sensei8

For me, that's why I love the international tournaments. These international tournaments ONLY use 'Blue' or 'Red' for EVERY competitor even though the competitors ARE black belts of varying ranks. These international tournament competitors are PROHIBITED/FORBIDDEN to wear there 'normal' Yudansha obi, and if you do, you have mere minutes to correct the error or be disqualified.

I've had my more than my share of injuries, both minor as well as major. Sad things is I've had my share of self inflicted injuries...they hurt my pride more than my body, although my body would differ. Self inflicted? Yeah! Experimenting with new weapon and/or new technique, in which I wasn't well versed in at the time of the injury, but, nonetheless, I paid for my mistakes in more ways than one. Sometimes I DO need more than one brick over my head before I get the point and/or learn my lesson, both for the good as well as for the bad. I can say OUCH in many different languages now......heheheheehehehe

Whether or not if I'd use one kick over another is, for me, more of a personal choice. A personal choice in what I believe works best for me in 'that' situation at hand. While I'm an Okinawan stylist and my style doesn't believe in any kick above the stomach, I can see a jump spinning outside crescent kick work just as well and effectively as a jump spinning back kick because I can do both very quickly and very easily through short range. Pro's and Con's....Is the choice of which kick to use or not to use based on abilities or effectiveness? What a quagmire we find ourselves in from time to time.

This is purely my opinion and it is this. I don't personally see any added benefit of a "corkscrew punch" because the extra amount of 'travel' and/or 'torque' and/or the like, just doesn't seem of any beneficial to a zuki/tsuki. I've experimented with the "corkscrew punch" and I've concluded, for my own reasons, that this particular zuki isn't anymore powerful than a "traditional" zuki/tsuki. In my research of the "corkscrew punch" I've found that what can be accomplished by a "corkscrew punch" can be achieved by a simple tate-zuki, vertical fist punch, but, with more penetration as well as more power and damage to the target. Is my research a difinitive finding? No! It's of and for my own! What works for one, doesn't always work for another! The "corkscrew punch" worked for Kid McCoy, but, it certainly didn't work for me because for me; it's an unnecessary added motion, especially when more can be delivered, imho, by tate-zuki.

Yeah...I hear what you're saying as far as the crescent kick being a foundational kick in many styles of the martial arts. Foundational for me isn't the same as functional. Many times what is in Kata and Bunkai, including Oyo, doesn't always mean that any said techinque will work on the street. Yet, to be able to have 'it', crescent kick [inside, outside, spinning, jump spinning], available if I need it, well, it's better than nothing...at times. I've seen TKD use a crescent kick from a clinch, and use the crescent kick quite effectively, both in national and international tournaments. I love the kick and I'm very solid with it, but, I'd not use the crescent kick in the streets as a first choice.

Congrats! Way to go!

This kick in Karate is called Nami-gaeshi, returning wave kick. And as you've already discovered, it's a very difficult kick to perform. The Karate Kata,Tekki Shodan, utilizes this very kick. Many students incorrectly slap the instep against the inside of the thigh. The foot should travel to the front of the thigh to block of deflect a kicking attack. The Tekki Kata should be practiced assiduously in order to promote flexibility and lower body strength. To maintain a strong Kiba-dachi, Horse Riding Stance, with accurate posture and to avoid bobbing up-and-down requires much lower body strength. Performing Nami-gaeshi involves raising the sole of the foot in front of the body while being supported by just one foot, requiring great skill and balance. To perform this technique without significantly raising your body is very difficult, so when a beginner can perform this effectively, they will begin to fully appreciate the benefits of this kata. Some tips that might help: A) Shorten your stance slightly B) STRETCH COMPLETELY C) Keep knees bent D) Perform drills and the like to develop lower body strength E) The hips must be well set Hopefully these tips might help you. So I can help you more exactly, just what difficulties are you having...exactly? Performing this kick is one thing, but, to truly master it requires a life-time!

