Nidan Melbourne

I haven't done the full contact multi-bouts. But the closest I have done was 25 rounds in a row where it was 'jiyu' kumite (my school has this as close as possible to a self defense situation where you have to push yourself and your opponent to the absolute maximum)

When you talk about pronounciation of kata, you forget that there are thousands of languages, so the particular pronounciation of kata would be slightly different. Since Karate has it's origins in Okinawa and furthermore deep in China those of 'Asian' Decent will pronounce it differently to those who don't speak japanese or chinese. Also there is no one 'correct' version of kata throughout the styles. There are thousands of variations of it. Each version is correct for that persons school. Plus Goju-Ryu isn't the only style that performs this kata, so by you saying that people propagated the 'incorrect' kata then your basically saying either we are wrong or one of the other styles is wrong. Even though the old masters taught it in a particular way with certain intentions and the law of the time. There will be differences in how it is performed and also has been taught throughout all the generations. When Miyagi Sensei taught this kata to his students and then when they [the students] taught it to their students there will be differences in the way it was done. Because it felt right for them. So each student therefore would have minor differences to it. Very solid post!! Thanks In anything you do is like a game of Chinese Whispers where things change slightly from person to person and over time things change. Especially when it comes to the preference of those teaching the kata as well. As I would teach a slightly different version than that of my sensei's sensei

Don't forget if you want to double grade you have to be able to demonstrate above and beyond the next belt level. So at my dojo we have white, yellow, orange, red, green, purple, blue, brown, 1st brown, Shodan-ho then the dan grades. If one is a red belt and wants to double grade to purple, then they have to demonstrate that they are at the purple belt standard and even to the point that they should be good enough to go for their blue belt. But we grade them even harder than anything else. I got double graded because I trained in 5 classes a week and taught 4 days a week also. I get why you want to hope to get double graded, but that is showing your ego (ego should be left at the door and not in the dojo), although if you are an amazing student and is far ahead of others of the same rank or that of the one above then let your skill talk

If you can't find a Kyokushin Dojo near your university choose one that you will find the most enjoyable. If you want real world applications aikido or shotokan will do the job quite well. If it is just for fitness then go for Kendo.

I used to train with a few people who came across from other styles/schools that wore silk belts but wore out quickly.

Have a look around otherwise go onto google to have a look. Are you willing to train outside of Okinawan Kenpo if you can't find one though?

When you talk about pronounciation of kata, you forget that there are thousands of languages, so the particular pronounciation of kata would be slightly different. Since Karate has it's origins in Okinawa and furthermore deep in China those of 'Asian' Decent will pronounce it differently to those who don't speak japanese or chinese. Also there is no one 'correct' version of kata throughout the styles. There are thousands of variations of it. Each version is correct for that persons school. Plus Goju-Ryu isn't the only style that performs this kata, so by you saying that people propagated the 'incorrect' kata then your basically saying either we are wrong or one of the other styles is wrong. Even though the old masters taught it in a particular way with certain intentions and the law of the time. There will be differences in how it is performed and also has been taught throughout all the generations. When Miyagi Sensei taught this kata to his students and then when they [the students] taught it to their students there will be differences in the way it was done. Because it felt right for them. So each student therefore would have minor differences to it.

Solid Post. I should add to my last response to this thread. Everything that you have just said I agree with. When I said that you should wait till your a little bit more advanced, i don't mean that you should go and ask to be double graded. You should let your skill, attitude and determination talk for itself and not your words. I have been double graded and I had no idea.

I like that you are enthusiastic and want to double grade, but maybe wait till your a little bit more advanced and technical with everything. And also stick to the curriculum for now. Since you are still relatively I don't advise to do takedowns just yet. Especially if you haven't been shown how to do it safely. So don't try and alter what is expected of you just yet. Throughout the years of training it starts of as rigid in terms of variation and once you are more experienced and higher up it is more flexible. Even though I am one of the most senior people at my school, I may perform techniques that are outside of the style but my sensei allows it because of the fact that I have knowledge in how to apply those moves (+ safely). But I restrict it depending on who i am with. At my school our senior students 1st Kyu and above) have more flexibility and add a part of themselves into their training as part of curriculum for their own gradings.

They are two different competitions. As it would be unfair to those who are 9th-5th kyu to fight someone who is much higher than they are. Does your organisation organise each division into weight categories or is it just rank based? Even though there were only 2 in your division, it is still fine and at least guaranteed you a medal. So it is still fine regardless. Even if it was only 1 bout you should be happy. Often it will be the case.

