conrad665

Hi, in my last karate lesson we learned Bassai Dai (I couldn't XD) and I was mixed up with all the left and right blocks. I told the senpai so and he said there's no need to worry and in belt exams we will be asked to perform two types of it: Migi Bassai Dai and Hidari Bassai Dai. Is it really true? Or did he make fun of me?Thanks .

Hi, I haven't been here for a long time since my school started. I got my brown belt one month ago! But in the summer, instead of our usual dojo, we studied in stadium with shoes. We did a lot of running and fitness, and did not study kihon. We only did fitness and kumite. And the only examiner of us was a senpai. Sensei could not come on the exam day. I got my brown belt that way, and I hope I won't lag behind the 'normal' brown belts. I hope I'm good enough to deserve my new belt.

That's exactly how I feel about the last book. And I gave up watching the HP movies after watching the 3rd one. They are just... not the way I imagined.

Thanks for the advices, senseikellam. I started running last month, and I can run pretty well now . And one of my trainers can find some time (one or two days a week) to train us. I already learnt Heian Godan. It is fun to train outside on the grass! You never get tired. My infection is, fortunately to be recovered. Phew!

I'm not going there anymore! I got fungal infection from that disgusting place.

I will see it after my school finishes. My big sister watched already and she said she wouldn't take her child to this film, it is so scary.And she cried at the end, I don't know why. I'm so curious about the film and I look forward to watching it.

I wouldn't mind paying even more if the place were worth it. Besides, in my previous dojo I used to pay $30 for a school semester(4 months). I'm not that much mean:D . It would be nice to suggest paying for two months in advance, but I don't know when my real sensei will start to attend to my real dojo again. Maybe at the end of July or maybe won't come this summer. At least I won't give up karate. I will experience new techniques and train with different people(trying to see the good side).

Well, thanks for the answers.It seems I have no choice right now...I hope it'll worth going that filthy place.

Hi, this summer our trainers won't attend to the dojo(it is in my university, so it is normal) and I was looking for somewhere to study in the summer. I found one, and observed a lesson, but I cannot decide whether I should join there or not. Here are the pros and cons: Pros 1)It's near my house, I can go there on foot( my school lessons still continue, so it is a big advantage). 2)Sensei looks like a good trainer, he's 5th dan( it's not very important, but I wanted to write) and days are divided for different studies like on mondays kumite, on wednesdays kata, etc. Cons: 1)Man, there are so many kids all shouting! They are all higher degrees than me, but they don't take karate seriously. Same for people at my age. They start to chat when sensei turns his back. 2)The dojo is half as big compared to my previous one. And there's not an air-conditioning system. 3)Changing rooms smell of damp. 4)They charge $60! All in all, education seems good, but karatekas and environment are bad. I don't want to give up for one or two months, and I want to study with a sensei observation, so...Should I go there? Even if sensei is good, can I learn something with a bad partner? I'll be so grateful if you could help. I'm desperate!

The plastic one used in tournaments, I don't know its name. Some years ago it was hard wood, and some toes were broken as teachers told, so they changed it.

I think the Katakana characters are : Kurenmakasu, but they are backwards as Cable Dog said. I don't know the last two kanji under it.

I sometimes study outside in my apartment's backyard, and there's no problem. Just the kids of the street gather and watch

Our trainers sit on chairs and use a table to look more formal and to increase seriousness. Sensei has papers about each student. We perform in groups of 3 or 4 and they take notes. At the end, they call our names one by one , comment on our performance and Sensei says ' Congratulations, you passed'.

We usually do push-ups on our seiken to hold the wrists stable and strong, and punch each other on the stomach to prevent being breathless. Footwork is also an important issue- if you can get closer to your opponent,your punch will naturally be more effective. I cannot do this to black belts, either, because I'm scared. They hit too badly

We also did this kind of drills. I can do them(at the edge and with the board) a little, but when I leave the edge, my heart really starts to beat fastly. Better than the first day, but I could not overcome it yet. Keeping my face above water while swimming is one of my biggest problems-I wasn't aware of it till yesterday. Another problem of mine is getting my head out of water so fast and not leaning it onto my shoulder. When I do it, all the water on my face fills my mouth and I can't breathe when I turn to my side. And I can't float. Now the course is over and I'll go to another course. Thank you, I hope I can learn to swim this time.

