Nidan Melbourne

I just looked the two kata up on youtube and they are very interesting. Haven't seen them before, what style are they mainly found in?

It is indeed an awesome way to make it your own. Also a good way to progress your training as well. Because it makes you think of your training in different ways.

yes it is. As a requirement for adults we require 25 different kyogi. So every single technique in the kata you can use. For Saifa kata when you go onto one leg and do the mae geri (front kick) you can use the knee that is up (just before the kick) you can use as a technique. The main requirements are they have to be realistic and that at minimum 1 technique has to be in every single technique. The reason we chose this is that it can help each student come up with something that suits their body and style of movement. In comparison to bunkai that the curriculum states you have to do, and doesn't necessarily mean that everyone can do it

Looks pretty cool

Sounds great that you found somewhere that does custom MA shoes. I have awkward feet and is often hard to get comfortable shoes. Although for Karate and BJJ i don't wear shoes. And I wear runners/converse 90% of the time, but i know how to defend myself whilst wearing them.

If karate go for ones that are WKF (World Karate Federation) Approved. The are of high quality and last for ages. And if you decide to compete anywhere in the world they should be accepted. Also the instep is removable, so you can just use the shin guard portion of it. I use them at my dojo and they are really good.

I haven't thought of getting a custom gi made. The annoying thing other than the length is when i get into stances there is always the issue of the amount of room. As in sometimes in can get tight, I have large muscles in my upper leg. So getting width just at those points may work as well.

Happens a lot i find. When it is the same style people decide to train in at 2 different dojo's baffles me and i don't know why they do it. If I went to train in another style of karate then i would check with my sensei first, then I would tell the head of the other school of my training in the other style. But if it is a different martial art, I would still tell the owner of that school so that they are aware

I agree. My pants were too long so I had to get them taken up to fit. I am also overweight so finding Gi's that fit are difficult straight up. But getting things tailored are the best way.

Do you practice the Kata Tensho? Yes I do practice this Kata, it is also part of our curriculum. How often do you practice Tensho? I practice it a couple of times every week outside of the dojo. When I practice in a Park and I do this kata, it reminds them of the original Karate Kid movies. What is the intent behind this Kata? From what I know the intent in the kata is to help you focus on breathing, the fluidity of the movements and redirections of movements. Also it helps you think of a different ways of how techniques can be used. Are there Bunkai associated to the moves? Of course there is bunkai associated to the moves. Every single karateka that does this kata will have their own ones for it. I doubt many schools will have bunkai for this kata specifically required for grading. Do you practice the Bunkai? We don't practice the bunkai at my dojo. Sensei does mention that it does do some good to come up with something for this kata. How does Tensho fit into the Goju Ryu curriculum? (What makes it similar to other Goju Kata, what makes it different?) It fits into the Goju-Ryu System by showing the 'Ju' or 'soft' side of the art. It is a direct comparison to kata Sanchin which shows the 'Go' or 'Hard' way of the art. It relates to other kata in the system, by showing that every technique in kata doesn't just have to be hard or soft BUT can be the complete opposite. Which means that techniques can be devastating or soft to redirect.

It would be very interesting to check out

Great job Wastelander!

Doing planks were designed for muscular endurance and not strength training. That is why it is so difficult for people to do. Now Push Ups and Sit Ups are designed for strength training. BUT the concerning thing is that people are incorrectly doing those exercises and even teaching them. If people learn how to do the exercises properly you will become stronger and cause less injury. also there are physiological issues with those exercises for those overweight/obese or have back + neck issues

we don't really do in-house events with our adults and children. The only time we do any events is major birthdays for the dojo. But then it will usually be just the black belt adults (and some juniors). And usually that turns out to be paintball out in Dingley Village (in Melbourne Australia) otherwise we don't do much after that for the adults.

Basically this is what we do: Terminology Kihon Combinations (anything we come up with) - also kihon Ido Ich, Ni, San - Happon Ido (8 Directional Turning) - 4 Corner Turning Kata Pre-Arranged sparring - Including Sanbon, Yonhon, Gohon, Roppon & Nanahon - Bunkai - Kyogi - Only for 1st Kyu and above Kumite - Free Sparring - Awase (continuous, soft and slow) - works movement, tactics etc - Light Kumite - Allow: harder contact than awase, thigh kicks, groin kicks, takedowns + throws allowed - Point Sparring - WKF Rules

Welcome to the forum What martial arts (and style) do you study?

