Spartacus Maximus

Everything would depend on the amount of the winnings. If it were enough to make it possible, then most of it would be spent on living expenses while pursuing a long period of intensive training, research and study of karate and other personal interests. Some of it would be invested to make more money and some of it would be given to family and of course to the instructor who has given so much time and energy to teach all he knows.

In many dojos in Okinawa, kata applications are taught and practised as two person drills. The kata is broken down into different sections and each of these has a specific technique pattern. These are meant to illustrate a key concept in its most basic form. Later on as students get better, they are introduced to variations in the applications. For instance, if the first attack in a given section is a mae geri, it is switched to a different kick. Initially, though everyone begins by first learning the set applications and identifying the key principles.

Personally, experience has shown that bunkai and kata applications depend more on the instructor than the style. Within a single style and organization of karate, there can be a very wide difference between how applications are approached, taught and how much. So it is impossible to choose a style based on how much applications will be taught. Finding the right instructor is key.

For a lot of people it is very difficult to take in and especially to recall later what their instructor covered after the training session. Taking notes is a great idea for keeping track of one’s personal progress, as well as an excellent tool for planning and organizing personal practise away from the school when it is closed or one is unable to attend. Writing and recording corrections or technical points given by the instructor gives during training really helps because one can go back on and work on them. Without notes or a great memory, knowing exactly what to practise can be overwhelming. Those who have been through post secondary level education are aware of the importance of taking notes. The same method is easily applicable to non-academics and any activity one wishes to learn more efficiently and improve consistently.

Here are some Okinawans for the list: Matsumura Sôkon whose teachings are what became Shuri-te and the genesis of all “shorin” styles. He was known as an expert in the native Okinawan martial art, learned one or more styles of Chinese boxing from Chinese experts both in Okinawa and China. His social status and position as chief royal bodyguard also allowed him to become highly skilled in Jigen-ryu, the fencing style taught to the Satsuma clan from mainland Japan that annexed the Ryukyu kingdom. Higaonna Kanryo is another very influential Okinawan. He learned his skills both in southern China and Okinawa and his teachings are the origins of Naha-te. He was the main teacher of Miyagi Chojun who founded Goju-ryu. In China he studied the White Crane system, which Influenced most of what he taught. There is also Uechi Kanbun, who learned most of his skills in southeastern China. Most likely a crane style, which became the basis for Uechi-ryu. Of all the Okinawans, he is the only one known to have brought back a complete system virtually unchanged from China.

Teaching martial arts in Japan as a foreigner is no small accomplishment. It is even complicated for native Japanese. Usually explicit approval and endorsement from one’s sensei is required and traditionally, barring few exceptions, one had to first become Shihan or assistant instructor in one’s own dojo with a fifth dan, minimum. How did you happen to become an instructor in Japan? What where the conditions?

The answer lies not with the style, but with the depth of knowledge and experience any given instructor has to share. There are immense variations even within the same style as to how kata bunkai will be taught, approached and practised.

They seem to be separate entities with their own network of branch dojo. By looking at those that have an online presence, including the Okinawa Hombu, each of the ninth/tenth dans do not individually answer to it. Each has their own nextwork of branch dojo throughout their country; yet they have all been students of the founder and all remain with the same style organization. The scheme is as such: ABC-ryu XYZ-Kan Okinawa Honbu and its branch dojo Tokyo XYZ-Kan and with branches in several countries ABC-ryu Beikoku(North America) XYZ-Kan with branches in US and Canada XYZ-Kan France, XYZ-Kan Germany There is nothing that clearly states any regional monopoly or jurisdiction or territories. Strictly from an ethical point of view and assuming the ideal relationships between all of these, would it be problematic for a student to open a branch dojo under his sensei in a country/area where the style and organization already has a presence?

Everyone who has an instructor made the conscious choice of training with that person. They know and are convinced that their instructor is better then them at what they aspire to learn, but more importantly that said instructor is better than them at understanding and explaining things in a way that the student themselves will become better. As for instructors, there is nothing wrong with knowing that they are more knowledgeable and skilled than their students. In that way they are certainly better, if only at the physical techniques. Like all the rest, though instructors and students alike must never forget that some tout there is always better in one way or another. Each instructor is different and it would be a safe bet to say that in martial arts, one could hardly find an instructor who believes he has surpassed all those who have taught before. Remembering this is how a worthy teacher keeps his feet on the ground and we can all realize that we can only truly succeed at surpassing ourselves rather than trying to be better than others. Anything else would be idle speculation and would take our focus away from where we ought to seek even the slightest improvements.

