Wastelander

Congratulations! You earned your Rokudan the year I was born! My Sensei's Sensei will actually be celebrating 50 years in the Shorinkan sometime in the next few years, I believe.

"The Way of Kata" is a must-have for people interested in self-defense-focused karate, in my opinion. I also recommend "Bunkai-Jutsu" by Iain Abernethy.

There is definitely a lot to this one! In my opinion, John Titchen has put together the best program for pressure testing martial artists in self defense scenarios. Sensei Titchen has done a great deal of research on how attacks occur, and then has his students reproduce this situations. He uses Spartan Armour, because you can still feel when/how you've been hit, and you can still move freely, unlike the bulkier REDMAN and BULLET suits. He has put up quite a few examples on his YouTube channel, but this one is a quick overview of his approach: Unfortunately, we don't have the protective gear necessary to do this kind of training, safely, with a high level of contact. We do occasionally do these types of drills, and sometimes do "self defense sparring," but the contact tends to stay at about 50% power. When we work our self defense techniques, beginners learn to do them without any resistance. Intermediate students start to encounter some resistance. More advanced students typically put up quite a fight. Obviously, with any new material, even the more advanced students will start with a lower level of resistance and work up. Working against a resisting opponent, who is trying to hit you, is key. When we spar, we typically spar with about 50% power on our strikes, for safety. Some strikes, like leg kicks, we put more power into. Many of us spar MMA-style, with grappling (takedowns, joint locks, chokes, etc.) allowed. We also allow pressure point attacks, strikes to the groin, and simulated eye attacks (place the fingers on the eyes and push lightly). We don't consider a 1st degree black belt to be an expert, and we don't expect them to be able to deal with all comers. That said, they should be able to hold their own in contact sparring with other 1st degree black belts, and they should be able to defend themselves against an unarmed attacker of a similar size. Perhaps more importantly, they have to have the resolve to keep fighting. In our belt tests, after going through all the fitness requirements, the forms, the techniques, etc., the last thing you have to do is spar all the people who are administering your test. They are better than you, they are going to push you to your limit, and you are already exhausted.

Typically, I would say that we average a 10:1 ratio. Some classes are smaller, though.

The fact that your partner was smiling at you afterward tells me that he didn't take it personally. Besides, it's just a bloody nose--that isn't any sort of serious damage, and some people get them very easily, so you may not have even hit him all that hard. We have a teen student who gets bloody noses just from pressure against his face during grappling. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, as they say. In other words, try to let it go! I'm sure your partner is fine, and doesn't hate you If it makes you feel any better, I DID knock someone out in friendly sparring when I visited my old dojo last year. It was in front of his entire Advanced Class. I felt terrible, but he didn't hold it against me, and no lasting damage was done. People are more resilient than you would think.

What kata are being run by your competition? You should be comparable to them, so if they're all running Pinan kata, then Pinan Shodan is fine, if it's your best kata. If they're running Seisan and Passai, then you'll probably need to step up.

I have a bad knee (completely dislocated it twice) but it has been improved by my karate training. Of course, we don't do such low stances as Shotokan, or as much air-kicking. I actually do know someone who switched from Shuri-Ryu (very similar to Shotokan) to Matsumura Seito Shorin-Ryu, specifically because of his knees. If you love Shotokan, and your instructor is willing to let you modify it to fit your limitations/health, then stick with it. If not, then you may need to switch. In the end, though, it's your own decision.

I'm familiar with the style, but I couldn't tell you anything about its modern practice. Konishi Yasuhiro, the founder of Shindo-Jinen-Ryu, did a lot of cross-training, and probably knew a great deal. That said, I think he also filtered it through his Shotokan training. For an interesting look at the style, back when Konishi was in his prime, you can download his Karate Nyumon from the University of Hawaii: http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10524/1076 It's in Japanese, but there are lots of pictures. He also included photos from Mabuni Kenwa's book on Seipai, and Motobu Choki's books.

I will sometimes grapple or spar one-handed, but that's not what the chambered position is for. As has been mentioned a few times, you don't have to worry about being knocked out when your hand is on your hip, because it should only be there when it has part of your opponent in its grip, which should stop them from being able to hit you on that side.

I find it very difficult to pick a single favorite of ANYTHING, let alone karate books . If I had to pick, I would say that "My Journey with the Grandmaster" by Bill Hayes is probably my favorite martial arts book, for entertainment and philosophy purposes.

Taekwondo is largely based on Shotokan, so there is a great deal of overlap. Normally, the body mechanics are different in TKD than in Shotokan, though, and training both will get you confused and hold you back. It is possible that the TKD instructor at your dojo has changed the way they do things to match Shotokan, though. In that case, it may not be much of an issue.

