Harkon72

I was taught the ABC method; Attack By Combination. Just keep hitting the opponent until he lies still.

The Classic: "Don't think; Feel. It is like a finger pointing to the moon - don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss out on all that heavenly glory."

My complaint when feeling stressed or nervous doing Kata is that I tense up and tend to rush. When I relax and take a calm deliberate pace the Kata is much better.

Well done GS! Great form!

Yes, looks pretty awesome! No frills kickboxing with takedowns. I like the roundhouse kick KO about half way through the clip, corker!

I train in North Wales in the UK, my style is Shukokai Karate, my Association is Dragon Martial Arts, and I'm totally addicted to it. My Sensei is doing his 5th Dan grading in a few weeks, we are so proud of him.

Yes, I'll give you an example; my wife is 5'2" and has only a few months Karate training, I'm almost 6' and have trained in Karate all my life. If she gets inside my reach and uses my height against me, I find myself on the mat or kitchen floor faster than I can react to her. It's not all about technique either; it can be attitude and controlled aggression that can defeat the largest, strongest opponent.

Well Done and well deserved!

Thank You! The chambering is different in our style, but it's good to see these videos and the tutor is very clear and informative. I'll see what I can do over the next two weeks. Osu!

Yes, thanks Mal, I think it's a strange kick anyway; why would you turn away before kicking? Why would you execute it to the front? It is designed to kick behind you surely. The self defense situation where you have multiple opponents is where it makes most sense.

My Kicking Combination for my grading in 2 weeks is Ushiro Geri, Mwashi Geri. As I don't have the flexibility of a twenty year old anymore, I find the combination into the air very difficult at any height. My Sensei has tried everything with me; giving me a water bottle to hold in my hands so I keep my guard in nice and tight, the best results happened when I had my eyes shut; then I was not distracted and my turn into the back kick was better. The most problems I am having occur when I do the Ushiro Geri into the Kick Shield; the problem is that I'm still doing it as I did in my old style. I step across, then tun into the kick and fire it as I return into the front stance again. As my present Sensei has demonstrated, this form is not correct for efficiency and power. You must spin into the kick and fire it, snap it off with a chamber before setting your foot down all in one motion. I'm going for 4th Kyu! I must be able to do this by now! But my sensei feels that I am over analyzing the technique and I should relax and let it flow. My worry is that my previous practice in the other style is holding me back. I have two weeks before the test, I have two training sessions and a private session with Sensei next week. Any advice guys?

This whole thread is very strange to me. Having to register yourself as a "Lethal Weapon" and giving a warning to an attacker of your training in Martial Arts sounds totally ridiculous! If someone attacks me or my loved ones they will never know of my training, the only evidence they will have is that I could defend myself. There would be no time for conversation, the technique would land before they made their attack once I knew of their intent. In the UK, giving warnings and registering legally is a myth and a joke. We would laugh if someone expected this of us. For example, my Father was a bare knuckle boxer in his youth and a member of the British Special Forces; would he have to give three warnings to an attacker? No way! He would drop them with no further entertainment of protocol. And this matter of registering your skill with the police? I'm sorry, I thought it was a joke.

Speed of execution of Kata should not increase with grade. A Kata should have its own individual rhythm; to be honest, doing a Kata slowly can be more of a challenge.

In the UK Hapkido is very rare, if unknown in most areas. I wish I could learn it, but I don't have the opportunity.

Hello, I'm not a Kyokoshin, but I wish you all the best. Please have an injury free, enlightening Karatedo and Welcome to the Forum!

I learn from everyone in the Dojo, my Wife and others at every opportunity.

Our Pinan Nidan ends with the quadruple shuto uke in Kiba Dachi. Our Pinan shodan which follows in the kata progression ends with the Gedan Barrai and Jodan Uke in Zenkustu Dachi. I think we are following a similar pattern

Yes, I'm pleased that this application is known elsewhere. The Sempai didn't know what hit him!

We're a pretty traditional Karate club, but we have a three hour Grappling and Groundwork course in October, I'm looking forward to it.

You can be a Dan grade at white belt.

You are right Sensei, the point of the knuckles hitting the target is aligned to the whole body. From the hand through to the soles of the feet.

The forearm block is a rising block deflecting a punch or grab attempt, the hammer fist attacks the bridge of the nose, then the arm strike is done stepping through, making contact with the throat, similar to a clothes line. The contact point in the bent arm or bicep, not the fist. As the hip comes through, the head and shoulders of the opponent are driven towards the ground. At speed, it looks like a block and strike with the same arm followed by a clothes line like strike and takedown.

Uchi Uke, Tetsui Uchi, Oya Ude Kai. Forearm Block, Hammer fist, Stepping Arm Smash. The last technique threw the opponent off their feet; done at full speed the smash would have sent Sempai's head into the floor. The contact was made with a bent arm, similar to Mwashi Kote.

This is a strange, counting hours and lessons is alien to our club, even less so the counting of how much the student has paid. We grade when we are ready, we pass when we are worthy. No matter how long or short a time it takes.

Our Sensei likes to give us insight into new Bunkai of Kata at the most surprising times. He was most of the way through our Pre-Grade tonight when he asked for a Sempai and showed us the most devastating application to the opening of Pinan Shodan! I'd never seen it before, and it blew me away. By God you pick your moments Sensei! Has anyone else had moments like this in Martial Arts?