sensei8

Those who's MA knowledge had been garnered through studying books and the like, but have never been on the floor in any shape, way, and/or form. Harkon72's definition as well, is what I mean here.

...or Febreeze [sp?]

Welcome to KF, Hudson1984; glad that you're here!! I'd say that the size you'd need should be big enough to allow you to do all of your Kata's within your style so as to not be cramped; I'd say an extra two feet beyond the furthest point of any Kata's embusen. Within that space for Kata, you can do partner and solo work with adequate amount of space to train!!

I took the OP question as only practiced by your school/style; not unique in the sense that there's nothing out there like it. Not that I thought you directed that question to me. Unsu is a great kata to watch. My old organization did it at either sandan or yondan. To the best of my knowledge, Seido doesn't have it in its syllabus. I really wanted to learn it. Perhaps one day when I've mastered every kata I'm responsible for lol. Yes, I didn't direct the question to you, but to every KF member, as in "YOU", a member of KF. And yes, I too took the OP question just as you have. I was wondering how someone can view a kata within their own style as unique, thereby, I don't view any Shindokan Kata unique. Me not viewing Shindokan Kata's as unique, maybe I'm missing something in Shindokan Kata's that other see from their styles Kata list.

To YOU, what makes a Kata seem unique? Even in learning and training in Kata outside of the Shindokan circle, I don't find them unique at all, just other ways of movements. I don't think that the big jump towards the end of Unsu, which is NOT a Shindokan kata, wasn't unique, just different. However, my eyes lite up when I first saw it executed because I was awash of the many Oyo moments and possibilities that I'd discover over time.

Karate in the mid 60's to 80's tended to carry their lead hand waist high and slightly out from the body, and the other hand was kept at and on the solar plexus area. After that, they went here there and everywhere!!

When I was a kid, as both a Kyu and JBB student, I missed a lot of MA classes because of little league, and varsity baseball commitments. My two loves...the MA AND Baseball....I should've went into MLB instead because I was one heck of a third baseman and hitter. Just my additional two cents!!

Strictly from Shindokan Saitou-ryu, as founded by Fuyuhiko Saitou, Soke, Judan. I've learnt/trained in many kata's from outside of the Shindokan circle, and I'll teach those kata's as applicably necessary at my own dojo. But when I'm at the Hombu, I don't stray away from our core Kata's!!

Interesting; thanks for sharing!!

Thanks Spartacus Maximus and jaypo; I loved your answers!! Keep them coming, please!!

My guard is chin level/chest level. No pros and cons because I don't fight like you and you don't fight like me and I don't fight like this person or that person, and this person and that person don't fight like me. Sure, I can pick things apart with the best of them, but I don't see pros and cons to where the guard should or shouldn't be; it's a personal choice. Choices are learnt through trial and tribulations, and even then, ADJUSTMENTS MUST BE MADE ALL OF THE TIME!! Nothing, imho, is written in granite!! Btw, good topic; thanks for starting it!!

I believe that instructors need to take a break once in awhile, even if that means that you close the dojo for a day or for an entire week. That way, you get a fresh new batteries in the old engine from time to time. Sometimes, you just have to walk away for the moment, to gain a new and fresh look at the whole darn thing. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", and this prevents a renewal in ones motivation, both for the student, as well as for the instructor.

I've always blamed the Arbitrator of the tourney for how a tourney is conducted...good or bad or indifferent!! The Arbitrator sets the tone, and I've been an Arbitrator before, and the tone I set was totally opposite of what you've experienced...clean techniques, controlled techniques...are encouraged all around. If a technique left no doubt as to the validity of the technique, and it scored first...POINT!! Arbitrators aren't suppose to be trying to make "friends", but to be that observer who's overseeing everything in a conscience and consistent manner without ambiguity and/or reservation!!

I'm sure that you've told your Sensei what your occupation is, and in that, any Sensei worth his/her salt knows that life happens before the MA. Trust me, you're not letting your Sensei down at all. If you've not ever told your Sensei what your occupation is, and that it might interfere with your attendance from time to time, well, tell him now, so he'll be informed. It's all about communication!! Even if you never let your Sensei know why you're not attending regularly for whatever the reason(s) might or might not be, your Sensei isn't and can't be let down because your MA journey is YOURS and YOURS ALONE!! Again, LIFE HAPPENS before the MA! Your Sensei knows that! If your Sensei doesn't know that, well, he/she has no business in teaching at all, imho!! You'll be fine, hang in there, and train hard and train well. When you show up at the dojo again, don't be surprised when your Sensei says to you..."LINE UP!!", and nothing else!! Afterwards, your Sensei might shake your hand and express a sincere welcome back!! I know life happens, and I've been teaching the MA since 1977, and I've not been let down by any of my students yet. Students either show up or they don't show up...it's their choice! I'll be there 6 days a week, day and night, so I'll be there...ready to teach whomever shows up, and for those who don't show up...life happens, and I don't fret over it for one second!!

