WireFrame

"But the other sensei said to do it this way..."

Get a job as a baggage handler or other manual job. Get paid to train all day! Otherwise I recommend the hand-grips that have been mentioned... or just do the exercise without them. In judo a common warm-up is to extend your arms forward, hands open, and quickly close your hand to a fist and twist in a grabbing action. Do it long enough and you'll soon feel it working.

I think choosing not to wear a belt doesn't make someone better or wiser than someone who chooses to wear a belt, or vice-versa. It's a fairly small thing, and anyone who chooses to turn their wearing or not wearing of a belt into a STATEMENT is missing the point really. Which is not to say that anyone shouldn't be proud of their achieved grade, not at all. But its hard work that gets the grade, not the cotton wrapped round it.

Pushups are sometimes threatened when (and this is rare) a child simply will not behave/listen/focus. There's only a couple of kids in our class though. Funny thing is the pushups arent threatened for the kid, they're for everyone else haha. Either way it's training though, so I don't see it as much of a punishment.

In some cases, it is true. Many martial arts are divided into many styles, associations and organisations. They're split into different ideas and philosophies. And in this day and age, on of the popular uses of martial arts is for sport and competition. With rules and safeguards and things you don't get taught because it wouldn't be allowed in a fair match. Some martial arts, or even just specific clubs, keep a focus on it's original use - self defence. In my club it's a pretty rounded approach, we practice everything that could be used in competition. But the bunkai (application) is always explained and demonstrated for nastier techniques and especially in Kata. Also, we have visiting instructors, one being a street-application specialist who focuses ENTIRELY on life/death situation tactics and mentality. Things like knuckles to the trachea, upward palm to the nose, fingers to the eyes, attacks to the groin(purely as a quick pain-fuelled distraction in some cases), joint-breaking techniques etc would have no place in "sport karate". But considering Shotokan was devised as a means of dropping multiple opponents in as few attacks as possible, these sessions seem to draw out the true purpose of the "sport". But yes, there are clubs/arts that have been "adapted" and changed for sport purposes, such is the price of popularity.

We sometimes work with pressure points. You NEED control to practice effectively. It's not likely you'll get the chance to use them in a real fight, but its handy to be aware of particular weak points if you get the chance, especially in the neck area.

I think stripes or tags cheapen the look of a black belt. Any dan grades in a club will more than likely have trained with each other for years and know who is 1st dan, 2nd, 3rd etc. I only see a small potential issue in massive training courses or competitions. Not much of one though.

Unless she really likes curry powder, I'm amazed she didn't refuse such a performance of sillyness. Push-ups, fine I guess, but curry powder? I find this hard to believe.

There's a man who teaches about once a month in our club, his name is Owen Murray. His focus is entirely on street-applied karate, and is quick to point out that even a good punch direct to the solar plexus wouldn't do much to a drunk, drug-addict, or someone with a massive size advantage, or even someone wearing a thick coat. But you don't have to be the stronger fighter to take someone down with a hit to the carotid artery or better yet the trachea. That's where technique and accuracy comes in. Obviously this kind of thing wouldn't fly in sport karate, but in actual self-defence situations the ability (and in some cases, sheer willingness) to attack specific vulnerable spots can make all the difference, regardless of how big the opponent is.

It happens. Normally in the mid-range grades or approaching brown/black there's almost always a big drop-off in numbers where people either have enough or panic or whatever. When I was 5th or 4th Kyu I found the increased amount of freestyle or semi freestyle sparring I was doing was really really tough because basically I wasn't fit enough and didn't have the cardio to support what I was trying to do. So I stopped training for a year and went to the gym. I tried to do both for a while but eventually stuck with the gym, doing a broad range of resistance training and cardio training designed to compliment my karate, plus some swimming (handy that my trainer was a 3rd Dan Taekwondo instructor and knew exactly the kinds of things I needed). I meant to return time and time again and simply didnt have the bottle. Until I had enough of the boredom in the gym, ended my membership and returned to karate at the grade I had when I disappeared. Even after the weights, the running, the cross-training, the swimming... one session back in karate and the next week my chest, arms, and back were all aching!! Just goes to prove that martial arts is simply a different kind of fitness altogether. The point of the story is, I got right back into it, and have made quick progress since I returned. And the time out I had and training I did outside the dojo was beneficial.

Yup, I had that regularly in the earlier grades. Now I kind of have a second sole on my feet haha. Once the skin hardens from use it doesnt happen any more.

Shotokan: I'm surprised at how it's given my muscles a better memory than my brain! Seriously, muscle-memory is an amazing thing.

I know: Kihon Kata Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan Bassai Dai Empi (still learning this one)

When I take off my belt... I'm probably about to take off my gi too.