Harkon72

I always think of the Croc Dundee films where the comedy character calls his bowie knife "Old Bessie" I think it's quite funny. Seriously though, the Samurai named their Katana, it was an alter ego for their soul. I remember the name of "Singing Death" given to a Dai Katana in one story. Interesting thread, thanks guys.

I have been hurt by beginners before, waiting until they have enough Karatedo is a good idea I think.

As a traditional Karateka, I must say one of the best periods of training out side my style I have done was with a Wing Chun sifu. The focus and ethos is totally different but totally complimentary. Practicing a style similar to your own is more difficult. It is not just the confusion, it's the muscle memory that catches you out. Try learning Pinan Nidan and Hean Shodan together and you will see what I mean.

My Sensei has told me tonight, "Now you are an intermediate grade you can start free sparring." I have done one step sparring with this style, but now I am grading for my blue belt (5th Kyu) my Sensei will allow me to spar with the higher grades. Is this common practice? Does everyone have to wait over a year before you get the mitts on? I will be interested in the response to this. The advantages for me are that I have the control and the technique at this grade and my opponents are mature enough not to take mt head off!

Hi, I'm going for a test next week, I'm 40 years old and this is for my blue belt. Your only true opponent is yourself, well done!! Osu!!

Our classes SHOULD be 50 minutes but they can last up to 1.5 hours so we can beat up the kickboxers who follow us enthusiastically in our self defense sessions.

In my youth I did Shorin ryu Karate, when I was at collage I studied Wing Chun kung fu. I later changed back to Karate. My kung fu Sifu was a student of Jeremy Kwok. I find the relationship between the two schools fascinating.

We are always bare foot. As for brands, Addidas are the best.

I too am a Shukokai Karateka, Osu! Welcome to the forum.

I was taught three nunchaku kata and one shin ken kata. The modern training I do is in Tanto Jutsu and the use of a Kubotan.

A well timed punch or strike in the line of a good sweep can be devastating. The opponent is trying to catch their balance and find it very difficult to block.

Ko Budo means Great or Senior Martial Way. It is that, a training for senior students done by a qualified Martial artist. If you are a master of Karate, it does not mean that you can practice authentic Ko Budo, it is a style in it's own right. Okinawan Ko Budo is the traditional way, now lost in the themes of cheap martial art movies. Bruce Lee was good with Nunchaku, but it took Sensei Demura to teach him to perform them properly.

There is nothing worse than getting into a self defense situation when you have your partner with you. Their instinct is to grab your arms and pull you away. This happened to a friend of mine, his girl friend grabbed his arms leaving him helpless in the face of the attack. I have warned my wife, if we are ever in danger of attack, "for God's sake stand back and give me some room."

The Ashi Barrai or Foot Sweep is my Sensei's favorite technique. If he catches his opponent right they go "Horizontal in mid air".

Sand bag training with White Spirit or strong alcohol to callous the hands.

In the only real fight I have ever had in a self defense situation I used Ura Zuki and Naka Daka Ippon Ken. I survived the attack, so I suppose I am living proof that my Karate works.

I have learnt that Spirit comes first and technique comes second. Do not fear a man who can do 1,000 techniques, fear the man that has done one technique 1,000 times.

Wearing a boxing glove you can hit harder, but with an MMA glove the contact area is smaller and there is not so much padding. I suppose it balances the damage you can do. In bare knuckle boxing if you have "good hands" you can hit hard surfaces and not damage them, many fighters wear hand wraps only; giving a hard fist that does't break the skin on contact. Sand bag conditioning and treating your skin in white spirit are other tactics, but they have their side-effects. I think MMA gloves are tried and tested to be the weapons of choice.

Yes, good tip - Thank You.

I have a problem with my Gi pants, the draw string keeps coming loose. This could be embarrassing in a grading if your pants end up at your ankles half way through a Kata.

When you say "Bare Knuckle Boxing" to me I think of Gypsy boxing or what they call "Fair Fighting". The practice is banned here in the UK.

There is a company in the UK called Nine Circles that do Japanese Gis, either Black or White in a traditional cut, medium or heavy weight. Our Sensei buys our Association Gis from Blitzport, already embroidered and printed with the Club Logo.

We wear white Okinawan Cut gis to 4th kyu, then a Black Association Gi from 3rd Kyu and above.

My Dad was a British Army Instructor, I started training in Shorin ryu at the age of 14 with his friend, Sensei Symmonds. I trained in Ju Jitsu at University, then some Shito Ryu and Wing Chun. I studied Shotokan for 5 years, had an 8 year break then started Shukokai Karate two years ago. I have a Nidan in Shorin Ryu, 3rd Kyu in Shotokan and am going for my 5th Kyu in Shukokai next month.

Our Sensei has his eyes everywhere, he can sense the mood and attitude of all in the class. Our Sempai have a duty for safety, they care for juniors but are still learning themselves. The Kohai watch the Sensei's every move, they listen for commands and mind the Sempai correcting them as they try to follow the Sensei's Direction.