What type of gear do you wear....?
:asian:

Head Gear is most important to me. I'm blind in one eye so I can't afford to damage the "good eye", so I wear a helmet with the full cage. Yes it does hinder you vision but you get use to it. LOL plus my partners seem to like it because they don't have to be so careful with the face shots. :boxing:

Otherwise the only other gear I wear is gloves, boots and shin protectors. I have worn chest guards on occations, but I usually go without.

I don't use a groin guard either, but we currently don't allow groin shots either. I've been told that female groin guards can cause injury so I'll concider it when I finally need to purchase one.

dot :asian:

P.S. Quick question for anyone. A fellow female student and I, after sparing noted that we usually got semin intence head aches, within seconds of removing our headgear, which usually last anywhere from 15 to 30 or so (guestimation). Is this due to head shots, released heat, or blood flow? Inquiring minds what to know!!!

That sounds partially good...... but it sounds like you are waiting for "something to happen" rather than a "prevention" attitude. I have had females crack their pubic bones! So a cup of some sort (good brand with a good history of course) is paramount. Same for Breast protection!! Why wait for a hard piercing shot to the breast to cause trouble!!! As to the head gear most everywhere it is required anyway....... the headaches though might be from too tight a fit....... we haven't encountered this..... of course it could also be from lots of medium and hard head shots too....... I'd try to spar for a month no head shots at all and see if it still happens..... if it does try a larger gear if it still persists then call your dr.

Always Safety first so you can spar multiple times per week.

:asian:

Don't worry If and when we do start doing groin shots. I will get the appropriate protection.

As for Chest guard you have a good point but I haven't really gotten to the level of sparring that, make chest protectors an issue. As things get more intense of course I will invest. :)

In regards to the headaches. I'd say no to the too small gear. It fits fine. I have a feeling it's because of trapped heat. Though lord know I've taken some pretty good shots to the head. I was just wondering if others had had the same after effect.

Thanks for the opinion though Dennis

dot
:asian:

Well at my age of 42,, and after a major car accident a few years ago.. I'm protecting what I consider vital areas.. when I spar I don Foot gear, full shin guards (the kind that covers the top of the foot as well) Forearm guards, and I've had so many injuries from blocking.. Last December I was out of commission for weeks with cellulititis from blocking a kick with my shin.. Man that hurts~!.. I am now wearing a full almost boxers glove on the left hand as I jammed my 3 fingers so badly over 2 months ago and they are still swollen at the middle knuckle and as painful as the day it happened... a regular glove on the right hand .. and I have 2 helmets.. one full face cage that I wear when sparring with the college white belts.. or when a visitor comes to the studio and I don't know their control.. (I've had full jaw surgery from the car accident and can't get hit~!) I wear my regular open face helmet when sparring our nightly students.. I trust them implicitly!

I don't wear a groin guard as or chest protector we do make it mandatory for all of our kids in the children's class to wear full gear.. including chest protectors

Little Tashtigress and I have helmets, gloves, shin protectors, boots (tho hers are too small now and she's stolen mine) and mouthguards. We realized the value of chest protectors after Tash took a Chit-kickin in the chest by a much larger boy at a tournament last year and ended up with a terribly bruised chest, which she whined about for weeks after. They finally did disqualify the boy for using excessive force in a subsequent round, but it was too late for my daughter. It put her off sparring for months after, and now that she's interested in getting back into sparring again, I will be investing in additional gear for her. :asian:

It has been a problem somewhat for me in the past ........ Some of my girls just don't like chest or groin protectors (for several very funny reasons - to me anyway! lol) .......... so I half want to let them choose what they personally wear ........ however, I feel safety is so important that I eventually made it mandatory that they wear "some" type of equipment (chest & groin) I just don't want it on my conscience if one gets hurt....(I have already had that happen) and I don't like it when it could be prevented or minimized.

I do like going to the groin..... it's just Kenpo......... I can't tell you how many times a student of a different style (I won't name names) has come to our sparring class and gotten "killed" by not being able to protect that area. Flat out....... it you don't practice to protect it....... you won't. I make believers out of them.

