do a spinning back kick and ended up crashing into the wall.
the sempai told me to come up further since he just washed the walls and didn't want to clean up blood. BLUSH

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 38 replies

Tornado Kick

2006-03-29T15:24:19Z

This kick looks cool and effective

http://www.break.com/index/tornadokick.html

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Nothing's More Sexy

2006-03-22T15:43:14Z

I have never been impressed by muscled young bodies in posing pouches. I hardly notice dandies and clothes-horse celebrities in million-dollar haute couture. That surface and skin-deep stuff doesn't impress this old broad.

But I go all gah-gah for the guy who has developed great personal energy, focused intention, and the grace of combining body, mind and spirit. So I am so &$(#*$&*@! blessed to have discovered aikido, because every now and then I get to see this kind of physical, mental and spiritual on a grand scale... enough to make me feel all pre-teen schoolgirlish again.

This weekend our dojo is hosting Robert Nadeau Sensei for a long weekend seminar. I've watched video clips, seen magazine photos, and read about the guy, but this is the first I've seen him in person. Listening to him talk about communication, movement, listening and paying attention to people (on the mat and in real life) I thought to myself, "Good thing he doesn't teach anywhere nearby....

"Because I'd never leave the dojo."

I took about 85 photos of the seminar today, staying in the corners and using camera settings that didn't need a flash. (I can't take rolls and falls, so I left the training space to the yudansha who came from miles around for the opportunity to study with the master teacher.) I listening eagerly to Nadeau Sensei describe the concepts and tell stories that were charming, entertaining and enlightening. Heaven knows that for the rest of the year all our aikidoka will be discussing and practicing what Nadeau Sensei shared with us this weekend.

Funny to find the advanced aikido teachers so compelling!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 2 replies

please comment on our new martial arts site

2006-03-21T15:37:47Z

your feedback is appreciated:

www.jkdkickboxing.com

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Choosing a martial art

2006-03-12T05:33:18Z

Hello all! I'm new to this tribe and I joined because I am interested in studying a martial art but I'm not sure which one. Aikido has really appealed to me as well as Kung Fu. Would anyone like to share with me which one you study and what you like about it? Also, I'd love to know about places in San Francisco I can try out. Thanks!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 5 replies

Mudancha

2006-03-08T15:52:03Z

Im going for my first Mudancha grading tomorrow. Im a little nervous. There are five of us going for it so that should make it a pretty exciting grading. I have 4 of these gradings before the black belt grading, which is great because Ill be so prepared come the bbg in June :D

So as I understand it Mudancha is the level between brown and black and when you accept Mudancha it basically means you have no rank. Does anyone have any more imformation about this non-rank (question mark)

Lindsay

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 4 replies

Victoria Remington!!!

2006-03-05T07:00:16Z

Ladies,

Victoria Remington, a member of this group, is fighting in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Gracie World Submission Championships this year! Not only that, but she's listed on the undercard!

Congratulations!!!

--Tracey

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Help! New to sparring

2006-03-04T12:34:47Z

Well, it's official. I am 3kyu now, a brown belt in Shotokan karate, and I am finally eligible to compete in sparring. The catch? I have no idea what I'm doing. Help!

What advice would you offer to someone new to this? Whatever your style, I'm sure you can help me. I compete in April and I want any "if I knew then what I know now" advice that you may have to offer. Thank you!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 12 replies

Shogun: The most entertaining book ever

2006-02-07T23:19:46Z

I'm reading this now and I'm on page 1017 out of 1200. I'm loath to finish and I'm reading the last pages as slowly as I can even though they are the most gripping.

For those of you who haven't read it the story follows a dutch ship that lands on the shores of Japan amidst the break out of a war between the strongest powers in the country. The cast is amazing and the insights into bushido and japanese societ, though romanticized I'm sure, are brilliant and motivating.

