Topic: Seriously irritated

[Clark Kent]

Anyone who has paid any attention to my ramblings as of late, remember the cute girl from my karate class?
Well I was talking with her tonight, and learned something that pissed me off to the highest level of pissoscity.
Backgroudn first:
Between previous jobs, school, health etc. I've done my best to make it to karate every week, but have had some lapses, such as this summer where I had evening classes that went through the middle of karate class all summer.  Last spring I tested for my blue belt after one year of karate (blue is level two).  This spring I was informed that I would not be allwoed to test for t=my purple belt (level 3) even by the end of the summer.  This is fine with me, since I don't really care about the belt that much, just what I learn from the class.  In any event, classes started off ok two years ago, learned some techniques, the first kata (like a dance, sorta), and picked up the second kata by the january (started in september).  OK, all is good, from there I had to wait until the following october to start learning the third kata.  Picked that one up fairly quickly, despite having little help learning it, and wasn't allowed to start learning the fourth untillast april.  The summer classes started, and I couldn't attend.
Now I won't go on about the people who missed as much time as me and still were supposed to test out anyways at the end of this summer, but didn't cuz they didn't even attend a week before they were supposed to test...
I will say, however, how tedious it was going over the same moves every single week for month after month for 2-3 hours every night.  I even made it a point to go to the tuesday night sessions which are supposedfly optional, and still go the same.
Now back to the girl:  She's been at this for one year as of next week.  She had barely finished learning the first kata in may when she tested for her blue belt.  Since may 2004 she's moved onto second, third and is now finishing up the fourth kata and will be moving on to the fifth kata in a couple weeks.
I would giv e some graces if she were some sort of prodigy in the martial arts and didn't take from september 2003 to may 2004 just to learn the first kata.
We spent months begging the sensei to let us move on to some new techniques, new katas, new SOMETHING, which went to deaf ears.  Add to that the fact that everytime I have talked to the sensei about something or another that was bothering me he'd tell me I was being stupid, acting like an idiot, just didn't get it or to take my head out of my @$$.  No i'm not paraphrasing, those are direct quotes.
In anyevent, I went to alot of trouble to get my Thursdays cleared for the fall so I could attend karate each week, only to hear this tonight..  I'm wondering why the hell i even bother to go at all at this point.
I am so ticked...

[Sethan]

Sounds like it is long past time for you to find another place to learn karate.

[AlienLXIX]

I totally agree with Sethan, Clark.  Drop that class and go to another sensei because this one is the stupid f*ck from hel.  If this is a national club I would go beyond this dork and complain about his teaching and principals.  I truly don't see how you could have taken this kinda crap for this long.

Perhaps you might want to think about a diffrent form of martial art.  IMHO Karate isn't the best one to take anyway.  Try Akido with some basics in Judo.  If you go for Tei Kwan Do (sp?) don't do Olympic go with traditional, it's much better.

[Sirgod]

I have to agree with my Colleagues ( hehe Sethan and Amy, didn't that sound Professional?)

Seriously, I had just the oppisite Problem when I was Taking Traditional martial arts. If you had the Money, they would Test you regardless of time in. I wish you lived closer so I could Help you with your training. JKD has no Belts, and Is the Most effictive form of Self Defence, and Even Life that I have yet to encounter.

Stephen

Small edit: Since Karate between you too isn't working out now, At least you can date her. 

[Clark Kent]

LMAO, yeah I suppose that dooes knock down one of the big reasons I couldn't touch her, but we'll see.  She seemed extremely uncomfortable at the end of our conversation last night, most likely because I was so upset that she was allowed to propel forward so quickly, while I got left in the dust waiting for something new to learn.
I  can't tell you how many times and ways I tried to learn new techniques and skills in this class, and got bitched out because I wasn't going over the same stupid moves for 2 hours at a time. 
I'm going to wait a while before I make my final decision, but it's looking like I'm done with this class.
This form of Karate is one of the original forms- Okinawa Shuri Te, and was a lot of fun, but perhaps something else will be more challenging.  I'll look into you're advice, Alien, thanks, but most of the martial arts in my neck of the woods seem to be watered down suburbanite versions.
Stephen, what is JKD?
Brian

[Sirgod]

Brian, JKD or Jeet Kune Do was the martial art bruce lee Developed while he lived here in the States. It incompasses a more scientific approach to Fighting, as apposed to Tradition.

One Example, that Scott and I have been discussing, is Putting the Strong arm forward. As you know most people are right handed, yet Keep there left hand in front while using there right as a backup weapon.

this makes no sense actually, as you want your Best weapon towards an enemy. Consider holding a Sword in your right hand , yet having your left arm in front of you. It just doesn't make any sense at all.

anyway, I'll try and Get some notes etc. together and go into more detail.

stephen

[Clark Kent]

I'd appreciate that, It sounds pretty cool.
One argument I always had against Shuri Te was they use a 7-3 stance almost exclusively, with no regard for the situation you're in.  I had a buddy in the army who taught me once to keep a more equal stance, and keep the enemy to your side with cover up.  This all but eliminates one leg as a weapon, and limits the hand belonging to the side away from the enemy mostly to defense, but it also reduces your profile, leaviing less for your enemy to hit, and personally, I had a much easier time on defense with this way.  However, the sensei I worked with threw a fit everytime I tried it and wasn't in 7-3 (70/30, i.e. 70% weight on back leg, 30% on the front leg)

[FPF-DieHard]

Told you you should have banged the chick 

[Sirgod]

Told you you should have banged the chick 

And out of the Blue comes this. 

