Wastelander

Welcome to the forum! It looks like you have an interesting mix of experiences when it comes to martial arts--I don't think we have any Koryu Uchinadi folks on here, at the moment, either! I'm looking forward to your contributions!

I would ask how formal you want this style to be? Is it truly a cohesive curriculum that is different from those that currently exist that needs to have its own name, or is it just a blend of arts? If it doesn't need its own name, I would pick whatever style makes up the largest percentage of the curriculum, and just call it that with the subtitle of [Your Name]'s Method. With regard to rank, I don't think that a founder of a style needs to claim any rank other than Founder of the Style, but you should certainly be up-front and clear about your experience and the ranks you have been given. They are automatically the highest ranking person in the system, so they can then grade people in their system to whatever rank they please. They can also forgo ranking entirely in their system. As far as I'm aware, karate masters of old did not have rank designations until groups of their students got together later and decided that their teacher should have X rank and title. For what it's worth, I know one person who has created his own style. It is a blend of Trias Shorei-Ryu (AKA Shuri-Ryu), American Kenpo, and a variety of Chinese systems, and the diversity of these experiences caused the founder to make such substantial changes to everything that it became a cohesive system that is quite different from the systems that make it up. This is quite an undertaking, and requires massive amounts of knowledge and experience to accomplish. He also only claims the highest rank he was tested for (7th-dan), and he has such strict standards for his black belts that it takes 15 years to earn shodan, so he hasn't had the opportunity to test people for higher grades.

With regard to karateka using a wooden dummy, I would like to point out that all karateka should be able to use a kakiya, at least to some degree, without requiring additional training to do so. A mook jong is more difficult to work with because the trapping techniques it was designed for are not very prevalent in karate, so I could see needing additional training for that. The kakiya has long been a valuable training tool in Okinawa, and plenty of kihon and kata applications work well on it. It is mentioned and diagrammed in several books on karate from the 1920's-30's, and you can see one in this old photograph from Miyagi Chojun's training yard: http://www.kowakan.com/archives/3704/karate-jutsu-hojo-undo-equipment I have never had the luxury of using a proper kakiya, although I have used a mook jong on a few occasions, but I have used tree limbs in a similar fashion. Deflections, limb control, and joint destruction techniques all work well on a moveable arm. If you check out Ryan Parker's YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/thecontemplative2) he has graciously shared a few kakiya drills that you can try out.

I would start a couple years earlier--around 15 or 16--and I would have explored cross-training and researching kata application sooner. When I think about this realistically, though, it makes me wonder if that really would have been better than what I did. What if I wasn't mature enough to enjoy training that young? What if it made me more closed minded about practicality? What if it caused me to never meet the great people I have met? What if it caused me to never transition into the style I currently practice? These "what ifs" worry me quite a bit when I think about this kind of question. I suppose I'm a bit off in the head, though

A Facebook group that I am a part of that researches and shares hojo undo information has actually been pretty busy with wooden dummy conversations as of late. I haven't made one yet, but I am definitely planning to! For my purposes, a kakiya or tou would be a better dummy than a mook jong, and I suspect that may be the case for you as well. I have found a local place that sells pieces of retired telephone poles--check Craigslist in your area--that my sensei and I are planning to check out sometime in the next couple weeks. My plan is to smooth and varnish the surface of a 6ft length of telephone pole and put a little padding on the striking areas. I will probably also drill out divots where the eyes should be so I can include strikes to the eyes in my practice. Then I will drill out a slot at about chest height, bevel the slot, and mount a removable wooden arm through it. The arm will be held at an upward angle toward the head by rubber bungee cords running from the back of the arm down the back of the dummy to provide resistance. I am also planning to bolt a length of 2" spa tubing to each side, which I can use for sticky hands and joint locks with resistance--if the wooden arm gets in the way, I'll just take it off. If I'm feeling really ambitious, I'm thinking of mounting the body of the dummy so that it can pivot, but I don't know how realistic that will be. For inspiration, you can search Google and YouTube for the following: kakiya kakete-biki ching jong one arm dummy Sensei Garry Lever's YouTube channel also has some hojo undo videos that include some of his practice with a tou that has the same type of rubber tubing arms that I mentioned I want to use on my dummy.

