sensei8

Get with your sensei about this. If you've asked before and you've received no real answer, then press your sensei for a definitive answer. After all, while you're the student, you're also a customer! A sharp focused yell, just to start the kial ball rolling would be helpful. I know kiai's are long thing from being normal, but beside all of the kiai backgrounds and the like, and they are important, but imho, it's more important for you to get comfortable with the kiai. Hang in there, and in time, things will work out for the best.

Solid post!!

Check the link... http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/meet-the-volunteers-willing-to-go-to-mars-and-never-come-back-191710586.html?vp=1 Would you volunteer? Once you've blasted off the launch pad, you'll never ever forever coming back!! I won't be volunteering!! What about you?

No, I don't think they do. I believe that they're aware of the potentiality of the whole thing. I'm not sure right now, but, weren't elbow strikes banned because of the blunt trauma that they can afflict upon ones head. If not, then it might enter the minds of those who make the rules/laws of said venue's. It's sad!! Even one death, imho, is one too many! My prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans. Elbows are more likely to cut than to produce blunt force trauma. In unified MMA rules the only elbow that's banned (that I know of) is the 12-6. You're probably quite right. I know that I've seen some pretty blunt trauma elbow strikes in the early days of UFC, and I cringed.

I'd support it and watch it with excitement and enthusiasm!!

No, I don't think they do. I believe that they're aware of the potentiality of the whole thing. I'm not sure right now, but, weren't elbow strikes banned because of the blunt trauma that they can afflict upon ones head. If not, then it might enter the minds of those who make the rules/laws of said venue's. It's sad!! Even one death, imho, is one too many! My prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.

I've been doing the MA for 50 years this October, and in that, I've just a few regrets BUT, I don't dwell on them, I've learnt from them, and that is why I've no regrets.

Being honest with myself, I've only one regret...the passing of Dai-Soke! Other than that, I've no regrets!! Sure, I've failed, but I've also succeeded, these things make us the MAists that we are.

The family that trains together stays together, or says the saying. Many times we'll see a mom and a son/daughter training together, and we'll also see a dad and a daughter/son training together. My questions for discussion are... At the dojo/dojang/school that you train at right now, are any ENTIRE IMMEDIATE FAMILIES training together? If so, what ranks are they currently at? Have any entire immediate families reached the Dan level? After they've all reached the Dan levels, did they remain or did they leave? Let our discussion begin!

First of all, Welcome to KF!! You've purchased some very nice books! If you can find a reasonable priced copy of Hidetaka Nishiyama's "Karate, The Empty Hand Art"; it's, imho, one of the greatest Shotokan gems that's a must for ones bookshelf. Clubs might, and I want to emphasize might, use different terminologies. Depends on which governing body ones affiliated with. The combos that you're referring to are part of the Jiyu Ippon Sets. Jiyu Dachi is Ready Stance. Chudan is Middle/Center. Jodan is High/Upper. Mae Geri is Front Kick. Therefore, from a Ready Stance, step forward and and Front Kick to the Middle/Center and with same leg, immediately Front Kick High/Upper, return to Ready Stance. From Ready Stance, Front Kick to the Middle/Center then step forward again Front Kick Hight/Upper (Two different legs). Mae Ren Geri is Double Front Kick. So that would fit either way, but not always the same because not all dojo's share the same terminologies.

I would disagree. Great place to be a criminal however. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8771809/Father-arrested-for-murder-over-knifing-suspected-burglar.html "Police said that during the break-in Mr Cooke was threatened and that one of the intruders - named locally as Raymond Jacob - was knifed." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2223125/90-year-old-shot-face-burglary-SUED-burglar-World-War-Two-veteran-fired-back.html A 90-year-old body-building, World War Two veteran who was shot in the face during a home invasion is being sued by the alleged burglar for firing back. Former Greenbrae deputy sheriff Jay Leone is accused of 'negligently shooting' 31-year-old Samuel Cutrufelli three times and causing him 'great bodily injury' as the older man defended his own home. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1075809/No-barbed-wire--hurt-thieves-allotment-holders-told.html A gardener who fenced off his allotment with barbed wire after being targeted by thieves has been ordered to take it down – in case intruders scratch themselves. Bill Malcolm erected the 3ft fence after thieves struck three times in just four months, stealing tools worth around £300 from his shed and ransacking his vegetable patch. Laws protect both the victim as well as the criminal!! The laws for everyone, therefore, no one's above the law. Still, one must do what one must do to protect their loved ones, friends, property, and themselves. Property is replaceable, but ones life isn't! A very thin line, imho!!

Solid post!!

My post wasn't directed directly to you, it was just a general statement directed towards no one particularly. Your post was solid, and I just wanted to generally speak towards the word "hidden" because a lot of MAists STILL think, and are taught, that kata contains "hidden" applications, and that these supposed applications are secret. An awe and struck mindset can be a bad thing for any MAist.

Sold post, and wholeheartedly concur!!

Yes, solid dachi!!

I couldn't access the links in the posting area, however, I was able to get connected to the link in your signature area. You've a very nice website, blog included, and I'd like to say...your tuition price of $100 per month is quite reasonable! I like that EVERYTHING is FREE. No testing fees, no private lesson fees, and on and on; impressive.

The term "Hidden", as we teach Kata, doesn't, and shouldn't, mean that said techniques are for the higher Dan ranks, as I've heard forever and a day. As we teach Kata, the "hidden" terminology speaks about the effective applications through discovering them during Bunkai/Oyo. "Hidden" because ones not discovered said effective applications YET!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!

See, that's my crutch, I don't pick things properly all of the time, as you've suggested. Any home remedy to attack this darn running nose?!? Thanks, Brian!!

That's no good! Get well soon!Thank you, Zaine!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

That scary feeling will not go away anytime soon, no matter the rank. The higher in rank you're testing for, the more your scary feeling will remain. Still, that scary feeling reminds you that you're alive!! Take deep breathes, and take them often. Be calm...well...as calm as possible.

I told this story here at KF back in 2009... http://www.karateforums.com/slate-is-for-the-roof-only-vt36201.html?highlight=slate I'll never forget this for as long as I live.

Kata can be an educational element as well as discouraging. Kata is a way to gain skills for drilling, and that includes Bunkai/Oyo. As you've stated...the form is never the end nor the goal", and that's how, imho, it should be viewed because kata isn't the only effective way to train. As I matured in the MA as well as in my betterment, I knew that there's no such thing as a "hidden technique(s) in any Kata. Any that's because Bunkai is set within the curriculum/syllabus, while Oyo is self-discovery, and that discovery never ends. Oyo opens the "Aha" factor! It's possible that whomever's shown you Bunkai/Oyo has tainted what many proponents of Kata love; the discovery of effective applied knowledge as the so called onion is peeled away one layer at a time, and in that the layers allowed introspection. I'd love to show you how we approach Bunkai/Oyo, I believe that you'd come away quite pleased across the board. Kata isn't just intrinsic; it's far beyond it being just a thing. No more than any other training modality! Kata without application is meaningless!! I've no ambiguity, and neither does Kata, if it's approached in a sensible and effective manner. I've no inclination to say "I told you so", it would serve no valuable purpose, and the respect that I have for you wouldn't permit me to do so! I echo SteverAUG wholeheartedly...Congratulations on discovering a new component to your practice of the MA.

Congrats, and very well deserved!!