Shotokannon

Here's my Schedule; MON: Kickboxing basics 7-8pm TUE: Kickboxing Sparring 8-9pm WED: Shotokan basics and kata 6-7.30 THU: Mixed Martial arts bag work 7pm-8pm THU:(continued) Mixed Martial arts basics and sparring 8pm-9pm Friday: Rest day Saturday: Shotokan Basics and Kata 1pm-2:30pm Saturday(continued) Shotokan Sparring 2:45-4:00pm Sunday:Rest Day Like someone else posted, I don't always go to every one of these sessions because I don't always have time so I tend to mix and match and have rest days as appropriate.

I'm very surprised to find that this forum is the only martial-arts focussed website I could find which has a vibrant, active community with good moderation and best of all, Free! Just as a matter of interest I actually make websites for a living, wouldn't it be great if out there, there was a website purely dedicated for Martial Arts? I'm talking about a cross between a site like this, where we have a forum, and a site like martialtribes.com where friends can be added and interacted with?

Hey Everyone, I realise I've posted this before, but I didn't get an answer so I thought I'd post it again in a more appropriate place. I've been doing Shotokan now for about 10 months, and I'm thinking of switching to Kickboxing, I just wanted to get some general opinions and information about this. 1. If you get a license at a karate club, would you need another one for Kickboxing? 2.I'm very apprehensive about leaving my current club;I like the people and I've been told I'm doing very well (being put forward for the EKF Kyu-grade national championships next year) and I really don't want to let my Sensei down. 3. having said the above, I really do feel like Kickboxing will give me the experience I want with regards to more sparring based than patterns/Kata based work. 4. How would I approach my Sensei about this, if I were to go through with it? 5. Would it be wise to continue both at the same time? this way if I don't like kickboxing I can go back to Karate and if I prefer Kickboxing, I can take that up instead!

Hey Everyone, I've been doing Shotokan now for about 10 months, and I'm thinking of switching to Kickboxing, I just wanted to get some general opinions and information about this. 1. If you get a license at a karate club, would you need another one for Kickboxing? 2.I'm very apprehensive about leaving my current club;I like the people and I've been told I'm doing very well (being put forward for the EKF Kyu-grade national championships next year) and I really don't want to let my Sensei down. 3. having said the above, I really do feel like Kickboxing will give me the experience I want with regards to more sparring based than patterns/Kata based work. 4. How would I approach my Sensei about this, if I were to go through with it? 5. Would it be wise to continue both at the same time? this way if I don't like kickboxing I can go back to Karate and if I prefer Kickboxing, I can take that up instead!

Hey guys, What's everyone's opinion on this? I was in a lesson a few days ago where we were free-sparring, and of course it hurts a little bit (as expected) but everybody uses some degree of control, and expects control to be used on them. There's always this ONE guy who whenever he fights, he doesn't use ANY control at all (he's popped my nose a couple of times and nearly knocked a few of my teeth out) so I've been trying to avoid training with him not because I'm scared but because I don't want to be put in hospital and have time off work. Now, I'm not a very big guy (5'5) and not particularly toned yet, this other guy's bigger and stronger but because this guy insists on using no control, I'm considering not using control on him either. What about you, what do you do when you have someone in the Dojo who doesn't control?

I don't even think this comes down to what's good and what's bad, it sounds to me like you want to do strictly traditional shito-ryu and if this club doesn't do that, then there are plenty of other clubs who do, and at a cheaper or at least more flexible pricing structure than the one described, so i would recommend you shop around as it were, go to a few other places and see what you think

embedding an image simply means posting it, but a developer can embed anything into a site (twitter feeds, image sliders etc)

+1 on this answer. Its too much work for most folks to continue. I still struggle with certain things and I've been at it for 6 years. Also, outside sources can be a HUGE influence as well for example back in 2010, the Karate Kid reboot came out and I feel that had contributed greatly to the rise of students in our former dojo. Afterwards when the hype dies down, they leave. i.e casuals That's what distances me and my training partners from the casuals. Thankfully I've had a keen interest in the martial arts since I was tiny. Things like that keep you going on strong. No amount of naysaying or bordom can get rid of that 'instinct' you have and it develops itself over time. It will never diminish. Absolutely right, if I ever have a bad day at the club yes I might get discouraged and a bit annoyed/upset, but more likely than not I still end up going the day after, like you say if you have the passion nothing kills it =D

Brian Blessed is 3rd dan in Judo!

Here's what I do; We're issued with a book at my dojo, detailing grading criteria, I make a solid choice on whether to practise basics, kata or both and focus on areas I've been told in lessons I need to improve on. To help with this, after EVERY lesson without fail I write an account of the lesson in a diary and when I train at home, I consult my Diary for points to be emphasized upon, I occasionally use Youtube Videos to aid with this (especially in kata). If you have a large mirror, this definitely helps; you can see yourself slouching, or not sitting deeply in your stances (I'm shotokan, so this may not apply to you), this for me is the biggest motivator because if you can see yourself doing it right, you can show everyone else you're doing it right too. Hope this helps!

