Nidan Melbourne

Welcome to the forum idsymo. I look forward to reading your posts and sharing knowledge with you

Welcome to the Forum! we look forward to listening to what you have to say. I haven't heard of Doryoku-Ryu either, can you tell us a little bit about of its history/background? As I tried using Detective Google to find out some information, but couldn't dig much up at all unfortunately. Well with the exception of this site: http://www.doryokuryu.com/portal/index.php but doesn't seem to have much information about the style itself.

Forward rolls are always difficult at first because it is human nature to freeze up when falling forwards. Has your sensei gotten you to start from a crouching position and go from there first? Often there are Sensei's that get you to do them from a standing start first.

Congrats to your daughter, she must have been so proud of getting it.

Well Deserved LLLEARNER!!!

Haha thanks Bushido_man96! I was planning on stopping by at a few dojos to train as well. Otherwise I'd probably go insane if I couldn't train for that much time.

Using equipment vs. no equipment for push ups can vary how you perform them. The push up handles i've seen can make them harder and allow for a greater ROM throughout the whole movement. Also it can sometimes boil down to a persons health requirements, especially if you have to have your hands/wrists, elbows and shoulders in a particular position.

I believe it also depends on which Tournaments that you attend. I have spoken to a few referees/judges who do only the WKF tournaments and they hate hearing different types of Kiai, they prefer there being two. The ISKA/NASKA Judges/Referees i've spoken to don't really care about how you do it, as long as its there.

Personally Kiai'ing should be done with intent. I've seen many students; both children and adults kiai without that intent and I just stood there laughing because to me they didn't show or startle me with their technique or effort level. For our Kihon (Combinations portion) we don't necessarily tell you where to kiai, because it should feel right to you. For instance if the combination is Mae Geri - Sanchin Dachi - Jodan Uke (Upper Block) - Chudan Seiken Tsuki - Chudan Uke (Middle Block; yoko uke to some) - Jodan Teisho Ate (Upper Palm Heel Smash) - Chudan Teisho Ate - Mawashi Uke. Often you'd kiai on that last technique, but since it was a block you'd more likely kiai on any of the strikes. Kata dependent on style you would have usually 2 or 3 kiai's in a predetermined spot and is consistent across the dojos that teach that style. For Instance I know a Goju-Ryu Dojo that has 4 Kiai's in Gekesai Dai Ich instead of the usual 2. Kumite - my dojo you do Awase Kumite (It is like continuous sparring), Point Sparring (kiai when you want to score a point), and Light Sparring (More contact allowed: Grappling, throws, chokes, joint locks, thigh kicks all allowed. Only technique barred is Kansetsu Geri or Knee Joint Kick) In relation to getting criticism on how loud or what it sounds like is very different to each MAist that uses it. At my Dojo we only care if it is loud, short and sharp. 90% of my students or those I train with, will yell "KIAI" in comparison will yell something else. Personally I do either "HYAAA" (like Link from the legend of zelda; ocarina of time when riding Epona) or "EISCH" (I have no idea why i do it to be honest)

Being a person who only competes in WKF Tournaments, I see the rules and formats of tournaments that don't use that format so unusual and weird. Usually because I haven't competed in it and see Kata that look to be butchered from what they used to look like and the Kumite to be appearing very wild (what I mean is that the tournaments i've checked out online look like there is very little form to it or even many rules). For those who compete in those tournaments can you tell me the pro's and con's of those tournaments are? As in do you feel like you can express your way of karate or martial art more freely or like you have a better opportunity to progress or even win. Or is it more because that is the only type of Tournament within' a reasonable drive to you or more affordable? I ask because I am looking at travelling over to the U.S. sometime next year and thinking of competing. My trip (so far) is looking like i might do New York City, Washington, Florida, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and progress further west and finish in LA.

