CheekyMusician

Don't worry. When I started karate I had the same problem. I would suggest that you buy a book with all the various terms, what they mean in English and how to perform them. I have John Van Weenen's "The Beginners Guide to Shotokan Karate" and Sensei Enoeda's Shotokan grading syllabus book (from 10th Kyu to 6th Kyu). Both of these are invaluable to me. I'm always referring back to them after class if I'm unsure of something we've learned that day, or if I can't remember a kata etc.

I agree with Sai. If you want to practice weapons, buy a wooden practice weapon to start with. There is really no reason to want a real sword, unless you have completely mastered the wooden weapons and want the challenge of using a real blade without getting yourself (or someone else) injured or killed.

Does anyone grow bonsai here? I've been trying to grow bonsai for a while (totally failed to even get some tree seed to germanate though!). Anyway, I finally just went and bought a bonsai, but was wondering how to take care of it, what needs to be done to it and when etc? Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give me.

Started the month after I'd turned 17. I'm still 17, going on 18 now.

I wouldn't worry. I've been doing karate for about 10 months and still don't really know how to tie my belt. I tie it in a way the looks half right, but itsn't right, but there's no way I'm going to ask anyone how to tie it properly now that I've been doing it for 10 months! I actually got instructions off https://www.asksensei.com in the kids section last night and tried it the way they explained it and it looks a little better than the way I was tying it beforehand.

You posted a thread earlier about other friends knocking karate. It seems that you are fairly concerned about your friends' opinions of you and what you do. Don't be. Friends, especially boys, tend to tease each other and attempt to 'get one up on each other'. Its best just to ignore them. If you don't react to their comments, the fun of teasing you will wear off for them and it'll stop.

*applauds loudly* I totally agree that the two most important things a teacher should have are technical expertise/great knowledge of the subject their teaching and life experience. I guess its the type of thing you refuse to believe when you're young, though. I bet if someone had said to you when you were 26 that they thought you were a bit young to be teaching you'd have been extremely angry with them, yet now you're older you realise that just living life and learning about yourself makes you a much better teacher now that you're older.

I would never go into a shop or anything wearing my uniform. The furthest I ever went wearing it was about 5 or 6 months ago when my big sister helped out in a Guide pack. My dad picked her up two weeks running (usually he didn't pick her up 'cause she would go out with some friends afterwards instead of coming home), and he sent me into the church hall to get her. Since he'd just picked me up from karate I was wearing my 'gi'. One of the weeks I went to pick her up it was Halloween so all the Guides were dressed up and didn't bat an eyelid, but the other week I got a few funny looks. I wasn't doing it to show off or anything though. After all, at the time all I had was a shiny, bright white belt. Not much to flaunt really. I think I'd find it hard not to laugh at someone who was wandering around in a shop with their 'gi' on.

I just reckoned everyone would hem their 'gis' since karate is quite an active sport and rolled up sleeves would come loose.

I agree that refusing to be taught by someone younger is narrow minded, but there's a difference between getting helped from someone young and them taking the class. The person I go to most for help and explanations in my karate class is an 11 year old girl. She's a lovely girl and an excellent martial artist, very helpful, but I would not want her taking a whole class full of adults.

It certainly doesn't sound good that he's putting so much emphasis on the contract and promising black belt in 3 years etc. Certainly, you believe his instruction is good though, so I can understand your dilemma. Maybe you should try testing the water with him. Maybe tell him that your impressed with his instruction (a bit of flattery never hurt) and that you desperately want to learn the art. Maybe lie a bit and say that you have to move around for work a lot/your parents have to move around a lot and you feel that if would be therefore useless to sign up to a contract. See if he'd be willing to make allowances for you and let you pay weekly. Its worth a try.

