xo-karate

I've only played Wii with motion plus remote controller. I did not know that you can use the balance board with golf. If it works, it can make the game much more accurate. At the moment I am doing some basic drills with Wii remote that I would do with a club anyway. I get feedback from open/shut "club" face ... or hitting it straigth like the program puts it. I don't know if the feedback is accurate - but atleast I'll get some flexibility as I do the drills.

Very true, if you learn to golf with Wii, it will not translate to better performance in a golf course. BUT I have used Wii for my off season golf training. I do my normal swing and Wii informs me if my hands were in right position on assumed contact ( hitting the ball). It's not the same as hitting golf balls, but it's more fun. So there is a was to use xbox and wii and there are lot's of ways to get your technique messed up. I would use it to learn techniques - but to practise - repeat the technique I know. ps I lost a boxing double play on xbox kinects. In actual match my opponent wouldn't have had a change.

Hi, I just bought a POV camera a.c.a helmet camera. Idea is to ask opponent to film me when sparring. I'd like to see how I look when moving. I have the cam, but have not used it yet...

I saw this in Vienna about 8 years ago:-) (Tried to mail this earlier but the name of the game blocked me post.)

BUT wouldn't your own movements be real? You can do best possible technique even though xbox or wii does not track your movements perfectly? By doing perfect kicks and punches wouldn't you still get a work out? It does not have to be the only way you practice - just a small add to regular training sessions. Maybe a reaction game for blocking, conterattacks?

Has anyone tried to use xbox as a tool for a workout? Maybe even for a sparring session? There is a boxing game and fitness programs, but is there any kickboxing or somethig else that could be used as martial arts practice?

Reading might help one learn faster and help you see and understand your opponent. I have bookmarked tdktutor. It has a lot of stuff. I just have to figure how to impliment it to my training. (One approach could be that I've pick a tip or an idea and try it at dojo and try to learn from the experience.)

Does anyone know where I can read or watch more about feints and reading your opponent? (Or maybe even being in charge .. kind of leading your opponent the way you want them to react?)

I started home exercises about 5 years a go. First basic lunches, puch ups and jumping jacks and stretching - you know the drill. After few years I show a P90X add on a DVD collection and tried it - and liked it. Collection has a session called Kenpo-X with some punches and kick routines. After that I tried to find a DVD that would be a traditional karate practise session, but I did not find on ( well, not one with out music and some kind of pouncing type of "kick boxing".) I think a video could also be a training session. It would be better for this than teaching new skills. To use video as a model for a perfect technique can be difficult. 1) Our body is different so we do not do techniques the same way. 2) We do not get feedback from what we are doing. When learning a new skill, it's hard to track what actually is happening and timing it correctly. (I'd say video is for advanced training, not for beginners.) But video as a drillmaster to gain physical condition:-) If you cannot make it to a class, you could do some karate related exercises...

Looks like I have tenth edition 1974:-). Very good book that has been with my from beginning of my Karate. I would use more DVD and Youtube at the moment. Maybe a good book might help to see techniques more clear ( not all on internet is of best quality:-) If someone would like to learn by them self, I'd videotape and compare learning and doing to other karateka's technique. Problem might be that learning is not just mimic of doing what others do? Not everything in technique can be seen.

Karate and oriental martial arts are ralatevely young in Finland. Mainly started in late sixties and early seventies. (I started 1972 as a 14 year old kid.) I don't see much karateka's that are over 50 in the dojo? A lot of people started to practice.. but are not doing it.) So they must have stopped and changed disibline - maybe to golf which a all so play Could there be a program to get people back to martial arts? I konw of one program that did not work. They started "easy karate", but in a year ended up doing regular speed and joined normal classes - well, not all bad ... My current take on the issue of getting back to martial arts is to join a different style and start from beginning. It's fun to learn new things. So I've done karate and started Han Moo Do. I can follow the class with my karate background even though physical condition is not the same as 20 years old class mates

Would anyone be interested in discussion about how to build a class or an exercises program for over 50 years old - different skill levels and multible martial arts experience background participants? (I call this XO-karate. XO comes from cognac label extra old - wikipedia: "XO Extra Old, where the youngest brandy is stored at least six, but average upwards of 20 years" - and "brandy" being a metafora for martial art experience:-) Often trainees have not been active for a period of time and they (I am included in the same group), need some easier drills, but interesting... Anyone willing to share ideas? Does some one have a group of seniors?

