All Activity

Read a post elsewhere regarding stances; they talked about height, depth and width of stances across the styles. Now when I first started out training, I never questioned why and how we did things. Then one of my instructors instructors mentioned to me this about stances: - Stances in Karate are only a snapshot of what they were when you look at the movements it came from in Kung Fu. - Stances should be adjusted to the person. - Why? My 6 foot 8 (30 year old) friend would have different dimensions for all our stances in comparison to my 4 foot (10 year old) student who would have much smaller dimensions. But I got to thinking about how things came to be: - like how did Zenkutsu Dachi come to be so (in a way) different between Shotokan and Goju? - Was the person being taught a lot taller than others? - Was the person sore that day? were they stretching out a bit and didn't know how to translate it? - In Suparinpei why does Shito-Ryu go one way (when u do the Gedan Ipponken) and Goju-Ryu go the other? But back to the point; how has your instructors explained why you do stances the way that you do? Or if you do a variation to what is considered the norm to the dojo? How to you explain it/teach the correct thing with variations?

Minnesota has gotten healthy at the right time; they are getting excellent goaltending and are clicking on the power play. They have done a good job of making the most of their chances. Vegas needs Stone and/or Eichel to start making some plays. They have been shut down so far in this series. I think one of them gets a goal in game four. Big game on Saturday at 4pm eastern. Minnesota can go up 3-1 and take a big lead, or Vegas can win, tie it at 2-2, and have the momentum going back home for game 5 on Tuesday. Lots to play for. Three games on Friday and three teams had a chance to go up 3-0 in their series. None of them did. Canadians, Oilers, and Devils all win. Series are starting to tighten up. The deeper the series goes the more intense the games become. It's getting interesting. Mood:

We have reached complete absurdity in the NFL Draft.

Mistakes cost my Knights in game 3 on Wild ice…5-2. Knights better wake up soon. Things looked promising early after the puck dropped, but the dogs of havoc returned and what was once promising, quickly turned into a nightmare. Wild, I hate to say, have figured out my Knights across the board…and I hate that. But I got to respect Wild because they’re here this playoff for a reason. Wild leads the series 2-1, game 4 tomorrow at 1pm pacific. Game 5 on April 29th on Knights ice…game 6 and game 7, if necessary, Minnesota, then back to Las Vegas, respectfully. GO KNIGHTS!!

Well thats what we're all here for! To ask questions and have them answered from people who may know how to help. This is why I love this site, so we can all learn something or even have a change of perspective.

Leafs get the OT victory, can sweep the Senators if they win the next game. Panthers win both games in Tampa, take a 2-0 series lead back home. Wild win again, 5-2 over Vegas in a game where Minnesota dominated. Wild have not trailed in the last two games, outscoring the Knights 10-4. Blues are about to get back into their series, beat the Jets 7-2 in a blowout, Jets now lead the series 2-1. Games on Saturday - Capitals/Canadians Kings/Oilers Hurricanes/Devils Mood: LET'S GO WILD!!!

Cam Ward was the first pick in the draft as the Titans needed a QB. The second pick was Travis Hunter, who the Jaguars traded up to select, dropping Cleveland to the 5th pick where they selected DT Mason Graham.

Just make sure it's not the yellow Sharpie; the color is so light you won't even see the mark.

Adding to the topic, any of you guys know of a good quality reputable company for Karate gear. There are many Martial Arts in general but I would like to support one that is focused on Karate. Shureido as well as Isami are the only two I am aware of. Seido also but they focus more on Iaido. Any name would be welcomed

Thank you very much to everyone. I think that truly does answer my questions in that matter. Sometimes things are a lot simpler then they appear. This was such a case.

we had / did similar drills at the lower / intermediate belts. we called it one step sparring drills. another is having one person stand static in the fighting position, either foot forward and circling them while throwing kicks or punches to open areas, good practice for beginners to ease into sparring. as one progresses movement can be added to the static side from just back and forth "bouncing" or "weight shifting" to more in-depth movement. it is a usual practice for more sport based systems but is actually good for everyone, to learn coordination. control, aim, and footwork. we didnt start sparring until green belt (4th belt in our style), and these were some of the exercises that would ease each level up to the point of full on sparring. but are still fun and useful even after getting into the full sparring stage. or for those with injuries or just no desire to full on spar. thanks, i like hearing others training methods also

Great info and ideas of drills, auric; thank you for sharing this with us. Always interesting to see drills from other styles.

