Dani_001

I'd also like to add that kumite from a long range perspective has it's uses and that is to develop speed. Much like Rafael Aghayev. He is a Shotokan practitioner so naturally he is a long range fighter, but his speed is amazing. Wastelander is saying that there are no winners in kumite while in class and this is true. Rather use the sessions indoors to focus and develop. If you going to want to win then you will not mature in your style or gain deeper understanding into how to perform the technique correctly.

As a Karate practitioner (of Goju Ryu), I condition myself to fight what my style dictates. Which is close combat. Sometimes it's difficult to do this in kumite but it's not impossible. Learn to fight how you train and you will truly see the gem of your style. I let the fighter come to me and I trap him.

Hey there, a Kata is a form of perfect world so to say, to look like all techniques are correct. When you are taught bunkai, especially rensoku, you will see all the "hidden" techniques within the Kata. Okinawa really was blessed in the old days that they had no need to hide perfection in their -te styles. With South East Asia, this was not the case. You will see that in Seni- or Pencak Silat, their forms are somewhat a dance and looks breathtaking. They had to hide their techniques because their masters were being killed off. Their style is very much like Naha-te. Close range fighting that really can subdue and hurt an opponent. I did Silat for a while but stopped because my teacher was disrespectful to me, but that's another story for another day. I hope this answers your question.

Hi guys and ladies, I just would like to get an idea how you tie your belt and why? I recently came across a video on YouTube where a sensei shows how to tie your belt in a "super lock" style where it produces a very neat knot, looks presentable and doesn't slip. This way, however is not conventional but I seem to like it. Any thoughts?

Only one thing built for the arts brother, that is, the practitioner

It's true what you are saying there, brother. Karate really does work up a good sweat and it also increases mobility big time. I was practicing the footwork alone for the first three movements of saifa in the week on my own and I was very sweaty. 45° zenkutsu, into musubi, into shiko dachi. I was panting and was really into it.

So yesterday we went through the sequence of Seiyunchin. The kata is not easy at all. We only went thru the movements. It was intense actually but I loved it. I see that some schools vary in their rendition of the kata. Even their Saifa is different. I bought my karategi also yesterday and I really enjoyed feeling like I'm a part of the class. I want to get another karategi now lol but I will be consistent in my training first.

Thank you, WOAS, I believe that the heart of training is doing it on your own as well.

Hi everyone! So I decided to do something I never done before. And that is training Karate OUTSIDE the dojo. I was going to do it at gym but I was shy, so I decided to practice in my living room. Just the first three stances of Saifa, 45° Zenkutsu, Musubi?, then into Shiko dachi. I think it's called Musubi dachi for the second dachi... But damn, it's amazing how quick just those three movements can work up a serious sweat! I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to start training in the evenings when I can. I have a lot of work to do so I need to work on my footwork. On top of that, I need to drop my weight so I'm on a cut as well. Keep strong peeps!

Thank you so much! By the way, the more I try to understand Saifa, the more the goal posts move away. I'm trying to get the moves 100% correct but it's difficult. Then I see higher grade belts also struggle and that consoles me. Perfection in Karate is hard but achievable. We just have to strive to get it.

Guess who's back!!! So,......... life happened... and there was only juniors left in the specific dojo I was at, and I'm talking about kids. So I decided to lay low for a while. I never got as far as my previous post states about the gasshuku and the competition. I just gave up and hung up my gloves, sold my gi and went on with life. But I restarted in this week, still at OGKK but at a different branch that has sufficient amount of seniors. My enthusiasm has kicked in again and I thought I would forget but my first session back was really good. After almost 3 years. In the meantime I still did weightlifting and bodybuilding. Hopped onto the powerlifting train and I really enjoy it so I added it to my training. On Tuesday evening back at Goju Ryu, we did kihon with those big foam pads. I gave the brown belt a hard time with that as my upper body strength has developed quite a bit due to my weight training. MY legs too have gotten very strong, but my kicking technique sucked. He (brown belt) on the other hand executed his kicks very well and pushed me back tremendously. When it came to katas, I remember gekisai dai ichi fully and gekisai dai ni I lost footwork at the last five moves as I couldn't remember which way to go. Saifa, I got the gist of it still. Now, the journey continues. I am ecstatic to be back!

So,... I officially started last week... To hold a Bo in kamae is a bit of a challenge. Some rules in stances of Karate don't apply and it is more rigid than Karate... It's very good so far, and I have a blue mark on my tricep to prove it lol. Kobudo takes time to master. But I will get there...

