andym

This is my view on the philosophy of the martial arts, it's central reality. So read reality for philosophy. This is from an unpublished article : Yet within the training we confront another aspect, reality itself . Reality, moment by moment existence. Generally, we go through life distracted, thinking about either something that has happened before or something that will happen later. We do not focus on what is happening around us, at this moment, because it may be tedious. I’m just the same, I work long and hard at an unrewarding job, for a firm I despise, hardly enjoyable. It takes a deliberate act of will to focus on the miserable reality of my dull and boring working life, distracted reality becomes an escape from boredom. But, in the Dojo, training, if you are in this normal ‘distracted reality’, thinking of something before or later, you will get nailed ! You have to face reality; reality is the focus on this moment of action, this moment of reality. You focus on what is really going on and not be distracted by peripheral or trivial things, especially with-in yourself. Reality is a constant flow, as it passes , either through you or by you. (An important distinction.)The old hour glass analogy is the best to quickly grasp the point I am trying to get across. In the base of the hour glass is the past. The top is the future. In the narrow centre, were the ‘sands of time’ run through, is now. Only by correctly focusing on now, can we act or re-act, to events correctly. This is the central principle that all the martial arts are trying to teach. This does not mean a hedonistic ‘live for today, tomorrow doesn’t count’, attitude. The future is there and it is coming. You need to understand and learn from the past , this helps you to be able to plan and use the oncoming future. By focusing on now, you can make the best use of the past and the future. This is what is learned, only by the experience of training and practise. Ancient or modern, armed or unarmed, art, way, combat or sport is irrelevant. This, in my opinion, is the central, all embracing principle of reality carried by the martial arts.

I study Goju Ryu and was taught a Goju based system developed my Sensei over the years. I've now begun to learn Matayoshi Kobudo , a stand-a-lone Kobudo system, at tied to any Karate style. as a way to increase my knowledge.

Hello snowturtle good to see yet another Goju Ryu practitioner.

A belated happy birthday to you.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Lineage can be important, or irrelevant. That's the problem with it. This is mine for what it's worth. Kanryo Higashionna Chojun Miyagi Eichi Miyazato Teruo Chinen + Garry Spiers Tony Christian Myself.

In the UK, GKR are the biggest single 'style', though I use the term loosely. Sadly this has caused alot of off shots and copycats. Plus , as Harkon77 says, there's alot of generic kids karate at the 'we do it all' martial arts clubs that are now every where.

In the lull between the storms today, had to nip round to my mum's picking up broken fence panels and a gate. I'm a bit farther north than Harkon77. The list of jobs that need doing next week just keeps growing.

The key failing in my view of the excessive reliance on Jiyu Kumite/ Free Sparring as a measure of effectiveness in self protection, is that you don't get to choose the range or mode at which the 'self protection event' : the fight, takes place. The attacker picks that. Training should cover all ranges and all modes of attack. Note : I'm not attack free sparring as ineffective, it's a most for effective martial arts training. But, it is only one aspect. Some think it is the be all and end all.

Interesting concept.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Hello JJ77 amd welcome to the forum Don't worry co-ordination is always a major problem for adult beginners. Kids don't think about actions, they just copy - it's how they learn so much so quickly. Adults add thinking to the process, don't worry about, co-ordination will come.

says bushido_man96This comes from another thread, but has sparked my answer to this thread. Because I feel the above quote is wrong, because there is no link between the two. Yes, similar concepts at work etc, but no direct link. And to me to be a tradition requires that direct link. A link beyond word of mouth, but a link of teacher to pupil, a direct transmission. To me this is the definition of traditional within the martial arts.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Varies , but usually once a day.

I've got to say, much as I don't like him, Van Damme is the winner. If no trickery was involved, it is truly an epic stunt. Norris's is a parody and a good one, but admittedly CGI. But, perhaps will live longer. 'Dr Strangelove' is a world famous comedy film. It's actually a parody of a film called 'Fail Safe.' Forgotten because of the greatness of the parody, but parody needs an original source.

I rest my case.....

Hello and welcome to the forum.

No problem, that's what we're here for.

Welcome to the forum dirtyfishtank. To a large extent Goju Ryu and Kyukoshin are related. I echo wastelanders post, go to the clubs and see whats going on. Key, which has the best instructor, that should be the major deciding factor in selecting where you begin training, rather than pre-selecting a specific style. All the best

Well done.

Welcome to the forum.

To me the issue is only an issue if you view Kata in isolation. Taking it as solely and only the solo exercise. This is a false assumption. Yes, it did become the case that way too many only studied kata in it's solo aspect, back in the 1970's to 1990's, but by now I would have thought everybody understood that Kata as a solo exercise is one single aspect of of a whole training methodology that includes partner training if the Kata : Bunkai. To divorce solo training from partner training, is to only get half the lesson. After all, Bunkai is just a specialist form of Kumite (sparring) training.

says AdamKralic And there's the problem in a nutshell. No progression and student development. No wonder your son gets bored. But is that Karate's fault or the instructors ? Really the issue is instructor V instructor, rather than art V art.

Side light on this : many years ago, when this BJJ / MMA verses traditional 'debate' started. Some one turned up at a friends Dojo to 'spar'. Important, he'd sat and watched the training (Goju Ryu) seen what we do. The requested sparring takes place. Starts with feeler jabs and kicks, by both. Then visitor deflects strikes, in for the clinch - dropped by head butt and knee to groin ! That was exactly what was and is done in our training and he got it. Complained about no control and illegal techniques : I kid you not. Understand were I'm coming from. Again this is very off this topic, but....