Kanku65

This is the year I represented my dojo in regional competition for the first time in a decade. This is the year I was a role model for children and adults. This is the year I looked up to both adults and children alike. This is the year that anger and frustration were never present.

Thank you very much for the link. The stretches are basically what we go through at the beginning of class. This tells me that I am most likely on the right track and probably just have to up the frequency of stretching.

In my present ISKF region, to grade for black belt we must know... White-Blue: All 5 Heian Purple: Tekki Shodan Brown: Bassai Dai Ji'On Kanku Dai Empi

For the better part of a year, I have been trying to gain flexibility in my groin and hips, and yet making no progress. Once I'm warmed up, I can throw certain kicks above my head with great ease, but kicks such as crescent kicks and side snap kicks present particular problems even when fully limbered. I actually became more aware of this last week when sensei had us do a grand amount of crescent kicks. Now, I don't believe I have a groin pull, but my inner thighs and groin has been sore for 6 days now, and I realize how little strength and flexibility I have in this area. I'm looking for good exercises I can do at home that will strengthen and loosen these areas up. Thanks.

Very interesting!

Thank you sincerely for this reminder! I would never do anything to jeopardize the progress of my peers or junior belts. Purposely that is. I will go on mindful of your advice sensei8.

Yes, Gichin Funakoshi was in fact a huge supporter of many different wrestling styles, and I believe was close friends with Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. This is why I believe that for any striking/standup MAist, it is important to have sound knowledge of at least some form of wrestling/grappling MA. One day I will hopefully find time to learn a grappling art.

About 2 weeks ago, I had one of the orange belts at the dojo I train at approach me. He asked me how often I train outside of class. I had to explain to him that, well, I really don't and I've always wished that I had space to train. He asked "what do you do on Saturdays?". Presently, I work in retail, meaning that Saturdays off are a very, very rare thing. Regardless of this, he gave me his phone number, told me that he is free every Saturday and that I'm welcome to come over and train. I was so very humbled by this and yet discouraged, because of work's leash. That was until I went into work the next day and saw that after probably 3 months of working solid weekends, I was given the next 3 saturdays in a row off! Ah, inspiration! True fortune, I thought. Next class we made a plan to train on saturday. He said we could train up to 4 hours if we wanted. (wound up training 2 and a half hours) So we trained for 2 and a half hours, we did some kata and some bunkai, and some kumite. we bounced ideas off one another and it was a really great experience. Anyways, the point of my post is not to brag. It is to encourage. I encourage those who practice the MA to find someone in their dojo who they connect with, and talk to them about training outside of class. Of course I don't mean to invite yourself to their house or anything like that. If appropriate, invite them to wherever you train outside the dojo. Or, ask them if they train outside the dojo at all. If so, let them know that if they're ever looking for a training partner, that you're game.

Reading this made me want to pass out in frustration. I've never heard of GKR, but WOW. No. Just, NO. Jion is most definitely a kata. It is one of few kata that Gichin Funakoshi did not make any changes to the name of when developing Shotokan, because he felt the tradition of it was too important. I'm going to have some fun research tonight I guess.

Where I train, there are actually a group of blue belts whose constant training, effort and growth have thrown them deep into Karate-do. I watched during their last grading in a near state of awe, for if they removed their green belts I would have guessed they were grading from purple to brown belt. Immediately I knew, they were no longer "green". Therefore I will say that I believe the transition from beginner to dedicated, knowledgeable student is somewhere between 6kyu and 4kyu. In most cases I observe a dramatic distinction between orange and green belts for whatever reason. Perhaps at this point, they learn more about their own body mechanics, what works for them, what doesn't, and how to move around in stances with more fluidity. As well as this, perhaps that little knowledge and confidence they've gained will leave them craving more and more. Sensei Teruyuki Okazaki, 10thDan, once said something along the lines of "My one wish before I die is to execute Heian Shodan (kata#1) perfectly." It is this kind of thinking that keeps the dedicated Karate-ka going, and constantly improving. However, going back to the beginning in no way means that one has to be a beginner. After 66 years of dedicated training, It would be silly to consider Sensei Okazaki a beginner.