My instructor only has his most current (Yondan) certificate hanging at the dojo, but the rest are hanging at his home, including an honorary Godan rank that he was given by a martial artist that he respects greatly. He doesn't claim that Godan rank, though, or even really tell people about it, because he says he didn't test for it and earn it, so it doesn't count With regard to people asking to see all previous certificates, I actually know why they do that. While it is true you should not receive a rank without first earning the rank before it, that is not always the case. I personally know of one person that falsely claimed a yudansha ranking without having earned it, and was later graded two ranks higher without ever having proved that he earned the first yudansha ranking. Some people are not honest, and they are the reason that people sometimes want to see every certificate.

Congratulations, and thanks for your contributions!

I agree with you, of course--nothing and no one is perfect, but we can (and should) strive for perfection anyway.

This year I have added compound barbell lifts (squat, deadlift, bench press, barbell row, and overhead press) to my training, as well as some kettlebell and chi-ishi training. I also do bodyweight exercises like pull-ups, dips, push-ups, mountain climbers, etc., and I like to do weighted ab exercises.

Looks like he had fun--especially for his last fight in his test! Good for him!

I got to the dojo yesterday morning and spent the first class teaching some basics to a brand new student--she learned her first kata (Kihon Ippon), her first kata application (the first two moves of the kata), and her first self defense technique (Yakusoku Ending 1), in addition to learning how to throw a seiken-tsuki (fore-fist punch) and a mae-keagi-geri (front snap kick). After that, Sensei took the Specialty Class through several drills for covering distance, and then we went through lots of padwork. About 10 minutes into that class, I knew I shouldn't have been doing it, but I did it anyway . After that, I had half an hour to rehydrate, eat a protein bar, and mentally prepare for my belt test. The test took about 3.5 hours, since it was just two of us, but it was a pretty rough 3.5 hours. In the end, though, I didn't throw up (came close) or give up (wanted to) and I now hold the rank of Ikkyu (1st Degree Brown Belt) in Shorin-Ryu as a member of the Shorinkan, and Danny Bowley now holds the rank of Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Shorin-Ryu and Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in Kobudo. Thanks to Sensei Richard M. Poage, Yondan, and Shihan Jeff Allred, Rokudan, for administering our test! http://s21.postimg.org/q7f7gwhev/Test_25.jpg

That is awesome!

Welcome to the forum!

Well, the time has come for me to test again--this Saturday I will be testing for Ikkyu (1st degree brown belt) in Shorin-Ryu. There is only one other person testing, and he is testing for Sandan, so I really have no idea what to expect. Wish me luck!

ps1, is that by any chance the video of Bill Hayes Sensei demonstrating an application for shuto? I'm at work and can't watch it, but I know it's been going around lately. That is one of our most common way to use that technique. We don't typically use the knife/sword hand as a hard block, but when we do we aren't terribly picky about the impact area--anywhere from the bottom half of the edge of the hand to the elbow is generally okay. It gives you a wider margin of error that way.

In my organization, kata application is taught differently from instructor to instructor. We do not have standards in place for it, so everyone is free to structure and teach it as they see fit. In my dojo, we do not teach application in strict levels, but we do typically limit younger and/or less experienced students to very simple applications, and work up from there on an individual basis. My instructor's sensei does structure his kata application in levels, though. I prefer the more fluid, individualized approach.