As far as pads go......... My opinion is that you wear all that you can to make you feel safe and comfortable and protect all you can while you are INTENTIONALLY sparring. (some give me flack that they need to condition for the streets and equipment is a crutch and doesn't allow for that conditioning) To this I say El Toro PU PU!!!!!!!! On the street in a real salutation, adrenalin will flow masking the pain at the moment.... and you need to fight thru it. (lick your wounds later), but in sparring you can spar over and over and over again weekly and not be hurt near as much thus allowing additional training time. Now don't think that I don't believe in being a little physically tough...... far from it but lets be realistic!! Pads are available use them!!!

Tess, I use soccer shin pads under an old sock under a typical shin pad of some sort..... baseball bats don't get thru!!

:asian:

well.. a guy not wearing a cup is just downright stupid.. you can't condition your body that way.. as for conditioning in genneraly, I'm not 100% on this but I think wearing pads is actualy better.. reason why is when you wear pads the force is more evenly distributed, if you aren't wearing pads and you clash shins for example the force is localised and you have a greater chance of getting some kind of a fracture, even if you don't your leg would recover in patches sort of.

Originally posted by Goldendragon7



Tess, I use soccer shin pads under an old sock under a typical shin pad of some sort..... baseball bats don't get thru!!

:asian:



Hmmm Good idea Dennis,, I have even eyeballed those hard plastic shin guards they use for inline skating hahaa.. maaan would they hurt .. the other guy. .. ~!!! Groin shots are not really an issue with me.. we use the rules.. above the belt.. but I've been caught in the pubic bone.. pretty hard force.. I guess after 3 kids.. nothing bothers me :)
And Chest protector.. well it's a good idea and they are used by all the females at the college.. but at our school . nobody but the kids put them on.. We know the use of control .. and fortunately nobody has ever had any bruise or problem from a kick or punch to their chest.. Bruises on limbs.. well those are 'Show n' Tell stuff.. *g*.. :)

Originally posted by sweeper

well.. when you wear pads the force is more evenly distributed, if you aren't wearing pads and you clash shins for example the force is localised and you have a greater chance of getting some kind of a fracture, or bruise.

this is also true and a good point.

:asian:

Unfortunately, cellulitous(sp?) has also become an issue. Unless you are already conditioned, pads are just plain smart.:asian:

Originally posted by Goldendragon7

Same for Breast protection!! Why wait for a hard piercing shot to the breast to cause trouble!!!

Always Safety first


One of my female students, (also my fiancee),
visited the doctor just yesterday with chest pains.

She suffers from a heart condition, so any serious pains prompt an immediate visit to the doc. (In theory)

She had said that these pains were different to the ones she usually had. (She had had them for a week without saying anything, as she is a single parent and is terrified of being put into hospital)

Doctors diagnos: A crack to the sternum.

We don't know where she picked up this injury, but working techniques is high on the list of suspects.

I've only been trying to get her to wear a chest protector for six years. Now, she's interested in getting one.

Les

Originally posted by Les

Doctors diagnos: A crack to the sternum.


Ouch! I remember being told in karate that a punch could crack the sternum and initially being doubtful. I came around eventually.

Originally posted by arnisador



Ouch! I remember being told in karate that a punch could crack the sternum and initially being doubtful. I came around eventually.

If Cleo was working with me, (she is often my dummy) then most likely it was an inward horizontal elbow strike.

Neither of us can remember her receiving a particually hard shot, but if it happened in training I'm going to have to be chief suspect.

She also "playfights" with her kids and the dog a lot, so I could be off the hook.

Les

Originally posted by KenpoGirl
P.S. Quick question for anyone. A fellow female student and I, after sparing noted that we usually got semin intence head aches, within seconds of removing our headgear, which usually last anywhere from 15 to 30 or so (guestimation). Is this due to head shots, released heat, or blood flow? Inquiring minds what to know!!!

Could be the possible adrenaline dump and you're not dealing with it properly.

It's an actual science almost dealing with the adrenaline dump. People like Ron Sanchez and Tony Blauer talk about it frequently.