Welcome to the forum

I saw him (the student) last night and had a coffee whilst we discussed everything, and SIDE NOTE: it was a random meeting because we ran into each other. This discussion became a heated argument (we weren't in a cafe or anything, just got take out coffee from Mcdonalds), because I voiced my concerns and he was the one to escalate it (near to throwing punches). I had to tell him that not only was he putting himself at greater risk of injury (and losing his eyesight) but also the schools and the instructors reputation and livelihood. He already has reduced vision due to his previous surgeries on it and that if someone landed 1 hard kick or strike to his head he will become totally blind. So whenever anyone partners him we can't do headshots because of that risk; which is not doing us any good at all and also it means that we have to go easy on him. Now going easy on someone is not good to anyone because we aren't really learning much at all from it, the only time you take things easy on people are your lower ranked students. I told him that by returning and wearing the black belt and not grading for it is disrespecting all the students that have graded through the color belts and also to those who graded to black belt and to the dan ranks. By him returning to the dojo and wearing the belt that sensei gave him as a farewell thing and honorary belt. In my mind it was like "why should i have to grade, when you get it for nothing?" and he is talking about going for shodan, and that is even worse because he has not graded in a long time and not truly earnt the Shodan-Ho rank. Now for a man in his late 50's early 60's there are some things that physically he can't do, but that should be no excuse for not doing a grading. I am 22 and i have major knee issues and am overweight; I still did a 6.5 hour grading for my dan grade and i didn't complain once. I was in so much pain from start to finish, but never gave up and said to everyone "don't go easy on me because i am in pain, I would rather drop dead than stop grading". I also wanted to show that i am determined and respect for sensei. Because he wouldn't want me to stop because of the amount of pain that i was in, and that he wouldn't have told me that i was ready to grade if i wasn't. Also I haven't mentioned this but i had a tear in the articular cartilage of my left patella that day and it was excruciating. BUT my doctor gave me clearance on the proviso that i see him the following Monday (i had booked it in immediately after him telling me that). Black Belt gradings are obviously longer, harder and more complex than Kyu gradings. They are usually there to show the instructors your attitude, mental toughness and determination plus if you have the attitude of a black belt or dan grade. Especially if you have the maturity of one. Now I told him that sensei gave him the belt as the sign of respect, and by him not showing the respect in return or showing the respect and maturity to others shows me that he has the attitude that he is better than everyone else. Heck when i train at any Goju-Ryu Dojo, I will ask if it is ok if i wear my black belt, especially since every dojo has some differences in relation to kata, kihon kata and kumite. Even terminology may be different. If they say yes i say "thank you for allowing me to wear my rank", but when bowing in i won't line up the ranks of the students I will line up on the side of the most senior ranked person (so at a right angle to them) in my own line. My Girlfriend of whom i teach privately asks the same question if she can wear her green belt or if she will wear a white belt. At any other style, I will tell the sensei i do hold a dan grade in Goju-Ryu Karate, and that I will wear a white belt since i don't know their curriculum. I will only do otherwise if they ask me to wear my black belt. Now the student tried to convince me that he should be able to mix in with the dan grades because he has trained for so long and have me line up behind him in line. But i quickly dismantled that because 1) I am ranked higher than him and graded for it. 2) He is breaking protocol for it (Nidans line up to the right of Shodans, and in turn Shodans in front of Shodan-Ho's) and 3) He is disrespecting all the dan grades for trying to do that. Irregardless of how long you have trained for, you will still have more highly ranked students in front of you. Also he tried to bring up various other points that were illogical and that i dismantled quickly. Even though I am young, I am not stupid and this is what he was trying to make me to come across as. One of the points was that, he knew the applications for kata and kihon better than i did. I dismantled it by asking him what a certain application for a step in Sanseru kata would be and he absolutely butchered it. I have to created Kyogi for this kata and came up with every possible application for it. The step I asked him to come up with an application for (i gave him plenty of time to come up with one) for the step up front kick (or fancy jumping front kick), and he couldn't tell me an application for it and when i suggested the knee in it that step all he told me was a standard knee when you have them bent over. When i asked him for another for that exact step he got nothing. To attain Shodan-Ho as an adult you need 25 seeiunchin kyogi, then Shodan 25 Different Seeiunchin Kyogi. That is to show that you have developed a better understanding of the kata and how to use the techniques. I asked him how many he has come up with and he said 15. Now for someone who has been a 1st kyu for a long time you would think that he would have come up with more than 15. if you aren't sure what i meant by kyogi click on the link in my signature and read the post on Kyogi. He stormed off in a huge huff (and he nearly had a swing at me as well), and i ensured i called my sensei straight away to tell him of what happened and that i was in the right and the other person in the wrong. So apparently he (sensei) is going to have a discussion with the student tonight about his behavior.

