Harkon72

I Passed! The Kihon was above average apart from my spin kick which needs work. My Pad work was fine for the Te Waza, again my Leg technique needs a little more care. The Kumite was tough as I faced my Sensei with his training partner and fellow 4th Dan watching; he cut me no slack, I was pleased especially with my Ippon Kumite; the attacks were vicious but my response was controlled but strong with good Kime and Kiai. My Kata was split into two sections; first I did Shio Tzuke no 6; a simple looking cross kata with shiko dachi and zenkutsu dachi combinations; I was happy with that. I had to do Matsukaze Kata 5 times; once at normal speed, once singing Singing in the Rain, then in tandem with my Sensei, then with my best effort and again to test my Kime and stamina. The grade was Tough, but I left with a Pre- 3rd Kyu belt and home for a meal with my wife and a couple of cans of Guinness; job done.

A warm welcome to you, I for one would love to read your posts; please tell us for example how Tae Kwon Do differs and contrasts with Wushu or Wushu Kwan. No pessure, I just find that an educated opinion is always very valuable. Enjoy your time here, I wish you all the best in Martial Arts and in your Budo development.

Welcome and find a place here my friend, we always need a different perspective in our chats about martial arts. I look forward to reading a grappler's view on Traditional Karate and other topics that I'm sure you can see from your own angle. Osu!

You will find that Shotokan and Goju Ryu are very different. But that said, it's the quality of the Sensei that matters. Don't let anyone put you under any pressure; if they offer too much, or they ask you to sign anything. Use common sense and your gut instinct. My best tip is that expense doesn't guarantee quality, having hundreds of students doesn't either. You can find a good Dojo that are honest and up front, good luck.

Yes, that's good Kihon. What lets him down is the Fake Kiai. Sorry guys but it spoils the whole sequence for me; I hope they make real ones in Kumite and Kata; if not then I'm really disappointed.

We teach both too, I can say that neither is wrong. One favorite technique is the roundkick to the inner thigh; this can be devastating with the ball of the foot; more so if you are wearing a steel toe capped boot! Our instep/shin kick can be just as powerful; the leg is kept straight; it's like a swinging baseball bat. This is the Muay Thai style weapon, where as I was first taught the ball of the foot version at a Shotokan Dojo.

I am experiencing a tension pain in my neck that was so severe last night that I ended up in Accident and Emergency at our County Hospital. I met with Dr. Becky my G.P. tonight and she prescribed hot Tiger Balm, Ibo Gel and long shoulder massages from my wife. I see my specialist tomorrow. Has anyone else had these pains? They say they can be a result of de-toxing.

I am of course biased but I think Okianwan Karate would supply all of these, it's not just physical, it is mental and spiritual and there are many styles of Okinawan Karate to choose from. Shorin Ryu, Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu to name but a few. The deciding factor is the Sensei and the way the Karate is taught; if you find a good one, hang on to them!

I won the first round 3 - 2 then the second 3 - 1 and then lost in the quarter final 3 - 0. It was a great day, we raised over £1,000 for the charity.

I'm entered in an 8 Ball Pool Tournament today. £300 for the winner. It's a memorial trophy for an ex Wales international who passed away with cancer. They raise about £1,000 for a cancer hospice for children every year. I play my first round match at 11:00 GMT today. I don't know the player, some young kid, but we'll see how the Pool Bushido will have an effect on him. Wish me Luck Guys!

Yoga also helps re-alignment of the body and can contribute to regaining the symmetry that we can lose in our lives as we use and abuse our true balance in every day life. You can test yourself; lie on your back with your knees up in the semi supine pose, then reach your arms along the floor straight behind your head; relax, do both your hands touch the floor?

I test for my intermediate 3rd Kyu grade next week. The Kata is relatively easy for this one; Matsukaze, but the two halves of the Kata must match. I went over my Kumite with my Sensei tonight; I need to practice my one steps. My kihon will be fine as long as I relax. I'm looking forward to it. We did a live blade knife defense in front of the juniors and their parents today to break the tension; I didn't have the dagger in my hand very long. Our Senpai goes for her Shodan grading tomorrow, so it could be a wonderful holiday for everyone.

Be the best you can be for You, you'll know if you deserve it. The belt is a mark of hard work; the felling you get when it's presented is Priceless. Good Luck.

The practice of Martial arts can be a very personal thing. If you set your own goals, you will be your only true opponent. Do not measure your success with anyone else's ruler; if you seek enlightenment, beware that you might already have it. If you seek the perfect fighting body, beware the demons of injury and ego. It is true that you will receive as much from a Martial Artist's life as you put in. Let your far mountain be as high as you can perceive, but your journey must start at your feet. The spec of dust in your eye can hide the path from view, heed the advice of those that have gone before, but know that with a good heart nothing happens without it's lesson. Wish never to experience violence, calm the mind but make savage the body.

Shotokan Karate is without doubt the most popular style of Karatedo in the World. If taught well, it can be a vehicle for development as a martial artist that cannot be rivaled. Cross training is good, many of us do this; but I am a traditionalist, I would find searching for the "do" more of a challenge. Welcome to the forum, I look forward to hearing your views. Find peace under the Pine Trees my friend, Osu!

Boxers hit harder, but in a glove. Take off their gloves and they hit just like the rest of us mere mortals.

Yes, one of the best, Sensei Kawasoe 8th Dan. He's located in London, he teaches Shotokan Karate as part of the Japan Karate Association. You cannot get any better, that's my opinion.

$30??? They look very poor quality, very poor. You can get a close grain white oak Okinawan Nunchaku pair for £10. I bought 4 pairs! They are the best I have ever used. The company is Nine Circles, they are based in the UK but they import from Okinawa.

Yes, old Bill still knocks about at the Martial Arts shows. I know little about him as a Martial Artist, kickboxer? freestylist? Flexible for his age I heard.

I've sent for a new pair of Sai today, with case £40, not bad. I can't wait to receive them. My Kata with them might appear in our Martial Arts Exhibition here in North Wales in March next year.

Congratulations Adam, well deserved.

My answer is that you use your whole body, each element has it's contribution to make, from the ground up, externally and internally.

That's a very interesting video. I hope that I would have the courage to step in; especially if it were a woman or a child being bullied.

Western Martial Arts, Eastern Martial Arts; and I also don't know what SCA stands for

Congratulations to all the award winners. I am very pleased to accept the honor of sharing the award for Staff Member of the Year with Heidi and Bob, we make a great team. And Patrick doesn't need an award because his achievement is beyond our mortal understanding