ichigotora

I completely agree with this. As a 16 year old girl and the only girl holding the highest belt in the dojo along with two older men. I certainly see the prejudices. I think that growing up in karate has saved me here, I started when I was six and there were two blackbelt girls when I started. Now I'm the highest girl blackbelt and also the youngest adult grade. So its a 'fun' position to be in. From my teacher I've never seen it but certainly the 'bully' aspect I have seen from others. This article was excellently done. Thanks so much for the post!

If we do sitting bows we meditate at the start and end of class. Before kata we meditate briefly. My teacher says clear your mind, in vision your thoughts, worry's everything that's clogging your mind as water in a cup, imagine the cup knocking over and all the water soaking into the ground. This is just what I think of. Happy meditating.

This is an excellent article. A problem I often find with doing partner work in a group is when we are all going on ‘the count.’ The students tend to block and punch in unison perfectly on the count, there being robots, not improving their perception of an incoming attack. I find a good trick is to tell the younger students to think up a word in their head like say-rocketships-and think it to add a pause before the punch. So I say “ich” pause as the students say their word in their head and then punch. Causing the blockers to have to be able to read when the attack is coming. Thanks for posting, great read!

My question is do you have to have a blackbelt to compete? Shouldn't it be judged by years training? All dojo's have different requirements for there curriculum. Used to be when dojo's had dirt floors your blackbelt was the same belt as your white belt but as you worked more in the dojo it got dirt on it and I assume it eventually turned black. Some styles don't use any kindof belt or sash. I personally would rather compete as a brown belt then get accelerated to a blackbelt I didn't deserve. It could be an advantage people will assume less of the lower belt.

Though I can't say I've seen it. The New karate kid movie seems to have created quite a stir, and more kids then ever are signing up for what they believe karate is. Here's the problem-correct me if I'm wrong-the movie takes place in China. I know karate such as Goju-ryu and Shorin-ryu came from JAPAN. I think whats happing in the movie is Kung-fu or Wushu? I'm not sure because I don't know much about Chinese Martial Arts could someone enlighten me on the subject? Being a Goju-ryu partitioner--the original movie(s) had Goju techniques and will most likely be the true karate kid movies to me. How does the rest of the karate community feel about being possibly mis-represented in this movie? How do you think this is going to affect the martial arts world? Again, I haven't seen it but this is the vibe I've gotten from articles and previews. ----------------------- Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Mia Nidan (2nd degree blackbelt)

I believe this is true. In Goju-ryu we have that 'crane head' block. and what they called 'wax on/off' we call kake Uke (wrist hook block). Crane Stance of course and Jumping Front-kick. Drum Technique we have in one of our kata's. O-Sensei Chojin Miyagi founded Goju-ryu karate-do in 1888. So though I can't say for certain that it is Goju-ryu is the style they are representing. I think the case is pretty good.