Chuck

I've been to two of Sensei Kanazawa's seminars here in California, and I'm always in awe. It's amazing to see this 70 plus Karate Master at work. Very recently his son (a 7th Dan) gave a seminar in Sunnyvale, CA; he is also an awsome Karateka. His technique is also flawless (and fast too!). awesome. you actually got to watch this amazing Sensei and his son. Yes, it still very cool to think about it. I got some picture somewhere. I'll post it when I find it. ...wish I took pictures with Grand Master Park when we hosted his seminar. (why we didn't take picture, I'll never know ) Osu!

I've been to two of Sensei Kanazawa's seminars here in California, and I'm always in awe. It's amazing to see this 70 plus Karate Master at work. Very recently his son (a 7th Dan) gave a seminar in Sunnyvale, CA; he is also an awsome Karateka. His technique is also flawless (and fast too!).

My two cents: Origins of Japanese and Korean Martial Arts aside. Tae Kwon Do means - Way of the feet and fist Karate Do menas - Way of the empty hand If you get down to the technical details the words Karate and TKD are not interchangable. However, Karate (in Chinese Hand Kanji) and Tangsoodo are interchange. However, KARATE is a martial arts word that is more recognized than TAE KWON DO (in the U.S. at least). Many Martial Arts (TDK) schools include KARATE in their title because it is more marketable. People without martial arts knowledge do not really know the difference. Therefore, many schools market the KARATE name instead of the actual style due to the ignorance of the non-martial art literate. Even the new KARATE KID MOVIE, which is set in CHINA isn't called THE KUNG-FU KID, because someone figured most won't really know the difference; although a billion people in China will notice.

Rateh wrote: In my school, I teach a beginning class myself, and there I am called sensei, even though I am a brown belt. When I am assisting one of the black belt instructors in one of their classes I am called sempai. I think this makes sense. This is what I meant. "Sensei" is whoever is teaching the class, whether he be a ikkyu, or a sandan. "Sempai" is the next rank down (the senior student) whether he be rokyu, or a lesser sandan. In our school (JKA-Shotokan), a Sensei needs to be at least 4th dan Black Belt. A sempai (senior ranked students i.e 1st kyu, shodan, nidan, sandan) can run classes, but they are never called sensei (that title is only earned through experience/rank). Usullay if a school has several Senseis (4th dans), the top sensei is SHIHAN (Teacher of teachers).

WT! Now I've read it all!

Osu, I thought you might be a Sensei J from the West Cost; you have similar backgrounds.

Congrats! Osu!

Osu! (so there's at least two martial artists who like that song, )

Sure it's: by Chitose Hajime - Haru no Katami http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mioHlZsVtws It is a good song, reminds me of my mother singing to me to sleep when I was a child.

Osu Sensei J, if I may ask, where do you teach and train?

Luca is good, but IMO his versions of katas are little to fast. If you compare his Unsu to Kagawa's students: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q42Br_EaDlg Kagawa's students timing and speed seem (IMO) more appropriate.

I love watching Nao Morooka; she's is one of Sensei Kagawa's best students. I have a DVD with Nao performing some of the Kihon and Katas and it's just perfection.

Sensei Kanazawa is the man (after 2 seminars with him I'm still in awe) but check out this kid from the JKA Japanese National Team from a few years ago. He's is FAST on the move (blocks and punches), but not fast on the count. (the pace is Fast down block, slight pause, Fast punch, slight pause, etc.) Although he does not turn his head to the imaginary opponent first before the turns, which is what some else said you should do. Good luck Osu

Yes, but a lot of stuff got lost in the translation because he hardly gave Master Kim a chance to translate. Master Park would talk for minutes between very brief periods of translation by Master Kim. He did go into detail how TKD is rooted in TangSooDo which is the Korean version of Karate-Shotokan (Teng/Chinese Hand)among other styles (i.e. the various Kwans, taekkyeon, etc). He explained the main difference as TDK developed, was of course the kicks. (This is interesting) Master Park stated (in part/and jokingly) the reason many of the Poomse forms start with a down block is because Karate's highest and only kicks were to the groin (front snap). Also more importantly, the Poomse(s) are based on the conepts of modern Karate as a defense art, so forms start with a block/defensive move. In TKD, TSD, and Shotokan all forms start with a defensive move.

The kid has got more focus than serval kids in our dojo.

Yes, We also went through basics, Taegeuk 6 and 7. It was really cool he broke it down in detail and went through the application of the moves. Also, afterwards we went to dinner (Korean of course). Grandmaster Park gave a great histroy lesson about the history of Palgwe, Taegeuk, TDK, TSD, and Karate. (translation was provided by Grandmaster Kim) I'm stil lin awe.

Yesterday at our Karate (Shotokan) Dojo, Gandmaster Hae Man Park (9th Dan) gave us (and others in attendance) a seminar on TDK Poomse (Taegeuk series) It was really insightful and definately interesting to see the differences and similarities between Shotokan and TKD. But learning from one of the architects of Taegeuk was really a big deal for me.

While practicing katas or kihon a white belt will always ask: "Is class almost over?"

Kagawa Sensei is an excellant teacher. I have two of his DVDs and his students provide great demos of kihon, kumite, and katas.

It's interesting to read about all these different type of belts and gi colors. However, keep in mind prior to adopting the gi and obi (belt)/rank system from Judo in 1924, Karate uniforms were based on some form of traditional Japanese clothing with no belt/rank system (your rank was whatever the Sensei determined you to be based on your training). Therefore, the Gi and Obi have only been around for less than 90 years in the modern Karate system. Many stories about the white belt turning black are just myths. In Japan the traditional uniform can only be white. Over the years, the Japanese have added colors to the belt/rank system. Although, in JKA for many years, there were only 8-kyu ranks. Early on, there were only three belt colors: white (8th-4th kyu), brown (3rd-1st kyu), and black (for Shodan and up). That is why so many Karate styles have 3 brown belt ranks prior to Shodan. It was only within the last 30 years as Karate/martial arts developed in the west, additional kyu ranks were added with the respective colors. For example, in the late 70's Shotokan (Karate) in the states had the following belt-rank system: white belt - 8th kyu white belt - 7th kyu yellow (or blue) belt - 6th kyu green belt - 5thy kyu purple belt - 4th kyu brown - 3rd kyu brown - 2nd kyu brown - 1st kyu black - shodan and up (although from 6th-4th kyu it could vary in color from organization, or if they remained traditional it would just be white). Now, our current school remains very traditional with the Shotokan of old, white gi only. The belt/rank is slightly expanded from the above: white - 10th kyu blue - 9th kyu blue - 8th kyu green - 7th kyu green - 6th kyu purple - 5th kyu purple - 4th kyu brown - 3rd kyu brown - 2nd kyu brown - 1st kyu black - shodan and up

What style and what was it called?

39, Here but I might as well be 40

You should at least take off the belt when walking home in your Gi.

Could be fake.

Competition is the only way to gauge your progress among a greater number of peers. It is the best learning experience as you'll be able to watch others above, below, and at your skill level. IMO, you'll learn more about yourself at each competition.