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October 19, 2007
RYKA Athletic Shoes
Ryka is a company that was started by a woman frustrated by her choices in athletic footwear and clothing. I have echoed her frustration myself. Remember the Velcro shoe crazy of the early 80’s? Yeah, well my feet didn’t "work" in those shoes, because I had narrow feet and an even more narrow heel. My foot slipped out and it was another pair of lace up shoes for me. Trendy, I was not.
On their website, RYKA has this to say about their shoes:
"All RYKÄ shoes are made on a woman’s last (the mold or shape of a woman’s foot), and are designed and developed taking into account a women’s unique fit needs – narrower in the heel and wider in the forefoot (it’s not just you, our toes need more room and our heels slip too). Outstanding fit and exceptional comfort consistently place RYKÄ shoes among the highest rated in the industry. After all, if your shoes don’t work out, neither will you."
After reading about the shoes, I registered in their on-going contest called "Good for your sole" to win a pair of new shoes or athletic clothing. Unlike every other time in my life, I actually won. RYKA shipped me the below pair of walking shoes and I am thrilled with them.
They say they design them for a woman’s foot and they certainly do. The inside back of the shoe comfortably hugs your heel and there is absolutely NO slipping what-so-ever. They are super comfortable and provide a lot of support for your foot. Although I would have preferred a more colorful pair of athletic shoes, I’m certainly not complaining about the MC2 pair that I received, which retails for $79.99. They’ll be a little less likely to glow in the dark in no time, I’m sure.
If you haven’t yet registered for the RYKA contest, go here to do so. They are giving away 50 pairs of shoes and 50 pieces of athletic clothing every single day until October 25th, so there’s still time to register and be a winner! For every pair of shoes they give away to those who enter the contest, they’re also donating a pair to the Women’s Sports Foundation. Sounds good to me!
I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me happier than a new pair of shoes. If they’re free? Even better.
BBM gives the RYKA MC2 Walking Shoes:
For more information on the BBM Rating System, go here.
October 16, 2007
BBM Rating System
It wouldn’t be a Black Belt Mama site without a proper rating system. If we’ve reviewed your product and you didn’t get a black belt, please don’t take it personally. Black Belts are hard to earn. Trust us, we know.
Black Belt
Products given a black belt rating are top notch. We’re so in love with the black belt products that everyone should go and get one NOW.
Brown Belt
Products given a brown belt are great products, and are highly recommended.
Green Belt
Products given a green belt rating are good. We have a strong like relationship.
Yellow Belt
Products given a yellow belt are o.k. We’re just not that into it.
White Belt
Products given a white belt ranking need to go back to the drawing board. We’re just not thrilled at all.
October 15, 2007
About the BBM Reviewers
Black Belt Mama
Site Owner-Editor
I am a 30 something forever 29 year old stay at home mother. I stay at home with my two daughters: "Big I" who is six years old and "Lil C" who is two years old.
I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing, Creative Nonfiction. I met my husband my sophomore year, fell in love with him when he let me borrow his laundry detergent, and married him shortly after graduation.
I worked for a small literary journal as an assistant editor, then at Clinique cosmetics (because the pay was better), and then at a graphic design firm as an "Administrative and Marketing Assistant" which is just a fancy name for copy girl, xerox pro, or otherwise just plain old lackey. I was supposed to be a writer, but somehow got the desk where I answered all the phones, filed all the folders, and mostly just retrieved muffins and coffee creamer. I did, however, write a corporate identity manual and an insurance brochure. Zzzzz, Zzzzz. I did learn lots of things while working there though, but mostly how to swallow my pride.
When I got sick of that (a very short time later), I went to Duquesne University where I earned my M.S.Ed. in 11 months, and accumulated so much student loan debt that it’s just plain ridiculous considering I taught high school English for not even two years and then decided my true calling was MommyHood.
I taught 9th grade the first year and was inundated with so many students who had probation officers that my head started spinning. One of my 15 year old students stole his dad’s car, hit another car in a parking lot and then headed for the state border thinking he’d be safe. I also taught some really great kids who will go on to do amazing things.
