Nidan Melbourne

6 - 7 hours on average. depending on the time of year, I find that I operate better on a little less or a little more. But varies greatly on the time of year. Like this time of year, sun is going down a little bit earlier and I am finding that I am tired more often. So I'm getting on average 8-9 sometimes closer to 10 hours if needed.

Haven't heard that song before. But i've done "Through the Fire and Flames" by Dragonforce with Suparinpei. OMG I was dead

So to add onto what I said and what @crash contributed. I spoke to a few friends who have mentors in the MA Community here. The instructors are all 80+ yrs old, and are 7/8th Dan's in their respective styles. Each went through something similar. Due to health, they are unable to stand or demonstrate a lot of things these days. One (immigrated to Aus from the US after the Vietnam War) developed Severe PTSD, was missing a few fingers/toes here and there. When I spoke to him, the biggest challenge wasn't the physical recovery from losing some toes and fingers. It was in reality his Mind that was the hardest thing to start healing (as much as you can). He couldn't stand the noise of the Kiai from even the quietest student. Which caused massive traumatic episodes. Fortunately his students loved him that much. Especially the ones that were taught by him prior to his military service. That they didn't let him retreat from the memories and trauma. What they did was create a little group (like AA) but only for vets who are still facing their demons. They worked together like a unit to overcome these issues. Yes they still have episodes here and there, but they are smaller and easier to manage. Some of those Men and Women were in Wheelchairs. Due to missing limbs or spinal issues. One of the things they did was learning to master their breathing and how to visualise their happy place where they feel they can be their best version of themselves. These people weren't just vets at the time, they are black belts. Each time they assessed even if differently to others, the hard work they put in helped their training. Now if you can't train: you teach. You can still talk, you still have your mind, the experience and ability to teach the next generation. Yes you might be unable to do parts of the job. But you can find ways around it.

Thank you for sharing! It is obviously difficult for you to manage those feelings of having something that formed a big part of your identity ripped away from you. And that there is not much that you can do about it. But I challenge you with these questions - HOW is karate no longer in your body (you can't say due to injury or illness)? How is it different to say the you that is an Educated Person? How is it different to you as a person of Faith? Yes you can mourn the loss of one thing that is going to impact you for the long term, but consider these aswell. - Can I exercise? Yes, in a Pool Safer; less impact on your back, doesn't require you to stand (assistance getting in/out required), improves overall health. - Can I change how I teach? Yes, even though sitting I can teach. Teach the people below me what I want and what I do that others don't - Can I teach a whole NEW group of people? Yes, those with physical disabilities or handicaps (i.e. wheelchair users) increases socialisation and increase opportunities for growth and understanding. - Can I continue being a part of the community I love? Of course I can, I might not be able to do it the same way as everyone else but I am me! Something that a friend of mine said to me last year; when I had to step away from the Teaching and Training in Class due to my legal situation. They said the following. I know that you are the type of person that would rather demonstrate and verbally communicate WHAT you want them to do. But sometimes where you are unable to do something for the short/long term or permanently, you can still talk and have a trusted person demonstrate. We say this to athletes all the time when they're injured; coming and watching training or even their matches does more for their observational learning than skipping those sessions. Damage yes! Is this the end of your MA Journey? That is a Big Fat No!! Is this an opportunity? YES I do believe that you believe in the words that you had said. Struggle is good; but sometimes you are forced to slow down and either re-evaluate things or PIVOT and change that perspective. You are also everything to them! Stepping away does them no good I disagree, it hasn't been ripped away from you unceremoniously. To me with the greatest of respect; you stepped away or put up excuses to WHY you can't do what you want in the way you had done for the last 60 years. You are on a new journey, laid out by your current health and faith. Re-evaluate and move forwards. After all of that; you need to look at what Karate has really taught you and share that knowledge. When I stepped away, I had to start writing down everything I learnt and that I remember. Not only did I write it; but where I can I film it.

True its always fascinating to find out new things; even if it is different to what is the "norm" for you.

today for me is the one day of that stretch that works 25/5/25 knowing someone will say something; Australia does DD/MM/YYYY format. If the dates you were listed were below like 12 for the physical day and zero context of where you were from; I would have read It the above way not MM/DD/YYYY. Im jealous though that you guys have so much fun stuff to go "huh that's cool" with dates.

well if photos count it was a photo of a sunset that I sent to one of my sisters. BUT if words only its - Elwood

had no idea that he was arrested and undergoing a trial. What are the accusations made?

thats exactly what I was trying to get at!! thanks! Clearly my brain went a different route when trying to explain it. hahaha

