Spartacus Maximus

It is of significant importance for martial arts history researchers to understand that there are several "crane styles". Most of these are or southern Chinese origin. There has been many comparative studies of these with certain Okinawan karate schools. Notably styles of the Naha-te lineage. The founders of these, like their teachers before them were taught or influenced by Chinese experts. This is well documented and some of the most conclusive research on the subject in English is to be found in the books by Mark Bishop and Patrick McCarthy. YouTube and other video media sites also have interesting demonstration of the obvious similarities between crane styles and Okinawan karate. As for specific kata or techniques influenced by or directly transmitted from Chinese crane styles; sanchin of goju ryu and Uechi ryu/ Pan gai noon and hakutsuru (literally: white crane) of Shorin ryu come to mind.

A novice might ask "which martial art should I start". The best answer and advice an experienced martial artist can offer is to first help the interested person identify the main reason for wanting to train. Several aspects of martial arts can exist within a single "style". For this reason the initial question is quite personal and cannot be answered by anyone except the prospective student.

One likely theory to explain the tools becoming weapons is that it was the result of creative training by ex-warrior class martial artist. What probably happened was that when the Ryukyu Kingdom was completely abolished and taken over by the Japanese, Okinawan warrior classes were forced to earn a living by taking up activities like farming or fishing. They continued to train in secret and likely made use of whatever was available to them as makeshift weapons or training tools. Common everyday objects that would not arouse the attention of enemies. Devising an effective way to use a common object as a weapon can only be done by someone with prior martial art knowledge, skills and experience.

The whole of karate is uniquely Okinawan so cannot be called anything else. What has been done by those who have studied and analyzed the content is a classification of the kata and techniques by their most likely origin. This theory is explained in translations of the BuBishi as well as in Mark Bishop's book on Okinawan martial arts. One general rule used to classify karate techniques is that closed hands(fists or knuckles) are Okinawan and open hands are Chinese. Another one is that the older a kata is the more Chinese influences it has. Examples from the Shorin styles include: kusanku, Chinto and Gojushiho. This of course is a rather simplified classification because there are many technical aspects and principles of unclear origin in karate that cannot be clearly identified as Okinawan, Chinese or anything else.

The example of the samurai's hair must be taken in context of history and culture. Long hair tied in top knots were a status symbol and as much part of the samuraï as bearing swords. People of lesser status simply were forbidden to have long hair and have certain hair styles. A similar phenomenon was present in China where men had long braids until the mid 1900's. This style was the norm for the time, but there were also shorter styles. Shorn or shaved heads were for monks. Throughout history long hair styles identified the wearer as a having either a special status or a specific influential role. Warriors, scholars, officials and many others. Nowadays there is no longer a need to display status or identify with hairstyles and whatever one wears is a matter or preference. It can be a potential disadvantage to have long hair or anything providing a hold to an attacker. Then again so is a wearing a necktie. Personally, the same principle applies with hair and clothing: comfort, freedom of movement and practicality above all.

It is indeed a myth and easily disproved with a little basic knowledge of social history. Ryukyuan society was class-based, and up until the Ryukyu Kingdom was annexed and abolished by the Imperial Japanese authorities, the only people with the time and use to train in martial arts were the upper classes and nobles. When the Ryukyu Kingdom was abolished, many of the upper class lost their socioeconomic status and were forced to become farmers, merchants or tradesmen. Despite this they found ways to secretly continue training and practising martial arts whenever they could and with whatever means they had available. This becomes obvious by looking into the background of every single founder of the Okinawan karate styles. All of them are of noble warrior class and some are even of Royal blood. None of them descend from commoners or peasants.

The first thing a prospective student of martial arts must understand is that training methods and purpose are more important than any given system or style.

It is indeed a good idea to take advantage of every opportunity to learn something. Even more so when said opportunity has conditions like being invited. Opportunity rarely presents itself more than once, so go for it if you have the time for it.

Definitely agree. In many traditional schools, visitors are not allowed to train and are expected to only observe. If a visitor is allowed to join in, it must be as a novice ready to learn from the beginning. This can be done only if the visitor is able and willing to let go of superficial arbitrary things such as rank.