The following year I taught 10th grade and looped with my 9th graders (the ones who passed, leaving most of the young criminals behind). Because of this, the school decided to give me special education students, a.k.a. anyone who has a major behavior problem plus the students who truly need to be classified special ed. All this, while pregnant with my first baby. I went on maternity leave, had my daughter in 2001, and never looked back.
We sold our house; and my husband switched careers so that I would be able to stay home with my baby girl. By home, I literally mean home, as in we moved in with my parents for a year. Then, we moved to NJ. Then we moved back to my hometown.
In October 2005, I gave birth to our second daughter after a long wait to get her on her way. I wanted everything to be natural, and planned a birth center birth. Then I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and that all changed. I did have a midwife deliver her and that was truly awesome.
I now work from home (in my spare time) as a part time logistics recruiter and freelance writer; my husband sometimes works from home too. Because of this, our neighbors probably think that:
A. we are independently wealthy
B. pajamas are the new ‘business casual’
C. our house will be foreclosed on momentarily
None of these are true. Well, except for B., maybe.
I am trying to raise my girls to be smart, strong women. I am a 1st kyu brown belt in both Okinawan Kenpo and Kobudo. Did I mention it’s a family affair? (I didn’t just mean "strong" in the figurative sense.) Big I started karate when she was three and is now an 7th kyu; Lil C will probably know how to snap kick before she’s potty trained (she already knows how to kiai better than I do); and I was a little late on the draw, starting when I was 29 (Yeah, I realize the math doesn’t make sense with the whole "forever 29" statement in the beginning, but just work with me here).
I’ve realized that it’s never too late to learn something new. You just have to be willing to face the fact that the 14 year old you take class with who has been there since she was three is 100% capable of kicking your butt.
I love: reading a good book, playing fantasy football (damn you LaDainian Tomlinson), going on vacations, and nailing a new kata.
I can’t stand: litter butts, people who don’t put their dogs on a leash, folding laundry, liars and bad table manners.
I think that about covers it.
If you have something nice to say, please leave me a comment or write me an email. If not, no one is forcing you to read this so get lost.
No, seriously.
Email Black Belt Mama.
Ikigai 108
Review Writer
I am a Sandan in Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Okinawa Kenpo Kobudo of the Heilman, Odo, Nakamura lineage. I have been training for twelve years and teaching for seven. I have also been studying Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (Miura line) for three years.
The martial arts have long been a way of life for me, and I have gone through many different phases of my training (as most martial artists do). I went to tournaments for awhile and collected some shiny plastic. I learned high ranking kata, assuming they had super death-touch secrets that I needed to unlock (unlike those silly ‘beginner katas’). I watched Bruce Lee movies in awe and admiration…and the list goes on.
That’s all fun stuff, but eventually (thankfully) I found a better balance in my training. I have come into contact with some amazing teachers and continue to grow and learn so as to live up to their standard of excellence. Training has become a personal journey for me through which I endeavor to carve away all the imperfections in my technique, spirit, and character (which is why they call the martial arts a lifetime occupation!)
I decided to write reviews in the martial arts due to my academic background. I graduated from Penn State University with a BA in Professional Writing. Over the years I have published in several different venues, such as Blur (Creative Nonfiction anthology), Penn State Collegian Newspaper, Nolde Forest Outreach (public relations package), Woven With Words (published book), and hopefully in the near future, Masters Magazine. Writing about the martial arts has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, so I decided to put that energy to good use and offer up some reviews.
Likes: reading & writing (but not so much rithmatic), feeling that ahh-ha! moment in the martial arts, comedy shows on tv, browsing youtube.
Dislikes: puffy chested martial artists of any style, closed minds, dishonesty, reality tv, stories that end with ‘you had to be there.’
On a final note, for those who are curious and hung in there through my bio, I chose the name “Ikigai” because it is a term that I consider significant. It roughly means ‘that which makes your life worth living,’ but it’s a very slippery and thought-inducing concept. Look into it if you’ve got a slow day at the office or something; use that google all the kids talk about these days.