Well not physical music playing; kind of like how a Dance Teacher teaches a pair how to do a Waltz. We incorporate the timing into it because like you said tournament wise if your doing it in a team you need to be in synch. I asked my Shihan some time ago about it; he said that we teach it because mentally it helps our students retain it and focus on the intensity or lead up to a move. or even a reminder as a whole to be consistent with how I move and not go to fast or slow. Now in relation to Real World Applications; what are people doing majority of the time (even though ill-advised at night)? they're listening to music. Some of my students have realised that they don't need to be listening to music because when they move they're making their own music up in their head and they've mentioned its a lot more enjoyed and made them be in the present. Also if they do need to react; timing has changed. Please note: When I teach, yes when they're learning it might be a consistent beat but as they get more advanced they do change the tune to make it work for them or under stressful situations. Power and Speed are great; but timing is also rather important for both. Because if your timing is off; the force you putting out is greatly diminished. Actually since you mentioned your French; think of it like this - if you slowed down the way that you speak it most likely comes across as a bit off likewise if you rush it. As you could very easily change the word or what is conveyed be miscontrued by the listeners. Same with the tempo of what we do; it is all about timing. when do we unleash something? also that timing greatly impacts where our limbs or even our positioning changes. So for instance; I am slow like a tortoise, don't have the best level of fitness atm. BUT I can time the heck out of how I do things. "I know nothing of composing" I disagree, you might not be say a singer, but we are composing something everyday. Every post you write here is a composition; and if your French French (Not Canadian French) then writing in English is outside of your normal course of action. I know everyone has different ways of teaching Kata; whatever works for each of us I guess. haven't met someone who teaches that far off from what I do yet. @sensei8, @bushido_man96 what do you both do?

As I write this listening to the Sound of Silence (by Disturbed), it got me thinking how when we teach a kata and how we have a different tempo to each kata. Where you have an emphasis on the fast movements between any two steps but then an emphasis on a pause before moving again. Or for some advanced kata, a slow extended note on an instrument is an extended transition for a stance. But what I'm curious is how do you teach a tempo for a kata at your dojo, and how do you explain it? Music Terms? Sports Terms? Biomechanical terms? I know there are probably hundreds if not thousands of ways of teaching it.

I've lost count of how many times that's happened to me over the years. I remember going or my Nidan, was doing Sanchin Kata and my "partner" left a massive welt on the inside of my right thigh then my sensei came up to test my stance and delivered 6 nasty thigh kicks to my outer thigh. i winced after every kick, which sucked massively. Then one of the other instructors asked me the same thing "you got one heck of a bruise don't you?" and all I could give was the look of "No duh Sensei" But what was worse that I still had to do Saifa, Seeinchin, Sanseru, Seisan and Shisochin after that little beating. *ouch* I changed into a lighter Gi after my last kata and before the Pre-Arranged Sparring portion of the grading. And the bruises were clear as day to everyone even the instructors. Hurt like heck for the rest of the grading as I had Pre-Arranged Sparring (Our Gyakusoku Kumite, Kyogi [Self-Defence Routines we come up with], Bunkai [Dojo Created]) and Sparring. Although to be fair I did leave a monster bruise on the one that gave me the first bruise and that was during a couple of rounds of 2 on 1. he just laughed it off like a maniac which was hilarious.

Agreed, and I think they may have reconsidered as they haven't responded to any posts for some time now. But I do hope they return, as it would be interesting to see what knowledge they have to share.

thanks for the tag @Patrick I hope to be here for the 25th Anniversary and the most likely Live Stream. Because you know for sure I'd put my hand up to be on the stream! 2026 will be a big one - Karateforums Turns 25 - 10 Years on Staff (June 2016) - 13 Years on as a Member So very exciting times. I don't know what i'd rather do; read through god knows how many research articles (and reference correctly) or read through all 578 thousand posts that are currently here on this site. minus god knows how many Patrick and staff have completely removed over the years. Mind you the last assessment I had to submit for my Bachelors Degree, I had to read and reference anywhere from 50-60 journal articles and it was a 5000 word assessment. And this is an Exercise Science Degree. However if you do see a Thesis eventually, its probably me haha.

I'm surprised too that someone brought back a post after 21 years. But it is a good discussion that has changed over the years, and I don't think any of the people that posted on it originally are active anymore. But I they were, it would have been good to get their perspective on how their training has changed since then. Now the classes I attend when I can; typically are between a 7 and 8 pm start with a finish usually being just after 9 pm. Everyone is different when it comes to ideal times to train anything; from studying to physical exercise. But @ryanryu has a point though; that for some like him if it is too late in the day, then they feel like a zombie the following day. So when I was working my warehouse job; it was hard to justify a late session, when it would be usually a 30 min - 1 hour drive home from the dojo that i'd be at. So 9 pm finish, get home at around 9:45-10 (+/-), shower, eat something small then go to bed at 11. Then having to be up at 5:45 am for a 6 am departure the following morning. It was just not safe, as I went from an early riser (regardless of how late I went to bed) and being effective throughout the day to being evening person with an earlier bed time. In other words, my physical activity that were planned were often best done on weekends or between 6-8:30 pm. Which allowed me to have time to do what I needed afterwards, and still talk to people at home.

