sensei8

Been there, the opps part that is, more times than I care to remember. Sometimes my elevator doesn't go quite to the top, if you know what I mean!? Thanks for sharing that opps moment.

Congrats!!

It doesn't? http://www.fightauthority.com/jeet-kune-do-techniques/advanced-kyokushin-karate-footwork/ At :25 you can hear..."tai sabaki" Tai Sabaki/Ashi Sabaki aren't linear, imho, because the word linear is defined as of, relating to, or resembling a line; straight. Therefore, Tai Sabaki/Ashi Sabaki speaks of angles, 45 degree, for example, to the right/left. Tai Sabaki is "Moving off the line" of attack. Ashihara karate, if I may, IS Sabaki, and in that, Ashihara karate epitomises the essence of Sabaki. The founder of Ashihara karate, Kancho Hideyuki Ashihara, was a Kyokushin black belt under Mas Oyama. To me, I think Kyokushin does have Tai Sabaki/Ashi Sabaki/Te Sabaki. Also, one can go forwards or backwards when performing either, but, in Shindokan, we don't go backwards. Ok, I'm going back to my corner now.

I've heard about this before, but I gave it no further thought. As far as I'm concerned, Gojushiho needs to remain with the original names to coincide with Dai and Sho!!

I agree. This Is Karate by Mas Oyama is hard to find, but doable. It's price is anywhere from $100 and up depending on whom you buy it from. Amazon, Book Finder, and EBay do have used copies. Rare/Used Book Stores in your area MIGHT have a copy as well.

Absolutely!!

Welcome to your first FORMAL class!! I love it!! I loved your post!! I could only laugh out loud over some of the things that you described because that formality is not only needed, but it's necessary. KEEP GOING!! KEEP TRAINING!! KEEP SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR TRAINING!! Osu!!

What I saw on the video was ok. I agree that the training method is quite aggressive but necessary. I saw no Tai Sabaki/Ashi Sabaki at all. What's with all of the going backwards when being attacked?

that's deep man. So I earned my green belt last night. It was a long grueling test. I am very sore today, but I got my belt. The thing about tests at my school is that they are true tests. You will be pushed until you find your weaknesses. I do have more confidence just making it through the test to get green. First off...CONGRATS on your green belt. Feels good, doesn't it? You're gaining confidence in yourself, this is first and foremost. Continue in having that confidence as well as in any newfound confidence while you're on your martial arts journey.

Interesting how you word your question Joe. Because I believe in Shindokan, then my answer Joe is....YES! Angles are abound, and in that, martial artists need to know how to work within those angles. Backwards isn't an angle to me that's worthy of risking. For these angled moves to be of help to anybody, they're going to need to be practiced and worked in "live" drills as well as "shadow boxing" drills.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

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

I've nothing against a block being a block and a strike being a strike, and so on and so forth. Afterall, that's what they are in there most generalistic terms. On the other hand, to view a block, for example, as nothing more than just a block; that would appear quite limited and restrictive to the many possibilities within the most basic of blocks.

Shindokan teaches that going backwards is risky for varied reasons, therefore, we don't go backwards in any shape, way, and/or form. We will stand our ground. We will slide angular in a forward manner. We will slip angular in a forward manner. We will step forward and/or angular. We will intercept more than evade to better aide our Tuite. Having a highly keen understanding of Ashi Sabaki is crucial at all times. If not, you're movements will be compromised before they even begin. Getting up close and personal takes more than one could imagine because retreating is what seems to be the acceptable solution. When a Shindokanist won't. Offering a direct target to my attacker is what we want, and this is achieved by offering as little as possible any straight-on targets. This is why we angle in our offense as well as in our defense. This doesn't mean that Shindokanists aren't attacking straight-on targets because we are attacking straight-on targets, and this is because at the contact point, our target is straight-on to US.

I do both; swim and jog. But, I'm tending to do more swimming nowadays because of my age [52 years old] and I want to lessen the impact that jogging puts on ones body. I use to jog 5 miles a day, instead, nowadays I'll do 2.5 miles a day, with more swimming than before. Before, I'd swim once a week, but now, I swim 3 times a week, and I've got to say that swimming is a total workout because of all the different ways one can swim.

Posts like those of tonydee, I truly enjoy. Martial arts maturity expounds from his posts, and in that, there's nothing for me to add except... SOLID!!

Karate styles have Bunkai [applications] within Kata's. A block isn't always a block and a strike isn't always a strike; what one see's isn't exactly what one is doing in kata's of Karate. My question... Is Bunkai practiced in TKD Forms as explained in the opening paragraph above? In advance, I thank you!

This Is Karate by Mas Oyama

What's my favorite kumite techniques? Well, I use to have favorites many, many years ago, but, I no longer have favorites. Why? Imho, words like "Best" and "Favorite" tend to limit me as a martial artist. In that, there's more to me as a martial artist than just a few chosen techniques. I've no favorite technique(s)!

The title of this thread is "Confidence In Your Art", however, before one can have confidence in the art that they practice, one MUST, imho, have confidence in themself first. Which one should one have confidence in first? YOURSELF! Without confidence in yourself first, there's no way to properly judge your art nor is there anyway to build any confidence in your art.

Thanks for sharing that with us! Indeed that was a very large group demo.

Yes, you could enter your son in an open tournament for varied reasons. But, if your son has limited sparring experience, he'll get ran over by those who don't have limited sparring experience. A lot of open tournaments determine where competitors fit the best, and in that, they'll want to know the years of experience. Now, that's fine unless the sparring experience has been limited because that's going to be like throwing someone in the deep end of the pool knowing they've limited experience with swimming. The sink or swim method, imho, is not how students need to learn. This could totally discourage for any future within the martial arts.

Aggression is an emotion and it's only effective if it's controlled. Anything short of controlled aggression is, imho, a means without purpose. Check out what Bruce Lee had to say about emotions... Lee: [a student approaches Lee; both bow] Kick me. [student looks confused] Lee: Kick me. [student attempts kick] Lee: What was that? An Exhibition? We need emotional content. Now try again! [student tries again] Lee: I said "emotional content." Not anger! Now try again! [student tries again and succeeds] Lee: That's it! How did it feel? [student thinks; Lee smacks his head] Lee: Don't think. FEEL. It's like a finger pointing at the moon. [Looks at student who is looking at the finger; smacks student again] Lee: Do not concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of the heavenly glory! [student bows; Lee smacks him again] Lee: Never take your eyes off your opponent... even when you're bowing! [student bows again this time keeping his eyes on Lee] Lee: That's better. Mizu no kokoro is often translated as “mind like water.” This is a lovely phrase which is too inexact to be very helpful, standing alone. What is meant by this is to make the mind calm when facing an emergency or an adversary. The calm mind, like still water, accurately reflects all that comes before it. It is otherwise referred to as fudoshin or “immovable mind.” Tsuki no kokoro is usually translated as a mind like the moon. This refers to the necessity of maintaining surveillance over one’s surroundings at all times. As the bright illumination produced by the unclouded full moon as it reflects its light earthward, so the mind must be aware of all conditions surrounding it. This is often described as zanshin or kan-ken futatsu no koto, or “perceiving with both the eyes and the intuitive mind.” The emotion of aggression must be controlled while sparring. Why? Negative aggression refers to behavior between members of the same species that is intended to cause pain or harm. Is your intent to cause pain or harm while sparring? Of course you're not! Therefore, control your negative aggression at all times.