Killer Miller

It depends on your Shotokan organization and school. JKA you will have to know all Kihon, Tekki Katas, One Brown Belt Kata of your choice (or one that your Sensei thinks you need most for development) will be required, but typically you will know all of them by then. By the time you get to Shodan, what katas to know will not even be an issue... - Killer -

In Point Sparring, referring to mainly JKA ruleset, there is a "fine-line" between the point system of no contact, and legal or non-legal contact. "No Contact" is a conceptual meaning, and realistalically, there is quite a bit of contact at the higher levels - we watch that pretty closely at the lower levels. Here's the primary ruleset: 1. No Contact, within about 1/4", of the target with perfect timing, technique, and excecution that is a killing or disabling blow, is a point (full point actually). 2. If there is contact, where the intended focal point was originally open, and after execution of technique, and it was the fault of the oponent. There is no penalty. Also, if the technique execution was perfect or near perfect, you may be awarded a half or full point. This means that at the start of the execution of the technique, the focal point was clearly open with your oponent for a good "no contact" point, and after you execute the technique, the oponent moves into the strike zone, at his fault, then there is no penalty to the Karate-ka executing the technique - and they may be awarded a point. 3. If there is contact, and the intended focal point of the technique is not open for a no contact point, the there may be a penalty or disqualification in the match. This means that the oponent was stationary, not moving in a particular direction, and you intentionally strike the oponent, then you will be penalized. This is a fine line as well. If you move in on your oponent, say executing a lung punch with the intention that the oponent will move backwards appropriately, and the perceived focal point would normally be open, and the oponent "does not" move back out or you way, or decides to side-step for a counter, and gets blasted, there is no penalty for the attacker. This is not the official verbiage of the ruleset, but my personal explanation of it. So as you can see, the perception of "No Contact" or "Point Sparring" not having contact, injuries, or severe harm to oponents, is seriously mis-understood - especially at higher JKA (or similar) levels. If oponents go down hard at a blink of an eye - I guess I still don't see how the argument can still hold up as point sparring being a waste of time and obviously effective in the real world as well. - Killer - Unless that was one long disqualification highlight reel, the ruleset those karateka were working under has more in common with kickboxing or full contact than 'point sparring'. Even boxing and kickboxing have point systems to determine the victor should one participant fail to disable another, as appeared to be the default in those matches.

I like your analogy Montana... Especially since I use to work for the Toyota National Headquarters. - Killer -

I ran across this video and felt it is a good compilation of the real side of the Perceived Point Sparring that is also perceived as "A Waste of Time!" As you will see that, contact still happens, hazards are quick, real and very dangerous... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQoLMIkbeBA - Killer -

Most Karate Techniques are designed to be used with weapons. The technique is the same as in Karate, it's just that the Weapon is an extension of your arms/body. Basically, you have to learn how to use your body correctly first prior to putting a weapon in your hands. - Killer -

I thought is was actually a very encouraging point to make. Point 1: Quitting at 19 is easy, so do it while you can - just don't ever restart. Point 2: You get older, it's a lot tougher to quit and it will eventually take its toll on me - like it did Nishiyama Sensei. Did it affect my training? Not really. I wouldn't smoke for 2 hours before or after training. It kind of cleaned out my system of the nicotine. But that's not to say that it will affect me later on. - Killer - This wasnt so encouraging and hard to tell someone to quit when one cannot. However, that said, has smoking bothered your martial art training?

Vitamin B12 is supposed to help the urges and replenish what the body is lacking due to the lack of nicotine. But at 19, it shouldn't be too difficult for you. I stopped smoking at 19 and it wasn't a big deal. However, I picked up a year later and been smoking ever since. It's hell to try and quit when you are older (I'm 53 now). So QUIT NOW while you can... - Killer -

Not a problem - go for it... - Killer -

I would never wear the belt or gi top when away from the dojo. However, I loved wearing the gi pants only because they were so comfortable to wear. Not disrespectful as long as you being respectful while wearing it - not showing off or acting like a tough guy, etc... We had some places where I would teach or trained where there was no locker-room or reasonably sanitary place to change at - in these cases we would wear our gis to and from training. Bottom line is, if you are respectul and not making a spectacle out of yourself, don't worry about it. - Killer -

First I'd like to say that I'm not supporting or promoting smoking - it's a deathly habit and it will definately take it's toll on me one day - as it did Nishiyama Sensei.. However, amongst many similar occasions, I can remember at an international camp one year, being behind the cafeteria after lunch and having a smoke with Nishiyama, Oishii, I think Shirai (but could be wrong on that one), and several other international team members and instructors - probably about 12 of us in the group. I'm not saying it was a good thing to see or do, but these were all reasonably healthy Karate-ka that achieved very high levels in Karate. And Karate, or any other MA, certainly helps keeps your system cleaned out of all the bad stuff, like smoking, etc. Not saying that it prevents smoking damage to your body, but it certainly helps minimizes it. So what I'm really trying to say is that don't let the fact that you smoke deter your decision to go and get some exercise - it's all a good thing... - Killer -

Beat me to the punch on that one - pun intended... JKA...Japan Karate Association http://www.jka.or.jp/english/e_index.html

No guys, I'm not going to provide more details. As I said before, it was to make a point. And your responses further solidify my point. The thread refers to our art as being "a waste of time!" The subject line is insulting to our art in the first place. You have stated in your replies that the story I referred to is too excessive, but yet it's OK to beat a person for and hour with sport karate. It's all about the purpose - it most definately doesn't make it "a waste of time!" Where I trained, there were special forces, police, firemen, CIA, and a few mercs as well. I would consider that depending on the rules of engagement of their profession, our art and training concepts would definately save lives... - Killer -

You are taking the discussion Kuma a direction it was not intened to be discussed. The point was in response that point sparring type of training is "a waste of time!!!!!" This story was only to indicate the reason why it's no contact during training - and sparring and tournaments is also part of that training. But definately effective - in contrast of the original thread topic. Also, the story I told was a fact (I personally know that as a fact). It was a long time ago and not intended for internet research to try and support it. Just interjecture to make a point... - Killer -

Yes, it was 100% karate. And yes, he was eventually retired from the force over it...

Hmmmm... Let's see... There was a police officer that was JKA, and his beat was Sunset and Vine in Los Angeles. Several guys were raping a woman in plain site on the sidewalk - busy street mind you. This police officer didn't have time to wait for back-up or the woman would have been dead. The said JKA police office when to assist the woman in desperate need. The police officer put two of the attackers in the hospital and paralyzed the third for life. So, do we beat them death for an hour with full contact, or do we potentially kill them with one or two blows...? Please don't under-estimate the devistation we can do with one or two blows that is our primary purpose of training. It has been proven, over and over, that full contact in our art results in very serious injuries - the reason for no contact. However, contact still results repeaditly when a technique is executed properly and the other guys doesn't get out of the way quick enough. Furthermore, we have had many times full contact practioners come train with us and say "you guys are too rough." So I guess I don't see the supporting justification of comments from experience of the other side of the fence??? Of course, you could always go and compare a really bad Shotokan school, with a 5th kyu instructor, and a bunch of low belt students - and yes, there are an adbundance of bad Shotokan Dojos out there just as in any other art... - Killer -