Hello

I just realized that there is different message boards to the left of the screen...What a dip I am! Anyway, since surgery, I decided to get out of my box and try something new (around October of 2003) and I joined a Karate class. I really enjoy it and have moved up to purple belt and am currently trying about to spar (just got my gear). Anyway hello all, hope this board get's "movin".

Hi! I take Taekwondo with our family. Our children and myself are orange belts and my husband is brown belt. We usually take it together as a family. My husband got injured in Taekwondo May 19. He injured his knee and had to have surgery. Recovery is going well. This is not discouraging us. He is still as motivated as he ever was and it is a great motivation to me. I am glad that I take it. I hope to be better after this surgery and maybe then I can spin kick I already have gear too. It's cool lisa

Wow, your doing this BEFORE having the surgery?! You may not even need it if you can last through the classes. I know I work out pretty hard and I am 10 months out of surgery and I am still having trouble with myspinning back kick! Nice to meet you and good luck with the progress on your surgery -Chris

Chris, I am a Gold Belt (some schools call it a yellow w/green stripe) in Tae kwon do. I am at 18 months out and I have the most trouble with spin and pivot kicks. They are considered advanced kicks in our school. One of my instructors keeps telling me that they take months of practice to get them right. I guess she could be right, coming from a someone who can clear my head (I'm 6'1") with a round kick. Chris in Tampa

Hello, I am 5 weeks out and down 24lbs to 212.5. YEH! Anyway, I used to be very active in martial arts and competing in point fighting which is pretty much like sparring. My last competition was in 1987 and I fractured my foot during the competition but still fought and won 4th place out of 32 entrants. I studied Majutsu at that time and got up to a blue belt. I have not been active in martial arts since 1991, when I was diagnosed with Lupus and later on with Fibromyalgia. I have been on SSDI since then and have continued to gain weight. Now that I am on my way down for good, I might try it again. I was very depressed when I got diagnosed and had to stop. I love martial arts and hope I can do it to some degree again after I get teh rest of my weight off. Anyway, good luck to you all with your weight loss journey and with your martial arts training.

Hello Christian, Glad to see you've decided to try the martial arts. What style are you doing. You seemed to be surprised by the woman doing it before surgery. I've been training for 2 years and am aproximatly 3 months from a brown belt in kenpo karate and my surgery is in July. I'm pissed about the time that I'm going to miss but it's for a good cause. Well stick with it. Mike

Congrats on getting your surgery date! That should really help on your quest for the BLACK BELT! Yes, I do seemed surprised by people doing this before surgery, I am now down 200 pounds from my heaviest and still have difficulty keeping up with some of the "younger" people in the group. I am currently a purple belt in Shao-Lin Kempo and have a real blast with it. Keep up the great work, sounds like you have some good exercising habits formed for a successful post surgery! -Chris

I have all the respect for everyone that is continuing with their martial arts. As for myself, I'm a second degree black belt in Goju Ryu Karate and have studied since 1997. I got married in 2000 and have gradually put weight back on, and that was after loosing 70 lbs from phenfen. I was even teaching classes, but since my weight gain I stopped (sensei told me I could not teach anymore, and I know why) Out of embarassment, I quit going, and that was since Sept. of last year. I miss it terribly. I have since moved out of state and I am hoping, and praying, that I get this surgery. As far as sparring, you have to be the agressor, as soon as they say go, GO!!!! and use combinations, back fist reverse punches work wonders (I got 1st place using that combo) Good luck to everyone.

Hi Laurie; thank you for the info on sparring. I recently did it for the first time. It was quite a lot of exercise! Very different from going through the motions. I am very sorry to hear that you have had to stop doing what you love because of your weight. I have read your profile and hope there will be some way you can get the surgery. I do know if you need to go "out of pocket" that you can finance it through www.capitalone.com. It at least is another option. Good luck! -Chris

Your instructor told you you could not teach anymore?!?!??! Because you were overweight?!?!?!?!?!?!? That's outrageous!!!!!! I teach Judo. I played at 368 lbs and I am at it at 230 lbs. I stopped just long enough to recover from my surgery. I went back after 4 weeks for a light work-out. I'm sorry, but your instructor would have is ass handed to him where I am from for that kind of discrimination. It is inexcusable. You go back to your sport and enjoy it. If you can't find a dojo near you try another style. Come to Judo!!! If you live in SE Michigan I will help you find a Dojo. This sport is for health - mental and physical. Man I am pissed. You didn't deserve that abuse. You are in my thoughts and I hope your date comes soon. You ROCK!!!!! kp