Killer Miller

Considering that I trained with Japanese, taught by Japanese, in a traditional Japanese dojo, and the fact that Osu was used and respected on a regular basis, I would say that there is not a problem with the usage of the word - a sign of strong spirit in the dojo. It's a good thing, a proud thing, a respectful thing, amongst Karate-ka... Now in general public with other interpretations, it's not a good thing and viewed as disrespectful. You are seriously confusing public use versus use in the dojo... For example: In the Dojo we count Ichi, Ni, San, "Shi"... Shi to the general public is viewed as death and Yon is used instead. But in the dojo we count as "shi." - Killer -

I don't know why many of you think that contact isn't made when doing point sparring. There is frequent contact do to clean technique or someone not as good as the other yet. Also, it depends on the purpose of the sparring session? We use to have sparring sessions that were pretty close to street brawls... Here's the general rule we use to follow: If make excessive contact due to an error in your technique, we would quietly say osu, all is fine and continue on your way. If you make excessive contact due to perfect timing and technique, anotherwise the other person couldn't get out of your way, then a quiet osu is stated and sparring continues. However, if the other party makes excessive contact just to make contact and he doesn't say osu, HE's GOING DOWN HARD and FAST...! - Killer -

I never said they were the same, I just cited two example of the usage of the word - that all... - Killer -

These days it's pretty much just a Karate thing - with the exception of being at the coffe machine in the morning around the guys... 24 fighting chickens has some really good stuff. But some of their stuff is politically weighted. - Killer -

Kime is translated as being "focus." However, it's truly that action of where the exhalation stops and all mucsles are contracted at your intended target point - also refered to as your "focal point." Before this you are still moving, exhaling and contracting muscles. After this point you are inhaling, relaxing getting ready to move to another point or do another technique. Your intended target (focal point) with the above described action is "Kime." It happens very quickly - in a nano second. - Killer -

Black since 1980. - Killer -

In the morning around the guys (good friends) Osu is ok for good morning - non martial arts usage I'm referring to here. But all Japanese (men only) will say it very quietly and never admit that the word exists unless you are one of the guys and know how to use the word with respect. I worked for a HUGE Japanese corporation for most of my career and asked many of them about the word - all claimed they never heard of the word. However, every day at the coffe machine they would say quietly say osu... After about two years being around the group they finally admitted the usage of the word - but cautioned me about the use around mixed company. Secondly, I asked Nishiyama-sensei a couple of times in the past about the usage of Osu. He said it was a college greeting amongst male college mates and also an old military greeting like saying "YES SIR." What the true history of the word is I'm not positive. I always failed history in school - not one of my favoriate subjects in school... But coming from someone whom trained under Funakoshi, I trusted his explanation. - Killer -

White - 8th; 7th Kyu Green - 6th; 5th; 4th Kyu Brown - 3rd; 2nd; 1st Kyu All Kyus for 3 months minimum. Shodan test one year and retest in 6 months. - Killer -

To the original post: 17 years training under Hidetaka Nishiyama - traditional JKA. I don't find any weak points about the art. MOST don't stay with the art long enough to have a clue as to what it's really all about... It's very traditional, which most don't like except the hard core people. You might get bored with it until you reach certain levels - High Green belt and above. It's very structured and standardized across the board - however, don't get confused with off-shutes that don't follow the same standards of teaching. As far as what to look for in general - which there are many clubs that claim to be traditional Shotokan and are not... Is the class structured - not a "free-for-all" during warmup or during class. Is there a warm up and warm down - stretching and basics. Traditional Shotokan will have very few General Exercises before or duing class - just Karate and those exercises that only specifically apply to Karate. They should welcome you into their dojo with professionalism, respect, and friendlyness. No staring at you with looks that will kill, etc. (which I have seen alot of in Dojos). Price should be very reasonable and just on a "month-to-month" basis - probably no more that $35 to $40 a month. I could go on and on, but I think you have enough to work with now. - Killer -

Could you clarify the below comment. Are you implying that "non-JKA' clubs are more concerned about being associated or "actual JKA" clubs are more concerned? - Killer -

Traditional Tokaido Gi only... - Killer -

I'm going to take a wild guess on this one G59champ... I'm going to guess that as long as you have trained, you are getting routine in your training and getting laxed on your basics. As you get higher ranked with more advanced in your training and technique, you tend to not train the basics as much do to so much advanced technique and training to learn - thus becoming less focused and balanced in general training and technique. But advanced technique is typically quite honed in at the same time... Nishiyama was a BIG advocate of keeping the basics quite honed in as well as keeping the advanced concepts honed at the same time. Perhaps going back to all basics in your off training time and just working on simple basics - but with the same intensity as your advanced training. - Killer -