My sensei washes his gi with hydrogen peroxide to help them stay whiter, longer, but that is really a preventative measure. Bleach does weaken the fabric, and can ruin any patches you have on the gi, so it's not the best solution. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything that can get the sweat, oil, and blood out of my daily use gi. I know a couple people who have had their gi dry cleaned with great success though, so that may be something you can check out. If the dry cleaning works, you can use the hydrogen peroxide wash to try to keep it looking nice. Honestly, though, I don't think a pristine white gi is an important part of training. Sure, it's nice for formal events, like tournaments, seminars, and rank exams, but for everyday training I just don't see the point. The gi is a set of heavy duty workout clothes, and that's what mine looks like . That's when you cough up the money for a second gi, and have an "everyday use gi" and a "formal event gi".

I would highly recommend that you see a doctor--after 2 years there should not be any lingering effects from your shin colliding with a knee. If I had to guess (and I am not a medical professional) you probably caused a stress fracture and it has either never healed, or has healed incorrectly due to never being treated.

I have no problem with women wearing just a sports bra under the gi--female MMA fighters and BJJ competitors train in sports bras without causing problems, so why can't karateka? It does seem a bit silly. If they want to wear more layers, that's fine, but I don't think it's necessary.

I believe that martial arts should--and, to some degree, must--evolve. Traditions are all well and good when they don't interfere with that evolution. Unfortunately, in every generation you end up getting people who take the evolution of their teachers and turn that into tradition, refusing to change it. That's when things stagnate, and that's how you get the "you're doing it wrong" arguments between styles, branches, and organizations.

Was there something in particular that you wanted to discuss in regards to this video?

Well, I have some sort of undiagnosed condition with my knees that leaves them prone to dislocation. I have actually dislocated my right knee twice--once in each direction--and it still causes me pain when the weather changes or if I put too much lateral or twisting pressure on it. My left knee will sometimes hurt, as well, but I've never dislocated it, although I've come close on a few occasions. I've never seen a doctor to diagnose why my knees are having issues, but my mother (a nurse) has told me that I'll probably need knee surgery someday. I actually found that the deep stances of Shuri-Ryu (similar to Shotokan) helped strengthen my knee and reduced my pain. I can't say that the same would be true for you, but that was my experience. Since I now practice a style that uses higher, more natural stances, I actually have to incorporate extra exercises to make sure my knees stay strong. In the end, every person's body is a little different, and you need to listen to it. If you enjoy the Shotokan training and it doesn't bother your knees, then keep it up! If it does bother your knees, see if your sensei can help you adjust it to fit you better. If that doesn't help, you'll have to look for something else if you want to keep your knees healthy.

Shiroma Sensei did give me some pointers on my technique, but nothing terribly major--pulling my foot back further on my push kicks, chambering the kick more, throwing my overhand left more often, etc. I didn't feel outmatched in sparring, so from that perspective I feel pretty good. I have been invited to come back any time, and I was told that yesterday was sort of a trial run for me, and that my "real training" will start the next time I visit, so we'll see how that goes! I actually started up doing high intensity interval training again the week before last, but I haven't done it enough to build my endurance back up just yet. I typically go between bagwork, kettlebells, and medicine balls for those circuits.

Sounds like a great time!

I am currently preparing for my first amateur MMA fight, which will be on August 10th, so lately I have tried to gear my training toward that goal. A local martial artist that I know through Facebook, recommended that I go do some cross-training with his instructor, Jiro Shiroma Shihan. I already knew about Shiroma Sensei through my instructor, who has done a little cross-training with him, but had never gone myself. This morning I went down to Shiroma Sensei's dojo for a class on Muay Thai--his style is a blend of Shorin-Ryu, Muay Thai, and jujutsu, and he is an "old school" Okinawan instructor, so I expected it to be tough. I discovered that my endurance has suffered while I have been improving my strength/power, so I will have to work on that . I had a great time, and picked up a few tweaks to work on in the process. Shiroma Sensei is also a fun guy to talk to--very knowledgeable and humorous! http://s24.postimg.org/jzw1z6dqd/Noah_with_Jiro_Shiroma.jpg