Harkon72

I know it's not Karate, but "Sugong, The Life of a Shaolin Grandmaster." was a good read; I'll not spoil it, take a look

I practice in my Yard, I use a wall bag at home and I do my Kata and combinations in the Kitchen. I train with a local bare knuckle fighter, we sometimes spar, but my wife doesn't like to watch.

This behavior is totally unacceptable, it's common assault. Students should never be punished by physical violence and humiliation. I would not talk to the instructor, I would get in touch with his governing body and report the indecent in writing, copy your letter and take legal advice. I'm sorry this happened, there should be a complaints procedure for negligence in the chain of grade; The instructor's Teacher should know how he treats his students. Good Luck.

I've had to learn that lesson, my body at the age it is cannot perform what my mind wants it to at times. I need to know my limits by utilizing the talents that I have. Good Post!

Yes Sensei, this was the toughest test so far with this academy. The Chief Instructor said "You now move from Intermediate to Advanced level in your Karatedo" It felt really good, to be honest I struggled in recent weeks but training with two 4th Dan instructors who happen to be brothers in this club has been very beneficial. They have a different outlook to Karate from eachother; one is traditional and a bunkai and self defense specialist, the younger is a full contact fighter. I am very lucky to be part of their martial arts family.

Well Done, what have you noticed to be the focus of the grading? Do they emphasize any aspect more than any other?

There are whole styles that look good with perfect technique but they are never tested at the very least out side their style, in combat or with any other eyes than the converted faithful. This can give a strong false confidence in the style's effectiveness. Knife defenses are an example of this; they look perfect in the Dojo; you know he has a knife, you can see it, he attacks you with a single strike the same way as generations of adepts before him. A crazed knifeman in the dark who feels no pain and attacks like he's trying to make ribbons of your body would be a fatal reality for many. Martial Arts is about execution, but Spirit is more important than Technique and Survival by Effectiveness transcends the need for any Dogma and Technical Tradition. Tradition is here because of Effectiveness, but the need for Reality is paramount in a world of Martial Arts where credibility comes second at times to Profit.

I'm glad to say it did! I now hold a full 4th Kyu with Dragon Martial Arts Shukokai Karate. The Kihon was as good as my nerves would allow. I've done better Kata, but I felt I did my best and they were up to standard. The kick combinations were my weak section but I gave them my best and Sensei was not displeased. My Ippon Kumite was my strength, fine, crisp and powerful. My free sparring was what I excelled at in my view, I fought a pre-Dan karateka who, by the end of the bout was backing off me and would not engage in combinations with me; I felt that I dominated the last minute of the fight. My pad work went well, My empi strikes were hard and relaxed, my Ushiro Geri was much better than before, this is what I really worked on and it showed; there is room for improvement but I'm very pleased. Over all, a cracking grade, challenging but worth every second.

Good Luck, give it your Best!

Thanks Guys, I'm leaving in an hour for the Dojo, I'll let you know the result later tonight

This is a tricky one, I train with two Sensei, but it's the same association and the guys are brothers. I find some rivalry, but all in good humor, most of the time

Pinan Yondan and Pinan Godan, then another previous Pinan Kata at random and two kihon kata at random. I practiced tonight, I feel confident enough to choose my Sensei as an opponent in the Kumite.

I grade for my full 4th Kyu in Shukokai Karate this friday. I'm looking forward to it but I know I will have to prove how much I want it. Two Kata, 12 combinations, ippon kumite, jui kumite, pad work and a grueling fitness test. My Sensei is grading for his 5th Dan next month, so I will try to set an example at my level to give him a boost. Wish me luck guys!

Tallgees is right, there are no absolutes in Martial Arts, every beginner can win, every Master can be mastered.

Hello Fellow British Karateka! Your are very Welcome.

Hello and Welcome!

Empire Total War

Top 5 The Godfather Robin Hood Prince of Thieves The Return of the Jedi Zulu The Last Samurai

This is the one I have, filled it with rice and black eyed peas. Altogether, it cost about £7 https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTWwvHh-rOFR4uiwcnlKJQfLvsMtSfgm3DE0mGysVLEBG8efranuA

There are far too many that teach the bare minimum for a ransom. I know of a few schools that have point semi-contact sparring; the fights are never continuous, all they do is play tag with each other. Some of these "Fighters" are "World Champions" at a sport we used to play in the playground. Good luck in your search, I hope you find an Art that you can be proud of.

Pinan Yondan, Pinan Godan, Kurunfa, Wanshu.

I try to be a realist; my Sensei trains us in Self Defense and pressure points, he tries to make us feel the fear, then use that energy to our advantage. Panic energy can give you the edge in a choke or bear hug for example, there is no tap out; you must act or submit to start from the drawing board. Some say this training is dangerous but it takes a lot of control and discipline.

I think it all depends on the Sensei, our teacher shows us traditional karate but he has a real attitude to self defense; we don't do karate for karate sake, we are very aware of the real world. Some Sensei think that bunkai and self defense has no place in the dojo; I suppose they are the purists of the art, but in my opinion, if you don't know the application in real life, then I'm afraid you might as well do aerobics.

Hello and Welcome.

Funokoshi Shotokan is derived from Okinawan Shorin Ryu and Shuri Te, so their must be some correlation between them. My Parent style was Okinawan Shorin Ryu, as taught by Sensei Rikishi Oya. Years later I studied Shotokan under the JKA, there were similarities but shotokan stances were deeper and the koshi waza was different.