Just thought I should give my two pence worth. I don't agree with teenagers teaching adults classes for a few reasons: 1. Teenagers are still growing up. They might be "mature" in action, but they are still young. I'm 17 and have acted like a mature, responsible adult since I was a pre-pubescent. I'm one of the "model" kids when it comes to having good manners, a good attitude, a good work rate etc. At the age of 15 I thought I was an "adult". I thought that I would change very little between the age of 15 and the age of, say, 21. Oh how wrong I was. From about the age of 16 I've went through more changes than I would ever have considered possible (and no doubt there is much more to come when I start Uni, start working part-time etc. after the summer). At 15 I thought I was past the whole "growing up" stage, but I'd not even started out on it. My mind set, my attitude, almost everything about me has changed for the better, and I believe that a 15 year old may not get the respect that they desire as teachers because the adults they are teaching will be aware that there will be more "growing up" for the teenager to go through yet. 2. This is kind of linked to #1. People do tend to respond better to people who are older than them. Its easier for them to respect someone who is older, or at least a peer of them, for many reasons. Obviously, in a martial arts class there is constantly going to be students of various ages and you could not expect the instructor to be older than everyone, but a 15 year old teaching an adults class will be extremely young. The majority of the class will be older than that. A 15 year old teaching a kids class on occassion would be appropriate though, as children could look up to a 15 year old. 3. Responsibility issues. I believe any instructor should have First Aid certificates etc. to ensure they can handle any situations. They should have a fair amount of life experience and should therefore be more prepared to handle any person that comes into the dojo, and any situation that may arise. A 15 year old will think that they would be capable of coping in any situation, and some may be able to, but I think the large majority wouldn't. If I even take the First Aid certificate issue as an example. I was involved in First Aid from the age of 8 till the age of 15. Every year I went to classes and received my certificate, which was fine. Of course, I had to attend the kids First Aid class (the adults classes were only available to 16 year olds and over). To simplify First Aid, make it easier for all ages of children to learn and to avoid teaching children dangerous techniques that could be performed badly in a life or death situation, the taught 'kiddie First Aid' at that class. Its still a great thing to know, of course, but its not quite the 'Real McCoy'. That's just an example from where I live, but if say a proper First Aid certificate could not be taught and presented to someone under the age of 16, then no instructors should be under the age of 16. Personally, I think every case would have to go on its own merit. I mean if there is an exceptional martial artist out there who happens to have a maturity and wisdom beyond their years etc. etc. and they just happen to be only 16, then they could possibly still be martial arts instructors at that age. I think, though, as a general rule, a martial arts instructor should be at least 18, but preferably 21, should have a minimum of 10 years martial arts training and should be at least a 1st dan. Exceptional young martial artists could, of course, help out with childrens' classes, but I believe an adult should always be present at these classes simply for liability issues. Of course, during any given class any age of student could offer help and explanations to members of the class who are needing it, but I don't believe they should be responsible for taking the whole class. I hope no one gets offended by this

Roll up the sleeves and pant legs? Am I missing something?

Even I'm getting confused now! All I was saying is that my dad's friend is a 3rd dan karate and judo practitioner and he felt that they had not served him particularly well in self defense situations. He'd dedicated his life to them and still continues to train today. He loves what he does, but felt that boxers etc. tended to fight better than someone trained in karate in a bar brawl situation. He loved karate but felt that it was not as effective as he'd hoped it would be. Now if someone who has a strong love for karate can think that way, then it is no surprise that someone who has never trained in it may also think that way. Its just your friend's thoughts on this issue. He happens to think that it is not an effective method of self defense. You seem surprised by his statement. All I was trying to say is that there are people out there actually practicing martial arts who are unsure of its effectiveness, so it is no surprise that people who don't practice it may think the same thing. I hope you get it now.

