swadoryu2000

I envy you for not having the height advantage all the time. There are a lot of short people in my dojo, and there are only two or three karateka who are over six feet tall. I like sparring them because they are taller than me (I'm only 5'8''), and I feel more comfortable sparring them because I can get around them better than I do with shorter karateka. But the strategy you use for the taller ones is basically what I do also, but I move around to the side also. Taking a side-on stance can be useful, too because your front isn't exposed, which limits their target in terms of the torso. I have used that method, and sometimes I use it, and it is helpful. I've seen videos of Bill Wallace, and he is excellent using that approach.

Kiba dachi is a straddle stance where the toes of both feet point forward. This stance does not appear in Wado Katas. Instead we use "Shiko-dachi" (sometime called Shimata-dachi) which is a straddle stance where the feet are turned outward. You may do it differently, but that is how we do our kiba dachi, with both toes pointed foward. This stance is in our katas. I know because I practice it, and I do kiba dachi in some of my katas. Yes, bushido_man96, you are right.

Do you scan with your eyes between these two points, Swadoryu? Instead of focusing on just one, and when fighters are in motion, it can be an added task to maintain focus on one point. Do you find yourself looking your opponent "up and down" between the eyes and the solar plexus? I concentrate on the face to upper chest area, and I've been more in tune with my peripheral vision between these points; yours are further apart, but perhaps it's because you mentioned looking for body movement (as clues--or cues). I don't scan between these two points, but rather pick either place because I feel it is easier to do it this way and use my peripherals to scan the rest of the body, ya know? If I look at either those two points, I can see some kind of action from the opponent, and I can better look for an attack, basically what you said about clues/cues. In motion, I look at all points of the body so I can see possible openings and whatnot.

I would come back as a male. I have an older sister, and used to date a girl, and I have seen a lot of females react so wildly on the simplest things. Plus pregnancy and the fact that women tend to react more strongly and remember past emotional scenes more vividly than men. I don't wanna have those problems. No thanks!

Haha wow...never heard something like this before! Funny though, nonetheless.

Hey everyone! I'm Sean. Been practicing Wado-Ryu Karate-Do since 2000, but only been on the forums for a coulpe days... Just out of curiosity, what style of karate-do you practice? If you don't anymore, what did you practice? Do you enjoy it? If so, why?

Eye contact is important if you were fighting an opponent, in my opinion. In order to see all of your opponent, I find it helpful to look at either two points: their eyes, or their solar plexus. If you look at either these two points, you can see with your eyes and your peripheral vision too. This way, you can see all of the opponent's body motion good enough to see something comming, instead of ''looking'' for the attack. More of an ''overview'', so to speak.

I have sparred several opponents where I had the height advantage. I sometimes struggle because I have to adjust my techniques to where it would best fit. The shorter people have a small target, so it is not always easy to perform an effective attack/counterattack.

In Pinan Yodan (some schools teach this as the third Pinan), the stances used are: zenkutsu dachi, long neiko ashi dachi, short neiko ashi dachi, and one other stance I don't know the name of in the middle of the kata.In Pinan Sandan (some schools teach this as the third Pinan as well), the stances used are: short neiko ashi dachi, zenkustu dachi, kiba dachi, and hachiji dachi (natural stance). Least, this is how it is in the Wado-Ryu system. There is no Kiba-Dachi in any Wado katas. Yes, there is. There are several katas that has this stance in it. Maybe it is different in your organization/school or wherever you go, but for my school, we are taught kiba dachi in several of our katas.

In Pinan Yodan (some schools teach this as the third Pinan), the stances used are: zenkutsu dachi, long neiko ashi dachi, short neiko ashi dachi, and one other stance I don't know the name of in the middle of the kata.In Pinan Sandan (some schools teach this as the third Pinan as well), the stances used are: short neiko ashi dachi, zenkustu dachi, kiba dachi, and hachiji dachi (natural stance). Least, this is how it is in the Wado-Ryu system.

Well, the way I do the jump kind of leaves out some detail if I just explain it the way it is. The moves leading up to that helps explain what can be done here. In the Wado-Ryu version (called Pinan Godan), the movement before the actual jump is being in neiko ashi dachi with the left hand in kage tsuki (hook punch) position, and the right hand high above the head, kind of like doing a high age tsuki (rising punch, least that's how I see it). The way I see that move is a throw (grabbing the top part of the gi after punching with the right, grabbing the lower part of the gi with the left, then twisting the hips for an effective throw, etc.). But when I jump, I bring the two hands in a pullback position, kind of like pulling something up from the ground while bringing my right knee up. I do this to create momentum in the jump. then I land with a gedan juji uke (low x-block), with the right hand over left. Could be avoiding a bo sweep or something, then comming down on it to prevent it form being used. But that's how I do the jump. Sorry for the long explination.

Club: Japan Karate Institute of North Carolina (there are other JKI schools in South Carolina, where the Cheif Instructor Dale Coker, Rokudan, teaches) City: Winston-Salem Sensei: Mike Russell (Nidan), Jerry Odum (Sandan)

For our school, it depends on who we test. For white and yellow belts, we just test wether or not they know the techniques and the kata they have been taught. As long as they can do it and show effort and spirit, then we promote them. As they move on up in the ranks, we teach them how to define those techniques, performing them right, etc. Basically, how I see it, if the student doesn't pass their 9th or 8th kyu testing, it is the instructor's fault. No kumite is required for this test. But if we are testing the other kyu's, then the insensity increases, the katas they are required to do is more, etc. First, we test them doing progressive and stationary drills (we do this with the white and yellow belts as well, but of course the number and variety of techniques is limited), then kata, then kumite. For the kumite, it doesn't get very intense unless we are testing the 3rd kyu's and up. One student goes up and do a 3 minute round. After that round, one person bows out and another student (testee) will come up. Sometimes we will have a sensei or a senpai (testers) to spar the testee. Occasionally it will be a 2 on 1 match, but only for the 3rd kyu testee's and up.

