sensei8

OK...I'm not TKD either, even though during my high school days I did cross-trained in TKD for 1 year, but GM Young Ik Suh taught us that a TKD side kick went, well, to the side; quite similar to a Shindokan side kick. GM Suh also noted that ones eyes should remain towards the target at all times; quite similar to Shindokan. If your instructor has taught you to kick in the manner that you do, then adhere to that. If you've modified it, yet kept it effective, due to a medical issue, that I'd adhere to as well. Has your instructor seen the way you execute said kick, and if so, what was his/her opinion?? After all, your instructors opinion should be the only opinion worth it's salt. Having watched your video several times, this is my opinion... *You do have a 4 count chamber...up, out, back, and down...not an issue. *Your supporting foot does turn away from the kicking foot, which tells me that your side kick is more of a thrust, and not a snap, which is not an issue because you did say "Side Kick" and not if it was a thrust or a snap. If direction isn't important, than by all means, just call the kick, any kick, just a kick. I noticed... *Your eyes are diverted away from the target...this, to me is an issue. *Your side kick, to me, by the manner of which you execute your side kick is more like a thrusting back kick and not a side kick. This is due to the manner of which your chamber is dictated, and to me, your chamber is dictating a back kick. Unconventional?!?! I don't know what that really means in the MA!! Well, I don't!! Why? Semantics!! Whether its unconventional or not is meaningless, as long as it's effective across the board consistently!! Bruce said it the best... “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own” I wholeheartedly concur with Bruce's expression!! Imho!!

The MA, while it can be viewed by those who are residences of both sides of the fence, MAists and non-MAists, across a wide stroke of any type of brush, that the MA is both beautiful and deadly, it's context, after all, is to injure our attackers in the light of survival. We don't learn the MA because it's entertainment and all, but moreover, because we want to learn how to defend ourselves, families, friends, and the innocent to the very best of our abilities at all costs. The MA is construed to be a violent act, and oftentimes, the aftermath can become fatal, whether one intends it to be so or not. Not everyone uses the MA to cause ill will to another human being. Not everyone uses the MA to carry out the most heinous crimes against another human being. Not everyone uses the MA to perpetrate an evil act against another human being. Not everyone!! However, with the good, bad rears up it's ugly head against society for their selfish needs at any costs; there's a bad apple among the good apples, and in that, that bad apple gets by, which is their intent, at spoiling the bunch. Newspapers, social media, TV, and main media report story after story that depicts a MA who's used their MA skills/knowledge/experience unlawfully. Rapes, molestation, robbery, and murder, to name just a few acts of moral turpitude world wide against the unsuspecting citizens wherever they might live. So, let me ask you this, if I may... Do MA instructors have any duty to screen their students before teaching them the skills of physical violence?

Imho... Everything in the MA must fit the practitioner like a well fitting glove...everything. After all, the MA journey is the practitioners, therefore, personal, and that journey, while it can be shared, is still traveled alone. If ones school of the MA is/has taken a different path than the desired path of that practitioner, then possibly time has arrived to sojourn somewhere else to ones likens, and not to the likens of others. Whether one quits a particular style of the MA or not, for the time being or for good, that decision belongs to that individual alone. A MAist can cross-train to their desires to fill their MA voids. If a MAist was to quit a style of the MA, that acquired knowledge and experience will stay with that practitioner for quite some time or forever, no matter what!! Quitting Karate, if that be the choice...that knowledge/experience through muscle memory will still reside within that MAist. Yes, Karate knowledge/experience can be erased from the inner most of the MAist, but I do believe that the residue of that Karate knowledge/experience will still be harbored, and unleashed whenever a situation might be required of it. If Judo is the track your MA train must be on nowadays, then relish the opportunities that are before you; you must be where it benefits the betterment of your MA. The style...the Sensei/Instructor...fellow MAists...the atmosphere...so on and so forth must nourish ones learning for anything to be learned. This is what you must decide for your MA betterment to increase!! Good luck, and train hard and train well!!

Sounds to me that you're doing just fine, considering all that you've been through!!

Super Bowl 52...U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN...February 4th, 2018... Eagles VS Patriots What's your prediction, if any?? Eagles 27 Patriots 31 **Brady will retire after this SB**

The demotion of a student doesn't literally remove that knowledge and experience. It's a formal disciplinary action, but that action must be for cause, and for cause alone. When our Hombu demoted by most senior student by one grade because he omitted a criminal conviction of a misdemeanor offense on a official documentation required by the Hombu. The conviction wouldn't of barred him, but the intentional omission challenged the integrity across the board. When my student brought to me the letter, expecting me to defend him, I just shrugged my shoulder, and offered no defense for him. The Hombu has never ever changed a Shogo title, no matter the infraction; those are lifetime bestowments.

