Spartacus Maximus

There wouldn’t be much sense or use in running if so many karate big cheeses didn’t do it even well into their old age. Higa Yuchoku of Shorin ryu was known to run for 5km every single morning at sunrise. Higaonna Morio of Goju ryu also goes for a run a few km before starting his own daily practise. The former lived a long healthy life, and was extremely fit and strong until his death. The latter(Higaonna) is in his mid to late seventies and still running. Personally, warming up has always been something to be done before any kind of stretching. The most recent sports medicine journals and literature show that it is safer and more beneficial on the long term for muscles and the entire body to be warmed up thoroughly before any kind of stretching.

Does anyone have any insight on the origins of the kata Passai? The most well known and practised versions are the dai and sho version from Matsumura and his student Itosu. However there is an older version that is included in only a few lineages called Koryu(old style) Passai. It supposedly Predates both Matsumura’s ans Itosu’s versions. All sources clearly define it as being Chinese in origin, but nothing more specific. Any theories or leads would be helpful

Chinto is one of the oldest kata in Shorin ryu and is included in all styles stemming from the teachings of Matsumura Sokon and his students. Obviously it can be expected that the kata will vary from one style to another, but it has become apparent the there are variations of the kata within the same lineage. Why would students of the same instructor do a kata differently? Personal adaptations? Within the same lineage ie: Students of Miyahira Katsuya(senior student of Chibana Chosin), the kata has either two front kicks or one leaping forward front kick. If your lineage includes Chinto, what kicking technique do you have in the first half of the kata after pulling back your hands with crossed hands? For a better idea and visuals please look at this link

Why not integrate it with what the youngest students in the main curriculum? It could be structured as an introduction to the children curriculum the same way children’s(school age) or junior lessons are for the general/main curriculum.

Whatever it is, at that age martial arts skills are not a reasonable goal. The best thing that can be done is anything that will prepare and develop physical abilities in a general sense. Things like basic coordination, balance and dexterity. In other words, everything that a child might be expected to train for general physical education and sports. Above all, whatever it is, it must be fun and the children must enjoy it otherwise nothing will work.

It is just as important if not more to be confident in one’s ability to avoid conflict, potentially violent situation and dangerous places before needing to defend oneself.

Open hand and closed hand strikes are best compared to tools. Both are effective when applied effectively to appropriate target. A hammer is effective and so is a screwdriver. Yet, a hammer would be quite ineffective for inserting screws. It is a question of adapting one’s technique to the situation.

It is more a question of respect than reverence or hierarchy. Titles, grades and terms of address mean nothing without respect and recognition of the accomplishments and dedication of others in the martial art one is learning. One shows respect to seniors not just because they are seniors, but because they have been where one wants to go.

For the sake of sharing, how many have ever seen another person use martial arts as a direct witness? If you have, were you able to tell to a reasonable degree from what martial art the techniques used by the defender came? Here is mine to start. It happened in a large park in Tokyo, Japan. A very belligerent, possibly intoxicated and irate man was being aggressive with a few passers by. Luckily, nowhere near where our paths would have met, but close enough to everything unfold. The disturbance quickly got the attention of a patrolman from the near by police booth. The angry man immediately started to argue with the officer who was doing his damnedest to calm him down and get him to stop being a nuisance or leave the park. The man just got angrier and in seconds began to shove the cop, but nosedived to the pavement as the policeman sidestepped and directed his attacker downwards using his own momentum. It was almost comical and this further enraged the man whose final bad judgment was to attempt to hit the cop with a haymaker punch. This was blocked/jammed and twisted down to the ground. Classic hard-style aikido is very likely, but perhaps other forms of jujutsu. The entire police force in Tokyo are well-known to have a minimum working knowledge of this and other martial arts. A few units even have a certain degree of proficiency as a prerequisite for rank promotions.

Personally never heard of, seen or experienced anyone being penalized or otherwise punished in any way for failing to use proper titles. An instructor can rightly be offended by rudeness or obvious impolite attitudes and behaviour, but not knowing how/what to address them? It does indeed seem strange. After all, who would want to train with people who are so unapproachable?

As a general rule, be the most polite you possibly can and listen to and follow whatever the lower/less experienced people do. One also cannot be faulted for just asking everyone what they prefer to be called while training at the school. As for everything else within whatever system one chooses, asking is always the quickest way to learn.

Experience with Okinawan and Japanese run dojo usually expect the most senior student to be “instructors-in-training”. Depending what the individual dojo requirements, usually from third dan and above students are taught the basics of how to teach and might be asked to take over a few minor teaching duties. This was, in personal experience, quite common in Okinawa. As a third Dan, teaching and preparing lower ranks for upcoming exams was implied and expected. This meant the sensei judged and trusted that a third dan had the skills and knowledge to faithfully represent the style/system to that degree.

The short answer is that it is much, much more complicated than it seems with many things to think of which can greatly influence whet your not the experience will be successful or bound to fail. The first thing to know is that the dojos and instructors that would or could accept live-in students are very few. Karate instructors in Japan have full-time jobs. This means that a typical karate dojo will probably not be open until the evening. If you are serious, I do have some ideas. pm me if you really want to know.

