Tobias_Reece

Hi all I dont know which MA has the most members, but I do know one with a very small amount. Matayoshi Okinawan Kobudo has just over 350 members worldwide. It is headed by Shihan Mikio Nishiuchi. Oh yeah, and I hold a 5th Kyu in this art () Just though some people might be interested to know C ya Tobias

Hey Kickchick I like that, I'll have to spread it onto my students at the end of class. Thanks Tobias

SOrry Jamie, can't help you there. However, I will search just like SaiFightsMS, and if we find anything we'll tell you. And just for my nosey-ness, what type of weapon art do you practice, or are you just interested in kama anyway? C ya

All of my students and coaches have to have gained their instructors qualification before they are entered for their black belt grading. This may eliminate the problem of black belts doing crap instruction. We hope...... LOL C ya

A Shihon Nukite wouldn't work to the solar plexus???!?!?!? Just as one of the senior students in your class to hit you in the solar plexus with a nukite and you'll know about it!!! I think I see where you are coming from though - nukite is a difficult technique to perform, but when it is done well it hurts - winded Cya

Yoda I agree with you there Keep on posting C ya around

Are you refering to the Shihon-Nukite (spear hand strike)? This move is usually done to either the solar plexus or the throat. C ya

When I say sparring, I mean no free sparring. We do one-step, three step etc. Once again you have to remember Yoda, not everyone trains in certain martial art just to fight. Its an art remember. Exactly what SaiFightsMS said. Hojo-undo are juts like the basic moves in karate. You could say that the first hojo-undo in shotokan karate is Age-uke, Soto-ude-uke, uchi-ude-uke and gedan-barai. The hojo-undo also lead up to the kata Hope this helps Tobias C ya

Yoda Matayoshi Okinawan Kobudo is based around 3 things - hojo-undo, kata, and bunkai. Students going for the 10th had to use rokushakubo, demonstrating hojo-undo #1 and #2, 9th Kyu - bo hojo-undo #1 + #2, and nunchaku hojo-undo #1 5th Kyu (me) - bo hojo-undo #4, sai hojo-undo #2, tonfa hojo-undo, bunkai for Shu-shi-no-kon, bunkai for ko-bu-nunchaku and kata ni-cho-zai. (i think thats all) generally, we dont spar with the weapons hope this helps Tobias

Hi all Just like to say that yesterday (Saturday 26th) 20 students attended a seminar led by Shihan Albie O'Connor, 6th Dan Sessen-Ryu, 3rd Dan Okinawan Kobudo. After the seminar, a grading was held and I would like to congratulate the following people : Matthew Holtom (10th Kyu) Martin Vipond (10th Kyu) Christian Brennen (9th Kyu) Jim Reece (9th Kyu) Carol Clayton (9th Kyu) Simon Clayton (9th Kyu) Darryl Garrick (9th Kyu) [and myself] Tobias Reece (5th Kyu) And a special note to Nicholas Jackson-Spence, who after an unfortunate accident, couldn't attend the seminar. Well done to all C ya

patrick Gi is a japanese word, so if you were playing only english words then it doesn't count I once put Id on a scrabble board and everyone said "you cant have ID, its short for Identification" I had to point out that these people should familierise themselves with Freud!!!!

Whilst we're on the topic, my dad is grading for his Shodan in Shotokan karate in 5 weeks.....EEEKKKK!!!! C ya

Hi all If you many karate competitions, you will see that many, if not nearly all of the fighters hold a low guard. From a karate pointo of view, this is because in sparring, the gyaku-zuki (reverse punch) is the key technique. Also many of these ppl with low guards are very quick, and very evasive. I recently changed my guard from a high position to a low jumping-about guard. Its done me wonders!!! But then again, I generally know how my opponents fight, as I coach them. The minute I fight Moobrack, I immediately change my guard to bak high, or else I get kicked in the head with one of his lightning-fast legs! I would suspect in TKD (calling all TKD practitioners to help me here) that guards are kept high because of the kicking. In karate sparring, we generally use of hands to score. C ya

Once again Angus has taken a interesting and educated discussion into new lows. Well done Angus!!

Moobrack I have heard that some Martial Arts schools do use this system - to get the next belt, you had to defeat an opponent who was higher graded than you. In fact, when we get new members to the club, they often say "do i have to fight someone and beat then for my next grade, cos that what my Grandad says" C ya

Yes, I agree with Angus as well. When doing sparring (yes, the gloried game of tag) I was quite nervous (there are reasons, but they're not important). I used to stand still with a high guard and wait for the opponent to make a move. Now I've gained more confidence I like to jump around on my feet, and I find this is a lot more effective. Isn't it Moobrack?......LOL C ya

Yeah, when I do a tae-bo session, I like trance/hard-house. Basically the more commercial the better!!!! C ya

Jiggy Nice one....I think that article puts across some good points. C ya

Yup I'm planning on buying a new pair of sai, but some of the ones with no chrome. I am currently holding a pair at my house for someone, and am secretly practicing with them. I think they are brilliant. But first, I need to get myself a nunti-bo.... C ya

Sai I also once heard that the three 'respect' katas did start as one kata, but I don't have much information to base this on. C ya

Interesting question Sai I like it when students ask the odd question, possibly refering to stance or history/terminology. However, some students just ask questions to waste time, or just to annoy the instructor. Questions - a mixed blessing LOL C ya

I like to see my coaches correct students in a pleasant yet efficient manner. I also like politemess in my coaches and students. Moobrack, I think you remember a time where you clouted me round the head with a perfect mawashi. He responded in a polite way. C ya

Gloi Yes, there is a part in Jitte which involves the techniques called "Morote-jo(/bo)-dori". (double staff catch) I also experimented with the Sai. It worked quite well, especially the staff grabbing techniques. Keep on posting C ya

Karate Yes, I thought that the name does mean 10 tens, Ju - ten, te - hand. This could mean that the practitioner has the strength of 10 men. However, there is another theory. A jutte was a japanese weapon, very similar to a sai, but with one prong and a bit shorter. Maybe the kata was named after this weapon, as the floor pattern in very simlar to the shape of the weapon. Anyone else have any ideas? C ya

Joe I love using the sai, especially when you get to throw them. A little history lesson for you Joe - I think you may find it interesting: The sai were used by the Okinawan police (japanese police used a similar weapon, called the Jutte). If a criminal tried to run away, the police would throw one of the sai at their legs, hindering the criminals chance of escape. Thats why if you ever see someone throw a sai, they will aim quite close to their own foot. Hey SaiFightsMs - have you ever seen anyone throw sai into their foot? Just wondering, cos I haven't! Any more questions Joe, ask SaiFightsMS or myself - I'm sure we'll be happy to answer them, wont we Sai C ya