I know this section says "New members" and I'm not, having been around almost since this forum was set up, but I guess not everyone knows me But I think this would be a good place for everyone to post a short bio or something...

Name: Mick
Location: Perth, Australia

I started off with GKR in late '97 and currently hold the grade of Shodan (1st dan), graded in May 2003.
Since May 2003 I have been training in Sozokan-ryu Kenpo Jujutsu and currently hold the grade of 7th kyu (yellow).
Since August 2003 I have training in Kofukan Shito-ryu and still ungraded (it's sooo much fun to be a white belt Seriously!)


Mick

Hmmm, Hmmm... Okay, but I'll copy the basic format Mick used.

Name: Carl
Location: Tasmania, Australia

I started off with GKR in June 2001 and currently hold the grade of San Kyu (3rd Kyu), graded in June 2003.

I've also trained in Kendo, Hapkido, and Aikido. But those three weren't that serious and I haven't trained with them since, though I still use the Bokken from time to time. =O

Name: Russell
Location: Tasmania, Australia

Started GKR Feb 1997, had a 5 year break due to work and there were no bloody dojos in burnie, currently hold 5th Kyu.
Trained with National TKD when I was about 5 in QLD

Howdy all. My name is Kathie, my location is shown. I joined GKR 362 days ago, and am currently 6th kyu. I love karate with GKR, and do katas in my sleep. I can't spar for peanuts.



Bearette

Name: Ian
Location: Perth, Western Australia

Not exactly new to this place either but dont often pipe up with comments, dont feel i have enough experiance to offer informed opinions.
Started with GKR early 9, currently hold the grade of Shodan, and have had the privilage to train under every RM that has been in WA and most of the senior people in the club.

Name: Sam
Location: Perth, WA

NOt really new to this either and much like Ian (omega) i dont post much. I started with GKR in december of 2001 at the age of 11. im currently a red belt (thats like 4th kyu???).

Name: Daniel
Age: 34
Grade: 1st kyu

Should post more

Name-- Nigel
Age------40
Location-Essex UK
Styles-GKR,Tang Soo Do.Freestyle weapons
Grades--GKR-brown belt
Tsd green belt
Weapons-ungraded

I started watching GKR around oct 2oo1,and progressed to watching Tsd and Freestyle weapons.I post a bit as i want to learn,as you may have guessed i dont do martial arts,my children do.I spend many hours on the pc in my quest to help my children acheive there martial art goals.Thank you all,for helping me do that.
Sionnagh thank you mate,your a top geezer(british thing,just humour me)
Living and learning
Nigel :thumbwink:

Name: Ken
Age: 33
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Rank: Hopefully I will be 8th Kyu on 8/2/2004 (but 9th until then)

Joined in November 2003 at the same time as my six year old son Jarryd.
We train together, both in the dojo and at home. We will be graded together on Sunday.

I went to Green Belt/Brown Tips in Zen Do Kai when I was 17 (16 years ago) didn't do any training until GKR last year.

My motivation to keep training is my son. I keep him encouraged and one day he will be bigger than me, so I'd better learn this stuff as well.

I post when I can, but the family takes a lot of my time.

Toodles.

Ken.

Name: Louise
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Style: Choy Ley Fut Buk Sing (Kung Fu)
Rank: Torquoise (5 gradings left to black)

Ive been training in Kung Fu for 12 months. I love it. I especially love the weapons training as I've never done anything like this before.

I'm a part of the Black Sash Club, which offers advanced training and special club offers. These include a shop discount, free introductory lessons for nominated people and exposure (including lessons and demonstrations) to other styles of martial arts.

Name:
Age: 32
Grade: 5th kyu GKR, 6th gup TKD.

Started GKR after a year of Tae Kwon Do. I like both styles and can see pros and cons in each.
I like kata and am learning a lot more about it thanks to the discussions here.

Getting better at sparring gradually. Still wont compete.

I don't post much...but I read a lot I couldn't remember if I'd ever introduced myself....

Name: Julia
Age: 34 (and holding on for dear life)
Home: West Virginia, USA

Mostly, I help Matt and company with the site work/design.

I'm currently checking into getting my 5 year old son started in karate and/or Tae Kwon Do....depending on what's available for his age and on the weekends (trying to fit it in during the week is just not an option for us)..he also wants to play baseball, soccer and football....I'm not sure how I'm gonna keep up with him

Name: Les
Age: 33
Location: Middlesbrough, UK
Rank: White belt

Studied Wrestling and Judo as a pre-teen, have been a martial art fanatic for years and years but only started a karate class before christmas, along with my 9yr old son, Lewis.

Hi All
My name is Rosa Gunnarsdottir
I'm an old hand at this, however been ofline a bit producing smaller karate-ka's.
Look forward to some good converastions about karate and martial arts in general.

Location: Leeds, UK
DoJo: Alwoodly

yours in karate do
RG

Hi my names Max
I train in Southampton,England.I've only been training for about 12 weeks I am a yellow belt.So I am a beginner compared to the rest of you

Hey,
my name's Colin
I'm 21
From Wollongong, near Sydney, I just started two weeks ago at Berkeley (in Wollongong - which is like an hour south of Sydney, if you weren't sure)
I am enjoying it a lot.

Hey Colin. If it makes you feel better I knew where Berkeley was. I have lived in Helensburgh, Bulli, Fairy Meadow, Coniston, and Port Kembla. It is nice to see someone from the 'Gong here.

