sensei8

Ooooo...a very solid post!! The pacing in your link was pretty good. I love to play with the pacing to see what else I can discover. Bunkai is up for ones interpretation and in that... What will be discovered in any said kata tomorrow? Only time will tell.

We do Kusanku Sho, rather than the Shotokan version, but it does have a sequence at the beginning where you do oi-tsuki and then that turns over to chudan-ude-uke. We typically apply it as an elbow dislocation--you control their arm with the hikite of the punch, punch them to hurt/distract them, and immediately roll your arm over so that the top of your forearm presses against the elbow. We do the chudan-ude-uke movement pulling back into neko-ashi-dachi, which helps extend the arm for the ambar and also takes our weight off the lead foot so we can kick or knee with it at the same time. All that said, you have to remember that Kusanku/Kanku Sho was modified by Itosu (and then Funakoshi) to fit into his "school-safe" curriculum, so it's entirely possible that he always intended for it to really be a punch followed by a block. For practical applications, I would look more into Kusanku/Kanku Dai, instead. The same goes for Passai/Bassai. They were still modified, of course, but the Dai versions seem to have been changed less than the Sho versions. Very solid post!!

I've heard of it, and I've learnt it, even though it's not in our syllabus. I love it because it has, for me, a different way to appreciate the many Bunkai learnt from this kata. Enjoy it and learn it well!!

Welcome to KarateFourms!! You, being a foreigner, you're going to find some of your dojo-mates quite a bit harsh, and as you've said, it's possible that your dojo-mates want to show you the power of the Japanese...or...there just being harsh because you're a foreigner. Still...hang in there and in time, you'll have earned their respect one way or another. You've received some pretty good advice thus far here, so allow me to just throw in my two-cents in agreement. Drew spoke quite well about why your leg is bent. Having your leg ever so slightly bent also serves as a shock absorber, thus protecting you from being injured one way or another. As far as the attitude of you shin during spar, let me first say, ask your Sensei exactly how you're suppose to do this, and I know that the language is a problem at times, still, ask your Sensei. Having said that, I do BOTH when I use my shin to absorb/deflect another kick because, for me, a lot depends on the kick that I'm blocking/deflecting as well as if I'm setting up a transitional counter-attack right from a deflection because in Shindokan, we do not block, we only deflect, but here, I've used "block" because it's a more understood methodology. Again, please ask your Sensei or your Sempai how you're suppose to do that particular technique. We don't stand and jump on each others stomachs but if it's done properly, I can see their reasons for the way they do it. The medicine ball training is a great tool, but, like anything else, care must be adhered to in order to avoid any potential injuries. Speak with a doctor that you trust for their advise. There are so many other ways to condition ones abdomen and taking shots to the stomach while working on proper breathing techniques is a way I'm the most familiar with but care must be taken as well as proper supervision is needed to ensure that ones conditioning and not being abused. The only way, imho, to remember kata is to execute them over and over and over and over and..., well, you get the point. Take the kata in segments, one at a time, to learn it piece by piece; then put it together until your brain can remember the whole thing. Once you're more familiar with said kata, do said kata backwards, and this is a little more tricky at first because forward is one thing, but to remember backwards is, well, evil at first, but, it'll bring into your kata training a new understanding. Again, practice makes perfect, so, practice said kata a billion times plus one. Practicing your kata's at home is only counter productive if you don't first follow the instructions of your Sensei AND if you do it "your way". "Your way" is for another time and another place, for now, just practice said kata over and over. Be careful with any Video from wherever especially if said kata your Sensei has taught you isn't done the way you've been taught. Kata's have slight variations based on Sensei and/or governing bodies. If the video you find is exactly like you're being taught, then rock on and practice and practice along with the video. Imho!! Good luck, hang in there, and train HARD!!

