Nidan Melbourne

if that is only your class time then you should be training more often. I currently have my 1st Dan Black Belt and I was advised when i went for my shodan-ho (in 2008) i had to train on top of my classes for about 1.5-2.5 hours a day. When i was preparing for my shodan i was practising for 3 hours a day and 1 day off to recover.

It isn't a McDojo. Many clubs wear gloves for safety reasons and to not injure their respective partners. Until students get to a high enough rank they should wear gloves. At my club (Goju-ryu) the black belts (I am one of them) don't wear protective equipment except for a mouth guard and groin guard (for the males) and still go full pelt and we still have control not to injure our partner

They cannot have their rank stripped off them. As they have already shown that they have proven their worth of being called a black belt. Just some people who do attain their black belt and "let themselves go" just haven't shown their discipline in showing that maturity of what they have earnt. My Sensei doesn't let anyone go for a grading until they have not only shown that they are proficient with the syllabus but also they have to have shown some self improvement and maturity to earn a place at a grading. Obviously he only does this for the more senior students (i.e. blue belt and above). I have one kid at my school (he's 17) and a 1st kyu (or 1st Brown) and hasn't shown any maturity towards the rank that he wants to achieve or the fact that he doesn't take class seriously or want to take many of the drills of serious importance. Nor does he listen to what is required.

I practice every kata 3-4 times a day from my syllabus in the morning and night (so twice in morning & twice at night). At my school (Goju-ryu) we do Taikyoku Jodan Taikyoku Chudan Taikyoku Gedan Taikyoku Kake Uke Ich Taikyoku Mawashi Uke Gekasai Dai Ich Gekasai Dai Ni Saifa Seeuinchin Sanseru Seisun Sanchin Kata Tensho Kata Every Kata (except Tensho & Sanchin) i do once slowly (to focus on technique) and once full power and timing. Also I film myself in the morning and night on the 2nd run through to help me see what mistakes i made

On one side, i have my school name & style then on the other side i have my name

you are not too old to commence! there are people at my school are well into their 70's who just commenced training and they are loving it. They go even harder than those in their 20's

Hey mate, yes you can (as you put it) "Cross Train". For me, I do both Brazillian Jujitsu (i've done since 2008 through school and then on/off since 2010) and have been doing Goju-Ryu Karate since 2001 (recently became a Shodan Level Black Belt). And I have found that by doing Jujitsu it has greatly helped my standing fight game along with the groundwork. But for Aikido and karate they can go hand in hand so they work quite well. you will understand both martial arts at a deeper level. But you will want to practice at home for karate.