Harkon72

You put it in a Nutshell BM, solid post!

I guess not really, just the names.

I'm 5'10", my wife is 5'2"; when I spar with her, she can close the gap pretty quickly and once inside my reach she is smaller and her center of gravity is lower so usually she has me right where she wants me!

You must have trust in Martial Arts, it sometimes comes at a price. If you are happy, good luck to you

A friend of mine was asked to assist in a demonstration of an "Iron Palm" strike by a Kung Fu instructor. He held out his chest and the "expert" hit him. The strike caused a ruptured lung and two broken ribs. He should never have trusted this "Master". The case should have gone to a criminal court but my friend was Loyal to his "Teacher". The insurance policy of the Dojo was not worth the paper it was written on, he eventually lost his long term job because of illness. This illustrates the point; don't always trust the so called "Master", they are sometimes driven by ego and profit.

Here they are; Taikyoku Shodan Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan Bassai Dai Kanku Dai Sochin Nunchaku Shodan Nunchaku Nidan Nuchaku Sandan Bokuto No Kata Bo & Tonfa Kihon Kata Sai & Kama Kihon Kata Shin Ken No Kata

Please watch this, it's the way the Masters do it; http://youtu.be/APTur6EEqaY

Medicine Ball for me, and Core Muscle training. Hold the reverse Plank for 30 seconds at a time, then do it with a bean bag on your midriff. The superman pressup is a good one too,

My linage for Shorin Ryu is as follows; Sensei Rikishi Oya - Sensei Frank Symmonds - Me. Sensei Frank was taught the style Shorinji Karatedo. He also trained with the Students of the Shojuken Ryu school.

I have small wrists and I find pushups with bars helps me because you can get your chest to pass the level of your hands and this gives more me benefit. I find the regular palm down pushup easier than using the bars. I use cheap York gym bars, they do a good job for me.

Osu! Each man's path is is own, he must walk it being true to himself with respect for others. Never judge unless you have walked a mile in a man's shoes. I know nothing, my views only matter as far as I can see. Perception is the widow from which the soul sees reality, Martial Arts is the way we hone our body, mind and spirit to accept all and hold our heads up to be counted.

I didn't want to say it that plainly, but yes, Dobby is right; this is daylight robbery.

Welcome, Osu!

These can be signs of not breathing properly; remember to kime on an outbreath with every technique, to relax and not to hold your breath.

Lets compare it to our Dojo, Our instructor is 4th Dan, there is a female 2nd Dan and her sister also teaching who goes for her 1st Dan this year. They charge £4.50 a session, £10 insurance a year and £20 for each grading. Their reputation for excellence is up with the best in the country. Please do the Math.

My WUKO mitts do the same job, they cost less than $10.

Okinawan Karate has two roots; Shuri-Te and Naha-Te. Most World Masters trained in all Branches. Shuri-Te - Shorin Ryu - Shotokan - Kaiokoshin Kai Naha-Te - Goju Ryu Naha-Te - Shito Ryu - Shukokai If you want authentic, train closer to the root with a real pedigree succession from the Grandmaster. It depends a lot on your teacher; as Mr Miagi says "No such thing as bad student"

This could be it, I'm located in the North; most of the style here is Japanese, some Kung Fu and wushu and Kickboxing. Shukokai Karate has a strong following, Bangor has one of the best Shotokan clubs in the country, the Wing Chun group is a strong one too. There might be a club in the East, but overall the North is Korean free. I would like to see some TSD especially.

I've seen axe kicks landed with the sole of the foot as a safer option, but never the calf. I'm a bit surprised that's all. But then again, Korean styles are something I've never seen, TKD TSD and Hapkido are almost unrepresented in Wales.

Welcome, Osu!

Hello and welcome!

I'm sorry, I've heard of shin kicks, knee strikes and of course many surfaces of the foot used for kicking, but never the calf. It's a non-kick in my book.

This way of deciding if you are ready to grade is completely Alien to our club, you don't measure someone's aptitude for Karate by how many hours of training you have done! Or in reality how much you have spent! You are graded on your Karate only. Some student could have one lesson with our Sensei, and if they are to standard, they would pass a grade. We don't want your money, all we want is to produce good Karateka. A student could study 12 hours a week for three months, and if they were not up to standard, they would fail the test. Do they offer fries with Kata?

I have practiced both styles over the years. Any martial art can be superior with the right instructor, but for me Shukokai is a faster more upright style, the kata are traditional but open to modern interpretation. The strike pad work in Shukokai is better, it's positively scientific. The traditionalists favor Shotokan for its authentic Budo, but I find it too rigid. My Shukokai Sensei is tough but fair and is pleased if you can show him something new. The Kumite in Shukokai is fast and deliberate, the long stances in Shotokan are more stable but I find generating power through relaxation is easier when moving through stances that are more efficient. This is only my opinion, but I think shukokai has the edge in simplicity and focus. I am blessed to have a top Sensei, I advise that you can find your own way, good luck in Karate, Osu!!

Our Bassai Dai is an Itosu Kata.