BlackSilver

In my dojo, people under 18 are hardly given the black belt. Children take an exam every year to earn "half" a belt if you know what i mean.Adults take, if the exam is successful, an entire belt per year. The exam envolves kihon, kata, kumite and an oral examination, in which the practitioner can be asked to name techniques in japanese,stances, the history of karate, of our own style or other styles, of particular things which belong to the martial arts world (like who were the samurais, the geishas, what is the ju jitsu and so on...) Anyway, i think that, apart from the way of giving black belts, it's important to educate children not to see it like the finish line of karate. Otherwise, as soon as they get the black belt they will stop practicing.

Thank you for watching and commenting

You got the point. I would never dream of doing a...let's say tobi ura mawashi in a self defence. Indeed, I would even be careful in using high kicks, if you know what i mean What do you mean with the jump things? That we don't do them in the correct way?

We ranked first. It was the final against the Iranian team, in Shukokai World karate champs, held in Waldkierchen, Germany, in 2009. Thank you Sensei8 i totally agree with you. Thank you for your thoughts, and I'd like to add the fact that, the Bunkai, and every bunkai I've ever made, is only our creation. Our sensei leave us doing that, alone. Of course if we need something we go and ask. Of course if he notices that there's something unsuitable he tells us, but his "philosophy" is that we have to find our own solutions for a bunkai. He thinks that it's part of our growth in karate to study and analyze a kata and to come out with something interesting, and in THIS PARTICULAR CASE, something which would work in a competition. And i personally think that this is good for us: i mean, not having everything served on a silver plate, receive orders and just do. We have to think, we have to face things and solve them. And of course, if we wanna play this game of competitions, we must use the same cards as others do, or there's no point in playing. you play, if you want to win. Am i wrong? Moreover we try to make a new bunkai for every Shukokai's world competition, so out brains are always working Sojobo, what0s martial in a competition intended in the way they're done today? Nothing. It's just a game, and when i do a bunkai or a kata for a competition I am aware that I am playing. It's easy I think. Anyway, I suppose that the important thing is to know that there's something more behind the show which is performed in competitions. And, humbly speaking, I think I'm lucky to be in a dojo where most people practice the traditional side of this martial art in a martial way. I am aware of that even when it happens that we are training in some particular environments (as wkf gatherings), and the only participants who behave in a martial way, are us. That's disappointing, but the important thing is to remain different to whom forgetseverything which is behind some medals. It's like the athletes who know only 5 katas: the 5 they do in competitions. That, i believe, is what you re referring to and luckily, it's not my case.

thank you for watching!

competitions require quckness of movements

again, no offence at all. it s just that there was some good stuff to conversate about. Then you called it quits with that question. That's what i simply can't stand. There were two possible answers yes or no. just think about the consequences of each one, and then maybe you'll unedrstand my irritation.

after 30 years of traing id expect more then some sarcasm, since i guess you're a grown up man. I asked for some comment on the performance, is good to have critics and that is why, since everyone was only complimenting, i wanted some corrections, some ideas from where to start emproving what im doing. Then you arrived, i understand your point like i said, luckily I'm aware of other aspects of karate, much more martial of wkf competitions (which are not martial at all). Everything fine. Then you come to me with the most irritating and unuseful question: "are you doing karate?" I'm gonna use your same sarcasm. No, I'm not. Happy now?

yeah but asking " is what you do KARATE?" is not useful to anyone. You want me to say that Im not doing KARATE, because your idea of karate differs from the sports karate. So what? What is useful with your question? You complained about my koshi nage, I already knew it was not okay, now I know that it is something that people notice, then I will work on it. That is useful. Critics are useful. Sudden virtual enlightments on what REAL KARATE is, are not.

you should forgive me if i say that this is the question used by whom does not know what more to say. Is what YOU are doing karate? Who is doing KARATE? Kyokushin? Traditional fighting? Full contact? Okinawan? I haven't heard anybody who could answer that question yet. And anyway, i think we were talking about sports karate, that's it, once you get to know the "field", things are easier i guess. And moreover, you cannot know whether apart fromthe comps training, I'm doing "traditional" REAL karate. So what's the point in your question? I didn't come here to say that the karate i do is right and the others are wrong. I suppose that's one of the most common, ingenuous errors.

