Killer Miller

Roundhouse is not a fleibility issue, it's a technique and relaxation issue. You must work on driving the Knee first, just like front snap kick, and let the foot go along for the ride. At the focal point, see how fast you can bring the foot back down... - Killer -

The thing that looks suspecious in the preface is that he refers to Shotokan in the 1800s. It seem that nobody out there is arguing that Funakoshi's pen name was Shoto, thus Shotokan or Shoto's Building/Dojo. There were many martial arts prior to Shotokan, but not "Shotokan." I have to admit that the preface implies a pretty hefty put-down on Funakoshi. Maybe there's a twist here, but I wouldn't buy it for historical facts. Maybe entertainment value though??? - Killer -

:0) - Killer -

Tokaido Gi and a Wood floor - all the equipment I need... - Killer -

Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee never impressed me, and I never cared too much for their movies. But I have to admit they were definately the two most famous... They contributed a lot for comercial karate, but not much at all for traditional karate. Although, they definately put martial arts on the map in the USA. - Killer -

It sounds to me like he is using you as a great and rare example for the juniors. That should be an honor to you. You can learn as much yourself teaching/aiding juniors as you are teaching them as well. I don't think I would take it in an insulting manner. Saying all that, there should also be a fine balance in your training as well. Time with the juniors to provide the juniors a challange for them, and time with the seniors as well to challange you. The juniors have a right to be challanged just as much as you have the right to be challanged by your seniors. I don't know the full story here, but if your Sensei is as great as you say, there should be no problem at all talking to your Sensei about this. I would bet that he is not even aware of your feelings on this subject and would be willing to make a comprimise on your concern. Out of curiosity, and since you train in S/C, do you mind saying who your Sensei is? I'm just curious if I know him. If I know him, I could probably tell you what's on his mind. - Killer -

Well, it will make you feel better Menjo, it would make a great tale, story, movie or something... - Killer -

The style is not that important. Here are the important factors of a dojo decision. 1. Does the classes start structured and end structured. Are students just playing around during class time and hitting bags and the instructor BSing with someone. 2. Does the dojo allow you to watch their class. I've seen many that won't allow a perspective student not watch their class to see what it is. Sign up first... 3. What are the attitudes of the students. Are they "cocky?" Do they give you mean stares while you are watching the class? 4. Does the student's/instructor's technique look good? Tail bone sticking out, elbows out, loose and uncontrolled body parts when executing techniques. 5. Does the Dojo want you to sign a contract? Are they professional and respectful to you when you inquire about classes? Do they "bad mouth" other MA systems as part of their presentation to you? Walk away... 6. Etc., etc, etc. You get the idea. There are many signs of good and bad dojos. Nobody can tell you that. You have to just get out there and actually look at their classes while they are teaching/training. I would never sign up a person without them coming and seeing or participating in a class first - unless they were familiar with us prior. An MA friend and myself didn't have anything to do one day. So we hit all of the local dojos just for fun - acting as if we knew absolutely NOTHING about MA. We were very surprised as to the results and extreme varieties of dojos. We would ask the typical questions, and if they were "out there a bit," we would ask some really off-the-wall questions to see how they would respond. It was very entertaining to say the least. Another time, when I wasn't teaching at the moment, I took my youngest daughter to look for a dojo because she wanted to take MA classes with some friends. We went to watch through their window in our car. The entire class "stopped" (including the instructors), looked and stared at us, and would not continue the class untill we left. My daughter and I were busting up laughing at them in the process, not to make fun, but it was so funny we could not stop laughing... So we left and went around the corner to let the class start up again, just for fun, drove around the block and returned - to see their reaction. You could see the "their back" routine going on. Again the entire class stopped and stared. We had enough and left. Prior to all this, we were going to go inside and get some information about their classes - BUT NOT NOW... So, there are many great styles and great instructors, and there are a lot of bad ones too. If it meets your needs, you feel good about it, and you feel better mentally and physically, that's all that matters. I'm always going to be "Pro Shotokan," but that doesn't mean that there are not other great systems out there too. Just open up you eyes to find them. - Killer -

This is strictly a decision for YOU to make considering that you left your current system and respect this new system so much. I don't agree with an ultimatum, but if this instructor is as good as you say, I could see his interest for gaining additional students and organization members in the process. - Killer -

Typical testing for 8 kyus are 3 months between each kyu x 8 = 24 months + 1 year for Shodan test, which you normally fail, + a 6 month re-test for Shodan = 1 1/2 years for Shodan totaling 3 1/2 years to make Shodan if you train regular and never miss or fail a kyu test. This is truly how it is in traditional karate. I'm sure you can find a karate system out there that will get you a nice pretty Black Belt quicker than that. But quality before quantity. Some things just take time to properly learn and acquire the tone and experience needed. - Killer -

A true traditional karate master will probably fail you on your first black belt test just to make you work harder to pass it. Kind of one of those unwritten traditions... - Killer -

Bend your knees and keep the body straight! - Killer -

Don't turn them as far as you can with additional tension, but only to the point of where the hips smoothly and confortably stop, no further. I think you willl find in this case, it's closer to the 45 degree mark. I too can extend past the 45 degree point, but I will feel excessive tension at that point, and its past where I smoothly stop. This in the point and only point you should stop at. - Killer -

