renketsu

Sounds interesting as I have never seen musical forms or tricks done in person so could be worth a watch Could be a long drive for me though (assuming I can by that point if my collar bone heals in time) as there is no direct motorway route over the Pennine Mountains Andy.

I bought Kurz's book about a year or so back and introduced the dynamic stretching into the warm up for my own classes and have had no injuries (we've been using it for over 12 months now) from over stretching or not stretching enough Previously I had been using static stretching to try and make myself more supple before starting the classes and then when kicking had hurt my hamstrings several times... which when healing makes the muscle shorter and hence I had to stretch harder the next time to get my flexibility back which then caused the same problem again! I have not gone for the isometric stretching fully yet... not enough time... but I will be - what I have done has made a difference and worked quickly too I would fully recommend buying / reading / following his book. Andy.

Cheers guys Yeah it does heal quickly and I can still use it a bit because it hasnt snapped fully so not all bad - just tricky putting socks on and tieing my shoe laces! It is a major pain in the a*se, but it has helped my teaching ability - when I am trying to explain something I have to get a student to demonstrate the technique for me! If I carry on teaching til I am 80 odd then this will prove valuable - cos I wont be able to do anything at all then Good job I live within walking distance of my dojo cos I cant drive like this! Andy.

Pretty close with the front splits (leg in front and other behind) - better on the left leg forward than the right though! Miles away with the side splits - about a foot away from the floor working on it though! Not a major problem though... I can kick comfortably in all direction with all kicks to head height but struggle holding them (showing off really) above chest height. Andy.

I voted for "No, but I would like one/some" I always thought having a kanji tatoo on my left shoulder would be cool but never had the conviction to get it done... it then became sooooo popular to have kanji tatoos and it would have demeaned my personal marking... good job I didnt get it done I guess! Saw a strange tatoo in a bar in Liverpool, here in the UK (the Krazyhouse if anyone knows it)... a girl had 4 horizontal bars on her shoulder... I can only imagine this means she is a 4th dan (looked like dan stripes on a belt)! Never know - one day I may permanently mark myself - will add to the range of scars i guess and hopefully look prettier Andy.

It will be a huge shame if 24FC is gone forever It was (is?) a very informative and original site and seemed to thrive in going against the generally accepted opinions to try and find the truth. I would like to know what happened to make Rob close the site - as the forums were in full flight yesterday, when I checked before leaving work, and there was no signs of this happening. Andy.

Hi - Thanks for the reply. It seems, however, that my local hospital doctors are rather thick and got my diagnosis wrong! My GP sent me back for another X-Ray as he was convinced that it was a broken collar bone and couldnt possibly be the ligament problems diagnosed by the hospital... sure enough he was right - broken (greenstick not snapped)! At least it should heal better than ligament damage Apparently some breaks dont show up too well when immediately X-Rayed Andy

Hi, Having managed to fall badly and damage the ligaments in my shoulder, (definitely nothing broken and no muscle damage according to hospital) I was wondering if anyone has done anything similar and how it went with regard to regaining mobility and how long it took to heal!?! I can lift my arm to throat height forwards and sidewards but still hurts to lift any weight (and I cant manage to drive - changing gear is a killer!). Its been 11 days since I did it and I still have a big lump on my collar bone (where I assume the ligament is damaged). I am off to the doctors later on today to see what he reckons but was wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences. Thanks, A rather unhappy Andy

Cheers for the replies, I never realised there were two ways to do it until yesterday... nice to see how far the split goes! ESA-Shotokan - thats the way we do it aefibird - In Yondan, I was thinking of the move from morrote-uchi ude uke (dual arm block) to the ear grab before the knee strike... we go from backstance with feet in line to front stance with feet one shoulder width apart. (sorry for the bad description previously!) Cross - Not everyone seems to agree (I do tho) - watching the "blue background" vids from the old JKA, whoever it is doing the demo doesnt do it this way! Anyone been taught a particular way within the last year or so by any of the senior japanese - I would like to know which one is flavour of the month with them. Cheers.

Hi, Shotokan only question here I guess - dont know if this relates to other styles or not! I am curious about stance changes (from zenkutsu to kokutsu and vise versa) in Heian Yondan and Heian Godan and how everyone does them. We have always been taught that you move your front foot to go from one stance to another (the groin strike then grab at the end of Godan and the knee strike in Yondan). Having read articles again on 24fightingchickens.com and also reviewed the infamous videos doing the rounds on the web, I notice that the common idea is to just switch stances without moving the front foot (using a diagonal-ish zenkutsu rather than normal). I hope this makes sense - its not easy to describe but I've tried my best How do you all do the change - front (or maybe back) foot move or just a hip twist and leg straightening/bending to go from front to back stance? Andy.

Pretty much the same as karatekid1975 really : Up to 1st dan = minimum 3 years 1st-2nd dan = minimum 2 more years 2nd-3rd dan = minimum 3 more years (and so on up to 9th-10th dan being a minimum of 10 more years!! ) 3rd dan is the last recognised real grading, higher dans are usually awarded for services to karate etc (sounds fairly common from what i've read). Ages are pretty straightforward (and follow from the minimums above): 1st dan - minimum 16y/o 2nd dan - minimum 18 y/o 3rd dan - minimum 21 y/o Kids are given black belt status when earned but are "Cadet" Dans, they can achieve up to 2nd dan (from what i've seen, but it could include 3rd dan) but they are required to remain training at that grade until they turn the relevant age (from above) before they can start working towards their next grade. Andy.

