other sports

[Trek420]

" How long have you been studing in your system? "

more or less since 1980 (the more is a 4 years of Karate before, the less is taking time from training of for college) currently training for my Nidan (2nd degree black belt)

"The karate give me the concentration and building my leg up and flexbility. It is also fun. every now and again I get to kick a young males ego. "

The focus is key in cycling and you can get that from MA.

yep, it's fun when guys think I throw like a girl...yep, throw YOU like one ;-)

Not too much problem with that since my instructor is a woman the men who train in our dojo respect women Udansha or they would not travel across the planet to train with her.

"I use to do tournament but not really any more that is for the young and my rank and age puts me with people that have studied for 20 plus years. I have their age but not the time studying."

keep training, it's a lifetime sport, and keep riding too!

TREK

[williamtash]

Trek,
I have been at it about 4 1/2 shodan in okinawan kenpo. Mr instructor is a man and He good. He train with 8th Kyoshi Vic Coffin. He is the only that got me back to riding because of the MD I have and to keep me walking longer. Thw other two instuctors are women plus me so we rule the dojo. The men are ok their just look at my size which is 5' and 98lbs and think I will brake. I hope you get your nidan that great. I like the idea of a women dojo that sound great. karate and biking will always be a big part of my life. So you tain on in mind and spirit

Williamtash (sandy)

[assassin__x]

Originally posted by williamtash
Assassin_x
I do another sport any body out there do karate
I do that at night 4 times a week for three hours. It is my other passion beside riding my bikes. I started riding again because of karate. I also tried rock climb once it was not for me but you do make it sound great. what do you feel when you get to the top and look around. What do you think is the best part of your other sport. Williamtash

What questions, it does feel fantastic when you get to the top and look around. I took me a while to get used to heights, at first it was a hindrance, but I feel that I can deal with it now. It took sometime to get used to, but I started looking back behind me and I started thinking "this is beautiful" instead of "holy c**p I'm high up!".

Climbing can get your adreniline pumping sometimes, but the most gratifying climbs are ones where it's you and the rock, you just move up it concentrating on every hold and enjoying the movement of your body. Those are the ones that you look up and you can't beleive that you're at the top!

I love just getting out there, I love the rock. My favorite type of place in the world is out on the granite expanses by the ocean near Halifax. Always loved it, and could you imagine my joy when I found that you could climb that rock too!

Thanks for asking, thanks for giving me an excuse to talk about climbing

[Trek420]

" My instructor's a man and He's good. He trained with 8th Kyoshi Vic Coffin. "

I think I've heard of Vic Coffin. If I was to do a "hard style" I think it would be Kenpo, it's beautiful but my knees are shot and can't do the kicks.

"He is the only that got me back to riding because of the MD I have and to keep me walking longer."

My sensei , Pat Hendricks, 6th dan cycles also as well as yoga to cross train she encouraged me to bike too to get my wind up for my previous tests.

"I like the idea of a women dojo that sound great. "

Actualy the dojo is mixed, just our head instructor is a woman. We have a few women senior students also but mostly men. I have been to workshops that were women only but I do not think I'd like a all women dojo because let's face it gals...if you ever had to "use it" would probably be a man and would not like to flip out "arrrgh , he's so tall, will this work?". The guys in our dojo are great.

"karate and biking will always be a big part of my life. So you train on in mind and spirit"

well said!

TERK420

[hibiscus09]

I've lifted weights about 7 years. I was leg pressing 815lbs & squatting 215lbs & I'm 41, 5'3.5", female & 123lbs with 14.8% bodyfat. I started feeling thick, so I thought I'd go lighter with the weights and get into biking!

I'm also learning to golf. I've taken about 6 lessons, golfed 18 twice & the first score was 125 and the second 109. At least I improved!!

[williamtash]

Your teachers name sounds like a name that I have heard. What state do you come from. I come from North carolina. I went off my bike today trying to get my clippless right pedal to work right. he shop found out I needed a shime on my right foot because my feet are so small. It is going to make working tonight the pits because we kumita tonight. Some of those kid want to kill you and I don't wear pads very often to those scrapes are going to get hit. Kyoshi Coffin says alot of names of high ranking black belts that is why I may have heard the name. Ask your sensei If he has heard of Kyoshi: I am usually surprized at who either know him or have heard of him or who has competed against him
Well got to go I have a little one that wants a book read my grandaughter. She already think she needs to be at the dojo and she is 2. She likes to kei

[Trek420]

"What state do you come from. I come from North carolina."

