jaypo

7/16 evening- worked on bunkai and applications from Pinan Yondan.

Friday- worked on self defense against weapons, mainly escrima sticks and short sword/knife attacks. Sat- heavy leg workout 7/16- did chest, triceps, abs, 15 minutes on elliptical, and full stretching routine. Have advanced rank training tonight.

7/11- Did bunkai applications and 3 step kumite 7/12- worked on naihanchi sandan and bunkai application from it. Then applied bunkai applications to sparring. Then 70% speed freestyle sparring. As a red belt (3rd kyu), I was training with my sensei and 1 other black belt. I was able to create openings very easily using the Naihanchi applications. Although my form wasn't perfect (this is the 1st time I saw Sandan), I should be able to get it down this week as I know the individual movements. I just need to put the sequence in order! But as far as the sparring goes, I really didn't like sparring too much in the past, but I'm starting to dig it! As I compete with the black belts more and more, I'm gaining more confidence and seeing opportunities that I've never seen before. I firmly believe it is a result of the advanced Katas and bunkais from these katas. The heians and pinans are great to create a foundation, but I'm finding that the Naihanchis are creating an entire new skillset for me.

Did applications from Heian Sandan for an hour yesterday. This morning- back and biceps EXTREMELY heavy. Like sets with 70lb dumbell hammer curls heavy. Abs. Cardio. Then all heians and pinans from Shodan to Godan, Bassai Dai, and Naihachi. Also did 3 of my sensei's own sequences and 1 kicking sequece. Not sure what this afternoon will hold in class. Tomorrow morning at 5:30 AM- weapons training! Probably working on my 1st sword kata and learning part of the 2nd. May also ask about tonfa training.

There are 2 that I mess up on, and they are both katas that my sensei has specific to his system. We use all the heians and pinans, but there are 2 that he constructed that have a lot of cat stances AND back stances in, and I sometimes get confused when to use which one. I did have trouble at first learning Pinans because I learned all the heians up to Godan in Shotokan. But I've got them down now. I just earned my red belt Friday night. I learned Bassai Dai and Tekki Shodan (Naihanchi) already, so on my next exam, my Kata should be fine.

Justluke- I'm in the same situation. I was a 5th kyu in Shotokan 20 plus years ago and just resumed training. My current sensei holds black belts in Shotokan and Shorin-ryu. His system is more geared towards Shorin Ryu. He spent a lot of time with me teaching me the Pinan versions of the katas, but he understands that my basics were from the Shotokan system. I find it difficult to adjust to the shorter stances and kicks from the front leg. Also, Shotokan taught us to step backwards to block an attack. My system makes us step into the block and counter (more practical, IMO). There are more circular movements (Shorin Ryu originated from Shoalin Monks' gung fu), so there are hook blocks and more grabs and throws than I am used to. In my 2nd class, he could see that my basics were actually better than most of his high ranked students, so he told me to wear my purple belt. But I declined and said I'd rather start at the bottom and earn a rank in his system. I tested 2 months later and got my blue belt (5th kyu in his system) which gives me a 5th kyu rank in Shorin Ryu as well as Shotokan.

Thanks for the encouragement, guys! I'm training in South Louisiana right now. At the gym I've been a member of for years, I had noticed that they were advertising a "self defense" class about a year ago. There was a short, stocky gentleman teaching a few people, none ranked over orange belt. At that point in my life, I couldn't afford the fee or the time to train as most of the martial arts schools around here cost more than my car note every month. I recently took a Hapkido class as part of a fitness contest I was in, and my interest in martial arts started again (although it never really left!). So after a workout one afternoon, I met with the gentleman, and he is a former Marine from PA that lived in Okinawa for a few years. He holds a 2nd Dan ranking in Shotokan and a 2nd Dan ranking in Shorin Ryu. I asked about his classes and teachings, and he has a group of students that are members of my gym, so he gives classes there weekly and teaches classes at his dojo for non members of my gym. So currently, I attend all the classes he teaches at my gym, and I'll start training at his dojo as well next month. About his system, I was drawn to it because I have a Shotokan background, but my original interest in MA was from the Chinese arts (Bruce Lee, Kung Fu Theater on Sunday Mornings!) I researched Shorin Ryu and discovered that it originated from Chinese forms. So I'm loving that aspect of the training. For my test for blue belt, I already knew the Shotokan bunkai and katas. I needed to learn the Pinan version of the Heians that I knew as well as a kicking kata and 2 sequences that he created. I did fairly well. I love the shorter stances and the focus on hooking and grabbing the attack rather than just linear blocking and countering. It leaves more opportunity for throws and breaks. I also find that while my Shotokan training always had me blocking and stepping backwards, (not sure if this is my sensei's style or a normal characteristic for Shorin Ryu)- we are blocking, but stepping forward (for instance, getting into a front stance used to be stepping back with your hands up. Now, it's stepping forward with the hands up!) I also like that I will have the opportunity to do weapons training. My Shotokan training was awesome, and it gave me phenomenal knowledge and basics, but it was more geared towards tournament fighting. This system I find is more practical and more traditional to the origin of the art.