I passed my belt exam 'successfully' and got my blue belt! I'm just happy!

Thanks for your kindness to answer, and I think you're right. I won't force myself too much to learn swimming quickly-it just makes me tenser- I'll probably try another course with a shallower pool-this one is an olympic pool with 2.20 meters(7.2 ft) depth,which increases my anxiety. When I learn it at the end, I'll let you know 'cause I'll never give up!

Thanks for the answer,Lupin1. I tried hard last week to learn it and to stay calm- but I couldn't The course ends this sunday, and I'm still a big coward.Today we tried doing the moves without the thing that keeps you on water-and it was a misery while everybody could do easily.The trainer said that I am not psychologically ready,and he was right. I can't stay calm on water.Man, sometimes I hate myself...

Hi, I'm trying to learn swimming in a course. It has been 5 days, but water still terrorizes me( when I was little, I was nearly drowning). Trainer always says to be calm and relaxed, but I can't do it.I even can't get into water if he does not enter. Do you have such a fear? Or could you give me advices for me to overcome this phobia? I'll be grateful if you could help me. I really want to learn swimming. It looks fun!

I don't know how to quote,joesteph..We are not allowed to hit gedan except ashi barai. I also try to punch with my left hand, but usually forget after a while.Senpais are saying I should connect the techniques, but I know too few of them, which means I need to study hard.I just wondered if I should study myself on different techniques or wait for sensei to teach us.(I got the answer now!).As for punching, it is actually harder than kicking for me, because you have to get closer to the partner to do it, which makes me a little scared.I can start studying punching with my left hand against the majority of right handed. And deciding to use some techniques certainly is a very good way to study, because if I not decide firmly and make it a habit, I forget other techniques and just spar. Thanks for your invaluable advices.I'm looking forward to my karate lesson to try new techniques.

Hi, I was just wondering if I'm behind of a normal green belt rank.I mean, which techniques should I have learned so far?I'm not good at ura mawashi geri and I can't do ushiro geri.In which belt are they taught? Or should I study myself?When sensei tells us to spar freely, all I can do(without thinking)are mawashi geri and mae geri. I also have problems with punching.They don't come naturally.Is this normal?Thanks in advance.

Hi! I got back from the tournament.First I should say I lost with 2 against 3-two judges chose me!My kata was worse than I do in the dojo.Stress can really confuse you.The judge in front of me was looking directly into my eyes.That moment(moroto uke before hiza geri) I forgot the kata for a millisecond but I could finish without forgetting.My mae geri were terrible!And I couldn't perform it strong enough. Another point to mention:All my rivals were making a strange voice coming from their throats,I think.Even my rival was saying 'pat'.It was so funny,but I couldn't laugh .Do you do such things while doing kata?Shouldn't it come naturally?Should I learn to do it?I don't know if it is a factor for judges to choose sb. Anyways,there will be another one next year,and in June a different one.Now I have time to study. (I messed up all my lessons by the way, but karate is worth it ))

Today I learned Jion!Not perfectly,of course,but I learned the basics.It is so hard and tiring to work on a kata-my hands are still trembling from fatigue.Sensei said I did techniques well and strong,but while passing between techniques,I should not have relaxed.It was my first day,so it's not a big problem yet.

I found two green belts to form a group and we'll perform Heian Sandan.We'll work once a week-to perform it correctly first, then for its rhythm and then for our harmony.

I'm sorry if I sounded as if he is forcing us.He is a so very good person and he would never think of reputation,I think.What he meant by show-off is about kiai,breathing,performing stronger,etc.And none of the members of the team will go there to win but to experience for the next tournaments-all the members except one brown have blue or green belts.And I've just learned that even if I learn Jion and pass the first tour,the second tour's kata is Kanku Dai.That means I'll just go there,bow and go back to my place in the second tour if I can pass the first.What sensei wants is to show us the stress and challenge in the competitions(Yes,I like him so much ).