sensei8

I'm with Brian and ps1 on this one!

You're a wrestler and you want to shoot, that's ok, one of my most favorite counters would be to SPRAWL, but the sprawl takes some uncanny timing, and that's cured by practicing.

In Shindokan, we teach a myrid of "Blocking" techniques. Should one view our curriculum, one would see that we teach approximately 34 "Blocks" leading up to Shodan. However, the term "Block" is extremely general in it's content, but it's context is uncomplicated, therefore, it's more easily understood by the laymen. What will be discovered, in its own time, as one's karate matures is that the "Blocks" are indeed counters. That bears repeating in a different manner...There are NO "Blocks" in karate; only counters! For example, Gedan Barai (Downward Block) is performed as a 2-step movement. That "Block" is way to slow to be effective against anything. Even still, each and every "Block" that's used in any kata are performed with the 2-step approach. A "hidden" technique comes alive and understood with one exclamation...AHA! In Gedan Barai (Downward Block), the "Blocking" hand goes up beside/near ones ear on the opposite side, while at the same time, the other hand crosses ones body with ones hand by ones groin; this is the chamber position...step #1. The "Blocking" hand travels in a downward motion, and just stopping on the outside of ones body, while at the same time, the other hand travels/returns to ones same side by and/or near ones hips; this completes the "Block"...step #2. Against, for example, Mae Geri (Front Kick), this kick is simply way to fast to incorporate the 2-step movement. By the time the Mae Geri is returning from it's target, the Gedan Barai (Downward Block) is beginning to finish; hence, the Gedan Barai (Downward Block) has just missed. Cure: Stop chambering the darn thing...just use the lead hand straight into the "Block"/COUNTER! This, of course, is for another topic/thread. That's the "Block"! Now to what the "Block" truly is; it's a COUNTER! For example, let's say that your attacker is reaching out for you to grab your shirt/label. Just bear with me here, and hopefully, you'll see Gedan Barai (Downward Block) just as it's meant to be performed in any Kata. First step: In the kata, your blocking hand is traveling towards your ear on the opposite side. Nomenclature of the COUNTER is...Grab one of the fingers of your attackers outstretched hand as your attacker attempts to grasp your shirt/label. Now I've got a firm hold onto my attackers finger/knuckle. I then rotate my attackers hand back and under and then upward...that is Gedan Barai's step #1, as seen in Heian Shodan, for example. I'll know my Tuite is working because my attackers body has changed from one extreme to another, and if I've done it properly, my attacker is also standing on their tip-toes. All the while, keep pressure on the finger joint/knuckle so that control is maintained continuously. Second Step: In the kata, your blocking hand is traveling downward to the immediate outside of your body. Nomenclature of the COUNTER is...Rotate your attackers hand with their palm facing downward, and then at almost the same time, start pressing downwardly WHILE stepping backwards and continue to do so until your attacker is prostrate before you...that is Gedan Barai's step #2, as seen in Heian Shodan, for example. I'll know my Tuite is working because my attackers body has once again changed from one extreme to another, and if I've done it properly, my attacker is now lying down. What one does after that is entirely up to you. What you've just completed was a COUNTER, not a block. Remember, Bunkai is the analysis of what one does in any said kata. Sure, I guess Gedan Barai (Downward Block) could be used to deflect a kick/punch, but, there are no blocks in karate, only counters. Hopefully, in your minds eye, you can see how the movements of Gedan Barai as executed in, for example, Heian Shodan are nothing more than a 2-step counter, and that's it's not a "Block" at all. Next time you perform kata and a "Block" is called upon, you'll "see" the counter instead, and that you'll start to explore the many possibilities of your Bunkai.

Sorry to hear that. Chin up and all! What tasks you will only make you stronger in the long run. Hang in there, and come October...you'll be a brand new Shodan!

SOLID!!

Geoff Thompson - the man Black Belt Magazine USA called, "the most influential martial artist in the world since Bruce Lee." This tag line can be found in most martial arts magazine publications. Whether one is or isn't the most influential of anything is up to the masses and not up to the individual for whom the proponent is aimed at. Do advertisements tailored like this upset you? Do you take those words personally? By personally, do you, or your students take those words as a personal attack on you as a martial artist? Here, Black Belt Magazine USA is just one collected opinion, and nothing more. Opinions vary across the spectrum known as the martial arts. BBM USA is supporting the martial artist, here, Geoff Thompson, and that's their belief as well as it's their right. The tag in the first paragraph of the OP, imho, is nothing more than an advertising power point, and yes, imho, the laymen martial artist as well as the non-martial artists might perceive this as the holy grail, just as though it's written in stone. To me, it's all harmless advertising, and one companies opinion. By harmless I mean it's uninfluential across the board and in that, it's nothing. It's no more than when one uses certain power words in their advertising tag lines. Word(s) like "Best" or "Most", as in the example above. Harmless? Yes. It's the old adage..."Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" I believe that this idiom should speak loud and clear to every martial artist about everything that's the martial arts. You; The reader is only interested in the potential benefit that he/she will receive from your product. The old advertising maxim is still valid "Sell the sizzle not the steak". Look carefully at your product and think of all the reasons that I, or anyone else would benefit by owning it. Even in our casual conversations with other fellow martial artists over lunch, or wherever, we'll speak often one of those "MOST" powerful words, on either side of any martial arts discussion, "BEST"!! That word, "BEST", alone can bring martial artists together or, the word, "BEST", can drive a wedge between two fellow martial artists just that quick. Of course, imho, it depends greatly on each individual's martial arts maturity. Your thoughts?!?

