Wastelander

Well, in looking it up, it would seem that Ron Van Clief created that kata, and the only videos I can find of it are tapes he is selling. Sorry!

Congratulations!

Recently, my Sensei and I recorded this video for the opening sequence of Gojushiho, as we practice it: In response, Leigh Simms shared his take on the Shotokan version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH4E_8-Lg9c I also recorded a video, myself, of an application for the spearhand sequences in Gojushiho: And Leigh had a Shotokan take on it, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU94EDb9Ev4 Then, of course, Iain Abernethy has his approach: Personally, I enjoy exploring and sharing a variety of application options for kata. While we can all follow certain guidelines, concepts, and principles, individuals can still see different ways of using the movements of kata. Also, I think these types of comparisons can really highlight both the similarities and differences between styles.

This forum is definitely a great place, and I'm happy to be a part of it! Congratulations on the landmark post count, and all it represents! And thank you for giving us this great community!

I use these: http://www.combatsports.com/csi/gloves-1/mma-sparring-gloves/combat-sports-mma-sparring-gloves-2.html They leave my hands open for grappling, but are more forgiving on my partners than 4oz MMA gloves. Of course, they are a bit bulkier, because of that, so they do make it harder to slide your hands through small spaces. Even so, I like them a lot! My Sensei has a lace-up pair that are the same, and he loves them, although lately he's been using the Shureido WKF approved gear too.

Okinawan systems don't generally use "osu/oss" because it's considered to be rude, but Japanese systems use it fairly often, because the culture is different. American and Chinese Goju are based off of Japanese Goju-Ryu, if I recall correctly. Peter Urban was a student of Yamaguchi Gogen of Goju Kai, and American Goju was Peter Urban's system. The man who founded Chinese Goju was a student of his. For those reasons, it makes sense that you would be hearing "osu/oss" a lot. When I visited a Goju Kai dojo a while back, they used it frequently. In the context of your system, it's not out of place. "Hai" just means "yes," or it can be more generally used to imply an appropriate affirmative response of some kind. There is no reason you couldn't use it in a dojo that also uses "osu/oss." As for the term senpai (often spelled "sempai" because of how it sounds), I wouldn't worry too much about it, either. Your dojo is a few generations removed from Japan, and it isn't really shocking that people who don't speak Japanese would say/spell Japanese words incorrectly. When I started training, I was taught plenty of incorrectly pronounced Japanese words! Over time, I researched more and corrected myself. As JR suggested, I wouldn't go around correcting people--at least, not until you're a more permanent fixture in the dojo. A beginner correcting people makes people think they are an over-confident know-it-all. An advanced student correcting people has some authority.

The best way to put in extra work and show initiative is to practice what you were taught in class at home, so that when you come back to class, you're better than when you left. Class is for learning new material, correcting mistakes, and working with partners. Improving on what you learned is for your own time

My first Sensei asked me to help a white belt kid on their first day, when I was a yellow belt. At the time, I was still very self conscious about teaching and nervous about public speaking, so it was very tough. Over time, he asked me to help more white belts, and as I went up in rank, I started helping higher ranks. Eventually, it just sort of evolved into teaching entire sections of classes, and then entire classes.

Congratulations!

Welcome to the forum! Honestly, unless someone here on KF has personal experience with that school, we won't be able to truly tell you if the school is a good one. Even then, everyone is going to have different criteria and a different perspective. You'll really have to go there, ask lots of questions, and watch some classes to see what you think, personally. As for preparing yourself to perform well when you start, the best thing you can do is lower your expectations for your performance! As strange as that sounds, the hardest thing for many new students is to come in thinking they are going to do great, and then they don't. That can make people give up to soon. All you can do is do your best! Go in with an open mind, try your best, and recognize your limits. Everything will get better in time. Your final question is one you'll have to ask the instructor at that school, since everyone is different. I've heard of schools that have you spar in your first lesson, and schools that don't let you spar until you've trained for a year! I don't have any clue what the average would be.

