SakranMM

I warm up and stretch. Then I usually pick 1 or 2 techniques and drill each one 30 or so times (I'm currently using the training schedule at the back of M. Nakayama's "Best Karate" vol. 2). I follow this with kata (3x each - once slow, once medium speed, once full speed & power); I end with push-ups & crunches.

During sparring practice, I often find myself looking at the person's upper chest area rather than their eyes. It's not due to a lack of confidence or anything; being short in stature, it's just that my eyes usually end up right at chest level when I look straight ahead at larger opponents. Any comments/suggestions on where to focus when sparring?

White belt...back to the bottom I suppose. ; ) I didn't tell them I am a Shodan-ho in American Karate; just as well, since I am having to unlearn some of my old habits from the past in order to conform to traditional Shotokan technique.

Last night in class (SKIF dojo), we went over 1-step sparring techniques. They were known as "Jodan #1" or "Mae Geri defense #3", etc... Does anyone know if and where I can get a list of these numbered techniques to aid in memorization of the combinations? Thanks. In Christ, Michael

I went to my first class tonight; I was early, the first one there other than the Sensei (this was my first time meeting her in person.) We spoke, and she was very sweet and easy to talk to before class. But during class, she was all business. The school is traditional, associated with the SKIF. We began by bowing towards the front, then to Sensei, then to the sempai. We went through a fairly rigorous warm-up, and then Sensei took us through kihon - single techniques and combinations, calling out techniques in Japanese. She knew that I had previously trained in American Karate, and so the pace of the class didn't have to slow down for me. Afterwards, we white belts sat down while Sensei took the black belts through more advanced techniques. Then we all went through pre-arranged sparring drills. Sensei paired me with a black belt; the black belts were told to take it easy on the white belts, but Sensei mentioned to my partner that I had experience, and he could go at "fighting speed" with me. We went through some basic block-and-counter drills. I did have a little trouble remembering to turn my hips with the down block and to chamber my blocking hand after countering. I also wussed out on my front kicks (my knee-jerk reaction was to avoid pulling my toes back out of fear of getting them smashed by the down block; yeah, I know, stupid mistake which I plan to remedy.) Finally, we went through some kata. I hung in there well with Heian Shodan and Nidan, but was a step behind with Heian Sandan. During class, Sensei would encourage us to be tough: "Don't wipe your sweat, let it fall; Discipline! Push through the fatigue! Structured discipline leads to success!" etc... It was great. This is exactly what I'm looking for in the martial arts. OSU! In Christ, Michael

That's Michael, not Mitchell ; ) (don't worry about it) No, they did not do kumite at the class I watched.

The way I understood it is that the $45 fee is a yearly membership to the SKIF, while the tuition is payed monthly, no contracts.

I posted a few days ago that I was planning on training alone since I couldn't afford to pay for lessons at a dojo. However, I discovered a traditional Shotokan dojo under the SKIF, and the Sensei gave me a really big discount, so I figure I'd try it for a month and see how it goes. Here's the dojo website: http://www.bronxshotokankarate.com/ I just watched a class tonight. They began with a traditional bowing-in to the front, then to the sensei, then to the sempai. After that, the whole class spent about 10-15 minutes warming up, then went through basic kihon. Then the sensei broke the class into groups (white belts, intermediate, advanced, and black belts), and worked with each group separately for about 5-10 minutes before switching to the next group (the students not working out sat on the side on watched); each group had about 2-3 sessions with the sensei, working on techniques particular to their level. After that, they worked on kata in a similar manner. The class closed with announcements and another bowing ceremony. I was hooked, and signed up. Just wanted to share the news, and say I'm looking forward to training. OSS!!! In Christ, Michael

Hi Everyone: I have recently returned to martial arts training after a hiatus of several years. I began studying American Karate (this particular system had a strong TKD base, with some Shotokan and Aikido thrown in as well) when I was 14, and earned a 2nd degree brown belt. I eventually got burned out, and took a few months off. I transferred my brown belt to another school which taught a similar style, but with more of a Shotokan base, and I earned my Shodan-ho at age 17 (it is my understanding that Shodan-ho is sort of like a "probationary" black belt; in that school, one also had to earn an orange belt in jiujitsu to be considered a full shodan, but I entered the military shortly thereafter, and never had a chance to return.) So now I'm 30, married w/kids, and in graduate school in the New York area (near Yonkers.) I am living basically off a scholarship for the next 2 years, and cannot afford to take lessons at a dojo, so my only option is to train alone. I have made a commitment to pursue traditional Shotokan Karate as best as I am able. Because I cannot afford to take lessons at a real dojo, I have to rely on books, videos, and my previous background to train. Right now, I am focusing on kihon and learning the kata. There are a few black belts at my school who have trained in TKD, and we do get together and train a few times a month, but nothing in the way of Shotokan. So, considering my situation, can anyone offer any advice to help me progress in my training until I can finish school and afford to enter an established dojo? My thanks. In Christ, Michael

Hi Everyone: I'm thinking of taking up Shotokan Karate. I found a school in Bronx, NY (near me) called "Bronx Traditional Shotokan" under Sensei Terry Nichiporuk (Yondan). I do plan on visiting the school before enrolling to see how it is myself, but I wonder if anyone has trained at this school, and if you could offer some insight about it/the Sensei. But again, I'll have to see for myself.