Wa-No-Michi

Of course; Judo originally came from Japanese Koryu Jujutsu, its creator Jigiro Kano was formally schooled in the likes of Tenjin shinyo ryu and Kito ryu - prior to creating Judo. So in a way, when you learn Judo, you are perhaps learning a tiny bit of these beautiful and ancient martial arts which date back over many hundreds of years – or as we conveniently shrink wrap them up into today JJJ (Japanese Jujutsu - sorry Jiu-Jitsu) As it’s nearly Christmas I thought I would also share this "well humored" (and probably well viewed) insight into BJJ (Brazilian Jujutsu - sorry jiu-jitsu) to assist you in making a well balanced observation between the two. Enjoy WNM

Osu, I thought you might be a Sensei J from the West Cost; you have similar backgrounds. I see you like to Osu' (Please no one mention the 24 fighting chickens) WNM

I didn't know that, but it doesn't surprise me. Reference what people wear in my Dojo - I have Tokaido but some of my students have Hirota. WNM

Always makes me giggle when I see the word Kancho. A quick Google search will show you why, as it is the name given to a schoolyard prank played by Kids in Japan - similar to what we would call a "Wedgie" here in the UK. Kancho is not one of the original Sho-go titles (as far as I am aware) - ie, Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi. As I understand it, it comes from the term Kanchou, which means "Director" as in company directory. Its a position of office within an organisation, rather than a title of recognition. So next time you here someone being referred to as Kancho - just think "Wedgie" and steer well clear of their karate club. WNM

Sorry about typo. Why would they refer to you as Renshi? Did you put them straight? WNM

Ichi_Geki, As we are talking about "Shogo" titles what is yours. WNM

Sensei is the correct way to address even the highest grade instructor. What others choose to refer to them as is nothing to do with them. WNM

I'm not a great fan of the "one strike kill" concept, besides I don't think it has relevance here. Perhaps the pauses are there for much simpler reasons like watching, waiting, and change of tack. Besides, I think everyone has come to realise that kata do not represent front to back fighting examples Maybe the pauses are there to seperate scenarios? WNM

All kata perhaps. It helps to keep them "live". WNM

"Waza no kankyu" is on of the principles of kata training. It basically means that techniques in kata should be performed with relative and varying speed - slow, fast and with pauses (action and no action) and techniques in combination - where applicable. WNM

Hi AJ, how you doing fella? Renraku in this context refers to techniques done in combination / as a phrase. The word originally comes from the "Relay" of messages from one person to another and one point to another. So it has also come to mean to connect or communicate. In Karate therefore renraku-waza refers to the relay /connection of techniques from one to another. WNM

Well done guys. I think Sensei8's board status should be changed to at least "Shihan" or even "Hanshi". What does everyone else think? WNM

Depends on how much you want to spend? If you want to be really authentic then go for an "Hirota" belt. Mind you, not cheap but Hirota is a very popular brand in Japan (Tokaido is considered export fodder). They have started to sell them in Europe out of Holland. Not sure they have an outlet in the US. Here is the .jp site: http://www.karategi-hirota.co.jp/e-hirota/index.html And here is the Dutch site. http://www.bestkarategi.eu/products/ WNM

That's a great question! I thought so too. I think sometimes the big man is a bit shy about these things. I also think that deep down most of us know why, and perhaps by not answering he is sparing our blushes? WNM

Shouldn't you be focusing on your grading rather than the belt? Sure great to set yourself a goal, but shouldn't that be just passing. I have several bbs, but the best one is the one my sensei awarded me - verbally! WNM

Why the pauses? In competition - dramatic affect. In reality - Renraku. WNM

Just out of interest, what made you chose ma/karate as a subject to build a community around? I see the ifroggy network has fingers in many pies - good for you. How does the Karate community compare to others? WNM