Finding space to train on my own has been my ULTIMATE struggle! I'm thankful for all extra time I find, but I normally spend it reading books about Karate instead of training due to my lack of room. Of course, where there's a will, there's a way I guess. But even if I move furniture around, I haven't room for a full kata, and I feel like this inhibits my ability to execute proper techniques. Bad habits are not something I'm interested in the development of. I've just recently destroyed my habits of poor and lazy retraction which was a big thing for a little while, but now I've noticed my front and back stance getting progressively lazier. Sensei has not mentioned it to me, which leads me to believe that I may be putting more and more pressure on myself as I climb the rank ladder. My next grading is Shodan, and therefore I must improve everything. In Martial Arts, everything is a struggle. It's meant to be that way to ensure we never fall into a rut. Embrace the struggle, love it, feed from it, grow.

For curriculum 6kyu and 5kyu do basic 1 step. Step back once, block, and reverse punch. At 4kyu, students are expected to use more advanced blocking techniques and more than 1 strike in the counter attack. During advance class we normally do more self defense based 1 step for all levels, but not all students stay for that class sadly. Mostly adults who are serious about training. It's sad to see some students skate by with just the bare minimum, but if they stick with it they'll eventually have to learn.

Couldn't agree more.

My favourite terminology in this sense is "paper tigers". This term has a double meaning. Those who are only their current rank on paper, and those who are flimsy like paper. For example, "Yes, he won gold in the tournament, but he is a paper tiger." Meaning he is good at tag, but probably couldn't defend himself if he had to. Now, "tag" is referencing shotokan style tournaments only, for its all i'm familiar with. I'm aware that there are full contact styles of competition which are MOST definitely not tag. In my opinion, just because you win a tournament does not mean you can defend yourself. This also goes the other way. Just because you can defend yourself, does not mean you will excel in tournaments. Tournament training is very, very different than self defense training. In shotokan at least. I think that it is very important that Senseis make it clear to their students that tournaments are purely for club representation, and are ultimately unimportant when looking at the broad picture of MA. That being said, tournaments are a GREAT way to build a student's confidence, and confidence is of course one of the most important parts of being a martial artist. In conclusion, competition CAN most definitely build falsehoods in those who are not properly informed about what a competition is for. But not always.

I've only ever trained in ISKF. But, I do believe that most Shotokan dojos and organisations are essentially the same at least around 9-6 kyu level. Most likely you will need to know oizuki, gyakuzuki, downward block, rising block, outside forearm block, front snap kick all in frontstance. Knife hand block in backstance. Side snap kick, and side thrust kick in sidestance. You will also have to execute 3 step sparring using chudan, and jodan oizuki, and chudan front snap. Defensively you'll have to demonstrate outside forearm block, rising block and downward block. Heian Shodan will also be essential. Where I train, we don't just follow basic curriculum, we also introduce white belts to light freestyle kumite, as well as a good deal of bunkai. Things like these are of course normally based off of a Sensei's personal teaching preference. I hope somebody who has trained with JKA can provide a more conclusive post to better aide you in your search for info.

I too am waiting to take my Shodan test in Shotokan. Sensei very often takes me through black belt katas, but he always makes it clear to me that I'm not yet in anyway expected to remember these katas. He just believes that its of the best idea to become overly familiar with the movements that will be expected of me in the future. A certain type of preparation. Focus on your current katas. Go through black belt katas, but do not let them interupt what you must currently know for your Shodan test. I went through Nijushiho 4 times with Sensei about a year and a half ago. Since then, he has not made any mention of the kata in regards to me knowing it. On a side note, I enjoyed the film Kuro Obi.

