DoctorQui

My current club doesn't have meditation time at all sadly but generally, I try and do a bit of meditation prior to a class, right after sparring (if possible) and after Sensei has released the class at the end. I ALWAYS meditate before grading too! I try and get at least 1 min (in other clubs it can be up to 5) kneeling, hands flat on top of legs, eyes closed and listening to my heartbeat while trying to regulate my breathing.

But in the context of the OP, telling someone to do press ups (push ups) or extended Kibadach (or any other uncomfortable physical activity) for 'doing something wrong' is punishment. I don't mean warm up at the beginning and end!

No calluses I would be in some serious pain ever time I train, its painful enough WITH the calluses. My only caveat is that, for me, calluses do sometimes prevent me from a good slide into Kokuts during kata.

Ryu, just had a thought! Does you club pratice Ju Ippon (or their version of it)? Ju Ippon, if you didn't know is a sort of controlled sparring session with prescribed attacks and defences.

Do you have an 'achilles heel' Kata, one that gets you everytime because you just can't get it sorted in your head! When I was studying Wado Ryu Pinans Yodan and Godan were so similar that I often mixed them up and got so annoyed with myself, I mainly went wrong in Godan because it followed Yodan. At the moment I am studying Shotokan and Heian Yondan is my pain in the rear...everytime there are two points in the kata where I don't trust myself that I know it and cock it up . I would say that 7 times out of 10, I can't do it all the way through without having to pause to think BUT when I teach it, its fine! Its so annoying! Am I alone?

I hear you, it is annoying for sure BUT simply not letting the person join in until you move on the next demonstration would probably be sufficient. I know instructors who, if someone is late and misses warm up, will make them do their own warm up in the time it takes for them to go through some techniques or instructions. After the warm up, the student rejoins when they can be present for 100% of the next demo. The student actually ends up getting even less for their money! Say the warm up is 15minutes, they arrive 15 minutes late, they then actually end up missing half the class rather than 3/4 because of the 15 minute warm up they must do. Don't get me wrong, I see your point completely. I just have a bit of a thing about Adult students being treated like children in class which happens sometimes!

Surely being charged for a full session when they get only 3/4 is punishment enough. Being late for something that you want to attend and pay to attend is, after all, not wasting the Sensei time. Even longer if Sensei will not allow them to join the class until he allows them to. Got get me wrong, I don't disagree with you and see your point fully. I just have a bit of a problem with Adults being 'told off' in class.

In that situation, given the amount of dedication, understanding and discipline displayed to get to this rank, would mean that there is also a degree of respect between the ranks. There would or should be no reason that any senior rank should be 'punished' in the Dojo, imo! The reason for my thread was mainly to do with discipline in the Dojo and how it is maintained. We've all been in a Dojo situation where the juniors are giggling with each other or talking when a senior rank is demonstrating or just not paying attention. I consider it prudent that in order to teach a young karateka the importance of listening and watching, that there should be penalties. My main point was, should Adults be dished 'physical exercise' as a punishment for not being able to hear (not many adults choose not to listen when they are paying to be taught!) or making a mistake (adults while they tend to listen and learn quickly, also find coordination more difficult to learn, imo) just because it is the 'way' of the Dojo to point and shout 'you, 10 press ups!' when the instructor feels like it, which is more often than not subjective amongst instructors. As I said before, yes for kids who need to learn to listen, no for adults who are there out of choice rather than a parent taking them and paying for them.

Doesn't a worn and frayed belt show experience, longevity and dedication? Its like Judges in british courts, the more moth eaten and tatty their wig is, the most senior and respected they are. The more you train (and tie your belt) the more seasoned you are in the art.

Never having done Mauy Thai and never used a shin block, I had a quick skiz on You Tube and found this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mHG2cSTO0k I think I'll pass on MT!

