Shotokannon

Our association is A member of the EKF (English Karate Federation) as far as I know we're not part of the iskf or anything like that, our Sensei is the chairman of said association, His name's Shihan Paul Campbell. the kata requirements for my first grading were as follows; Kata Kihon Heian Shodan Basics Age uke Soto uke Shuto Uke Uchi Uke Gedan Barai Oi-Tsuki jodan/chudan Gyaku tsuki jodan/chudan Mae Geri kekomi (push) Mae geri Keagi (snap) Nukite Mawashi Geri Ura-Mawashi geri (sometimes called ushiro mawash?) Yoko Geri Kekomi (Kiba Dachi) Yoko Geri keagi (Kiba Dachi) Combinations Age uke, Gyaku Tsuki, Gedan-Barai Soto Uke, Mae-Geri, gyaku Tsuki, Gedan-Barai Uchi uke, mawashi geri, gyaku tsuki, gedan-barai Shuto Uke, Nukite Mae Geri, Mawashi Geri, gyaku tsuki, gedan-barai Mae Geri, Mawashi geri, Ura-Mawashi geri, gyaku tsuki, gedan-barai sanbon kumite 20 press ups 20 sit ups 20 squat thrusts 10 burpees I've never signed a long term contract with the club as I pay per-session, grades are charged at increasing prices from 12th kyu (£30) right up to shodan (£125!) but there's no obligation to do these. The grades go; Red and white (12th kyu) Orange and white(11th kyu) Black and White(10th kyu) Yellow and white(9th kyu) Yellow (8th kyu) Green (7th kyu) Green and white(6th kyu) Purple (5th kyu) Purple and white(4th kyu) Brown(3rd kyu) Brown and 1 white stripe(2nd kyu) brown 2 white stripes(1st kyu) 1st dan[/u]

Well I did Shotokan many years ago as a child, I never made it past white belt, but I've taken it up again since. I've been told a couple of times that my Shotokan's really good, I train every day at every opportunity I get so I'm not sure if this has something to do with it. We actually do gradings every 3 months, but I first joined at a point where the gradings were 1 1/2 months away, and my sensei saw fit to put me forward. If it's really not normal given the circumstances...what do you make of the reasons behind it?

Hi Everyone! My Name's Reece and I'm a Green Belt in Shotokan Karate. I'm new to this forum, so I thought I would introduce myself! What brings me here? Well I'm very passionate about Karate, so it's nice to be able to come to a forum like this and interact with other Karateka outside my local club!

The proper definition of Karateka is a Karate Practitioner, so anyone, from the guy who looks up videos on youtube and emulates that, to very high Dan grades are Karateka IMHO.

just 08 months from white to green belt? Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised myself to be honest! We start at 12th kyu at my club, I triple graded my first grade (white belt to 10th kyu in 1 1/2 months), then a single grade up to yellow and white, then a double grade up to green! On a side note, I realise that people like Kanazawa got to shodan within 2 years, but is it normal for a Karateka to be graded so high so quickly?

I saw the question like you. I'll add that a karateka is someone dedicated to keep training even when their body is tired. To keep training and push their limits. As well, someone who is humble enough to not allow themselves to be provoked into violence. Yes Indeed! I find it slightly annoying when I see so many white belts, or even green belts like myself, who just will not put the effort in!

Backflips IMO are something that's done for demonstration rather than actual use, I'd rather use something like a knife hand strike to the neck on the street, than use a backflip

I think what you're asking here, is what makes a GOOD Karateka, which IMO is a much different story to putting your suit on and stepping on a mat, which is what makes any Karateka. I think a GOOD Karateka is passionate, driven, self motivated and above all, always willing to learn and improve =]

Hi Everyone! I've been doing Shotokan for about 8 months, I just got graded to Green belt and I'm told it's the hardest period for Karateka to go through, from Green to Purple is the hardest transition according to my Sensei. I'm just wondering all you post green belts, how did you find the Experience? Do you know anyone who has dropped out after Green?