tori

Years ago, when I was a little kid, my parents had a little drinking problem. I did anything to get out of the house, including follow a friend to a Kung Fu class. I was hooked immediately. My instructor at that time, saw what I was going through at home and never asked me not to come to class, even though my mom wasnt paying the small tuition. I loved it. It was my life. All the anger I had towards my life was worked out in Martial Arts. Now years later as an adult, I continue my love for the Art. It is a different style for me now, but my heart is still there. I will admit, I still have a bit of an anger problem, but I think I do my best to keep it under control. I probably would not be the person I am today without my training. That is why I go and continue to train.

There is so much different bunkai that you can do for traditional kata. I discover new ones all the time. I am sure you are learning self defense in your classes that you can use to help with learning bunkai. With your kata, just break down the movements and experiment with it. Anything goes, including awesome takedowns.

Thanks everyone. I have finally worked out all those sore muscles from the ranking. Will be there tonight at 100%

Zanshin, I really believe that their are no traditional weapons forms in Shotokan. I think if there was, we would all be practicing the same forms (or a variation of them). The hand forms are all very similar and practiced pretty much the same in each shotokan organization. So a weapons kata would be unique to that school.

Congratulations to you. However, you should probably be asking your instructor what to practice as we are not students at the school. Most instructors have their own way of testing and their requirements may not be the same at your school as someone elses. You will be fine. Relax and have fun!

It is cheap looking, but its for kids. Seems the same to me as getting all kinds of pokemon things or those pog things. As long as the kids are reading and enjoying it. Would make going to classes and earning a real black belt more worth it. I mean, why would Jackie Chan send a really nice black belt in the mail?

I guess I am somewhat confused in your statements pama. Are you a new student that is looking down the road that you are about to take, or someone who has gotten to black belt and are unimpressed with the journey you took? For some people getting a black belt is the ultimate goal. For others, rank is of no interest to them. For some, black belt is only the beginning. There are no right or wrong answers, just good or bad attitudes. If you are a new student and are not impressed, try something else. If you are a student who has been there for awhile, take a break and reevaluate what you really want to do with your training. You deserve it.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I wasn't going to show him the weapons forms anyways, but after reading everyones comments, I am going to tell him why I am not going to teach him. Zanshin, the shotokan kata themselves are not rare. You can look on youtube and see each one of them performed. Weapons forms are usually rare. If an instructor has been taught a weapons kata, he usually learned it from the instructor(s) in his own lineage. I am not saying that in other shotokan schools, students arent learning weapons kata with similar names, but the moves are probably different. Learning something unique to your instructor and his style is (to me) honorable. I am going to keep it unique to my instructor, as I respect him and honor him and the school. It is too bad my so called friend doesnt know yet what respect means.

I havent trained with anybody who has "made it big" in the eyes of other martial artist, but I think the people I train with are great! I did compete years ago when Billy Blanks was still in the circuit. For real, he is amazing. I have still never seen anyone jump higher than him.

There are too many to count. The very first day I took class was amazing. I knew I was hooked. Obviously achieving all the ranks are great moments, but for me now, watching other students "get it" when Im teaching. Having them say to me when they leave, class was fun. It keeps me smiling all night.

Well unknownstyle, he has a brown belt rank in isshin ryu. He has been out of our program for at least 6 years. I do not feel comfortable reteaching him these kata, as he continues to bad mouth my instructor. As far as how protective we are of our kata - it's shotokan. You can go online and see any of the shotokan forms. However, the weapons kata are not shown, because shotokan is not infamous for weapons forms. If a dojo has them, they are usually passed down from instructor to student. One of our rules is, do not teach outside of the school. At first I thought that rule was a little harsh, but I have been on several websites of all different styles of MA, and that one rule seems to be prevelant throughout.

It is normal to have that feeling when struck in the jaw. It absolutely can cause a concussion. Too many of those are dangerous. Try to block those strikes.

Shodan at 80? Thats awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Kez, when you have the doors and windows open, you get that great outside fresh air smell. That's great! I miss that, I really do. However, last week I tested for my SanDan rank and the upstairs airconditioning was off. I went up there for a minute and it was at least 100 degrees. I did appreciate having that cool airconditioning on the first floor that night.

I have a friend who trained with me in Shotokan for awhile. He is a pretty good guy, but left the dojo on "not so good terms". Currently he is training in another style all together and loves it. I am very happy for him, but he recently asked me to reteach him the weapons kata he learned from our instructor. He said that he wants to teach his current instructor and the other students the forms taught in our dojo. They actually have their own weapons kata and feel this is disrespectful. I have ill feelings about showing him these forms. For one, Shotokan weapons forms are rare, and feel that ours are unique to my instructor and the instructors before him. Weapons is actually not part of our requirements in the style. Had he practiced what he learned when he left, then whatever, but he cannot remember them. I feel it would be very disrespectful towards my instructor for me to show him these forms again. I already know that I am not going to do it. I just wondered if anyone thinks that I am wrong in my beliefs? I think that his current instructor would not be keen on him showing me their Isshin Ryu forms for me to teach at my dojo.

I dont care either way. I love the belt my instructor gave me years ago and wear it proudly.

Me too Bushido. What a great accomplishment for him! I also have never looked at my instructor as getting nervous for his rankings. I bet he does too. Of course it has been some time since he has ranked.

Well I took my SanDan test and it went very well. Even had endurance! Think it was adrenaline based though. I am still very sore, but it was a great night. Got to be there to also see 10 others get their Shodan. Great way to start the summer. Thanks for all the encouragements.

I enjoy doing whatever form is most difficult for me at the time. My Nidan kata I felt were tough: Jion, Gankaku, Nijushiho, and Hangetsu. So I practice them often. Still need more practice. As for what one I like to watch, any of them. Kata is beautiful.

I too run into "karateism", as I am a nurse and go to work with multiple bruises. Some of my coworkers think I am crazy, but I don't care. I love what I am doing. I dont plan to quit, even if they think I am too old or what have you.

We have air conditioning in this school. In the old one, we didn't. I loved it that way. I love working up a great sweat. Your muscles work better and you feel at the end of class that you really worked hard. I also wish there wasnt air conditioning because I am ALWAYS cold. Right now it is 78 outside and I have 2 blankets on. Sick isnt it?

I agree, you should see a doctor. It is possible that strenuous workouts may be causing high blood pressure, which in turn can cause headaches.

My first instructor actually died. It was hard on all of us. We tried to keep the school going, but without a head instructor, it failed. I look back now and appreciate what I learned from him. He was tough, classes were tough. It was a time when instructors were brutal on their students. Practice was nightly and hours long. You left with bumps, bruises, and at times, broken bones. I love my current school and the instructor I have now, especially for his amazing technique and knowledge of the art. Classes arent as viscous as they were in my old school, but that was years ago and I personally don't really want to go to work with broken fingers, toes, or a broken nose. The day will come when this, ( instructor closes the school or I leave (because of age or what have you). I just am glad for the time I have right now and the knowlegde I gain just from knowing these people.

I second that opinion DWx. If you haven't ranked in years, yet others who started after you are moving past you in rank, then talking with the instructor on what you need to do to improve is exactly what you should have done. The fault is on his part. Do not quit MA. Quit that instructor. Hey, I am not one to question an instructor, but it is there job to get the best out of you. If he isn't doing that, then he is not an instructor at all.

There is a new little bistro here in town that is fantastic. I love it. I also am a big Red Lobster fan. Those biscuits are crazy good!