Spartacus Maximus

With a few exceptions I usually prefer originals to remakes. The second Scarface movie is quite good when I consider it on its own. When it was a new feature very few people who saw it were old enough to remember the original. I prefer that one because I am a fan of mobster movies.

Tells always seem to get worse when I think about them and when I am near exhaustion. Being aware of them is a good first step, but I still struggle with one in particular which is a slight blink when doing anything with power, especially kick techniques

Another general guideline that I follow is to avoid processed or transformed foods as much as possible. The idea of "staying hungry" is good advice and really does work.

Water is something that is never mentioned enough. Everyone is expected to have at least a litre throughout the two hour training session.

Nobody is ever taught without asking to learn. In martial arts students choose their instructor and by doing so students must have respect and trust for this agreement. It is much, much more than a simple service transaction. In exchange for the instructor sharing knowledge, the student must follow the instructions. There is no reason to train under an instructor if one is constantly doing things differently than what is being taught. Students must follow their instructor or else find another one. Research for personal interest or comparison should be encouraged, but students must avoid getting distracted and confused by information different from what is taught by their chosen instructor in their chosen system.

I wonder what the new movie will be like. A remake of a remake is quite challenging if it is to get any significant appreciation. The original scarface was about an Italian American mobster, probably based on Al Capone. Whose nickname was scarface. The one about a Cuban drug lord made in the 90s is a remake of that.

I used to live in the same area where not one, but three legendary karateka were born and taught including the originator of the style I train in. Unfortunately I am not aware of any notable fact about my present location.

With the way children are desensitized towards violence in general, it is foolishly irresponsible to allow a child to handle a weapon. The child in the video may show a high level of dexterity, but it is highly doubtful that her understanding is any deeper than mere performance to impress an audience with pretty choreography and acrobatic dance.

A "tell" is something that is done unconsciously immediately before a technique. A commonly observed one is a slight blink or squint when attempting to do a technique with power, especially strikes. How can such a tell be effectively corrected? What kinds of tells are the most common? Are some easier to correct than others?

At this time my dojo and the organization I belong to only use different coloured belts for 7-10th Dan. Anyone below that level wears a plain cloth black belt. No satin covered shiny belts or other foo-foo silly fancy belts. On Okinawa it is rare to see anyone wearing a different colour other than 7th to 10th dans. One exception is at seminars or other gatherings involving a larger number of karateka of different styles and organizations. Outside Japan and Okinawa, it seems more common for "renshi belts" to be worn regularly. Things may have changed in the last 15 years.

The most basic and simplistic idea of kata application appears to be prescriptive. To begin to understand the purpose of a given kata, it is important to realize that it is not just a collection of techniques where a specific attack must be countered by a specific defense. The chaotic and unpredictable nature of physical assault situation makes it impossible to know and spontaneously apply specific moves. Instead, kata must be considered as a synthesis of principles. Each kata has a core set of principles of how to move. Specific techniques are but example of how these principles can be used and are not the only possible application. Once understood and internalized, a principle can be spontaneously applied to a specific situation. If a movement principle is applied correctly the technique will be viable and effective. In this sense, bunkai or analysis is learning how to move. The first step to deciphering a kata is finding the core idea and recurring movements. There is a very good book on that topic called The Way Of Kata. I believe the author is Lawrence Kane. The examples are from Goju ryu but the ideas are applicable to any system with Kata

There are few exceptions but if the person with less-than-honourable actions is family or close friends, then for the sake of that something must be said. It is only a matter of approaching the issue tactfully and preferably in private with the person concerned.

The best motivation is knowing what one is doing. What is the target, how and when should it be attacked and the intent of the technique used. As for motivating thoughts, the only one to have is: there is no second try! The first or second technique must end the attack. This means the attacker is either dead, unconscious or injured enough to allow one to escape.

I only follow a few guidelines and have no specific food restrictions. First I drink water whether or not I am thirsty. Sometimes 6 or more litres in a day, half of this in the morning. I rarely eat breakfast and when I do it is a very small meal. For other meals I eat whatever I like but always include as much vegetables as possible and more importantly, I make sure I am not completely full. Besides that I make sure I train 7 days a week, at least an hour.

The majority of people will likely only listen to what they want to hear. For this reason the best thing to do is probably to remain silent or only make very general comments. Before saying anything one should consider what one has to gain or lose by doing so. If the answer to that is nothing of value, then there is no reason to speak. Regardless of how and what other schools teach their students, it has no bearing on what I do. I may offer my opinion if it is genuinely solicitated, and will listen to that of my sensei. But no mater what I think it is not my place or my business to try to convince anyone of anything.

Usually, but not always, the first kata taught excluding kihon is the "core" kata. Although I have some knowledge of Goju ryu from observing it and exchanging with exponents, I do not practise it. Some schools may have Seisan or Sanchin first but both of these are fundamental in Okinawan Goju ryu I have visited.

From what I heard, this is not a rare thing. If you are unable for whatever reason to have your own exclusive space, it might be to your advantage to make a deal with another school. The first dojo I trained in owned the space but the instructor accepted a renting deal with a jujitsu school who used our dojo on different days. Another instructor I know rented a space from another school and eventually remained the only tenant after the other one moved out a few years later. I would try it because it's easier than buying and cheaper than transforming a place and fixing it up for the purpose. Getting along with whoever is there might take some negotiations, but it's worth it.

To answer the original question I will say the Naihanchi series. These kata appear short and simple, but they contain all of the fundamental principles of the Shorin ryu system. Naihanchi is to Shorin ryu what Sanchin is to Goju ryu. All exponents and instructors of Shorin ryu swear by it and spend more time on them than any other kata. In my dojo the series are the only kata done every day besides kihon kata.

I find the motivations of armchair instructors difficult to understand. I can hardly imagine myself going to offer advice to someone without being asked. Helping a fellow in the dojo is where I draw the line and when outside of that environment, a martial arts practitioner is just another person.

A good explanation of the concept is that it is the point where one no longer requires conscious thought to perform an action which has been trained and internalized enough that it becomes automatic. Mushin literally translates to "no-mind". It is subconscious action and can only be achieved with years of concentrated effort and dedicated practise. It is when techniques flow from within and naturally.

For training to be serious and to get the maximum benefits it should be done as a daily habits. Everyone has a few things that are done without fail everyday. Things that are always done and often done without a second thought. When training is made into one of those routine habits, it is no longer just an activity. No matter how one feels before, a good training session will improve everything. It is impossible to stay stressed or in a bad mood or weak after training hard. In fact it is on the days that require more effort to get into training that I feel the best sense of accomplishment afterwards.

There is nothing to worry about when switching styles or schools early. Going from one system to a completely different one is most difficult when one has been doing the first for several years. Over time habits develop and the longer they have set in the more difficult it is to change them.

Training for sport or competition is not my goal, but the importance of having some strength to put into the techniques is undeniable. For many, myself included, and time is something I must work with. Do you included it in your training or do you find time to do a separate workout? I'm still trying to see how I can do it. I already do 45-60min of just karate daily.

By "notable" I meant people whose names are well known in martial arts circles or in history. Chuck Norris is an example, but I am not sure how old he was when he started. Being famous is not necessary though, but coming up with an example of someone who started later is not easy. I often wonder if there are certain limits to the level I can expect to reach, having restarted my training in my late 20's. At least as far as the physical techniques go.

By "notable" I meant people whose names are well known in martial arts circles or in history. Chuck Norris is an example, but I am not sure how old he was when he started.