Vagabond

First of all what kind of sparring? Knockdown or point? If it is knockdown telegraphing is bad, but I would not worry about it so much. If you are in point sparring learn to faint attacks. Do a lot off pad work, a lot of sparring, and a lot of bunkai. Like everyone else said practice, practice, practice. Also practice, analyze, re-evaluate, practice, and repeat. I suggest a video camera if you can. You would be surprised at what your brain can figure out for you.

I would agree with your assessment of what muscle memory is. Now as to the degree of mastery or proficiency, that is another thing. I can have muscle memory of an improper technique just as much as I can of a correct one. When this happens we have to retrain our bodys, a fairly difficult process. Which is why I am a proponent of teaching a technique in its entirety, with all of the nitty gritty details.

Unfortunately I fell out of my flexibility routine, but I did have goals. One of the ways I keep track of my goals is with the Versaflex. I use it to track the degrees of my splits (I was 150 degrees, but am now at 130). Also a thing to keep in mind is you active and passive flexability. How far can you do the splits on the ground Vs. How high you can kick. I also like to keep tabs on my cold flexability. Can I easily touch my toes in the morning with proper form?

This is a tip I have been given, but have not put into practice. After you have done everything else mentioned before I have been told to start over and add a limited amount of weight (2-5lbs) on the ankles or wrist. In theory this works out in my head, but there is a great risk of injury. Key things to remember are not hyperextending the joints, starting completely over with the breakdown process (i.e. four parts of the side kick), and to build the weight slowly. Again this is just a tip, but I have no practical experience in it.

WE had the Inter-school Sparring at our Dojo the other day. I had set this event up with a local Kenpo Dojo as per the instructions from my Sensei (Do all event coordinating). It was nice to meet local martial artists, but the age group was rather young. To make things worse my Sensei altered the time from 4:00pm (The youth sparring time) to 5:00pm (The adult sparring time). Not only did this change cut out my typical chance to practice Kumite, but I was not afforded any notable training partners (asied from the Kenpo Sensei, and one older student). While this experience was not what I had hoped for, both for myself and for the Dojo, I hope it will someday blossom into a beneficial event.

High kicks are good for one thing IMHO and that's for flash. Which I'm totally against in the martial arts. As most people are stating, the training of high kicks lends valuables skills and balance to training. It also give you another tool to use if you need to use it. and IMHO and that of the receiver of this Tobi Mawashi Ko Geri, high kicks, even jumping one's are useful if you have the speed to employ them along with the power and technique.

Yeah, I have a person in mind. Unfortunately he is in high school, so that kills a lot of the time I have off (I work nights). What do you mean working in angles with solo training?

Lately (I think due to my first Knockdown Kumite tournament is arriving this weekend) I have been stepping up my personal training. I do not feel I get enough from my Dojo. Now it seems as though my Dojo is more of a source for ideas that I am suppose to take home and train by myself, rather than a place where my development is guided. Ironically this extra training (Kata, heavy bag, and speed bag) has shown me I have attained a new skill without ever trying. It is more of a display skill, but what it requires (Balance, coordination, and leg strength) are all still key to Budo. I am able to stay on one leg and repeatedly kick high-low, high-low for about 5 times with good composure and force. While these kicks are with the instep (I have just begun training with the ball of my foot) I still noticed this as a "leap in skill". How would you, Bushido_man96, suggest I kick it in gear? I feel the Dojo I belong to is more geared toward children, tournaments, and a "Good workout" for adults. In fact the tournament I mentioned with the knockdown Kumite, I am the only one participating from my Dojo.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Why do we not make a new forum where we can all start our own training log? I think that would be more organized.

The meaning of this statement is lost upon me.

