Soheir

Sounds odd to me. Chest protector is not a nessesity, why would it be? In Kyokushin tournaments, women are allowed to use only soft types of chest protectors.

RW : I admit, it is kind of stupid that in kyokushin, there's no head punches, it makes it easier to keep your hands too low. You don't always remember that the opponent might kick you any time. But, usually when you train fo a while, all your opponents probaply are waiting the right moment to do the kick. So it still depends of the individual... Anyway, missing head punches aren't the only difference between kyokushin and shotokan, nor their sparring style. I don't know if they even have the same rules??? Ps. They kick a lot in Kyokushin.

The fighting style is different so of course the stance is different too.

Solid post! Random question: If one has been training/learning for quite some time, i.e. 20 or 30 or 40 plus years, and they 'quit training totally' for one reason or another: wouldn't muscle memory activate when attacked? Kind of like getting back onto the horse, in that, once you've done it before, all one has to do is get back onto the horse and everything starts to fall into place. Well, that's why I said "for a while". Because I don't think 8 years is enough on this one. But I still think that you should not stop practicing after 40 years.

I agree, and I it's a lie that those people who train for a while, could actually defend themselves after they quit training totally. This is not something that you just learn and practice once, we must keep training, keep practicing.

he's not blocking correctly then. when being attacked Jodan by your sparring partner or whoever the proper block is jodan age uke which is to have your forearm at an angle like so http://www.3battleskarate.com/images/jodan%20age%20uke_lg.jpg when blocking Chodan the right block should ALWAYS connect with the wrist and not the hand and when counter attacking you sweep the opponents fist across their body so you have access. learn Chudan age uke correctly and you won't get hurt [/url] Yeah as Toptomcat said, you cant apply perfect blocks in full blown sparring. You just have random punches and kicks coming at you. Some people bruise, some don't. Unfortunately I'm part of the former. Got some pads sorted out so I'll see how they go tonight. Think I'll have to visit the doc soon as my right forearm is still really bruised. I haven't been for two weeks. What?! That's not true. I think it's kind of weard way to think about sparring... If you have an opponent that is "as good" as you are, you propably aren't going to manage perfectly on all the blocks, but that's just bad way to prepare to a fight.

Well, why does there have to be a first strike? Maybe in boxing there is, but if we think, how should judoka or karateka from a certain style act in that kind of situation, there shouldn't be an actual strike, in my opinion. I mean, if someone attacts you, you defend yourself. So if the opponent doesn't have a hold from you, then there is no need to fight. And also, if he doesn't have a hold, then you are makeing The Firt Strike, with no reason. Basically, you are the one attacting. Then it's a different thing, if you have to defend your mate, or some stranger.

We have blue belt before green, and between there is yellow, but our light blue refers to water.

"Made me want to prove them wrong cause i knew I did have the ability." Yeah, that kind of things motivates me too. -A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. -Walter Bagehot

I see, your idea of cold is my idea of summer!

Then they must do hell of a lot of that kind of blocking.

In my opinion, if you want to do your style fully, as a style that it is. It's not possible! If you spar, like they do in knockdown styles, you will get bruises and maybe some cuts (?)too, Idon't get where do you get them from though.

Wadoryu is a style that connects shotokan karate and shindo yoshin-ryu-jujutsua. Though, I think wado is more self defence as shotokan is competition oriented, I might be wrong on that.

Is that really even possible? Maybe, if you get more muscle in time.? I do get bruises often, sometimes a lot, sometimes not so much, but it doesn't really matter. At least you get used to them, later you don't even almost notice it; Few bruises, So what? I get, some people doesn't like it when you might often have bad bruises at somewhere, where others can notice it easily (when you're not in training). I don't mind, though.

Fear you can lose (not totally) in time, fighting and training. But the only way to get really better is to spar. There's no other way.

I think it can, but it depends from the individual right? Not everyone enjoy sparring and hitting someone, even when it's just training. But I surely do . I don't know what would I do without Karate, and I agree with the philosophy thing, I'm not a very religious person neither.

I don't believe in Ki, as this huge power thing that only some few people can do, if I exaggerate. But I do believe that there is a point on it...

I can't rally agree with this... Not that I wouldn't believe you can become a great fighter on that.

“The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.” -Ernest Hemingway “Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too” - Voltaire “No matter how good you are at something, there's always about a million people better than you. -Homer Simpson “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt “A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.” -William Shedd

I don't get this..?

The individual counts for a lot, but to say that the individual is the only thing that counts is to ignore the role of the teacher. There is such a thing as karate that is suited for self-defense and karate that is unsuited for self-defense. Not all, but for my opinion the most. Sure it's important for a student that you have a qualified teacher, and if you wouldn't, it would effect your success. But you can always change a school and a teacher, so in the end it depends from you. But if your attitude is wrong...Well, no one can change it but you!

Of course it's the individual that counts. Anything can work if you can use it well. Anyway, when people who doesn't do karate, say anything about it's techniques's practicality, they should talk about some specific style. This, also because, you can't describe the style just as karate. So... Now I'm just repeating what you said...I agree!

Kyokushin karate Orange-orange 2 Blue-blue 2 Yellow-yellow 2 Green-green 2 Brown- brown 2 Black, 1.-9.dan

It's not that hard to get used to not hiting head strikes. And also, I think it's good to learn that there is a lot more of places to drop the opponent than head.

I've seen many women accidentally hit in the breast and I've been hit in the breast many times myself (once by a punch, but many times by speeding tennis balls) and I've never seen a woman drop to the ground in pain like men do. I've seen men vomit from a realitively light hit to the groin. I can't see how getting hit in the breast even comes close. You're right, even thought it doen't feel nice, it doen't hurt as much as men. No one drops from that!