xo-karate

Concrats Alex and sensei8, too.

I go to gym with my neighbor. His 70 and always remarking that it's easy for me, because I'm so young -only 55.

Sound cool for a karateka who does bjj:-) BUT watching it on youtube... I don't know. Can't do much BJJ with boxing gloves on.

Very hard to believe, but it gives hope. So I might be in same condition next 30 years I'm only 55 at the moment.

if i'd be looking for a name for karate that enhances health and physical condition and ability, what would it be? Functional karate? Qi Kung Karate Fitness karate (but is't not only hitting in the air, but also valid technique.) Maybe it's "karate"? I was involved in "Finn Karate Do" when I was younger, maybe this could be "Fit Karate Do"?

Could "practical" karate be understood as Karate that develops your functional ability. Functional ability is practical? You need to be able to do stuff. My point of view is that could the practical aspect be something else than combat? In martial arts the are two sides - combat and health or healing. What if practical karate was something to do with health? (It does not now, but could it have?)

Not a bad point! This means we all have our own practical karate.

I've been googling again:-) So what is "practical karate"? Does any one know? Iain Abernethy seems to have an association for it. And some clubs say they do Practical Karate? So it's not traditional or sports or self defense? What is the point of view? the angle?

There is a reason for repetition. It's automation and it's not a bad thing. Idea is that in conflict we don't have the mental calmness to think so reaction is what we can do. Also there is the time factor. So breaking the repetition? What is the reason for it? I think it could be to enhance repetition - to make it fresh again. It's not so much about breaking the routine, but when you come back to your previous compination, you might be able to find some thing new in it.

welcome!

Very nice! I know some karatekas who learned Japanese and visit regularly Japan. For cross training multiple martial arts, it would become more like a language study than actual martial arts training

Congrats

Independence means also being alone. You don't have a senior to give you grades. The belt you have is your final. This is not a problem if you don't care about belts and your student trust you with out external signs like dan's. Also it's demanding to develop your own skills by your self - not impossible but a challenge:-) I am an independent retired instructor and maybe in future I'll start a new club. I don't know if I'll join any association. (Maybe I'll work under IMAS - Institute of Martial Arts and Science

Our BJJ classes are in Finnish. I have not heard Portuguese - not even in submission names like "mata leon" - some English like RNC.

I think there are professional hockey players in NHL who are over 40? (Teemu Selanne in Might Ducks..) Might even leading the scoring stats of his team? Growing older means not recovering so fast from exercise or injuries. And loosing some muscle and anaerobic ability. We don't have a lot of over 60 y old world class sprinters, so speed might be an issue too. Ok - it's down hill after 20, 40, 60 or 80 (depends on the person you ask and their age.) BUT do you want to speed it up or work to keep up your functional ability - looks like martial arts is one of the best ways to keep you moving! It has many features that will keep you in better shape - core, balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, cardio and even some mental stuff to fight dementia.

It's not a good situation, if your leg is caught by an opponent who knows what to do. If I kick, I'm going forward and first instinct is to try to catch hold of my opponents upperbody - grapp him, if my leg is caught. My opponent will counter with his arm, sweep with leg and/or break my balance either turning with my kick or aggressively push me back. Not an easy situation. Trying to force my leg down or twisting back are options... Anything but waiting for your opponent to take the initiative. If you are not moving him, you are in trouble.

If your round house kick is caught, I'd switch to grappling - fall down and think of the situation as some one passing your guard standing.

Same in Finland. Karate classes for beginners have a hand full of students but kick boxing is full and cannot take all the students.

Maybe overweight instructors could modify techniques and teach it to not so skinny students? (Old sensei's teach old students?) Small sensei's teach small...?

In BJJ it's often said "Keep it real" or some thing like that. I think it would be keeping real if we could get feedback on what happened

I did a review of research articles about core strength. Results were not so good on specific programs directed to core strength. Better results were from normal training that activates core - like climbing or squats. http://www.instituteofmartialartsandsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMAS-RJ1.pdf

I try to get to BJJ class 2 times per week and two open mats. I also try to watch a BJJ lesson form DVD every day. DVD watching is about 5 - 7 hours per week and actual rolling is maybe 5 hours/ week.

Senior 3? or what did you mean?

For me black belt is a recognition that your are able to practice your art independently. Not that you have to work out alone, but you have skills to evaluate what you are doing and even develop your art future. This understanding does not go a way after a break. Physical condition can decrease, but it's not so important.

In BJJ you want to shower before and after rolling:-) - If you have been working hard before training.