sojobo

Can you post a link? Thanks Sojobo

If it is a good Wado club, there will be plenty of meat on the bones for you to gnaw on for years. There is a lot of technical depth to Wado-ryu (physically and mentally). Also - don't assume Wado can't be full contact!! Is the club affiliated to either: JKF Wadokai, WIKF or Wado Ryu Renmei? That’s more important than a 6th dan and referees license. Sojobo

Have you got any details of the Wado club. I may be able to tell whether they are any good or not. sojobo

Who looks down their nose at Wado? Ask any serious practitioner of Karate (regardless of style) what they think of Wado and I doubt they would look down their nose at it. If you think you would not be into Kata, perhaps Karate is not for you. Not being funny, why don't you try kickboxing? Can I ask Wastelander, what methodologies didn't you agree with? Hi Student4life, actually they are both "non-okinawan" karate. Sojobo

Hi Kuma, I'm not familiar with the term "dojo arashi". I think in Japan these challenges are more commonly referred to as "dojo yaburi" (道場破り). I believe that the practice involved challenging the Instructor to a match, but they had to defeat the instructors 2 most senior students first. If the challengers defeated the dojo the prize was the Dojo's sign. Sojobo

Most WKF run comps I have been in have used Jigsaw (puzzle) mats. Although, Judo tatami are also acceptable I believe. They can be toe brakers though! Sojobo

There are no deities in martial arts - only metaphors. Sojobo

Everything emanates from the tanden. You move from the Hara (or centre of the body). In Wado karate at least, everything starts moving together and ends together. However in some styles (particularly traditional Okinawan ones) the "whip / lag" action is more prevalent. For example; here in this Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu version of pinan nidan: This is a very alien thing for me, but I can also see its function. Sojobo

In Wado / Karate, we bow out of respect and humility. At the beginning and end of class we all bow to the instructor (Sensei Ni Rei), then the students (not the Sensei) all bow to one and other (Otaga Ni Rei). This is usually done in seiza. It is also a mark of gratitude to both the instructor(s) and the dojo. At the beginning and at the end of any pair work / Kumite - we bow to your opponent - again this is a mark of respect. These are tachi-rei (standing bows). We also bow when entering and leaving the dojo for the same reasons, but that’s it - I think over-bowing is all too familiar these days. There is no need imo. In my Koryu Bujutsu group we also bow to the “Kamidana” (a small shrine). This is usually done on the command: “Shinsei Ni Rei” (lit. bow to the gods) and it is accompanied with a two claps of the hand. Prior to commencing training with the sword we bow to it (“torei”). Again there is a zarei and tachi-rei versions. Always done with the blade facing either upward or toward you. So, we do bow to people, for the reasons noted above, but we also bow to spirits and our swords. Sojobo

Officially? 9. It has taken me best part of 30 years to see the relevance (to Kihon Kumite) So I don't question it - mind you, never have -just didn't understand maybe, but these things take time. It's all about connecting the dots. That's why I think you can’t do "Wado" kata without practicing / understanding Wado "Kihon Kumite" in tandem. You need an instructor for that – otherwise Wado kata are very easy to do. Sojobo

Thank you

Many of the original Okinawan kata do not start and finish on the same spot. It was a modern adaptation by Shotokan’s Funakoshi / Nakayama etc., in that they cropped and altered the embusen of the originals – to tidy them up!! Sojobo

Dobbersky, You missed out WKF. They are the largest International Karate assoc. in the world. The JKA, JKF etc. are all affiliated to them. Their comps are always conducted on tatami (both kata and kumite). Sojobo

I do understand what you are saying, and maybe we are kind of on the same wavelength, but I think it is mind set here. I am proud of what I have achieved - and that is just to become better. I don't need anything to demonstrate that - I feel it and more importantly -realise it. Sojobo

Brilliant, LMAO.

I get where you're coming from here. I used to really be on board with it. However, after hearing Robson Moura talk about belt rank, I'm not as militant on this as I used to be. His point, and I think a valid one, is that you shouldn't just go with the "rank isn't important" argument. That belt is important to you. It symbolizes, or should, a whole heck of a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and time; not to mention money. If you've invested that much into a symbol then it should mean something to you and you should want to wear it. Would you let someone take your B.S. away just because you graduated college 15 years ago and weren't working in the field that your degree is in? Doubtful, nor would anyone expect you to shred it, ignore it, or pretend in didn't exist. I'm not hung up on grades, one way or another, however I am not sure training toward a "symbol" is the right approach - I like to think I have invested in me!, to become better at MA rather than a symbol to say that I have, personally I don't need that symbol, but I do understand that is important to some. I also don't like comparing martial arts studies and qualification with that of academia. They are not the same - the processes and measurements are different imo. I understand and that is admirable, however any instructor worth his salts would recognise a student’s potential and teach them to the appropriate level. The belt doesn't (or shouldn't) dictate that - your ability does. Also, bear in mind that what may be an acceptable standard in one club / association may not be the same in another. Grades are only really applicable within the group they are awarded - there is no such thing as "generic" black belt standard - even within the same style!! Sojobo

One thing's for sure - there are stupid people in every martial art. Karate doesn't monopolise the market in this area. Sojobo

You would be more than welcome. Sojobo

Seriously? Train for the sake of training!! If your dan grade means that to you - you don't understand what it means to be a dan grade!! In my group, new students with previous experience in other styles / groups are allowed to wear their belt for 6 months (in order that they can assimilate the ways of the school). After this time, they are asked to "apply" to take an examination for any grade they wish!! The senior instructors of the association then award them the grade if they see fit, failing this, they will recommend an appropriate grade. If the applicant doesn't like that - then they’re not for us. sojobo

Naming a school after it's originator is quite common as I understand it. Either way. In your response, there were question-marks?? Were you unable to read the characters I posted? Sojobo

Did any one else spot the lack of movement? Sojobo

Ashihara is the originator's family name as I understand it. It is purely coincidental, I think, that his surname can be broken down to Ashi and Hara. Like many things in the Japanese language, what sounds like, doesn't always mean.... Ashihara Hideyuki (family name first) is written "芦原 英幸" However: Ashi (ie foot) is written - "足" Hara (ie belly or stomach) is written - "腹" So I don't think it means the same thing. Just my understanding, but I could be wrong. Sojobo

Ashihara Karate is named after its founder Hideyuki Ashihara. It is a style of full contact Karate that derives from Kyokushin. I believe Dobbersky is a dan grade in the style (and also teaches it) so I am sure he will be able to supply you with some more info. Sojobo

I guess time will tell Sojobo

Maybe the master is only being fatherly rather than stubborn - after all, sensei means the one who has been before. A true sensei guides rather than dictates. But, sometimes a student needs to be patient. Traditional martial systems are only learnt in their completion, not bit by bit – otherwise you may as well educate yourself from the web. You have to trust your instructor - he/she probably understands the long game better than you (a little bit of knowledge being a dangerous thing and all that). Sojobo