I currently do full contact sparring but have done semi-contact and Traditional sparring where you can score only with reverse punch (which I never really got on with!) when studying Wado Ryu. When I first started, I could never get a point or good contact but following advice, started to look at my defensive stance and telegraphing. If someone is scorring points against you, then you are leaving yourself open for them to get in, if you are unable to get a point because your opponent is always able to defend, then its a telegraphing issue! Don't beat yourself up over it (pun intended! ) after just a year you are still trying to find yourself. It took me a good 2-3 years before I could settle into sparring. Have a good look at your defensive stance, do you always stand in the same way or do you vary it, are your arms and hands defending the point scoring areas where a more experienced or faster Karateka can take advantage. How obvious are you making your attack, are you positioning yourself in a way that your opponent can see its going to be, say, a mawashigeri with your right leg for, say, the 2nd or 3rd time during the spar? Also, sparring isn't for everyone, I don't actually enjoy it as much as others, I prefer kata and form. BUT ultimately, learning karate is about self defence and how else do you find out if your technique works! Give yourself more time,if you're in it for the long term sparring technique will improve!

I do, in fact, I actually find myself doing it unconsciously sometimes at the most embarrassing times I also regularly 'shadow' bunkai too to give my kata definition.

I felt like this once, so I gave myself a nice break from it, about 3months. By the end of the 1st month I was missing it so by the end of the 3rd I felt very ready to go back! If you end up not missing it, then it isn't for you, there's no shame in it! Being in a Band isn't for me but I don't feel unfulfilled as a result! Don't be so hard on yourself!

What does everyone feel about press ups as a punishment in the Dojo? I've always had mixed feelings about it but in a lot of the cases in is good for instilling discipline which is essentially what martial arts is all about! BUT how about punishing adults with press ups when they make a mistake, do you think this is right? I don't think it is, when you have an adult who pays a lot of money to train and is there out of choice and wants to learn but doesn't always understand the instruction or has misheard or just does the technique wrong!! Should punishment in the DOjo be reserved for the kids as a way of disciplining them as many of them have concentration problems! Whats the consensus?

We tend to do light sparring for about ten minutes, 3mins at a time at the beginning or toward the end of every session. At the end of the day, Karate (or any martial art) is about self defence and you don't want to be in a bad situation to find out that you're technique doesn't work. We don't use pads either as we are training in focus and control. I'm not trying to hurt my sparring partner anymore than he is me and I don't go in hell for leather! It trains and desensitises us for the Kumite we must do to attain 1st Dan. I have to say that I fundamentally disagree that sparring is underrated or not useful and does seem to be the way of a lot of McDojos these days who seem to advocate non contact martial arts (in which I see little usefulness but am prepared to be pursuaded) In terms of a Shotokan sensei not advocating sparring, I am surprised by this as, like Gojo Ryu, it is one of the most 'contact' arts out there!

It is interesting that you raise the issue of the philosophy of a martial art and I think you are generally right. For me though, when moving between, say, Wado Ryu, Shotokan, Goju or Shito and Shorin Ryu to name just a few, where the philosophy is largely the same with the same origins, then the only real difference is the technical art. To be in harmony with your style is something that can be transfered in my opinion. I do agree that its not all about just learning kata and technique but if you are ready for progression, serving time shouldn't matter but there are a lot of clubs out there where quick prgression generally means less revenue. If I'm honest, I would prefer there to be no coloured belt system because I think the attainment of a colour quite often becomes more important than the journey and is also a good way of 'selling' the way to those who don't choose to go and find it for themselves.

Thanks Dobber, I would love to some time, pm me the club name and address.

Not sure if anyone can help. When I was about 14 I started karate at a local club and I have been trying to locate the name of the style I did which I distinctly remember was called Bugikai but there seems to be no trace of it. Has this style ever existed or have I dreamt it?? Has it reformed to or merged with another style? I'm 42 now so its quite some time ago! Just in case, I'm definitely not mixing it up with the game Budakai I remember my mum taking the mick out of me because its sounded like I was saying Boogy! Can anyone shed any light?

