Spartacus Maximus

Strinking equipment such as the Okinawan makiwara and Chinese wooden dummy are a staple of many martial art systems. Regular use of these results in all sorts of very obvious changes in the appearance of the users hands. Anything from slight discoloration, to bruising and all sorts of bumps and callouses. What type of impressions would ordinary people who are not involved in martial arts have when seeing or meeting someone with these obvious scars? would the impression be negative enough to cause problems for the person with the markings? Such as in social interactions with other people or interfering with finding or keeping a job? My own hands are way past the point where I can hide the appearance and I have so far blown off questions as to why my hands have bumps. I change the subject quickly, but I know people (work and acquaintances)are talking. I have not been pressed to explain, but I am not sure I would know what to say. For now I would rather leave it be. Anyone have similar experiences?

Proper breathing is an important part of training, but I is not as easy to do as it seems. Without proper breathing the body cannot absorb the maximum oxygen needed to sustain strenuous physical activity for very long. My teacher explained that breathing should be deep and low(abdominal breathing) and not shallow as in chest breathing. Although I understand the idea, I just can't seem to succeed in breathing that way. My breathing always feels too shallow and there is a tightness in the middle of my chest(plexus area). When this happens whatever kata or drill I am practising falls apart because I have to pause to catch my breath. If anyone has any insight or tips on breathing it would be helpful.

Intimate knowledge of anatomy as well as healing techniques to treat injuries and common illnesses was once taught alongside martial arts. Nowadays they are considered mostly separate endeavours and the average martial arts instructor has only basic notions of anatomy and basic first aid training at best. There are very few exceptions to this, but historical accounts such as biographies of known experts show that it was the norm in East Asia. In those countries, trained doctors were few and often travelled so communities more often consulted a martial arts expert of reknowned teacher to fix an injury or heal a sick person. Many experts also made and sold herbal medicines, practised accupunture or other healing arts to make their living.

Answer only one question and the answer to the OP will be made clear: Can the teacher still teach and get his students to understand, practise and improve what they are taught? Wether or not the teacher is still fully capable of performing everything, if the answer to the question is YES, then that teacher is still able to continue. Students expect nothing more than to be taught in a way that helps them improve what they already know, discover how to apply it and progress to a higher level.

Karate is mostly striking and this is the aim of each and every technique. Physical conflict is very different from a competition bout and one of the main differences is distance. Non sporting situations are always at a distance that allows all manner of seizing, locking, trapping, throwing or otherwise unbalancing the other man. All these techniques are applied to facilitate a strike and as such they are always preceded or followed by a strike. An in depth look at kata shows that every single one has at least two or three such techniques. In Shuri-te based systems, every kata ends with some kind of throw. Perhaps one reason that the grappling is not commonly taught in karate is that those who have learned it and are able to teach it are few and far between. Teaching to large groups also makes the detailed teaching of these techniques very difficult. Add to that the popularity of competition karate where such grappling is avoided or illegal and one can start to see why these might have been cast aside.

It is well that the OP seems to have found an acceptable solution. The situation described was quite difficult and the best solution would probably be to avoid it in the first place. The simplest way of preventing this type of uncomfortable situation is to always stay open and only teach in groups at the dojo or any other place agreed upon by everyone. Refuse any kind of private teaching sessions or teaching outside the dojo. Make it a point that anyone may attend and insist that the concerned person(wife, girlfriend etc) participate and observe as many sessions or classes as possible. This will go a long way to ease any worries.

Comparing the title "master" with other titles does not seem fair or accurate. Titles such as "doctor" or "professor" or "Major" are used as forms of address in general everyday conversation everywhere or at least within their own social context. While attending school all teachers were addressed as Mr or Miz. In university professors were called "Professor" or "Doctor". This was during class and anywhere on and even off campus. It would not be out of place or strange to call one's physician "doctor". Likewise for active or retired military being called by their rank. "Master" on the other hand, is never used to address someone and those who would expect it or demand it are seen as very strange. It may happen in some places, but all of the people I have ever met who might deserve that title were never ever addressed as "master". Calling them that probably would have made them feel very strange indeed.

It seems that this sort of situation most often happens when students forget an important aspect of physical skill level evaluation in martial arts. First it is necessary to remind them that "standards" are very loose. It is more appropriate to talk of guidelines. Second, every individual student is evaluated and compared to themselves and not others and not to the previous cohort evaluated before them. Skills are individual and personal in that no two students will have identical skills or even the same weaknesses. Nor will they improve or learn at the same pace. If the new students meet the general expectations, they have earned recognition for their skill improvements and that is that. It is an ongoing process and does not end with a new belt or what have you. lastly, these students must be reminded that there is a time(never during training) a place(always privately) and a way(respectfully and politely) to ask questions or give opinions but that should be chosen wisely to be received or given consideration.

From the time I began karate as an awkward teenager, I have always been held personal loyalty in high regard. This to me was much, much more important than politics. As long as the sensei was able to demonstrate, explain and teach me in a way that I understood, I was quite happy. Afterall I trained under my teachers because of how and what they taught. I also followed them because I trusted them and valued their knowledge. My sensei is not the governing body. He may be at the top of it, but I follow him because he is wise and skilled and knows how to pass that on. An individual sensei is always more important than any governing body.

I wash mine only about once a month. Besides that I hang it indoors where it can be exposed to the light and heat of the sun. Gets the funk out just fine. A belt must be washed, but it not as much as regular laundry.