What kind of Shotokan are you? JKA? SKIF? ITKF? ISKF? KWF? I'm not of the Shotokan family, just a fellow karateka.

ROFLMBBO...hahaahahahahaahahaaa...you're killing me Brian...NOW that's funny!

Well said. This is a very good explaination. I've been taught that it is slightly bent with your toes trying to grip the ground. I've tried this with even shoes on and I feel more stable. That is my two cents worth. Toes gripping the ground...YES!!

So, is it better to have a soft, supporting leg? And why is it better? And a finally question , is it worse but easier to kick with a locked, supporting leg, and why? Imho, it's better to have a 'soft' supporting leg because of the reasons I stated in my first post. As to your second question, I've no experience with a locked supporting leg while kicking.

SOLID POSTS Jay and ps1.

It bears to have never been thought about along those lines; interesting!

If?!? Penetration is important especially with a bent supporting leg. However, you're, imho, right on the money when you say your kick MUST be strong. That comes with knowledge and knowledge comes with experience. I can drive my kicks with the base leg slightly bent supporting leg not because I'm of a big stature, no, but, because of my knowledge/experience. Again, solid post DWx...solid post!

I'm not 100%, but, the ATA is the only one's I've ever seen with these type of Dan ranking patches on their obi's. In that, the ATA only has roman numerals for 1-4, but 5-9 are represented by stars. Therefore, I'm thinking that the ATA is it's own supplier. I guess you could call the ATA and see is they'll sell you some, I don't see it happening. Other than that, you could have them made for a nominal fee and the like. Sorry if this isn't of any help.

Straight blast or the JKD chain punching, I call it...some very fast and powerful punches. Whatever it's called...IT WORKS, or at least for Bruce Lee.

Basically, within the Shindokan, we're taught to NOT lock the supporting leg because the supporting leg acts like a shock-absorber, as well as, a locked supporting leg can be injured more easily than having the supporting leg slightly bent.

If you could get your hands on your styles Densho's, then possibly within the Densho's you'd find the lineage. I only suggest this because that's the place where our styles lineage can be found...in the Densho's.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!

isshinryu5toforever has a very solid grasp on the who, what, where, when, why, and how across the board. You want a successful gym/business? Then the only thing that's viable in todays market, imho, is the use of CONTRACTS!! They help you to ensure that you've positive revenue flowing in. Most, if not all, gyms use contracts, and they use them without question/reservations. Me, myself, and I, personally, can't stand contracts because they are so binding, and one has little chance of getting out of the contract. Remember, a binding contract is written by a lawyer, and in that, once you've signed on the dotted line, you're there for the duration of that contract. Whenever the contract is up for renewal and you've not opted out exactly as required, guess what? Your contract's renewed whether you wanted to or not, and you've got another year or so of payments. Having said that. In todays roller coaster economy, contracts might not be an option as to if one should or should not have contracts for your customers because the bottom line of any P&L statement is PROFIT OR LOSS! You want to ensure positive revenue flow, therefore, contracts might become a vital necessity!

A very solid post; I thank you for it!

An excellent article through and through! The following ending sentence to that article speaks in volumes... "Tang Soo Do has managed to transform my son, and regardless of tournaments, regardless of belt classifications, and regardless of anything else, that is the reason that Tang Soo Do (and his incredible instructors) will always have my gratitude." Thanks for sharing the article Joe!

Is it realistic? Well, I'd rather to have trained for multiple attackers in many, many live "drills", than to not have trained at all. To train for multiple attackers, imho, one better train their whole entire body because it might take just that to defeat multilple attackers.

Karate is nothing without Kihon, Kata, and Kumite, imho. These three are dependant with each other, and in that, all three must be in agreement with one another. Kata and Kihon. Kihon and Kumite. Kumite and Kata. Kata. Kumite. Kihon. These are as effective as a two or one legged chair; unstable! Bear them together: Kata, Kihon, and Kumite; that fruit will nourish, but only if used together. It's called the three K's, not the two K's or the one K, for a good reason!

Neither style is bad; just the individual karateka's!