California

" Ask your sensei If he has heard of Kyoshi: I am usually surprized at who either know him or have heard of him or who has competed against him"

She may have heard of him but would not have compteted. There are no competitions in Aikdio

[Dogmama]

I'm intrigued by the martial arts thread. My gym is going to be offering two martial art forms (doesn't say what) but the instructor has been in MA for 30 years and he is very intense (he's also a personal trainer - one of the few I would work with). I'm mostly interested in the ability to focus - can anybody talk about that? Also, how does MA help your cycling? Your day to day life?

Thanks

[williamtash]

Hi ,

You wanted to know how MA can help you cycling?
Well You have to use everything you have to do it.arms legs hips
strenght training. It also makes you have to focus past the pain of you body and draw from your center. You have to focus on what you ar doing at all times. That and it is just fun and you know that you can handle yourself in a great many situation.
You really want to check out were and how he got his rank
Who was hus sensei was. If he studied a single system or is he mix and matching his. That is not good. You want a clean system
not one that fits the instuctor. If you get what I mean. You also might want to talk to grasshopper she is in MA as well as me and she what her veiw point it.

[Trek420]

"My gym is going to be offering two martial art forms (doesn't say what) but the instructor has been in MA for 30 years and he is very intense (he's also a personal trainer - one of the few I would work with). I'm mostly interested in the ability to focus - can anybody talk about that? Also, how does MA help your cycling? Your day to day life?"

What a lot of questions and so little time on my coffee break but let me dig in.

First, there's a huge diff between a personal trainer and a martial arts sesei and while I'm sure this guy/gal is great I suggest you check out a lot of classes in your area before deciding on a style/instructor.

I'll continue with things to look for and things to avoid when I get my next break ;-)

[Trek420]

more thoughts:

MA offers cyclists range of motion, flexibility, balance, fast reaction time, spatial skills, and good falls for when you endo.

I find is that for Aikido anyway, Aikdio calm feels good, calm yet prepared. I've tried meditition and I feel a little dead.

It's a lifetime practice, find a teacher, style and school you feel comfortable and safe with, shop around, talk to people, watch the class.

[Grasshopper]

I agree with Trek - It's a lifelong practice. I've been studying Karate and Ju Jitsu for 9 years and many days I feel like a beginner. My original school was traditional and wonderful. When that sensei moved and the school closed, I jumped into a contract with one of the largest schools in the area and learned that many many schools are just contract generating aroebics classes. They make you feel like you're learning something and get your heart rate up, but in truth you might as well be jazzersizing. It's like any sport...lots of people can play but not that many are good at teaching the real art!! Ask around. Ask about his teaching history. It doens't sound like you're looking for a cardio kickboxing class (not that there is anything wrong with them!). To really learn the art, is a special thing and requires a special teacher with a lot of experience.

Karate is the greatest thing I've done for myself. When I started practicing I'd recently broken my back and lived in daily pain. I give a lot of the credit to the life I have now to what I learned in Martial arts. It's effected everything I do!!

[Dogmama]

Wow, thanks for all of the info! I didn't realize that there was so much to know!

[Trek420]

Dogmama said " I didn't realize that there was so much to know"

It's like cycling, it's something you can do your whole life. After over 20 years I'm still learning.

As for choosing a style at the high or advanced end I feel that most styles are more similar than they are different.

Aikido, a "soft" style becomes direct and powerful as you advance, Karate and other "hard styles" have fluid throws, sweeps and other moves.

What's most important is that you find a teacher and school that you feel comfortable with. How do they treat beginners? With patience and respect? Do the advanced students look inspiring.

good luck and keep cycling too!

[Trek420]

"Grasshopper sed " It's a lifelong practice. I've been studying Karate and Ju Jitsu for 9 years and many days I feel like a beginner...To really learn the art, is a special thing and requires a special teacher with a lot of experience"

8-) my goal after training since 1975 is to get ONE technique sorta-kinda right each day. You're so right, it's a lifelong goal.

Similar to looking for that perfect LBS things to look for in an exceptional school are:

does the teacher inspire you? How involved are they? Does the head instructor only show up once in a while or often? Beginners in our school get daily attention from our head instructor, a 6th degree black belt.

watch advanced students. you should feel a sense of "wow! I'd love to be able to do that"

most important, how do they treat beginners. You'll be one for a looooong time. are instructors patient? do they stress safety? How do they deal with injuries? Are they respectful of students limits or push training while hurt?

beware of schools that have classes that are off limits, you should be able to watch both advanced and beginning classes. It's one thing to put you on automatic payment for convenience, but avoid contracts at all costs.

style is not so important, all are good. Look for the right school and teacher.

good luck and keep cycling!