gheinisch

Pull up a chair and stay awhile! Welcome!

Welcome, it's never to late to start training.

We were all beginers at one time, enjoy the journey! Have questions? Just ask, someone here will have an answer.

I'm excited your here, probably not as much as Kensai! Welcome to the forums, a lot of good folks here!

I practice getting my kiba dashi low by putting my back against a wall and sliding down into a dip stance. Keep going lower and lower, it will help strenghen muscles you my already think are strong and it also works well as a reminder to keep your back straight. Granted you won't have the wall during your kata but this should help train your body to be in a deep stance without losing your balance or having to compensate by leaning. It has helped me!

My Hanshi will not promote anyone to Black Belt below the age of 18. I feel that is a good policy. IMHO. I know some may disagree.

Just heard that a young lady who was captured has just been rescued by our troops in Iraq. I can only imagine what this 19 yr. old lady has gone through the last few days. They say she walked into the hospital on her own. God Bless our troops, especially the ones who risked their lives to rescue one of their own. Keep the others still being held captive in your thoughts and prayers.

Welcome

Welcome Hamster!

Welcome to the forums!

Welcome Jonny!

Welcome!

It's apparent that some here like kata and some really dislike it. I say "to each his own". I for one enjoy doing kata. It keeps my techniques sharp and allows me to think of different ways to apply techniques. I then get to try them out in sparring. I look at kata as the grammer of karate, you must first learn words before you can complete a sentence. You must first learn a technique before you can master it and then go on to another. Kata helps me (maybe not others) to better transition from one technique to another in a more fluid motion without hesitation or doubt which in turn helps me with kumite. IMHO I hope everyone has a great day and a better tomorrow!

There is also a bar detergent named "Zote" usually found in the Hispanic section of grocery stores. It's a pink bar that you rub directly onto spots and let soak for a while. It did a pretty good job on my Gi. A Karate Mom in my class told me about that one.

Here's our school's system: Rank Belt Color 10th Kyu White 9th Kyu White w/Yellow Stripe 8th Kyu Yellow 7th Kyu Orange 6th Kyu Blue 5th Kyu Green 4th Kyu Purple 3rd Kyu Brown 2nd Kyu Brown 1st Kyu Brown Shodan Black

Welcome!

Welcome to the forums!

Welcome!

Welcome to the forums.

Welcome Josh, look forward to your posts.

Hi, I am a purple belt (4th kyu) in the style of Hon-Shin-Do. Will be testing in April for my brown(3rd kyu). I started taking karate with my son, now I just do it because I love it. My son is also still very much involved. Been taking it for 3 1/2 yrs. now and still going strong.

Hon-Shin-Do is a style of Martial Art with old roots in Okinawan Shorie Ryu. Translated it means "Way of the true heart". Hanshi Leo Kozloski (9th degree black belt) wrote the words and is also the founder of the U.S. Academy of the Martial Arts and Hon-Shin-Do. Hanshi Leo has over 37 years experience and trained under Master John Pachivas and has also worked with Master Trias and Ken Ogawa (all Japan in 1972 in the style of GoJu). I would say he is well in his right to voice his opinion on kata. He has now formed the U.S. Christian Academy of Martial Arts. I have trained under him for the past 3 1/2 yrs. and feel very fortunate to have the oprotunity to learn from this man. Oh well, enough from me. If you would like to know more check out our web site http://www.crossroadsnewnan.org/martialarts.asp Respectfully yours, Greg

Hello Bri, Glad you decided to join in the fun. There are lots of great people here as well as a lot of styles represented. Of course yours and mine are the best. Look forward to seeing your posts. Have a great day and a better tomorrow! Greg

Katas are the essence of Karate, without them Karate would be the mere learning of various fighting and self-defense techniques, expressing nothing and allowing for no aesthetic development. Katas are the distilled concentrated wisdom, understanding, and experience of hundreds of great karate peak awareness. When one begins to understand them one glimpses a new world of untold internal riches. The primary meaning of the kata is for the performer himself. If he is unable to immerse himself in the kata and so release his emotions, or life force, a master will say of the performer that he is still "in the dance", that is, unable to emote or express his feelings at will. This poignant karate saying has an even more profound when the sensei refers to a student "coming out of the dance". This is the highest compliment one can recieve. The eventual perfection of the katas lead not only to mastery of the basic forms and techniques, but also to physical and spiritual sensitivity and to complete control of all parts of the body. A good Karateka first develops his katas to perfection and later perfects his Jul-Kumite (sparring) ability. The above is a small portion from my Hon-Shin-Do handbook. I believe katas train your body to act without thinking which is important in a real conflict senario. It only takes a split second of hesitation and you'll be picking yourself up off the ground (if your lucky). One must act without thinking. That's my opinion. Greg

I concur guys, Our Hanchi stresses to us that every block is a strike and should be treated as such. Make your attacker know it was a mistake in throwing a punch and think twice about throwing another.