Seriously, I stated about 85% of JKD was foot work, But I'd probably go to 99% actually.

I wish humans where built like Hydrans when It came to Combat, It would make for a Much harder time to Knock someone out.

TriPod and all of that.

stephen

[Sethan]

One Example, that Scott and I have been discussing, is Putting the Strong arm forward. As you know most people are right handed, yet Keep there left hand in front while using there right as a backup weapon.

this makes no sense actually, as you want your Best weapon towards an enemy. Consider holding a Sword in your right hand , yet having your left arm in front of you. It just doesn't make any sense at all.

It makes perfect sense if you have a shield on your left arm.  The shield protects your body, and you counterstrike when he is committed to attack.

[Sirgod]

One Example, that Scott and I have been discussing, is Putting the Strong arm forward. As you know most people are right handed, yet Keep there left hand in front while using there right as a backup weapon.

this makes no sense actually, as you want your Best weapon towards an enemy. Consider holding a Sword in your right hand , yet having your left arm in front of you. It just doesn't make any sense at all.

It makes perfect sense if you have a shield on your left arm.  The shield protects your body, and you counterstrike when he is committed to attack.

Actually This is one of those very very rare times we disagree. The object of Combat is To Complete as many Strikes as possible as fast as you can. Even given the sword Shield ideology, one could deliver more Strikes using a Strong side forward while being able to parry with the Weak side at the same time. Add to this, Striking on half Beats, and you have a Great Warrior.

Don't get me wrong, I understand where your coming from , given a Commen Militia point of view, But If trained correctly, I'll stand by my assertion.

Damn, I fell dirty for disagreeing with you though. It's so rare that we do disagree on things.

Stephen

[Just plain old Punisher]

I disagree, the goal isn't a massive number of strikes, but accurate delivery of force.

Akin to WWII carpet bombing and a stealth bomber doing the same job with one or two weapons.

[Sirgod]

I disagree, the goal isn't a massive number of strikes, but accurate delivery of force.

Akin to WWII carpet bombing and a stealth bomber doing the same job with one or two weapons.

That's true, But the strikes can be delivered using the Best weapon in the forefront. IE. Your strongest arm/Leg , etc. this can be both Fast, Numerous, and Debilatating at the same time.

Stephen

[Clark Kent]

I would disagree.  I think tactics has to win out here.  For instance, say your opponent is too skilled or strong in defense for you to land any serious blows.  Your best option is to lure your apoonent into an offensive situation where you can either evade or wear him down, or both. 
I think that overall it's best to have your best foot forward, so to speak, but differenet tactical situations require different stances.

[Sirgod]

I would disagree.  I think tactics has to win out here.  For instance, say your opponent is too skilled or strong in defense for you to land any serious blows.  Your best option is to lure your apoonent into an offensive situation where you can either evade or wear him down, or both. 
I think that overall it's best to have your best foot forward, so to speak, but differenet tactical situations require different stances.

And you can acomplish this by having your best weapon Behind You? If so, I'd like to know how.

Stephen

[Clark Kent]

One's best weapon is not always the best shield.   

[Just plain old Punisher]

Well any fight you can walk away from is a good one Just like landings

[Sethan]

One Example, that Scott and I have been discussing, is Putting the Strong arm forward. As you know most people are right handed, yet Keep there left hand in front while using there right as a backup weapon.

this makes no sense actually, as you want your Best weapon towards an enemy. Consider holding a Sword in your right hand , yet having your left arm in front of you. It just doesn't make any sense at all.

It makes perfect sense if you have a shield on your left arm.  The shield protects your body, and you counterstrike when he is committed to attack.

Actually This is one of those very very rare times we disagree. The object of Combat is To Complete as many Strikes as possible as fast as you can. Even given the sword Shield ideology, one could deliver more Strikes using a Strong side forward while being able to parry with the Weak side at the same time. Add to this, Striking on half Beats, and you have a Great Warrior.

Don't get me wrong, I understand where your coming from , given a Commen Militia point of view, But If trained correctly, I'll stand by my assertion.

Damn, I fell dirty for disagreeing with you though. It's so rare that we do disagree on things.

That's OK Stephen - I won't disagree with you on Martial Arts in general, but I've done a lot of sword and shield work.  If a right handed sword and shield fighter puts his right foot forward, his shield is 135º away from his opponent, instead of 45º away as it is with the left foot forward.  In other words, the shield doesn't protect you much from someone in front of you, if you have the wrong foot forward.  Having the right foot forward gives you an extra foot of range, at the cost of the protection the shield offers.

[Sirgod]

Now that does make sense when Put that way Adam. I'll have to give you credit for this, as It's been along time since I've used either.

Stephen

[AlienLXIX]

Told you you should have banged the chick 

And out of the Blue comes this. 

Seriously, I stated about 85% of JKD was foot work, But I'd probably go to 99% actually.

I wish humans where built like Hydrans when It came to Combat, It would make for a Much harder time to Knock someone out.

TriPod and all of that.

stephen

 :police:heh heh you said tripod! 

Sorry feeling goofy today.  And boy does he feel nice!  <rimshot>