Email Ikigai 108.
TSDAdam
Review Writer
I’m a 30 year old (I prefer the terms twenty-ten or twenteen to be honest, I’m sure you’re meant to feel more grown up at this age) married man from Cornwall, in the very South-West tip of the UK where I live with my wife, two cats and our new pup.
When I’m not working in my current role as a Project Officer, I like to read, socialise, play games, and most of all – my all-cosuming passion – martial arts. In my case, the martial art of choice is Tang Soo Do, which is essentially Korean Karate. After nearly two years of training I’m currently at 5th Gup (or Kyu for fans of the Japanese/Okinawan styles), working hard and horribly addicted! I started for several reasons, most notably a desire to get fit again and lose weight, but also because it was always one of those things I always wanted to do, but never got around to. Now I train because I can’t imagine my life without it. My interest has also led me to doing a lot of my own reading and research into the history of the art I’m learning and its predecessors.
As mentioned above, one of my interests is games, or more specifically video games. I’ve been playing with computers and games consoles for as long as I can remember, and over the last few years I’ve taken the step to try to enthuse others in the same way I have been, by turning my hand to penning some reviews. I write reviews and articles for the UK-based, import-centric ntsc-uk.com, so it seemed like a natural progression for me then to combine my interest in writing/reviewing with my newfound love of martial arts. So here I am!
Likes: Peanut butter, Autumn, taking a good hit in sparring.
Dislikes: Egos, poor spelling, narrow-mindedness.
If I’ve a few minutes spare to myself, I also keep my blog updated when I have something to write about. You can see for yourself how my leaky sponge of a brain works here at Adam’s Cerebral Spillage.
Email TSDAdam.
TKDDaughter
Review Writer
I am a 30-something mom who lives in Western Pennsylvania with my 3 year old son, my 30-something husband, and our two very fat, very lazy cats. We are working on restoring a 125 year old Queen Anne Victorian home to its original splendor…if only we had the money to do it! My husband does all of his own work, so the process is slow going.
I attended a small liberal arts college where I majored in both English and Theatre with great aspirations of someday winning a Tony Award. Once reality set in and I realized my talent was only as good as a community theater regular, I began to pursue ways to finance my life.
I worked in retail management for far more years than I would like to admit while working on two Masters degrees-one in Literature, one in Secondary Education. Retail provided me the foundation for every other job to come and gave me richer experience than any other job since. I applaud those who continue retail careers-it’s a tough job. So, dear readers, be kind to retail employees-chances are, someone was just really rude to them!
Upon finishing my graduate degrees, I began my calling as an English teacher at a small, private Catholic high school. I love my students, I love my colleagues (most of the time), and I love curriculum. Now if only the administration could get a clue…
I took a year off when I had my son and worked from my home as sales assistant for a major bra company. I despised every bloody second of it, but it allowed me to stay at home with my son during his first year and a half. Why I thought I would enjoy working with numbers all day is beyond me-I am a words kind of girl!
While on my year sabbatical, I also began a new phase of my teaching career working for a cyber charter school. I remain at both teaching jobs part-time now and love them both equally. They are drastically different, but equally challenging!
Besides being a mom, wife and teacher, I am addicted to stamping and scrapbooking and all things crafty. I am trying my hand at knitting and crocheting, but I’m not sure if I have the talent for it. I have a background in theater and while I don’t get to work in the theater anymore, I still enjoy seeing plays and musicals. I am always reading many books at the same time, most for pleasure, some for my job. I love Jane Austen and Shakespeare and Ian McEwan.
Unlike the other reviewers for this site, my only link to the martial arts is my father, a 3rd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (which he earned in his late 50’s!) who desperately tried to get me interested, but was too annoyed after my constant giggling as he tried to teach me techniques. I am, however, tremendously proud of him as he continues his training at his late 60’s.