Originally posted by arnisador



Ouch! I remember being told in karate that a punch could crack the sternum and initially being doubtful. I came around eventually.

I have a few anecdotes on this. At a seminar once a guy told Mr. Speakman that instead of being kicked after his promotion, his instructor punched him in the chest. The guy said that it took 4 years for the pain to completely go away. Mr. Speakman said "he cracked your sternum" and Mr. Speakman could not believe the guys instructor would do that either willingly or unknowingly. I had never heard of this before and at the time I thought Mr. Speakman might be nuts, but he was right. It is not that hard to crack the sternum.

Also, I dub and watch medical videos for a living and I think I saw this on a video recently. You can cause a heart attack and even death with a shot to the sternum, not based primarily on the force of the blow, but on the Timing of the strike as it relates to the rhythm of the heart. Maybe I saw this on TV, but I think I also saw this at work. So even a weak or controlled punch to the chest has the ability to affect the heart if the timing was right.

Anyone else know if this is the case regarding the heart?
:idunno:
I also want to chime in on gear but I may wait until later. My last post made me an Orange Belt by the way!!! Woo, hoo!

Yes. The heart works based on an electrical wave. This is why they use a defibrillator to re-start a heart that is stopped or even the rhythm is wrong. Any sudden blow to the chest can cause the heart wave to be disrupted and not return to proper function.

We hear more and more it seems about someone dying after taking a baseball, etc., to the chest. Sometimes it's blamed on a silent defect uncovered by the blow but other times just on the blow and bad luck.

any disruption to the heart at the wrong time can make it shut down.. to give an example my freind was drinking sprite and he got hickups, he fell down and had a seasure.. when his fammily took him to the hospital they said his hickups probably disrupted the blood flow to the heart which made him pass out.. kinda odd.

and I know it's deffenatly posable to disrupt the heart by a blow to the solar plexus/aorta the disruption of blood makes the heart shut down and you pass out.. I'm not sure how/why the heart does/doesn't restart though..

Originally posted by Goldendragon7


As far as pads go......... My opinion is that you wear all that you can to make you feel safe and comfortable and protect all you can while you are INTENTIONALLY sparring. (some give me flack that they need to condition for the streets and equipment is a crutch and doesn't allow for that conditioning) To this I say El Toro PU PU!!!!!!!!
:asian:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
El Toro PU PU!!!!!!!!
I just got that. I had been misreading it.
Ahem.:shrug:

I mentioned this the other night. I used to wear shin pads all the time. I think they were reccomended even. One night I didn't have shin pads on and I blocked a kick from one of our Huge guys who also used to condition his shins by kicking trees and stuff.

I thought I might have broken something. I decided I didn't want to get into that habit anymore so I quit wearing the pads altogether. In the last few weeks I had a class and banged shins twice. This is how this came up. I'll mention the pad issue again and probably buy some more. I loved them until I decided they were a crutch.

I agree that it isn't hard at all to crack the sternum. I am CPR and first trained, and that's one thing they tell you if you try to do CPR too high on the chest. During CPR, you will crack ribs, but that's better than the sternum.

Anyway, as far as gear. I wear shin pads (cause I block kicks with my legs), arm pads (for blocking), mouth guard (I like my teeth :D ), head gear (I hate to be kicked in the head, but it happens), and a chest guard (i don't wanna hurt the ..... um you know hehehehe). I REALLY hate the head gear, cause it traps heat. I get hot really fast with it on, than if I did without it. The chest guard is heavy, and it's kinda hard to move in it, but I don't mind it that much.

My last school didn't require much gear. Just head gear, shin pads and arm pads.

I assume you all wear some kind of glove to protect your hand?

Yes, gear is not optional. foot, hand, groin, shin, chest, head gear is all necessary for safety of both the parties...... It offers double protection.

I have the shins to prove it!! lol they are real beat up..... I used to use forearm pads before the safe T gear came out.

We all need to work from the same playing field and Safety is Paramount for everybody plus we can spar more often since we don't get as injured as without the stuff.

