Harkon72

That's a solid post Bob; I think that when it comes to conceptual ways of teaching; our schools have a lot in common. Our root is Okinawa and our mind set has been gained by experience.

I never watch the American football game regularly; but the Superbowl is an all night event for me and my pool team; we play at being American all night; it's fun! Go Seahawks! (I just thought that "Seahawks" was a cool name)

I'm sorry, but I disagree; In our karate school, you are taught more kata as you progress in rank. But, the key to progression is to show maturity in all the kata you have been taught. The examiner can ask you to perform any of the kata in your repertoire; its bunkai and application as you understand it and they expect to see the style of your karate reflected in your kata, kihon and kumite. I expect to be tested on simple cross kata in my next grading, as well as the two kata I am learning now. These have been introduced to me previously; I'm now being taught their finer points, tempo and application that is fitting of my rank, which doesn't always follow belt colour. There are advanced applications to even the most basic of our karate's kata; you don't have to remember them all; just as long as your personal budo is well developed.

Most of our one step sparring is done Left Front Stance v Left Front Stance with a Knife Hand lead block, (Classic Shukokai Style.) But we do teach One steps with the receiving person in ready stance too. (Yoi Dachi). I think we should do more of the second as it is just as important.

Hi Clarisa, Welcome to the forum! Enjoy!

My Sensei mentioned a principal for one step sparring in our dojo tonight; he calls it ABC; Avoid, Block, Counter. He had to make it simple for the juniors; but I will keep it in mind.

This is an interesting debate; he're my penny's worth; We have only two legs, two arm and a head. Bruce Lee tried to prove that what is useful to one is no good for another. In self defense; do not fear a man that can do a thousand techniques; fear the one that has done one technique a thousand times. I believe that Kata should not be regimented. Everyone does each kata differently; like each musician performs each tune in his own way; we can recognize the tune non the less. With this Kata, each student applies the kihon within to perform in kumite with an opponent; be it in a cage, on a mat or when needed to fend off danger. As the master said; what maybe good for one can be poor for another, experience teaches us this. Another way to see it is that a man that knows how to apply one kata to its full potential will defeat a man who practices a 100 kata without applying the kihon well in kumite. The first Kata we are taught is the one we should always return to.

I have been a brown belt for a month; on paper I'm an advanced grade but I have worn my white gi with the Kohai of the club, I never thought of myself as an advanced practitioner in our club until tonight. My Sensei presented me with my Black Gi. He did no song and dance about it; he didn't call me in front of the club or anything like that. At the end of my session, he just bowed to me and gave me my new Gi. I can't wait until next week.

I know that a Jumping Tornado Kick is difficult to perform and control. For example; I can see that it's almost impossible to land it on a target such as the temple or jaw safely in Kumite; you might get away with taking away someone's guard with it as you might with an axe kick; but in sport kumite; in my opinion it is too dangerous. I know it's a flashy kick, the down side of it is the time it takes to perform it; but to answer your question; if for example I was attacked with a weapon and I could get on the closed side of my opponent, or facing his back; then his head would be a fine target for a Tobi Ushiro Fumikomi Geri (a Jumping Spinning Tornado Kick).

I'm 41, I am asked in my next grading to perform a spinning kick and jumping kick combination. In our Kata Seienchin there is a Jumping Tornado Kick (Tornado Kick = Spinning Crescent Kick) And a jumping front kick. One of our Senior Grades; (I don't know his age but he's not much younger than my Dad) Practices and teaches the Kata all the time. None of our instructors teach techniques that they cannot perform themselves. If I reach 60 and cannot perform the Kata; I will teach the Karate in a different style. I'm not the best kicker; I know this; but it's not in our style of teaching to ask students to perform leg techniques that are not practical kicks at all.

To answer your question, my advice is to do both; train in Kata; that's where your style is. Train in conceptual exchanges with a partner; this is where the style can be applied. But do train in Kumite too; as this is where the style is apparent but forgotten; this is where the Budo is.

Leg Kicks and Punches to the Heart? Interesting indeed; do these guys suffer a lot of injuries and heart problems? I don't know - just asking.

Partner Concept training is fine. But in my view; please don't call training without Kata "Karate" because it isn't. If you take Kata from the three K's of Karate; (Kihon, Kata and Kumite.) You are left with stylized kickboxing, nothing more. And not having a high western style fighting stance doesn't fix it either.

This is it, Dancers and Gymnasts can kick high and fast, it takes great skill and dedication; but it's a young person's skill. Do non-practical kicks really belong in a martial art? Does it stop being a Martial Art?

I'm not going to rant here; but Van Damm is one of the poorest role models in Martial Arts, just do some research. Norris wins hands down, being American must qualify him for greatness. Lol

I was really surprised; some of the ladies had been doing this class for many years. The secret is to pace yourself and know your limits. If you don't enjoy it, why train? It's £3.40 a session, you just book your place the week before; no commitment, just your own targets that no-one is aware of. Bargain!

I went to a local gym and did circuit training for the first time in years. I was one of two men with 8 girls. It looks easy doesn't it? No targets, your own pace, no pressure. I've just had a workout that was harder and more challenging than the Karate warm up. The exercises are chosen very cleverly, looking good in front of the girls is not an option after the first circuit. You can try and kill yourself, but I think pacing your progress is the key. Does anyone else do this kind of training?

These kicks might require strong core muscles to perform but I showed them to my Sensei. He said that the draw back is that the higher you kick, the more power you lose. He said that I would be better off smashing an opponent's thigh than tapping him on the ear.

Unfortunately, Hapkido is almost unknown in the UK; I knew a Korean student who's brother was a policeman in Seoul; they used Hapikido as a defense system. Also she mentioned another style called Sulkido; I have never come across either in Wales.

We've had 110 m/h winds and horizontal hail. not pleasant.

Nice Video, but can Bill kick with his right leg too?

If I had witnessed this demonstration; I would have walked out with my students! This Sensei was disrespectful and totally out of order! You never submit your Uke to that much pain, ever! It's blind arrogance and in my opinion, and you can shoot me for this Patrick, as I have seen this kind of thing first hand; it's an example of dominance that verges on racism. My Sensei is my equal! I will never be submissive to him, for he is a man of Honor. This is not a demonstration; it's abuse.

Size, Strength and Speed are relative; My wife is 5' 2", I'm 5' 11" and 14 stone, I have trained in Karatedo for over 25 years. But when she gets inside my reach and uses correct technique; I hit the floor like a sack of spuds. It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog.

Breaking is not a focus of our Karate training, but we do it occasionally. I like the coconut break

People think that you can prepare for a self defense situation; but in reality, you can't. You can practice advanced Kata and Kumite for years, but still freeze in fear at the first sign of a real conflict. Our most basic Kata can be used for self defense, but more useful is a clam mind and confidence to stand and be counted. Kumite can be Good training for contact, real Kata application with an instructor that really puts you under pressure can help. Some say that we train for self defense; but in reality we don't; this is the greatest paradox of the martial arts. Our most basic Kata can have deadly applications; but the will to perform them in reality is a different mind set altogether. I wish you a peaceful life, a path of friendship and true fulfillment; but a self defense situation can happen, at any time; it can be a life threatening situation for you or other innocents; if you are called upon to act; do so, and if it warrants the most severe reaction, perform with no mercy; to the extreme if necessary. Yours along the Path.