Kyokushin

I've tried that. It doesn't work! By the end of the class everyone will be asking you where you trained at, what rank you are, etc.

I really don't know what Hai is, but Osu is used in a lot of ways. It can be used to say hello, I understand, I will do it, etc. Literally translated it means to perservere even when things are tough. So sometimes when performing various techniques you might say Osu to remind yourself of your commitment to always do your best. Hope that helps I had an embarrassing bowing moment one time during a Cross Country season. It had been a really tough run and we were just finishing up stretching. When I went to go inside the building and get my things I opened the door by backing into it b/c I was too tired to push it open any other way. I usually open the dojo door this way when I'm leaving so that I can say bye after I bow out. So I guess since I was so tired it reminded me of karate and I ended up bowing in the door w/ an Osu! Luckily it wasn't very loud and nobody seemed to notice. Needless to say I turned bright red and jetted outta there!!!

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Sounds like he needs extra help. Not a children's class. Here's a story I read on this matter. I thought it was very interesting. Once there was a famous karate sensei in Japan whose training produced national champions. His classes were very demanding, until one day, a thin, sickly boy came and asked to be taught karate. After the boy was accepted into class, the other students saw that their sensei was paying more attention to the boy than anyone else. The boy was not very strong, nor was he coordinated, so the sensei would often leave one of his other students in charge of the class to take the boy aside for individual instruction. This was quite frustrating for the other students, especially those who expected to enter the national competitions and win. Who cared about just one boy, who wasn't very talented anyway, when national championships were at stake? So the top students of the school went to their sensei to demand that he devote more attention to them. To their surprise, their sensei said, "You are all very talented karate students. You will no doubt succeed no matter who your instructor is. Therefore, you may leave and study at another school. The boy of whom you speak, on the other hand, is not naturally skilled as you are. He truely needs my abilities as a teacher to guide him properly in training." When the students recognized their sensei's wisdom and generosity, they bowed their heads and begged his pardon. Afterward, they helped in training the boy, until he eventually grew to become a national champion himself. Excerpt from "The Empty Hand" by Rui Umezawa My point is if he is thrown into a children's class he will be babied and may never get that extra push he's going to need to become as good as everyone else. I've met plenty of uncoordinated people who were slow learners and age has nothing to do with this (unless your four years old ) Maybe you should try to help him instead of just thinking about how he's clumsy and slow. Anyway I'm not trying to be critical, it's just a thought Osu!

Hmm, well I don't think I've ever come across that problem. I've recently gone to another dojo (different style) with a Kyokushin buddy of mine and both of us have been told how good we are at sparring. If that tells you anything I think how well you block to the head is really going to just depend on how aware of your opponents movements you are, and like Kirves said that is a tournament rule. I would go check out a Kyokushin dojo and watch them spar. See what you think for yourself! Good Luck

Thanks ninjanurse I appreciate your "ranting" and will keep it in mind

Hey Niko, don't give up on that I'm sixteen too and looking to open a dojo as well. My advice would be to talk to your instructor about your plans. When you get to a higher rank maybe you can start teaching some. It helps A LOT!!! Even now if there are incoming white belts you could help them with their basics or something. Start small and work from there. If your going to college after high school there are usually rooms at the university that you can use for clubs and then ya could start your own karate dojo there. Plenty of students

I'd have to say it's more of a case by case basis. Usually I'd assume 12 yrs. and up could go into an adult class, but you never know. There's always going to be younger kids who are quick learners and well disciplined, and in their case a kids class might hinder their training. While I've also met a 13 yr. old who was just as immature as someone who's six! If the kid isn't distracting (i.e. Not bouncing around in the lines, etc.) I don't see why there's a problem. There are plenty of people who are slow learners and ultimately it's really up to your instructor.

I would if I was older. I'm only sixteen right know so you can see the problems that could start. As soon as I turn eighteen I plan on starting a regular club. As far as my instructor, he's navy and had to move a few years ago. He comes back to train us when he can. That's usually every six months. I see your point though Kirves. I haven't given up or anything. I'm still training as much as possible

Just curious what you instructors think about what belt a new student should wear when coming from another style. I personally think that they should start out as white belt, but to my surprise came across an instructor who said it's no problem to wear your old belt. Just wondering what the rest of ya thought

I'd have to say my biggest mistake is trying to rush an attack. Occasionally I just end up looking like I'm trying to charge my opponent, and if the person is experienced I usually end up get a good kick in the gut and flying through the air, then crashing back to the ground.

I agree with hobz. Kata is not about how cool the moves are and you should'nt really change it. I had to learn several kata before there were any "cool moves" in them, but kata is really good for perfecting the techniques that are incorporated in each one. Different katas will stress different techniques, which is why the beginning katas are usually very basic. Remember with kata there is always the mental challenge of what the Japanese call "Ren Ma" translated: always polishing. If you work on this new kata very hard I garuntee your bo skills will improve as a result.

