JR 137

Math people... What’s the answer here?

No different on the bag at all. I need to restart, due to a few months of inactivity on the bag. When I first started, and when I restart (soon), it’ll be working the basics. Something like 20 of each, focusing on mechanics: jab, cross, hook, uppercut, front, roundhouse, side, hook, and crescent kicks; each leg, and front foot and back foot. Then work some combinations, not going too fast nor too hard. All of this stuff at a pace fast enough to get my heart pumping and break a good sweat, but at marathon pace rather than sprint pace. It’s a balance of speed, power, and technique. Technique being most important, but not at the exclusion of the other two, if that makes sense. Get some good music and have at it. As stupid as it sounds, some days I’d rather hit the bag than go to the dojo. I block out the outside world during both, but with the bag I get into a rhythm and I don’t have to think much. It’s just me doing what I feel I need to do rather than following someone else’s agenda, if that makes sense. I’ve never chosen the bag over the dojo, but there’s been times I didn’t miss the dojo on a night it was closed.

I’d like to know how they compare to Shureido’s traditional cotton gis such as the K-10 and K-11 from someone who’s actually worn one. I’ve been contemplating a Shureido New Wave 1, but I hate buying stuff, especially expensive and clothing type stuff sight unseen.

Hanging bag - Outslayer 6ft Muay Thai bag Freestanding - Century BOB XL Or both Hanging bags are better than freestanding. Freestanding are for when you can’t hang a bag or need to move it a lot, such as in a dojo where you’d line them up against a wall and roll them out when necessary IMO. I own a Century BOB XL. I love the realistic target practice it gives me. There’s things on it that I just can’t do on any standard heavy bag such as uppercuts, certain open hand strikes, etc. I mean, I CAN do them, but there’s no comparison. The reason I say a 6ft Muay Thai bag is because you can practice low kicks and face height punches in combination seamlessly on a 6ft bag, whereas a standard bag is too short. Outslayer is expensive compared to sporting goods store bags. But they’re easily worth every penny if you actually use the thing consistently. And buy it filled. There’s absolutely no point in filling it yourself, as they’ll do a far better job.

MatsuShinshii, My teacher doesn’t call himself that nor refer to himself as such. We call him that and refer to him as such. It’s a title he was given by his teacher. Funny coincidence, the other day a new-ish student in the dojo was asking about his title. He told him what it meant and immediately followed it with “I miss the days when my title was sensei; I think that’s more appropriate. But Kaicho (his teacher) gave me this title and wants me to use it, so I do.”

Glad to hear from you and see things are going well, tubby.