Mark Coleman vs. Randy Couture..........Couture Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen..........Marquardt Mike Swick vs. Paulo Thiago..................Swick Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller...................Maia Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg....................Serra Justin Buchholz vs. Mac Danzig.............Danzig Melvin Guillard vs. Ronnys Torres.........Guillard Rob Emerson vs. Phillipe Nover............Emerson Phil Davis vs. Brian Stann....................Stann Tim Hague vs. Chris Tuchscherer..........Hague Rolles Gracie vs. Mostapha Al Turk.......Gracie

ABSOLUTELY! Very good post! Without CONTROL; the martial arts is nothing but barbaric!

Please remember that what he does is HIS interpretation(s), therefore, it's not necessarily yours. Abernathy has great things to impart to all of us, but, please, find your own interpretation(s) and make it yours.

It's just a title, yet, it's one I'm proud of. NO! It's a want, not a need. I want to be a martial arts instructor, but, I don't need to be a martial arts instructor. It, the world, would be just fine. People don't need the martial arts, therefore, they don't need martial arts instructors. To just mention a few, people need a job, people need utilities, people need food, people need a home, and people need medication; but people don't need the martial arts.

NO! Don't you want your punches to have kime and be strong? YES! Ability to block when necessary is an important part of any Martial Arts. If one can't block for one reason or another then the only alternative is to not be there when said technique reaches target by....ducking or something. NO! Yes, we should be careful as to not hurt one another while sparring or whatever because that's not why we're at the Dojo. However, ACCIDENTS do occur. I sincerly doubt that you "hurt" your Dojo mates on purpose, therefore, just spar. I'm sure that your sensei doesn't allow his students to intentionally hurt one another. Contact WILL HAPPEN no matter what and when dojo mates clash with one another, that contact is magnified and yes, it leads to injuries. If your sensei feels that you're wrong, he'll address it right then and there. As you gain both the experience and the knowledge; injuries will be avoided, but, even then, accidents happen. Listen, I've been doing this for 45 years now and when I spar with other Dojo mates of equal rank, we clash, we hit, and sometimes we have to duck. But, I never worry about my kime and power because when you spar me and you're equal in rank to me...You better have control and know how to block and you better know how to hit and you better know how to formulate tactics and strategies because I'm here to IMPROVE my skills and I want to be tested at full power. If I get hit...well...I should've blocked.

I was! It was an honor! Also, what better way to understand, appreciate, and believe in any technique then by being on the receiving end by one's own Sensei? Baptized by fire in this case! I loved it!

I believe that this was happening back then because of the very extremely limited knowledge of Americans about the Martial Arts, including rank/titles. An unknowing American population was very naive about things like this and were quick to believe rank/title from those who perpetrated such things. Oh what a tangled web...

I pay $130 NZD a year to train under a 5th dan teacher lol.What's the U.S. dollar conversion of this?

Lupin1, You're absolutely correct about what you said about Okinawan practitioners kicking stomach or lower at very close range. I believe that WuChildNZ is saying that he CAN kick high if he wants to. I'm in an Okinawan style and we only kick stomach and lower, but, I can kick high if I want to, yet, I'd rather not.

Here's another interesting link... http://ksksydney.homestead.com/files/Kata.htm

I've got a question. As the title of this thread asks..."What are the OFFICIAL KATA'S OF SHOTOKAN?", what/whom is the "OFFICIAL" governing body of Shotokan? Is it the JKA? Is it the SKIF? Is it the WKSF? Is it the JKS? Is it the JSKA? Is it the ISKF? Is it the TSKF? OR...? I'm just asking? I don't know because I'm not Shotokan! Even under the umbrella of one of the many Shotokan Hombu's around the world; nothing can guarantee that the individual Dojo's will not vary/alter their own Hombu's official kata list for kyu/dan ranks. Unless their Hombu won't certify said ranks as an encouragement to remain strict in following their Hombu's official kata list for promotions.