In my experience the attitude is also important.... you can fight hard and fast but you need control and you can get one hell of a workout. Even scare a few people but no one gets hurt.... that's cool!!!

:asian:

"If you can hit, you can miss" .....>Ed Parker (quoted from the Journey)

I use gloves, boots, and shin-guards. I'm pretty sure that's all that's required of our school for the adult class, so that's all I've got. We do medium contact on the body, light or no contact to the head, so the guys wear cups and the kids' class wears head gear.

Oos - :asian:
Quinn

Back when I was living on the other side of Florida, I remember a sad case where a kid playing roller hockey with friends got hit in the chest with the puck. Stopped his heart and he died.

I got kneed right below my sternum (xiphoid) about a month back. Hurt like hell for a couple of days, but the pain eventually went away. However, now I feel a bigger lump there than before.

Cthulhu

That might be something to get checked out!!
:asian:

One of my female students, (also my fiancee),
visited the doctor just yesterday with chest pains.

She suffers from a heart condition, so any serious pains prompt an immediate visit to the doc. (In theory)

She had said that these pains were different to the ones she usually had. (She had had them for a week without saying anything, as she is a single parent and is terrified of being put into hospital)

Doctors diagnos: A crack to the sternum.

We don't know where she picked up this injury, but working techniques is high on the list of suspects.

I've only been trying to get her to wear a chest protector for six years. Now, she's interested in getting one.

Les

This is old but it was interesting in that it also happened to me. I used to hate it when BB's would never let you hit them as a white belt. So it was this one white belt's 5th match and her legs were tired. So I let her in so she could punch. Well, I will never do that again. She punched and broke the first rib, separated it from the sternum. She had been an Army MP and could punch. But I didn't know, and I didn't know about chest pain. I toughed it out for a month, teaching and leading kickboxing class but my chest continued to hurt. Finally went to the doc and he told me no "hard breathing" exercise. Had to laugh, I had been doing a little more than that for a month. But I cooled it down a little, and I healed.

Actually, then a chest protector wouldn't have helped. Unless I got one that covered my clavicle, I can't seem to find one that goes that high. I've tried to tie it up higher on a couple of different ones but it doesn't work, slides down during sparring. And I really like the Best chest gear with the back piece. I use everything. I have a regular headgear but I use the one with the cage now because I don't have to have a mouthguard. I use shin & instep, forearm pads. Even then, the bruises get in between but it saves on the bod for next class. :)

I don't usually wear any gear at all. Granted, as an Instructor, I'm not going to be going full on free fighting in class. But even as a student, none of us wore any gear-no headgear, armor, or shinpads. Only exception was a cup or if we were practicing for a tournament.
Our philosophy has always been you need to be able to fight without gear, understanding control, accuracy, and gracefulness, before you put on the armor. If you hit someone's elbow or kidney area, adjust your step so it doesn't happen again. If you get jammed, understand distance. Better to adjust your step, learn accuracy, and practice control than to wear gear that reinforces bad habits because you don't learn from your mistakes.
And no, none of us ever had a serious accident. Yes, practicing for a tournament we do put on armor and headgear (they do, I don't).

Since this is the Women's forum I'll share this...guys close your eyes. :idunno:



It is very uncomfortable and foreign for a woman to have to get used to groin protectors and of course mouth guards are unusual as well (except now my daughter wears a mouth guard for lacrosse so she'll be used to that) Being a guy, my instructor had a difficult and embarrassing :eek: time ordering all of the equipment for us to wear asking sizes etc., I have to say at first we were a little embarrassed as well. He ordered us these mega uncomfortable groin protectors and they really interfered with your ability to move. So we went back to him to pour through the catalogues and find something more suitable. We wound up with the ones that fit into a pair of special made underwear. I recommend these. They are much more comfortable and allow for mobility. I must say we all got a big laugh out of hearing him call the Martial Arts supply place and ask for various sized panties. :lol: This is the problem when you hold a women's only class.



