sensei8

We, his JBB's, once asked our Dai-Soke what was his preferred kata in the Shotokan syllabus and he said... Heian Yondan We asked him why that one? Isn't that in the Shotkan kyu syllabus? His retort was... "Yes it is. But it contains a lot of necessity; it's complete" He demonstrated it for us, and we were made believers!!

Either of these three...in no particular order Wankan Gojushiho Dai Unsu [i can't do the big jump anymore because of my right knee; nowadays, that knee helps me to walk, and not jump/land]

Imagine a Golfer, for just a moment. When they first take up the game, they might have only very few clubs. Then as they progress in the game, they'll begin to add one club at a time. Before they know it, they've now acquired a full set of clubs, and in that, they can now attack any possible situation on the course now. However, whenever a golfer finds something in the pro-shop that might give them that needed edge, they'll buy it and add it to their golf-bag. However, all of the golf clubs in the world won't guarantee victory alone because one will need knowledge and the like to propel them above their opponents, and in that, they must know how to use said clubs to their advantage.

How is wrestling not a sport? How is boxing not a sport? How is MMA not a sport? Every competition is a sport. Spelling Bee? Sport. 5k run? Sport. Eating competition? Sport. Karate sparring? Sport. Solid post!! It's how we TREAT IT, that makes it a sport, imho.

Yes!!

Sparring for the very first time, ones head seems to get in the way, not because my mind can't wrap around the concept. No. My head kept getting in the way of my opponents attack...WHAM...WHACK...OUCH!!

I've always treated the word "best" as an illusion, and in that, it's a personal opinion. An opinion that's mine and mine alone because we see the beauty differently. Having said that, For me... Dai-Soke Yoshinobu Takahashi of the Shindokan Saitou-ru!! Beyond him... Bruce Lee.

I've not experienced that for myself before, but from time to time, I've counseled many students who have. Albeit, I've tried to retire once before, but after a short absence, it was as if I never really left; I was welcomed back with open arms across the board. The horse is only as scary as one allows it to be. Hence, getting back onto the horse is, according to the experts, the only was to lessen ones anxiety. You'll have rust, and it's to be expected, but serious practice will remove the tarnished surface. A few classes back on that horse will seem like not such a big deal, and that is because it's not a big deal...unless...you make it a big deal. Hang in there and TRAIN!!

Yeah, I don't see ANY type of MA demo that's not already approved by the Scouts. We don't have to like it, but at least we have to accept it for what it is; it's their org and not ours.

Yes, I agree, it is a movement, as with any movement, it must be experienced before it can be respected. For example, our brand of Tuite MUST be experienced before it can be respected; just too many parameters to consider. But as you've said before, it's hard to convey it in our current media; alas, live will possibly serve it much better in order to be appreciated as a whole technique.

I agree, inasmuch, Karate WILL be treated as a sport in the Olympics because of its venue.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

I'd accept that!! But, I've not been able to convince them of that because many of them think that many things in the by-laws should be left alone.

Those butterflies are going to be there to run its havoc on ones nerves. BREATH!! Let the testing cycle take care of itself, and once the candidate learns that, the easier the test will be. Don't think about failing or passing, just get on that floor and execute!!

Not every black belt can teach!! There's tons of more involved in just knowing the techniques and the like, for example, being able to interact with their students in a professional manner. The BB doesn't give the instructor any right beyond the cause.

You're welcome!!

I also would imagine that as one becomes much older, the regulated stretching would allow one to keep that flexibility. I suppose it's like a body builder who has trained their whole life, and if they don't continue in some type of weight lifting or the like, their muscles go to flab. Don't keep some type of stretching routine, one loses flexibility.

Not meaning to speak out of turn, but, to answer Brian's question about Ushiro Ura Mawashi Geri, in layman's term it's...spinning reverse roundhouse kick[spinning hook kick].

If I understand the technique as you've described, I just can't see effectiveness in that technique because of everything that's involved in the technique, especially in the addition of picking up a weapon as well.