I saw a video on YouTube yesterday where a guy solved the cube WITH HIS EYES CLOSED...and he did it pretty fast while switching hands. He has some skills!! But yeah, I too would roll my eyes and walk away if the dojo I'm visiting wanted to use a Rubik's Cube, no matter the reason(s).

For me to be unstoppable, I first need to be Superman. However, the crinkle in him being unstoppable is Kryptonite. Maybe I would need to be like Thor, a God, who has no crinkle in his armor, to my knowledge. Oh well, seeing that I'm not either of them, I'll remain stoppable by being that limited human being. ::sigh::

Muscle memory is hard to ignore. After 53 years, I believe my stance would be just that...proper Shindokan stances, whether I wanted to or not.

Is the event still going?? $18 for a booth at the US Open Championship is very reasonable!! Hopefully you ended up with a profit, even if the profit was in increasing your contact network!! I was always wondering what it would be like to set up a booth and compete as well; very interesting parameters.

I wholeheartedly concur!! You want a detailed explanation? Then go to a seminar, however, even at a seminar, the blah blah blah has to be limited. If one takes longer than it should take to explain something...anything, then that CI/Instructor should think about another line of work. There's a fine line...wait...no there's not...get on with the teaching and limit the verbiage!!

There's nothing wrong with just labeling it "Karate"!! After all, it was "Karate", and that was important enough to convey their intent. Who cares if it was Shotokan or Bozokan or any other style of "Karate"?? What Shizentai's post speaks about is direct and to the very point, imho. The layperson see's the MA as Karate, no matter the style, so why confuse the layperson with styles!?! To that layperson, Shotokan and Goju-ryu, for example, might appear the same with a shrug of their shoulders. Let's not forget, many MA schools simply blaze the word "KARATE" on their window front no matter the actual style of the MA that's being taught inside. For example, if I put Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate and Kobudo on my window front, the layperson is more than likely only going to focus on the one word...KARATE...and disregard the others because they understand the word, KARATE!! I'm sure that's what my mom saw when she enrolled me in a Karate school; forbade the other words entirely, focusing only on that one word...KARATE!!

Iaido is beautiful along with precise!! Shindokan's utilization of the Katana is effective, but the perfection of Iaido doesn't exist in Shindokan as it does in Iaido; depending on the Shindokan practitioner.

Kanazawa was great for his time, but he is no way comparable to the best kata performers of today. You just mentioned him because he is famous. Watch Mirces tsuki and stance age 55+. There is no comparision. So, we are addressing one Karateka to another!! I misunderstood; I apologize!! Forget about Kanazawa or any other Karateka. I didn't mention Kanazawa because he's famous, but for the reasons that I've already mentioned, and my reasons are my opinion. Whatever my point might be, I don't mean to be disrespectful in any shape, way, and/or form; if I appear that way, please forgive me.

Are we addressing your question or are we comparing one Karateka to another?? Either way is an opinion!! The Karateka in the OP video link, imho, was quite affable in his execution of said Kata in question. The Karateka in your OP video link doesn't appear overly stiff, and the way that he executes said Kata is according to his style.

Taikyoku Shodan - Sandan Junji Channan Tichi Shodan - Nidan Pinan Shodan - Godan Naihanchi Shodan - Sandan Passai Dai Passai Sho Jutte Jion Jiin Kusanku Dai Kusanku Sho Shiho Kusanku Nepai Jimu

Your link is worse. In what way is my link worse?? The karateka in my link is Kanazawa Sensei, a recognized Master of impeccable lineage and the like. I picked that particular video because you were asking..."Is he too stiff or is it according to the book?", and imho, Kanazawa Sensei is a recognized authority on Kata, including the Kata in question.

"Karate" is a widely acceptable brand label for any style that might fit into that specific category. Sure, "Karate" styles are recognizable by their specifics methodologies and ideologies, but in this case, the "Karate" label serves the intended purposes.

Answering your question with my own question...Compare your link with the following link... Does my link shed light?? Imho...I'd score it on a 10.0 scale...9.59

Welcome to KF, lukasz; glad that you're here!!

Congrats, singlularity6; feels good, I bet!! I can now see it...house chosen based on MA needs, and why not, I'd do that too!!

You know...I'm a pretty simple and boring Karateka because I just want the weapon in my hand to become part of my hand, no matter weight or size. For that, I can't offer much help here.

For the most part, Soto Uke does follow the direction of the hips. In short, the block goes from outside to inside, so does the hips; the hips drive the technique!!

Allow the Testing Cycle to take care of itself!! In short, just execute, and don't stress or become distracted by the event. You're not expected to score 100%, so just execute with resolve.

No conceivable reason whatsoever!! Give up an inch, they'll take a mile!! Never ever!! EXPELLED FOR CAUSE!!