We have several different sets of 2-person drills. At the white and yellow belt levels, we train in yakusoku kumite dai ichi and dai ni. These are basic prearranged sparring drills that start with a basic back and forth sequence of punches and blocks. They start off with one punch/block, one punch/block and then move up to sequences of 2 or 3 different attacks/defenses. As students progress to green belt ranks, they learn our kyu kumite and kicking drills. These present more complex sequences of attacks and defenses, and these also start introducing the concept of manipulating the attacker. For example, in our kicking drill, we have a sequence where the attacker comes in with a side kick (yoko geri). The defender sweeps the kick out of the way, which encourages the attacker into a spinning hook kick. As students mature, they start making these connections, where if I do this as a defense, the attacker is likely to do that. At brown belt and black belt levels, we practice our dan kumite drill. This drill introduces the concepts of flow, and it is expected to be done in renzoku style, that is, in one seamless drill with minimal pauses between sequences. Nominally it is done in 12 sequences -- partner A is the attacker for sequences 1-5, partner B attacks on sequences 1-5, partner A attacks for sequence 6 (which involves a takedown/throw), and then partner B attacks for sequence 6. However, for advanced students (1st kyu and up), it is expected to be executed as one flowing drill. It is also at this level that students are expected to start demonstrating a balance between speed, power, and technique. Last, but certainly not least, we have our hojo undo (supplementary exercises) techniques. These are very similar to kihon drills in other styles; they consist of short sequences derived from our kata. For example, one of them is circle block/front kick. At the beginning of class we will do these right after our warmups. However, these can also be done with a partner, where the partner attacks with a mid-level lunge punch, and the defender replies with the assigned hojo undo technique.

When I was in the Pallet Racking Industry; I had sharpies, pens, pencils in my pocket from the time I left the house until I got home at the end of the day. Then having Steel Capped Boots, oddly comfortable once appropriately worn in. Used several times in self-defence, and hurts like heck when getting kicked in the shins.

Don't worry i had to look ours up when it came to typing up my original post for this thread.

That is true; when you learn something new it can be hard to understand. I admit there are some "Routines" that I've seen on youtube, Instagram or even facebook that just look overly dramatic or more complicated than need be. But then I remind myself that what I'm seeing is usually the demonstration or the student getting used to the routine in itself. But seeing them at full speed, where the attacker just remains still whilst the defence does their thing on the other hand. irks me to no tomorrow. Although that typically gets resolved pretty quickly when someone demonstrates my concerns.

all good; pretty easy to miss or overlook when going through the posts. And no I don't think you were being disrespectful. It certainly never came across when reading your posts. To me having a higher grade is useful because it at least shows u know the curriculum and have been assessed on it. Unless you made your own "style". I defer to some of my students who compete; and they are the ones that are either on the State or National teams. But only when it comes specifically to either their specialty or I am running a tournament style class or specific class.

Well, with a Sharpie, you at least |SEE where you hit them (that'll leave a mark!) to identify the attacker later. But the point is to soft IMO. ABIC is much more solid and also will "leave a mark".

I totally missed that - sorry, my fault! 100% agree with you. eg at my judo club the main coach is a 1st dan but he was an international competitor for years, just recently retiring. There are several higher graded people in the class that train under him! Completely agree here and hope it didn't come across as i was being disrespectful to anyone, genuinely wasn't my intention!

Don't forget about game three. It is Thursday at 9pm Eastern. The rare one day off between changing cities. Usually there are two. Big game three for both teams, Vegas wins and they regain home ice advantage, if Minnesota wins they are up 2-1 with the momentum at home for game four on Saturday. I don't know the actual numbers, but it feels like in a 1-1 series, the team that wins game three usually wins the series. Mood: Cautiously optimistic Three games on the schedule for Wednesday. Capitals and Kings both winners, both up 2-0 in their series, Stars come back and beat the Avalanche and have a 2-1 series lead.

If I may, without me sounding like a broken record… Complicated?? Something is complicated for two reasons: 1) Practitioner is learning something that’s new and strange to that person. 2) Practitioner isn’t mature in said technique, and that’s because that person is afraid. I’ve been on the floor for 6 decades and in all of that time, I’ve never seen not one technique that is effective when either both points above become evident to exist in any practitioner. Imho.

Looks interesting, I'll check it out!

@DarthPenguin this is from his initial post. Don't forget that @Wastelander is very open in regards to his training. Considering he is a Yondan in 1 style; it is impressive in itself as not many clubs have someone with that rank in itself. Same goes with @bushido_man96 and his years of experience. Like I'm a Nidan, but some have said I have the knowledge/experience for a 3rd/4th Dan. As I am well overdue to grade for my 3rd Dan in itself. But on the same hand; Rank and Experience can be two vastly different beasts. Like I haven't graded for the last 7 years; when I very much could have to be promoted to Sandan then be eligible to grade to Yondan this year. Even if I can't train; I am still educating myself and breaking down the basics to their biomechanical movements and doing the same with kata. Then working out how they can be best utilised for Self-Defence Routines. With respect; I do encourage discussions as to why we often do things, as it should enhance our understanding of how things work. But for that to work; both parties need to be respectful to one another.

Currently i am reading the Bladeborn saga by T C Edge. Was very pleasantly surprised by this and it was also available on Kindle Unlimited which makes things a lot more accessible

As a Scot i can wholeheartedly recommend Still Game though in the interests of fairness i am not sure how well the humour will translate to some other countries! When i lived in England they didn't understand it at all!