There can even be variations within the same dojo. This is the case with mine because we only have guidelines and no specific kata order. One is expected to know all the kata that are required for Shodan, but everyone may learn them in a different order. For example, one might be taught kihon kata 3 before kihon kata 1. Designated kata for oyo kumite and bunkai demonstrated at testing time are chosen at random by the instructor and the student must be ready by knowing all that is required. What each dan rank does have is a specific "demo" kata which must be as flawless as possible.

The only thing that is absolutely clear about Okinawan karate and many other cultural aspects is that there is an obvious and strong Chinese influence. What is much more difficult to do is identify the sources precisely as specific styles. What is known and likely by logical thinking is that a large portion of the Chinese martial arts influence must have come from Fujian province in southeastern China. The coast there had(and still does) many important trading ports, which were regularly visited by Okinawan ships. There is also a rich history of martial arts devolving there and Okinawans are known to have gone there to study and even immigrate. It is highly plausible then, that the most likely source of influence on Okinawan karate were "southern" styles. Further influences likely came from cultural and diplomatic exchanges between the Chinese and Ryukyu. From at least the 14th century it was a custom for high-ranking families to send their sons to China to study. The martial arts were an important part of the classical education for the nobles/warrior classes. There were also many officials and agents from China appointed to the Ryukyuan court who were also experts in different martial arts and probably shared skills and techniques with their Ryukyuan counterparts.

What about self-demoting? Or accepting a lower rank based of a new instructor's judgment? This is probably much more difficult than demoting another person.

The issue is far from unique to Chinese martial arts. The same could be said of karate in general. The answer to the problem is most likely in the way the majority of people are taught and the purpose for which they train. To be ready for the ring, one must train for the ring. Most Chinese martial arts do not, especially the "wushu" styles which are little more than "martial" gymnastics devised by the communist authorities to push their version of what they think is good for China. This is not to say that Chinese martial arts are all ineffective for the ring or even in self-defense. It just means that those who might be effective in either case are absent from the media for one reason or another. Perhaps they are simply not interested.

Dan or no dan, visitors ought to be treated like any other visitor or guest with the same expectations and rules that apply. When the person becomes a student, then it must be done with the willingness to learn what the instructor offers. This means that one must be able to set aside or even forget everything that was done before. That is what is meant by "emptying one's cup". Even if the style or lineage is similar, one must make the necessary effort to take a beginner's mindset. Ego, pride and overeating one's skills can often be the greatest obstacles to improving or learning something new.

Whether or not to display belts or certificates is a matter of personality and choice. Instructors usually have at least their present rank somewhere in their teaching space. My past achievements in karate have their designated place but it is not anywhere regular house guests can see. The display is for not to show others. It is a personal reminder of how much effort I have put into learning karate and how much more there is to learn. A self-motivation tool of sorts

When people exaggerate about ranks, abilities or status is always because they hope to get something by doing it. The agenda varies but it is always the motivation. Exaggerating have always been a part of martial arts and is not always something wrong. What makes exaggeration objectionable is when it is done knowingly and willfully for reasons that are ethically or morally wrong. Those are the kinds of exaggerations that bother and annoy me. In the end it is a waste of time to think or dwell on such things, but they certainly make genuine martial artist angry when said exaggerations start to directly affect training.

Famous and rich or average and anonymous everyone is a same when it comes to the a value of achievements. Being an expert at one thing is more worthy of consideration than being just good at 10. To stay on the subject of martial arts and famous people, Seagal's 8th dan(or is it 7th) is more valuable than the multiple blackbelts in half a dozen systems others might have. Collecting is collecting and it is different than dedicating the time necessary to learn skills and become an expert at something.

