Cable Dog

So I realize that 20 something posts later is a little late, but I've still only spent less than a week on this site. I'm David, Orange Belt in Shudokan, Yellow Belt in Hayashi-ha Shito-ryu. I have 23 days left before I ship off to the Army. For those of you who are wondering, my MOS is 25L Cable Systems Installer Maintainer. Otherwise known as, a Cable Dog. Anyways, thanks for having me here, and I hope to share insight in my posts, and learn from others in my time here, although in 23 days there'll be a 20 week gap in my presence here.

Soto-uke. Outside block. I can't remember how many times this basic technique has allowed me to evade a technique or even open a hole in someone's defense, or been used as my "secret" technique to use as an attack itself. But truly, my technique of choice is Evasion. Dodge, then run away. No point in fighting in the first place.

Miscellaneous, Grapple, Throw, Punch, Kick. Although truly, I would use a combination.

Shudokan, under training by Morris Mack. Morris Mack quite possibly has been my toughest sensei yet despite his incredible size and sparring ability. Under his style you focus on unorthodox movements and strike. Using a block such as soto-uke or uchi-uke as a strike instead. It almost felt like a dance in sparring since I remember ducking low with a block, then going in for a strike, pull out and away, repeat. Hayashi-ha Shito-ryu. As I have only just started this martial art, I feel it is too soon to give a solid review. Although it seems a little too rigid and not very effective. Just my thoughts now. (Free class in college)

My kiai is rather unorthodox as it isn't a word so much as a "bark" maybe? I get a good breath before, and often during kumite I will kiai before a specific move, and condition the person to that. When I decide to make a final move, I will kiai and use an entirely different move which generally speaking throws them off. I have the loudest kiai in my class (most are girls to be fair **not saying they can't be loud**) however it is more like a gutteral yell than a word.

I wouldn't say that I have created my own style, so much as my own adjustments to the style. I am an evasive fighter. I search for pockets in a persons defense and use a block to open one if I can not see an obvious one. Rather than standing in Nekoashi-dachi or Zenkutsu-dachi, I tend to sit in what is deemed "Snake Stance" but it is not entirely so. More like a reverse Zenkutsu-dachi. There are other adjustments as well, but still, not a new or even original style.

The sheep of the shepherd will become lions when threatened. In my full time of training martial arts and military, I've learned how to not cause any harm and yet fully pacify a target using only two fingers. As the phrase goes, "If a man strikes you across the cheek, turn the other cheek" says, turn the other cheek. It says nothing about allowing yourself to be hit again. Only giving the person the opportunity to disgrace themselves again. I've been attacked several times, and not a single person, using weapon or no, has ever even been so much as hospitalized. (This doesn't count military targets of course, only unprovoked targets)

I would like to earn my black belt in 3 or more martial arts, and eventually become a sensei in a dojo.

Despite learning complex blocks or stances, I have found that soto-uke can be more effective for opening a hole than many of the "exotic" blocks or strikes. It is often so unexpected to use blocks as an offensive art that I've found it to be "my secret technique".

Not to beat a dead horse since this topic seems to be thoroughly beaten already, but the "breaking" and "dance demos" are meant to be aesthetically pleasing, not educational. In fact honestly, I haven't come across a kata that made me say "Hmm, if I ever get in a fight, I'll just use this kata". However, It forces you to repeat these moves with perfection from start to finish. The last punch should be as strong as the first. The last zenkutsu dachi should be as long and solid as the first.

You know you're a martial artist when... ...your friend taps your arm/shoulder and you circle your arm around his/hers and then have to apologize. ...stop closing doors with mawashi geri(round house). ...practice shotei uchi (palm heel strike) on push-bar doors. ...you understand all the karate terminology relating to strikes and blocks. ...when playing games, your friends feel it "only fair" for it to be everyone against you.