To me this is bang on. A black belt should mean mastering of the basics....."mastering" being the key word here. Many time I see the interpretation of mastering to be "barely fumbling through" with a lack of a solid basic foundation and consistent performance. I don't expect a new shodan black belt to be super human, but I would expect that they would have a solid knowledge of basic techniques, decent form, have their required kata down pat, and know basic applications. If they are regularly making mistakes in the kata, their basic form is sloppy and their lacking some fundamental skills then this person has not demonstrated that they have master the basics. I don't think we do karate (regardless of style) and flavors by advancing students who are not ready yet. Define mastery, because that word has very broad meanings. My former sensei claimed he’s never truly mastered anything, and nor will he ever. Mastery to some means perfection, and/or there’s no room for improvement. I think a shodan has shown proficiency in the basics/foundation of the art. A shodan must be able to use/apply those basics in many different situations. Kyu ranks should be able to look at a shodan and get a relative textbook view of the techniques. Obviously people’s physical abilities differ, and one has to take physical impairments/disabilities, and age into consideration, but a shodan must be able to apply what’s required for the rank. I’ve looked at kyu ranks as building a robot. The techniques are basic, and there’s little variation. I look at the lower yudansha ranks as making the art their own and starting to pass it on (1st-3rd dan or so). I view the middle yudansha ranks as teachers who are still making the art their own, but are more preserving and passing it down to the next generation (4th-6th or so). I view a master (6th and up) as someone who’s truly made the art their own, is fully versed in it, and is overseeing the teachers. The teachers’ teachers if you will. The highest I’ve attained is about 3 months before my nidan test, so what do I really know? I guess what I’m really trying to say is when you watch a shodan spar, you should clearly see him/her using the techniques the art has taught him/her this far, using them effectively, and not “getting lucky” nor the techniques working by chance. There’s other things too, but this is the easiest and most reliable assessment IMO. Without that ability, the rest of it, while important too in the grand scheme of things, is just window dressing. I'm not sure but I think when you cut and pasted this you must have pasted my quote under Lupin1's and vice versa. First off my definition of mastery is as I have stated in previous posts. I do not believe a person can master this art. Pure and simple. Master denotes that you have "mastered" the art itself, meaning there is nothing further to learn. I've been studying the arts for 40 years and can tell you that I have not learned everything. My Shinshii studied the art for 72 years and has never told me that there was nothing further to learn. I personally can not stand the title "Master" because IMHO it's nothing more than a way to boost an ego. That and again, using the very definition of the word, it's a down right lie. Having said that a Shodan should be able to show a great deal of proficiency. Know and have the attained skill of the Mudansha grades and the curriculum contained within. And most importantly be able to handle themselves in a fight. My issue with most black belts these days is that they were given the grade for reasons other than what they should be given for. For one thing - if they can not fight or at minimum defend themselves. The whole concept of it's just another belt perpetrates this way of thinking that the belt means nothing. Well my typical question to this is "at what point does the student actually resemble a BB? Sandan? Yondan? Godan? When can they actually fight and handle themselves? Doesn't this matter anymore? Isn't this the point? Another belt? Not in my mind. It is a beginning point but it's not the beginning. That is what the white belt is reserved for. I can see a white belt not being able to defend themselves but not a BB. Just my 2 cents. I hit the quote button, and that’s what it spit out. It wasn’t directed at anyone particularly, but that conversation contained within it in general. I really liked your previous post and agree in principle. But I would put something in there that I’m not sure how you feel and would appreciate your feedback... The people I’d truly consider masters wouldn’t consider themselves masters forthe reasons you’ve stated/in the way you’ve stated. None of them I’ve met would say they’ve learned everything there is to learn. Tadashi Nakamura (my organization’s founder) has stated he will never accept a 10th dan as long as he’s alive, because he feels he’ll be learning until the day he dies. Side note - he did not promote himself to his current kudan. He was promoted to nanadan by Mas Oyama, and his hachi and kudan were awarded by a Japanese budo organization. I’m not sure of the specifics, and it’s not something he advertises. I don’t view the term nor title of master, actually I prefer shihan, as someone who’s got nothing left to learn. I view the title as someone who’s mastered karate RELATIVE to the overwhelming majority of practitioners. Compared to just about everyone else out there, they’ve mastered the art. And there’s “masters’ masters” in a sense; the ones who are on another level; the ones who stand above the rest of the masters (not phony masters, but legitimate ones). People like Fumio Demura, Morio Higaonna, etc. I consider them the masters’ master, if that makes sense. And I’m quite sure that people at their level still learn. My teacher is a nanadan. He’s been an active karateka for 43 years, give or take. He’s taught for about 35 years, and ran his own dojo for about 30. His title is shuseki shihan and he is one of only 5 or 6 people in our organization with that rank and title. He doesn’t refer to himself as that title, but we call her m that. In my opinion he’s earned it. Has he mastered karate in the sense that there’s nothing left to learn nor improve? No. But he’s mastered it relative to practically everyone I know. And he’s mastered Seido Karate relative to just about everyone in the organization. There are only 5 people in the entire organization (about 30,000 members total) that hold a higher rank than him. I’d say that’s mastery, relatively speaking.

Excellent tips thus far. I’ll add... Get a good set of bag gloves. I know people like hitting bags bare-handed, but it’s just not for me. I bought a set of Title World Gel Bag gloves. They’re $100, but they’re so worth it. I was using Century Brave MMA gloves beforehand, and honestly it was horrible. My fists were swelling up at the striking point, it was getting hard to make a fist, etc. Switched over and near instant relief. And gloves have a great benefit - they’re far heavier, giving you a better workout (deltoids burn!), and they’ll increase your hand speed. I know it’s really hard to do when the adrenaline’s flowing, but don’t hit too hard. Think precision, accuracy, timing, and flowing combinations. Think of mechanics of the punch - where your hands start from, where your feet are, the path your punches are following, etc. These are far more important earlier on than raw power. Once you’re comfortable, increase power. Increase intensity. But don’t go all out right off the bat; it’s called progression. All of that advice includes kicks too. Last thing - get the app called Coach’s Eye. It’s about $5 or $10. Such a great app to record, play in slo-mo, reverse, etc. You can even draw on it, such as straight and angled lines. Video doesn’t lie. Edit: To add... Freddie Roach has some great boxing tutorials on YouTube, particularly hitting a bag/punching.

