Harkon72

The most important thing for me is the snap in the kick. I can hold my balance a lot better if I inject a snap after contact. This energy helps you return to your stance cleanly and with focus.

This is the key, a style should be a natural progression of learning; not a way to make a name for yourself.

With civilization came organised Warriorship. The security of society from the threat of other humans gave man a new way of thinking as he prepared for war.

I wouldn't worry about kicking to the head, the higher the kick goes the more you lose power. I would rather smash my round kick into a thigh or rib cage than to the more mobile target that the head is. You are less vulnerable to counter attack with a lower kick and more able to follow with a hand technique.

Dragon Martial Arts, Shukokai Karate and Kickboxing. Penygroes, North Wales. Sensei Williams, 4th Dan.

In Shukokai; White Yellow Orange Green Blue Purple Brown Brown/White stripe Brown/Black stripe Black/White stripe Black

I think it was when man picked up a rock and threw it, then picked up another to try and improve on his aim.

I'm a 6th Kyu, but I have over 25 years experience of several martial arts. I've had long breaks but I was once a Nidan in Shorinji Karate. I wear my Green Belt with pride and my input in class is valued and respected. We have a 15 year old Nidan in our class, she asks me about the Japanese terms for technique all the time.

My Sensei is a Pressure Point fan. He teaches nerve, blood, energy and psychological points all over the body. They can hurt, disable and control. My awake call was trying to apply them on him, he has a very high pain threshold and this makes a lot of the techniques ineffective. Sensei has trained his body and mind for this. He had me in a hold once, I had to tap out, he kept saying "Do something! Your going to pass out soon!" It's not frustrating training in this way, it's just realistic.

Don't get me wrong, Martial Art Cross training can work. A strong style of Karate coupled with BJJ or Sambo would be very effective. The key is to train proficiently in BOTH. You can call your style of fighting anything you want; it's just that the building of the foundations have to be sound to make it credible and effective. My sensei is 4th Dan Shukokai Karate and 1st Dan Kickboxing; he never mixes them in class, they are separate. When I asked him about ground work he said he knows some but would never teach it in the karate class as he is not qualified to include it in the syllabus.

After a while, you can feel if your technique against the pad is good; you don't just move your opponent, it's the snap, the kime, the satisfying sound the contact makes. Again, relaxation is the key, mental visualization and physical focus.

A new style is a lifetime's work. Many so called masters have a hash together system based on poor qualification. MMA has been the main culprit in making these so called styles up. I know a Goju Ryu 3rd Dan, bored of his style who now teaches an unrecognised hybrid style of "REAL" martial art. In my opinion, he's not qualified to teach techniques he just "likes the look of". He can't just add them as he pleases without gaining a certificate at least in grappling, muay thai and any other style he wants to play with. My advice to him is to stick to what you were taught, practice and excel in it.

I think that it's an important part of any grading or test. After 7th Kyu it's included in all Shukokai Gradings. I find kicking a shield easier than kicking the air, you have a target, a focus. Relaxing enough to let your technique flow gives you speed and power.

Yes, I'm very pleased. Thank You. Osu!

My Kihon was better than standard, my mwashi geri was a bit overbalanced at times but my punches in front stance were sharp. My padwork was very tiring, I had to go out to center myself after my effort. Sensei was pushing me hard and then the Kata - I performed Pinan Sandan twice and Shiozuki Godan twice. My Pinan Shodan has been better, one of the examiners asked me to repeat a section of it again. They must have been pleased, I was awarded 6th Kyu and a green belt.

I love having pad work as part of the class. I like watching the senior grades do pad work, I can watch their technique and learn from them.

In Shukokai you must prove that your technique is effective in your gradings by showing it against a kick or punch shield. To pass, to reflect your grade you must move the person holding it. It is part of our training. One thing we don't do as a rule is test our technique against tiles and boards. How do styles differ on this? I went to a well respected Shotokan club once, there was no kick shield or focus mitt in sight. Does anyone use a traditional Makiwara? I have a Wing Chun wall bag full of black eyed beans at home, it's a good way of testing my close punching at speed. I wonder if I should get a Kick dummy. It's just having the space for it.

I watched my wife pass her Yellow Belt tonight. She was asked to do a variation of Shiozuki Kata that she hadn't seen before, in her grading. It was focus and calmness that the examiner was looking for. He was very impressed and so was I.

Yes, I wonder what his Kiai sounds like!

I pay £4.50 a lesson, only when you train. Also £10 for a year's licence and £20 per grading.

When they grade for black belt in Shukokai you must perform 6 Kata, two of these are from the Pinan Kata. These at random are the most important, as the speed and rhythm show off the style.

I wear glasses and this has been a worry for me. The full chaos of Jui Kumite could be a problem. I might invest in some sports glasses.

There is no comparison between the physiology of a human and a gorilla. If your friend ever made an attempt at an attack against such a beast he may have an argument. Until then his boast is totally hypothetical. My estimation would be an apathetic gorilla transformed into a force no human could survive.

I totally agree, most learning is done by example.

I live in North Wales, it is the heartland of the Welsh language. Most of the class is in English and Welsh. Some of the junior grades don't speak much English, so having the terminology in Japanese makes good sense. I suppose it's an universal language for Karate.