WOW! OUCH! MAN! WHAT! HUH! That's about all I have to say about the Cowboys lose to the Vikings. I love the Cowboys, but...., again in a pressure very important game, they folded under the pressure of getting a win. This game was all Vikings and they deserved to win this game because they wanted it more than my Cowboys. I'm happy for the Vikings and I can't believe what I'm about to say...GO VIKINGS!!!! Now it's time for me to cheer on the Vikings to win the Super Bowl. There's only one thing in the way...the SAINTS and this will not be an easy game for the Vikings to win...in the Superdome. I'd like to see Farve get to the Super Bowl and to win it as well! As far as my beloved Cowboys...there's next year and we will see what we see then. GO COWBOYS AND GO VIKINGS!!!!

I've always said this...It's hard to tell anything of great value about any school of the martial arts from a website. Therefore, VISIT THE SCHOOL MANY, MANY TIMES!!!!!! Then come to an educated decision. Now, I'll say this although. This school is affiliated with Kanazawa Sensei and with his SKIF...that speaks in volumes by itself...still...visit the school over and over to see if it's in concert with Kanazawa Sensei and with what it is that you're searching for in a Shotokan/Martial Arts school/instructor. Good luck!

Yes! I'm not good at anything outside of the martial arts! Everything else that I've done and that I do, are nothing more than a dabble and/or a mere whim. 1) God 2) My wife 3) My kids 4) My family [relatives] 5) My friends These brings me the greatest happiness. This type of happiness is paramount in my life, but, the martial arts brings me a different type of happiness that can't be found from the list above [#2 - #5]!

tallgeese is absolutely correct...

Failure of imagination is a general term used to describe circumstances wherein something that was possible to predict or foresee was, in fact, not predicted or foreseen. Success in any self-defense strategy and/or tactics are dependent on one to test its ability to have or haven’t ever been tried or considered. The "what-ifs" are both a variable and viable to be possible and in that, the "what-ifs" shouldn't be discarded as the impossible. The effectiveness of any technique(s) in the martial arts is owned by the individual and not by the masses. What works for one doesn't always work for someone else; therefore, the "what-ifs" aren't about any said technique(s) failure/success, but to itself one way or another. Every martial artist is always searching for the most effective ends to any mean in every possible scenario to self-defense strategies and/or tactics. To keep our imagination arrested only invites us to accept defeat before any and all possibilities can be considered and tried before it's discarded completely. Even then, the 'what-ifs' are constant and they must be revisited repeatedly and repeatedly because it's possible that we've failed to imagine everything...and everything is quite alot to research and ponder and wonder and figure and test its pulse and on and on! The summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because' and in this, failing to imagine any and all possibilities isn't the reason why any martial art exists. Why should I do this? Because it's effective! Why shouldn't I do this? Because it's not effective! Application to see the 'why' of any and every technique possible helps to discover that 'it' does/doesn't work 'because', and now 'because' is unfolding, the 'why' continues to ask for the foreseen to be revealed, or at least, it should've been thought of. Should someone say, "Oh, that's ridiculous!", then this is exactly why the untried technique(s) and strategies and tactics aren't allowed to be tried to see if the unforeseen/foreseen has merits enough to be tried and/or to succeed. I don't study Shindokan and believe in it because my Dai-Soke said so, no, I've tested it and I've tested it and I'm still testing it because the unforeseen are infinity. Just because someone like my Dai-Soke said so isn't enough for me to believe 'it' because of an immeasurable imagination, therefore, 'I' doesn't exist anymore. Imagination is one thing but over thinking 'it' can strip away its true purpose and that true purpose is to find the most effective strategy/strategies and/or tactic/tactics. There is a time when one must say..."It is finished" but then our failure of imagination insists itself to ask..."Or is it?” We must foresee and prevent the unimaginable from near and afar, thus, our strategies and/or tactics must clearly be realized in every possibility. Your thoughts?!

Trace makes some nice knee pads. In my opinion, these knee pads made by Trace aren't bulky at all.

Surely 5 stars takes up more room than IX? We use roman numerals for ours. Yeah, you're right, but, it's different/unique. The stars aren't that big, still, you're right.