rhilllakefield

Thank you gentleman. As a follow up, I am now training (virtually) as a Goju Ryu white belt! I'm happy about it! Once I'm fluent in the dojo etiquette and culture, along with Kata, I'll wear my current belt once again. I'm honestly enjoying time as a white belt again!

Thank you champ8309. Much appreciated. I think we may find a common ground, and that I would wear my existing belt, but eventually grade for a Chito-Ryu shodan. Time will tell, and I'll report back. Ryan

Hi folks, I've trained for a couple of decades, and after a few year layoff, I'd like to start training regularly and making Karate a bigger part of my life again. I know the head instructor of the local Chito Ryu school well, and have a lot of respect for the school. I'm a blackbelt in British Ishinryu, and have been previously invited to train at this school as a blackbelt. After some physio I'm ready to train full time....but not full speed due to a knee that still needs work. I've also felt that the established black belts that have been with the club have more of a right to train as blackbelts because of their tenure. How do the senior ranks on this site feel about me offering to being at a lower rank? On my end, it would help me train without feeling like a fraud, and also give me focus and drive to learn the new kata and slight differences in technique. Thoughts? Id be happy to continue to train as a Shodan, but thought I'd put it out there.

Hi Brendan, welcome back to the martial arts! I would agree that getting thrown might be a bit rough, jumping back into it. I would think most traditional karate schools would be welcoming if you were interested. Everyone has different goals from their training, and different abilities. I'm 41, and my karate is very different than when I was 20....and will be different again when I'm 60 and onwards. Also, Yang or Chen style Tai chi with a qualified instructor would be excellent. Yang is mostly slow, with some fast movements, and Chen is mostly fast with some slow movements. A good instructor can help you disect each to pull out the martial applications....which are actually quite nasty in tai chi. Also, Iaido would be another good options for a Japanese art. The art of drawing and cutting. Very meditative, with the ability to make it your own. Good luck! keep us posted!

Thank you gentleman! And thanks Patrick! Happy to be back among like minded friends.

The Paul Chen swords are always a safe bet. Their practical plus katana, or whatever the newer version is, will be able to be disassembled, fully functioning and have a full tang.

All Iaido forms can be done from a standing position, as a part of regular practise, and as a modification to the standard forms. In our local school there are a few practitioners in their 70's that prefer training from standing.

Agreed about the chair to check form. I always do kicks slowly to check my form every once in a while. My heel usually ends up pointing at my target during a side kick. Look up some good hip flexor and glutei stretches, and keep an eye on your muscle balance early on in your training. It will help you down the road. Kicking shouldn't hurt, unless you're really overdoing it!

Thank you very much guys. I appreciate the responses Ive been a consistent student, but for just shy of a year of training. The class is very small, with ususlly only myself and one oe two more. The Kung fu class is larger. I may leave it for now, unless he asks. Otherwise if I did decide to stay id be more inclined to offer feedback. Thanks again. Nothing is dangerous at all.....just odd, and slightly unprofessional. Ryan

Also, humility saves knees!! I've been finding that until my stances are perfect again (correcting some minor bad habits) I've been slowing down in my training and being very cautious. Just because we can keep up with the 20 year olds doesn't mean we ALWAYS should!

I am literally going through this same thing. I have a 5th physic appointment tomorrow. I'm 41 and have been training off an on for 27 years. I was getting frustrated with Karate, and the pain that I thought IT was causing. I've since been focusing on my technique.....as a Dan rank, very slow and back to basics stances, transitions and knee position. I've also been engaged in IT band rolling (ouch) knee and hip mobility training and squats! I have more power and stability in my legs now than I did in my 20's Its lit a fire under me again that the pain is subsiding and I'm finding new strength in my techniques. Physio is your friend! Listen to them...work hard on it, and train smart. You'll be a happy man in the end!

Pinan Go Saifa Yansu Pinan San Enpi

Thank you gentleman. It has given me something to think about. I honestly like the man, and it has made it more difficult. I don't feel like its a good value in terms of training per dollar, and his antics have made me question it even more. I care about his club, so maybe I'll give him something, with a bit of sugar on top.

He was definitely a legitimate martial artist and a pioneer. JKD itself was essentially the forerunner to modern MMA. Bruce Lee was hot headed, and was apparently a terrible driver! This is straight from Guro Dan Inosanto. As with anything, things have modernized. We'll never know how he would have done against some modern fighters. He was so calculated, and so clinical, I'd bet he would have been very successful at staying relevant.

Hi folks, An interesting topic I've been pondering today. I've been a Karate practitioner on and off since '93, and have since delved into Tai chi while working through some lagging injuries and muscle imbalances. I've made enough progress that I'm considering a return to Karate. At one point I'd thought of continuing with Tai Chi (Long form Yang style) but have reconsidered partially because of my instructor. Hes a very approachable and generally warm hearted person, however, has a strong tendency to brag about accomplishments, and or supposed chi development. What really threw me off was in the last week of class, he started slapping himself in the groin claiming that he didn't feel it.......I've been at this a while and haven't experienced anything like that from an instructor. It was fairly comical. Its made me question his Chi Kung, and generally his practical knowledge. Also, there's usually enough time spent talking at the beginning of a one hour class, that my monthly fee equates to roughly $65 for 4-45 minute classes per month. Enough that Ive decided to leave the club at the very least. Would you tell your instructor if you're leaving because of differences in opinion / attitudes? Or would you tell him that you're generally dissapointed in the class? or nothing? Thoughts would be interested! Thanks Ryan