sensei8

So often the basics of the martial arts are relagated to be inferior to advanced techniques. Why? The basics seem to not be sufficient enough for the martial artists palete. No, they want to use only the most effective advanced technique at hand. What have the basics ever done to any practitioner for that practitioner to hold them in such a discarded light? Seeking out for the advanced techniques is appropriate, imho, just as long as the basics aren't ignored. My Dai-Soke was quite fond of reminding us all the time..."Advanced techniques are incomplete without the basics. Learn the advanced techniques, but not at the risk of the basics" Building bridges that lead up to the what's considered advanced must set upon the foundation of the basic techniques of any and all martial arts. One can't climb Mt. Everest without having to have acclimated oneself at the lower altitudes first. Same thing in the martial arts, imho. I've always felt that the white belt was the most important rank of them all because without the white belt, black belt can never ever have been achieved. Therefore, without a solid foundation of the basics, advanced techniques can't ever be effectively learnt. Many, many times conversations regarding techniques seem to circle around what effective techniques are the advanced ones. So much so, that one forgets to mention the basics because they've summized the ineffectiveness of basics, and in that, they'd rather execute advanced techniques no matter what. Then, when one observes a local tournament of the martial arts, nearly if not all of the practitioners in attendance don't throw not one advanced technique. Why? Because they're way to busy throwing the reverse punch, the jab, the front kick, the side kick, the downward block, and/or the rising forearm block...BASIC TECHNIQUES!! Why? Imho, it's because the basic ARE effective in it's simplest form, and the other funny truth about the basics being effective is because they WORK just fine! And if a black belt of any rank would truely think about it, and if that black belt could be honest with themselves, then that black belt would realize that they've been perfecting their basics much, much more longer than the ellusive advanced techniques that are at their disposal. So, before you discard the basics techniques within your styles curriculum over the advanced techniques, please remember this... In every advanced technique there lies an effective basic technique. Even more so; no basic techniques equals one thing...no advanced techniques!! Your thoughts?

As a paper, it's fine. I'd say that this paper edifies your level of knowledge of someone having 13 years experience, and in that, of someone who's a Shodan seeking after their Nidan. Very nicely written! In that, submit it for approval for your Nidan grading. Good luck, please let us know if there's anything else we can help you with, and by all means, please let us know how you do.

Yes, the Kata's shown in your link are very extremely difficult for someone with only 6 months under their belt. Each and every Kata shown on your link are black belt level, as a matter of fact, the Kata Unsu, shown several times in your link, is usually reserved for 4th degree black belts, and this rank CAN, but not exactly always, span a time of 10 years minimum of CONSTANT training under a credible and certified instructor of a minimum dan ranking of 6th degree black belt. 6 months of training Kata should be doing Heian/Pinan Shodan at best...

You can learn the order of the movements in a Kata from a book/DVD, but, you'll not be able to explore and/or understand the who, what, when, where, how, and why of the Kata. You'll not understand the Bunkai of said Kata. You'll not know if you're doing any part of said Kata correctly. You'll not understand how and why the hips are so important. In general, imho, you'll only be able to imitate the movements, and Kata is so much more than that. To most beginners, a block is just that...a block, but, that's not always the case. A credible and knowledgeable instructor is needed across the board, not just for Kata. Why do you move the way that you do? You won't have the TRUE answer to that by yourself.

Cowboys....1-6...nothing else to say about that. Patricks Dolphins won....Brian's Chief's won...Congrats!! GO COWBOYS!!