Noah, You are going to slowly work into that type of pad aren't you? I only ask because starting and/or changing out with that type of pad might cause more harm than good across the board. Your skin will tear and the like at first!! I do use that type of pad, and have been for quite a long time, but it took me awhile to reach that. I gradually worked up to that type of pad. To tear or to condition, it's such a small line to define, imho. Hang in there, push through the setbacks, and you'll be fine!! Btw, it's a very nice looking pad.

Yes you can, but kata is the heart of karate, and actually, without kata, you can't really do karate. And in that, you can't do karate, imho, if there's no kihon and kumite as well.

Enpi means Flying Swallow. Wankan means King's Crown. Gangaku means Crane on a rock. Having said that, meanings and their known names vary from style to style, therefore, founder to founder.

Feels good to have your department think highly enough about you so that you can teach them the material!! Congrats!!

Should you bulk up or not? Well, I sincerely believe that that's a personal decision, and not the decision of anybody else, including ones sensei/instructor/friends/relatives/associates...anybody, just the individual. Everything has its pros and cons, but it's the desired results that bring those parameters into focus. They, whomever they are, say, trust your gut!!

Our 59th annual testing cycle is upon the entire student body at the Hombu. Any Shindokan Saitou-ryu student, in and out of the Hombu, can test at the Hombu every June/July once their petition for testing has been approved by our Testing Department. Godan's and above can only test at the Hombu, no exceptions!! The testing cycle isn't meant to destroy or embarrass; it's meant to TEST ones mettle across the board as a martial artist. But it doesn't end there! It's meant to be embraced by its candidates, and in that, it's meant to take care of itself, and it will if it's allowed to; it's not rocket science, my no means. I don't know if it's an unbelievable amount of pressure or if the atmosphere is unkind or if the heat of the spotlight is more than anybody can bear, but somehow and/or someway, the wheels start wobbling, and before you know it, the wheels come completely off. Testing cycle candidates stop believing in themselves for some reason in the midst of the cycle, and they can't remember things that they've been taught, been trained, been drilled, been corrected, been torn down, been built back up, been encouraged, been grained in, been made second nature, and have been made aware of each morsel of a technique(s) across the board; more so than a parent knows their very own child. Listen, I've been there, more than I can remember; it happens for one reason or another. The evil cloud starts hovering and becomes closer and closer, and before it's to late, the clouds sitting right over head. Mind like the water and mind like the moon [Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro] have a purpose, no, they have a true meaning, and that meaning must be respected as well as understood completely. Nonetheless, those same core words seem to surely and slowly trickle down the drain, as the cycle bears forward more and more. Before face can be saved, the dreadful words...YAME [stop] are shouted out by the leading and directing judge on the testing panel. The testing cycle is now officially over!! Over until next years testing cycle. Training hard begets a many things, but the results can fade away during the testing cycles pressure test. It's not a respecter of any testing candidate; not now, and not later...it's just what it is. Waiting for the mind to start doubt, and when that happens...WHAM...it attacks the candidate merciless and without reserve. Before a mind starts to lose it, RELAX...BREATH...HAVE FUN, and by all means, let the cycle take care of itself. Forget the kata, forget the kihon, drop the weapon, can't transition, can't spot the left foot from the right foot, and/or kumite out of a wet paper sack to save your soul...STOP...PAUSE...FOCUS...ask permission for a restart...then NAIL IT!! Believe...trust...conquer!! I've had to stop 37 tests thus far this week because the "Beast of the test" mercilessly killed their testing cycle. It's not pretty, and after chance after chance, I had to end their suffering. This is only the Kyu week, it'll be over this Saturday. Then we'll have a huge picnic/pool party this Sunday. Then, the beast of the test returns Monday, and this time the pressure test will be looking for it's first victims because next week is Dan week; the beast is very hungry for Dan's!! Don't think I'm not aware of that because in two weeks, I've got to face that beasts pressure test myself!! Thoughts, please!!