mal103

I would say the opposite is true, the number of people i see who are wrecked by 70 due to lazyness and neglect. So long as you practice properly then you should have a more active for a longer time.

I'm happy to allow young students to not spar but think it's an important part of Karate and life, young lions will spar to learn, if you want to be an effective all round Karateka or MAist then you will need to put it to practice. I must have punched the air a thousand times before I started hitting pads and realised my punch was useless. My boy's biggest lesson in Karate was getting punched in the stomach and winded - no good having that experience for the first time when you really need to defend yourself. Light control helps to keep any impact to a minimum and also allows them to show control. Without trying to be too insulting then maybe your brother should take up dance classes where he doesn't have to hit or be hit? There would be nothing worse than training a young lad/girl up to Shodan but finding out they got beaten up because they couldn't apply their training properly when they really needed it.

Of course you can always keep the games as reserve and just teach good Karate, last night I did the whole lesson around basics for all grades/ages, we also mixed in resistance training where one student holds the others belt while they go forwards punching, after 5/10 minutes of this then they whould really fly forwards without the resistance. Don't be affraid to stick with basics and drill the same movement several times, you could stick with your syllabus or pick ANY move. If i'm stuck for ideas then I will just go through an advanced Kata, on Monday I did moves from Jion like Teisho in Kiba Dachi. I always tried to add something special to every lesson but now i've gained a bit of experience i'm not affraid to expand on the syllabus or to drill it over and over. Adding something different to the end of each lesson, maybe something fun can help keep it interesting but to get good students they will also have to punch/kick hundreds of times to get any good.

Too many politics and too many organisations thinking they represent Karate, all with their own rules. That's my view from a small club looking up. To me Sport Karate and Olympics Karate would be similar to knowing all about an amazing big weapon that can shoot bullets, fire rockets, fit a bayonet, attach radar, body heat sensors etc etc, but only showing people how to change the mag.

I have read somewhere that "response" was a more accurate translation instead of "block"? The 3 Age ukes going forwards make more sense when you are using an arm grab/smash and leading up to a forearm smash to the face/throat. Just a thought on blocking kicks - I always try to get out of the way rather than try to put my skinny arm in the way of a much more powerful limb. Blocking kicks may work when sparring with someone who is tapping you but I suspect that if it was full speed/power then the last thing you would want to do is try and block it's path.

Warm up first, do plenty of slow technique kicks, slowly build up speed, do optional strength training, start actually kicking something, end with stretching. My right kick is far stronger, my left knee hurts after training/running too much so I go easy on it, kicking in the air too fast is also bad on some techniques. I've increased pad work and building up on my left weaker leg, also some kicks are rubbish unless you drill them properly.

So dropping work I would expand on my teaching, maybe spend a couple of days a week touring schools, colleges and large work places to help spread good Karate. I would add a new style like Judo, maybe Aikido and I would get out there and train with as many people as possible so I could learn as much as possible and maybe even share some knowledge along the way. Thinking wider then I would travel, I have spoken to enough people on forums around the world that I could get enough invitations to train to last a few years. If I had enough money then I would start up a Dojo where everyone was welcome, pay top people to come and teach to spread good Karate before the old guard hang up their Gi's or go to the big Dojo in the sky. Oh - and buy a new Gi.....

