GaryMo

Whilst we're on the subject of Tito - It's sad to see his demise. I think he grabbed a lucky sub against Ryan Bader then two back-to-back losses and all that after 5 years without a win makes us remember him for the wrong reasons. Time to give up now Tito before you get hurt.

On another day I still think Machida has the style to defeat Jones, other than Machida I can't see anybody else defeating him apart from himself. I'm surprised Machida didn't put up more of a fight when on the floor, especially as he's a black belt in BJJ. However, Jones is very effective from top position with elbows and that showed when he opened up a huge cut on Machida's forehead. As for the choke, Machida certainly wasn't going to tap was he! Also a shame Nogueira didn't tap when face with the kimura. A little lost pride would be a much better outcome than arm and elbow surgery! I'm still thinking of the moment his arm snapped!

Does anybody think the Shotokan Karate style of Lyoto Machida can defeat Jon Jones? I certainly hope so and I see this as Jon Jones' biggest test to date.

How effective would a cheap makiwara board be, like the one I've linked to below? I can see the attraction from a pricing point of view and easy hanging in the garage but would they be effective for conditioning of the hands? http://www.blitzsport.com/Wooden-Makiwara

An idiot or a fool.

In that case you need to figure out how to train with children without knocking hell out of them - on reflection it may be that she's trying to teach you some control. If the intention is to teach control then a child isn't the best person to practice on. I certainly wouldn't be happy if it was mine!

I have a couple of Blitz White Diamond gi's and find them to be nothing short of excellent after my first gi being a standard Blitz student gi which, as you said, shrunk quite a bit! I have no problem with wearing a nice gi, being a lowly purple belt myself.

They have both retired. Randy announced his retirement in the after fight interview in the octagon with Joe Rogan. Saying that though, he's retired before but let's hope this one is permanent.

Here's the kick: http://www.pohrani.com/f/42/gv/3vqiZibw/seagal-kick.gif

I reckon the lack of a voice would be something I could still train with!

If you had exercised control and watched your follow through then technically if he had of moved the pad you wouldn't have hit him, unless he had also moved his head to where the pad was. As I said, once or twice should have been enough to alter your technique so the third, forth and fifth head kick wouldn't have been necessary. In any case, you shouldn't be kicking a pad held by a ten year old with any force at all.

I'm not sure where an orange belt stands in your grading system but it's a 9th kyu in shotokan which I practice. If he's a low grade then surely nobody should be making contact with him, especially when he's only ten years old and more so, contact to his head! Maybe he has problems outside of the dojo?

An accident happens once, maybe twice then surely you see a pattern emerging so you make an alteration so that it doesn't happen again, especially to a 10 year old! Is this the same kid you were referring to in your other thread? "SO I WENT TO KARATE. i DID AWESOME. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. i BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF A KID BECAUSE MY SENSEI TOLD ME TOO BECAUSE THE KID WAS NOT LISTENING" Did you also say you teach?

Injuries can be a real pain! I've just got over a broken big toe, well not totally over it as I can't see my toe being as mobile as it used to be but at least I could reintroduce kicks back into sparing. Also entered a tournament a few weeks ago and felt a little pain but nothing to write home about. Anyway, I've had a pain in my groin for the past couple of months which hasn't been too painful but more of a niggle. A doctor looked at it yesterday due to it getting a little worse and confirmed it as a hernia. Great!

It sounds like the 'JC Leg Cranks': http://www.iwacourses.com/pdf/integrativehandout2.pdf

Have you been in hibernation for the past 12 months? lol

I started Shotokan karate in March of this year, again at 37 years of age. I just wish I had found it earlier. I feel I just can't train enough! I've now just turned 38, attained the grade of 6th Kyu and am looking towards a tournament next March as I feel I hold my own when sparing against varying ages and ranks so why not?

I use ShockDoctor core compression shorts and find them perfectly adequate. http://www.shockdoctor.com/product/core-compression-short-with-bioflex-cup.aspx

Really impressive Karate. I'd love to reach that standard but doubt I ever will!

Would that be something like the Blitz Silver Tournament?

School Name: Sei-Do-Kan Style: Shotokan Karate Location : Ashton-in-Makerfield, Atherton and Chorley Sensei: Billy Higgins (7th Dan), other instructors (4th, 3rd and 2nd Dan).

Well done Ste, it sounds like you had a ball!

Hi Ste. I'm now happy with my White Diamond after the first one was the incorrect size. I take a size 5 (~12.5st and 5ft 10.5") but my Sensei gave me a size 5.5 to try. It totally drowned me with the apron coming almost down to my knees. After receiving a size 5 it was still slightly long though that's now become less of a problem after a 30 degree wash. Yes it's longer than my standard student gi and the arms shorter but I can see a benefit in that the top now doesn't ride up and the sleeves don't get in the way. I think the 14oz material may take some getting used to though as it becomes quite heavy when it absorbs sweat. It's also like training in a sauna suit!

It's good to hear that this does actually happen at some point (hopefully!). As a 7th Kyu (6 months in) in Shotokan I get picked apart when sparing with any Dan grades, which I do expect. They seem to know exactly where I'm going to attack seemingly before I do then have the perfect counter!

I've upgraded from a regular Blitz lightweight student gi to a 14oz heavier weight Blitz White Diamond gi. The first thing I noticed was it was extremely heavy and not so flexible so I put it in the machine and on a cold wash cycle then let it dry. It almost feels like cardboard and was a nightmare to iron, according to my wife! I'm assuming that it'll become softer and more supple the more it's worn? I certainly hope that's the case