So... I recommend in the age of the internet that women order their own stuff. :) I use a chest protector, gloves, shin guards and a helmet in addition to the groin protector and mouth guard. I have been considering looking for finger free gloves for greater mobility and trying to get off more techniques, but worry a little about jamming fingers. Does anyone use these?

I wear head, foot, groin, chest, shin, gloves and mouth-guard. I must admit though that the groin protector is the hardest equipment to work with (it gets a little distracting and uncomfortable at times). The chest does add a bit of "heat" to the mix, and i am completely drenched by the time i am done with a sparring match. I did change to head gear that is open on top, i think that lets some of my heat escape and i always wear some type of bandana or head band to absorb the sweat before it drips into my eyes. Did i mention i sweat when i spar!!!!

Being a guy, my instructor had a difficult and embarrassing time ordering all of the equipment for us to wear asking sizes etc., I have to say at first we were a little embarrassed as well. He ordered us these mega uncomfortable groin protectors and they really interfered with your ability to move. So we went back to him to pour through the catalogues and find something more suitable. We wound up with the ones that fit into a pair of special made underwear. I recommend these. They are much more comfortable and allow for mobility. I must say we all got a big laugh out of hearing him call the Martial Arts supply place and ask for various sized panties. This is the problem when you hold a women's only class.

Oh MaryJo - this was second only to the experience of explaining why we needed a different color pant for certain times of the month - and the choice of red - well that was obvious! I do miss training in the hen house!

Donna :asian:

Hey MJ. You're my very first post!:supcool:

You know I use the "fingerless" gloves on occasion - actually prefer them because you can grab onto a limb more easily. Drawback: that's how I got my thumb broken at my first school. Also, as you know, our instructor prefers we don't use them right now.

To everyone: one of the guys at our dojo suggested using light-weight (10 oz.)boxing gloves for sparring. Anyone have experience with that, and how do you like it? :asian:

this was second only to the experience of explaining why we needed a different color pant for certain times of the month - and the choice of red - well that was obvious! I do miss training in the hen house!

LOL LOL :lol: I happen to love those pants, but must say..:xtrmshock.I can't believe you just shared that... good thing it's the women's forum:rolleyes: !!!...and oh that poor guy his face got as red as the pants!

Donna since you decided to share this - let's do some good with it:

To all male instructors: Please note...Women should not be given white as their only choice of attire. Hey just think about it...

:uhyeah: uh yeah! Also since you are already here lurking about...if you have an embarrassing story to share as a male instructor of females we're all eyes...please share! Tess how about a thread on that?:)

BTW: Donna come back anytime.:) There's always room for a hen...but roosters...well... they're ok too...life would be boring without 'em!

Hey MJ. You're my very first post!:supcool:
You know I use the "fingerless" gloves on occasion - actually prefer them because you can grab onto a limb more easily. Drawback: that's how I got my thumb broken at my first school. Also, as you know, our instructor prefers we don't use them right now.
Well let me be the first to say Hi! Welcome!!! :ultracool Cool to be part of your first post!!! Do I know you? Stinks about your thumb...that's what I was afraid of! I do find the closed gloves to be confining, but I've seen a few different types of fingerless gloves and am not sure which are best...hmmmm

Have fun here! :) You learn a lot!!!

MJ :asian:

You know I use the "fingerless" gloves on occasion - actually prefer them because you can grab onto a limb more easily. Drawback: that's how I got my thumb broken at my first school. -Kenpo Tiger

i'd rather not use fingerless gloves in sparring for that reason, and work to better control of my opponent using the wrist and pinky side of the glove hand, or the "tiger's mouth" between thumb and forefinger. maybe we can drill this on wednesday night...

Women should not be given white as their only choice of attire. -mj-hi-yah

affectionately known as the Crimson Tide...

i'd rather not use fingerless gloves in sparring for that reason, and work to better control of my opponent using the wrist and pinky side of the glove hand, or the "tiger's mouth" between thumb and forefinger. maybe we can drill this on wednesday night...
Tess Help!!! Rooster in the Hen house!!! :)

Hey Pete! I agree with the jamming factor, just think there are so many techniques that require more mobility. I'll be around starting next Wednesday...I'd like to see what you're thinking! Then we'll come back and share with the other ladies here.