So when I'm done this book I'm looking for a new one. Definetly something to do with martial arts and perhaps one written by a women. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

*~Lindsay~*

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 1 reply

Seminar weekend

2006-01-20T19:22:38Z

Tonight our dojo members and guests will be begin a three-day seminar with Peter Ralston Sensei to learn his approach to the martial arts. Has anyone else in this tribe trained with him? Several of us in the dojo watched a demo videotape about his work called "Effortless Power." He combines his understanding of aikido, tai chi, tui shou, bagua and Zen in something he calls Chen Hsin T'ui Shou.

This weekend he probably won't be teaching specific techniques in aikido and tai chi, but more about body mechanics, the physics of movement -- like graduate school for martial arts. I googled for his website to get you a better description, but you might just want to see his site yourself: http://www.chenghsin.com.

Here's a paragraph from the website about the martial art application of Chen Hsin T'ui Shou:

"Within the Cheng Hsin martial work, we train to obtain an effortless power and a gracefully effective interaction. The steady background objective is to learn about ourselves and life; to observe how our minds, emotions, and bodies currently operate; and to discover new, more effective and freeing possibilities in how to think, feel, move, and interact. The Cheng Hsin arts are designed in relation to the principles of an effortlessly effective body-being and the principles of effective interaction."

Anyway, we'll work with him for two hours tonight, then three two-hour sessions on Saturday, and a final two hours on Sunday. Either I'll be able to tell you more about his teaching then.... or I'll be a bruised and confused kid!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 0 replies

Did you ever?...

2006-01-17T20:52:44Z

Start to learn so many thinsg in MA- or just have so many changes or curriculum neccesities that you felt as if your mind was overstuffed?

It may eb that I have a limited capacity for such things. In preperation for my Black belt testing whenever that is.. ) I am learning my Sun Soo techniques, advanced kick defenses, advanced knife defenses ,,,, and trying desperately to air roll better. Im too tense.. I roll and go *THWOCK!!!* instead of *thud* -- occassionally not fast enough so that my wrist gets somewhat mangled at teh sam etime.
Anyhooooooo.... teh Sun Soo has 2 sets at my level. each set consists of about 30 techniques brokwn down in sub-classes.. ie: 5 slid thru hammer locks , 3 fake elbow roll locks... 5 kick defenses agaisnt a punch. All specific.. you get the jist. They are all different than anything we've learned before, although similar in prep and presentation to the sam etecs we have learned (in other words.. thier application is diff).. am i making Any sens ehere? ok- I babble on then.

My point is: Im getting horribly confused. I have abotu 50 of teh techniques down. Down enough to say Yes- Thi sgoe shere, and you do thusly. (without a great deal of expertise).
Im used ot being able to do stuff within hours or days. Not having to have stuff crammed in again. and again. ad nauseum.
I feel liek my brain is overstuffed.. and I keep trying to jam new info in it- some of which stays.. some sproings Right back out.. and some of it ejects other info preveiously thought cemented in firmly.

Oy..... an dthis without being adept at the black belt kicking skills??.. My aching almost 40 body!

Ok, Nuff whining ;)

Nin

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 5 replies

Nat'l Women's Martial Arts Federation - EVENT

2006-01-17T18:58:07Z

Hey - in case you didn't see this in the "100" thread, there is an event called Special Training, hosted by the NWMAF. It's a weekend of workshops and classes across multiple styles, and it takes place once a year.

I'd love to hear from someone who has gone. Anyone know anything about it?

www.nwmaf.org/special_training2006.asp
www.nwmaf.org/st_faqs.asp

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Another dating thread

2006-01-14T23:23:56Z

Inspired by Tracey's post, but not related enough to keep in the same thread...(by the way, Hi, I'm new here)

The guy I was dating when I started Aikido was really jealous of all the time I spent at the dojo, and just could not handle the closeness I developed with some of my male training partners. I'd see one on the street and give him a hello hug, and my BF would growl "don't hug HIM." And of course, the night before, this guy had thrown me over his hip and pinned me to the ground. How am I supposed to not hug him? Eventually (right around the time I left a NYE party early so I could be in good shape for training in the morning) it got to the point where BF said "you care about your training more than you care about me." I realized he was right, and merrily left him, promising myself I would never again date a man who wasn't a martial artist or athelete of some kind.

