gavn8r

Umm... no. It doesn't translate to "Rape School." Anyone with access to Google can figure that out. Wikipedia's translation is "hard and complete system in the way of the empty hand." There are controversies, however. I read this on wikipedia: "Recruitment - A significant proportion of GKR's member base is from its door-to-door recruitment system. This system of student recruitment was taught to Robert Sullivan by Matsugi Tanaka, who was at that time the Senior Instructor of Go Kan Ryu at the Adelaide Headquarters, this was during 1984/85. Matsugi Tanaka had joined Go Kan Ryu already a Sandan in Shotokan and significantly contributed to the manner in which Robert Sullivan viewed the potential of Karate as a business. The method of door-to-door recruitment is unpopular with sections of the martial arts community and many styles have criticised GKR for its "commercial" or Amway approach to martial arts and for not caring about their members. GKR shrugs off such accusations, alleging that there is a strong "family" feel amongst its students and senseis." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GKR_Karate) A lot of people say that GKR is a pyramid scheme. Maybe that's so. It still doesn't turn me off completely to the system, though.

Ours are also conducted in front of a panel of three or four nidans (or higher). The sensei calls out what he wants you to do... kata, kion, etc, and we do it. For the lower belts he may give a little instruction to help them understand what he's asking them to do. We usually find out if we passed in one week. And I actually like the waiting game. It adds a little more excitement to things.

I like sensei8's advice. To add my two cents, just know that you will be very nervous you're first time out. Just go out there a do your best. Next time, you'll have a tournament under your belt and you'll feel less nervous.

Yeah, I'm thinking over formality until I'm informed otherwise is the wisest course of action. Thanks for that.

My sensei is approximately my age. We have the same level of education. Our kids are about the same age (his are a little older). So my question is this: When we're outside the dojo, what should I call him? Should I call him sensei? Should I call him by his first name? What?

I've sparred against some GKR opponents. Really got defeated soundly by one of them. In fact, one of the major tournaments here in Northern California is a GKR dojo. Last year the president of GKR came. My impression is that the style is okay. I'm still partial to Shotokan, though... only because that's what I study.

I've enjoyed this tread. But to be perfectly honest, if Chuck Norris were Japanese, I'd fear his roundhouse kick even more.

That's a nice one. I may use that.

I boxed a bit before moving on to Shotokan. My advice, like others before me, is to take it easy. That and take the strength out of your shoulders... you don't need it in Shotokan. Just relax and shoot your punches out with your bicep. It's okay to hit hard, just remember it's training, not a fight. So don't hurt your training partner. The idea is to score first, not score a KO.

My first tournament I was so nervous that I completely screwed up. I actually slipped during my kata (Heian Shodan) and got eliminated in the first round of kumite. But it was good to get it under my belt and I've fared better in the tournaments since. Best of luck on the next one!

I wear a traditional white karategi. I have a few of them. One is a very cheap polyester gi that I got when I first started. Another one is made of dryfit material and is a bit heavier duty. The last is a very thick cotton canvas gi from Tokon... I think the model is 'America.' I've found that in whatever climate, winter or summer, the heavy gi is actually cooler because it doesn't stick to my body like the others.

I love MMA and the UFC, but I guess I think of karate as something more than just a fight. So it doesn't bother me when critics say that karate doesn't belong in MMA. In my opinion, MMA isn't a real proving ground for martial arts. Think about it, you've got two guys who have trained a lifetime to hit, and more importantly, take a hit. So it seems like the fight never boils down to fighting style. I just boild down to man vs. man.

Well said. There's nobody who can honestly say that one is better than the other. I personally study Shotokan. I'm currently a 7th kyu and will be testing for my 6th kyu in two weeks. I've never studied another style, but feel that Shotokan fits me very well. My sensei is a very traditional person and values the philosophy of staying as close to Gichin Funakoshi's original style as possible. And I get a kick out of the fact that I'm only 6 steps removed from Funakoshi himself. To each his own.

Get in real tight and you'll take away his advantage. I'm 6'2" and I hate it when my opponent gets "inside my reach" because I then can't really score with good technique. It seems like once my opponent figures that out, the more challenging it becomes to win. My two bits.