socks you all in the nose
Not sure why they call it a “gold” belt though, it just looks yellow to me. 
recovers from blow and then says
WAY TO GO, SAM!!
Carol
Congratulations.
So, what kyuu does that represent in your school? And what is your school?
*Alan holds a cold compress against his nose…
Dice goink, Sab! Dads grade!
I had a car break down out front of a karate school once. Come to think of it, where haven’t I had a car break down.
It’s because “gold belt” sounds way cooler than “yaller belt.”
I’m so happy for you! 
If I were not a chronically ill exhausted pacifist, I would also get my yaller belt and we could battle! 
They didn’t really explain the belt system that well to us, so I couldn’t tell you exactly. It’s the first belt you get tested for. It’s just a yellow belt with a single blue stripe at the end.
As for the school, my instructor is affiliated with the American black belt academy but I’m taking it as pys ed credit through the University of Georgia. I took my belt test at the A.B.B.A. this morning though. It was an optional thing for an extra $30, but I figured I might as well do it.
Here’s the place, dunno how good they are: http://www.americanblackbelt.org/
Happy Slappy Day.
Slan,
D. 
Cool! Keep it up.
Karate, evidently, at least begins in the same order as Kung Fu. My 13 year old moved from yellow to blue, but seems to have plateaued for the moment–you will be passing him in no time as he pays more attention to whatever book he carried in with him than memorizing form.
It’s only meant to be used for self-defense, actually. Of course, some people will always use their super powers for evil, but I know you wouldn’t. 
When you get to feeling better, you might want to look and see if there is a martial arts club at your school. It’s not as difficult to start into as you might think. I know I’m totally out of shape, but I’ve gotten better over the semester. It might do you some good. Get a little exercise and discipline anyway.
Do you know that sound that people make when they do a karate move?
I started to write it just now and I realised I don’t know how. 
Kheeyah!, mabey?
For a moment there, I thought Cran was talking about the slapstick sound effects. 
Good on you Sam! Hit me again, and I might have to hit you back.
Congrats! Are you planning on sticking with it?
I think the belt order is somewhat random among the various schools. Back when I was still practicing, my Shotokan sensei told us that there were originally just two belt colors: black and white. When instruction was much more one-on-one, that was all that was needed. But when you’ve got a large class, it’s a lot easier to keep track of how much skill/experience people have by color-coding them (“All the gold belts go over there and the green belts over here”, etc)
OTOH, he insisted that the story about black belts getting that way because they were never washed (so the longer you’d been training, the darker your belt) was a total fabrication. I wasn’t going argue it with him.
Whoa! Take it easy there, Cran. You frightened me! 
Actually, you are pretty close. Its called a “Ki-ai” (a few variations on spelling). From Japanese - Ki = energy. Ai = harmony. The actual vocables used depend on the style, school, language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.).
When done properly, a ki-ai is a concentrated blast of energy, used as a weapon in itself to throw off an opponent. It can also be used to help focus oneself on an immediate release of energy in one concentrated effort.
djm
Apparently color coding was introduced in Europe and/or the US. Aikido normally has only black and white, but the school I attended in Raleigh had colored belts because many students were teenagers and “The parents expect it.”
Cran, you could try mainstream Aikido, in which the ideal is not to cause any physical damage to anyone else. Or, try Tai Chi Ch’uan (Taijiquan), which is often taught strictly as an exercise. It’s done very slowly, and is popular with older people. It’s supposed to be health-enhancing. At least it’s good for your posture and for relaxation. I loved Aikido, because I really enjoyed flying through the air.
When I was studying the martial arts (not Karate) the ranking system went: white, yellow, green, blue, red, black. I was told by a very old Korean man that white indicates novice, yellow the earth, green the trees, blue the sky, red the sun, and black universal.
I’m not going to try any kind of martial arts, because I find it theologically not-my-cup-of-tea. I don’t believe in any kind of self-defence, because I believe when Jesus said “turn the other cheek” he meant it. If somebody physically attacks me (and this has actually happened before), I don’t resist. The whole area of martial arts is not something I personally feel comfortable with but I like swimming, though.
Hi Cranberry
Tai Chi has a theraputic side and does not need to be used as a martial art. There will likely be a class at your college, why not go and talk to the instructor and see what is available to you.
David
I’m really not kidding. I feel strongly theologically uncomfortable with such things. I’d rather learn to swim properly (and I will, we have a beautiful giant indoor pool).
Congratulations, Tel, that’s an accomplishment. One belt on the road to many!
We teach Tai Chi at the hospital where I work. When I first started taking the staff classes, I was surprised by the amount of control, effort and muscular strength required because everything is done in such slow motion, and by the amount of energy flow you get from it. Many of the forms are just delightful to perform . . . they feel good and look pretty darn cool, too.
It’s good for old and sick people because it’s something you can do within your capabilities. We even have a class for people in wheelchairs. But, if you’re younger and more able, you can get a very solid workout from it. It’s also a good mental exercise, as you have to remember all the sequences of motions. Very relaxing–you can’t think of your regular troubles while doing it.
Tai Chi is done for energy and health. It has its roots in the martial arts, but that is not its prime purpose now.
One of the nicest things you learn from Tai Chi is that “not-resisting” is resistance . . . one of the most elegant forms of it.