Soheir

We don't hit to head in sparring or in competition. And we use only gloves and shin protectors. In light contact it's good without of course, but you gotta go hard some times. How often, it differs. We very rarely do without protectors. Everybody can and do choose for themselves. If I would know what to choose I wouldn't be here, would I?

I'm looking for some opinions from the pople who train in a style where gears aren't worn in competition, but often are used while practicing. How often should one sparr without any gear? Some go without all the time. Even though I think it's cool on a way, it's not so good in a long run. But it isn't eather good to go with them all the time, so i'm looking for some fine golden mean.

Naha-te, shuri-te and tomari-te. Whenever I read about early history of karate, those styles come along. Maybe not actual karate, but the colesest you get might be.

I don't think it's enough, if the student isn't sure he's ready. Especially when ranking that high. There are several other considerations regarding this issue in addition to the ones previously pointed out: 1. How can you see and evaluate yourself more objectively then your teacher? If the thrust had to do with a questionable moral issue, then you must use your judgement first. 2. If you can not thrust your teachers evaluation of your skill, he may not be fit to teach you. 3. If you can not thrust your teachers evaluation, how can you expect your students to thrust your evaluation of them? That is all true. But if the student doubts whether he's ready, and I mean seriously doubts it, then he's not ready. Teacher's opinion on the techniques is undisputed, but when testing for a black belt one should be able to view his own technique, so that he may himself tell whether it's good or bad. Not everything ofcourse.

I don't think it's enough, if the student isn't sure he's ready. Especially when ranking that high.

If you feel like it, I think you should wait. It's important for you as a martial artist to know you've deserved your belt. Or feel really, altough you seem to "know" you're ready, for the sake of self respect, the feeling's important.

If the teacher is new, it is understandable and even reasonable to think about the way they teach. But if been teaching for some time and there are students that keep training. Then those that stop because of the training, are very likely to stop because of their too big expectations for their success. It doesn't really matter then whether they think the teacher isn't teaching well enough or that they aren't learning fast enough.. Then one eather changes his attitude or stops the training.

Absolutely, agreed.

Well it's hard to know exactly what was going on so.. that's kind of direct accusation. I think a ten-year-old child should be told how it is proper to behave by talking perhaps, in the first place anyway. And is it really fair for you to practise with him very often, if you're not the same size? Are you at all?

I didn't quite get how you managed to kick him 5 times like that, but anyway, I wouldn't waste time thinking about that. The feeling bad will go past, no matter if you think it was wrong or understandable really. Concentrate on the training.

If you don't count balance, power etc. How about the techniques in the kata? What do you do with techniques when they look cool if they don't work?

I doubt punching bag helps, unless you punch real hard...

I believe this goes the same for everyone. But it's sometimes weard to notice, that some people can't kick slowly and well, or with less power and with good technique. Because being able to do the technique in the air with good control, makes the kick better controlled no matter where kicking. Not saying you're one of them.

He has practised so much other styles. he has said he doesn't use kyokushin techniques really in MMA, but the most he got from it was the attitude.

How I would take it would depend a lot about how the person bying the belt takes it. So if I'd find him as a person only out for belts and honor, I'd condemn it.. But if not, if he's a respectable practitioner and so on, It'd be just fine.

You can always use white if you like it better.

Pros and cons are a matter of what you're looking for. Ofcourse, one can make generalisation of all those, but it would be somewhat pointless.. Everybody will anyway choose their style by what they want to learn. A person who's really into boxing propably couldn't care less if you were out to tell him how he will never learn good ground technique. Karate is a self defence system, BUT is it that for everybody nowdays!?

Light contact, however, is very important particularly in full contact styles.

As an aside - strictly speaking - Shukokai is a group not a style. Sojobo So what's the difference?

It's hard to make complicated, do more push-ups. And that is the "problem" that most of the beginners run into, so not to worry. It takes time, And might no be much of a fun but you'll get there in time. In the end, that is not very important thing at that point. Sure, in belt tests there usually is some amount of push-ups that you gotta do... Shukokai's a good style

GeoGiant: I don't get, How? How could that happen?

I voted both. In the end it's the person though.. If I'd have to choose between sensei and system, I'd deffinetly say the system.

Of course your friend shows you all those videos where Muay Thai always wins...? You should, when watching such videos pay attention on the rules though. I'm not saying that that's it, but it does affect. About karate, what style? In TKD, also the style.....except, in TKD the fighting style is waay different than May Thai anyways. In kickboxing the rules.... Choosing the right martial art for one is not like that. The style does not make you a good fighter or anything else by itself. The thing is, you have to practice that style a long time to be a good fighter, and obviously there is no point on spending years on something you don't really want to train for any other reason but because you think it's going to make you a great fighter. If you do like Muay Thai, you want to train that style, and you believe in it, then why not? But you should think your real reasons to practice that then. Did you mean you've already started Karate? If you have been there only few times, you propably know if you don't like it and you want to take up something else?

Some dojos have so much practitioners in all different ranks, that it is quite impossible for teacher/s to follow all of them. And it is good for one to be able to define his skills level by himself.

Those who have less rainbows, appreciate them way more than the people who have them all the time. Who is to say which one is happier, a parent who sees his child come home alive everyday, or the parent who can clearly see that her child really loves what he's doing. One cannot miss what one doesn't have.