PLAIN TONIC WATER?!?! You like the taste of that stuff? At least its loads better than what I had done when I quit; I used Coca-Cola and Energy Drinks to cope. Even though I was 19 at the time; I should have gone for water or other healthy options.

Doens't have to be the final update! I encourage you to continue giving updates here and there. Because it is good to vent somewhere, and we're all here to listen

I competitons I go to (more WKF based tournaments than anything); head strikes are common as initial techniques being thrown as part of a combination. However what I do get annoyed by regardless of tournament style; is how fighters get so comfortable doing the same combinations even when the opponent has gotten used you throwing the same combination over and over.

You say "Always" but there is a flaw to your logic. Kyokushin in itself as a whole has their own specific rules when it comes to kumite in the dojo and for tournaments. In comparison to the "other" styles where they all often compete against one another with a unified ruleset. At tournaments here in Australia we have National All Styles (NAS); which all styles (including Kyokushin) compete under the same rules. And Kyokushin Fighters often are at a disadvantage when it comes to those bouts. Then we have Karate Australia; which operates under World Karate Federation (WKF) Rules. So no Kyokushin Dojos have joined or compete in those tournaments. So for your logic to work effectively; you would need fighters to fight on an even basis where the competitors can demonstrate their styles to their fullest. Which in my mind is close to the UFC. Now something I do when teaching, but with Adults with sufficient experience and their consent and forms signed stating that they didn't hold me, the club or the other participants liable for injury. Is to do rounds of sparring; but as close to realistic as possible so slaps, grabbing, pushing, shoving all that fun is ok. But to start our rounds we just bow to each other as a whole, and go. But we do also rounds with specific situations; but we don't give the "attackers" or "defenders" any guidelines on what to do. Just to either be a threat or stop the fight.

Read a post elsewhere regarding stances; they talked about height, depth and width of stances across the styles. Now when I first started out training, I never questioned why and how we did things. Then one of my instructors instructors mentioned to me this about stances: - Stances in Karate are only a snapshot of what they were when you look at the movements it came from in Kung Fu. - Stances should be adjusted to the person. - Why? My 6 foot 8 (30 year old) friend would have different dimensions for all our stances in comparison to my 4 foot (10 year old) student who would have much smaller dimensions. But I got to thinking about how things came to be: - like how did Zenkutsu Dachi come to be so (in a way) different between Shotokan and Goju? - Was the person being taught a lot taller than others? - Was the person sore that day? were they stretching out a bit and didn't know how to translate it? - In Suparinpei why does Shito-Ryu go one way (when u do the Gedan Ipponken) and Goju-Ryu go the other? But back to the point; how has your instructors explained why you do stances the way that you do? Or if you do a variation to what is considered the norm to the dojo? How to you explain it/teach the correct thing with variations?

Well thats what we're all here for! To ask questions and have them answered from people who may know how to help. This is why I love this site, so we can all learn something or even have a change of perspective.

When I was in the Pallet Racking Industry; I had sharpies, pens, pencils in my pocket from the time I left the house until I got home at the end of the day. Then having Steel Capped Boots, oddly comfortable once appropriately worn in. Used several times in self-defence, and hurts like heck when getting kicked in the shins.

Don't worry i had to look ours up when it came to typing up my original post for this thread.

That is true; when you learn something new it can be hard to understand. I admit there are some "Routines" that I've seen on youtube, Instagram or even facebook that just look overly dramatic or more complicated than need be. But then I remind myself that what I'm seeing is usually the demonstration or the student getting used to the routine in itself. But seeing them at full speed, where the attacker just remains still whilst the defence does their thing on the other hand. irks me to no tomorrow. Although that typically gets resolved pretty quickly when someone demonstrates my concerns.

all good; pretty easy to miss or overlook when going through the posts. And no I don't think you were being disrespectful. It certainly never came across when reading your posts. To me having a higher grade is useful because it at least shows u know the curriculum and have been assessed on it. Unless you made your own "style". I defer to some of my students who compete; and they are the ones that are either on the State or National teams. But only when it comes specifically to either their specialty or I am running a tournament style class or specific class.