Renzoku bunkai of gekisai dai ich is what we did tonight. It's like the more I fall into Goju, the more I fall in love with it. It's similar to the Seni Silat I once did in certain aspects. Discarding what is flashy and using what really works against an attacker. I am also learning Saifa kata, this kata is a bit challenging for me but I am getting there... New developments are that June 21st there will be an orange and green belt gashuku and I will be attending. Also, in September, Africa Goju Ryu Federation is hosting a kumite in Johannesburg, my sensei and I agreed that I will be attending and fighting. So we are getting fight fit. I am excited That's the latest...

The Sensei did inform me of what you are saying here. He said they also do a bit of ground fighting as well.

I really enjoyed it. But I don't wanna do too much and get ahead of myself cos I already have gym routines in the mornings. Personal time for training kata is also very important and don't wanna get caught with no time to do any kata practice.

Yeah I will be the only white belt but I think that will influence me to also become better at what I do. There's nothing wrong with training Karate everyday for me. But I will have to make a calculated decision. The major differences are ready stance when presenting yourself or a kata, and some stances. All his students are aspiring to become better, you can see it in the class even. This sensei is SA Champion for both kata and kumite, he's retired from sporting aspect.

So, monday night I went to try out JKA. The seniors are 7 black belts and one brown. They were training for JKA South African Champs. The winners of those will advance to the World Champs. Those karateka tired me out big time, it was really fun and they all made me feel welcome. I am going tonight for another complimentary class then I will decide if I am going to also do Shotokan. My Goju Ryu is also coming along nicely, will post more on this in my Goju Ryu post.

For us at OGKK, it is the 3rd dan blacks and up that can grade. The second dans are coached into this position. 3rd dans upwards also allowed to start satellite schools, but in some instances, second dans also allowed to depending on the years of experience. Disclaimer: I speak for myself and what I have seen. It may or may not be this way. But my sensei is 3rd dan, and she grades her students and runs a satellite dojo.

I had a discussion with someone about Gekisai dai ich bunkai. He is with IOGKF, and I am with OGKK. OGKK's version is this: Bunkai for us is broken down into sections. First part of Geksai dai ich is the rising block then followed by a face punch. So the bunkai for this is I side step to the right in sanchin dachi rising block to a face attack then I follow up by stepping forward and I counter face punch. We do this first stepping to the right, then stepping to the left. Second part is also done in two directions. Second part I go into shiko dachi and blocking downwards. Bunkai for this is I side step to the left with left foot and placing right foot behind the attacker's right foot and I block an attack that is either a chest punch or a mae geri to the chest. (Easily to be followed up by stepping in shiko by crossing left with right foot, then raising right foot and kick side thrust kick in his side core area) - in brackets is my own observation. Third also done in two directions. A Direct front attack is given to me. I use sanchin stance and I chest block, then I mae geri to stomach or groin, I elbow strike to chin, I uraken to the nose. then I shuffle back slightly into han zenkutsu stance as an attack is coming then downward block, then shuffle forward with han zenkutsu stance and then attack with chest punch. Fourth also in two directions. I side step to a chest attack, I chest block. The same hand I block with, I grab attacker's wrist and pull it to my side. At the same time, my knee goes behind his knee and I deal a throat strike. Last bunkai is a front attack is coming so I zenkutsu between 30-45 degrees and block with right hand and deflect right attack then pull back both arms then strike with double punch. This is also done in both directions. That was my bunkai for gekisai dai ich. How is your bunkai?

Thanks brother. But I feel slightly like I don't deserve such a high rank in such a short time. Our Shibo Cho instructed my instructor to give the rank because of my progress. My journey continues. Practice harder, focus deeper, strike sharper.

So tonight, 17 April 2014 I had my first grading. It started with stretching and warming up. First up was kihon. Punches to face, chest and groin areas. Uraken combo's to face and chest. Face punch and counter punch combo's. Uraken amd mae geri combo's. Ura zuki strikes. Block and punch. Block and kick combo. Gekisai dai ich kata. Gekisai dai ni kata. Full bunkai of gekisai dai ich. Hojo undo. Giving it your all for just under an hour really burns you out physically and mentally. This has earned me the level of an orange senior. I am very proud of my achievements.

I graded straight to orange. I surpassed yellow. Bunkai is something only taught after green with OGKK. But I asked for bunkai training. My grading was quite harsh. Kihon, body movement, tai sabaki, kata, hojo undo and kime. I am pleased.

It's all happening in two hours... #excitedmuch

Going through the bunkai for gekisai dai ich this week and for two previous weeks. Next Thursday is my grading. I am looking forward to it

Thanks