Mike Tyson, if we take the image of him as an example, is intimidating because he is Mike Tyson. Whatever ink drawings he has on have nothing to do with it. It is highly unlikely he would be intimidating to anyone if he had the same tattoos, but weighed 100lbs for 5ft tall, had a shy, meek attitude and carried himself without a hint of assurance and had never raised a fist in his life. Criminals and thugs know how to select a safe victim easily subdued and unlikely to fight back. The way the potential target walks and their attitude is everything. What the target is or is not wearing means nothing and thugs will see through what will probably be taken as a bluff or a dare to attack or mess with the person. The face would be the last place anybody would want to get a tattoo. Unless one is a member of a specific cultural group living in a traditional lifestyle, such markings would be a disadvantage. Take the Polynesian cultures such as the Maori. Facial tattoos used to be a custom, but very view modern Maori have them because they live in the modern society that is New Zealand. In most modern societies the only people who have face tattoos are marginal in the first place and/or belong to criminal classes. Even for a petty thug a face tattoo is a stupid idea. It makes it impossible to hide and easy to be recognized.

Tattoos mean different things to different people and there are as many reasons for getting them as there are kinds of tattoos. Getting any tattoo should be a well thought out decision, and definitely not something to do on a whim. Nowadays there are effective ways to completely remove tattoos, but unsurprisingly removing a tattoo is much more costly than having one put on. Especially the ones with colour variations. Tattoos are not intimidating themselves, it is all about the person wearing them. Some people have a presence about them that makes them intimidating no matter what. If intimidation is the goal, there are many more ways of doing it without any tattoos. Tattoos that are visible when one is wearing ordinary daily clothing might give a negative impression or unwanted attention. This is something to think about before getting one.

A general rule is find something interesting and enjoyable and do it as often as possible. Whether it is a martial art or a sport; if it requires regular practise to be good, there will be results. The rest depends on making the necessary changes in lifestyle and eating habits.

Maybe this is similar to what some people get in their knees. My knees click and crackle with every squat or bend. The sound it make is loud and easily heard but there has never been any pain or discomfort. Despite this it is a good idea to have it examined by a specialized doctor, to make sure there is no damage. This type of issue is likely more commonly experienced by people over 30 and usually can be improved with daily stretching and regular strength exercises for the body part concerned.

Besides the impairment factor of alcohol, another effect martial artist and anyone planning to do intense physical activity should be concerned about is dehydration. Alcohol can cause excessive loss of moisture which combined with physical effort can increase the chances of overheating, especially in the warmer times of year. If inebriation is not reason enough to avoid drinking before training, the risk of heat stroke and dehydration should be considered because anyone can be affected and even mild cases require immediate medical treatment. At worst a stay in the hospital and no training for a long time.

Self defense is always enough if whatever one does is done with the sole purpose of getting away from immediate danger with as little harm as possible. This includes anything from wits to fists. In self defense discussions, it is too easy to overlook the fact that "self defense" begins with much, much more than physical techniques and usually starts before any kind of physical attack.

In most cases of demotion I have heard of, it was a political issue because the person being demoted did something morally, ethically or legally wrong. In all cases demotion is only symbolic when one considers acquired skills. With or without rank, with or without recognition by a governing body; one either has or doesn't have skills. An instructor may demote someone or strip them of rank or even renounce a student but it is impossible to erase that student's ability whatever it might be at the point said student is demoted or renounced.

Although it is a fact that karate and perhaps martial arts in general have mostly been taught by men to other men, women have also been training and teaching throughout the ages up to now. There are a few notable women experts in the history of karate. One such woman was the one who became the wife of Matsumura Sokon, the founder of Shorin ryu karate and personal chief bodyguard of the last three kings of Okinawa. This woman was an expert martial artist from a noble family. She had the best training and education her rank could get and would only marry a man who was equal or better than her at martial arts. Many experts challenged her, but she beat them all easily. There are many accounts of how Matsumura got to marry her. Some say he bested her, but others claim the neither could win and that they married after realizing they were of equal skill. A woman will usually have a very different way of teaching and thinking about martial arts than a man. For this reason alone, if one has the opportunity to learn from a female sensei one should take it without a moments hesitation. Personally the chance never arose, but I must admit some of the most competent karateka I have ever met have been women.