I don't believe you understand the mechanics of sweeping. If you bounce around with me I could sweep you effortlessly! However, if you are firmly planted with both feet, the last thing I would do is sweep... I might force you off balance and then sweep, but never a direct sweep when you are balanced and planted. Sweeping is a timing issue related to breathing timing of your opponent - inhale/exhale or contraction/relaxation. You sweep your oponent in a relaxed state when they are about to, or comitted to, plant, but are not yet fully planted. With both feet planted it takes quite a bit of effort to unplant them with a sweep. When bouncing and I catch you on your way down to plant (just before you plant), a tiny nudge to your supporting foot/feet is all that is needed to send you to the floor. - Killer -

Shoto = Pen name for Geichin Funakoshi. Kan = Japanese word for Building or Dojo. Shoto kan = Shoto's Dojo - Killer -

Mizu No Kokoro... Osu. - Killer -

Speed in Kicking, or any other technique, is purely related to one's "breathing timing." Now granted you must have a reasonable development of general MA technique and muscle development to carry out the action, but once past that it's all relative to breathing. Breathing is like you body's timer or clock for all body actions. The faster you breathe the faster you move, the slower you breathe the slower you move. "Breathing Timing" is to match your breathing with your body movements. For example, you start off relaxed. You decide to kick, which BTW is not really a thought but a reaction, you rapidly exhale to contract body muscles to kick in the process - the faster you exhale, the faster you kick. Thus improving reaction timing. Are there some with faster reactions, sure. But with developing breathing timing to your highest ability you will be much faster than the general percentages of MA... - Killer -

Why do they call Kempo Karate? Why do they call Kick Boxing Karate? Why do they call Tae Kwon Do Karate? Why do they call Kung Fu Karate? Why, why, why...? Karate is Karate, Kempo is Kempo, etc... - Killer -

We never used those symbols so I'm actually clueless on that one. We did use the rising sun for our "JKA International" patches for a while and some AAKF patches with the Olympic Torch in it, but that's about all. I always thought the Tiger thing was more of an Americanized thing??? We never really related the Shotokan Tiger to anything and Nishiyama never discussed the matter either? - Killer -

jarrettmeyer had a pretty good reply for a beginner. Some of what he says is very true. However, you have not been doing MA long enough to really "think" about what you are doing yet. Point two, you should never have to actually "think" about using MA. It either happens, or it doesn't happen... You don't really have a choice in the technical aspects of an Art. The moral aspect, you definately have a choice "to harm" or "not" to harm. The moral aspect must be decided way before the physical aspects are determined. In terms of the mental aspects, read my article on "Mind Dumping." However, your post actually is pertaining to the Moral aspect of your decision. More maturity in MA is needed before making these types of decisions. Of coarse, the answer of your question of to harm or not to harm is always "No." But when you have no choice but to use MA is not a choice you make, you just have to react accordingly to the situation presented to you the best you currently know how to deal with it - no more and no less than needed to resolve the situation. This is where maturity of years and years of training will assist you... - Killer -

Actually Ted T. pretty much hit the nail on the head... From what you describe, Two issues. 1. You focal point, or point of impact, is too deep into the opponent. Also, executing the kick too close to your target will give you the same result because you know at full extension you will end up deep in the target anyhow... 2. You are probably now bending your knee of the supporting foot when kicking. Not bending the knee will put all of your body's weight over the heel of the foot instead distributed over the middle of the supporting foot for best stability - thus pushing you backwards upon impact. Just because they call it a "thrust" kick doesn't mean that you thrust the "oponent" backwards. It means only to thrust out the "leg." Impact of a thrust kick is just like a punch, gyaku zuki for example, you impact the target at the last nano-second of extension. Your distance to the target should be accordingly... A heavy bag is great practise for this. - Killer -

Actually, I was quite fond of this kick. However, you had to be in close, kick to the inside thigh area to creat shock and open up the mid and upper section of the body. On one of the other threads about sparring stance where cross was talking about the boxing position, this is the kick I would usally use to create the opening I was referring to. However, this kick is worthless above waist height... - Killer -

I've been burned quite a few times like that on long posts. I always do a "Cntrl C" after highlighting the text (which is Windows command for copy to the clipboard). If the Internet or Application go wacko on me, then I just resubmit the post by pressing "Cntrl V" to paste the text back into a new post... - Killer -

You all are seriously mistaken... It's the well known Vulcan Kife Hand Block! - Killer -

With Unsu, Stay centered throughout the kata or you'll get lost and wobbly. On the 360, stay centered as well and get as much height (feet up as much as possible) on the jump. You don't stay centered and not get enough height, you will land in the wrong clock position or not be in the same left/right position when you land. Also, many that do Unsu try to "rush" the kata - DON'T. Just learn in properly one technique(s) at a time - then do full tempo every 2nd or 3rd time. It's much better with quick and sharp technique than a fast kata. - Killer -

No need to apologize, I just felt clarifycation was needed. Also, your point is a valid point... - Killer -