DoctorQui

BUT is it right to dish out press/push ups to an adult who is paying for the priviledge, is already dedicated (otherwise they wouldn't be there) and are generally more attentive as opposed to kids, who are generally not disciplined, are there because of their parents and lose concentration or regularly do not pay attention. I belive that press ups should be used for the kids as a form of discipline, and that adults who are paying to be taught should be treated with more respect rather than being told to do 10 press ups because they made a mistake with a technique. We have only one instructor at our Dojo who dishes out press ups at the drop of a hat and often unfairly. Out of respect I say nothing but it has now got to a point where I put my head round the Dojo door and if my Sensei is not there and this guy is taking the class, I wont bother training.

This is why I never get anything stitched onto my gi, you can only really use it at one Dojo or for one style. Some people like to do one main style and dip their toe every so often in others. While I am proud of my Dojo and my style, my Gi is mine and is merely a uniform of martial arts, not of a particular martial art. Probably not a popular opinion though!

Its never too late! I started when I was 17 and like a LOT of teenagers, got bored and stopped going (BIG mistake). I started again when I was 38 in Wado Ryu and changed to Shotokan at 42 and I am quite pleased with my progress. Karate isn't all about being able to touch the floor with your nads while doing the box splits or doing a flying round house. Its about focus, inner as well as outer strength and confidence in your own ability while doing good basic, solid techniques, imo!

Once washed a few times and worn in this should stop but until that time, barryives advice is sound. Polycotton gis are generally ok if you don't want to be bothered in the ironing department as creases from washing tend to fall out. My own faric of choice is good ol cotton, preferably brushed.

I have a 14oz Gi from Master, it is a budget gi at £35 but I'm more than pleased with it. I have also just bought a Cimac light heavy weight gi. I find that the heavier gis just feel better, look better and most importantly, no matter how sweaty you get, they do not stick to you.

I changed from Wado to Shotokan. In most katas where zenkutsu or niko achi Dachis are used in Wado, they are replaced with mainly Kotkutsu Dachi in Shotokan. I am always slipping into the Wado way, its infuriating!

Well,I didn't want to sound cynical in the OP but the school in question is a franchised Dojo, not that far off a McDojo. Fortunately, in my Dojo its BB = 1st D

Press ups are not a pumishment in my Dojo either but, as I said in a previous post, some instructors do use them as a punishment. In a line up, doing techniques, one person does something wrong and the instructor singles them out and tell them (and noone else) to do 10 press ups. This can't be seen as anything but a punishment, no matter how it is dressed up, surely! You are being told to do a physical activity which is, usually disliked, because the instructor is not happy with you.

OSU I recently spoke with a guy from the same style as my whose Dojo have a black belt rank (via grading) followed, 12 months later by a 1st Dan rank (again via grading). In another style I did they had a PreDan between 1st Kyu and 1st Dan but the belt colour didn't change! Has anyone else heard of being a black belt but NOT a first Dan? I thought it was quite unusual! Is it unusual? DQ

Ultimately the decision is with the chief Sensei. I agree that Karate and TKD are completely different but when moving between styles in Karate, many, if not all, of the moves can be more than simply similar, some can have only very subtle differences and need only a minor tweak. Shotokan and Wado Ryu are an example of this. It would be a complete waste of both the instructors and the students time to start at the beginning. Particularly in situatitons where there is little or no break in training. In my situation I moved to an area where my original style was not available.

Your attitude is good and your rank is deserved. Your situation is very similar to me coming from Wado Ryu to Shotokan. If you show humility and are not hung up on the belt situation, I think that instructors have no problem in awarding what is deserved.

I'd never heard of George Dillman so I googled him, all I can say is, oh...not for me!

I completely agree with this. For arguement sake, if a Chief Instructor, an 8th Dan say, in a particular style thinks that someone shoud start at a specific level, what qualifies, say, a junior Kyu to challenge that decision.

Yes if you are a Karateka and your level of skill is such that it would be like 'teaching granny to suck eggs' to start at the beginning! I switched from Wado Ryu to Shotokan because I moved to an area where there are no Wado clubs. I went to a club and met the chief instructor and offered to start at the beginning (I was an advanced Kyu grade). He asked me to do my Wado katas, took me through some techniques and assessed that starting at the beginning would waste his and my time so he started me at the belt I was already at. His comment was that I had clearly worked very hard to get to where I was and it wasn't his place to take it away.

The indepth answers have alreaady been given but if I may answer it more simply and in a way I understood it. Kata is form and is the technical move in its entirety emphasising on a specific attack. Its a sort of demonstration of ones defence and attack moves. Its the same with simple technique, you follow through with the entire move, from (in Shotokan) fist at obi and other hand in marking position before you follow through with your geagi uke. In doing so you learn power and delivery. In reality, you have no idea where your opponent will attack from. Basically, before you can effectively use your moves you have to understand why the form has been developed and like everything else, as you become more experienced you develop your own way. I love Kihon kata because its a firm foundation, its not a particularly difficult kata and responds only to specific attacks, but as good a karateka you may be, returning to basic form helps you to re-tune and check your technique.