Whilst many kata practiced within the main styles of "traditional" karate share the same genus, I would argue that each Ryu-ha's version of the kata is unique. Take Wado-ryu's Pinan Nidan for example, and compare it with Shotokan's equivalent (Heian Shodan) - to the casual observer they are very similar, however what's going on under the hood is completely different. It's not so much what you are performing as part of the kata it is how and why. K. Solid post!! I don't know of any unique Kata's within the Shindokan syllabus, and that's because, to us, our Kata's aren't unique, at all! We're an Okinawa style, therefore, we've the Pinan series, the Naifanchi series, and so on and so forth, yet, these aren't unique to us. Being a believer in Kata and all of its attributes and the like, and the amount of cross training that I've done over the many years, I'm familiar, and that means I've learnt and studied them, with the different styles' Kata's in the hopes of opening up my eyes to the world outside of the Shindokan circle. Very few, thus far, Kata's listed in this thread are unique to me, and that's because I've not yet had the privilege and/or the opportunity to have studied and learnt them. So, to answer the OP question...Shindokan DOESN'T have any unique Kata's!!

Life happens before any MA training!! Schedule conflicts will arise from time to time, that's to be expected. The good news is this... The floor will still be there, and you'll be welcomed back with open arms...continuing where you left off from!! Meanwhile, train at home when the time is allowed!! I always encourage my students to work on Kihon and Kata when one can't make it to the dojo. Do something...jumping rope, hit the heavy hanging bag [if you've one hanging at home somewhere], sit-ups, push-ups...something...just do something, and please keep stretching...if nothing else, do that!!

Welcome to KF, Kung Po; glad that you're here!! I'm unable to help you in your search, but there are many KF members here that live in the UK, and hopefully, one or more of them will chime in here soon to help in your search. Don't despair, helps on the way!!

No, I've not experienced what you've experienced. I suppose I've been lucky in that area. I've experienced aching wrists at first, but that was because I was using a heavier sai that I should've been while I was a green belt kid, and I was over torqueing my wrists to get the darn thing where I wanted it to go. And, I've poked myself with the Tsume in my sides before, and not just once or twice. Hey, I've also stabbed my right knee with a Kama because I stepped out with the wrong foot, and the Kama was stuck in my knee!! And let's forget about how many times I've rang my bell with the nunchaku!! Welcome to the wonderful world of Kubodo!!

Well, to get the ball rolling... Here are the questions: 1. What is your favorite word? Yes 2. What is your least favorite word? No 3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? The unknown possibilities 4. What turns you off? People that think they know it all 5. What is your favorite Martial Art word? Shugyo [suck it up] 6. What sound or noise do you love? Laughter 7. What sound or noise do you hate? Whining 8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? LEO [Law Enforcement Officer] 9. What profession would you not like to do? Coal Miner 10. If your Sensei/Instructor has requested that you're to report to the Hombu/Headquarters immediately, what would you like to hear your Sensei/Instructor say when you arrive at the Hombu/Headquarters? GET IN LINE!! Hopefully, more members will take the Pivot Questionnaire!!

Yankees...86-69...4 games behind the Blue Jays, who are in 1st place!! Only 7 games left in the regular season. The Astros are 82-74...close...very close. I made a bet at the beginning of the season with a friend for $100 between the Astros and the Yankees, in a The Best Standings at the end of the regular season. And with only 7 games left, it's still anybody's bet to win. So, there will be a time before the end of the seasons final games, that one of us will have won the $100. Another nail biter that I've, as of late, been dealing with. So, with that being said... GO YANKEES!!

Wait, Your cousin plays for the Cubs? WOW! That's way to cool! Give him my bests because it's not easy to make it to the show...and stay there!!

Cowboys lost to the undefeated Falcons: 39-28!! ::sighs deeply:: Hopefully, your Dolphins will shake the problem off, and start doing what's expected of them. Good thing for both of our teams, and the rest of the league for that fact, the season is young, but it can get away from them in a quick moment. GO COWBOYS....PLEASE!!

Whichever technique(s) one decides to use...one better do something, and if not, one better start running for the hills!!

Congrats; well done and well deserved!! Feels good, huh? You'll improve in time!! Thank you. Yes its a great feeling. 3 months of hard work rewarded. We had a 74 year old from Japan doing the grading. I believe he is head of the Japanese Federation. I cant remember his name now unfortunately. His flexibility was out of this world and it was a real privilege to have been able to attend one of his training classes today To the bold above... That's cool to have that type of experience during a testing cycle. To be graded by him is indeed both an honor as well as a privilege; one not to be soon forgotten!!

Kick if you have to! Kick if you need to! Kick if you want to! Don't kick if you don't want to! Don't kick if you don't have to! Don't kick if you don't need to! The choice, is that of the practitioner!!