Yes and No In early traing you use them as blocks, at some point you will (hopefully) learn that they are multi purpose moves. Think about every blocking technique, they all have halfway positions, look at the first part as potentially being the block and the latter part the response - either a stike or grapple. Ever seen the film Bad day in black rock, Spencer Tracy played a one armed man who was attacked in a bar, he deflected the punch and then struck at the neck - a parfect Shuto Uke.... Split each blocking move into 2 steps and look at the first part. Shuto/Gedan barai both bring the hand up by the head, Inner to outer block starts with moving your hand to your opposite hip, Age Uke puts the opposite hand straight up to block, Soto Outer to inner block deflecting a punch on the way up/out. You naturally do some of these while sparring. Next look at the other hand when in the halfway position, it is either striking, or grabbing, or even keeping them back as you prepare to strike back. The grabbing then brings you uchi/soto against their arm/head, Age brings their arm down as your forearm smashes upwards. Also think of Gedan Barai, maybe it's not blocking against a kick or low punch, we often use it in combinations after a Chudan punch, what do most people do after a good punch in the stomach? This puts Gedan as holding their head/shoulder while you hit them. You can get different techniques out of a simple blocking technique. Best thing to do is to drill them with a partner, then a non willing partner to see if you can get them to work and if they work for you. 2 other points, don't try to match them to other MAists attacks as they are not meant to be. Also don't always assume someone is punching you in the head/stomach, most attcks start with a threat/grab/push, as the attack has already started then we can justify the next move. Always best not to be there though....

We sometimes use pre grades, it can be used to point out to certain people that they are not ready (so don't ask for a grading form) or to ensure they are up to standard with everything. It also acts as a sort of test to give others confidence they are ready to grade. I'm sure in your case it was to help sharpen any techniques. Keep training hard and good luck.

break the technique down into bits and drill those first, get them right and then put it back together. Keep practicing but make sure you practice correctly, get advice first from your instructors/Sensei.

We aren't all natural born fighting machines so don't worry about that. Maybe train all ways but keep that method as your favourite? If you are doing this for fun or just learning a MA then that is also fine, if you are looking for self defence then think chaos, the Dojo is very much controlled. If you end up being confronted elsewhere then think about running, attacking/controlling - or what their mates are doing. Most of all enjoy training, I like it when your training partners think they are getting used to your tactics and common moves and then you change tact on them.

Fast and furious! Decided that my new Wednesday lesson has been going long enough with plenty of technical instruction, tonight was time to turn up the heat! There were a few red faces on completion....

I think it's customary here to say "Solid Post!" Many paths to the top of the mountain type scenario, just some clubs will be making more money out of it and being more "human" about it. In an ideal world all MA in the same area would train together regularly and share knowledge and gain experiences, when i'm PM I will make this law... just please don't vote for me as I will be too busy training.

Train in all directions, train going backwards, train attacking, train tricks, train it all. In reality, unless you are running away then you should be looking to control the situation and not reacting. A straight punch will get to you before you can react, if there is a knife involved you are stabbed, end of. Different situation maybe when a drunk is "slowly" swinging punches, you can move back reacting and still be in control, but people rarely drink alone so either run or attack (then run!)

Sound advice - thanks. With 2 brothers I have been working with their mum to keep their behaviour in check and I have been trying all of the things suggested. I have also had a chat with the more senior grades to try and get them to show a good example. The main problem is when a certain 4 get training together, I did have a plan of mixing up the grades so they would all train seperately but had less in yesterday. I don't really want to throw anyone out just yet but you can see the frustration in some other students when they are either hanging about due to interruptions or can't concentrate.

Remember that it's YOU that BECOMES a Black Belt, I hate it when I hear of people being given a Shodan to fill a competition or an instructors position. I also hate it when people have the attitude of having been training for nearly 4 years and still haven't been GIVEN a Black Belt! The journey time is up to you, how well you can train, how hard you train and what you put into your training. If you are with the right Club/school/org then you will pass Shodan when ready. Remember also that it is a master of the basics! You don't have to know everything about Karate to get it, there will be a syllabus including several Kata, Kumite etc. I'm Shodan plus 18 months and still don't think I am up to certain standards, having looked about I can see some are better and some not as good but it's not all about technique, speed etc. There is a lot more internally, maybe you have mastered the basics, maybe you have just begun to master yourself?

