conrad665

Wow, sounds awesome! I will miss the cherry blossom season this time, too. I will have ten days for myself, so I cannot decide what to do in so little time. I thought of going to Kodokan and a karate dojo, but doing some sightseeing looks more tempting I think I should definitely see Mt. Fuji, and Nara. And Osaka Castle looks magnificent! I added it to my list!

I have zero suggestions, but man am I jealous! Have a great time! Keep us posted on how it goes! Thanks, tallgeese! I'll do it

Hi, thanks for the links, sensei8! And sorry for the late reply, this week has started really hectic for me. I read some of them and there is really useful information for me, considering my Sensei told me I can take an exam in Japan. It is very tempting to train all the time while in Japan, but I should resist it and do some sightseeing as well I will definitely consider the recommendations. Actually, last year I had a chance to visit Japan for one week but did not have enough time to see much, except a bit of Tokyo and some (incredibly beautiful) shrines in Kyoto. Now I hope to have a nicely programmed trip before I go. Thanks for the advice, Patrick unfortunately I never played any video games in my life I will add Meiju shrine and Imperial Palace to my to-be-visited list. My major problem for now is that I do not have much information on the transportation system of Japan by bus. Their railway system is ultra-super, but not affordable for me this time. I wonder if anyone used buses in Japan and if it is possible to travel by bus as comfortably as trains (at least as much as possible, although it is not as quick as possible). I will spend three days in Shizuoka, then probably head to Kyoto-Osaka-Nara. Then I'll return to Tokyo and to the Narita airport. I may take the bus in the night if possible to spare my hotel fee as well What do you think? Would it be difficult to get to these places by bus?

Thanks, DWx! I am really excited about it, and hope to have a great time there

I am going to Japan in mid-June this summer. I will have ten days or so to do sightseeing, and visit a karate dojo Is there anyone in Japan or who knows Japan well? I haven't decided which places to visit (Osaka, Nara and Kyoto, probably, but haven't made a detailed plan yet) and I am not sure about the transportation method I should prefer, considering I am on a tight budget. Any recommendations on these two issues will greatly be appreciated. Thank you!

Thank you for all your replies. They helped clarify the issue in my head and the possible point of view of my instructors better. I prefer not to think a dojo as a business right now, maybe I can understand how things should be run when I have my own dojo one day. Problem solvers should immediately be dismissed, but besides that, turning down people does not seem like something I can do easily.

mushybees, thank you very much for your reply. I really don't know much about being an instructor and running a dojo, so I am surprised to hear that instructors do not have to accept people they don't like. I always thought the other way, I mean I always thought a dojo should be open to anyone interested in the art. It is sensible not to share knowledge with someone that does not deserve it, but I feel like the instructors should choose to at least try to make a difference. If such people cause problems in the dojo and it seems there is no improvement, the instructors must be able to handle the situation accordingly, maybe explaining them how they are not suited to the dojo. What could be said in such a situation? Would you care about the feelings of that person, or just say that they are unfit for the dojo and dismiss them? Or would you warn them before in some way?

Hi, I am thinking over something these days. I wonder if an instructor has the right to accept or reject people who they will teach. I mean, of course if a person is not suited to the dojo (extreme cases), they can be dismissed. But what if they did not do such a thing but their point of view differs from the instructor? Can an instructor choose who they want or do not want to teach? There is someone I know who has spent years in martial arts and is an instructor in his own dojo. This guy has started our classes, and told things that may be considered 'inappropriate' but any newbie would say, such as 'I would love to learn how to use these techniques on the street' or 'Once I tore someone's jacket with my grip'. Well, these are not the things a mature martial artist should care about, but how many of the practitioners are real philosophers anyway. Then my instructors kind of isolated/dismissed this guy, doing things like removing him from our online communication channels and telling him not to come because training sessions will be private, etc. But they didn't talk to him in person, as far as I know. This guy has no bad intentions, I think. He is very enthusiastic and diligent, but the attitude of my instructors really confuses me. Maybe it is because he is an experienced martial artist but still bothers himself with street fights and how he can beat someone. I mean, the majority of the newbies start martial artists for the very same reason, only then their attitude changes. I think my instructors judge him a bit too harshly. I think everyone deserves a chance, especially one who really wants to learn martial arts. What do you think?

I experience the same thing all the time, not only in martial arts, but in my daily life. I discovered that my stress level is significantly reduced when I feel I am prepared enough, or that is all I can do and I did my best. I guess competition/exam anxiety decreases the more you are exposed to such events.

Hi, brendanxx and welcome to the forum As JazzKicker suggested, Tai Chi may be suitable for you. I have been visiting an aikido class recently. I had a lot of fun, and I thought it is something I can do when I can no longer keep up with judo or karate practice, so I can suggest it, too. However, each dojo is different. There are dojos that practice intense aikido and softer karate, so it is better to visit a few clubs before starting. I can also suggest iaido. It is great to gain control over something that is not a part of your body (also demanding), and still you work out your muscles gradually but firmly.

I came to write this indeed, I could never dare use a high kick in a street fight, well, I guess I'd use no kicks at all. If I am blocked or gotten by the leg, I would be in deep trouble. Therefore I would go by punches or elbow strikes-face is a smaller target, so I would try a hit in the stomach. Grapplers are really dangerous when they -grapple, but punches are always faster.