MJ

Tess Help!!! Rooster in the Hen house!!!

not a rooster, but a fox...

i'd rather not use fingerless gloves in sparring for that reason, and work to better control of my opponent using the wrist and pinky side of the glove hand, or the "tiger's mouth" between thumb and forefinger. maybe we can drill this on wednesday night...


affectionately known as the Crimson Tide...

Sounds good to me. Now to get Elvis to agree.
In whose affection??

LOL LOL I happen to love those pants, but must say...I can't believe you just shared that... good thing it's the women's forum !!!...and oh that poor guy his face got as red as the pants!

Oh MJ, where better to share that bit of info. Especially with all those foxes lurking about, you know what the farmer does to those foxes when he catches them in the hen house, don't ya'? HAHA! Have fun in sparring this week gals, we sure know how much Pete loves to spar! Keep your gloves on - don't go fingerless! - too easy to jam a finger (or break a nail - HAHA!)

BTW: Donna come back anytime :) .

I'll be back for some upcoming tests, but right now really enjoying my new digs and training partners. It's all good!

Peace

Kenpo Mama :asian:

LOL LOL :lol: I happen to love those pants, but must say..:xtrmshock.I can't believe you just shared that... good thing it's the women's forum:rolleyes: !!!...and oh that poor guy his face got as red as the pants!

Donna since you decided to share this - let's do some good with it:

To all male instructors: Please note...Women should not be given white as their only choice of attire. Hey just think about it...

:uhyeah: uh yeah! Also since you are already here lurking about...if you have an embarrassing story to share as a male instructor of females we're all eyes...please share! Tess how about a thread on that?:)

BTW: Donna come back anytime.:) There's always room for a hen...but roosters...well... they're ok too...life would be boring without 'em!
I would allow female students within the age of menstruation to wear dark sweatpants and a t-shirt during that time of the month. As a healthcare worker, I learned to get over any embarrasment quickly.
After the Period passes, they can go back to wearing their white uniforms. I don't make off-white uniform exceptions however.

I would allow female students within the age of menstruation to wear dark sweatpants and a t-shirt during that time of the month. As a healthcare worker, I learned to get over any embarrasment quickly.
After the Period passes, they can go back to wearing their white uniforms. I don't make off-white uniform exceptions however.
Very progressive of you!!! :ultracool

I would allow female students within the age of menstruation to wear dark sweatpants and a t-shirt during that time of the month. As a healthcare worker, I learned to get over any embarrasment quickly.
After the Period passes, they can go back to wearing their white uniforms. I don't make off-white uniform exceptions however.

Wearing black sweatpants and a t-shirt instead of a the regular white uniform would be like saying look at me, I have my period! No, I don't think many women would opt for your alternative. And it doesn't matter that you as a healthcare worker can handle it. Its not about your embarrassment, its about HERS. At a tournament, my daughter was pretty embarrassed because no less than a couple dozen people went up to her after a sparring match and told her she had a stain on her white uniform. I suppose they thought they had to tell her before she went on as if she wouldn't notice. sigh! But, I know alot of women who just refuse to workout then, although it never stopped me. And, I was glad when our instructor gave us options to wear a red or blue uniform. And that is only one of several reasons why the color option is good.

As opposed to wearing a red or blue uniform during that time of the month? Same thing would happen. People would know why she's wearing it, and she would be too conspicuous. Anyway, none of my female students has ever broached the subject with me. If they did, we would go over possible solutions they would feel comfortable with. Colored or black uniforms not being one of them.
Seems to me the ones who want to wear off-white uniforms during that time of the month just want to wear one anyway.