After discussing it with the student concerned, getting back into training is a key step towards mental rehabilitation and recovery from a serious case of depression. Before falling into this depression, this student had trained nearly every day since his early teens. Sometimes over an hour a day in addition to the time spent in the dojo. Karate is the only source of physical activity for this person. He did mention practical self defense as an important priority, but it’s obvious that physical fitness, social and mental wellness are equally important to him because he is unable or uncomfortable with ro

As far as physical conflict and defense situations are concerned, the less one has had the better it is. Unless one is constantly putting themselves into situations that escalate to physical violence, the average person may have to defend themselves maybe once in their lifetime. Violence never happens without any signs and unless one is completely oblivious, there is always the possibility to either prevent it or avoid it without ever raising a hand. The number of times a martial artist has been involved in self defense is by no means a measure of their skill level, effectiveness of their system or authenticity. It means absolutely nothing other than that they were unlucky or that perhaps there may be something wrong with their attitude or behaviour when faced with social conflict. In today’s world, most people who live in a politically stable country is d relatively safe area will probably never have to use martial arts in “a real situation”, especially as adults. Even the founders of many of the styles around today who lived over a hundred years ago rarely had more than one or two in their entire lifetime wherever records are available and accurate. There are a few case exceptions to this, but the general rule is that most martial artists never have and never will have to use their skills in an unavoidable situation.

What one does with one’s belts or certificates usually reflects one’s personality and how one was taught. It is the same things with academic diplomas or certifications. Only some categories of professionals display them or have them in a visible place because they are required to do so.

As a personal rule to avoid embarrassment when visiting different dojo of various martial arts, being polite to everyone has never failed. Until one learns the protocol for a particular dojo, general polite forms of address are always acceptable.

Generally speaking one can never have too much insurance because each policy available to buy has limitations. As an instructor, it is a wise choice to make sure the training space is covered in case of sudden accidents or damage. On the personal level, the types of insurance must cover the maximum and match the kind of activity one chooses to engage in. Personally, in addition to a general health insurance system with good coverage, like all dojo members we all have a special insurance tailored for extreme sports(dangerous/high risk).

In Okinawan styles it is usually very simple in that everyone shodan and above will wear the exact same plain black belt. The belt may or may not have embroidery on either end with the style/dojo name and the wearer’s name. Unless the dojo has the traditional wooden name and grade tags, there would e no way for a new person to know except asking. In that case it should be done at the appropriate time and not in the middle of training. Either before starting or at the end is the best time for such questions. In some styles and dojo, the assistant instructor/s and those who have a godan and above might wear belts with different combinations of black, white and red. A solid red belt means a ninth or tenth dan, someone who is the most senior in the karate system they teach and the headmaster of a particular lineage as it was awarded by the founder. Usually this person will be over 60 years old with several decades of training behind them. They maybe called Hanshi as their teaching title, but in common conversation they will be called sensei....by everyone. One simply cannot make a mistake if all due respect and courtesy is applied to anyone who has been there longer. Be kind, and respect everyone and appreciate whatever help or attention to be had. Everyone had to start somewhere and at the bottom. Sensei is the instructor leading at the front and centre by example everybody else is your peer or your senior. All of them will help you get where you must go if you allow them your time and pay them back by doing your best to take in what they give.

Maybe a few more details to explain the question would make it easier to answer. For instance, what is the ADA?

A large sum of lottery winnings would probably make it possible to retire permanently and live quietly in modest comfort free of financial worries and stress. Perhaps moving closer to the dojo to avoid the long commute.

Although there hasn’t been any lockdown, the health crisis did have a noticeable effect on dojo attendance. The dojo closed for a time and then reopened about a month ago, it under very strict conditions. Anyone who trains must wear a mask and the floor and equipment is thoroughly disinfected afterwards. Sensei wears both a mask an a face-shield and training is limited to private and semi-private sessions with four or less people at one time. Those who do show up must also check their body temperature. Anyone even slightly feverish is asked to go home.

Personally, the less anybody knows the better. Karate never was something to be shown off or displayed to anyone. Nothing good ever came from showing off or displaying achievements. Even those not related to martial arts. Everything karate-related is kept in the most private place that casual guests will never see. Something like a “karate vault”. This is a reflection of the personal attitude towards involvement and interest in karate and martial arts in general, which is something kept very private and mostly secret. Dan certificates are framed and hung on the wall of the personal home dojo, which looks like exactly like a typical dojo, but on a much smaller scale. Again, this is not a place that would ever be shown to any houseguest. It is a private place for personal training, practise and meditation.

It is very difficult to accurately determine an actor’s true skill level even when it is a known fact that the actor has experience in martial arts. Everything shown on the screen is rehearsed and carefully choreographed. Nothing is spontaneous and special effects ensure that all the action happens exactly as the film director wants it. It’s made to look as good as possible and to make the actors look as intended. With that said, it is even difficult for experienced martial artists to tell from a movie how skilled the actors might be. Actors always have to make changes and adapt to their part, especially when doing action scenes. Entertainment takes priority over how it would likely and realistically happen in real life. Actors with martial arts experience have to actually be taught how to adapt their techniques so they look good on screen.

It depends on the training culture and environment of each dojo. Each one will be different as to what is expected according to how the main instructor has decided to approach teaching. It will also depend on how an instructor deals with everyone in the dojo as well as affiliations if any. With that out of the way, the word “sempai” means “senior” in Japanese. Japanese society is extremely hierarchical and knowing where one stands in relation to everyone else is of the greatest importance. In the context of a dojo, the senior students would be expected to assist teaching whenever required and serve as examples of what to achieve in order to progress. In Okinawa and Japan, the first thing one is expected to do is learn techniques and kata from those with more time in training. One must try to copy them and be taught by them first, and then be corrected and given more fine tuning by the sensei. How closely that is followed will of course vary from one teacher to another and the number of members training at one time.