Karate has always been a rather blended art, so you can find techniques in karate that are reminiscent of a variety of different systems. Of course, when you consider that there are only so many ways to affect the human body with another human body, there are bound to be similarities, anyway. When looking at throws, there are some universal principles in play. Balance, momentum, and redirection are all key components. Despite that, Aikido and judo implement them differently. Karate tends to look at things differently, as well. I have seen some Aikido-esque techniques in karate, and I have seen some throws that were identical (or nearly) to what I learned in judo, and I have learned some throws that are more like what I have seen from Silat and Kali. Many of these methods can also be seen in Chinese shuai-jiao and chin-na. Look into all of these sources and compare the movements and principles to your kata, and you will find karate throws.

I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to seeing the video! I know MMA was a tough test for me, but since you've done it before, I imagine it will be a little less shocking . Still, I hope your karate training shines through!

Is it uncommon to wear gi pants under the hakama? It appears most students at the dojo I've looked at train without the hakama. It appears that the more senior students and instructor only wear the hakama, and they appear to be wearing gi pants beneath. And thank you for your input. I don't know that it's uncommon, but I did forget that some people do that--I think it's just a personal preference, like wearing an undershirt with your gi.

I believe most Aikidoka wear the same white keikogi used in some styles of jujutsu, kenjutsu, iaijutsu, etc. A judo gi or karate gi won't work, because the skirts of the jackets are slit up the sides, and so is the hakama that Aikidoka wear, so you'll be showing everyone your upper thighs if you wore them together. That said, if you're wearing gi pants instead of a hakama, I've seen lots of Aikidoka just wear single weave judo gi.

Welcome to the forum!

I think that concepts can be taught through the practice of techniques, as long as they are explained along the way. Sometimes, we will explain a concept before teaching techniques that utilize it. Other times, we teach a few related techniques and then point out the concepts being employed. Every now and then, we won't explain the concepts, but ask the students to figure them out, instead. I have found that a lot of instructors who don't teach/explain concepts, at all, often don't have many practical techniques to teach. To be able to explore the kata with any real depth, you have to have an understanding of the underlying concepts and methods, after all. You can memorize techniques, but if you never develop an understanding of how they work and fit together, you'll never be able to do more than parrot them.

Some 16 year olds can teach, and teach well--we have a (now 17) young man at our dojo who is an excellent instructor, and especially good with the younger kids. That said, he's been training since he was little, and tested for black belt along with me last year. This 16 year old blue belt doesn't have enough experience to teach much. He could certainly help out in a class led by a more experienced instructor, and teach basics to new students, but that's about it. Running a school is beyond his level of martial arts experience AND life experience.

Congratulations!

Not surprising because Phoenix, AZ isn't a small town, and it's been known to be one of the bedrocks of the MA. Indeed! There are certainly over 100 martial arts schools in the metro area, and with Trias starting his dojo here, the history is definitely longer than most in the US, outside of Hawaii. My Sensei actually has the kamiza from the Trias dojo, and we display it in our dojo.

Well, on my way from my house to the dojo, I pass by about 15 other martial arts schools, if you're only counting the ones closest to the roads I take. There are probably double that if you extend the radius another mile or so.

What are the chances? Is it like that to keep it out of the way when not in use, or do you hit it like that sometimes? Primarily to keep it out of the way, but I do occasionally hit it that way

Haha, that's actually my photo

Anything can be "too telegraphed," unless it's set up properly and performed efficiently. I have found that there are a great many situations in which a knife hand or forearm to the neck is an excellent choice of strike. There are also many situations in which a leopard fist to the throat is an excellent choice. There are also many in which an elbow is an excellent choice. Everything has a context in which it can be useful and effective.

Callouses can be removed, and I know several martial artists who do remove them because they are concerned about what people will think of them. I haven't personally had any comments about the bruises and callouses on my hands, but I also keep the callousing to a minimum--I don't need to have hands like Higaonna Sensei, or anything!

I have a 150lb 6ft Muay Thai bag from Outslayer, and it's magnificent. I had two, but sold one to a friend, and he loves it as well. The construction is solid, the striking surface is comfortable to hit, the fill is great, and it's hard to beat a 10 year warranty. I can't recommend them highly enough! I have never used one of those contoured bags, but I don't really miss it too much. When I want to work more upward strikes, I can hook up a Wrecking Ball bag. That said, I'm going to try putting a car tire inner tube around the bag to act as a striking surface for upward strikes. Not sure if it'll work or not, but there are companies selling "donut bags" for that purpose, so it seemed like a reasonable thing to try.