Not Stretching in class is unusual, but this will depend on your own definition of stretching in Class. Often Stretching is done in some shape or form during the Warm Up (read below), and dependent on what was done during the class at the end as well. As JR137 Said on the first page of this thread, Exercise Physiology (What I'm training to become, when I undertake + complete my Masters in the field. Note: Personal Trainers are not this field and has its own recognised governing body ESSA) as has exploded over the last couple of decades. The issue is that Personal Trainers and even instructors who teach (not all instructors) continue to perform certain stretches or exercises that should be avoided like the plague. Many stances in Karate will stretch muscles in various ways, and whether it is dynamic or relatively static. Look at Shiko Dachi for instance it is a static stretch (relatively speaking) when not moving, but is more of a dynamic stretch when transitioning or performing certain techniques i.e. Mawashi Geri. Flexibility is one of those things that you need to do everyday, due to the nature of the muscles, ligaments, tendons and the joints ROM themselves. Stretching 3x Weekly isn't sufficient due to the nature of the beast itself, even though Governing Bodies that promote stretching that often. JR don't forget that there is a difference between the Fitness Industry (Personal Training) and the Health Industry (Exercise Physiology, Sports Physiology, Physiotherapy etc). Because it also comes down to whether they are not just insured, but the Health Industry can accept Medicare (Australian Version, where people can be bulk billed or pay the difference) or accept Private Health Insurance. But the Health Professional must have a Medicare Provider Number and be given a Private Health Insurance Number for different Insurance Companies. I deal with Personal Trainers on a regular basis, and majority of them do not have the slightest idea on the science behind why we do certain exercises over others. Because for them, they see it as make the person sweat and no pain no gain. BUT obviously there are those Trainers who do take the science of this seriously and actually read Journal Articles and learn from those in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy. The ones that do read those articles and the text books that give various information (especially on Contraindications; especially when it applies to your students/clients) Crunches I despise seeing because they place undue stress on the neck if done incorrectly or prescribed to those who cannot safely do them (Overweight/Obese Clients, back injuries/neck injuries etc). This is also where some people get given the 'advanced' form of the exercise instead of going from the 'beginner' position and then slowly work up to the harder variants. In relation to MA lagging in relation to this, i can totally understand because (most likely, but may not be the case) majority of School Owners or Instructors don't have that background in either the Health or Fitness Industries whilst others do. My Sensei works in the Health Industry as a Remedial Massage Therapist and requires a high level of knowledge in Human Physiology. Mountain Climbers are a favourite exercise of mine because it activates a lot of muscles and not just one area (i.e. Core or the Hip Flexors). Also to the last bit of your post, Knuckle Push Ups are harder due to the reduced Surface Area that you have and also to the uneven nature of the knuckles in comparison to the palms where you can stretch your fingers out and grip.

Ooooooh thats what it is! Makes sense now. Thank you JR

Ahhh why do you say that the Pinan's and other various basic kata don't need an explanation? But can't offensive techniques (including Hips) be used defensively? and vice versa? When I look at the Basic Kata there is so much that you can do, even with the hipwork

Welcome to the forum Gunner! No need to apologise for a long post. What style of Karate are you learning at the moment? I currently do Goju-Ryu. Is there any particular form of Kumite (Sparring) that you enjoy?

Previously I have mentioned that for my dojo we commence our 'official' curriculum for bunkai at Green Belt (5th Kyu) for Seniors and Shodan-Ho for Juniors. We get our students to give us an explanation to what they think the techniques are used for in the kata. As we have a type of Kumite called Kyogi Kumite which is what I just explained. All of our students never thought of explaining our beginner katas (Taikyoku Jodan/Chudan/Gedan/Kake Uke/Mawashi Ich) or our Intermediate Katas (Gekesai Ich + Ni). Each kata teaches us different skills and concepts where it is not only our sensei's job to teach us those, but also our own job to have our own interpretation of said kata.