Well, personally I think that the person who runs the school should take classes regularly and not just leave it to their students. A good instructor is certainly important. 1. Check that his teaching style is right for you. Make sure you understand his explanations of things and make sure you'd feel comfortable getting taught by him. 2. Ensure that he is giving everyone in the class some helpful hints and explanations. Make sure he is patient with everyone, even those that are having difficulty. 3. Make sure that there is not too many accidents. Frequent accidents tend to be the sign of a bad school and teacher. 4. Make sure he is polite to everyone and doesn't act like an egotistical maniac. You can expect a certain level of discipline in a martial arts class, but a line has to be drawn somewhere too. I'd recommend watching a few classes before you make a decision and ask lots of questions. I'd recommend watching maybe 2 or 3 classes, and participating in at least one (but preferably 2 or 3) before making a decision about whether you want to learn there. Good luck!

Don't worry. I'm 17 and when I started the same fears entered my mind. You'll find that there is a lot of people who will be older than you there. There may be a 5th Kyu who is 40 years old, for example, and although they're higher ranked than you, they'll have started later in life than you. Don't worry about it. Just go, enjoy yourself and if your being badly treated either tell your instructors and see if an end is put to it or find another dojo. Good luck!

Ah, but there's a reason for everything in your training, one would argue... This is somewhat relevant, to an extent... Hagakure, Chapter One: " Every morning, the samurai of fifty or sixty years ago would bathe, shave their foreheads, put lotion in their hair, cut their fingernails and toenails rubbing them with pumice and then with wood sorrel, and without fail pay attention to their personal appearance . It goes without saying that their armor in general was kept free from rust, that it was dusted, shined, and arranged. Although it seems that taking special care of one's appearance is similar to showiness, it is nothing akin to elegance. Even if you are aware that you may be struck down today and are firmly resolved to an inevitable death, if you are slain with an unseemly appearance, you will show your lack of previous resolve, will be despised by your enemy, and will appear unclean. For this reason it is said that both old and young should take care of their appearance. Although you say that this is troublesome and time-consuming, a samurai's work is in such things. It is neither busy- work nor time-consuming. In constantly hardening one's resolution to die in battle, deliberately becoming as one already dead, and working at one's job and dealing with military affairs, there should be no shame. But when the time comes, a person will be shamed if he is not conscious of these things even in his dreams, and rather passes his days in self- interest and self-indulgence. And if he thinks that this is not shameful, and feels that nothing else matters as long as he is comfortable, then his dissipate and discourteous actions will be repeatedly regrettable." Despite the fact that my karate 'gi' can usually be found in a ball on the floor in my room after training, I always leave the house for karate looking immaculate. No samurai would ever guess how I treat my 'gis' after class. In fact, the other day my mum came into my karate class to pick me up and the minute we got outside she exclaimed, "Some of those people were wearing old karate suits...they looked almost grey! I would never send you out looking like that!" I just looked at her in amazement. She also gets frantic about the dirt on my karate 'gi' after class. If she picks me up she's like, "There's dust on that! You look so grubby! I hope no one sees you walking around like that..they'll think I can't take care of you properly." Well, yes mum, you tend to look a little grubby after rolling about the floor and stuff. It happens, I'm sure no one will hold it against you personally, mum.

*dances* Congrats to you and your son. Belt tests are intolerably nerve-racking (to me, at least), but its a good feeling when its over and done with and passed.

So is that like if i was to think martial arts really didn't work well, someone who trains with me may think the same thing? No, that's not what I mean (although if you were teaching martial arts to students and telling them that if was ineffective, then they probably would believe you), but all I was saying is that some people do think martial arts in ineffective. I was using my dad's friend as an extreme example. He's spent all his life training in the martial arts, yet even he can doubt their effectiveness in certain situations. If he can doubt them and he's dedicated to them, then its understandable that your untrained friend may also think the same way. I'm not saying anyone is right or anyone is wrong, just that people all will have (and are entitled to) their own opinions and they're not very likely to change their opinions unless they get undeniable proof that they were wrong. Your friend has never studied martial arts and so is ignorant of what is involved, yet he will have his own preconceived notions of what is it and how effective it is. You may never change his opinions, but as long as you don't let him change yours about something you love as much as martial arts then its fine.