The issue is that his skill level has dropped considerably nor fully at it as well. And isn't even at the same standard of others at shodan-ho. I've talked to sensei previously and I have suggested to him that the student should grade properly for it. At my school we don't grade automatically from 1st kyu to shodan. Hence shodan-ho, for us this is to ensure that all students have the chance to refine even more prior to shodan.

Where do you train in Australia?

I think in the end it is up to the student to decide whether they want to grade at both. But for you as the instructor, I think you might as well test them at yours if they decide to do it at the other dojo. Or even if you have a chat with that other dojo if you can watch and evaluate her as well so you can decide if she warrants promotion at your school

It frustrates more than anything because I worked hard and graded to each rank. What he did was basically say he is going to stop and receives the belt as a honorary thing. And comes back to train wearing that rank and he hasn't graded properly for it. Now it isn't really being fair to every one in the school, as we all went to gradings to earn each rank. Archimoto how would you feel in this situation?

Welcome to the forum. Your English is fine so far, we will ask or mention something if it is off.

I train often on Mondays and Wednesdays in class. But outside of the dojo i do kihon everyday with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays. Then I do combinations (Kihon Ido Ich, Ni & San) and kata everyday with the exception of weekends. I do Bunkai on Tuesdays and thursdays

Now in a previous thread in another part of the forum (Link: http://www.karateforums.com/a-friend-mentor-colleague-finally-awarded-his-black-belt-vt46062.html) I want your opinion on this matter. In the thread i just put here, the person in question was awarded his black belt as an honorary thing because he had to cease training due to his injuries to his eyes and various other injuries. Now he never completed a grading to receive his black belt; be it a physical or written. He has since returned to training and it also against the doctors recommendations that he was treated by. Because he was told and passed onto us that if he received one more hard hit to the temple, eyes etc he would become blind permanently. Since he has been training again for a couple of months now he has actually gotten worse in relation to techniques and he is displaying disrespect to everyone else by essentially walking around like he is top stuff. My sensei often looks really unhappy with this guy because he isn't showing the maturity of holding the rank of Shodan-Ho and that he (the student) told sensei and all of us that he was going to stop training. Since He was given the belt out of respect for the years of hard training and that he stopped, that was fine but the fact that he is now training with it on and not grading for it properly we felt that he kind of cheated his way to receiving his black belt without that grading. And his attitude towards everyone is poor and every time he comes in to train i feel like he is slapping everyone in the face because he walks around like he owns the place and tries to line up inbetween the Shodans (He holds the rank of Shodan-Ho). And he argues that he should be mixed in with the shodans because he is a black belt. He may have been training longer than a lot of us have been but it still doesn't give him the right to line up with those who have graded. I have watched his technical ability on top of his knowledge base over the last few years and they haven't been all that good. And definitely not considered black belt standard. Now i understand that his age may inhibit some of the things he could have done when he was younger but still by now he should be knowledge enough to use techniques that he can do to a high standard. I feel like he used his injuries as an excuse not to go through the grading process. I have read previously on this forum that you would do a grading over several weeks instead of doing everything in one hit like you would normally do at a grading. And I had suggested that format of grading for those who can't physically complete a 6+ odd hour grading in one shot. What are your opinions on this? I know this might sound like i don't understand why he came back to train but i get it, my issue is that he is wearing the belt that sensei gave him out of respect and that it was honorary. So I feel like if he wanted to train again properly he should have worn his 1st kyu belt and grade for his black belt properly.