Without asking each of them directly, it isn’t certain what kind of relationship each of the ´main dojo’ have, if any. The seem to recognize each other but neither is specifically stated as subordinate to the other. For example, the US main dojo is not a branch “shibu dojo” of the Okinawa Honbu. Perhaps the founder wanted it that way. Obviously each of the chiefs did not reach their grade at the same time and are not the same age. They are at least aware of each other since they all participate in events related to the style and association held in Okinawa. One such gathering was the anniversary of the founder’s death.

Is it possible for a style association/organisation to have more than one representative for the same country? Most Okinawan styles have the main dojo in Okinawa with branch dojo everywhere else headed by designated regional/country representatives. There are a couple cases where there are more than one main dojo within the same style organization. For example one in Okinawa and another on mainland Japan and others in North America and Europe. This is because the founder designated more than one successor. Each of the four hold a ninth or tenth dan and each run their own HQ but they all belong to the same association/organisation. Now here is the question: could a direct student of the Europe HQ chief open a branch in the USA and teach there? The student’s ninth or tenth dan sensei and the head of the US Hombu are both direct students and successors of the founder.

Sanchin is supposed to be one of the oldest kata in karate with direct links to existing Chinese systems. Several chuan fa(Kung fu) styles include it in one version or another. Especially the crane styles from Taiwan and the coastal region which had a long history of cultural and political relations with the Ryukyu kingdom. Although sanchin is mostly associated with karate lineages of Naha-te, it is possible that the kata may have been included in Shuri-te or influenced the shorin ryu styles. Naihanchi or at least its predecessor is considered the basis of all shorin ryu styles. These are at least as old as Sanchin and are considered as fundamental in shorin ryu as sanchin is in Naha te styles.

Self-expression in karate is usually not expected or encouraged for until after a student has thoroughly learned the basic movements and principles contained in the kata. second and fifth dan, it is usually expected that one has the depth of understanding of basic principles required to expand on these and develop a wider range of techniques than the first application originally learned.

The development and maintenance of flexibility is one of the most important things required for all physical training, but specifically for martial arts practise. It is undeniable that stretches are beneficial, yet few martial artists and athletes know exactly what type of stretching are best, nor when they should be done for maximum benefit. Static stretching, for instance is what is required for holding a position at the maximum range of movement. Doing side or front splits is one example. Dynamic stretching, like swinging the legs up and down with control or slowly kicking as high as possible is one way commonly used. This is the kind of stretching required to develop the necessary flexibility for optimal range of movement in action. Regularly doing these is what allows kicks at one’s own head height or higher without causing damage or injury. How is stretching done where you train? What kind and when do you do them? Can anyone suggest any reference on the subject such as books or DVD/ videos?

Push-ups are everywhere and are part of every training programme for fitness. They are a staple of every fitness and strength building workout and are one of the most common exercises around. Lately there seems to be a renewed interest in the push-up. There are several trends online consisting of doing only push-ups for a maximum number of reps and sets every day for varying lengths of time. 50 or 100 push-ups/day for one month seems the most common. Has anybody ever tried any of these push-up challenges? What has been your experience with them?

For outdoor training one ought to consider three features above all else: the shoes must be comfortable! If they are not, it may cause cumulative injuries to the feet, ankles and legs when training intensively. Second, the footwear must be flexible enough to allow every natural movement of the entire foot/ankle as to not restrict the usual range of motion. Third, whatever shoes you choose should be light and not too heavy as to distort balance, movement or range for when you move, shift weight or kick. There are specific shoes designed for martial arts, but any shoe that fits the criteria can be used. Sometimes the specifically designed “martial arts shoes” don’t fit personally, it really depends what the intended use is. The last thing to consider is the training place: in or outdoors? Smooth(asphalt, paved) ground or terrain such as a turfed backyard, or varied and natural like in a park or clearing in a wooded area? Buy the shoes that fit the ground/place as well as what you expect to train.