Later one of those friends I wasn't allowed to hug told me that probably 3/4 of the people in the dojo had a similar story.

So, anyone have a similar story?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 10 replies

dating?

2006-01-12T07:57:53Z

Okay, maybe this is just a problem that I'm having, but...

Why is it that almost no one wants to date me since I've started practicing a martial art? It's like knowing I'm a submission grappler sends people running.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 33 replies

physical therapist recommendations- Bay Area?

2006-01-11T20:30:51Z

I tore a ligament in my hand a few months ago doing another sport, and it's not getting better particularly fast.

I'm looking for recommendations on a physical therapist in the Bay Area (i'm in Oakland). I"ve got pretty good support for complementary medicine therapies (ie accupuncture and massage) but am looking for a more ordinary sort of Western practitioner for this injury.

thanks!
Mark

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 3 replies

Improvements in class

2006-01-06T21:56:40Z

My instructor is finally doing weapons in the morning class.Yeah.
I been practicing on my own otherwise I would never learn.(I got help after class from another instructor).
What improvements have been in your class?

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 9 replies

fantastic women's section at kajukenbo discussion forum

2006-01-06T11:02:14Z

I just found the Kajukenbocafe.com discussion forum- due to the large number of women practicing our style, the forum has a fantastic women's section:

http://www.kajukenbocafe.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=0umospabmb40a44earh3hc51c3&board=4.0

I particularly enjoyed reading this thread:
http://www.kajukenbocafe.com/smf/index.php?topic=1843.0

where a Bay Area kajukenbo instructur is mercilessly grilling male teachers about their philosophies on training female versus male students- their responses and the general discussion are really interesting.

Mark

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 2 replies

who can't fit their

2006-01-06T01:37:06Z

martial art uniform cause they pigged out over the holidays???
hahahaha
luckly they are bigger and roomier than regular clothes so my only problem will be the booty section of my pants

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 7 replies

Eskrima (Filipino Martial Arts)?

2005-12-17T07:20:48Z

I'm thinking about taking up a new, weapons-based martial art and there is an Eskrima school in my area. I've done some reading on it, but I'm wondering if anyone here has ever practiced it or knows anything about it.

Thanks,
Tracey

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 14 replies

Style Suggestions

2005-12-14T16:43:33Z

How do I go about figuring out what style of Martial Arts I want to learn? There seems to be so many different types, it’s mind boggling. I took classes for 3 years when I was 12, learning The HeihoShinDo System, but from what I gather it’s not a form that’s widely known. I’m looking to improve my focus, my general health and of course it couldn’t hurt to be able to kick some serious ass. Any suggestions? I'm in the Philadelphia area.

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 11 replies

survived!

2005-12-14T15:56:42Z

Last night I had my third kyu test in aikido. My personal test was to get my demon technique under control, and to stay Present, Centered and Connected with my partners. Yeah, I made a bunch of mistakes, but I made them well, and beautifully! Gotta work on my entering, somehow I keep putting myself On the line of atttack instead of Off it( sounds like my Life, fer sure!) and Sensei says to get my feet figured out before my next test...But I faced my Demons, and several more that were sent to me this week, kept my center and finished smiling.
Can't ask for better, I thhink!

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 7 replies

100

2005-12-05T15:57:16Z

I wanted to post a special thread about the fact that we have reached 100 members!!! Wow!!!

Just think 100 women doing their thing in Martial Arts... WE ROCK!

I must admit though that I got two requests right in a row and hence am a little late - I'm posting this at 101 members.

I'm amazed and humbled and I thank you all for making this such a welcoming place. :)

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 18 replies

Cool pictures!

2005-12-01T18:06:23Z

So...what arts are those in the group pictures where people are using blades and fans and bos?

Though this may be a completely superficial reason, they all look cool as hell.

--Tracey

posted in Women in the Martial Arts - 9 replies