i showed part of heian shodan to my father and he said after i explained what a gedan barai was and after i did the first one and he said What if your opponent goes to hit you in the head instead of aiming low when i said you always do this first move with heian shodan. I didnt know how to answer him even though i said its only pretend opponent but you act like he's real. I will let you know how I do. I figure its my first competition im going to and im little white belt so i figure if i finish in the top ten or so of little kata white belt competition i did pretty good medal or no medal hehe and oh yeah, nice loud kiai's......You won't wanna hear my Kiai...I'm gonna rock the roof haha....and I do 2 of them in heian shodan. btw i find if i turn my head it helps with balance too when turning. as for 'pocketfuls of fly' I made that one up =] Kata are set forms practiced for a number of different reasons. All of which will become apparent as you continue with your training, but at your stage all you have to worry about is reproducing as faithfully as possible the Kata that your instructor does. If he moves his head then you should. By all means listen to people on this board but only take advise from your instructor. Its what you pay him for. Re the head turning first thing. In most Japanese senior grade Kata, the only time where the head turns prior to the body moving is when it is detailed as a specific move in the Kata ie Nahanchi. Outside of this the head is not turned independently for very specific reasons: 1. It adds a move in a kata that is not there 2. By turning your head to face one opponent, you are pottentially looking away from another - and from a budo perspective thats not too clever. Remember kata is practiced as if against 4 or more opponents. Instead of looking as a separate technique, we should use our peripheral vision, our hearing and sense of movement to judge your opponent's kamae. By moving the head at the same time as the move, we can see in more than one direction - training your Budo radar - as it were. Ultimately in Karate we should use all of our senses and here is another example of where this manifests itself. Also your dad raises a valid point. what if your opponent goes to hit you in the head when you are doing a Gedan barai? Of course in the Kata you are performing the technique as if against a lower attack – in the kata this will never change. Kata should never become “Igata” and one should never be stuck in Kata, but kata is kata, and should be practiced as such. Application of kata however brings about a whole new ball game where techniques can be practiced at varying heights. Kumite is where the random element comes into play. But, as I say if your instructor wants you to look first then do as he suggests - it may be the way he wants his beginners to learn. Good luck either way. WNM

Why would you need to turn your head if your oponent is only imaginary? Surely your oponent is already in your head? WNM

Kyudo? Iaido? Taichi? It's not all about fighting (at least in a "sparring" sense). WNM

Quite frankly, I wouldn't bother - just one big tourist trap to take your money and hand out a piece of paper that says - you trained in Okinawa. If that floats your boat, then go for it. WNM

Need to see the Kanji. WNM PS - Why as your style do you say "Director of Fudoshin Machi Dojo" isn't that a title - as opposed to a style?

Hi guys, Unfortunately, I am going to have to call it a day on this board (work and training commitments etc.), but before I do, I think this is an excellent post with which to bid 'au revoir, to you all. No, the term karate is derived from the kanji for "Kara" = empty and "Te" = hand, but there is a lot more to it than that. When the art that we know today as Karate first arrived on the shores of mainland Japan (from Okinawa) c. 1922, if it came with any label, it was that of "Tode" - which in Okinawan dialect means "Chinese Hand". At first this was originally transposed into Japanese as such, but unfortunately due to the politics of the day, most things Okinawan and Chinese were considered a dirty word in Japanese cultural circles, so the Kanji for "Chinese" was exchanged for that of "Empty" which is still spoken in Japanese as "Kara". Although this term "Kara" may literally translate to "empty" it doesn't imply without weapons. The term is reference to a state of purity of mind and intent. It is the ability to train, learn and react instinctively rather than being "programmed". This is what the "Empty" is in empty hand. Because if you need to survive, you fight with what ever you have around you. I think it would be fair to say that what most of the world recognises as karate was developed (or at least placed into a systematic way of teaching) in Okinawa. It is also fair to say that because of its geographical location, Okinawa has had a Chinese influence on it ma from the as early as the 4th century, but it is equally important to remember that it had it own indigenous ma - "Tegumi", which was most probably blended (in varying degrees) with the "Chinese" systems to form what we understand today to be the three main sources of the Okinawan sytems: Shuri-te Naha -te Tomare-te No, but probably helped shape tings along the way. No, but if it helps you visualise a the kick whist training - its not a bad anecdote. Main reason for practicing Tobi-geri is agility - so aim as high as you can. Shuto is just a hand position. I guess it can be whatever you want. Personally I don’t put things into boxes, but “your” Karate is what it is. Its genetic makeup has of course - in part -a Chinese connection, but imo this is often over egged. Anyway guys, take care and play nicely WNM

Stop Smoking man!! Waaaay bad. WNM

Hi Javykixs, Nice to see a Wado article on here. Can I ask what your background is in Wado? Aslo, where did you get most of the information posted? Not saying its wrong, but there are bits that aren't quite right imo. But... I am am happy to stand corrected. WNM