Killer Miller

Shotokan/Aikido is a great merriage. I've done both myself and they compliment each other very well. Both arts lack each other's part. - Killer -

Belt: Tokaido What's on it: Sweat, Blood, Experience, Memmories, etc. What's not on it: Some of the Black..., My Blood, etc. What's it worth: Priceless! - Killer -

By tradition, the belt is never supposed to be washed - just the Gi. When the belt wears unwashed, it is usually the "white" looking belt where the black has been worn off from years of training. However, the belts that are faded, worn and frayed are usually Karate-ka that wash their belt and don't know they are not supposed to do that, or ego black belts that want that worn look to fit in with the naturally worn black belts. You can always tell the difference of the two in the looks of the belt as well as their technique... - Killer -

Awe come-on Shoto-Kez, don't bring yourslef to that level lol... If you want flashy, do a movie... - Killer -

To me, Dynamic is a Wide Range as in a Dynamic Range. One of the definitions is "usually continuous and productive activity or change" which also implies a dynamic range. - Killer -

I think dynamic karate is Dynamic! lol Actually, my interpretation of dynamic karate is when you visulize karate in true defense/ needed offensive situations and practice/perform/execute your technique to that realistic level. Dynamic doesn't mean that technique has to be as hard and loud as you can make it, but realistic in real life situations - whether hard, soft, fast, slow, powerful, fluid, etc... Tempo varies, intensity varies, purpose varies, but yet realisltic in execution. - Killer -

Over the years granitemiller, I have seen instructors to claim they were JKA, when in fact they only participated in a few classes or seminars and then make the claim they are JKA. Gives us a bad name. Also, I've seen others that pay all the affiliation fees and become a JKA affiliate - and yet have no similance what so ever to JKA. Example, I used to go to summer camp every year, and there would be a group up north that wasn't that great for the most part, thought they could walk on water and that everyone had to praise the ground they walked on. They were a JKA affiliate group, yet had a slight similance to JKA techniques, but a very large group and provided good financial support to JKA USA. At summer camp, it was like training was split into two halves, they're cherished and worshiped training, and ours. But is not anything new to JKA, it happens with all organizations out there. It just comes down to the instructor. Bottom line is, if it looks right and is good for you, then go for it... - Killer -

I don't think that rank is a big issue for teaching, it's more of what they know and how good of an instructor they are. Although, I don't think that Green Belt is ready for assisting as an instructor, however, I think Brown Belt is appropriate though... - Killer -

I'm not sure what you are implying about JKA affiliations and politics? JKA is a fantastic organization. What I stated about testing had zero (0) to do with politics - it's strictly a business and financial decision for one's dojo, and to minimize testing costs. It's easier to have students test at a central or regional dojo... If a dojo wants to have it's student's rank recognized by a national/international organization, there are administrative costs to make that happen. I don't know of any national or international organization, regardless of the sport or art, that wouldn't do that. In order to stay a national and international governing body, there are business and operating costs involved. And all affiliated clubs should feel good about supporting that initiative. And that's exactly what I'm talking about here. I'm not saying that the Sandan can't test his students up to black belt, but that he chose not to for the reasons I explained. - Killer -

There's nothing wrong with inquiring about what it would take to have a local test. If we would have 30-50 testing, we would schedule a local test - they still have to deal with the administrative issues, but there would be enough to test to cover the travel and appearance fees. Remember, with local testing fees, there is also Lunch, Dinner, etc... Can get a little pricy some times if you're running a tight budget for a dojo. - Killer -

In JKA, Sandan can test you up to Black Belt. But most dojos prefer to test at the regional headquarters. Sometimes, you can have the test come to your location if you have enough people testing to pay the testing fees - there is an extra testing fee to come to a specific location. It's just primarily a support and administrative issue. A lot of dojos don't want to mess with the administrative part of testing - let the headquarters deal with all those issues... I would do the same thing... - Killer -

Here's my take on the subject: Youths could teach a youth class - they can relate better to the youths and maintain a better attention span for the youths and sets an example for other youths to aspire to their level. It's also part of one's training becoming a black belt to teach, and the result of teaching is learning. However, youths teaching an adult class. I don't feel they are mature enough, don't have the muscle mass to show adults appropriate speed and power, don't maintain the same level of respect, don't have the presentations skills needed on an adult level, don't have the vocabulary to relate to adults as needed, etc... "Line up you old geezers - Now! Uh... Kid, Your Mother wants you on the phone - she said it's dinner time... Oh mom, I'm teaching a class!" Of course just kiddin around on the above lol. - Killer -