As it turns out, we already have an extensive list of recommended reading over in the General Martial Arts section. You can find it here: http://www.karateforums.com/martial-arts-research-library-vt8082.html Goodin Sensei is very knowledgeable, and passionate about karate history. I'm glad we have him in the world! With regards to the books you mention, I own McCarthy Sensei's Bubishi, and Itoman's book, as well as having a digital copy of the original Japanese edition of Mabuni's book. They are all excellent resources (I'm sure the English version of Mabuni's book is more helpful, of course), and great to have in your collection. One thing I will say about Itoman's book, is that it doesn't make nearly as much sense if you haven't been exposed to old-school Ti/Te methods. From a modern karate perspective, some of what he shows seems quite strange. The photos also show more space between him and his uke than would actually be there, so you can see what he is doing. Unfortunately, those photos are also VERY small, so it's still kind of hard to see some of the details. It's still a great reference, though, and explains some Ti/Te concepts that aren't all that well-known to the karate world, anymore.

First of all, welcome to the forum! For a while, it would be best to just do what your Sensei tells you. That's because you need to develop a strong base in Shotokan before you start branching out and pulling information from other sources. If you start trying to implement things from your own research, now, you may do it incorrectly. Definitely stock up on the books and other research material, though! It will be very helpful to you later on!

Congratulations! I remember failing my test for Sankyu, the first time I took it

This is the website that James set up for the event. You can register your dojo as a participating location on the "Events" page: http://challengeokinawa.com/

On October 25th, 2005, the Okinawan government, in partnership with several Okinawan karate masters, held the first Karate no Hi (Karate Day) celebration in Naha, Okinawa. Since then, every year there are demonstrations and seminars on the 25th of October to support and spread awareness of Okinawan karate. This year, the DOJO Bar has gotten together with some other sponsors to try to start a new Karate Day tradition--the 100 Kata Challenge. The idea behind this challenge is to bring karateka from all over the world together--in person, and in spirit--to train hard and pay homage to our roots. The main get-together is on Okinawa, of course, but they are hoping that people in other countries will participate in their own dojo, parks, or back yards. Since the US is about a day behind Okinawa, we will be doing it at 4pm on October 24th. Will anybody here be participating in the challenge?

I haven't had the pleasure of visiting Okinawa/Japan, as of yet. I do plan to go there, someday, but I'm not sure when. My dojo is actually planning a trip there next Spring, but I don't think I can afford to go. Unlike sensei8, I'm dreading the food! I'm a very picky eater (I wish I wasn't, trust me!) and I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to find food I will eat. Especially since I'm probably going to be with other people from my dojo, and they are all going to want nothing but authentic Okinawan food the entire time.

I voted "Yes." As a matter of fact, I just saw one a few weeks ago. His family just moved here from another state, where they practiced another style of karate. He was 11, and had been a black belt for at least a year. I've also seen a few walking out of other martial arts schools in the area, although I haven't personally met them.

Some may disagree with me, but I believe that you should NEVER pull your hand to a chambered position, UNLESS that pulling hand is pulling/controlling your opponent in some way. You are absolutely correct that pulling your hand to chamber will get you hit, but that is no longer the case if you are actually using it for something. For example, let's say you are sparring someone, and you grab their left hand with your right, then pull it to your hip/side while punching them with your left hand. What opening do they have to strike you on your right side, where your hand is in chamber? The answer is; none! You are controlling the limb they would be hitting you with. Kata is a memorization and visualization tool. If you aren't envisioning using that chambered hand for anything, then you will be more likely to use the position incorrectly, or not at all.

I believe there is a group in Fort Lauderdale, but their instructor passed away. They may still do private training sessions, but you would have to get in touch with them to be sure. I don't have their contact information, but you can email the RyuTe Renmei at admin@ryute.com to see if they can help you. Best of luck!

Congratulations!

Being able to beat someone in a fight is being a better fighter than they are but, as has been mentioned a few times in this thread, there is more to martial arts than fighting. Someone might have greater knowledge of fighting than you, even if they can't apply it for one reason or another. Someone might have more efficient body mechanics due to their study of motion. Etc. There are also vastly different TYPES of "fighting" that a martial artist may be good at. For example; a champion karate fighter could lose to a champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, and that wouldn't necessarily make the BJJ competitor a better martial artist. The same would be true in reverse. In addition, someone might be very good at self defense--dealing with aggressive, but untrained, attackers--but get beat in combat sport competition regularly.

Congratulations, and welcome to the forum!

We aren't required to do it, but we do try to greet students, at some point, before classes start. Sometimes, we are busy doing other things, or training, ourselves, but usually one of the instructors, at least, still greets them.

I won't be able to train it with any regularity, but I do hope to make it down every now and then to work with them. Italian longsword has a LOT in common with karate, I found! The instructor and I actually joked about the body only moving so many ways, Zaine. Did you happen to see the same Naihanchi stuff that I did from the bind?