Espina

Hehehehehe. Over here we have a little problem. Costa Rican referees don't quite understand what's extreme use of force and what is just hitting hard. It's too ambiguous. In some tournaments they allow you to hit hard, which is good, this is karate, you are supposed to hit hard and be hit hard. But in some other tournaments they just won't allow anything tough. I remember one time a dojo classmate was fighting with another guy in a tournament, and this other guy went ahead with a gyaku tsuki, but when he did that he lowered his whole body, and my classmate threw a mawashi geri, hitting his nose. He started bleeding, and my partner was disqualified because of extreme use of force.

Hey Grego, Do you compete in Kata?

One time an Otomo Nage helped me prevent from being pointed hehehe. My opponent threw all his body weight towards me and as I was falling I grabbed him by the gi and I got the chance to put my foot in his stomach. The rest was easy , and no points were granted to him.

Of course, they are fighting arts... but you have to keep a lot of respect for your opponent... You wouldn't be anything if it wasn't for the people who train with you... and if you don't keep a high lever of respect and understanding, you won't be able to go far. Remeber, you are hitting each other. Normal people don't do that hehehehe, so you always need a lot of control and respect helps you build that. I think you need a good set of values because if you don't understand these kind of things, every time you train you'll be fighting, instead of practicing, and that will prevent you from growing.

Wow... I didn't know that... Well, as far as my experience goes (which it isn't that much) katas shitei are the ones for competition, and there is only a set of katas "allowed" by the WKF to be perfomed in competitions.

Feel Free to call me Mario (Espina is because of my second last name, Espinoza) Last year I was fighting in a tournament at my university and I was winning by 4 points... and the the front foot sweep was the technique I used to win the tournament It's really effective if you get your opponent's timing.

I think WKF has some Katas to be known by all styles for high level dans. I'm not sure about it.

As I mentioned Traymond, my Sen Sei has done a lot of martial arts, and I really really like how he mixes them. For example, during Ashihara Kumite (a lot like Kyukushin) sometimes he throws you like in Judo, and you simple don't know what the hell happened heheheh. I really like that part of Judo, and how it is one of the most "mixables" martial arts. By the way, do you know if the judo belt is different than the karate one? The gi is obviously different, but I have never paid attention to the belt.

One time I also saw my Sen Sei choking someone with his own arm. That I liked a lot

Hehehehe, the same happened to me in a Judo class... I think it's a good move though

I know Goju Ryu has a lot of katas in common with Chito Ryu... Do you know more of them?

I do the same as Traymond, I always wear my old white belt every time I'm practicing a new style

Mine goes down like about half the way to the knee. Perhaps a little longer than you said, but just for a few inches.

I forgot about Bassai Dai. that one is really beautiful, and for some particular reason, girls seem to be better at it hehehehehe.

Hehehehe, I know what you mean... but that also happens when the belt is short. My height is 6'1'' and I use a 2 meter belt

I was just wondering... we could make a big list of Katas for each style and see which ones matches up. I know the followings: Ashihara: Soshinsha Sono Kata Sono Ich, Ni Nihon No Kata Sono Ich, Ni Kumite No Kata Sono ich Someone else comes here hehehe Goju Ryu Heiki Sai dai Ich, Ni Seipai Seiunchin Saifa Kururunfa ...and I know a couple of shotokan taikioku ich, ni

hehehehe, nah, I love the tight ones... I don´t know why, they just make you look better (specially for Kata purposes)

As far as I know, the only thing that is never washed is the belt, for it contains all the training and energy from your sacrifices in the dojo

I practice here in Costa Rica (Central America, just in case hehehehe). We are part of AKI (Ashihara Karate International). Our Kaycho is Housain Narker, and his headquarters are in South Africa. I'm training with Sen Sei Fabian Merino.

Well, from my style's perspective, there is a why on the colors (for Ashihara): white - purity blue- a vast of knowledge, like the ocean yellow - the sun, this is the period where you shine green - nature, this is when karate becomes part of your nature brown - Ground, since this is the foundation for more to come. Also because of wood, which means you are rigid and strong as a tree. Black- dirty, because of all the experience you have gained along the way.

Does everybody think the same? I mean, I think that's exactly the difference between a Master like Kanazawa and a fighter like Tito Ortiz

I don't know either... I was wondering the same. I don't think is because of lack of imagination hehehehehe. There must be a reason.

In Ashihara (Ashihara Karate International): White White Kyu Blue Blue Kyu Yellow Yellow Kyu Green Green Kyu Brown Brown Kyu Black In Goju Ryu (Panamerican Okinawa GojuRyu Karate Federation): White Yellow Orange Orange Kyu Green Green Kyu Blue Blue Kyu Brown Brown Kyu Black

As I have noted before, I don't feel that this is mandatory for the study of Martial Arts, but is the philosophy of a few that has been handed down for generations of practitioners. Although they are nice, I don't view them as requirments. After all, these values should already be set, in my mind, before a Martial Art is even studied. I agree with you, these things are not necessary to study martial arts...but as I stated before -and my guess is that many will agree with me-, if you don't have them, then won't become a complete martial artist, you will become a fighter. I think that you can still become the complete Martial Artist. Everyone will have their own view of what the complete Martial Artist is, so to blanket everyone to the same ideals is not a fair assumption to make, in my opinion. Once again, I agree with you : Every one has a personal point of view for this matter, but I would love to hear opinions from other people, just to know if for them these values are an essential part of a martial artist or not.

As I have noted before, I don't feel that this is mandatory for the study of Martial Arts, but is the philosophy of a few that has been handed down for generations of practitioners. Although they are nice, I don't view them as requirments. After all, these values should already be set, in my mind, before a Martial Art is even studied. I agree with you, these things are not necessary to study martial arts...but as I stated before -and my guess is that many will agree with me-, if you don't have them, then won't become a complete martial artist, you will become a fighter.