I recently attained my 3rd kyu, or brown belt. While I still have two more tests (2 more belts of the same color) to attain I have a thought constantly running through my head. "I have no more colors between me and black." I am fairly concerned with this as I am slowly realizing how much more work I need to put forth and how little time 2 years is to be ready. The large techniques I was worried about mastering have broken into a million individual nuances that need to be endlessly drilled. I know have to work and the finer points of my Kata, and the Bunkai to match. The belt color makes no difference; it is the responsibility I assume when I accept it. The attainment of the brown belt was an important one for me. Still I did not have a great increase in skill from green until my brown, my fitness has not changed much, in fact my knowledge of kihon, bunkai, and kata are almost the same. I have merely logged in more hours, and refined some of my kihon. Now I realize that then I was coasting, now, from brown belt on is an upward struggle to attain that black belt and finally begin my journey as a Karateka. Maybe I am over thinking it, but that is my tao.

I have had great improvements in my weight and health by actually reducing starches and carbohydrate. I think it is a poor choice of words to call these "Good health habits" since these are more opinions an theories rather than facts.

Capoeira Regional also has forms or Kata. There are only a couple but they are known as sequencia, or sequences. The only one's I have seen are sequencia de Bimba (Mestre Bimba's sequences). I was instructed and had to memorize these sequences as they are typically part of the warm up for my former Grupo. Unlike other martial arts, the sequencia are not for testing or rank advancement. Since Capoeira is a freeform martial art, they typically serve as a warm up in the few Grupo I have had the privilege to view.

Right now I am a 23 year old male who is relatively new to the martial arts. I trained for 2.5 years in Capoeira (a little in Brazil). After I moved away from the city I was in I decided to change martial arts to something more practical (Capoeira has a special place in my tanden though). The only options were Kenpo, Shotokan, and Goju-Ryu. I checked out the Dojo and decided on Shotokan. The reason being that I truly wanted to study Kyokushin Karate, but there is none to be found, and I felt Shotokan (they way it was practiced at this Dojo) would be the best preparation for when I could. I have studied Shotokan for 4 years in December, and currently hold the 3 kyu. I have competed in a few tournaments, and truly have an appreciation for the traditional Japanese ones. After 1.5 years of Shotokan I picked up Judo training through a friend's Uncle who was trying to establish a club. I enjoy Judo a lot, but as it requires me to travel to a different town I only go once a night for 2.5 hours. So far I have not competed, I just enjoy the techniques. I also use to box when I was in High School. Mostly training and sparring, I had no amateur fights. I also took a boxing conditioning class in College recently. When I am not doing martial arts, or school I like to either watch movies, read philosophy, or practice parkour and gymnastics. All of these activities are relatively new to me. While I was in my youth (until my junior year) I was very overweight (5'10" and 247 lbs). I quite playing online video games, got a job, started body building (no longer an activity of mine), and grew 2 inches. I enjoy the Do just as much as the Jutsu in Martial arts, and I look forward to learning from many of the members in this forum.

I would find a Dojo that teaches Judo and Juijutsu. The reason is that Judo is an excellent component to add to your Shotokan training, but as someone said before the Gi grips can be difficult to put into an MMA situation. Where I study Judo a lot of Juijutsu (Dan Zan Ryu) people cross train. As a result a lot of them modify some of the throws to "no gi" throws. Judo also intrinsically have "no gi" throws and sweeps. I personally have found it an excellent addition to Shotokan, as well as a popular sport, which makes variety for practice easier.

Has anyone tried this type. I have been debating on purchasing one. http://www.amazon.com/AK-Floor-Standing-Reversible-Makiwara/dp/B002MATCDC

While I enjoy the slightly frayed look (when deserved), I can't help but laugh when I see a 14 year old black belt, and then with an extremely frayed belt. Not only are they hardly old enough to have earned the blackbelt (IMHO), but they can't have had one so long that the face is almost degenerated. I found out from someone who attend the same Dojo, but with a similar opinion to mine, that this is often done with a belt sander. Somewhat similar to the kids who use to grind their skateboards along a curb to make it look used. None-the-less I like a slight amount of fray, mostly discoloration. I do however believe that the uniform should be kept tidy, and as the obi is part of the uniform the fraying and discoloration should be kept to a minimum.