Same as JR137 welcome to the forum, i spotted a few of your posts and have liked what you've had to say so far. Also Gunner what do you mean by the wavemaster? I don't think i've seen it before or called it like that previously, but I know what BOB is though! I like using Punching Bags to work on power techniques, but for me I have a preference for working with partners because they will block in various ways the techniques I throw, in other words the unpredictability of it and that is what Punching Bags doesn't give me. For me technique at the end of the day is the number 1 thing to do before anything else. I like delivering brutal kicks and strikes but have injured myself due to incorrect technique. Iskrax often speed and power are developed over time, but in relation to self defence on the street you may already be on point because of the impact and skills you've learnt in the Dojo. I've been attacked a number of times (mostly on Public Transport) and how hard I hit was more than sufficient.

I am unsure of what to take of it to be honest. I respect everyones religious beliefs but when you undertake a martial art there is no religiousness behind it. In my eyes when we bow it is always to say to our partner/s "thank you for working with me and helping me learn".

in which currency? just so i have an idea for the conversion rate

Welcome to the forum Brock. I'm glad to see another Australian on the Forum. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask us on the forum. We are a friendly bunch of people

Sorry for the uber slow response from people The Pred. I don't think many suppliers offer separate pieces to the uniform. Have you had any success in your quest? I have spoken to a couple of my local suppliers and they don't sell seperately because for them it is a waste of money. Because for them they feel like no one would purchase the pants section. Also where were you able to find suppliers to sell the Karate Jackets Seperate?

hahaha of course. I know some of those really stubborn stains you would need to do it over a course of several washes to try and get it out. Probably wouldn't recommend Bleach, because i did and it kind of destroyed my gi. Maybe my bad because I may have used the wrong one.

I see you do Shitokai, which from memory is a Shito-ryu sub-branch? I can totally understand the comfort approach to it, i don't wear a t-shirt or anything underneath because it feels restricted and also I really don't want to wash extra clothing at the end of the day especially since I sweat a lot! That is so true in regards to Ground Arts, because in my time doing BJJ without a rashguard or anything underneath the gi it was really gross to have like 6 or 7 other peoples sweat on me. So I learnt really quickly to wear one underneath during training. But i am assuming it is also a OH&S thing also???

That is true, many schools will provide sufficient conditioning on a regular basis to assist. Especially in the first months of training because you are learning how to move and is activating muscles that you don't normally use or rarely use. But all training when it comes to physical health should be done correctly because if you don't there will be an injury. Even executing say a Reverse Roundhouse Kick (Ura Mawashi Geri/Ushiro Mawashi Geri etc) correct form and knowing your body will be safer than doing it incorrectly. I have seen too many people at the gym or even in class performing skills or exercises incorrectly and injure themselves. Usually that comes down to either loss of focus or in a way arrogance or they get too comfortable in what they're doing.

it's an interesting thing seeing people train mainly with straight punches. I know the bunkai that I have been taught and examined on have this, but for me this is just more giving ideas for our Kyogi Kumite (Our own explanation of Kata). For Kyogi Kumite, we test students on a kata where they have to have x number of Self-Defense Routines that explain the Kata. For Instance our Junior 1st Kyu's must create 10 Saifa Kyogi, which must have a minimum 1 technique from the kata in each. Whilst in Comparison our Senior 1st Kyu's undertake 25 Seeiunchin Kyogi. When I went for my Shodan + Nidan (25 Seeiunchin for Shodan, 25 Sanseru for Nidan), 90% of my kyogi did not have straight punches or any punches involved. The remaining 10% where it did have a straight punch it was more situational than anything. But are hook/circular punches ignored by MA? It say maybe, because not all schools want to teach that type of technique which honestly makes me feel like that they (the students) aren't being set up to be able to cope with that type of attack.

I feel like if you can elaborate in words it can often strengthen your understanding and ability to view things differently in breaking the kata down to its most basic techniques. I have found that by having to elaborate my interpretations or thoughts to those on this forum that has actually improved my understanding of kata. Like Bushido_man96 said even books can elaborate quite nicely for techniques. I like seeing videos in relation to breaking Kata down into bunkai because I am a visual learner, but to get me thinking (truly thinking about what to do), I will read someone elses interpretation.