How do you deal with students talking too much? I try to be "not too soft" but "not too hard" with discipline as I don't want to be a walk over and i don't want to be a Sgt Major either. Most students seem to like this balance and it's what i'm used to, we don't train in silence but keep any chatter to an absolute minimum and it allows for the odd question to help understand etc, unfortunately a few talk more often, especially when you get boys together! At worse then you give instruction but someone talks at the same time and not everyone hears, or other students get fed up because you have to waste time repeating it. Or you give instruction and the 2 lads at the end are soo busy whispering to each other they look up with a puzzled look when you start everyone else off. More time wasted explaining it again just for them. I normally keep the tempo going but you will always need to spend time explaining/correcting so students will have to wait sometimes, I also have lessons where everyone is kept moving but it means everyone does the same so it's hard for some but easy for others. This is not a constant problem but i've tried giving out press ups, raising my voice, making students sit it out, telling them that they are wasting everyone's time by slowing down the lesson. As you can't use gaffa tape on them what other techniques do you use, or have seen used, to keep any chatter boxes quiet?

I would be tempted to consult a Doctor or physio type, especially if you feel pain. Look for general exercises but make sure you do all of them equally left/right, there could be plenty of reasons like trapped nerves etc but we aint doctors! There are plenty of exercises, if I were to try and give advise then I would say to train in cardio and strengthening exercises first to see if there is an imbalance of muscles, but leave stretching until later and only on fully warm muscles.

I'm no expert but when I teach my mums n girls amongst my classes I try to stress that doing something is the key and not freezing. Running away is always the best choice but not being there in the first place would help. The young girl attacked in Bristol a while ago was a Brown belt in Karate, she fought back and punched him in the eye, just long enough to escape. The outcome could have been different.

It is tricky, to me it depends on what they want from Karate, to aggressively display fixed Kumite is okay but it should go to the next level at some point. I often get students to do 5 step but say forget about the exact position of feet etc, then stand closer together and if the partner doesn't move quick enough then punch him/her. Do this quickly and then at full speed, it soon becomes an effective tool in evasion, speed etc.

3 years should be an absolute minimum for the most dedicated student, I did some Wado Ryo first but then only 3 years in Shotokan, in fact i had to hold back from grading to meet our governing body minimum time period. But you don't really earn it or get given it, you become it.... if you are not ready then it will (should) take longer.

Not everyone is a natural born fighter so you will have to develop sparring over time with various partners. If this particular guy is not pulling his punches then it turns from being an addictive hobby into a nightmare so speak with your Sensei and request that you are not partnered with them anymore. Some may think this is the chicken way out but you need to bring on your sparring gradually, it's no good putting beginners with hardened Black belts who beat the crap out of them as they will soon find another hobby. Even students of similar grade and size can be miles apart in sparring skills. We have one in our club that is very damaging, in time you learn how to deal with it though so you will eventually get there.

Ask to train with them for several lessons before the grading to ensure you iron out any slight variations in Kata and you can get to know the syllabus including Kumite. As for Kata - be prepared to do them ALL at the best of your ability.

Do a bit of research as well, speak with your Sensei but I also got asked several questions at the end of the Grading. Things like Kata names - Bassai Dai = Storming a Fortress - for example, I then got asked what I planned to do after gaining Shodan, then what Karate meant to me.... Was expecting some questions but these threw me a bit, especially when knackered! So long as you can answer honestly (if this is part of your grading that is.....) Not everyone will have the same experience.

But with a perfectly empty and calm mind using all of the best physical techniques makes for the perfect Kime and the most powerful strikes. Around/green/purple belt I get some students to perform all techniques without clenching a single muscle, the sudden increase in speed should be felt. You may feel strong training with clenched muscles but it's too slow and you will tire too quickly. I also get them to punch without making a tight fist. Then go back to tensing at the end of the move or point of impact, then look to channel your spiritual power, chi, Ki - or whatever you want to call it - into the Kime. The hardest strike is using the best techniques physically but combining them with the strongest mind wanting to smash through the target. Without either of these then it's just dancing.