Kyokushin karate as a metaphor for learning a foreign language Kyokushin karate is a vile, brutal, full-contact style. I knew that before bying my first "dogi" outfit and watching YouTube videos called "How to tie a karate belt". But modern Russian reality of my small hometown with 20,000 people gives little choice for women to stay fit. Especially, in the autumn. So, I was sure karate is more "girly" than boxing and rowing. Kyokushin even has some modest philosophy behind it, The word means "the ultimate truth" or "absolute reality" (I don't know Japanese). My first lesson this week was like a religious experience. 1 hour and 15 minutes 13-year girl with orange belt was beating me constangly with her legs. Mikivara (defence pillow, so to speak) didn't help that much. Then our sempai (2nd dan) came to her and showed low kick. On my leg, of course. Thanks to my bicycle legs, somehow I didn't fall. Although there were stars in my eyes and I've asked that little girl to hit on my right leg only. I came back home bitten but inspired. And I thought about the whole experience of full-contact karate compared to IELTS exam. You can be prepared for Listening, Reading and Writing. But there's always a possibility IELTS Speaking knocks you down. During my karate experience I was "saved" by months of ballet dancing and bike riding preparaion. Maybe my PHP and Delphi will come to rescue me during Speaking in a manner of Chip and Dale? BTW, I highly doubt it, but who knows...

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious For many years I've been told about learning English by songs and how it doesn't help at all. Firstly, there are a lot of songs with mistakes (e.g. "Sometimes I think what I need is a you intervention", '4 Minutes', 2008). Secondly, there are not a lot of singers/actors like Julie Andrews in this world. I've watched all of her movies and understood every word she said. Unfortunately, Julie Andews' movie carrier is not that long and it's divided into two uneven parts: 1) "Mary Poppins" ("Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", "Feed the Birds", etc/) and "Sound of Music" ("My Favourite Things", "Do-Re-Mi", etc.) and "VIctor/Victoria" ("Crazy World", "Tamarind Seed", "Shady Dame from Seville", etc.). 2). Other musicals, decent Blake Edward's films and drama films with music ("Star", and put "Duet for One" in that category too). 3). "Princess' Diaries", other Blake Edward's films and television films she made in the 80s and 90s before or after the loss of her singing voice. I've downloaded all of her albums on iTunes (even "Lass With a Delicate Hair" and 80's supermarket staff with different names of same albums). I can only wonder why wasn't she writing songs for herself like other Brits usually do. Mancini and other classical composers are great, but why didn't Andrew Lloyd Weber ever write for her? She wasn't tremendously busy in the 70s and 80s releasing one movie in 3-5 years and home made albums with "Two for Tea" and other 20s-50s songs. P.S Will someone please tell me why Russian filmmaker Michalkov uses shots of Julie Andrew's face from "Star" movie in his terrible flick "Barber of Siberia" (1998). Was he obsessed with her and now hiding? Because gays are usually obsesed with Julie Andrews as Rupert Everett mades known in his tell-all book.