Try this NidaninNJ. Get into proper Zenkutsu Dachi, meaning front knee bent over the fron toe, feet turned in properly, outside tension on the knees, 1 shoulder width wide, and two shoulder widths in length. Turn your hips to the front where the belt knot is point to the front. Now, without looking at the belt knot, turn rotate your hips to the side where you comfortably stop (lock into position) and your knees, feet, and legs retain the exact same stance (knee bend), distance and tension. Look at your knot and you will see that it is at the 45 degree position. Now if you rotate further than the 45 degree position, you will feel excessive tension in the knees and they will either start to turn inward or the muscles, tendons will start to feel strained. In proper stance the hips will lock in naturally at the 45 degree position and no further. I bet that many will say that if you let the knee come inward, you can rotate more for more force. Wrong... At the time of technique execution with hip rotation (note the key words here are "at the time of"), your feet must be planted flat in order to generate the starting speed and energy that will be turned into applied force at the time of kime. So lets say that you are free sparring??? You are getting ready for reverse punch. Your hips are unaturally rotated to the 70 degree position. What has to happen in order to generate the necessary starting speed and energy is to plant your feet, legs, knees into the proper stance and with proper outside tension on your knees. So you now quickly go from the 70 degree position to the 45 degree position due to a correct stance and tension. THIS IS THE TRUE POINT WHERE STARTING SPEED AND ENERGY IS GENERATED IN ORDER TO CONVERT IT TO APPLIED FORCE AT KIME. So what did you really gain by starting at the 70 degree position? Nothing... All you did was create additional time spent going from the 70 degree, or further, to the 45 degree position where you actually properly start the reverse punch technique. All of the speed, energy and force starts at this point only, not at 46, 60, 70, or 90 degrees. Its the firm and solid stance and tension that creates the starting speed required for an explosive and powerful reverse punch. When you exceed the 45 degree position, you lose this connection to the ground and required tension to make this happen. This is my point and confusion as to "why?" they would recommend an extended rotation for more power or speed... - Killer -

In Karate, experience usually outweights youths in the end. You have to reserve your energy more and rely more on breathing and breathing timing when sparring. Typically, you will know with experience and good technique what the youth is doing to do before they even do it. I'm 50 now, and although I don't have the stamina that a youngin has, but I have lots of experience and still good technique. I also still have that explosive and quick blast that I use to have, but I just have to be more selective as to when I apply it where it counts... But as far as keeping up their consistent pace, the youth would always out do me now. - Killer -

I believe ncole is correct - as I recall. Memory not the greatest these days... - Killer -

Hey, no problem. You sound like a good kid just trying to learn. Wer're here to help. - Killer -

I was kind of suspecting that you was going to say what you just said. A couple of common mistakes made early on when learning Side thrust kick is the leaning back, or being too close to your target. -Don't lean - keep body straight. -Get that knee coiled up befor kicking - many already have the foot out and that's why you have a tendancy to lean if for balance. -Thrust out with the lower diaphragm in one smooth relaxed motion and don't tense until the last moment of extension - kime or focus. -Your foot should only extend into the target as much as needed for the desired result - 2 to 6 inches let say. Idea is to go "through" your oponent in a relaxed mannor, then kime at your focal point only. -Supporting leg MUST BE BENT over you supporting leg toe (not past, but just to the edge) - this will provide a stable stance and prevent you from leaning back naturally without much thought. These pointers should be a good place to start. - Killer -

With traditional basic Lunge punch, perhaps. But with a more free-style of lunge punch, much more effective on the street. This would be more like how Oishi attacks in tournaments. Very devostating. - Killer -

Well, the original question was with regards to Shotokan. In shotokan, there are snap type of kicks to apply shock (round house in this case) to the head, goin, bones, etc. This can hurt and if not exert damage to these parts as well (like a fragmenting bullet). You can also use it for internal damage to vulnerable soft tissue areas of the body. This is how and where I would use the snap techniques. However, for raw power type of damage, that's when we use the thrust type of techniques. Contact still has the same effect as a snap when done properly, but now you have the mass associated with the technique for destructive nock-down force being applied. So are we talking about the "bullet" or the "hammer?" - Killer -

No need to apologize, your questions are good and valid and still warrant asking - there are no bad questions here... As far as your thrust kick, can you describe exactly what problem you are having? It would be difficult to diagnose you problem without knowing this. I could guess, but it would be in generalities. Example; Off balance, no power or speed, etc... - Killer -

Menjo, It probably looked like I was getting on his case, but not really. He is a Shotokan brethren in my book, even though he's a beginner and I felt the question was fine to ask. I could have probably worded it better. My response was mainly made for those whom are not Shotokan practitioners and would be mis-lead by the question in regards to who and what we really are. So this was the true basis for the response and was still a "good conversation" as we've heard in a movie... - Killer -

No one was offended for you posting this question, nor are the responses meant to be directed to you. Maybe a little considering you are evidently a beginner. Our passion is basically years of these types of questions being asked, and commonly the discussion leads as to which style is tougher that one or another. So I wanted to state who we are first off so we don't have to get into a discussion of defending whom we are. But no offence taken nor were we the slightest bit offended, just making a statement. Thanks for the post, - Killer -

I've used Shotokan effectively in non-training situations, and yes it's very effective. However, one of the things you learn in Shotokan is how to recognize a developing situation and be able to avoid it or subdue it before it elavates into a confrontation. Shotokan is an art, a beleif and a way of life. It's not intended to go out and kick some you know what... If you want to know if I understand body mechanics? Yes, very well. Am I proficient at Shotokan? Yes I am. Am I a dangerous person if the situation warrants it? Yes I am. Do I take it to prove to someone how tough of a person I am? No I don't. Do I feel that I can take on anyone? I could care less... These are the reasons why I feel this question is an unfair question to ask a Shotokan practitioner. This is who we are and what we are truly about and it really disappoints us to see others with the perspective that we do this to win trophies or to beat some faces in. We don't believe in this or practice this, however, we are very good at what we do. We need to be respected for that alone and that only. - Killer -

Our round house is not designed to be a power type of kick, but to apply shock or internal damage. So in my book, compairing round house kick has no merrit for the power discussion. - Killer -