Wastelander

Can I ask Wastelander, what methodologies didn't you agree with? Certainly! Since my exposure to Wado-Ryu has been fairly limited outside of forums and a few practitioners I have trained with, I can't say that this applies widely to the style but I know that at least some Wado-Ryu practitioners practice kata but no bunkai. I don't agree with that practice even a little bit, but as I said I don't know how widely it applies. Thanks!

Well, Ev, I don't know how much real discussion will go on with this because I think that most people on this particular forum would agree with you! I know that I certainly agree--there are different methods of sparring to accomplish different things, but if you are doing knockdown sparring then it should be at the highest contact level that both participants are comfortable with and if you aren't comfortable with that then you shouldn't be doing a knockdown style.

Check them both out but at the distance and cost you mention you will probably end up at the Wado-Ryu dojo for convenience-sake, even if you like the Kyokushin dojo better. That said, I have worked out with Wado-Ryu people and they are good folks and it seems like a solid system even if I don't agree with all of the methodologies I've heard from them. As for feeling like your life is depending on the choice, you just need to try and remember that you are still young and this decision is only going to be permanent if you want it to be. And unless you get up into the brown and black belts I highly doubt you would be able to keep your rank, and even then it isn't terribly likely--training methods and curriculum are going to be too different. That doesn't mean you can't make the transition, but it is still up to the instructor whether you meet their requirements for the rank you have or not.

This is a valid point. I don't believe that anyone here disagrees with the fact that the sensei and yudansha of the dojo should be helping the students improve--the whole purpose of sparring, in general, is to improve your fighting skills in some way. I also don't think that anyone is advocating the idea that sparring should just be an all-out brawl with no form or control. Those of us who spar hard still take the time to work with our kohai to help them improve and work with our instructors and sempai so that we can improve, ourselves.

Our youth students and new students spar both semi-contact continuous sparring and semi-contact point sparring. Eventually we move on to continuous sparring at around the same intensity level as Evergrey's dojo, although perhaps we tend to stay on the lower end of that range even when we go full speed--control is key. As for how to get better at sparring, you need to spar more. People can argue about what kind of sparring is best all day long but they all have a purpose and to neglect one type of sparring is to neglect a lesson you could be learning.

Awesome job! I think I saw some of your photos of this on Facebook while I was traveling--your Shihan's response is great! I have to say you did a great job on that kanji, too!

Block: Either cross-body block or swim block Attack: I don't attack with just one technique at a time so this is rather hard to answer Kick: Lead-leg side kick Hand Technique: Palm heel Takedown: Harai Goshi

Roundhouse kicks are powerful and effective, but tend to take up a lot of space and time to execute to their maximum level of effectiveness. I do like roundhouse kicks and use them quite often in sparring to all levels (particularly to the thighs and ribs, though) but my go-to kicks for both sparring and self defense are front kicks and side kicks as they are faster, more compact, and still very effective.

The kata contain these answers--what else is it for but to be your textbook? The bunkai of your kata can be applied in so many ways that, when you really dig into the kata, you will find an answer to just about any situation. What kenpo has done, as I understand it, is take sequences from kata and tell you specifically how to use them rather than helping you work it out from the kata. The problem that I have with that is the lack of adaptability and the dependence upon a sequence of successful techniques, but I have also never practiced kenpo, personally. ETA: I don't think kenpo is bad--there are some hardcore kenpo people out there and I like a lot of what I've seen, but it doesn't fit me, personally.

Where did your sensei teach? I would wager that most high ranking Matsumura Seito people are going to know Phil Koeppel (honestly, most American karateka seem to know of him, at least) so that might be somewhere to start if you are concerned about being legitimized by a recognizable organization/figure. That said, if your dojo wasn't part of any organization then there may be a reason for that and it really doesn't matter whether you have a certificate or not. As others have mentioned, you really just need to be able to demonstrate legitimate skill and teaching ability.

Exactly this! What Shorin-Ryu organization did your instructor belong to? That organization should have record of your testing that they can provide. I would think that other black belts under your instructor who do have certificates would be able to confirm your rank for anyone who is curious in the meantime.

I suspect that everyone is going to tell you to include everything you can about situational awareness and limiting exposure to risky environments, and I would totally agree with them! That is probably the most important stuff to teach! As far as actual techniques go, I would say you need to teach some simple, gross-motor-movement techniques against all kinds of grabs--wrist grabs, hand trapping, front chokes, fireman's carry, rear bear hug, etc.--as well as some takedown defense and how to defend against an attacker between your legs or on top of you when you are on the ground. Those tend to be the most common attacks that women are going to be on the receiving end of on the street. Basic blocking wouldn't hurt, though, since a frustrated attacker may well start backfisting and punching to get a victim under control. It does depend on how your seminar is scheduled, though, I believe. If you only have an hour or two, you are going to need to focus on the most critical, life-or-death type of situations. If you have all day or a several day curriculum then you can go through a lot more.

Hello everyone, Since I have to go back home (well, close to home, anyway) for work in the Quad Cities and I am hoping to get a little time to work out at Travis Tarpein's dojo in Moline, IL. He trains a style of karate (Shorei-Ryu) that is a branch of the style I used to train (Shuri-Ryu) so they should have some similarities that I can relate to, and they also have BJJ classes as Mr. Tarpein trains under a Carlson Gracie black belt out of Chicago, as I understand it. Since we have some martial artists from the Northern Illinois region here on KF I thought I would make a quick post and ask what people think of the people and training there? I've only conversed with Mr. Tarpein via email and seen a few things online about the dojo and the MMA competitions they sponsor, so I can't really form my own opinion until I work out with them, but I'm a curious person by nature . Thanks!

