Harkon72

Hows your Bassai Dai NM? It's a well known Kata and very impressive done well.

Yes, I concur. We wear dipped foam head guards, tags, boots and shins and have a good old go at eachother.

Rattan is a good wood for Nunchaku, a little on the light side but at this price, go for it.

I like the wood of these; white oak and octagonal, my favorite pair are of this construction. But the choice of connection for me is always cord, always. I would never choose chain, and I would reject a ball bearing swivel pair every time. The reason is that with metal connectors the weight and balance of the Nunchaku is wrong. The balance point of each baton, if tapered correctly should be at least half way down the shaft. If not, the whole movement of the weapon not only is slower, but the energy transfer in each movement for me is totally incorrect. Call me a boring old traditionalist if you like. If you enjoy your metal linked pair, and you can get used to them; then all well and good, but I prefer cord every time.

From experience, my strategy is to move forward if he attacks, give him no space to launch his technique; if you retreat, you'll get hit and hit again. If he retreats, then I need no invitation to attack, attack and attack again. My way of fighting is to make my opponent block; something will get through eventually. Bruce Lee's theory of Jeet Kun Do was to intercept the attack at all times. meet your opponent, beat him to the contact.

This is interesting Comericus, as I would do just the opposite. I would attack when he's bouncing back. His energy and focus would be on his back foot, he cannot make good contact with the ground in this position. If he's on his in-breath as well, then I would attack with all my might; on the retreat he might as well be sitting in a chair.

Yes, this is a difference between Karatedo and Sport Karate or TKD. If we use this kick in competition it would be very difficult to control, I don't fancy a heel in the chest at any speed. I have seen TKD players use body armor in competition, is the heel kick safe to use then? The target can be the head as a powerful kick to the body making contact with the heel can result in a hyper-extended knee. The other main target for the spinning heel kick in Okinawan Karate is the thigh; I've seen people poleaxed by it. I used to use the hook kick or Ura Mwashi Geri in competition semi-contact; but in my present style a touch with the toe on the head just wouldn't score. In Kumite, to score a kick must stop your opponent in his tracks, a punch must break his Ki at least.

"Reverse Roundhouse Kick, step up Roundhouse Kick." You're in left guard, front stance - you throw the reverse or spinning round kick with your right foot back into the same stance, then you step up with your right leg and perform a left round kick before landing in a left front guard stance.

I agree with Bushidoman, look at the chest - movements here will co-ordinate with your opponents attacks, also try and time your advance with his in-breath. If you can catch him then you can knock the wind out of him. Also if he retreats, just briefly, attack!

The kick in this video look great but has two very obvious faults; The cross step not only telegraphs the kick, it invites the sweep that would land the kicker on his butt faster than he could throw it. The contact should be made with the heel - always, unless you are playing tag for points. This is the kick I need in combination for my next grading; my sensei tied my leg straight with a brace until I got it right, the key is to pivot on the front foot - not to move it at all. The combination is Ushiro Mwashi Geri, Sirikomi Mwashi Geri for my 3rd Kyu.

Yes, I loved the Rocky films; especially Rocky IV, the training is 90% of the film, the fight is only the result of hard work. I think they should have made it the last film though.

It's all about timing; just watch a professional soccer goalkeeper; when there is no threat to his goal, he is totally relaxed, he can see the ball but all he gives is advice and help to his defense. When the ball is crossed from a corner; he is fluid and relaxed even when he jumps to receive it; this way he meets it with force and even if he gets clattered by an opponent; he is left uninjured. Remember that a guy can get hit at 40m/h by a car if he's drunk and has a relaxed body he will walk away uninjured; but if he's sober and frightened on impact, he can be so tense that he won't survive. By the way, I don't advocate getting drunk to cross the road

They Key is to relax, don't force it; the more tense you are, the more tired you get. Use your energy wisely

As you say, it's personal preference. I personally don't bounce; I advance and move into range linearly, I make my opponent move the way I want them to, and when I see a target, I hit it. Move back and your opponent has more space for their technique; advance and move forward as much as you can. Make no space for them, when they move forward; meet them, when they retreat; attack, attack, ATTACK!

The sad fact is that some in our MA community seem to revel in the Political side of MA life. Some opposing Sensei will not make an adult argument in your face; they will not voice their concerns in public. What they do is communicate in secret with your Sensei or Association officials. I'm not an advocate of the stand off in the car park, but if you have issues with us; the door to our Dojo is always open.

We are affiliated to it here in the UK. Their instructors are excellent, they are totally professional. They don't interfere with us but their support is sound and honest. A good organisation.

Can you make three Choku Zuki punches with no tension in your body at all? Can you strike an impact shield with total relaxation? With sheer power of technique that makes no sense because there is no tension even on impact? This is now the paradox of my Karatedo, I'm to do my Kata as if it's the last time I'm doing it, "Do it like you don't care", "Do it like this is your last lesson, you're going home! You're in the Shower!" All this is to un-condition my Martial Arts mind. Muscle tension is the enemy of advanced technique, what my Sensei is trying to do is to bring about the Epiphany of my Karatedo, I don't need to climb the Far Mountain, I just need to relax and I'll wake up at the Top.

Bouncing can be perceived as masking and fainting to cover your intended technique; but in my Opinion, bouncing can telegraph your technique even more, your thoughts?

In our Dojo; Shio Tsuke 1 - 10 Pinan Kata 1 - 5 Matsukaze Ananku Rohai Nisanshi Jiin Kanku Dai Kanku Sho Bassai Dai These are the Kata from 8th Kyu to shodan. There are many others to follow, such as Kurunfa, Chinto, Superempi, Sanchin and a few I can't remember.

If you consider that we have such a small population, I think we are quite well off Martial Arts wise. I have not counted the numerous boxing clubs, fencing clubs and Medieval Swordsmanship clubs here abouts. The local Travelling Families practice bare knuckle fighting and Celtic Wrestling too.

I live in North Wales, UK. Goju Ryu is unknown here. At least in the North, if not the Whole of Wales. I know of a few clubs in Birmingham England, but that's it. We have Shotokan Karate, Shukokai Karate and some Wado Ryu Karate; Kickboxing is popular, we have some Wing Chun and we have a Lau Gar school a few miles away. There are some Thai Boxing and MMA gyms, one Bujinkan School and one TKD school this side of the English border.

Great Interview NM, Goju Ryu is not very popular where we live; but I believe that our styles have much in common.

I for one have no respect for Jean Claude Van Damme. There are many reasons for this, and I will not go into them here, just to say that his PR team have covered up a lot of Damning issues, no pun intended!

Some parents think that Martial Arts training is a quick fix for teenagers that can be challenging. They need to realize that Martial Arts are not for everyone, and that you must take into consideration the well being of the whole class. It was suggested to me that we take a member of our extended family to our class; 14 years old, 5'11" and a belly full of attitude. If our Sensei asked him to do pushups for example, he would shrug his shoulders and say "You can't make me", this is his answer to all attempts at discipline. They must be left to make mistakes and learn respect for themselves first; it may be painful, people will get hurt; but in some cases, bitter experience will be their best teacher.

MasterPain, I agree, Sam was the true Hero of the LOTR films.