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From a purely historical perspective, I would want to train with "Todi" Sakugawa Kanga, as he is essentially the origination point for Shuri-Te styles, depending on which oral histories you believe. He taught "Bushi" Tachimura, and may have also taught "Bushi" Matsumura (although the oldest documentation we have about his teacher is about Yabiku Peichin, not Sakugawa). He might have created Naihanchi and Kusanku. He was supposedly so connected to Chinese arts that he was nicknamed after them (although there is little documentation to support the theory that he actually transplanted Chinese arts). Just all-around a cool experience.

Hirokazu Kanazawa, easy. And not necessarily for the martial arts training itself, but because I believe he embodied the "do" aspect of karate-do more than anyone else. That would be what I'd show up for.

Hi, Yes we do newaza randoori and we don't do standing randoori. I've learned a lot from the ground fighting submissions ect. I reckon I could pull off a osoto gari and an ippon seoi nage in a self defence situation but I don't think I could make alot of the other throws work without pressure testing them.

Yeah to agree with the others i think it breaks down into two separate components : Can you learn to perform a judo throw without ever sparring them? Yes you can learn the mechanics and when given a 100% compliant partner you will indeed be able to throw them using the technique given time. Can you perform it in a self defence situation? No! In reality your opponent will be moving and will be attempting to stop you throwing them / will be doing something themselves that you might need to counter. You won't be in the same position you are when drilling against an unresisting opponent and will need to make adjustments to be able to apply the technique to your opponent; if you haven't practised this then it is very unlikely you will be able to. Your question in itself is actually one of the fundamental reasons for why judo exists (if i am remembering my history correctly). There used to be lots of schools/ryus of japanese jiu jitsu where the techniques were performed as drills against a compliant partner. Kano then decided to remove a lot of the ultra deadly techniques and then spar full contact against resisting opponents. They then tested this against a lot of the other jiu jitsu schools that didn't train in the same way and Kano's school won. When you say you do ground fighting but don't do randori do you mean you don't do standing randori but do newaza randori or do you mean that you don't do randori at all?

Congrats!

Thank you for sharing with us, @Montana, and for all of your contributions over the years.

For our 25th birthday celebration, we're publishing an interview series with members from our community. Member Profile @Montana (View Profile) Joined: April 18, 2007 Posts: 989 KarateForums.com Awards: Instructor and School Owners Contributor of the Year (2024) Interview Where are you from? Born, raised, and lived in Montana for the first 55 years of my life, except for a stint in the US Army. Currently near Deer Park, Washington, and HATE IT HERE! Why did you get started in the martial arts? I started in January of 1975 because of the Bruce Lee movies mainly. I found it fascinating! Why have you continued to practice them? I've always been amazed at what you can do in the arts. How you can manipulate bodies. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I've only "taken" one style. Okinawan Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito Karate. I have taken many hours of watching other systems in how they do things. What is your grade or level? Yandan (4th Dan Black Belt). Do you teach? I taught from Fall 1978 thru early 2005. What are your first memories from training? There were many, too numerous to list. What has been the highlight of your training? Meeting the head of our system, Sensei Kuda Yuichi, during his first trip to America, sponsored by my sensei, Denny Miller. This was in June 1978 when I tested for Shodan before Sensei Kuda. What do you do when you're not training? Work, work, and more work... What do you do for a living? Currently, I drive school sports teams wherever they have to go for competitions. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? I don't really have any martial arts heroes. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? I'm retired for the most part. No longer actively teaching, but I do a little judging and help out a dojo or two now and then. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? It was so long ago, I really don't remember how I found it, or why I joined. Why did you stay? I found the discussions interesting and informative. I don't always agree with what is presented, and my big mouth has gotten me into trouble more than once on here, lol. You've been a member since April 18, 2007. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? There are less people actively posting now than there were. I guess we've hammered it all out? lol. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? There aren't many doing the same system on here. I read what they post, agree or disagree, sometimes add my own perspective. I can't really say anybody on here has influenced me.

Thanks @DarthPenguin! Glad that you like it.

I most often use the Arawaza green Emerald gi but I recently obtained a Satori one from a maker in Canada. So far extremely satisfied with it. I never tried a Shureido yet...

Thanks! I thought it would be a fun question

I’d say that training forms in slow motion is akin to shadow boxing and what they both give the practitioners…focus and attention to detail.

I would choose Aragaki Seisho who was first teacher of Tsuyoshi Chiitose as well as a teacher for Higoannoa Kanryo.

I tend to do my kata in one of 4 different ways: - Slow motion, focusing on making sure each move is *just right*. Trying to program new movement patterns into your brain. - Normal/full speed, no power - Again, going through the motions, getting the flow down - Slow speed, full power - Feeling how full power feels with each movement. Hit every movement with full power, then move on to the next one. - Balanced power & speed - the way you would perform the kata on a test or in a tournament. Find the balance of speed/power/expression that works for you. I find the slow motion kata to be an invaluable tool for letting your brain work through all the nuances of how a kata is supposed to look and give you a chance to get the muscle memory programmed just right.