Thanks, guys! Blue in this system is 6th kyu. I got to 5th kyu in Shotokan years ago, and my sensei is a 2nd dan in Shotokan. He wanted me to wear my purple belt to his class, but I told him that I would prefer to work my way up in HIS system by his rankings and start from the ground up.

Well, it was difficult, but I passed my exam and was awarded a blue belt in shorin Ryu! It was painful though. Whle I was sparring with the sr black belt. I blocked a front kick with a palm heel block and dislocated my finger. He and sensei freaked out, but I pulled it back into place and asked to continue! I hadn't sparred in over 22 years. He could have kicked my head off and I wouldn't have quit.

I'd be happy to. I'm actually going thru the opposite. I got to 5th kyu in Shotokan (about to test for 3rd kyu) and quit for a long time. I'm now training in Shorin Ryu, and I have an exam today for 5th kyu in Shorin Ryu. I know all Heian and Pinan katas thru Godan as well as Tekki. (I also know a few original sequences that my sensei created). I'd like to take a look!

To answer the question, cable crossovers work great for inner pec development. Also, if you have a pulley system at your gym that you can hook up handles on a lower level, (this will be kinda hard to explain), stand shoulder width apart and grab the pulleys in each hand. Turn your hands to where your thumbs are pointing to each other. With your arms as straight as possible, try to move your thumbs toward the center of your body and touch the tips. (You can actually cross them to get an extra pump).

Karate Kid (I remember the day I saw that one- my Godmother took me to see it) Enter the Dragon Bloodsport (actually got me motivated enough to start training Karate) All Van Damme and Seagal movies (up until the one with DMX) I also love Jackie Chan movies for the entertainment value. The guy is really a great athlete. I haven't watched an entire Tony Jaa movie, but I've watched videos of his skills. And he is friggin' phenomenal.

You know, everything happens for a reason. When I was in my teens, I finally was able to start training in martial arts, and I continuted thru 1991 (when I was 16). I had to quit because of school and work, but my obsession with the martial arts never quit. I had been a fan of Bruce since I was a toddler. So naturally, I followed Brandon's career as well. I remember like it was yesterday- I laid down to go to sleep, and on his way to his room, my dad stopped in my room and said "Did you hear about Bruce Lee's son?" I thought he had gotten another role or something. He told me he died, and I got numb. And when I researched the similarities between his and his father's deaths, it made me wonder. Both were young, talented stars on the verge of making a HUGE splash in the movie world. Both were taken way before their time. Coincidentally (or maybe not), around the end of March of this year, I was finally able to start training in martial arts again. I went in my attic to find my gi, belts, and ranking certificates. And in the box, I found 2 magazines from 1993. Both focused on Brandon and Bruce, and both issues were tributes to them both as a result of Brandon's "recent" death. Now that you've reintroduced me to the anniversary date of his death, it makes me realize that it probably wasn't a coincidence that I found the literature about Brandon around the same date. Anyhow, RIP, Brandon.

I had the same problem when I first started. I found that using dumbells helped me out tremendously. They force you to use your stabilizing muscles (in your arms- mainly triceps) and make them strong. I usually do about 6 weeks of dumbells and go back to bench. However, I haven't been able to use a barbell in years because I tore my labrum in my shoulder from lifting too heavy (315 when I was 175 lbs). So I use strictly dumbells and chest press maching. If you keep it up, you'll get stronger.

Seiyo Shorin-Ryu

I'm actually using the Heian katas that I used in Shotokan, but he focuses more on the Pinan versons of Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, and Godan. Then, there's Naihichi (sp) and so on. What I mean is that in the Pinan katas, there are more hook blocks and cat stances than I'm used to in the Heian versions. And instead of turning 180 degrees sharply with downward blocks, for example, he wants us to use more of a circular turn to get to the hook blocks. So I've pretty much mastered Heians- Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yodan, and Godan. I've also mastered the same in Pinan. Plus there are 2 called Sen-Sa-Do Shodan and Nidan which I've learned. And I'm perfectin Tekki right now (that's where I left off in Shotokan). In Shotokan, I only learned the Heians and Tekki.

5th Kyu in Shotokan Karate (JKA), testing for 5th Kyu next week in Shorin Ryu

Shroin Ryu actually translates to "Shaolin Way". It's an Okinawan form that was influenced by Shaolin Kung Fu, from what I've read. I am a 5th Kyu in Shotokan, and I'm currently studying and training in Shorin Ryu. The 2 are very similar (actually, Shotokan was Gichin Funakashi's blend of Shorin- and Shorei Ryu). But I've noticed that in Shorin Ryu, there are more "circular" and flowing movements. Shotokan is mostly all linear and powerful. In Shorin Ryu, there are a lot of hook blocks and taller stances. I'll be testing for 5th Kyu in Shorin Ryu next week.