Do you have a TrackWrestling account? You can get some access to great wrestling there. My folks have been able to watch my son's state matches the last few years with that site. Its a really good one. RW, you might look into some of the different streaming channel services that are out there, like Pluto. I've only glanced at it, but it has some streaming fights, I think, and some channel like that may give you access to some Muay Thai competitions, which might be what you are looking for. I’ve never heard of TrackWrestling. Does it have NCAA wrestling and/or Olympic qualifying-type level stuff? I’d love to watch some Muay Thai too. Haven’t seen Muay Thai, especially from Thailand in quite some time. ESPN used to have it every now and then. I saw some Kyokushin and knockdown competitions on ESPN a while back too. Last I remember seeing was when I was an undergrad (I graduated in 2001). I’d love a combat sports/MA channel. Boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, Judo, karate, etc. I’d even put up with MMA for it If anyone out there is capable of delivering this channel, I’ve even got a name for it - how about “The Main Event”

I don’t know what it is, I just can’t get into watching MMA. It just doesn’t do anything for me. And this coming from a guy who loves (or at least loved) watching boxing and wrestling. Boxing isn’t like it used to be. A big part of what turns me off is PPV and it’s outrageous prices for both sports. I used to have HBO primarily for the great boxing. Combine that with over the top personalities just to sell the fights, and I’m all set. Looking back, boxing had some characters, but it wasn’t every boxer, nor was it everyone all at once. The guys who were characters were just naturally that way, or they did a great job coming off as such. It’s like every single one of the guys today took a page from that book and ran with it. They all got so loud and dramatic that it seems more like the WWF than anything else. It’s turned into white noise to me. Where’s the guy that just gets into the ring/octagon without saying a word, dismantles his opponent, grins, and goes about the same thing next time? The guy who thinks “he can say and do whatever he wants, but when the bell rings everyone’s going to know the deal?” I miss that guy. The guy who comes to fight and just “brings it.” I watch some Kyokushin tournaments on YouTube every now and then. I wish Enshin karate would post some full length stuff from the Sabaki Challenge and have the production quality of UFC and the like. It’s just not big enough for that though. Reminds me... I haven’t watched any good high level wrestling (not pro wrestling) in a while either.

Thank you very much for that post, Danielle. Truly one of the best and most accurate posts I’ve read anywhere in quite some time. I’d say here’s to 16.5 more, but I’ve got a feeling it’ll be far more than that.

I GUESS he knows what he’s doing, if you like that whole sharp, strong, etc. type of performance On a serious note, he’s quite good.

I really liked the Fight Quest Kajukenbo episode. If you want to get all hyped up by Kaju, watch that one. I got so hyped up about it that I went to a semi-local Kaju school when I was looking around to restart training. What I saw on tv and what I saw there didn’t exactly match up. Seemed like nice people who were very well intentioned, but just not the right place for me for several reasons. Regardless of the style, what’s most important is who’s teaching and how it’s being taught, and who you’ll train alongside. In regards to the question of Kaju first vs the individuals first, I’d say Kaju first. If you want to delve deeper into one aspect or even train the weakest link, then go that route specifically.

Doesn’t seem anything like a test/grading to me, just an exhibition.

Karate Kid II Daniel: “What are these things?” (Looking at scrolls on wall) Miyagi: “Rules to Karate. Rule number 1, karate for defense only. Rule number 2, first learn rule number 1.”

To me this is bang on. A black belt should mean mastering of the basics....."mastering" being the key word here. Many time I see the interpretation of mastering to be "barely fumbling through" with a lack of a solid basic foundation and consistent performance. I don't expect a new shodan black belt to be super human, but I would expect that they would have a solid knowledge of basic techniques, decent form, have their required kata down pat, and know basic applications. If they are regularly making mistakes in the kata, their basic form is sloppy and their lacking some fundamental skills then this person has not demonstrated that they have master the basics. I don't think we do karate (regardless of style) and flavors by advancing students who are not ready yet. Define mastery, because that word has very broad meanings. My former sensei claimed he’s never truly mastered anything, and nor will he ever. Mastery to some means perfection, and/or there’s no room for improvement. I think a shodan has shown proficiency in the basics/foundation of the art. A shodan must be able to use/apply those basics in many different situations. Kyu ranks should be able to look at a shodan and get a relative textbook view of the techniques. Obviously people’s physical abilities differ, and one has to take physical impairments/disabilities, and age into consideration, but a shodan must be able to apply what’s required for the rank. I’ve looked at kyu ranks as building a robot. The techniques are basic, and there’s little variation. I look at the lower yudansha ranks as making the art their own and starting to pass it on (1st-3rd dan or so). I view the middle yudansha ranks as teachers who are still making the art their own, but are more preserving and passing it down to the next generation (4th-6th or so). I view a master (6th and up) as someone who’s truly made the art their own, is fully versed in it, and is overseeing the teachers. The teachers’ teachers if you will. The highest I’ve attained is about 3 months before my nidan test, so what do I really know? I guess what I’m really trying to say is when you watch a shodan spar, you should clearly see him/her using the techniques the art has taught him/her this far, using them effectively, and not “getting lucky” nor the techniques working by chance. There’s other things too, but this is the easiest and most reliable assessment IMO. Without that ability, the rest of it, while important too in the grand scheme of things, is just window dressing.