I agree that karate would improve your punches, and my dad's friend understands that karate will have improved his punches, but he has always said that people who he has encountered with no martial arts training who fight frequently in street fights, or people who have had boxing training (which I don't consider a martial art) have the advantage over him and his training. I'm not knocking martial arts training, and it of course is better than no experience at all, but in a 'no-rules' scenario it can fail you. Obviously it is going to change from person to person. After all, different dojos train at different levels of intensity and different people will encounter different types of threat in their life eg. this friend of my dad's had only ever been involved in bar brawls and not one-on-one confrontations outside the dojo. I'm not denying the effectiveness of martial arts training, all I'm saying is that if one person with extensive martial arts training feels that it is not particularly effective for him, then it is understandable that someone who has never trained in the martial arts before may hold the same view.

You might never convince them. Teenagers tend to be 'smart asses' (me included ). They think they know everything and don't want to appear fools in front of others. Possibly that friend who read your karate book was secretly impressed, but was more concerned with his image than what he read. It doesn't matter what your friends think. You might win them round one day, you might not, but the important thing is that you don't let their views corrupt yours. Keep practicing karate regardless of them.

Ah, it was awesome when I was a white belt! I got away with murder (I guess I still do...we all do, I suppose). Since you were new you were told to take it completely at your own pace. If they said do 50 sit-ups and you could only manage 2, fine. If you were told to try and keep up with the kata and you were tripping up over your own feet by Heian Nidan, fine. You could sit out when you got tired or confused. Sometimes you wouldn't even have to do something if you didn't want to eg. at first I was terrified of free sparring and sometimes I'd get to do focus pad work instead. You constantly had someone beside you talking you through things (especially when doing kata or basics) and you were constantly being encouraged for the slightest success. You managed to tie your own belt and it was like "woohoo! Happy day, let's have a party!" Ok, slight exaggeration, but you know. Man, I loved being a white belt *sniff, sniff* I think I must be the only karate student in the world that was actually depressed when I got my first kyu grade. I was relieved and happy that the test was over, but miserable when I had to take my white belt off for the last time.

Your friend has a bit of a point. My dad has a friend who was a 3rd dan in Shotokan, a 3rd dan in Judo and who dabbled in many other arts. He said that in his life he'd been in many fights and had never used his martial arts in any of them. He told my dad that possibly martial arts skills could be used in a self defense situation one-on-one (especially with females as there would be the surprize element if they were attacked and the attacker wouldn't expect them to fight back), but he said in a bar brawl situation he found his martial arts experience pretty useless. I'm not saying that that is correct, but I am saying that if a dedicated martial artist believed that his martial arts weren't much use in many street situations, then it is understandable that someone untrained in the martial arts might think the same way. As for the 'ki' thing, I personally believe that 'ki' is "just" focus. Except extreme focus. Focus of everything. I believe it is pure concentration of the mind; focus of the muscles (contraction and relaxing them at the exact right moments etc.) Even if I explain it in a more physiological sense thank you might, it doesn't make it less amazing. To obtain the level of focus I'm talking about it would take years of constant training and practice and few people would ever truly master it. So in that sense it makes it a more amazing concept than some magical energy stream that runs through everyone and everything in the world.

I'm sure I saw a post on this on the Shotokan Planet forums. I guess its worth checking them out and trying to track it down.

Well Aikido would certainly be useful for self-defense, but not until you'd studied it for years. Its a difficult art to master and takes a lot of time, effort and patience before you'd be comfortable enough to use Aikido in a self-defense situation. TSK. I can't make much comment on. I've heard a few things about it being mentioned here and there, and from what I've heard it sounds like a bit of a McDojo, but as I said, I've got no real experience of it. I've never been to a TSK dojo and I've never spoken to someone who attends one, so I can't be certain. I guess the best way to find out is to go along to one, watch a class and ask lots of questions! Good luck!