Harkon72

True Budo ensues from the No Mind, the best example I can think of is the point of release of the arrow in Kyudo. When the pool of the mind is calm, only then can the kime come to being.

Tai Sabaki sounds a little like the intercepting techniques of Jeet Kun Do. Closing the gap to intercept the attack of an already committed opponent can be devastating and gives a grand stand effect.

It depends on the Kata I'd say. Kihon and Pinan Kata are at speed with focus and rhythm according to your style. Other more advanced Kata can call for Rhythms and power in accordance with the Bunkai. That said, any Kata can be as advanced as you make it.

We all have our favorite technique, but application in a split second must be instinctive.

If full contact is the way you want to go, and you want no compromise Kumite, then go for it. I hope you have no injuries and you gain experience and satisfaction! Osu!

It's like riding a bicycle, once you get your balance back, your body remembers.

I agree, MMA is a style in its own right. Even just in attitude, the way it is taught and what its priorities are.

Wow! Their syllabus must be massive! I pity the Dan grades taking their test!!!

I agree with you pers, stopping your opponent with a perfectly controlled Mwashi Geri to the face in Kumite takes much more skill than beating your opponent to a physical knockdown. Breaking your opponents Ki by focus and technique is far superior to uncontrolled attacks.

I am a fan of the Nunchaku. It is my training weapon of choice. Traditional Octagonal, cord tied ones are the best for me in oak. The edges of the octagon can perform horrific injuries in trained hands. The nunchaku gives great co-ordination and space awareness. Mind, it is a mid-distance weapon, you need some space to use it effectively. Close in I prefer the Tanto or Kubotan.

There a so many McDojos with the policy of "if you pay, you pass". Little Johnny will fail his grading in our club if he hasn't worked for it and is sub-standard. He can try again for free. Many so called martial artists measure their Dan grade in pounds sterling and expect to pass if they have paid for it. Thankfully we have a very good pre-grade system and fails are rare. One child failed his grading for a bad attitude once, his karate was good but he showed no respect to the other students in class.

In our style there are 8 Kyu grades, then Shodan. I know of clubs where there can be as many as 12! This I think is to generate more money by making your students pay for gradings.

I changed from Shotokan to Shukokai. It was not just the basics that were different, it was the mindset behind the karate. I found Shukokai to be more fluid, it had faster movement of the hip and a more modern scientific reasoning behind the mechanics of each technique. I struggled to adapt at the start, but now my Gyaku Zuki flies into the pad! Osu!

For me the most impact my Karate has is relaxation and stress reduction. I work in a fast paced customer service job. Karate has given me confidence and poise to deal with any situation, psychologically and in my self development. I love to see people develop in martial arts; strength, calmness and love of life are the results. Good post BTW Osu!!

I think the circle and the point is common to most martial arts. The difference is how you are made aware of it. Some styles don't identify the concept at all, while using it as a central pivot to their system. There is also the idea of the wedge or triangle and the spiral. Each way of transferring energy is what our art is built on. Aikido for example has these principals at its core.

I agree, I believe the basic Kata by their speed and rhythm show how you have been taught your style. This is how each school's teachings are preserved.

I suppose once humans felt they had any assets, or something to lose, they trained in order to protect it.

I'll have to work out some combinations. Jodan, Chudan, punch and strike, even a few kicks. Training on the move and focusing on some power will be a good workout, thank you.

When I go lower than my hands with the bars I have found it a great benefit as you fully extend your chest. When you have your fingers holding your weight, each tendon connected to your knuckles all the way to your elbow is conditioned. It's a good workout to use less fingers too; there is a famous picture of Bruce Lee doing index finger and thumb pushups. I can only do a few of those.

There are no strips of tape in our club, Junior grades have white stripes on each kyu grade which is a new belt. Brown belts have a white stripe for 2nd Kyu then a black one for 1st Kyu. I think $30 for a piece of tape is asking a lot.

While the experience of a real fight is something I never seek out, effective pad work and sparring hard but safely are the best substitute. Also realistic self defense is a good measure of your prowess. My Sensei tests me to knockout in pressure point application; if my technique does not work he will not let go, there are no gimmies.

I do pushups using pushup bars. Your fists are 3" off the ground so your chest goes lower than your hands. You can turn the bars horizontal too, giving a different exercise. To further condition my forearms I do finger tip pushups; this helps with finger strikes and claw grabs.

Some schools charge extra for a pre-grade before you are tested for your belt. We don't, Junior grades get a new belt each time they grade. The only thing that our school has that is different from most is that you grade for a Pre-Dan before your Shodan. You are given a Black Belt with a white stripe. I'm not sure if our Sensei charge extra for this grade but it's 6 months before your Shodan test.

Cross training between styles can give you a potent array of Kata.

Kushanku, or as they call it in Shotokan, Kanku Dai is a thrilling kata. It brings together the Pinan Kata, a great kata to offer for a shodan grade. I find Tekki Shodan to be more difficult than it looks.