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Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: I just became a karate black belt! (in reply to TAKITAKATA)
Well done Louis! My son did taijutsu for three years and got to brown stripe (2 more to black), but decided he'd had enough then. He got a lot out of it in terms of confidence and coordination though. I really liked the respectful way the students treated each other in the school.
RE: I just became a karate black belt! (in reply to Louis_B)
congrats ~clap~ its a great achievement well I used to play Karate .. I think I finished white, then -> yellow, then -> orange , then I left the game on the blue belt heehehe I got interested in body building more congratulation again .
Posts: 283
Joined: Jul. 10 2007
From: Leigh, Lancashire, UK
RE: I just became a karate black belt! (in reply to Louis_B)
quote:
can you fight in “campas”
Having been the (padded) punch target for the past couple of weeks I can discern a certain rhythmic quality to Louis' attacks
Seriously though, Louis has shown great dedication where most of his peers dropped out as the standard became higher, he's overcome the occasional setback, worked consistently hard and thoroughly enjoys his karate.
Exactly the same qualities come to the fore with his guitar playing, of course with a bit more creativity!
Good kick bad reaction..lol and I thought they only get trained in kicking holes in the air. I don´t wanna get this cheese-fungie-barefoot in my face. Karate is so cruel!
Posts: 283
Joined: Jul. 10 2007
From: Leigh, Lancashire, UK
RE: I just became a karate black belt! (in reply to Louis_B)
quote:
I thought they only get trained in kicking holes in the air.
Part of the black belt grading is to win a fight with a similar sized opponent. Louis' opponent was, and I quote, "good at guarding his chest, so I punched him on the nose".
Posts: 15472
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: I just became a karate black belt! (in reply to Louis_B)
I studied Karate when I was little. I was really into it, got the black belt at age 12 or 13. I was really small and they wanted me to teach class and since no other kids were black belt I had to study with adults and also kendo, sword fighting.
That was not for me and I started guitar at that time. So I quit, but I still keep with me a natural sense of the moves and stances, the discipline, etc. It relates alot to flamenco, and the "kata" very much like flamenco choreography where timing is so important, and memorization, reaction, etc. My school was like "anti tai kwon do" because our master teacher was against the tournament moves and other stylized evolutionary elements that he thought were against the traditions it derived from. Basically, we learned stuff that looks more like Steven seagal movies....throwing falling, breaking joints, disabling blows etc. Nothing to get points for in a tournament.
My kid just started tai kwon do, he is only 7. I watched only a few classes and was surprised to recognize many stances and moves, but the overall discipline of the students and teacher were serioulsy lacking comparing to what I learned. I mean we were not allowed to lose balance or hop on one leg, or giggle, etc.
Anyway, I found my old sensai on line and she bough a CD, after not seeing her for 23 years! Good memories.
Posts: 482
Joined: May 6 2009
From: Iran (living in London)
RE: I just became a karate black belt! (in reply to Louis_B)
@Louis_B: Please accept my belated congratulations; that is indeed a serious achievement.
@ Richardo: My experience was very similar to yours! I got my black belt when I was 15ish (in Wado Ryu). Then I started Kyokushinkai which really damaged my body; but who cares about body when you're young! However, I had to gradually give it up due to constant sever damages (worst of all was a broken rib); and starting university. I suppose it has helped me a lot in all aspects of my life i.e having more patience and perseverance and taking tasks on in a more disciplined manner but I genuinely wish I had started playing guitar when I started Karate!
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Lot's of hard work went into that, I bet. 
Louis_B 
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