I think that the point is this: I am good in competing, hence i like to confront myself with high level athletes. So i partecipate in WKF competitions. I have fun doing it, i enjoy myself and i feel good training and performing with my teammates. What more should i ask? It's not to be in safe hands or not, it's just what level you wanna reach i guess

just to make things clear: i wasn't talking about MY physical qualities, I meant that generally speaking, in comps you appreciate that. It seemed a little bit preposterous, i guess. Anyway as i said i understand what you mean and I know you're right. But sometimes you have to choose, right?

That's a totally fair point of view. I train in a karate dojo, with 150 people enrolled. There aren't only young boys and girls who participate to competitions. There are lots of "adults" who pratise for the practice's sake. Hence I must say that my sensei is probably more focused on the "traditional" side of karate, which is taught to those adults who i think need the much more stimulation than young competitors. Nonetheless we have a quite big group of younger athletes who get good ranking in competitions. I "know" what's the difference between traditional and sports karate, and im aware that if i wanna partecipate to competitions i must respect some kind of rules and ways of doing. I think that we are talking about two separate worlds: the only things to appreciate here are the physical qualities, and the efforts done to practise together. Thanks anyway for your comment. (I'm sorry if my English is not correct )

Thank you! There's nothing more than training in there!

Thanks to everyone! No one has something to say about it? It's good to hear different point of views

thank you (:

Hi everyone! It's been quite a long time since last time I've been here. I'm Andrea from Italy, I've been practising karate Shito Ryu for 14 years so far. I would like to share a video of me and my team performing unshu and the bunkai. I hope you'll like it

Honoured having your first post in my topic And thank you for your compliments ^^

Interesting vid Thank you for sharing

Self defense speaking I agree with you all. I understand how much important it is, obviously. My sensei in fact thinks that it is more reasonable to teach self defense to the adults ( and in particular to women) than to young guys, which should obviously have less preoccupations living their youth without the shadow of the aggression. It would be great if everyone know how to defend themeselves, but it would be greater if anyone would attack anyone else...so anyone should need to defen himself...right? (I hope i've been comprehensible =) ) Anyway joesteph...to invent and practice this "bunkai" we worked for nearly a month, yeah. I have to say that the hardest part is to invent it than to perform. As it is for the "traditional" bunkai of the katas, it is us who invent them, our master says that he trusts on us, so he only analyzes our ultimate work, and in the case there's something which doesn't fits (you know, science fiction techniques or something which is completely wrong), he gives us advices. So doing it all by ourselves, we are involved for a little more time than if we had just to learn and perform an already made bunkai. It's nice to share our ideas, this is a really good forum. Thank you very much, for any other question i'm here ^^

Yeah, in fact i said that yours is a reasonable point of view, never meant to contradict you, really =) Mine was just an explanation to what you've seen and a way to share different experiences, which i suppose, is always a good thing if made in the right way, with respect to the other person. So thank you for what you said, nice to have had a "discussion" with you Thank you again! Andrea

quote ! ^^

Brilliant =D

Funny

I'm gonna answer to Zanshin. Firsto of all I appreciate your compliments. You underlined the fact that there are some techniques of jujitsu that i affirmed we don't know well. It's right in part, it is not the fact that we do not know them well, because my sensei is either a 3rd dan of jujitsu as well as a 6th dan of karate,so he explained'em us well, what I was trying to explain is that i know that my technique in doing such those techniques isn't far good enough, because I do not practice them usaually, and if you say that our jujitsu techiniques aren't good, i honestly affirm that your're right. Obviously we don't do such those things only, we train a lot even in "traditional" karate (for what concerns katas in competitions), but sometimes it's funny tu "cut" with the same practice and change, trying to face other realities (such as jujistsu in this case), and anylize how an athlete responds to different situations than usual ones.It is really just for fun, but obviously you can dedicate yourself to this kind of demonstrations ONLY IF you already have a sufficiently good karate background (this is my opinion) If you want this is the link of me and my team doing a kata and a bunkai http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=y3UoqJICmik that represents a more traditional exhibition (obviously this is karate sport). Beside this I do completely understand your point, but i said it is just for fun, and in some cases, the audience needs a particular kind of demonstration to enjoy a particular "show" which is not based on karate. Last thing to say, you talked about realistic karate...I don't know what you meant, but we practice karate as self defence but er are more involved in karate "sport" now that we have the age to compete...in my dojo the "realistic" karate, concerning the self defence, is much more practiced by adults than us for obvious reasons of time. Our style is Shito Ryu anyway. Hope my English have been comprehensible =) Thank you anyway, and thank you bushido man and Dwx . Hope to hear from you soon. =) Andrea.