Harkon72

You are welcome Matt, enjoy.

Short answer, no. If you hit a person with seiken to the temple with the force that it would take to break an inch thick pine board, you would kill them. Even when faced with a deadly weapon, if you do that, the court would see that it was your choice to do so. That's not defence. Many martial artists are unaware of their power, it not a good thing, it should be your only fear. If you want to kill people, join the military.

I don't do it, I find it is outside my understanding of what I need to know about how effective my martial art is. It may have physical and mental benefits, but now I suppose direct opposition and destruction have little priority in the way I think of my art. If you enjoy it, go for it. If you value it, fair enough; but I see it as a display of ego in the presence of others and a reflection of skill in a field that may have disassociated into a discipline in its self.

Oh wow! A person after my own heart. Do you know what's worse than Pseudo Japanese clubs who chant and do stuff they know nothing about? The American model martial arts clubs in the UK. They are hilarious! Great for a laugh! Aggressive Creed screaming. Whoops and High Fives. Bowing to some guy in a historical picture of some lucrative Hall of Fame. The lessons for life, the silk pants, the wooden wing chun dummy that no-one knows what to do with. The calls form the heavies if your payments are late. Do you want fries with that?

Your foot note was interesting; you already know the answer - why? Flexibility is cool, yes, but I don't value standing on one leg with my most vulnerable assets in the air. Performing the splits has nothing to do with martial arts, aesthetic gymnastics maybe, but not in my dojo. But I am a traditional old mountain goat and it's just my opinion. If it's your goal, go for it, but remember tendons and ligaments age just like the rest of our body. I have a friend who is a Yoga teacher, she has amazing flexibility but she can no longer do her gardening due to strength issues around her lower back, too many Bow Poses I suppose.

Not that association, but I know it's quite a commitment. Muay Thai takes time...

Can I offer some advice? Please, don't run on the road until you are already at a reasonable weight for your frame. The damage to your joints can be disabling. The best running media is sand;

Effort, commitment, endeavour, sacrifice, self development. All these can happen without spirituality. Martial arts have been formed all over the world by so many diverse cultures for millennia. Spiritual awareness is not a mandatory state for their practice. But, it does happen. Many martial traditions were born from spiritual practice. Many, arguably most religions were spread at the point of a sword. But when you face your only true opponent, yourself; the battle between your many archetypes and values can form strong spiritual beliefs. The stereotypical mystical ninja or warrior monk, the devoted knight in armour or the dancing native American brave or the leopard skinned Zulu Impi, the proud Viking beserker to the wylie old fronteersman no longer exist - but the values they held dear most certainly do; even though our modern rendition of them might not be as authentic as we claim. Does the spiritual path of the Jedi or the Klingon have less validity? We know as much about them as those who shout at us from history. Do I dream of a Celtic elfin like warrior aspect with the skill of ancient shadows and mystic lore? Hell yes, why not? In fact, if that path leads me to better myself and my demons, what harm can it do?

First of all, well done. A Karate dojo can be a scary place, it takes guts to turn up to some. I wish you the best on your path, it in its self is Karatedo not any destination. Good Luck.

It could be ligament damage, or in the worst case, a cartridge chip or hairline fracture. An x-ray will tell you, don't panic; some anti-inflammatories can do more harm than good, warming balms are better such as the camphor and clove ones. Good luck.

There is a UK company - Nine Circles. They have an international site. They supply the best with most choice, no question.

That's an interesting video, the style does look like the flying swallow wu shu form rather than modern taekwondo. I struggle to see a comparison to be honest.

This is true, Sensei Kawasoe is 9th Dan. Sensei Fumeo Demura is 10th Dan. Demura Sensei has been referred to as Shihan, but as we know, when you address even the highest Okinawan Karateka, you call them Sensei. As the Japanese language is interpreted by Westerners within certain traditions many terms have been used to describe adepts in the art, apart from the numerical Dan grades. Yudansha, Sensei, Renchi, Shihan, Kyoshi, Shidoshi, Kyusho, Kancho, Meijin, Soke, Dai-Soke. It's a cliché, I know, but as my Sensei says; the colour of your belt means nothing, stripes or not. What you call yourself or what you are referred to as being within your association doesn't mean anything in the slightest. An experienced eye can spot a martial artist at a glance. It's not only the way you move, it's the way you relax and react to your opponent, it's the eye contact, the bow, everything. I know there is a massive difference for example between an Okinawan Karateka and a Korean Tae Kwon Fighter; just as much as there is between a Judo player and a Russian Sombo Wrestler. But the spirit of effort to excel in their given art is the same, regardless of the way their art is taught. I gave up competitive karate and point scoring years ago, to be honest it didn't feel right. Maybe I'm a sad romantic, but I search for warriorship in a dying tradition. While many sensei are slaves to belt hungry parents and students still believe that the test of a fighter lies in a cage, I am disheartened. But while there is Kumite, Kata and Kihon, there is still hope.

What's wrong with it? It is well known that Taekwondo as it is today, and that's what they are teaching, is derived from Okinawan Karate as taught by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea. The evidence is in the forms, they are derivatives from the same root, whatever you want to call them. Tang Soo Do is a version of Shotokan Karate, they admit this themselves. And in my opinion, and this is not exclusive to the Koreans, they have made a poor replica. The bias towards making it a sport has destroyed it as a martial art. Paradoxically it is not "Korean Karate" as some claim but a shadow of what once inspired it. I have only met one Grandmaster in my life; Soke Hatsumi. Rank in its self does not qualify anyone for that title; even Yoda was content with the title "Master".

I was in a karate dojo in a local town, I asked the sensei; "Who grades you?" "Kyoshi" she said pointing to a picture of a very portly gentleman in a shell suit. I walked out, she needs to realise what "Kyoshi" means.