I wish! I think I'd be in karate heaven if I lived in NY, but I don't

I wouldn't worry too much about him nit picking you like that. Instead look at it as a good oppurtunity to improve. The higher in rank you get the more you'll get "picked on" b/c your Sensei expects more of you. 2nd Kyu I'm assuming is brown belt? If that's so Your not far from being a Black belt yourself. I would work on the posture thing some at home even if just ten min. each day. That will help. Focus on working in good form and eventually you will be able to work faster and keep up w/ the other guys. Always remember though, It's better to have good technique and be slow; Then to be quick and have bad technique. Good luck:-)

The nearest dojo is hours away, and tournaments and clinics are almost always in Rochester, NY that's a big Kyokushin area. I can't afford to go to a camp or seminar that far away right now. I am planning on getting together w/ all the old students a few times a month to work on kata, Kihon, etc.

I am doing a new art b/c my old dojo is getting ready to be shut down. We trained at a church and the church decided they don't want our class anymore. I've been training for five years and teaching for one of the five. So although I'm not a black belt I'm not new to karate either. The reason I don't want to drop Kyokushin is b/c when you've been training so long in one style it's hard to give it up. I love Kyokushin very much and I want to get my black belt so that I can teach it to others one day. But since my dojo shut down I'm forced to go elsewhere Chito Ryu is the closest to my original style b/c it's Japanese.

I just started a new style, Chito-Ryu. I am also still working on Kyokushin karate. It seemed like good extra training until we started working on kata. Now I'm worried that I'll start mixing the other style in w/ my Kyokushin or visa versa at belt tests. What's a good way to keep these katas from mixing themselves together???? What are thoughts on doing more than one style at once? Is it worth it??? HELP!!!

I'm a smaller person too. When I got my bo I bought a tapered oak one, and then measured how much I would need to cut to make it my size. Then just halfed that and cut each side by the amt. I got. The Bo was ALOT easier to use once it was my size. See if that works for you:)

What do you suppose is the best way to switch your sparring style? I am a smaller person and I want to work on being more on the balls of my feet so that I can attack quicker. Plus I am at a new dojo where they strike to the head. I'm not used to this and my upper block is pretty slow. I thought maybe if I started sparring right foot forward instead of left I'd be quicker b/c I'm right handed; I just like having my left foot forward, but every time I try to switch it feels so awkward that it's hard to fight. Are there some drills I could do at home to make that more comfortable? Thanks for any advice:)

I found when I had students who were intimated like that it helped if I let them be the offender and I only defended their techniques. That way they could try things w/o worrying about getting hurt. (If they're really freaked out like someone else said just stand there and let them hit you a couple of times. Most likely it's going to be pretty light anyways and will help them to be less stressed about striking people.) This kept them from having sloppy punches/kicks that were five feet away from me anyway. After they got used to that I just gradually added in more counters until they were free sparring just like anyone else. The biggest complaint I've heard from females is that they don't like getting bruises. So maybe teaching them footwork to evade strikes would help since your not gonna get hit as much as if you use a block w/ your arm, which if you did that on some full blown techniques would break your arm anyway. Try sneaking in about ten min. of sparring sparadically so that the scarred people can get a chance to try some of these more controlled approaches and then they won't be afraid to show up come sparring night:-) Hope that helps! OSU!

I don't know if I really agree w/ you completely. I think some things have been changed, and certain people/dojos may not do things like Kata right. But you said kata is not meant to be strong or fast or in deep stances. No not all the time necessarily, but each kata really has it's own rhythm and flow. There are parts that should be nice strong stances. Not neccesarily so deep that you look like your doing a split, but it should be strong so that you can't easily be knocked over. The same way parts of a kata should be fast. Some slow. It all depends on what kata you are doing. In my style we have this one kata Sanchin No Kata and everything is very slow and tense. It is for building strength physically and mentally b/c it is hard. Then their is Yantsu it is also slow but flows and is very beautiful. Just trying to make a point that different katas require different things. Maybe I'm am wrong. I'm not trying to discount what you're saying. That's just my opinion. Osu!!

Does anybody practice this style here? I'm interested in knowing more about it from people who actually practice Shorin-Ryu. Like things that are stressed in it, philosophy, etc. Anything that seems to seperate this style from others. I just started practicing it so that's why I'm curious:)

Thanks for the input guys:) I think I found another dojo that I like that is closer to my original style.

Yeah that's why I wanted to know if anyone had heard of him b/c he "sounds" like someone who is really knowledgable and I would think he'd be well known in TKD, but I'm from a different style so I don't really know very much about people who are really good in TKD.

Thanks karatekid I did find the site. I just wanted to see if his reputation is as good as his site says. You know a little less biased, but I can't find any other sites with info on him.