Fudoshin_Ryu

Good view points from all. But, if you were the head of a school/owner would you consider giving them out? And if so, why? Or for what Causes? Other then being beneficial for publicity I don't really see a real need to make one, I could just as easily give out appreciation certs. they do provide a nice novelty (honorary black belts). And would you just stop with a certificate saying honorary black belt, or do you go ahead and hand them a black belt too?

I was on Martial Talk yesterday and I seen a thread entitled the same as my own, That person was asking for wording on a certificate to give an honorary black belt, to the mayor, governor and some other people...I forget the full story, but this got me thinking back when Obama got his Honorary black belt in Tae Kwon Do from the Kukkiwon just because he had a bit of prior experience (green belt I believe). I thought that, that was wrong for the kukkiwon to give out a black belt just because of someone's stature. In my opinion I believe a certificate of appreciation is just as well if you're trying to award someone's help. I personally don't think a Honorary Black Belt exists... Do any of you? There has probably been a discussion on this before, but I haven't been able to find it and I figured maybe an updated topic would be nice to see if anyone's views have changed. Hope to hear from you all soon!

Being Goju Ryu we do three Kata's with Dynamic Tension. Sanchin and Tensho, and not to mention we also dabble in Uechi Ryu Sanchin also. And the last one being Suparunpei where mostly the beginning is done dynamically and a little bit towards the end...but once while I was in Okinawa for a seminar I did witness an older sensei which I won't name. Had a small accident. It wasn't a pretty sight for all the Americans, but the rest of the Okinawan's just shrugged it off as a 'it happens to everyone once' sort of deal. Thanks! I will definitely look forward to incorporating that more. It helps asking other practitioners what might be missing from a mental aspect because a lot of Chinese practitioners usually just say "add to it yourself and give it your own 'flair' " and I'm left like >< So thanks again.

Yes, I do think I need to relax a bit more and 'think' less about what I'm doing! thanks again! Yes, my posture was weak and as a result my balance wasn't as well as it should have been either! Thanks for pointing it out for me! I don't remember if I was breathing or not during the tension, but it was indeed intentional, good eye! I will have to stop myself and check next time to see if I was holding my breath or not! Thanks for the tip! I will work on Kime as well! I'm aware of it from the Okinawan Karate, but I never thought to try and use it in the CMA's, but I will experiment around with it thanks and I do hope to see more of your comments on my upcoming videos as well! Here is my latest training video! Thanks for watching in advance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63NMHcfmLBg&feature=plcp

Here's a personal training video of my Baji Xiao Jia training...please check it out and let me know what you think about my movements...stances or strikes! Thanks in advance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhNbigpSM5w&feature=plcp

Someone once told me suparunpei was half internal also since its based off the core of sanchin.. And I do have to believe in that.

Haha it was silly of me to assume you were! I should have had a more open mind! What style(s) do you do?

Everyone has wonderful points and im enjoying reading this (immensely). But...I have yet another perspective and question lingering within my head. Say...you get Menkyo Kaiden or its equivalent (teaching certificate) and you go out to teach, but for some odd reason you have to move say...from Georgia, USA...to lets just say a random place in Canada, this would cut down the time you have to train with your teacher and peers...so...your technique will eventually alter to the way your body naturally wants to do this, and I have seen this happen, and I have also witnessed it happen to my own body, please also note I am not asking if this ever happened to you, or if this happens to 'good' or 'great' martial artists...I am simply asking if this is an acceptable form of altering the kata, and if it's right...and how would one really know if this is happening to them, unless someone points it out., And how can one stray from allowing it to happen?

I like to use Nike Boom when I am in close quarters to a dead line. You can post it to a forum, or a social net work, and when ever the thread or status gets replies, comments or 'likes' you get a motivational message through your head phones.

I got your email, and I still don't know what to think about the kata. I have never in my life ever seen anything similar to it. It has elements of shotokan kata as well as some shito ryu kata, primarily Juroku (in terms of the 'checks') I would say most of the influence is from Shuri, but I am still perplexed to it. Perhaps it's a localized ryu-gata (School form). Does your teacher offer any information on it's history? Because now I'm pretty interested in it too LOL

I can see what you are saying here, and I don't disagree. But many people are goal oriented, and when there are visible, set goals they can see, and know what they need to do to achieve it (objectives), it helps with motivation. I would just mention that this is the other side of the belt systems. That's very true and agreeable. ``````````````````````````````````` So how many people here think that a 'shorter' ranking system would damage their commerce?

Don't forget Funakoshi changed things from the way Itosu taught him. Things change with time, martial arts itself can be broken down to Classical, Traditional and Modern in terms of era. But things change, for the times, for the people. Karate had to change for the musculature of westerners and not stocky 'farm' built Okinawans...

Shito Ryu is sort of like a blend of Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Uechi Ryu etc. Kenwa Mabuni took principle from his friends, ans people he trained with. He trained with Chojun Miyage, founder of Goju Ryu. Kanbun Uechi, founder of Uechi Ryu, Ankoh Itosu, etc etc. But Mabuni used his own demeanor in most of his forms, and not the usual ones.

I have never ever taken a Wado class in my life, however my friend in New Hampshire studies Wado-Ryu. From what he throws my way I can see a blend of Shotokan and Shito Ryu, kata wise, I would say it's closer related to Shito Ryu seeing as how the Suparunpei they use is more Shito style than Goju Ryu, but I know a lot more Shotokan people are calling Suparunpei, Hyaku hachi ho, some say Funakoshi coined it as this, however I am reluctant to say if he did or not. But I would say it seems like a reasonable blend of both Shito Ryu and Shotokan.