Well it has been a while since you asked this question, but let me reply anyway Yes, you need to oil the blade to draw the sword more smoothly and prevent stains due to sweat, etc.The ideal oil for this is clove oil, as far as I know.

I only use iron pills and Vitamin D, and sometimes a few shots of Vitamin B12. I think martial arts should not require excessive use of supplements, as they are something between sports and art. That is why I try not to take supplements but try to have a balanced diet (as much as possible, because I am vegetarian). I know collagen is very important, and I may start taking collagen pills in a near future, though.

It seems like a good idea to use gravity for flexibility. Sometimes I hang from a pull-up bar to ease the burden on my spine and my waist. I think yoga practitioners do similar movements to what you described. I usually need some pulling and pushing mechanism to feel fully relaxed, that is why I always prefer a merciless partner to help me flex my body

In Shotokan, we never practice gedan mawashi geri. What we use as an attack below the belt is only ashi barai (what I am taught). In Ashihara Karate, however, gedan mawashi geri is effectively used. Another difference is in Shotokan, we use the upper part of the foot to kick, but in Ashihara karate, we hit with our shin bone, which increases the destructive power of the kick.

I have been wearing the same karategi since I started karate (of course I had to buy a few more, but the old one is still wearable). I lent all my coloured belts to my friends, but they never came back (both my friends and belts ) I have been upset for a while, but now I think they do not matter much, as what you have in your head is more important than belts.

Jo has become my favourite weapon starting from the moment I laid my hands on it. I haven't started learning jou yet, practiced it once or twice, but I'm looking forward to learning some jo kata in the near future.

My goals for this year are: Learn to apply some nice throws in judo. Get better at the new karate style. Return back to practicing piano. Return back to learning Japanese.

I have a few techniques that I feel comfortable and easier to perform compared to others, in karate. Kizami zuki - gyaku zuki (separately or as a combination) Kizami mawashi geri Ashi barai I sometimes apply Yoko geri Mae geri Uraken uchi to surprise my opponent a little. As for judo, I am far from being proficient, but the techniques I like most are Sasae tsurikomi ashi Deashi barai Ippon seoi nage I would love to learn tomoe nage one day, but it seems dangerous at this stage and I cannot do it properly. When I want to surprise my opponent, I try ippon seoi nage and osoto gari from the left.

Me neither, I don't use my bokken, either, to do such things Using nekoashi dachi or zenkutsu dachi to go to the kitchen or the bathroom, Shouting 'Ossu!!!' in a roll-call during class! Fortunately it happened only once (maybe I am too old for roll-calls now ). And saying 'ossu' instead of 'yes'. I feel embarrassed each time, but it just comes out

I asked Sensei if we will ever learn techniques besides competitions, and he told me that in seminars all over the world, the instructors are told not to teach such techniques to their students. He said sometimes, out of habit, his hand slips to the legs of his opponents to apply some dangerous techniques, so it is thought students should not obtain such habits at the beginning. I am fortunate that Kodokan Judo is available in my school's library I will definitely check it out. I compared sports judo and sports karate in the sense that only a few techniques are used in karate competitions. That is, two punches (kizami and gyaku zuki) and two kicks (mawashi and ura mawashi geri) are the ones practiced 99% of the time (at least in my previous club). Ushiro geri, yoko geri and uraken, for example, are rarely used. Elbows are never used-at least in Shotokan, although they exist in katas. Yamazuki must be forbidden, I don't know. Judokas have a richer repertoire, as far as I understand. I hope one day it will not turn into what sports karate did.

Actually, that is the very first reason why I left my karate club, I was sick of its turning direction to competitions and nothing else. Probably because I'm a beginner in judo, everything is new and seems amusing to me, but I am afraid I will feel the same after some years. And it seems not many new techniques are being introduced at the same speed as old techniques are removed. I am not very familiar with sports judo-I do not watch videos very often, but I hope sparring in judo will not turn into sparring in karate, in which only a few techniques (like kizami zuki and ura mawashi geri) are used.

There are many techniques in judo that attack the legs directly, but they have been removed from the competitions, because they are too dangerous or wrestlers are just so good at them that they dominate judo championships (as I heard from Sensei). Therefore, we are not taught those techniques anymore. That’s a shame. I could maybe see removing them from competition but I don’t get removing efficiently viable techniques all together from the curriculum. They look really efficient, but we never practice them. Maybe Sensei thinks it is still early for us newbies. Once someone tried ura nage on me and I couldn't get up for about a minute. Both uke and tori need to be experienced for advanced techniques, I guess I cannot think of myself taking the fall after kuchiki taoshi, for example, especially if it comes as a surprise attack. Nevertheless, I will ask Sensei if he will ever teach us those techniques one day

Wow, thank you for the information, JR 137! Indeed, when I asked the instructor about the difference between the two styles, he gave me a similar reply; that is, in Kyokushin, the stronger one wins, but Ashihara depends more on tai sabaki and strategy. Some of its techniques somehow reminded me those of aikido. I haven't learned any kata yet, but have seen some practice them. They look like actual fight, contrary to the kata of Shotokan. I have never heard of Enshin karate, but it sounds cool. I should do a little bit of research on it.

There are many techniques in judo that attack the legs directly, but they have been removed from the competitions, because they are too dangerous or wrestlers are just so good at them that they dominate judo championships (as I heard from Sensei). Therefore, we are not taught those techniques anymore.