oitsuki

Mmm, I was slapped in my face time ago when I was younger (Does this count? ). I didn't see it coming but if I did, I would have blocked the "attack" with force, maybe slightly injuring her arm. Anyway, I think I wouldn't use striking techniques with a woman, unless she is so agressive that this is the only choice (or she is armed, for example) Regards

... and to enjoy the tournament, instead of suffering it

In my dojo, after a long absence you must wear the white belt for a while, meaning humility. After that time (set by the sensei), you recover your old rank

I'm not sure whether this is of any use for you, but here in Spain I pay 25 euros per month for 2 weekly hours of Karate. It seems a bit expensive to me, since I don't live on a big city (where things are always more expensive)

@Lupin1 I agree on everything you said

I like also the second one. Impressive and really useful!

@lowereastside I agree, they are not so old, in fact, the MMAA are always evolving. That leads me to the next questions: it is because they are not so effective or because we don't have found yet the PERFECT MA?. I don't know. Maybe there is no PERFECT MA. Although the human being it more or less the same nowadays that 1000 years ago, the food we take is not the same, the weapons are not the same, etc. Maybe that is what boosts the evolution on the MA. Regards

Well, I miss here the "Yokogeri Kekomi" chudan or yodan, since I see this as an effective and safe way to deal with almost any kind of frontal attack: it serves as a pre-emptive attack and defense at the same time, exposing only your feet (usually covered by shoes, which gives you another layer of protection). I really find it difficult to surpass a barrier like this. Besides, it has an interesting dissuasive effect, showing your oponent that your are ready for combat and so finishing the fight before starts. If however the fight starts, then I suppose I would rely on tsukis and some sweep. Regards

What do you think, guys?. This is my (humble) opinion, at least: as the traveling is quite easier than only 50 years ago and with more and more time of the middle class people devoted to sports and "free time", I think that we are seeing MIXTURE at all levels: arts, science and of course, our dear Martial Arts. This means that everywhere you take a look, hundreds of new styles are created mixing the old ones, sometimes even effectively replacing it. For example, I am very interested on learning Traditional Wing Chun, and in Spain this is getting more and more difficult, since the (supposed) "best Wing Chun instructor in Spain" has created a new style (Wing Revolution) from the old one, and many instructors have passed to this new style, leaving Traditional Wing Chun. So, what's your opinion?, don't you miss the "good old times" when the styles were more "pure" and there were no so much mixture among them?. Regards

Well, I really appreciate your opinion, but the fact is that I've never gone into real-contact kumite, just pointing combat like we do on Shotokan, and I guess Kyokushin is precisely about that: CONTACT and KO and so on Maybe I didn't explain myself properly: "aggresive" is not the right word. Regards

I think ego is part of human nature, and it will always be. BUT it is our duty to fight it every day. When I heard someone boasting or showing off how his style is better or his dojo is better or whatever, I cannot prevent thinking that the best way to block yourself of learning new things it precisely think that you always know everything.

In my current Dojo, everybody respects the others. There is no big difference between black belts and the others. Although the position on the blacks stresses a bit the difference (with the higher ranks on the right and the others on the left), but the respect is always mutual. In my old Dojo, years ago, we didn't even call "Sensei" to the sensei. We just called him by his name, and he was one of the best senseis I've ever seen. I respected (now and then) him the most. So I think that the respect is something that of course must be encouraged on the Dojo, but not only from Teachers to Students, but also the other way around: the children are not stupid and the only way to earn their respect is by showing them the same.

I agree with all the people that gives you the advice of "relax and have fun". Serious injuries are rare. Of course you can get a punch on your nose with some blood, but that is not really serious and heal quickly. Trust your skills and those of your oponent. Remember that in a pointing combat, the objective is not strike, just score.

I only practice Karate Shotokan, although in my opinion, its efectiveness is not the highest for a real situation combat: it gives you stamina, force and improves a lot your reflexes, but it focuses you on just a small subset of the available movements/strikes. Besides, I think the positions are too low for a real-combat situation. Anyway, since it is the only (for the moment) that I know, I would definitely use it: One simple Oitsuki at close range with full power could break any defense. And the same with one of the most powerful kick we have on Shotokan: the Yokogueri Kekomi with the full support of your hip. That would definitely throw back any agressor standing in front of you.