sensei8

Feel it! Our eyes can be tricked into seeing something that's not real. Whether it's with a stare or peripheral vision or watching the hips or watching the shoulders/body or whatever; I've used them all from time to time, some more often than others but for me....FEEL IT! Bruce said...."Feel it! It's like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all of that heavenly glory!" Don't concentrate on one body part over another because you might be tricked/deceived, therefore, FEEL IT!

Congrats and way to go!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh....don't tell anybody, but, when I was much younger, my friends and I would wear our lightweight Gi's and just before we'd compete in Kata, we'd wet down the very ends of our Gi pants/tops to get that nice "POP" sound. Being younger and poorer, we couldn't afford the heavywieght Gi's, so we'd "trick-up" our Gi's as mentioned here. Is this "trick" still being done today? I don't know! As a judge, power can be seen through the technique, not by the sound of a mere "POP", but, when I was younger I thought it would help.

...as well as it being a mobile sauna...very hot...but I love it! I like WireFrame's break down....very nice!

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]!