You're very welcome. I'd also like to point out a couple different variations of the backfist and bottomfist strikes. 1: movement #4 of Heian Shodan, we break free of an opponents grasp and throw a hammer fist from over top of our head. This is to demonstrate the options. We can strike our opponent on the top of the head, the bridge of their nose, their mouth, or my sensei's favourite example, attacking the clavicle. 2: first kiai point in Heian Yondan, we throw a very similar strike to that of movement #4 of Heian Shodan, but instead of hip action, we drive our weight forward, and strike over top again using a backfist opposed to a bottomfist. Again this is to demonstrate options. Bridge of nose, mouth, or surprisingly enough, solar plexus.

Recently I washed a brand new pair of sweatpants that have some zigzag designs on them. I didn't realize until I washed and dried my gi that the designs on my sweatpants had actually burnt off and stained the inside of the dryer. My gi now has random, thankfully barely noticeable black patches in the corners and seams. Perhaps something similar in your situation? Check the inside of the washing machine and dryer that was used. Hopefully you can figure out the problem.

I have zero training in weapons, but the tonfa has always interested me. Seems to be quite a versatile weapon. I hope one day I'll take the time to learn, but for now I've got to get my shodan in shotokan, and get through college lol. Life is like an all you can eat buffet--you can't get everything on one plate.

Backfist and bottomfist are 2 completely different strikes used in different situations. Backfist really isnt meant to be a heavy strike. More a snapping technique which sends a good shock to your opponent through striking various points on the face. Cheek bones, bridge of nose, temple, or the mouth. Bottomfist on the other hand has more power to it. Generally used for striking an opponent in the solar plexus. Of course it can be used to strike an opponents chin or throat, it is somewhat more difficult to make good connection using an upper level bottomfist rather than a stomach level. Take for example, the kata Kanku-Dai, towards the end of a kata, we throw a backfist and then shift into bottomfist. The idea is shocking and stunning our opponent with the backfist to the face before shifting in and finishing them with a bottomfist to the solar plexus. If the style of karate you train in teaches both techniques, then in my opinion both are essential. Most likely one cannot be supplemented for the other. My advice to you is to speak with your sensei. Ask them for advice on improving your backfist technique to prevent injury to yourself before deciding to eliminate it from your training. In 9 years I haven't heard a single story of someone splitting their hand open from a backfist. The stories of people cutting and even breaking their hands from throwing lunge punches and reverse punches are however countless. I'm sorry this was so long, I hope it helps.

Wow... Very humbling. As inspirational as this video is, I do not believe that anyone can really even begin to imagine the work load that man has probably put in. Thank you very much for sharing this video.

Hmmm... My go to thoughts are always "books, Sensei loves books!" But every year I realize "oh yeah, Sensei loves books so much that he already has ALL of them, and a kobo reader..." Does your Sensei have many hobbies or interests outside of the martial arts? If so, something pertaining to those interests I'm sure would be more than appropriate and certainly useful.

I've taken full power (accidental) kicks to the testicles, and fallen down in pain during friendly sparring matches. During these times, forgiveness is never questioned. It's my first reaction. I know who I train with, and I understand that nothing like that would ever be intentional. Accidents will always happen. Rule number one in life. All we can do is our very best in constant attempts to prevent them. Perhaps that punch will help your training partner grow, as much as it will help you grow.

Just remember that the average bag does not feel any pain. One particular student at the dojo I train at has problems throwing roundhouse kicks. For whatever reason he always seems to lose velocity just before impact on the bag. Yet when he strikes a kicking pad held by me It becomes obvious that even with his weakest kick, taking the impact would be a poor decision for most.

It may take some work/retraining for you if you're not used to this, but this is the way my Sensei teaches it. When you bring your knee up to the side, you want to have your foot flattened to the floor as much as possible, as if throwing side thrust, striking eith the edge of your foot. A lot of students let their foot turn sideways which we consider incorrect at out dojo. At this point you also want your toes pulled back. Now when your kick comes around to strike target, you'll want your kick to come in on a slight downward angle. This is very hard when kicking face level, but for stomach level, this kick with this angle is quite lethal.