As opposed to wearing a red or blue uniform during that time of the month? Same thing would happen. People would know why she's wearing it, and she would be too conspicuous. Anyway, none of my female students has ever broached the subject with me. If they did, we would go over possible solutions they would feel comfortable with. Colored or black uniforms not being one of them.
Seems to me the ones who want to wear off-white uniforms during that time of the month just want to wear one anyway.I kind of agree that wearing anything red or otherwise only during that time of month is like saying guess what time of month it is? However menstruation is a reality and fact of life, so at least allowing sweat pants is a compromise. I'm just not sure I would do it, but maybe. If there were lots of women in the school and they all did it that might help. The women in our school would miss night classes on their heavy days, or worry - either way it's a bummer. My instructor was against us wearing red pants in the mixed classes, but during the day it is all women in the class so he agreed to allow us to wear red all the time for those classes which we did, and in that way it wasn't obvious to anyone. If an occasional guy attended the day classes they eventually caught on. Some even wanted their own pair. :) They do look cool :ultracool and match the American Flag! Wearing the pants during the day didn't help us if we wanted to attend night classes or for testing though. Sometimes we would skip tests as a result. White pants and menstruation are not a good combination. Tests are stressful enough. It's an added worry for a woman no doubt! Now I wear a black gi so it is a non issue. I really don't think most women would even be comfortable bringing this subject up with their male instructors. Believe me it is embarrassing. It's one thing guys don't have to worry about for themselves. I guess just know that it is an issue, and if colored gis are an option for wearing all the time in whatever style you happen to teach it would help to remove the burden of worry women carry in this regard.

Yes, MJ you 'daytimers' get to wear red pants. I personally like my black ones - always have.As to embarrassing moments in white pants. I had just started taking karate. We were in the middle of calisthenics, and my instructor, a chauvinistic male on a good day, came over to me and TOLD me I should go into the lockerroom - NOW. His further instructions were to rinse my pants, put them back on, and be back on the mat within two minutes. Any questions as to why I booked from there??:idunno:

Yes, MJ you 'daytimers' get to wear red pants. I personally like my black ones - always have.As to embarrassing moments in white pants. I had just started taking karate. We were in the middle of calisthenics, and my instructor, a chauvinistic male on a good day, came over to me and TOLD me I should go into the lockerroom - NOW. His further instructions were to rinse my pants, put them back on, and be back on the mat within two minutes. Any questions as to why I booked from there??:idunno: Wow that's a perfect example of the prefect way to turn off your female students and worse:waah: ...what a (choice word) he must be! Glad you found your way out of there!

Me too, MJ. Me too.

My teenage daughters train Kempo with me, and I still remember the firsttime this came up... my 15 yr old didn't want to do a side kick above the knee, and would not say why... :eek: oh man is Dad an idiot sometimes...

Now they just "have too much homework" on those Saturdays. Sensei gets the message, and the teenage boys in class don't...

My teenage daughters train Kempo with me, and I still remember the firsttime this came up... my 15 yr old didn't want to do a side kick above the knee, and would not say why... :eek: oh man is Dad an idiot sometimes...

Now they just "have too much homework" on those Saturdays. Sensei gets the message, and the teenage boys in class don't...
What a cute story! :) You're not an idiot you just don't have to live with it so it's not on your mind. That's my point, most guys probably don't consider it. At least you got the message! :ultracool

I am so lucky that my school requires everyone to wear black jackets and pants (are gis the same thing?). I like that fact and I aggree with most instructors why they dont allow the women to wear different colored uniforms during their period. Although its handier for the women it looks disrespectfull. Everyone should wear the same color. As for switching everyone to a black gi or jacket and pants it would be more expensive for everyone.

When talking about the fingerless gloves have any of you tried that kind of glvoe that covers your writse and the back of your hand and thumb but it hooks over the top of your fingers. Very usefull. When I sparr I wear a groin guard, mouth guard, foot and hands. Thats it. When people dont wear a groin guard it amazes me. If you don't know how to protectyour groin it will be pretty hard fighting. You style doesn't allow groin shots? Why? The theif on the street doesnt care.

Sorry if that sounded mean.

I don't wear any gear when sparring. Protective gear is not a part of the style I practice. We do aim for precision, though, and refrain from inflicting injury upon each other. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, just that we try not to damage each other. We rarely see anything more serious than a black eye or split lip.
-Rachel