Meijin gis are very popular at our dojo. They're available in 10oz (medium weight) or 14oz (heavyweight) cotton. They are extremely durable (we have students who have worn the same gi for 5+ years and it still looks pretty good), embroidery is available and a certain amount of embroidery is included. The prices are also very reasonable for a premium gi.

I think for me it would be Kanei Uechi. Kanbun Uechi was the founder of our style, but Kanei (his oldest son) evolved our style into what we know it as today. When Kanbun brought his karate over from China, he only had 3 kata, along with the kotekitae (conditioning exercises). When Kanei took over, he had senior instructors create 5 new "bridging" kata to ease the transitions from Sanchin -> Seisan -> Sanseiryu. Furthermore, after the bridging kata were developed, he modified them to create a clear progression between the 3 original kata through the 5 bridging kata. He also added the yakusoku kumite drills, the junbi undo warmups, and hojo undo supplementary exercises to the style. While other of Kanbun Uechi's senior instructors may have originally developed the additional kata and exercises, Kanei Uechi codified the curriculum and made the style what it is today.

Sunday 7 June Lifting Session Squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 80kg x 1 104kg x 3 104kg x 3 104kg x 3 Bench press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 86kg x 3 86kg x 3 86kg x 3 Assisted pullups -25kg x 3 -25kg x 3 -25kg x 3 Captains of crush grippers (reps are per hand and did both hands) Trainer x 15 Trainer x 15 0.5 x 8 0.5 x 5 0.5 x 5 0.5 x 5 trainer x 12

Saturday 6 June BJJ Session Half guard session again. Began by warming up using some standing up grip fighting then working on inserting for a throw. Did some drills of retaining knee shield again. Worked on replacing knee shield if getting smashed, by framing and then building up on an elbow and getting it back, and then worked on taking an underhook and wrestling up. Then worked on hitting coyote half guard sweep when opponent smashes you back down when going for underhook.

Tuesday 4 June Lifting Session Squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 80kg x 1 92kg x 5 92kg x 5 92kg x 5 Bench press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 76kg x 5 76kg x 5 76kg x 5 Deadlift (conventional) 60kg x 5 80kg x 3 100kg x 5 100kg x 5 100kg x 5 Captains of crush grippers (reps are per hand and did both hands) Trainer x 15 Trainer x 15 0.5 x 3 - these sets were EMOM, eachh hand for three reps then rest remainder of the minute 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 0.5 x 3 1 x 3 1 x 3 1 x 3

Wednesday 3 June Karate Session Usual type warm up and then we worked some grading prep for those grading soon. We worked on Sanbon kumite and ippon kumite techniques and drills and then ran through Heian Nidan, Sandan and Yondan for those grading using them

Wednesday 3 June BJJ Session This session mainly focused on retaining knee shield half guard and recovering it when being smashed etc.. Was really useful as i worked out i needed to push my hips an inch or two to the outside and made a massive difference to not having it smashed

Tuesday 2 June Lifting Session Squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 80kg x 1 92kg x 5 92kg x 5 92kg x 5 Bench press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 76kg x 5 76kg x 5 76kg x 5 Assisted Pullups -40kg x 8 -40kg x 8 -40kg x 8 Triceps pushdowns (straight bar) 32kg x 6 32kg x 6 32kg x 5 Captains of crush grippers (reps are per hand and did both hands) Trainer x 15 0.5 x 5 0.5 x 5 1 x 1 1 x 1 1 x 1 1 x 5sec timed hold 1 x 5sec timed hold

Sunday 31 May Lifting Session No squatting as had a lot of pain in my foot so didnt think it would be safe Bench press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 76kg x 5 76kg x 5 76kg x 5 Assisted Pullups -40kg x 8 -40kg x 8 -40kg x 8 E-Z bar biceps curls 36kg x 6 36kg x 6 36kg x 5 Captains of crush grippers (reps are per hand and did both hands) Trainer x 15 Trainer x 15 0.5 x 8 0.5 x 5 0.5 x 5 0.5 x 5 trainer x 11

For me it would be Sensei Nakayama former JKA chief instructor. I have heard multiple times from very senior karateka that if they are ever unsure they refer to the 'karate bible' aka Best Karate series. So to learn from the author himself would be amazing. Would also be incredible to take some BJJ classes with Rolls Gracie. Everyone always says how far ahead of his time he was and how incredible so that would be an amazing experience

Must be regional / international differences in pricing - i am in Scotland and when i compared them i found Hirota to be cheaper (though it could have changed in the interim). Could also be due to the size i need (i'm 6'4 and about 230lb in American units). I am interested to hear about the Tokyodo one though, i could do with another Gi...

Excellent idea! Hopefully will also remind me not to be lax in updating mine!