thank's joesteph for sharing, I did semicontact karate earlier - 25 years a go:-) and joined Han Moo Do school just a month a go. In Han Moo Do sparring there is no breaks, it's continues fighting. It really takes your wind, as I was used to karate, where you are interrupted all the time by the referee. I noticed that continues sparring is better for a senior how reactions are not the same as 30 years a go. If you miss the first conterattact, you can still continue. In point sparring referee would have stopped and called the point. About developing sparring I remember we used a drill where you had to keep your arm strait ( extended) all the time. It was like sword play - punching with a strait arm - idea was to develop a sense of distance and learn to move with your legs.

I started a new thread at "Instructors central" about how to develope sparring in pactise sessions. (Just not to highjack current discussion.) (Well, just asked about different methods of teaching sparring...)

What kind of system do you have for teaching sparring? We use restricted techniques and contacts areas. First you are only allowed to use kicks like front kick, round house kick and side kick and punches, but only to core ( no head contact). Next step is all kicks and also head and final step is also bindings and locks.

I've never had to write an essay to get a rank, but I do write to learn. Years a go I wrote a booklet about how to practise karate. I've not written about karate after that but I've used writing as a tool for learning other sports ( like golf I think that the person writing learns most and if writing has any content, it just might raise a thought in a reader and it might lead to some learning... I think that we use different tools for learning - and karate can be learned with out writing about it - or even thinking about it - just reacting and drills. This is not my cup of tea - I need to but some mental input just to keep my interest. I'm doing karate to keep in shape. I have not needed to use it for selfdefence for the last 30 years so self defence is not priority.

Just a comment on sparring. I've just started Han Moo Do - the Finnish oriented version. Sparring is "full contact" - but hitting head is not allowed. (For 4 years or more practised are allowed head contact with kicks.) I've been in three practise sessions and entered club competition - just like other white belts. Others have two months of practise under their belt.) Competition is a little tough way to begin sparring.

Thank you for informing reading. Now I understand why my late sensei Ogata named his karate club as Ryubukan - it is a wadoryu stule club. In a way it's nice to read about what has happened and how said this and that in China or in Okinawa 100 years a go But as you wrote, karate is developing. History gives some ideas on what is important, but... maybe we all just have are own karate. I liked the link to "hojo undo" and the idea that you need to develope your skills and body everyday. Karate is the work you do - and it can be out side of a dojo. (And like in your theses not even physical exercises, but just making your self more literate - educating your self.) About belts and grading. I like it for youngters and people that need an external goal. It's very important help for motivating practise, but powerful tools are also dangerous. In trying to graduate a belt and next and so on...Your as good as your belt - and that sounds sick. (Very difficult issue - need something to be important and valuable for karateka to pursue, but it cannot be seen as a status sympol - you are not as good or bad as your dan or kyu.) Very much luck for you effort on finding a better ranking system than dan/kyu.

Your link is very helpful. Idea of continues development is what I'm looking for. There is no use for getting in peak condition just for a competition or belt graduation .. or something. It's better to slowly get stronger and stronge more flexible... I googled and found http://www.ymaa.com/files/B1361-Hojo-sample.pdf is this a sample of the right book? I think I can simulate most of the old karate training equiptment and get similar from sports store. (kettle ball, barbel, single hand barbel, maybe even sledge hammer?)

Hi, I just logged in as a new member so excuse me if this is an old subject. I'm over 50 and coming back to karate for physical condition - just to get some flexibility, strength and maybe cardio. So I am not looking for instructions but more like being in gym, but training at home. (Some one in front telling me what to do and giving a tempo.) I've looked at internet karate/kickboxing workouts and these are more like aerobic exercises with music and rhytmic pounching, which is nice if you prefer it. I am an old school competitive karate trainer (wadoryu, but more in to sparring then katas). Well - I will take katas to my exercise routine:-) So I am looking for videos of workouts that can be done in fairly small space - living room and in front of a television or computer screen. (Youtube? - did not find what I was looking for...) Would anyone be interested in shooting one? Maybe we can collect parts and compine a series? xo-karate (xo stands for "extra old" like in cognac:-)