I agree with Patrick on this one: you might want to find a new place to train if the problem persists. I want to add something, though. Try to take it as a positive thing, if you can. Don't stress too much. There will be other grading opportunities. Kind of like the famous line, ''What doesn't kill you makes you stronger''. Hope everything works out to your liking.

I see a lot of congrats and support....one more wouldn't hurt! In other 2, 3, even 4 years (or whenever your instructor feels you are ready) your instuctor might say ''It's time to consider your Nidan testing...'' haha! Yes, it is the beginning of a new path. Let's put it this way: everything you have done up to this point is getting you ready for real training. But I'm not here to lecture you, heh. Congradulations on your Shodan rank!

Excellent post. This is kind of where I'm at in my journey. That's a good and simple way to put it!

Interesting way how you do it. I guess it depends on what kind of side kick you are trying to do. If you are trying to do a side snap kick (yoko geri keage), you want to bring your knee up to an approprite level (depending on your target). The knee, in this case, is pointed towards the target. Then, you snap it out (kind of like a whip), using your hips and pivoting on your support leg. you're kicking with the blade of your foot. But if you want to do a side thurst kick (yoko geri kekomi), you would want to bring your knee up, pointing fowards (same knee position as a mae geri - front kick). Then, you thrust it out using your hips and pivoting on your support leg, kicking with the heel. At least this is how the other instructors and I teach it to the lower ranking students. This is how us Wado-Ryu folks do it, I don't know about the other styles of martial arts. Personally, I prefer using yoko geri kekomi. I just feel it's easier to perform.

All Hebrew? Never seen those kinda belts...I'm sure it'll look cool!

Yeah, there might be sub-branches from these major ones, but I'm not too sure. Those are the major styles I can come up with.

(If I am wrong on any of this, please correct me. Because I may very well be wrong.) Well, to the best of my knowledge, there are two types of karate: Okinawan and Japanese. The Okinawan styles tend to be hard, and this includes Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu, and Isshin-Ryu. The Japanese styles are softer than the above mentioned styles, with less harsh (right way to put it?) body conditioning, such as Shotokan, Wado-Ryu, and Shito-Ryu. Hope this helps.

That's an excellent question, James! In terms of ''level'', I think it's important to consider the different levels. Physically, I want to achieve a healthy lifestyle and maintain it properly. Mentally, I want to achieve the state of mushin, which isn't easy. Also, a state of mental awareness is what I also would like to have, in addition to a sound and healthy mind. So this ''level'' I want to achieve is mere happiness and the indomitable spirit. That's the level I want to reach - a level of happiness and enjoy life without giving up, through karate training. Now, in terms of ability, I want to be as good as myself. As I grow, my abilities and knowledge should grow with it. I want to reach my expectations that I set myself. I also want to express myself freely. This ''goodness'' is where I want to be. Those expectations might be simple, some might be hard and challenging. But if I set that goal, I wanna reach it. This includes reaching the ''level'' mentioned above, which is the ultimate ''level'' I want to be long-term. And to reach this long-term goal, I am training on a daily basis, and learning different bunkai, learning from other people, trying to gain a deeper understanding in the kata, history of karate, and myself. Yes, my answer might be somewhat deep, but I just love the martial arts. And from what I see, I'm not the only one. Good luck to everyone in reaching their version of a certain ''level'' and ''good''! OSU!

Well, you can always do the hand movements and solitary training for a while. If you feel the problem is not too bad, try going to karate class for a week. If you feel you need to stop for a while, then do it. You can always work on something else. You say the problem is in your back and legs...if it pains for you to stand , you can always sit down and do the hand movements or something. But concerning the feeling that you go mad when you stop training, I have that too. There have been times where I sprained my ankle and I still participated doing the hand movements, and there have been injuries where I had to stop and heal. Sometimes it's good to rest for awhile. You can learn something by observing the other karateka's...who knows? So I know how you feel.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm in there 5 times a week Monday-Thusday and Saturday, from 5:30-8:00pm (Mon.-Thurs.) and from 9:00am-12:00pm (Sat.). But it's broken up into 3 classes (5:30-6:00pm: white and yellow belts, 6:00-7:00: from yellow to green, 7:00-8:00pm: blue and above. On Saturdays: 9:00am-10:00am: white and yellow belts, 10:00am-11:00am: from yellow to green, 11:00am-12:00pm: blue and above). I usually participate in the second and third classes training-wise, and I help assist with the white and yellow belts. Some nights, though, I also assist with the other classes if assistance is needed. Saturdays I'm in the class. Honestly, I can't get enough of karate...it's hard to look away heh. Of course, on important holidays I am not in the dojo. OSU!

Heh, I only have the logo of the belt maker company at the tip. I got some withered spots along the edges, but it's just mainly black. Can't complain though, as long as it works!

Well, Hironori Ohtsuka Did take some ju jitsu before he developed Wado-Ryu. So if you look hard in the Wado-Ryu katas, you will find some throws. I practice Wado-Ryu karate, and I know some katas with throwing applications, or can-be throws. So yes, there are a hint of ju jitsu in the katas.