The student mentioned in the first post has been completely inactive for nearly a year. He has been mostly shut in as a result of severe mental breakdown from stress, anxiety and depression. Returning to training was actually a recommendation from his doctors, but given his fragile mental and physical condition, there isn’t much to be done. He lost nearly all his flexibility and strength due to being bedridden or sedated under the effects of meds. As far as technical knowledge, he remembers but the biggest hurdle is getting over his problems with stamina. Despite wanting to train again and being willing to make every effort, his present condition get the better of him and he tires very quickly. It’s obvious that it frustrates him a lot as this is someone who used to train between 6 and 10 hours a week excluding two hours at the dojo every two weeks. That’s with a full time physical job and daily home/family commitments.

What advice could you give to an experienced student(second dan) who has been inactive for nearly a year? How should this student approach returning to regular training? Many who are thinking seriously about resuming their training often forget that it isn’t just a matter of picking up where they left off, especially if it has been a while since any kind of physical activity was done. One just cannot expect to be exactly where they were before, even if they still remember in their minds. The body probably will not and cannot perform what it used to do before the practitioner stopped being active. It’s easy to get discouraged if we forget that the body takes much more time to “remember” and perform as before the break than the mind might.i

Starting at the beginning should be expected if one is taking up a new martial art. It isn’t unheard of, but this might apply when changing instructor within the same style. To the new instructor, the student is unknown and time must be allowed for the instructor to observe and evaluate, regardless of previous experience said student may have. It is best for the student to approach it as a true beginner and set aside previous experience if the student is truly committed to training the new system under the new instructor.

For whoever has gone back after a long time, did you start a different martial art or do try to pick up where you left off?

Here is a question for anyone who has returned to martial arts after a long time for whatever reason: What made you decide to go back to martial arts? What motivated you?

It’s a perfectly good answer and sometimes it is the only answer an instructor can give. However, good instructor will not simply let a question go unanswered. Honestly admitting to not having an explanation or answers doesn’t mean the instructor is somehow incompetent. Good instructors are the ones who go out and try to find the answers. They also should have the resources, knowledge and references available so that they might guide their students towards an answer. Someone somewhere always knows more. Instructors must use this to their advantage and that of everyone they teach. After all, who says a 10th dan has all the answers? What’s wrong with this instructor exchanging with peers, reading past master’s writings or researching? Every other professional does it, so why should it be difficult or different for martial arts instructors? Maybe instead of ´I don’t know ´ a better answer should be ´I don’t know or I’m not sure about that, but let me get back to you’. Or : ´I don’t know, but I’ll ask so-and-so, he/she might have an idea’. Nothing wrong with that.

Martial arts is just like any other skill and takes time to develop. When starting out everybody has either asked their instructor or wondered how long it would take to be able to do xyz or reach a level of ability. The answer of course is that it depends on the person and a whole lot of other variables. A better question people ought to ask themselves is how much time can they actually afford to spend training including on their own when the school is not open or the instructor not available. Unless one is a professional who trains or teaches for a living, the time one hopes to train or spend practising is very different than what is actually manageable without causing conflict in other parts of daily living. Time management skills and dedication are probably the best qualities for a newcomer to have for martial arts. Especially for adult students whose time is spent on either education, work, family or all of those! What time is left for practising martial arts? If you are in this situation what is the difference between the time you aim to spend doing martial arts and what is actually manageable and realistic?

Okinawan styles in general tend to have a very informal dojo atmosphere, especially if the head instructor is Okinawan. Even when the dojo is run a instructor of a different background. The rest is left up to the personal vision of whoever is in charge. Personally, the simpler the better. Sensei is called sensei and everyone else whatever they are most comfortable with.

Alll thins panicking and fearmongering seems incredibly stupid. Since when is training and practising at home and outside the dojo a novel idea? Anyone who is serious about staying fit and maintaining their level of proficiency regardless of whether or not the dojo/school is operating ought to be doing something, a anything on their own time. Come Hell or highwater. Virus or no virus. No matter how bad it gets, no crisis lasts forever. The more one does to maintain thier level of health, wellbeing and skill, there easier it will be when things eventually get back to normal. And they WILL.