http://m.nydailynews.com/sports/olympics-2012/saudi-judo-entrant-proves-pioneer-country-female-olympian-article-1.1128835?pgno=1 This is worth a notice. Inexperienced, even her judogi was improperly fitted, and with her blue belt rank, she faced the insecurities of having her own Saudi nation judgi...

Recently, I traveled to Washington, DC for a work conference. It's a long conference, and I knew I'd miss the dojo. Before I seriously considered how my hotel room would have to be my dojo-for-one, I got on Google, and found a DC dojo....a mere 2 miles from my hotel. Imagine my great surprise to dis...

What do you think of women-only karate classes? I've met a few women, in other styles, who only started martial arts training because they were able to try it in a women's only class. If you search on the web, you find several karate schools that have some classes for women-only as an offering among...

Are there other women and men out there who find the available chest protection equipment unsatisfying? The bulky, flat, chest pads that many karateka use in sparring do not exactly fit some women very well. To be honest, I don't think they fit large men very well either. I think the equipment avail...

I can't say I'm much of a baseball fan...(I would actually rather watch the enthusiasm of a farm league or T-ball game)...but your photos do show a clear difference in pitching skills. Interesting. Seems important to use different positions, angles, movements to try to harness the strength of the sy...

I don't know how I missed your story back when you wrote it--holidays, perhaps. Good story, Bill; interesting path to shodan, with some big names included. Thanks for sharing it!

If the secret power comes from balancing ions, we could just scuff around on carpet with fuzzy "PowerSocks" on; then, touch any metal surface and feel your own Cosmic <<<SURGE>>>. I think I'm on to something....anyone want to market PowerSocks?!

If you've trained for shodan in the past, and now have the wisdom of higher rank or longevity or experience....is there anything about your own shodan preparation that you would offer, as a pearl of wisdom...or funny story...or difficult journey, to those of us who, sensei-willing, may face this mil...

Hi chef; I was thinking about you, so I stopped by forums, checked CaringBridge, realized you're in the thick of chemotherapy cycles, and thought I'd generate some more good energy, thoughts, and prayers your way. I hope your burden doesn't feel too great; I hope the side effects stay only briefly; ...

I just thought I'd come right out and say what I really said when I read that you are dealing with pancreatic cancer... "oh SH*T, DaRN it! Ugh, awful, awful, not fair, scary, terrible, terrible, sH*T"--- There. I said it. I am so sorry that you have to deal with this. I don't really know y...

Karate cures seasickness/nausea! I've been meaning to write about this experience for a while, and I'd love to hear other similar stories if anyone has one to share. I spent two weeks this past winter working on a small ecotourism kind of cruise, for the first time. It was a 150-foot boat, and you ...

I'm feeling like I'm mostly just IN the exercises/kata/kumite at this stage of learning....and don't always spend the time to consider the *concepts* behind the mechanics behind the action. However, I just took the time to open up the links at the beginning of this thread, and more than anything els...

I am very uncomfortable and disappointed with the use of the term "ungrateful woman". Court is by no means a Panacea. It does not guarantee safety. It is not present when the charged comes back to demonstrate how angry they are at being brought to court. Working in a hospital, I have seen ...

Just thinking about a different angle on this issue.... Does anyone think they *chose* to study martial arts as a result of experiencing or witnessing abuse in the past? and Is there anyone willing to comment further on how martial arts training empowered you or hindered you in managing an abusive r...

I am relieved by the ongoing dialogue. Break the silence, and knock the societal doors down! The phenomenal humility and strength required to dish-this-kind-of-dirt, by those who have experienced it, amazes me. I really appreciated the specific data--because it was horrifying and eye-opening. In my ...