I know this isn't exactly the same of what your doing, but I teach at my sensei's dojo and i still train. Maybe ask your instructor to let you teach something first every week so you can get that experience teaching first. Speak to your instructor about this. If you don't want to step on his/her toes then either really start your school not so close to his gym. Or run it outside of when he is running his classes. But the issue i see is that you said that you are going to running it for free. Then you will need to be prepared to pay a lot for equipment, rent and various other points. So you will need to charge a fee for people to train. All the knowledge he has passed onto you at this point he would want you to spread as well. That is how Martial Arts spread and grow. So there is no conflict of it.

Definitely check with your sensei in relation to ippon kumite. Otherwise ask more senior students for advice on it

ahhhhh google what fun

It is a bit strange that it isn't listed in the curriculum. Even if it is taught to only selected students.

Thats great he is focussing on next year and not dwelling too much on this years competition. Shows great sportsmanship and attitude for him to learn from the experience

At least it will make you better in the long run

Its happened to me a few times. The worst that has happened to me is my pants tore in the crotch area. And that I was only wearing my underwear underneath. Since then I wear skins underneath when doing any martial art

First of welcome to KF! What was the condition that you needed surgery for? In majority of countries it isn't all that good. In Australia they seem to be fairly good. They are good if your wanting to socialize. But practicality and effectiveness it can be quite questionable. They are a combination of Shotokan and Goju-Ryu (2 of the 4 main styles of karate), but don't really exhibit the great treats of both. Some members here would be able to assist more so than me.

Congrats guird. Wear the rainbow belt well

Most companies will do embroidery for people. I have never heard of Kamae Gi before so I can't tell you exactly. Maybe there is a website for their sizing?

Don't Forget that BMI is not that good at telling us our fat %. As it is rather Inaccurate. Often athletes will receive a high BMI due to the muscle that they have built up. Even though they look healthy, but according to the BMI they are overweight. With Weight Classes don't be pedantic about going down or up more than 1 division. Your reach does NOT affect your weight at all. For me I am 110 kg and 5'8" and my ideal weight is approx 80 kg but I may not get there completely due to what my genetics decide.

Coming from someone who has legitimate issues with doing head kicks due to injury, I am a Nidan and I cannot physically kick to head height. And to be absolutely honest I am actually offended (rarely does this happen). Let me explain why i am offended: I have had multiple injuries to my ankles, knees and hips over the last 13 years (i'm 22). And at one point had surgery on my knee to repair it. Along with that I have in general poor flexibility in the hips so it is difficult to "open" them up to perform the kick. When you said that

This is a hard subject to have one definitive answer on since there are hundreds of thousands of schools throughout the world and the instructors will have a different idea of how each student should rank if they are of a certain standard. Even though I am a Yudansha I suck at Head Kicks, knee joint and side kicks. Which is a combination of bad knees and poor hip flexibility to allow for them. So by some schools might fail me for poor kicks. But Sensei takes it into account and tests me in a way that makes up for it. Often He will test me by seeing if I am able to throw or take someone down during kumite and in self defense situations and also how I cope on the ground in either a grappling situation or being attacked by someone standing. He goes Okinawan on me for my kicks since I prefer front kicks, groin kicks, thigh kicks (i have a decent one at that) and maybe a roundhouse to the body every once in a while. So I am still on par with the black belts in relation to curriculum but has some minor variations. There are some students I train with or teach that require some minor variations like that but we tailor their ranks to them specifically and hold them to a high standard in that variation. In terms of the color of the belt it can be irrelevant, but comes in handy for identifying where everyone should stand and also remind those who are more senior. As some people will only respond to authoritative commands from high ranks (2nd Kyu and up or often Dan Grades). At my dojo it comes in handy for when we want to split people up into groups. It can be seen as a hierarchy type of format but for me personally it is to signify where they are at with their training and may be different. We have a couple of students that are below par for their rank which is really disappointing, but they managed to scrape by through the thinnest means (they passed by 2 marks). One of them has been a blue belt in excess of 35 lessons now and still hasn't earnt his first tag (Basics) BUT this may sound mean, but we are being hard on him so he can improve. It is frustrating for us to see him like this. We have also been trying to offer him (and his mum to bring him) to extra lessons so he can improve. Part of every test we are looking at the persons concentration and how hard they are actually pushing themselves to perform every technique correctly.

The Bokken I received for my 18th Birthday (so it came in handy) The Black belt (obviously mine since my name is on it) The Black Gi was a pain in the butt to get since my usual suppliers didn't have any in stock (which is unusual for them not have stock of Gi's other than white - But must because a lot of people are using them these days). So I hand to go out to Brunswick East on Lygon St (If you live in Melbourne you know where Brunswick is) by public transport (snorefest).