I would say that you can't be too dedicated but you can train too often, the two are not mutually exclusive. I train 3 (4 max) times per week and I must train at least enough times during a 3 months period that would equate to twice per week in order to grade (every 3 months) however, at the moment I am unemployed and have been throwing myself into training as a way of keeping my brain working. What I am finding is that if I train more than 4 times a week (there are 6 opportunities pw) I am not learning anymore than if I was going 2-3 times. You sort of peak out! Anyway, what I tend to do it 3 pw, practice at home and do loads of reading on days off as well as other things like cardio vascular stuff eg cycling. The reading and learning about yours and other styles, along with practising what you have learned is where the dedication is, it isn't measured by clocking up Dojo time imo. Only you know where your learning peak is, and only you know if you are benefiting from training on as many days as there are in the week. If 5 days works for you then carry on but it would be too much for me to do that many days in the Dojo! Remember that rest and thinking time is as important as training and sleeping is when all that information you have learned sinks into the subconscious!

Try not to go with a franchise who will no doubt have their marketing shpeel sorted but ultimately they need to make money and profit, avoid those clubs who insist you only buy equipment through them and and/or insist you pay your membership fee etc after your first free (usually) lesson and avoid clubs with losts of belt stages, who charge an arm and a leg for grading and, as you have eluded to, give out belts regardless of performance! Imo, a good club should be teaching a good mixture of technique, kata, kumite and self defence and do a proper warm up at the beginning. ALso,another plus for me is a club that allows you to pay as you train as opposed to paying a monthly training fee! If you're happy with your son's Dojo, why not try it out!

OSU Dobber, good advice. I never had this at my last Dojo, people were a lot more relaxed and prepared to discuss it rather than just say, 'do this!'. The guys at my new Dojo are great, don't get me wrong, its simply that, to each one I sparr with, 'I'm doing it all wrong' which of course, as you say, unless you're blocking a maegeri with a block more suitable for Jodan punch , you're technique isn't necessarily wrong but personal! Some of the Dan grades at my new Dojo just aren't comfortable with having their advice challenged or discussed. Probably because most students are either kids or adults with no previous experience to draw from!

Has anyone been in a situation where different Dan grades from the same Dojo give you differing advice on technique. Jiyu Ippon kumite is a prime example for me. I came to Shotokan from Wado Ryu where Jiyu Ippon is not generally practiced. I am a advanced Kyu grade level and am comfortable with Jiyu Ippon. Anyway, I have sparred with all the Dan grades in my Dojo all of whom have given me their advice and instruction on technique, which normally criticises what I have done (which is normally what I have been shown by another Dan grade) all the advice seems to conflict. In the end I went to my Chief Sensei and asked him and he showed me what he likes to see, I do it and he says spot on! So I do this and since then I have had Dan grades continue to criticise and tell me how I 'should' be doing it! Has anyone here had this before and how do you respectfully tell a Dan grade that, while you appreciate their advice, you will respectfully decline to follow it. I respect the grade not the person so I am fine with receiving instruction from much younger karateka BUT last night, a 17 year old Dan grade was deconstructing my entire technique which I found a little annoying. Not because he was young but because a) I have been doing Karate for a few years now and have been praised by some very high ranking instructors on my technique b) because he was telling me to do something that I didn't agree with and politely advised him of this.He then tried to assert his seniority and tell me that not heeding advice is disrespectful. As I said, he is 17 I'm in my mid 40s! Am I being overly sensitive?

I feel for you! I just bought a really nice heavy weight gi and washed it for the first time today and it came out absolutely covered in greasey black streaks that will not come out, I have basically ruined it!

I train 4 out of 6 available sessions at my primary club and have recently started doing one of the other days at a new club and different style (Goju Ryu). My Shotokan club is great for kata, kumite and sparring BUT it doesn't really do any self defence or technical application of style which I hope Goju Ryu will.

I am also a Christian...Prayer is meditation! I suppose it could be seen as that. You're focusing your mind solely on the task in hand. In the same vain, walking, making a cup of tea or cooking food can be performed as meditation. Praying is really no different to chanting a mantra. Precisely, its all about being at one with the task or art, it is not disrespectful at all to any religion. When you're about to run a race, or take part on a competition or tournament or any other challenging situation, you psych yourself for it...aka meditating! In fact, my Wado Ryu club teach you to honour the 3 main religions of Japan Chintoism, Buddhism and Christianity!

I am also a Christian...Prayer is meditation!

I like it, very interesting, simple yet powerful techniques.

What are you know, if you've been going for a year I would estimate Green or Purple depending on whether you were double graded on your first belt?? I ask this because if you're purple, your Sensei may let you join on on Ippon kumite if you discuss it with him.