Great topic pittbullJudoka!! My favorite sweep is the Deashi Harai...[Forward Foot Sweep] It's great for big guys, and I'm a big guy, because it's so sneaky. How so? As my opponent advances towards me, I'll sweep his/her front foot as he/she is stepping AND before he/she can put that said foot back down. Hehehehheehe...like I said...sneaky, but effective.

Thank you Sensei8. I'm going to work on it and when it gets decent use it in sparring. You're more than welcome...I hope it'll help you. I'm still trying to find a video about this kick as it was taught to me by SGM Young Ik Suh, and just as soon as I find it, if I do, I'll post the link.

Drew and JGarner890 makes some great points, in which I wholeheartedly concur with. Both, imho, types of kicks are very effective as well as they both have their pros and cons, however, I believe that if given a choice, the shin type can provide much more damage in totality because the shin type can be akin to swinging a tree-trunk. Is it method over idea or vice-versa when one thinks about either of the two?

I hear what you're saying Brian. I do think that if one's properly conditioning and creating that muscle memory, ones skill set would not be risked, imho, because proper execution is paramount to any MAist, and the key word, imho, is PROPER!!

I'd love to tour the world in order to spend at least one day with some of the most noted MAists, especially those who are legends in their respective MA before they pass away. The info would be so valuable to me.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

For just a split second...no longer than necessary because you are turning away in order to draw your opponent towards you. Take the jump spinning back kick...your back turns for just a split second. Now, one can draw the turn to last a little bit longer because you're trying to draw them IN/towards you. Timing is everything!!

To put that in perspective, the Kukkiwon boasts 26 000 blackbelts and 3500 dojangs in the US alone! Nevermind colour belt students. Whoa...that's A LOT!!

I'd build the BIGGEST dojo stocked with EVERYTHING imaginable, both inside as well as outside. OK...back to earth bob...back to earth...back to...back...

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Whoa...I like that...I like that a lot...it's got a zing to it...it's a lot to have to type/write, but DWx...short and to the point.

Solid post!!

Yes, good luck with your training, and please visit your doctor!!

It's akin with having a chair that instead of having 3 solid legs for support, it now only has 2 wobbly legs for support; not my cup of tea.

I can relate with that!! Great point!!

The ATA [American Taekwondo Association], for example, has a student body over 350,000 within its network of ATA dojangs. So, as one might be able to see, our paltry 10,000 student body pales against the ATA. With the plethora of the different MA styles that are represented here at KF... What's the student body of your particular style(s)? I'd be interested, for example, in what the SKIF's student body is or the JKA's or the Kodokan's or the WTF/WKF's or the Kyukushin's or the four major governing bodies of Karate.

One more thing about retreating, if I may... Retreating has it's pros and cons, and they'll differ from methodology and ideology, however, I believe that retreating also gives your opponent a wide variety of targets to launch an attack at. Why? It's hard to defend oneself when one's too busy to see, thus, block/deflect any attack; I've not eyes in the back of my head. It's a risk, but not an ending risk if ones cognizant about ones surroundings.

That's one way, even though GM Young Ik Suh never taught that through and up to green belt. Still, I like it!! Thanks for sharing that one with us.

Sensei8, Could you describe the turning around roundhouse? It sounds like a good thing to add to my toolbox. OK... Let's say you're in a normal fighting stance with your left leg in the front. As your opponent advances towards you, you step towards your right/inside and then turn 180 degrees away from your opponent, and this will appear that you're running away from your opponents advances...THEN... Your left leg is NOW the rear leg and your right leg is now in the front...and at the end of your transitional step...POW...your deliver a right lead leg roundhouse kick to whatever target is availible, alas... the step-turning roundhouse kick. It requires guile and timing to say the least. It's not part of our Shindokan syllabus, but it's part of my arsenal...I love the kick. Hopefully I described it properly for you and the other KF members here.

Humility...I'm trying to teach myself because sometimes I do things that shouldn't be done. I don't ever want to fail those who expect more out of myself. Sometimes...I disappoint those that depend on me. SORRY!!