quinteros1963

A punching bag is ideal. Practice strikes and such.

Thanks I am new to Shotokan, this is useful info.

i agree with Chuck, once i committ to throw the kick thats it. My target is usually hit with it. I use it as a counter to aggressive attackers.

Depends on the dojo. We have gone full contact with no face contact and Point sparing. Most seem to prefer the point fighting though.

1. Always continue to train!

Start with your stripe or tip end of your belt on your left. Place that end at the middle of your back. Layer your belt around your waistsuch that you only see one layer. Take the striped end out and pull it to the front and make sure both sides are = in lenght. Take the other end and wrap it over once and tie both ends in a knot such that both end are pointing down. This is a nice knot with no crossing in the back!

"He got his Shodan in Goju in 1971, and he got his Shodan in Shotokan in 1979. The man has been a black belt for 40 years and he is only 4th Dan." sounds racist and oppressive to me that because someone is not from Japan the can not reach a certain level. But just because you don't hold a tiltle does not mean much. Sounds like your Sensei is very experienced so it doesnt matter. 40 years is a long time, I listen to all he had to say. Like you said all Orgs are different.

Sweet, thanks for the info Mudansha. Much appreciated!

I am well aware of the history of Goju and Naha-te. I am just putting a small peace out there for whoever is interested and would love to hear what others know. I think it will be fun to read the history as far back as onje would like to take the thread. Higa never seems to be mentioned when we talk about early students of the art.

Your experience in Goju Ryu may help (purely in terms of fitness and performance), but be aware of which style and techniques you should be performing on the day. The kata are not even close so I don't forsee mixing any thing up. The blocks are slightly different, as Goju is more circular and flowy and Shoto seems more linear and hard. The strikes are the same but thats about it.

Ok I am learning Shotokan now. What are the Katas I need to know for BB. The instuctor told me I need to learn the Heinan 1-5 and Baisai Dai. As well as being proficient in sparring and defence. I have prior experience in Goju ryu and am still practicing it as well. I am asking because there are so many kata, I was suprised that only 6-7 of over 20 would get you to shodan.

To All of my fellow Goju folks: Lets put all of our knowledge to the test on the history of Goju and how it made it to the rest of the world. For example: Many know of Master Higgaoanna who taught Master Miyagi, but did you know that there was also a young man by the name of Higa who was also a student of his who was an assistant to Miyagi? What ever happended to him and his students? I think it will be interesting to find that though we may find slight differences form school to school we all come from the same place. No one school has the true version of Goju because many adapt the style to fit them. The early masters were taught differently because the did different things well.

You are right. An artist should remain humble. My sensei is ranked very high and prefers to be called Sensie, even though others call him Shihan. I admire his humility as do I yours Sensei J. I hope to see you all soon.

Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva......................Evans Paul Daley vs. Dustin Hazelett.......................Hazelett Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout.............................Stout Jim Miller vs. Duane Ludwig...........................Miller Junior dos Santos vs. Gilbert Yvel..................Dos Santos Martin Kampmann vs. Jacob Volkmann..........Kampmann Dan Lauzon vs. Cole Miller............................Lauzon Mark Munoz vs. Ryan Jensen.........................Munoz Mike Pyle vs. Jake Ellenberger.......................Pyle John Gunderson vs. Rafaello Oliveira.............Oliveira

Simple, to continue to train and improve. I will practice techniques and learn kata. Everything should fall into place after that. Including rank and more importantly skill. Also I will help some progress as well. He who waters, waters himself! As far as rank goes I hope to be a 1st kyu by the end of the year.

To control/ grab /pull in battle

My goal is to continue to train and learn the arts. I feel like I've improved some in a matter of 2 weeks in shotokan. I am not confused in the least with the different kata. I will say that Goju will be my main art, but it would be nice to reach nidan in Shotokan and higher in Goju.

Yip man Seiko Higa - The forgotten Master of Goju Ryu!

It varies from school to school and from style to style. BJJ will take the longest to Shodan.

Happy New Years! What are your goals for 2010 in the arts? Maybe its to win a competition or to reach a certain rank. Whatever it is, please share it and check in periodically to fill us in on your progress.

At what point do you think one should be called sensei? Can a shodan or nidan run a school? Or should that be left to 3rd or 4rth degree?

I've always considered 5th dan and up to be master. I mean that usually takes what about 20 or more years to reach that level right?

I am surprised to find out that several of the early pioneers of karate became so highly ranked in such a short time. I will not use names as I dont want to seem offensive to any particular styles. 5th degree in 8 yrs Black Belt in 1.5 yrs and coming home to America a sensie naming self 10th dan peers awarding rank to one another up to 10th dan Forming own association and becoming a self made 10 dan All have gone on to be very succesful, but I am surprised to find out some of these things.

Thanks mudansha! You have just helped me to feel much better with my decision to double down. Actually there are several Shotokan kata in the system that I was in.