JohnASE

Spoke to one of Demura Sensei's guys about the dojo the other day. It's not done, but it doesn't sound good. Probably more a question of when they have to move, not if. I mentioned that there are people out there who would like to help, and he said he'd let us know if there's anything anyone can do.

I'm no expert, but I've heard "karate" translated as "empty hand" but not as "way of empty hand". "Do" is "path" or "way", so that makes "karate-do" closer to "way of empty hand".

Wow! We hadn't heard about this. Thanks for the heads-up, Bob! I agree that he has a beautiful dojo. I was there once, many years ago. It'd be a shame to lose it. The timing isn't great. Demura is recovering from his brain aneurysm or hemorrhage or whatever he had a couple years ago, but he still has a way to go. I heard he's starting to walk without his cane again. And next year is his 50th anniversary celebration! I think it's 50 years of teaching in the US but don't quote me. He's planning a big banquet in February 2015. The indie documentary about him should be out soon, but then again, they've been saying that for a long time now. Even though he's not well and is busy, I'm sure he has many people willing to help him deal with all this. We were at his tournament a few weeks ago, and no one said anything! We know many Genbukai senseis. I'll report back if we hear about any developments.

Requiring everything through the dojo is pretty rare, but some do it. There are safety issues with weapons, as in SteyrAUG's case above, but also with sparring gear. Not all types of gear are appropriate for every use. Some instructors just don't want to deal with the headaches that can come from lower ranks trying to figure out what they need. Some students are clueless. As an instructor, what do you do if a student shows up to a Shotokan dojo in a TKD v-neck uniform, or if you're TKD and require chest guards with target dots, but a student picked up a solid version cheap? How upset might a student be if their new sparring gear wasn't approved for use in the types of tournaments they compete in. How much potential training time would instructors need to devote to educating students on all the requirements and pitfalls of purchasing? Maybe I'm just overplaying the gear stuff, because I know how difficult it can be selling martial arts supplies to an uninformed customer.

Nice topic, Patrick! I'll have to check some of these out when it's not 54 minutes from the start of my weekend!

In my opinion, lineage is very important, but primarily in defining your style. Sure, you do Shorin Ryu, but is it Matsubayashi or Kobayashi? Is your Kenpo EPAK or Tracy? Sometimes, the differences are trivial, but sometimes they're not. Also, a sense of your style's history can enhance your appreciation of the art. Some people only care that it works, but many want to know why it works, or how it developed, or in what ways it's similar to or different from other styles. Lineage can help reveal such things.

That was cute! I think I shared this one before... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=141426162685288

I loved playing football (American) in high school. I was too small and not quick enough for varsity, but I played on the B team. I was an offensive tackle. It's not glamorous, but I've always been a role player in sports. Practices took up a fair amount of time. I always threw up at least once during "hell week". Despite pads, my knuckles were always bruised from banging into helmets. On the upside, I enjoyed it, I worked out a lot of aggression, and I made a lot of friends. Oh, and it was an extra-curricular activity to put on college applications. It worked out great for me, but I know not everyone would say the same.

The Tokon America and the Kamikaze America are the same gi, but they might have sized them differently. You can try to get clarification from whichever vendor you're considering. I have a 6.5 here, but I don't have someone 6'3" handy to try it on. If you'd like, I can take a couple of quick measurements that you could compare to your current gi. Just let me know what you need. Don't ask for ALL the measurements! I'm not THAT generous with my time!

Ha! That's awesome! I like it. I like the dark patch, too, but I guess that's not how it's supposed to look. Now that I think about it, someone dyed one of our heavyweights red, and the result was similar. The stitching stayed white, but I don't know about the collar padding as it was a new gi. It looked pretty good! Thanks for sharing!

I'm no expert on this, but I think I remember seeing an article that mentioned Vern Vaden as one of the all time greats. I know Vern, but until then, I didn't know he had such a rep! He trained mostly under Nishiyama in SoCal but started under Okazaki in Philly if I remember correctly. He's in his 70s now, but I think he still fights on occasion at Camarillo Shotokan's tournament.

Exactly! You need room to move around, but too loose can actually restrict movement, too. Personal preference is generally influenced by your sensei and your peers, but if you compete, check the regulations. For example, the USANKF Kumite rules state that "The gi jacket, when tightened around the waist with the belt, must be of minimum length that covers the hips, but must not be more than three-quarters thigh length." This rule might not always be enforced, but it could be.

Shrinking a gi can be a gamble. It depends on the brand and sometimes on the model. Material can be preshrunk to varying degrees. I'm not familiar with your Core. I recommend that you speak with your vendor. Generally, after you try to shrink a gi, you can't exchange it. I just spoke with someone today who bought a gi and was unable to shrink it. The jacket was big, but the pants were okay, so he washed and dried the jacket multiple times, but it didn't change much. He's going to come in and try other sizes and maybe other models. P.S. Welcome to KF!