Katana stupidity I think this really classes as "Oh my God" rather than "funny" but still worth a watch... some American TV shop program (I think) where the presenter demonstrates how strong (or not) a katana is. Andy.

Sandan since Sept 2003 That grading was probably the most difficult thing I have ever done! I am going to be over 30 by the time I can even consider Yondan... thats not a nice thought!

It's gotta be kata for me Kihon is kata moves (mostly) done in a linear form and kumite is fun but kata wins. You can pracise kata on your own and is the building block (IMO) for the rest of karate - being good at kata will certainly help you with kihon and kumite (which is kihon techniques done with a partner to differing levels of complexity and done in a more relaxed and less formal way). I personally think that most other people on this board will choose kumite - I know most of the members of our group favour kumite. Andy.

Hehe... looks like I (and my students) get the best deal so far We are part of a smaller type association and my sensei is the association chairperson so there are no pyramid type fees. Kyu gradings = £5 Dan gradings = £20 This includes certificates and dan grade registration with the AMA (Amateur Martial Association). Belts are extra but only £3 for standard plain colours. Embroidered ones are obviously extra. Andy.

firstly - Happy new year all I voted red (my club colour for website and badge etc - you gotta be colour co-ordinated these days you know ) as my new belt has red writing (english not kanji) and dan stripes. This was a present to myself for taking my sandan grading - hence replacing a belt that was not worn out. My previous belt was gold which looked quite cool too. I personally prefer cotton belts over silk ones, besides the fact they are half the price, they stay black... seems strange being a grey belt!! I dont think we have any rules on what colour can be used but most go for gold if they bother at all. Andy.

I think the sai are a better type of baton weapon, you can spin them sooooo fast and they hurt like hell compared to a tonfa when you are blocked with one! Having also been struck with one of the "prongs" on the sai I can confirm you wouldnt want to be hit full force with one! I had a red mark on my neck for 4 days afterwards! Andy.

Hi, I run my own club but get my student's gradings done by my Sensei (6th Dan). These used to be at his gradings (we'd just turn up) but now it is at my own dojo at my request (we use judo mats for breakfalls and diverolls which are now assessed as part of the gradings). I (and my assistants) still grade at our Sensei's dojo at his grading nights. Andy.

My old TKD instructor had 2 cats: Chigi and Chagi Quite cute names but Chigi Chagi means axe kick in Korean

Gankaku - just love it Was a close call with Kanku Sho (luckily they are in the same category) Used to be Kanku Dai until I learned the more interesting ones.

Wow - only 2 out of 36 points for kata - I find that surprising and infact somewhat disturbing... Traditional Karate (speaking from a Shotokan background) is split into 3 equal parts: Kihon (basics and combinations) Kata (all up to your grading kata) Kumite (pre-arranged or free fighting) All aspects of Shotokan fit into one of these categories and all are required to be done to a satisfactory level for gradings, being very poor at kata will fail you your grading (likewise for kihon or kumite).

Just think about this the next time you are posing for a photo! http://www.tyresmoke.net/attachments/67378-groepsfoto.jpg heheh

eek - unsu (Wansu) for whitebelts - wow! How complicated would you rate this kata for the various white belts (I assume you mean up to 7th kyu by three levels) and do most students manage this kata well? Unsu is seen as a 2nd/3rd dan kata (in our shotokan group anyway) as it is pretty complicated and needs tremendous agility for the spinning jump thingy! White belts with us only tend to go as far as one kata above their grading kata unless they have prior experience (in Shotokan or other arts) in which case sometimes 2 or 3 above their grading kata - depending on how quickly they can pick the kata up to a sufficient degree. Andy.

10th kyu - white 9th kyu - red (can be white with red tab instead) 8th kyu - orange (can be white with 2 reds tab instead) 7th kyu - yellow 6th kyu - green 5th kyu - purple 4th kyu - purple and white tab 3rd kyu - brown 2nd kyu - brown and white 1st kyu - brown and 2 white tabs shodan and up - black (tabs optional) Andy.

Ok... bunkai (application) challenge for you - lets see who is awake on a friday. There are two moves in Kanku dai (Shotokan version) that take some explaining and seem a little bizaar to say the least: Move: Spin to stand on left leg (gankaku dachi) with right arm supported by left and then "jab" forwards with right arm and drop downwards into a "runners start" position before spinning into very low double shuto (knife hand). Suggested bunkai: "Jab" is strike to face, drop to floor is avoidance of technique to face and then when on floor grab attackers legs (or trouser legs) and pull which will up-end them. Move: Just done the moves out of Tekki Shodan and then turn into Kiba dachi (horse riding stance) with hands going round anticlockwise from left on top to right on top then punch downwards with right hand. Suggested bunkai: Person jumps at you, catch them under the throat with the left hand and between the legs with the right hand, turn person upside down and punch to face (with person upside down). I know my descriptions aren't brilliant (and I cant give position numbers from Best Karate etc) but I think most people should be able to work out which moves I mean! I am not saying these are bad techniques as I have seen both demonstrated successfully but they are not ones I would consider using in real life! Does anyone have a better/different version of the bunkai/oyo for these two techniques? Andy.