For the Rangers every game from now on is a must win!! Giants took care of their business the old fashioned way...one run at a time. Which is more than the Rangers could muster up in Game #4 of the World Series. With the Giants taking a commanding lead in the World Series; 3-1 and the final score in Game #4 was 4-0. To me it just boiles down to one thing...BATS!! Cold bats versus HOT bats, and the Giants are absolutely weilding the hot bats during this World Series. For the Rangers, is it the pressure of being in their first World Series? Or, is it that the Rangers have ran out of gas by having expended their drive during the ALCS and the ALDS? To me, that's a toss up as to which it might be or not. Possibly it's the inexperience of being in the World Series? Again, I'm not sure. I've no sound idea as to why. Maybe it boils down to this in every game...may the best team win. Is that the Rangers? Is that the Giants? Stats might favor the Giants but nothing is absolute until the last inning has been played and the last batter has made the final out. In retrospective, the Giants have shined in fielding, hitting, and amazingly so, but not so surprising, their pitching. Whereas the Rangers have struggled on all three areas surprising so because I never thought that the Rangers would've been down 2 games and facing must-win situation by Game #5. Game #5 will bring Lee and Lincecum to face each other again in a rematch, but this time Lee MUST dominate Linecum and the Giants HOT bats, and the Rangers must silence the Giants by out-scoring, out-fielding, and out-pitching the properly named GIANTS in every game from here on out. Otherwise, the Giants will win the 2010 World Series, it's first win World Series Championship in 56 years. Not that this is of any consolation, but, if the Rangers win Game #5 at Texas, they'll still have to travel to San Francisco to attempt to win Games #6 AND #7 for their first World Series in their franchise. For that to happen, the Rangers engine is going to have to avoid a misfire on any and all of their cylinders. So Rangers, it's time to tune-up that Ranger engine, rev it up, step on the gas, and leave the Giants in your rear-view mirror. It's time for the Rangers to look like the roadrunner and for the Giants to look like the coyote, if not, "Th-th-th-that's all folks!" GO RANGERS!!

That win was needed by the Chiefs to get them back on a roll. I'm totally impressed this year with all that the Chiefs have done and will do. They've the talent and they've the drive. No, you can't win them all but you can lose them a lot, but NOT THIS YEAR!! Way to go Chiefs!! I'm looking forward to the Jets VS Packers. GO JETS!! GO COWBOYS!!

The World Series! Well...the Giants, at home, just lighted up the scoreboard. They took and defeated Cliff Lee, which the Yankees couldn't. The Giants outscored the Rangers by a 20-7 thru Game #2 of the World Series. Then...the Rangers at home win 4-2. This was a need win, not a must win, and now the Series is 2-1 in the favor of the Giants. Game #4 is another need win for the Rangers. Ranger bats have to get much more hotter, otherwise the Giants will win Game #4. It'll be a must win from then on for the Rangers, imho, IF the Giants take Game #4. The Rangers are far from over, and the Rangers do very well for themselves at home. Rangers have accomplished something. THEY WON A GAME IN THE WORLD SERIES!! That's huge. Pitching assignments for Game #4 are: Rangers>> Tommy Hunter---W-L 13-4 ERA 3.73 K 68 Walks 33 WHIP 1.24 Giants>>Madison Bumgarner--W-L 7-6 ERA 3.00 K 86 Walks 26 WHIP 1.31 These pitchers side by side are much the same, although the stats favor Bumgarner. Controlling the pressure of being in the World Series will be key for them both across the board. Honestly, I've no idea who'll dominate by looking at the stats. All I can say is... GO RANGERS!!

The side kick, imho, is one of the most difficult basic kick to understand and execute, BUT, once a practitioner understands the proper mechanics of keage and/or kekomi, AND adheres to the proper mechanics while training/practicing said kick, then any and all hip pain should subside totally. Beginners try to keep their leg straight, and to raise it straight sideways while attempting to keep their whole body straight too. This is typically the cause of difficulties and hip pain among beginners attempting either kick. Btw, the cause of the pain and the limitation of the movement sideways in both the side kick and the side split is the same. It is caused by spreading, abducting, the thighs without tilting the pelvis forward. The “cure” for the pain on the outside of the hip is to tilt the pelvis forward, which is the same as flexing the hips, while attempting the side kick or side split. Although it goes without saying, but it needs to be said anyway; STRETCH properly and completely prior to any training/practicing. Always start kicking low, knee height, and slowly but gradually increase the height, but don't rush it. This will allow one to understand the proper mechanics of it, while at the same time allowing those stretched musles and the like to oxygenate. It is really the oxygen in the blood that your muscle needs. The more blood in the muscle, the more oxygen in the blood, the better the muscle responds. Practitioners of any martial arts shouldn't experience or live with hip pain. Therefore, take the necessary steps to ensure that you're pain free. The idiom..."No pain, no gain" is understood, but if the pain continues no matter what---see a doctor ASAP.

