LittleW

One always ignores what is most dangerous, JusticeZero, at least, if one can't ignore it. As for me, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't have to drive often. And if so, I use my seat belt. That said just to make sure, somebody else stumbles across these thread, as I find it very good.

That's quite reassuring to know, thanks.

There are some of the higher ranking guy I'm afraid to fight with...

We're doing non-contact karate, which doesn't mean, we don't practice our kicks on the belly. And there are some guys who kick really good. But I wouldn't like a training where I have to accept to be hurt quite regularly. Sure, accidents can happen, as everywhere. But I haven't seen that many.

I tried a tokaido silver once, but the fabric felt sweaty. I have Hayashi Gi now, and it's really good.

That list does look good. I don't know about English, but there is also a good German list in Wikipedia.

Happy birthday, Danielle!

Welcome to the forum!

I use mint oil on bruises. It cools them down and, I think, helps to spread the blood.

@ tallgeese: Seeing the list of your styles, you probably could learn a new style from DVD, for you allready know MA in general. But I don't think, that one could learn any style from DVD without any other experience in MA. At least when I think of how often my trainers tell me how I have to stand, that can't work.

My congratulations!!

If you manage to do it, post a video! we want to see it!

Welcome, Barry!! I think, we will have fun with you....

As Shotokan is the first and only style I learn, I didn't have to forgett from previous styles. But I do have to try to get rid of my mistakes, to improve every stance and move. And I think that it is, that you have to accept, that you have to learn so much in a MA. Unlike, I think, in other sports.

Have a great trip, Shizentai! I'm quite sure, you will enjoy it. I have also been to Japan and I love this country. But I didn't train in a dojo there, I rather used the time to travel around. I don't think you will have difficulties there, though. Having trained there some years ago. And the names are the same anyway, as they are Japanese.

I have a quite similiar story. I have always been an outsider, in school and at work, and went through some depressions. I would never have called me happy, even though the last depression faded away some years before starting karate. But it took just some weeks after starting it until I found myself more happy then I have ever been in my life. And right after that I found I'm more confident with other people, and getting easier over things which would really have torn my down earlier.

My teacher told me, that you need only one sqare meter to do kata at home. Just indicate the techniques and stances and don't make the full moves. It is only meant to help you remember the kata anyway.

If you want to push weights, and don't have one: Why not use water bottles (or whatever you use to drink). Okay, it's not good, if you want to lift 30 kg at once. But it gives you 500 g to 1.5 kg. And, with some repetition, that can be much.

There are so many martial arts that everybody can find the one that fit him best. If one wants to avoid doing kata, he can choose boxing or kickboxing, where they don't have any, as far as I know. But Karate is NOT only combat, it's kihon, kata and kumite. And I think, it's kata, which makes it so various and interesting. Don't vote for taking the kata out of karate. It does teach kombinations, selfdefence, and, first of all, it does teach you to controll vour body. For sure, there won't be any real fight wich does resemble any kata completly. But is that the only reason to learn karate? If you learn boxing, you will never be prepared, if somebody does kick you. If you learn judo, you don't learn what to, if you are kicked or hit. But there are many boxer or judoka, who do that sports all the same. And, if not for the kata, no Shotokan Karateka would ever learn, what to do, if being grabbed.

Shotokan Karate 6th kyu 2 to 4 times a week

No, there's no single S in Japanese. And they sometimes do speak the U very clearly. At least, my teacher does. It's interesting, that Ossu is used as a greeting. I've seen it in Kanji and it means something like to hit and take the blows, or hart and soft. There are so many translations for a Kanji... Enjoy your stay in Japan!

Very good answer! Do you speak Japanese, Shizentai? For, learning that language myself, I would have come to the same result.

I'm 29 years old from Germany. I'm training Shotokan Karate since about four years and training for the fifth kyu know. I hope to have fun with you here!