Bearette

hi im chris sansom
i live in perth western australia and i am an orange belt but i only have a few weeks until i grade to green i have started 2 years ago by this dude that went knocking to my house and asked if i wanted to join and i said yes and here i am two years later.

cya later chris

Welcome Chris!

name- ian ( but i have lots of names just cann't post them)

lives- perth western australia

training- forgot how long in gkr haven't train for about 3 years (red belt)
burridge martial arts- 9 months (green belt) i really need to get to training more
but my son and i go sparring class most saterdays

[COLOR=blue] Hello everyone. I joined GKR in England about 6 weeks ago and just wish I had known about the club 5 years ago. Very happy to be a part of it. I am a complete newbie and have alot to learn. I am just starting to break in my new Gi in and have a 9th kyu yellow tip. Looking forward to progressing so I dont feel quite so obvious. I have spent quite a bit of time checking various web site's and forum's in the UK and found the info to be quite helpful across the board. The unofficial UK website is run by a dude called Matt Broomfield at www.gkrkarate.org and is really helpful for newbie's like me.

Welcome to the site!

The club seems to be getting pretty big in the UK from what I'm hearing.

Yeah I think your right, the only problem is the time difference for real time chatting. Ah well. If any one has some useful tips or suggestions for a beginner then I'm all ears! Thanks. :thumbwink:

Hi!
I joined GKR in March 2004 and have proudly got my Yellow belt working towards Orange...Im 26 and in Brisbane QLD.
I cant believe I didnt take this up sooner...im loving it!
Cheers
D :thumbwink:

Hi Avidbubble,

I'm an old fella,resently scored my orange,my daughter's an orange tip and son has a yellow tip.We're all wrapped in it as well! Enter yourself in the regional tournament on the 20th of june, it'll test your nerves and no doubt you'll love it even more.....trick. B)

Welcome Avidbubble!

Interesting login name. How did you come up with that?

Time to 'fess up

Name: Oddly enough - its Matt
Age: 36 and joining Jules in holding on for dear life
Grade: 1st kyu GKR - looks like I'm stuck for a while
3rd gup Taekwondo

For all its faults I am grateful to GKR. I wouldnt have gotten into martial arts were it not for this club.

Hi, I'm Danny
44 years old
R28 in WA
Been training with GKR just over 18mths. My 12 year old daughter started after a visit from a door-knocker and I used to go and watch her train. Eventually couldn't find a good enough reason not to join her. We now train usually 3 nights per week here in Perth are both 4th Kyu and love doing this together. :thumbwink:

Thanks to everyone for the welcome.
I cant really remember how I came up with my username - just kind of came to me one day...!

I also signed up when a door knocker came to my house and told me 'how wonderful it was' and the rest and felt that because he had done such a great job in selling me on GKR I couldnt say no..so here I am! I train twice a week - tuesday nights and saturday mornings..trying to get a third session in, but with working and all the rest - its hard, especially now since becoming a yellow belt there are more moves to try and master ....

But im patient - if I make it to Black Belt by my 30th Ill be very happy!

Cheers
Dee :thumbwink:

Name: Vic
Location: QLD Australia

I have been doing gkr for 15 months now and I am a 5th kyu I train twice a week and I love it. I especially love doing kata and I cant sparr for peanuts either!

Woooo! Same here Vic. Lurve kata - lol even though.. yes... well.

Kumite is disgusting, despicable... ergh. Best part is that I can do a pretty good Mawashi Geri.

I LOATHE kumite probably because I've been hit hard a few times and made me cry

G'Day, my name is Marcel

I train at Springwood Dojo in Queensland. I have been training in GKR since January 2004. I am currently 7th KYU, and I am enjoying my training very much.

(When I can get around to taking in a class!!)

Hi Marcel. Welcome to the site.

Hi Marcel.

You would think there were more Queenslanders doing GKR than from any other state.

Hi there

Name is Erwin
Age 44 ( 20 in the head)

With GKR in Perth, Western Australia since November 2002.
I train in Ellenbrook and Wanneroo and are currently 6th kyu.

Looking forward to every training.
Love the special classes but hate it when I get smacked in the chops during sparring ( must make this old body faster, ha,ha).

Cheers

G'day Erwin,
Laffin @ being smacked in the chops, am pretty sure that blocking with ya chops isn't a gkr move... ..get in first m8...i've a tendancy to block kicks with my ribs.... ...another slow old fella....
trick

HI I'm new at this so plz excuse any mistakes.My son and I have just started at the Silkstone Dojo and we are loving it, even if we are a bit sore afterwards.

g'day ice

Hey Ice
welcome aboard

dont be a stranger...

How could anyone hate kumite i think its great and would take up any ofer to do it again, i love karate

I'd like it if I didn't get beaten up by certain people.

aww who's picking on our Jess??

Changes belt colour to green....big ol' fella grin......only real down side to this would be sumo stances are held longer, blues, reds, browns n blacks are down long tho
I won't be laughin as much next grading B)
Trick.

I'm gonna keep my mouth shut for once.

Anon

Stuff's gonna come back and bite me on the bum one day.

Someone please come and... and... and... I don't know! Do something!

Hi Guys,

I'm Glen from Melbourne and train at the Ferntree Gully Dojo (R5) 2-3 times a week. I am currently 8th Kyu and have been training now for 2 months. I am looking forward to getting to know you all and in doing so, meeting other people within GKR from Australia and around the globe.

Cheers

Glen

Welcome Glen, theres lots of friendly poeple here, so post away.


Warren