Serious harm?!? Imho, a basic reverse punch, for example, can cause serious harm, and this 'weapon' is learnt by white belts, so... When and where is the line to be drawn? And how is the line defined? Imho, it's not the 'weapon' that one should be concerned with, but it's with the practitioner who weilds said 'weapon'!

Well, the Cowboys are now 1-5; they lost to the Giants. To Romo...Sorry that you're left collar-bone is fractured. When I saw that play, I knew and everyone else who watched that game knew that you were seriously hurt. Hang in there...you being out 6-8 weeks pretty much means that this season is over for you physically and for the Cowboys...mathamatically. Oh well...you can't win them all! GO COWBOYS!!

Game #1 of the World Series is TONIGHT between the Rangers and the Giants...Good luck to them both, and may the best team win. GO RANGERS!!

I don't have one anymore... I no longer have a school and I no longer have a Sensei anymore.

I've no issue and/or difficulty with any of the Kata's listed in this poll, except for Unsu, and this is what happens when old age introduces itself and let's you know that you're not that youngster so many years ago. However, I struggled greatly with the Unsu jump when I was learning it, but after the learning curve was finished; the jump in Unsu was no big deal. Now, because of my right knee, this jump in its totality isn't possible nor is it pretty to behold.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!

Week #7 is in the record books! MNF will have the Cowboys hosting the Giants. I've no idea who'll win between these two, but, the Giants are on top of their division, yet, even though I'm a Cowboy fan, I'm a little bit pessimistic about the Cowboys' chance to earn the big 'W'. What about the Chiefs?! 42-20 over the Jaguars. Cassel was on top of his game with 2 in the end zone. This is how one gets back on the right track and that is by having the talent hitting on all cylinders. Chiefs showed me and the Jaguar's a thing or two. Awesome win! 8 close games this week and this is why I love the NFL. One of the close games shouldn't have went the way it ended. The Steelers beat the Dolphins but that's only because of the refs bumbled play at the end. Replay showed that Roethlisberger had actually fumbled the ball, but the refs went with the incorrect call. The Dolphins won that game period!! What is it with the refs of late? All of the Dolphin wins have happened while on the road, and all of the loses came while at home. We had 4 games of dominance. One I've talked about already, the Chiefs over the Jaguars. The most dominate game was the Raiders over the Broncos with a score of 59-14. When did this Raider team come from? 22 minutes into this game decided the outcome as the Raiders took all of the fight out of the Broncos quickly. The Broncos couldn't wait for this game to end, the faster the better. WOW!! 3 TD's decided it for the Titans over the Eagles. The Browns defeat of the Saints was helped by the 2 interceptions thrown by Brees. Bye Week Teams: Detroit, Indianapolis, NY Jets, Houston Bye Week Teams for week #8 will be: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, NY Giants, Philadelphia, Baltimore Isn't it great to be a fan of the NFL?!

A very solid post across the board!! As a retired competitor and arbitrator of many open traditional tournaments, I concur with each and everything that you spoke about; right on the money!!

Seeing that only your Sensei out ranks you, then why is this guy asking you to kumite? Dojo ettiquite 101. Personally, I don't see that you did anything wrong; sweep him all day long if he allows it. If he doesn't want you to sweep him, then it's time to pay more attention on how to counter/avoid the sweep, especially when your dojo does/teaches sweeps, and your dojo has been doing/teaching sweeps forever. This sempai seems to prove what I say all the time... Not all black belts can teach!

kanazawa actually still performs them according to their original names... lol, i find these things interesting his gojushiho sho http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLNddYfuH18 and his gojushiho dai and the reverse that most people (as far as i've experienced) perform gojushiho sho gojushiho dai Worlds apart.

Congrats!! Feels great, doesn't it?

I'm glad to hear that you're ok, because, that had to have hurt more than a little bit...OUCHY! You've found a new addition to the "Martial Arts Techniques and the 1,000 different ways to use them other than in the martial arts" book ...btw, this book title, to my knowledge, doesn't exist.