RAM18

Nice vid. For anyone interested in Nihanchi history / Bunkai this is an amazing read!!!! http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/article/naihanchi-karates-most-deadly-kata

I would add that there isn't really a tournament style? The WKF is the largest governing body of Sport Karate and it recognizes Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan and Wado-ryu and puts on some huge tournaments globally.

Head gears are not allowed in kuokushin I don't know kuokushin so may be very naive, but why!? Seems ludicrous to me? Sure in a real world situation you wont have pad on but in a real word situation are you likely to be attacked by another Karateka!? No. How do kuokushin clubs get insurance? I assume a waiver is signed? Seems like its very open to getting injured to me?

Any tips from recovering from Toe injuries? I thought my big toe was just bruises etc but Im suspecting worse at the moment. Still slightly swollen after two weeks and while I can bend it back ok, not so much forward and can be painful to the touch. Im still training but in sparring Im not using that leg at the moment. Prob going to get an xray just to be sure but looking to see how help it along. Im guessing just time and keeping it safe. I'm always hurting my toes! Big toe especially. I had 3 sprained toes that go a nice color purple. Tape them up well but if it really hurts leave training. i didn't and i ended up with Sesamoiditis: http://foot.com/site/foot-conditions/sesamoiditis That hurts like hell. Generally the gold rule on R.I.C.E works (rest, Ice, compression, elevation) Sparring seems to be when it's most likely to injure a toe so check foot guards fit well too.

jeez we get push-ups if we don't Kiai on turns, katas and khions! Very important. I don't think it matters so much what it sounds like as long as its genuine!

On the Cardio front i see a lot of people bouncing around like a gazelle while sparring! This will mean you run out of energy quick! Take your time, strike in bursts and conserve energy when you can.

We have a single Pre-Dan rank after 1st Kyu which is a BlackBelt with red stripes like this: http://www.kataaro.com/Images/Black-Belt-1-Red-Stripe-340.jpg Once this rank grades Shodan they get a proper embroidered blackbelt.

Hi, Just wondered today how many of you have a Pre-dan rank? We have one. We have 1st Kyu which is brown and Black but from there we grade and go to pre-Dan which is a BlackBelt with red stripes top and bottom. This rank seemingly isn't a Kyu or a Dan rank. When we achieve this we have to be committed for at least 6 months to the school, help out and be active in the fitness activities. From there we grade for 1st Dan Black. Seems like a sensible idea but it seems quite a rare thing to do so interested in how many other schools do this....

Our fitness tests are at the end of grading. 9th Kyu are required to do 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 10 squad thrusts, 15 leg raises and 15 seconds of pad punching. By 1st Kyu this is up to 90 of each and around 3 mins of punching! Fairly brutal!

Was there a time requirement or was it just being able to run the distance without stopping? We don't have any running requirements, but I was invited to participate in testing at another school where they did have a running requirement. Not sure what they would require for someone my age but the younger male testing had to run 7 miles. As mentioned before in this thread and based on my own experience, aside from the cardio benefit distance running really doesn't do much for MA. When I was training for my BB the recommendation was to do intervals instead of distance. There is no time limit its just make the distance. There is also short hill sprints too. We also do a interval training fitness class as well so we have a good mixture of fitness. I believe with the Wado Ryu style being about evasion much depends on fitness to allow for speed and agility over power.

For me its Pinan Shodan. Its such a strong kata. It flows really well.

We have a requirement to run as part of Pre-Dan and 1st Dan grading. Think 1st Dans are expected to run about 7 miles with Sensei so yes we very much use running in training... Our Sensei likes all his Blackbelts to be in peak physical condition.

I made 7th Kyu as a junior and went back 15 years later. I started at White belt again as an adult but was able to double grade on the first grading. It felt good. I had remembered some basics but wanted to perfect my technique and also wanted to earn my ranks as an adult! Now i have just earned my 4th Kyu. We stand in a circle at the end of class as my Sensei always says its about continual learning. Start at white and look at it as extra training time to improve what you do...

We are given a plain white Gi when we start for free. Its a fairly low quality one. We then can buy our traditional kit which is black Gi trousers with a Black T-shirt with club logo on. At Black belt we are also able to buy a branded Black Gi. I like it. We get the freedom of movement of the Gi trousers with the ease of a T-shirt.

Great Thanks! I will give it a go!

Hi, I have tight hamstrings/calf muscles so really struggle with my kicks. To solve this i have been doing a bit of self research into stretching as my side / round kicks are only just above belt height. The problem i have is i don't really "get" what dynamic stretching is? I have watched YouTube videos but these are always done by people who can do the splits easily...which really doesn't show me how i should be doing mine. With Dynamic i lift my leg rather than swing it? how far do i lift it? should i feel a pinch or pull in my muscle or stop before that? Should i be doing these every morning? Seems to be a few different opinions out there. I'm not far off grading for 4th Kyu so happy to put some time in to do what i need to but i want to know I'm spending time doing the right thing to improve my kicks. Any advice most welcome...

I practice Wado and we do semi contact kumite. Saying that taking a reverse punch to the stomach will make you think twice about leaving it unguarded! Wado Ryu is a lot about agility, deception and evasiveness. Being quick on your feet and maximizing you movement to counter attacks rather than some of the more direct strong styles.

In ours we go: White Red Yellow Orange Green Blue Purple Brown Brown with White stripe Brown with Black Stripe Black with Red stripe (pre-Dan) Black 1st Dan Grading every 3 months if you are ready. except pre dan which is 6 months or more until you are ready!

I did shoto at age 10, stopped at 11. Then started Wado Ryu at 31! I think as you get older you do realize that you get out what you put in!

Thanks guys! That helped a lot. Managed to get 3rd in the tournament!

Hi there, I'm 7th Kyu in Wado Ryu and i have a Karate competition coming up and I really feel with my sparring i struggle to move quick enough, my legs especially with foot guards feel like they are in syrup which means I find it hard to blitz forward to close the gap or change the angle. Does anyone have any good training tips or advice to help me get my weight/balance better and legs more agile or is this something I'm just going to have to learn over time?