cheesefrysamurai

Part of this sounds like confidence. if you have done the kick at dan level before, you can do it again, maybe you were just off your game, I have some nights where I feel like a clod and others where I am on top of things. I would just train train train. Try to give yourself a rest day or 2 as well. If your sensei didn't feel you were ready, trust me you wouldn't be in this situation. Hes testing you because he KNOWS you can do it. Good luck, though you may not need it

i often feel like I am not spending enough time on the mat, The dojo fees are not cheap and I don't have the time or money to train at a different dojo. There simply isn't enough time to just mess with technique. I do Kata on my own and I am progressing well but i think it would be cool to take it at my own time. Right now I train tues and thurs evening. I try to do kata every day on my own. I wouldn't want to change that, I would simply pay to extend classes closer to 2 hours, maybe add in aikido earlier in the day, then a few low impact grappling sessions with a small group, one of the people being a pro, peppered throughout the week. I would also make a small dojo in my house, tatami, mirrors, heavy bags, chishi, makiwara. I too would go to Japan and travel the world (a suggestion i took from one of you guys) and train with some masters.

i am not a sport kata kind of guy but i watch it as an exercise at times. I like to see if I could pick out the flaws, if I could recognize the differences in teaching. A lot of those rules seem redundant though. Each criteria is correct but i feel that there's too much overlap

ive been working kosoto gari a lot. its my fav of the month

Kiai, and proper breathing channels ki from what I understand

OK here's the scenario, you win a gazillion bucks - enough that you could easily retire IMMEDIATELY How much would you train What arts Can you give examples of a weeks MA training schedule. I would stick with the goju, bjj, and aikido each 2 possibly 3 times a week (dojo time) and what ever I could stand on my own. I am eager to hear the opinions

My Sensei says to stay loose until the strike. At that point it show be like a sneeze, that sort of intensity. It makes that brilliant snap the gi makes that we love so much. I think it's some degree of fajing.

My problem isn't so much blocking, its more entering and not making myself a target

He is so fluid, he makes it look easy.

he is magnificent. because of this thread I have been watching all his youtube content.

That guy is great in that drill. I wish i could be that light on my feet. Also it might be important to mention that we don't do point sparring. I am sure Sensei would love to see chudan blocks or jodan blocks, or oy tzukis but it looks a lot more like boxing. His Sensei's grandfather was an old school bareknuckle boxer and father a professional boxer so some of that made it into our training. Its basically training for a fight, to understand body relation, get used to getting hit, attacking and defending.

Well I LOVE cheesefries and I love the Japanese arts In a world of cheesefries, I am a masters executioner

From what I understand of these organizations, thats probably not an option. Butting heads with someone who has absolute authority doesnt work. His reasoning is sound to me, but as far as they are concerned they have as much right to promote him as his dai soke and they will not concede to his reluctance. There is way to much ego in martial arts. I would step back, let someone younger then you take the reigns, then "reappear" - technically he will outrank you, and you will never have this issue again.

ive been youtubing and it seems its a common problem. One guy actually described my situation exactly. I need to keep moving, cut corners, move on angles. Going straight in is never going to work for me. I'm an east target. I have a lot of work to do. My problem is this is almost like another art in itself. I don't have the money to pay a boxing gym on top of the dojo fees, and there simply isn't enough dojo time.

I agree fully.

in addition to what lowereastside said so well, people have to stop thinking that we think kata is kumite. We who study karate DO NOT THINK that we are going to bust into kata mid fight. for me its a moving meditation, its about focus, conditioning and a surprisingly a great workout.

I second that! Solid post!!

There are some pretty new movies out on netflix, out of china. Really creative, artistic and beautifully done. I really like ipman 1 and 2 - some of my favorites

Its really well done. I am not surprised he knows his stuff. He does an awesome parody.

great topic and great opinions. I think time spent matters. I am not sure there are enough hours in the day to get a black belt in 1 year. (without significant prior training) On a slightly different note, I don't care much for "sideline" martial artists or people who dont want to put in the work but try to "sit at the same table" as people who put the work in. I know this guy who was on and off the mat for about 7 years, he was buddy buddy with the sensei, he read a lot and liked to consider himself much higher then the green belt he wore. One day a guy from an organization came in, wanted everyone to pay membership fees and for reasons unbeknownst to me granted him an honorary black belt - BAM - he opened his own school. I would feel weird accepting someone as my Sensei with very little experience. I would call him sensei if my teacher gave someone the rank, but if my teacher left, I would leave too.

yeeeesshh. anyone find this even mildly amusing??

I know this video is a parody but I think we all know that they are making fun of something. Its a great laugh. does anyone out there have any funny stories ?

is there anyway to improve sparring without actually sparing. I ask because class is 2 times a week and I feel there is not enough time spent on it in class. Everytime i go up against one particular guy whose much much younger then me and less experienced, he damn near takes my head off, Hes taller then me, so thats a disadvantage too. Sensei tells me I am doing fine, that he is "full of urine and vinegar" and blames himself for not properly explaining to him that sparing isn't a fight. I have sparred him before and it doesn't end up well. I feel I can't get inside and any move I make i seem to do makes me a target. thanks

We stretch every class. We bow in, then immediately, either 50 jumping jacks or running around the dojo, side stepping, then go into stretches

I agree with outdoor training too. It's a training uniform. I don't really like the message I feel wearing my hi outside sends. I'm weird and private in that way.