Good and proper technique will provide the strong "tree trunk" type of pounding you are probably seeing when executing techniques. You are probably seeing a combination of good starting speed, solid stances, rapid and proper kime (focus), and at the better levels, a very relaxed body as well when executing technique. It is what Shotokan is known for, and with proper technique, doesn't hurt a bit. Poor and improper technique is when you see injuries happen. A good instructor will watch your technique close enough to not let it get to a harmful point for you body. Some not so good instructors allow improper technique to progress and continue, that's when you start to see injuries... - Killer -

I didn't know there was such a classification for "Classical Karate?" Is it a dance? - Killer -

This has been going on since the late 60s and early 70s. It is part of the Big Split back then and has carried on since. Yes, it's ridiculous, but that's what it is. Part of the split was the hard work being put forth by many Americans and not being advanced in rank or wins in tournaments over the Japanese competitors. Back then, if you were Japanese, you would likely be awarded black belt 1st go round, make the team, win matches, and progress to higher ranks. Americans, would have to retest for black belt several times before getting it, lose matches, not progress to teams, and typically not achieve a rank higher than Sandan. Many people and groups had different idea of this concept. Felt there were different applications for kata and bunkai, and different ways that Americans should be trained and managed. For this and other reasons, therefore there was a Big Split on the one to many organizations. This split hurt the unity and comradity of the once primary group, to many groups with a serious bad taste in their mouth - so to speak. Yes, it happened, there is a tremendous amount of politics involved with it, it will always be there, etc... The up side, these are "all" still a great bunch of guys/gals. You can learn a lot from all (maybe most would be more appropriate to say) of them. There will still be variations in training concepts, there will be some instructors better and worse than others, but over-all a pretty good deal. You have to learn to just tune it out and not get involved. Be polite, but let it just go in one ear and out the other... It's not going to change, and probably never will... - Killer -

Breathing timing is very important. Take one movement at a time, and work on the breathing timing - using correct technique of course... The slower you breathe, the slower you will move. The faster you breathe, the faster you will move. The second by product of breathing is the contraction of all body muscles, thus speed and power is naturally generated. - Killer -

You execute the pivot only at the last second of the actual extension of the foot. - Killer -

But did you notice how high he got his knee prior to executing the kick? This is critical to the kick. The action of raising the knee, naturally forces the opposing leg (supporting leg) with proper pressure for the kick. - Killer -

The knee should be as high as necessary for your target area, or as high as the knee will go for higher shots and the knee inline with your target... You always think "knee to target" in all kicks. This ensure the muscles go straight out as they are designed to do, and not in a cross manner that will stress the muscles and joints. Think of like doing a high front snap kick past the target, and on coming back, striking your target.... - Killer -

The key to this kick is to get the knee up as high as you can prior to initiating the kick. Think of a side thrust kick where you get the knee up high before thrusting. It is a ver similar action here for this kick. If the knee does not get up first, your legs and hips are going to carry the weight of the full extended leg/foot and could possibly give you the pain you are describing... - Killer -

Actually the outside tension on back stance is very critical to the stance for recovery. It acts like a rubber band when stretched out in back stance, then at time of recovery, it helps you quickly snap back during the recover stage - kind of way of providing a natural starting action back. If the knees don't have the outside tension, in order to naturally recover from back stance, you still have to apply the outside tension before recovering from the stance and it becomes two actions to recover versus one action if you already have the outside tension on the stance. As far as suggestions of it just comes in time and not to worry about it, I guess that's ok from a standpoint of just relaxing and letting it naturally come to you in time - but this concept can lead to bad habits if not corrected early on by doing it correctly now. My preference of teaching is 5 times as slow and as correct of a technique as possible, then 5 times as fast as you can trying to focus on doing it with correct technique (repeat this for 5 or 10 sets of 10). Now you learn to be fluid in application, and yet learning proper technique in the process. - Killer -

Kata is like music, you can perform Bach's Prelude from the 1st Cello Suite in many different arrangements and variations - but it retains the same name... - Killer -

Bushido, you are right on. Except on #2, it should be 2 shoulder widths in length (no more than that or you won't be able to recover), I don't know if 3 steps equates to the same or not... Also, if the knees are bent past the big toe, and not to it, you will not be able to recover from the stance. Additionally, you must keep outside tension on the knees at all times when in back stance (Kokustu-dachi). - Killer -

They all are grown up now and moved different directions and different lives now. That's the real bummer... - Killer -

How cool, a Shotokan family - what I always wanted, but never happened. I started my girls when they were young, and they trained at the Dojo I was teaching at, then a earthquake happened where we just happened to be on top of the epi-center, and from that day on they were frightened of Karate associating it with earthquakes. Bummer.... As they got older, and now have kids or their own, they ask me, "Dad, how come you never taught us Karate?" I said, "you don't remember the earthquake?" They said, "oh yeah..." - Killer -