"Because they think it's cool" is how trends start, and this is what makes be think that those who use it that much have the least understanding of its meaning, origin and connotations. They probably do not care to have it explained to them either. Maybe I spent too much time immersed in Japanese/Okinawan culture, but nothing grates my ears like hearing people bark "oss" at every other word their sensei utters. Worse still if I hear women or girls "oss"ing. Anyway, it can't be expected that an ingrained trend such as this will change any time soon or on the account of an old dojo rat's feelings.

There must be all kinds of much better and meaningful ways to honour a foreign dignitary than handing out ranks and titles that have no value except to a select few people. If Putin has never practised TKD I wonder what the man thinks of being given an honourary rank. Perhaps it was just to thank him for promoting or supporting TKD in Russia or just because Putin is known to be a sportsman with an interest in martial arts in general.

I would wager that most of those frayed blackbelts seen tied around the waist of younger dans are those cheap satin ones that disintegrate after a year or so. Another stupid fashion trend that I never could understand. The only thing more rediculous is those who are so impatient that they will purposely damage a brand new belt, which they probably paid in spades. A plain, quality belt of any colour takes quite a long time to fade, let alone fray. Especially if it is properly cared for.

To me it is something I have never adopted to use. It was never used by anyone in the Okinawan karate dojos where I trained. In Okinawa I found several seniors and many old sensei who thought it was strange or foreign, and at least two to whom it was as offensive as swearing. This is because of the social connotations associated with it in Japanese culture. Personally, I am reluctant to use or adopt anything that I don't fully understand. "Hai" or whatever else is fine, the key is to be careful not to over use it otherwise it makes one sound like a yes-man. It can get quite rediculous in some cases. My present sensei loathes yes-men and will be quick to call out anyone who appears to be "sucking up" in that way.

Keeping in mind that ranks are purely arbitrary and only hold significance within the governing body giving it, it should only matter to those concerned. If rank is construed as a mark of prestige or privileged status with authority over other members, then there is inevitably problems when a person holding a rank is deemed unqualified or unworthy for whatever reason.

Losing as much weight as you mentioned is a very good result after only 4 months. Setting a goal is a good idea to keep effort focussed. A good start would be to do some research to find the ideal weight for a fit person of your height and age. As for me, I went from nearly 190lb to under 170 which is ideal for a fit man of my size and height. Also keep in mind that muscle is heavier than fat and this should be considered when evaluating results. Water is the best way to enhance losing fat. Drinking large volumes of water during training and throughout the day works very well.

It depends on how attached one is to the significance of that title. The title comes from japanese martial arts and literally means "head of household". If one follows that defenition, then whomever is the most senior in the style or governing body may be referred to by that title. In Japan and Okinawa not all styles or governing body use it. From personal experience, the title of Hanshi is more frequent in Okinawa. Either way, I have never heard anyone being addressed by neither. The confusion arises due to the fact that Soke is or was used by many first generation teachers of new systems. However, inheritors may also be called soke if they are the head of their style, school etc.

From my experience, there are only a few kinds of people or personalities who are truly and absolutely unredeemable. Even punks can change if they are not past a certain point. As a youth and a teenager, petty crime and violence were part of my daily routine. It is entirely due to training and the dojo environment as well as harsh lessons from my sensei that I eventually left that path. Perhaps it is because the good was still to be found somewhere.

I train to fight. Against aging, sickness, depression and many other enemies from within. Practical defense is the general focus of my training thanks to my instructor, but the cultural and historical background are also important to me because of close personal ties.

When learning and practising kata, it is a very common for beginners and intermediate level practitioners to give to much attention to speed. Kata is not a performance or a dance. If kata is too fast, it becomes a blur where techniques blend into one another. Every move must be clear and the emphasis must be on correct body mechanics rather than speed. To get the maximum benefit out of kata, one must practise with the aim of understanding every part independently instead of a sequence or choreography. Slowing down and focussing on each step or technique is too often overlooked.

I enjoy watching all the trilogy, and also the fourth one to a lesser extent. The character of Miyagi is one of the best movie martial artist overall. I must say that the remake was not very interesting, having Jackie Chan in a lead role is what made it passably interesting.

Exactly my point, Spodo. In the case of a car, the machine itself may not be a weapon by design but it will be considered as one if it is driven by a person willfully using it to harm other people. No matter who is concerned, bare-handed violence is always considered differently by the laws. Training does enhance the potential damage a person can inflict, but as a rule the use of an object increases this to much higher levels which are not possible without a weapon. Anyway, the time and dedication to training required to become skilled in using one's body as a weapon is such that highly skilled individuals are less likely to become dangerous or engage in risky behaviour. There are exceptions, but these are much much less common than average untrained delinquents having a fistcuff or messing one another up with blades, guns or what have you.

The logical answer is a resounding "NO". A weapon is nothing more than an object. It is an implement intended by use or by design, for the purpose of killing. Anything handled and used with intent can kill and thus be lethal. A simple stick, a sharp or heavy rock or a gun are all equal if the handler wants to kill whomever or whatever is the target. However no object has the capacity to act, think and reflect by itself. This also applies to trained animals such as attack dogs. Human beings can think and it takes a human to make a weapon kill. Therefore it is unfathomable to attempt to categorize people as weapons themselves. Even a well placed punch by an untrained person can kill under some circumstances. For that very reason, each person and situation must be considered individually.

The middle weight cotton canvas gi I wear is heavy enough. Anything else underneath has proved very uncomfortable. I tried everything from thin quick-drying mesh Ts to under armor and similar garments.

It is better to question the purpose of a test or grading than discuss whether or not it is challenging enough. Does the test recognize a level of skill? Is it meant to reward improvement to a certain standard? Or is it merely a reward for time or financial commitment to the school, organization or instructor?