If your looking for something that utilizes both a soft and hard principle to its style, I would definitely go with Goju Ryu. Kyokushin does have quite a bit grappling in it as well, but the same with Goju Ryu as well. Many goju ryu techniques within the kata are disguised, but they are actually grappling techniques. Although with Kyokushin you will do a good amount of kicking, which is contrary to Goju Ryu.

I would first like to add that, no matter what style you do, even the ones you considered taking as well as the ones you have decided against, it's not just going to be an over night change in your defensive skills or offensive skills. It's going to depend on the teacher you have in each art, our opinions won't make much of a difference, it's the teacher that appeals to you that will make everything work or not work for you. I will take Goju Ryu for example, you can youtube it and google it and perhaps even wikipedia it all you want, and your gonna find people like Fabio, Higaonna, Ikemiyagi, Chroniger, etc etc. And your gonna see the way they train in hojo and junbi undo, and your going to see amazing kata performances, BUT you may or may not find that in your local dojo...I would suggest sitting in on each of the respective styles to see what you think of the teachers and such, as well as the atmosphere. Some goju schools offer full contact kumite, while some don't. A lot of Kyokushin schools offer sabaki as well, at least my school does, as well as their affiliates. But even you said, all the styles have their strong and weak points, but if you instill the fact that "I have to excel in this..." to protect myself, or just to be the best, no matter what the art, I think you can be great in it! That's my two cents on this subject... Hope it helps, but if not I am sure someone else will have some even better advice ^_^

Sounds good. Now in terms of Kata (I will list a few to put my point across to other forms as well) Geki Sai Ichi and ni (Fukyu gata series) Taikyokyu (Taihokyu) Pinan Shodan and Nidan (Heian Shodan and Nidan) In the beginning of these katas you see a forward step with the right leg, and than a pivot to face to your left. Do you consider this tai sabaki as well as getting off the line. And if you do, is this reasonable evidence that tai sabaki and 'getting off the line' is taught at the earliest age of a martial artist?

Bunkai is self defense application. It would be terribly illogical not to change it. It seems the reason for practicing self defense is to be able to defend yourself. If the practice hurts and you can barely do it, it will end poorly when someone is really trying to hurt you. Better to modify it to something applicable in real life. I understand what your saying and it is my fault for not going into more detail of what I was referring to. I was referring to 'jump backs' how ever self defense related these may be, I am sure not all jump backs are meant to be used as a self defense means. There may be a small boulder behind you, and stepping back or sliding back just won't cut it. So you have to 'jump back' over it. But if your older, over weight, or just a bit more crippled than when you were a few years ago, do you alter the bunkai of the waza down to the smallest technical ability so changing a jump back to a slide back? Or does one just remove that imaginary rock behind them all together?

Dragon associates offers meijin uniforms for under a hundred dollars, and you can have custom embroidery as well as fabricated ones. I order all my ghi's from them, and have been doing so for years, although, I don't necessarily need a new ghi every year, I buy one, if not one for me for friends or students to keep them with business.

You mention your looking for local professionals, although I don't consider myself a professional I do like to exchange knowledge with other fighters and people, what state are you located in?

I have calcium deposits in both elbows as well as arthritis in my left knee, which is the landing leg for most of the jump backs in my style. I however still do them, they hurt yes,...but I take triflex to reduce the extra damage on my joints. I personally don't see myself enjoying the arts if I cannot do them fully. This is solely my opinion, I would never impose this on anyone else. But, I am aware that as you age, even if you wanted to, it may be impossible to do something. So I want to ask now... if you have to modify the technique do you also alter the bunkai?

I voted "yes". Simply because in half of the arts I do we don't have a ranking system, and in the classical era of okinawan te they didn't have the 'traditional' ranking system we have so keenly adopted within our ever growing modern era. in Iaido, Kendo and Aiki-jutsu we don't use a belt system, we still go through roku-kyu down to our dan ranking system, but we simply wear kaku obi for our iaito and shinken's. We still have testing's but we don't rely on an obi shiken system. In Uechi and Goju we use white,yellow,green,blue, brown and black. so it's four belts between white and black. Not much, but still more than I would want. It takes away from wanting to work harder for yourself instead of the belt around your waist. I may be wrong, but please bare in mind I am simply speaking for my own opinions, nothing more.

Now I would like to ask everyone...what forms of getting off the line do you practice pertaining to your respective style or styles. Like in my school with Uechi Ryu and Goju Ryu we also teach tai sabaki and 'getting off the line' if you prefer whilst practicing on the machiwara. That's one way to train the feet to move in unison with the body so we can perhaps strike and get off the line at the same time.

I don't think there is ever really a time where you can say "one doesn't know enough kata". Those eight base kata will take you a lot more time to become proficient in them, and to bunkai them well than you think. However if you like to do kata and just want to master the pattern than by all means, learn as many as you want. I know forty-eight empty hand kata, but will I ever be able to 'master' them all? Not likely. In Uechi Ryu we have eight base kata and in Goju Ryu we have thirteen base kata, than you get into the whole topic of henka, bunkai, oyo bunkai, what type of ibuki is being used...the list goes on and on, so there is no such thing as 'not enough kata'. In my opinion at least.

We are mostly Uechi/Goju who dabble in other styles and bunkai it to our own mind frame. My sensei uses it as a sprawl as well, I however use it as a duck, not necessarily to a bo but perhaps to a jodan mawashi geri.