Likes: Hearing my son laugh, potato chips, cheese, peanut butter cups, dark chocolate, classy people, a great novel, seeing my students master a skill
Dislikes: Seeing my son upset, rude people, lazy people, melons of any kind (I know…weird…), bad acting
Email TKDDaughter.
October 14, 2007
KD Elite & Shureido Gi’s
My new gi’s came this week. Yes, I said gi’s, as in plural. I was only going to get one, but my friend over at Karate Depot asked me to give a certain gi a shot to see what I think of it (the sweet deal didn’t hurt either).
They are everything I hoped they would be and more. I know all the karate folk are wondering what I got. The decision was a difficult one. I spent a lot of time researching, asking other karate-ka and trying on the gi’s of those at my dojo. I knew I wanted to get one I would love, one that would fit nicely, and one that although heavyweight, wasn’t uncomfortable.
I went with the Shureido, and Karate Depot also hooked me up with the KD Elite.
I know, I know, Shureido’s are a lot of money, but when I tried my instructors on there was a HUGE difference between the Shureido and other gi’s. The material, although heavyweight, was very soft and comfortable. I didn’t want to buy multiple gi’s to find one I liked. I knew I’d love the Shureido and I was right.
I do LOVE IT. What I wasn’t counting on, was how much I was going to like the KD Elite. For a martial artist who likes the look and feel of a Shureido, but not the price, the KD Elite is an awesome gi and a more than suitable substitution. There are only four major differences I have found between the two of them:
1. The KD Elite pants are a little roomier in the seat and wider throughout the leg than the Shureido. That could be because the gi I got is tournament cut. (I’m not sure if this is one of the qualifiers for being considered tournament cut or not.) I was worried that the pants would be capri length, but they are long. In fact, I have to roll them up once or twice.
2. The Shureido has a blueish color to it while the KD Elite does not. Shureido’s website says this blue color will fade over time. I don’t mind it because it’s subtle, but the KD Elite feels just like the Shureido without the blue issue.
3. The stitching around the neck/collar of the KD Elite is a little less stiff than the Shureido. When I first put the Shureido on, it felt a little uncomfortable around the collar, but the KD Elite has no such side effect.
4. The price. The Shureido sells for $179.00 and up, while the KD Elite is currently on sale for $99.00.
Without the KD Elite label on the gi, one could easily be tricked into thinking that the gi is in fact a Shureido.
Having a heavyweight gi is going to take some getting used to though. Both gi’s are bigger than my lightweight gi and I feel a little like I’m swimming. My one instructor told me to go bigger though, because I can "take up some room" and have a presence. (From left to right or top to bottom depending on how this shows up on your computer, are the Century Student Lightweight Uniform, Shureido Heavyweight Uniform, and the KD Elite Heavyweight Uniform).
I’m also not used to draw string pants, although these are soft enough that they actually move. With some of the other brands I tried, I could barely pull them tight enough around me because they were so stiff. I didn’t want that.
And the jackets are much longer than my lightweight gi. I used to have to make sure I had neutral undergarments with that gi. With my new one? Break out the leopard print (o.k. if I had leopard print, which I don’t).
I figured I would spent the money and get something I really wanted and be happy. I knew if I went with some of the cardboard like gi’s, I’d be disappointed and end up spending more money trying to fix my mistake, so I bit the bullet. Plus, it was my birthday so, Happy Birthday to me, from me! I wasn’t counting on having and liking two new gi’s, but I now have a Shureido and a Shuriedo-ish gi and I couldn’t be happier.
Thank you so much for all your suggestions and warnings about other gi’s. More than anything, you helped me to weed out the ones I didn’t want and come to my final decision. Now it seems the only gi-related problem I’m going to have is with my instructor, who told me there’s a stiff penalty for a karate student who has a better gi than her instructor.
BBM gives the Shureido and KD Elite gi’s, both. . .
(This review was originally published on Black Belt Mama on February 27, 2007. If you’d like to see an alternate picture, you can now see yours truly on the Karate Depot site. Just look for the heavyweight KD Elite gi. I’m the alternate view.)