Interesting discussion and one I was having with my fellow Karateka at the weekend! Before I started at the Dojo I am at now, I had had a break from Karate for about 2 years after reaching pre Dan at Wado Ryu. Unfortunately, I moved to another part of the country where Wado was not available after searching for about 18 months. So I switched to Shotokan considering their close relationship, I figured I would pick up quite quickly! Anyway, I started with a local club that I found out afterwards was a franchise club and although I was advanced I was told I would have to start at white belt, fair enough I thought, its a new style after all and like my previous club I will no doubt be multi-graded. Unfortunately this was not the case and I was required to serve the clubs 'recognised' time for each of the belts. 6 months at White then 3 between each of the others up to Brown which then reverts back to 6months between the 3 kyus that make up brown. What I then started noticing was that some people were going for their gradings and being told that they didn't quite make it but here's a little white tag to put on your belt so say you almost made it and we'll try again in 3 months. These time limits were a minimum and it could be another 3-6months! Each grading was £40! Anyway, I was training at beginners stage (white belt) and each Sensei I had would say, 'you're not really a white belt are you?' and I would sigh a 'no' at them. After three months of doing basic punches, kicks and blocks and repeating Kihon Kata over and over I got completely bored, and poorer as each lesson was £8 (and you must train at least three times a week to grade for this club) I decided to leave and found a new club who told told me to start at 4th kyu. My belief is that, if you are clearly a Karateka and are considerably experienced or if you are a taking to Karate like a duck to water, then you should be encouraged to grade as quickly as possible and get you to a place more suited to your skills so you and your sensei can get the best out of you!

If I'm honest Dobber, it was bloody awkward! In a way I wish I had no knowledge at all. Those subtle differences between Pinan and Heian, and in some cases they are very subtle, were a bit of a nightmare at first! I was also surprised that Kanku dai (kushanku in Wado) is not taught until you are 1st Dan where as in Wado its a 4th Kyu kata! I was learning Chinto (Wado Kata) before I moved across the pennines from West Yorks to Greater Manchester and there is quite a divide in that respect. Wado is rare over here as Shotokan is rare over there! Anyway, the biggest difference for me was the much wider stances for Zenkuts and a huge emphasis on the use of Kokuts. This was particularly difficult when Wado puts much emphasis Nikoashi Dachi when in Shuto, as well as less power in the Shuto which, in Wado is more of a light deflecting block. Naihanchi as you mentioned, for example, is almost identical to Tekki Shodan exept its lower and wider. You would think that this would not make much difference but it really did for me! To conclude, I do find myself from time to time falling into Wado stances during Shotokan training, and I'm sure that if my Sensei carried a Bo, he would be beating me with it! That said, Wado is a lovely style and I do hope to go back to it one day, but right now, I am having a bit of an affair with Shotokan which is a powerful and solid style which suits my build and speed so I'll be doing this until at least 1st Dan!

Exactly right, I have to do Bassai Dai again for next grading, Tekki Shodan and one or two (depending on how sadistic Sensei is feeling) Heian katas then for 1st Dan, all the Heians, Tekki Shodan and Bassai Dai. I'm playing catch up with my Heians because I came from advanced Wado, so I started at 4th Kyu and straight into Godan so I never really had any direct tuition for Shodan,Nidan, Sandan or Yondan but I did know my Pinans which, depending on how you look at it has been a help AND a hinderance!

Next is Pre-Dan, I'm scared!

Passed,but now very tired! Nothing more intimidating than being graded by an 8th Dan! A friend filmed my Bassai Dai, I hate that, you always find fault eh! The weakest bit of the kata was the double tetsui-uchi followed by low shuto half way through. the tetsui was too quick with not enough power and almost missed out the low shuto!

Definitely Bassai Dai! I just learned it and love it, its so powerful and I'm always out of breath afterwards. Got my grading tomorrow morning where I have to do it (Brown White) so a bit nervous.

i know the feeling. I'm in my 40s and am currently training for my 1st Dan and my flexibility is appalling, I can, with effort mawashi shoulder height but it is painful. If you're young, flexibility will come however, being able to kick high does not automatically mean that your technique is good. Technique is key, work on that and the secondary flexibility will follow!