1Weedhopper

Those are all good suggestions. Also go to you tube and look up Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. He has a number of stretching videos and kicking videos. He is one of the most flexible and respected fighters in history. I just watched his video on stretches for athletes. Its about an hour long. I followed that routine and for about 2 days my legs were sore. So I know it works. I guarantee it will help you out.

Yeah it is. I have to say that by traveling so far to different dojo's trying to find one closer that had a quality teacher I have run in to some good teachers and cool people.

I totally agree with mal103. You need to be pushed to exhaustion when you train. One thing I will never forget that I was taught was that the way you train is the way you will fight. If you just go through the motions and barely break a sweat then when you have to fight you will not know how to flip the switch. But if you are used to throwing every punch and kick as if you were punching through a concrete wall then when you have to fight it will be easy to do the same because thats all you know. Also if you are not getting sufficient conditioning (aka geating beat on) then you will not know how to deal with getting hit in a fight. But if you are getting hit on in class then when you get hit in a fight it want be so bad. You will have built up that tolerance and endurance for pain.

I would ask around and do your research of the area. Sometimes the best instructors are not even commercially listed in the phone book. Thats how I found my first Sensei. I was working at the golf course and was talking with him and he said he had trained and would teach me if I really wanted to learn. He only charged $30 dollars a month for two days every week. He was old school and trained me hard. A lot of days I questioned wether or not to go to class because I knew he was going to put me in some pain. But with that kind of training you learn that it really works and is practical. McDojo's will not push you like that. The guy I just found this week only charges $5 dollars a night. Both of these guys have dojo's built next to their house. I wish you the best finding one that will teach you right

Been hitting legs really hard lately. I am trying to stick with plyometrics so as to help balance and overall cardiovascular health. Jog 5 Laps around baseball field 3 Sets of Bunny hops from home plate to first base back to home plate holding cement block above head. (these are killer) 3 Sets of Straight leg vertical jumps for calves 3 Sets of Frog leaps from home plate to first base Walking in Shiko dachi without bobbing up and down till failure Kiba dachi while doing basic blocks and punches till failure

I wear a white Pro Force 14oz Diamond Gi

I am partial to Shito-Ryu because that is mainly what I have trained in. But as Harkon72 said it kind of has the best of both worlds. It has the long range fighting thats found in shorin-ryu and the close range fighting style found in gojo ryu.

Since my Sensei stopped teaching due to his bad knees I have been driving some of everywhere looking for a quality traditional dojo. I finally found one. Where I live has been the real problem. I have been going to Raleigh NC once a week but this is 95 miles one way. I happened to stumble on the website NMAA.com This had a link for member dojo's in NC. I found two in Wilson NC which is about 54 miles from me, (still far but much better) L.D. Thomlinson is his name and he is a 8th degree in Hakkyru ju-jitsu and Sandan in Motuba-ha Shito-Ryu which is the same style I trained in. He also teaches Tai Chi. He was a member of the NKJU from 1970 until it changed. Im just so glad I have found a quality teacher. Is anyone up here a former member of the NKJU from the Carolinas

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I have recently re-started my training in martial arts. My former Sensei's knees are shot. I trained in Shito-ryu with him and the style I started in last week is Shuri-te Bujutsu. It is kind of a blended style with Karate, Chin-na, and Aikido. There is two classes held at same dojo. The class before this one is Shito-ryu and it just so happens that the Sensei of that school trained and was in the same organization as my former sensei. I live 90 miles from here so i can only go 1 time a week. I want to get the most for my limited time. Is it reasonable to try to do both at one time. I am 6kyu in shito-ryu but white belt in shuri-te bujutsu. Sorry for long post.

Looking for a traditional karate dojo in eastern north carolina or southern va

Thanks guys for all your advice.

I have been training in Shito-ryu for about 6 months. I have a leg stretcher that helps with the splits but my left leg and hip is so stiff. Years ago I think I jammed my hip or leg in such a way that make it painful when i stretch. I really want to get more flexible. Has anyone had a problem similar to this and what can i do to remedy it.