October 14, 2007
Mamasource: The Non-Abbreviation Zone
I’m not really a message board kind of girl. When I was pregnant for the first time I was teaching high school English. Unfortunately, I can’t count on one hand how many students handed in research papers or essays that included instant message lingo. Many of my students used "2" for "to" and I’m pretty sure that I had several "LOL"’s in essays when they obviously shouldn’t have been there. Laughing out loud, I certainly was NOT.
So, when I went looking for pregnant friends online, I found none. I had enough "lingo" to deal with in the classroom. Parenting and Pregnancy message boards left much to be desired. I assumed "DH" meant, well, nickname for Richard plus add "head". I never saw "Dear Husband" coming. "TTC" which I’ve since learned is "trying to conceive" had me scratching my head and thinking that the person maybe had some spelling issues? Trying to use the word tickle and took a very wrong turn? Tank top and capri’s? I had no clue. So I left them well enough alone.
When I was asked to do a review of Mamasource by Mother Talk, I fully expected to need a decoder key on the message boards. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the Mom’s online had no such code lingo, but instead use actual words and English.
The other pleasant thing about Mamasource is that when you sign up, you are immediately put into a "community" with other Mom’s from your area. Since I don’t live in San Francisco, NYC, or Philadelphia, I expected to be disappointed. Instead, I found a great many reviews of local attractions, restaurants, and things to do from real live Mom’s in my area. Apparently I have one less excuse for having no local friends.
I spent time reading reviews of parks, doctors, restaurants, etc. I also spent some time on the sight reading questions and posting answers on things I felt comfortable throwing my two cents in about. To test it, I posted a question myself but I haven’t received any responses as of yet. (I asked about a certain neighborhood and it’s reputation.)
Although many of the Mom’s in my area seem to be in their early to mid twenties, there were several I saw in their 40’s and beyond. Although I haven’t made any real connections from the site as of yet, I think that it’s entirely possible that I might. Of course, the demographics of Mom’s who actually take karate to those who just drive their kids to karate is probably a bit lacking, so I realize I probably just need to start being a bit less picky in choosing my friends. Of course, the single 23-year old with four kids and mascara issues and I are probably not going to become fast friends; but I’m sure there are other Mom’s out there like me who haven’t had a shower since Sunday and could care less about which brand of mascara makes lashes longer, y’all (totally her words, not mine).
Unlike many of the other parenting hot-spots online, Mamasource sends out a daily email that includes the latest requests and online reviews from Mom’s in my area. Although at first I was a bit annoyed at another intrusion on my inbox, I’ve found that the daily email has forced me to try to make connections. With all the blogs I read each day, it would be entirely possible to just skip visiting Mamasource. Instead, I have a daily reminder and can go visit the site if something piques my interest in the daily email.
Despite the daily email, your identity and email is completely protected since the site has a strong anti-spam stance. So, you can rest assured that no one will be asking you if you’d like to purchase some cialis. Mary Kay products? Entirely possible on the boards, but when it comes to enhancement drugs, it’s a safe zone.
There’s one last thing I’d like to add about Mamasource that I thought was pretty nice. A Mom posted a question about how she could get her kids to sleep later since they wake at the crack of dawn. One Mom responded with some snarky comment about her being selfish for wanting to sleep later. (My area is known for being pretty rude, and we like to live up to that label.) My response was that the sleep-deprived Mom should pull her daughter into bed with her and say "It’s too early" and then pretend to be asleep. It always worked for me, and was important because I likes me some sleep. The next day, I saw that I was given a "flower" for my response. Another random Mom out there liked my answer enough to award me a flower and I thought that was super sweet. A message board with flowers for rewards and no abbreviations is pretty cool as far as my standards go.
If you’re a Mom and looking for a community of other Mom’s in your area, Mamasource is the place to be. TTYL, DR. TTCM ("Talk to you Later, Dear Readers. Time to Check Mamasource" for those of you who are completely clueless.)
BBM gives this website. . .
Previously published on Black Belt Mama.
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