I find that moving back can be an advantage if you can't tell where or what your opponent's going to strike with, but I much prefer to go round the sides or back; once they're fully committed and you slip them, they won't be finished striking by the time you've "Been and gone" so to speak.

I don't have a problem with kids and I think it's great they're getting involved with the Martial Arts, but this is a serious source of frustration for me because while most of them are very hard working and quite sensible, the others are very lazy, mess around all the time and don't take their karate seriously. I feel like it brings other people down in the class and lowers the standard of the clubs, does anyone else have this problem? If this is as pertinent a problem as I believe it is, would it be worth putting on senior grades and/or adults only nights? I appreciate one gets people like this in all walks of life and from all ages, but I don't believe other Karateka should suffer for someone else's lack of discipline/motivation.

I was 12 when I started but I was very...lackadasical, I've recently rejoined at another club at the age of 22, and my biggest regret in the world is not carrying on from 12 onwards; I could have been maybe 2nd/3rd dan by now! (Granted I'm now a green belt after 8 months training at my new place)

A GREAT one across the board, Patrick, a GREAT ONE!! As a developer I can definitely concur with this =D

I'm not a big guy, (11 and a half stone, and I stand at 5'5), So I have a tendency to look through my opponent rather than adopt what some might consider scare tactic of staring someone down in a match, the exception to this is when I can see they're concentrating on my eyes and trying to stare ME down, in which case one can get a bit lucky and throw a quick Kazame-Tzuki if the time's right.

Any other lefties here? If so, how do you find sparring with right handed people? do you find advantages with it? I personally like it, because the majority of Karateka aren't prepared for a leftie so it gives one an advantage.

Our local town hall hosted several of Slade's first gigs in the 70's! (nothing to be too proud of, I'm sure!)

I'm a Software/Web Developer, I've been doing that for about 2 years now. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger...How the hell did this happen!!?? =P

Now here's an interesting subject, and not one that's actually discussed very much in my Dojo. For example in Heian Sandan, turning from Kosa Dachi into the preparation (I don't know what the stance is called) for the elbow block-Mikazuki geri -uraken combination, I have seen Kanazawa do the crescent kick more or less straight after the Elbow block, in seemingly one move! but in my dojo we see it as 3 moves; 1. Mikazuki geri 2.Crane stance 3.Drop into Kiba Dachi with the elbow block being executed at the same time the Bunkai for this, is that someone is punching (block with MikaZuki Geri), they then punch again (drop into Kiba Dachi and block with the Elbow block, break nose with Uraken). Now, this doesn't make sense to me; why would someone continue to punch you a total of 4 further times, if you've just broken his/her nose!? (unless you missed)

I actually started about 11 years ago (I was 12 years old at the time), because my parents encouraged me to. At the time, I was a very timid boy so I was easily discouraged when I didn't understand something, so I quit after a few weeks. Then last July, I lost my job and I got a bit of Cabin Fever so I thought "Why not give it another try?", I thought (rightly so) that Karate would get me out of the house and keep me fit, while learning the skills I want in order to defend myself and my family. I have been assaulted in the past and because of that, I wanted to be able to defend myself and my family. So I found a local club (which happened to be literally 5 minutes from my front door), did a couple of lessons and I've been doing it ever since! =D I've lost a few stone since I've been doing Karate as well, so it's done wonders for my health! =D

I pay £6.50 per session, but it gets slightly discounted the more sessions I do, it goes; £6.50 1st lesson of the week £5.50 2nd lesson of the week from then on, it's £5.00 per lesson, or pay £25 for unlimited sessions during the week (if you're able to train every day, which i can't)

I want to know who this John (Jion) person is, he seems really popular!

In my world, the words "Bored" and "Karate" don't even go in the same sentence! =P

In the UK, nobody (Even Law Enforcement) can carry an automatic firearm under any circumstances whatsoever (unless you're in the armed response unit, or armed services),shotguns and rifles you'd need a license for, and they won't give you one unless you can provide a solid reason for needing one (Pest control on farms for example, or you're a member of a shooting club), Knives over 3 inches you can be arrested for just having on your person in public and this carries a max 6 month imprisonment and £1000 fine, any weapon (even a shoe) can be considered an offensive weapon, and is subject to the same penalties.

That's exactly who I'm talking about and what you've said actually clarifies what I intended to say; I'm not the best informed so apologies for the Confusion. I concur with cathal's post, nothing to worry about at all just as I thought initially, it seems every club has their own rules about how many grades there are and how often they are reviewed etc.