Honestly, neither of the two would make me fear the person more. The most practical training, is someone who has fought/sparred with 1,000 people 1,000 times. Such experience from these fights would grant unimaginable insight to any fight from then on.

3rd character, Hand 4th character, Self/I/Me 5th character, Tao (incredibly hard to describe, google Tao) Right hand side has Katakana, but it is backwards. not sure why. Hope that helped some.

To wear the gi without the belt is simply impractical and just an excuse for a loop hole. I hate to be rude about that and I mean no disrespect, but such an act of bringing wearing gi (belt or no) casually outside the dojo say to the grocery store defeats the whole purpose of starting the martial art in the first place, which is to promote self defense, and more importantly, promote life. Wearing your gi outside the dojo would surely provoke others and such an act is extremely detrimental to the cause. As for the wearing of a gi without your belt, that is simply a loop hole. Again, no disrespect meant, simply stating my personal opinions.

I can't say I prefer one or the other. Each have their benefits. If it is a surprise, I am glad to receive it, though not as prepared as possible, but if it is planned, I am prepared, but no as happy.

So many to pick from. As a repeat, Fort Minor - Remember the Name, and Eminem - Lose Yourself. Also, the F-Zero theme, Brain Cleaner.

My personal experience with bullies is that apathy removes the pleasure of bullying. The less you show that you care, if possible, no emotion at all, then the bully often doesn't get what they wanted. It takes a while but it often works. A combination of proper authority contact (police, principal, etc.) with the "killing with kindness" tactic works wonders as it is almost impossible to give a GOOD reason for the attack. Just my best tactics. Out of personal experiences, I carried a deck of cards. No I'm not Gambit. But they cost a quarter at the local thrift shop and they have many uses, If you aren't good at throwing individuals, simply throwing them into the air at the bully gives a great distraction for a quick escape. Likewise as a projectile if you pinch the top and bottom card of the deck and throw, it becomes a solid projectile. These tactics are google-able. My personal tactics are strange, I realize. I much prefer to not get into a fist-fight if I can.

I've been told personally that my eyes give away my training. I'm also military, so this may have an effect, but in civilian/casual clothes I still often notice that people seem intimidated. I generally ease this quickly with light-hearted conversations or jokes.

Heard from friends that it's okay, but is relatively ineffective compared with other styles. Just rumor though.

As a general rule of thumb, I will lie about a karate based event, injury or otherwise, simply for the fact that I would much prefer others to think of me as an unskilled fighter because then less fights will ensue.

In our dojo, you were to change directly before, and directly after instruction. If we were "caught" fighting (other than TRUE self-defense), or wearing our gi (when not at a dojo or other appropriate area), we were first talked to, then teaching would halt if "caught" again.

I've highly noticed that I am quieter than normal, and particularly alert after classes, but in general, I feel that I have become more peace-loving and less aggressive because of Karate.

I know that at least in my dojo, you had to be 18 to attain black belt rank. And until you reached 18 years of age, you gained belts in half-belts. Ie: White, White w/black stripe, Yellow, Yellow w/black stripe, etc.

Due to that I started in Shudokan and moved into Hayashi-ha Shito-ryu, I had the issue that I leaned forward in zenkutsu-dachi, and torqued with my punches. After a couple months of watching myself in the mirror and forcing myself to readjust every time, I now immediately go into the correct (for H-h S-r) zenkutsu-dachi. My advice: Practice the right way, again and again and again.

I've studied two types of Karate, which as I know it, is a defensive martial art. Both Shudokan, and Hayashi-ha Shito-ryu were helpful in many ways, but I am looking for something else. I need help in choosing a more offensive martial art. Most of my "fights" are kumite with friends. But as the principle of Karate is that there is no "first hit" in Karate, it makes that difficult. I favor the Cat Stance and Snake Style/Stance with an evasive/wait-for-an-opening game. So my question is; Considering my background and favored styles, what martial art should I choose to study under to gain a more offensive tactic to my sparring/fighting?