Belated welcome, Roninkai! I hope you're enjoying your training. I know of a several good Shotokan dojos in Las Vegas, a few with Filipino head instructors. Shotokan must be pretty popular in the Philippines. We have many Shotokan customers here in the U.S. with ties to dojos there.

That's great! People are always asking what martial art is best for them. Never thought of that! Oh, and welcome to KF!

"Goodwill" is important in any business, especially for a business like martial arts instruction where loyalty is so important, and you deal with the same customers over and over again, week after week, year after year. Earning goodwill within the local community might be as with other businesses, but maintaining the goodwill of students is a whole other thing. Martial arts isn't all about coddling your customers. The customer isn't always right. You yell at them. You make them sweat. You bring them pain! And your job is to make them want more and pay you for the privilege! Regarding the list, I think trustworthiness is the most important factor in maintaining goodwill in business, and integrity is essential to establishing trust. I think time in business is important mainly as an indicator of trustworthiness. Benevolence? Hmm. Do you need to be good for there to be goodwill? I'm not sure, at least regarding business. Maybe treating people fairly is good enough.

That's my problem with the movie, although I compare its accuracy to "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". I'll see it (eventually... maybe on Netfix). I just can't think of it as the story of the 47 Ronin. I don't recall hearing that the real 47 Ronin battled witches and giants!Off topic - I visited the resting place of the 47 Ronin in Tokyo last year. It was a pretty humble spot. I wasn't as moved as I thought I'd be, but I was glad I went.

Personally, I consider this to be mid-range for a karate gi. Anything at about $50 or less, I'd consider a beginner gi. At around $60 or $70, you start getting into entry level heavyweight gis. At around $100 or so, you start seeing premium heavyweight gis. Japanese-made gis run about $250 to $300.

Hirota is a high quality brand made in Japan. $240 for one seems pretty cheap to me, but the dollar is pretty strong vs the yen right now, so my thinking might be off. I checked last week, and it was around 103 yen to the dollar. A couple years ago, I think it got down to something like 76 yen to the dollar! At that exchange rate, that same gi could be close to $325! That's probably not relevant to your decision, but now is a much better time to buy than a couple years ago. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I'm somewhat familiar with Ronin products, but I don't know anything about the gi made of Japanese material. The implication is that the material was cut and sewn outside of Japan. I have a good guess as to where, but I'm not sure, so I don't want to say. I'd hate to spread bad info. In any case, it should look like a Japanese-made gi, and it might last like one if Ronin's factory did a good job with it. Ronin products are generally good, so I'm sure the quality of construction of this gi will be good too, but it might or might not be up to Japanese standards. Again, I have little to no first hand experience with these specific products, so most of what I've said is little more than an educated guess. Oh, and I've heard that Hirota run small, so be careful choosing your size. Exchanging across an ocean could be expensive!

Everyone here, both contributors and lurkers, makes KF the great place that it is, but Partrick is our leader. Thanks, Patrick!

I can't suggest a place to train, but if you're looking at the USA, I'm sure you're considering Los Angeles. Off the top of my head, we have Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Gruaman's Chinese Theater, Rodeo Drive, the Getty Museum, Venice Beach, and the Santa Monica Pier, just to name a few attractions. It's less than an hour by plane to Las Vegas and less than 5 hours by car. The Strip at night is a sight to see! I'm sure everyone knows about the casinos, clubs, and shows. Much of it looks... fabricated, like Disneyland, but it's a very interesting place. If you want more specific info, feel free to ask!

Thanks, everyone! It's great being part of the community, Karate Forums and martial arts in general. I've gotten a lot of solid info from the internet over the years, so I try to pay it back when and where I can. I haven't dedicated my life to training like so many of you, but I've picked up a thing or two, here and there, and am glad to share what I've learned.

If you're limited to students from your complex, I like the "bring a friend" suggestions. Maybe you could offer a free private lesson or other perk for the bringer and the friend. If you're in a large complex, I'd bet you have a lawn or other flat common area somewhere. Could you hold a special class or demo there where residents can see? You might need permission though. Oh, and FYI, I hear from people who hold classes in parks that white uniforms and grass don't mix well, so other clothing might be a good idea if that's what you use.

Maybe someone in the area can be of more help. Off the top of my head, all I can think of is a Shito Ryu dojo in Moraga, CA, a ways east of you - The Karate and Fitness Place. http://www.kfpusa.com/

I might be a little late with this reply, but... I always recommend that new students purchase their gi through their dojo if they can. That way the sensei (or whoever handles merchandise) can help guide the student to the right gi in the right size. The next best thing is a local store where you can try them on. If you can't or won't go these routes, I can recommend the Ronin middleweight as a good value in a beginner gi, and Kinjisan is a good source for them. As a middleweight, it's a little more substantial feeling and durable than a lightweight, and being 100% cotton, it should be pretty comfortable. Just be prepared for possible shrinkage.