If a full can of Aquanet won’t hold it, nothing will.

Sorry to hear this news, Bob. I’m sure you’ll find a way to keep training and teaching while staying safe and healthy. Like everything else in karate, one must adapt accordingly to whatever they’re facing.

I've met some college wrestlers with biscuit ear, but I think by and large its starting to go by the wayside, as headgear is required for wrestling in most areas now, at least at the kid level. BJJers and Judoka seem to have a strong dislike for headgear. I did take my boy to a tourney in Nebraska, though, and some of the age groups weren't required to wear headgear. For the most part, though, they did, which I think speaks to the awareness that's been put out there about it. That's on the wrestling side of it. I'm not sure how prone BJJ grapplers are to getting it, if they are at the same percentage as wrestlers. As long as they wear it and keep it somewhat clean, headgear works. It’s mainly caused by rubbing against the mat and each other. I think it’s fungal too, but don’t hold me to that. Possibly bacterial.

I worked the NCAA Div I tournament the year Cael Sanderson made history by being the only wrestler to go all 4 years without a single loss and winning a national championship every year. (2002?) I’m permanently scared by what I saw at weigh-ins - a team of dematologists checking every square inch of each wrestler’s skin like a prison intake. They were all equipped with magnifying glasses and flashlights. Herpes was an instant disqualifier. Ringworm was so mild compared to everything else. For a while, it was thought that skin conditions would kill the sport. Some things, you just can’t unsee. Thanks for the reminder. And I was an intern, so I didn’t get paid.

Little known history of Tsuki-No: Developed by Seigo Tada, founder of Seigokan Goju Ryu. They call it Kihon Tsuki-No Kata (basic/foundational punching kata). They also have Kihon Uke-No Kata (basic blocking kata). Seigokan Tsuki-No is slightly different; I don’t think they do the nukite at the end, rather they do a jun tsuki, I think. Popular false history outside of Seido: Kaicho developed it. Most likely, he brought it to Kyokushin when he was the chief instructor at honbu in Japan. I’ll ask him personally if and when the time is appropriate. My personal history with it: We did it in my former organization. My sensei told me he was going to teach it to me next class. Next class, he said they dropped it from the syllabus last night in a meeting at honbu. Apparently they thought “it wasn’t traditional enough because it was Mas Oyama’s kata.” My sensei at the time wasn’t happy with that, as he said it was his favorite kyu kata. Retrospectively, they were wrong about its origins. Other personal history: Somehow shuseki shihan and jun shihan both think I know it and ask me to do it at least once a week until I remind them. They’ve got some sort of mental block about me not knowing it. I was the only one in class tonight, and we went over every kata I know. Of course he called out Tsuki-No. I told him I don’t know it. He said “then I guess it’s time to teach you it.” After the makuso and yoi, he stopped, shook his head, and said “never mind; I’ll teach you it at brown belt like I’m supposed to” and chuckled. I guess he forgot it was a brown belt kata and I’m still an advanced green belt, even though he had the syllabus in his hand 30 minutes prior. Most people in the dojo say it’s their favorite kyu kata. From the outside looking in, it’ll probably be my second favorite after Saiha. I don’t know why, I just love Saiha. Sorry for the rambling

Tsuki-No kata. Pronounced Ski-no... I haven’t learned it yet, but as far as I know that’s how we do it too. I think the counts are the same too. Tsuki-no and Seido IV are the only kyu kata in the syllabus I don’t know.

Interestingly enough, in my 10+ years of competitive wrestling and several years coaching on the mat, I never got it nor did anyone I practiced with. We all wore wrestling head gear throughout practice, except conditioning and warmup, so I’m attributing it to a lack of ear protection. Wrestling headgear is designed to protect the ears, not the head. Skin conditions such as ringworm are another matter though. I never got any, but I’m one of the very few.

I like to follow Tommy Lasorda’s approach when teach. And parenting, managing staff, etc... (Paraphrased) “Managing a ball club is like holding a dove in your hands. Hold it too tightly, and you’ll suffocate it. Hold it too loosely, and it’ll fly away.”

Without knowledge, there is no wisdom. All wise people are knowledgeable, yet I know plenty of knowledgeable people who aren’t very wise at all. Wisdom is the appropriate application of knowledge.