I didn't use them much when I was training in judo because all leg locks were illegal in competition, but I did play with them occasionally in class and now I do so even more since my current dojo has a bit of an eclectic blend of BJJ, JJJ and Aikido and they include leg locks. Personally, I think they are very valuable and should be taught whenever the student is ready for the responsibility of knowing a technique with very little leeway to it, regardless of rank. Personally, I will use them when rolling but I very rarely apply them to completion unless I am rolling with someone who has been working them for a while because people who haven't been working them don't know when to tap.

People do get very nitpicky about kata and it is usually because they are trying to pass it on the exact way they were taught in order to preserve it, but somewhere along the line, somebody in their lineage changed it to suit there needs--which is exactly what a person is going to do when they have trained for a long time. Have you asked your instructor if you can work more bunkai and have you expressed your concerns about not getting enough practice with the use of bunkai against resisting opponents for self defense applications?

I don't think that there would be anything wrong with leaving for those reasons, provided you explained them to your Sensei and didn't just leave without saying a word. That said, I don't know that leaving would really be necessary. Is there a reason the instructor can't work with you more to challenge you, personally? Is there a reason you cannot visit other dojos to spar? Is there a reason you can't wear shoes when you train to relieve the stress on your knees? These are just some questions that I think you should ask yourself before you make a decision. In the end, the decision is yours to make and you certainly have valid reasons for wanting a change.

Essentials for a new dojo? As far as the martial arts equipment goes, I would say floor mats, hand pads, kicking shields, a makiwara and a heavy bag. There are tons of things you need, otherwise, like cleaning supplies and places to sit and office supplies, but I'm guessing that isn't what you're asking about?

My goals are pretty much the same as last year, since I wasn't able to accomplish them--earn official rank in my current style (rather than carry-over rank from my similar previous style) and spar more. My dojo is hosting an open sparring event this spring, so that should help the sparring, and after the recent Shorinkan Camp my Sensei mentioned me competing in the Camp Tournament in "whatever division I happen to be in at the time" (there are only two divisions--mudansha and yudansha) so I'm a little scared that I may test this next year and I don't know what rank I would be testing for! Aside from those things, I think I would just like to heal up from my current injuries (stress fractured finger and foot) and keep on training and learning. I may also try my hand at an amateur MMA fight sometime this year or next.

Practice is the only way you're going to remember the kata--as mentioned, just practice them in pieces until you can remember the whole thing, then practice the whole thing on a daily basis.

SPOILERS!!!!! Well, from what I heard and saw apparently Machida was sick going into the fight (you could tell by looking at him before the fight that he didn't feel good). Even with that, he dominated the first round! I was very happy to see him countering Jones and rocking him several times because even I can see the holes in Jones's striking game while he's fighting, so I was thrilled to see Machida capitalize on it. By the end of the first round you could see that Jones was actually scared and when his coaches were telling him what to do he still had a look on his face like "that won't work". I think that after that he started to panic and switched to grappling since he wasn't able to actually use his weird striking to his advantage. I think this is where Machida's illness really hit him, because he just didn't look like he had the strength to actually grapple. Jones took Machida down and opened up his forehead with an elbow and it was all downhill for Machida from there, sadly. I have to give him props for fighting that last choke until he passed out, though--he wasn't giving up! Especially considering that most humans aren't even capable of doing a choke like that because our arms aren't long enough.

It certainly sounds like a McDojo, to me. For most students at your son's age this type of program is just fine, but I have seen some students as young as 3 take to martial arts very well and very seriously, and this would not work for them. Talk to the instructor about the progression and curriculum for older students. If you don't feel the program is going to be a good fit as your son gets older, then there is no reason to stay, even if you like the instructor--there are certainly other likeable instructors out there. If your son is going to train in a striking art and isn't going to be learning how to actually hit something (pads, punching bags and people) when he gets older then he might as well be learning dance--it may be fun and will keep him in shape and give him confidence, but he won't have much actual use for it. As for when a "good" school will accept students, that is a point of contention among martial artists. Both my previous dojo and my current dojo both accept children at the age of 3 and ran them through their own class for 3-5 year olds. We make them meet the same rank requirements as everybody else, although we obviously don't expect them to be perfect, and if they do well and take it seriously then they will be able to attend the regular youth classes with the older kids.

Bunkai is a little too multi-faceted to explain online, particularly if you don't train and practice the kata being discussed. Ian Abernethy is a great resource, but I have gotten most of my bunkai from instructors I have trained with and through my own practice. As far as naihanchi/tekki bunkai, there is a ton of it out there but consider this--if your hands are pulling or if two of them are moving at once, there is probably a grappling application.

For the purposes of spending time with your child and getting exercise, it should be fine. As for being useful, I have been less than impressed with most of the GKR I have seen, but I will disclose the fact that I have only ever seen GKR in videos online. As for sounding like a coward--any respectable martial arts school is going to teach you that your primary goal in self defense is to escape, even if it means not fighting when you otherwise could. It isn't cowardice, it's called "taking the high road" and "living to fight another day", so to speak.

I agree that wrist locks and throws aren't "flashy" and I would use them in a self defense situation. As far as spinning techniques, the only time I would ever use a spinning technique in a self defense situation would be if I happened to already be spinning--like if I was breaking free of a grab from behind, for example. If I was in front of them already there is absolutely no reason for me to turn my back on them to kick them.

So it is basically what I described but with the ranks lumped together so that they all go through the same material at the same time? That sounds like it would work fine for large groups of students when you don't have higher ranked students to act as assistants, but I much prefer the method I described wherein the class may consist of white belts, yellow belts and blue belts, but those are split up so that the instructor handles the most advanced group while assigning higher ranked students like brown belts to lead the other groups through their material.