JR 137

It's counterintuitive, but studies have found wearing it LEADS to more concussions, not CAUSES more. The reasoning is the athlete feels like he/she can sustain more force with it on, so takes more chances, leads more with the head, etc. While the single blow to the head concussion is a real and serious thing, the lesser and more repeated blows to the head should be just as much of a concern. The repeated trauma causes slight damage over and over, and quite often doesn't show any symptoms until down the road. Think boxers, (American) football players, and soccer players who've "never had a concussion." They've never had a symptomatic concussion, but the effect of the daily lower impacts adds up. Helmets/head protection is a very good thing, so long as people wearing it know their limitations, are aware of the cumulative effects of lesser contact to the head, and train like they're not wearing them IMO, i.e. protecting themselves like they would have without them.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

If I ever make it to your dojo, I'll definitely bring a kitchen sink with me. Hopefully you won't take it from me and beat me senseless with it though. :) LOL!! You can bring the kitchen sink with you, if need be. I won't take the kitchen sink from you because...I won't need it. Well played, sir.

If I ever make it to your dojo, I'll definitely bring a kitchen sink with me. Hopefully you won't take it from me and beat me senseless with it though. :)

I assume you're talking about tournament scores? If no other kata scores higher than Unsu, then everyone would be performing Unsu. That being said, I think all things being equal technically between two competitors, the competitor doing the more difficult kata would probably score a little higher. It shouldn't, as there's technically no points for difficulty in any judging criteria I've seen, but there usually is some bias. Gymnastics has that figured out with a maximum allowable score according to the individual routine, but as far as I've seen, kata competition doesn't. A kata such as taikyoku 1 can technically "beat" Unsu, however I highly doubt anyone has scored a 3rd dan who did taikyoku 1 higher than a direct competitor who did a rank appropriate kata such as Unsu. Unless of course the one doing Unsu was disqualified, completely botched it, etc. What "beats" Unsu? Anything done perfectly. And nothing at all (if it's the highest level of difficulty kata). Edit: My CI was telling us a story about a tournament he judged a while back. It was our organization's tournament (closed to anyone outside), and the highest ranked guys decided to compete against each other in kata. They were all doing the longest and most elaborate kata in our organization. One of them decided he wasn't going to play their game, so he did Sanchin kata. He took his gi top off to show everyone the tension in his technique. Sanchin is a very simple kata with about 15 counts and taught at 6th kyu. He scored a 10 across the board. The others were doing 3rd and 4th dan kata with 54+ counts and some pretty complex movements. To the best of my teacher's knowledge, the only other person to ever score 10 was William Oliver (of Fighting Black Kings fame). For reference, Sanchin kata... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rhy0QlvABd8 A few kata it beat... Koryu Gojushiho (aka Sushiho in Kyokushin)... Kanku (Seido/Kyokushin version)... Seido Empi No Kata Sho... None of those were from the tournament I mentioned, but all were performed. The guy who did Sanchin won, hands down. Even his competitors agreed. And the others did extremely well, so it wasn't like a win by default.

Great question. Hopefully someone can help us both!

As Tempest said, it is a tricky subject. DWx illustrates the exact counter argument I had in mind. Here's one for you... I'm a CPR instructor. I've been fortunate enough to have never needed to perform CPR. I initially learned it from someone who did (he was a retired firefighter). I've co-taught it with many people who did, and picked up a lot of tips from them. Some of the people I've taught CPR to have used it. Does not having performed CPR mean I shouldn't teach it, nor am I not an expert in it? Does teaching people who've used it give me credibility? I know it's not the same thing, but it's relevant in a way. I've never asked my teacher if he's ever been in a "real fight." I see what he's teaching. It makes sense to me, and I feel he's great at conveying it. Michael Jordan is by all credible accounts the best basketball player ever. His coaching career was quite short. The only hall of famer as a player and coach I know of is Dan Gable (HOF collegiate wrestler and HOF collegiate wrestling coach). How many fights did Cus D'Amato win? Angelo Dundee?

When your Sensei promotes you. When your Sensei tells you your ready. This is partly up to your Sensei and partly up to you. I have turned down promotions when I did not feel ready and there is nothing wrong with this but must be done in a humble manner so as not to make it seem that you are questioning the instructors decision. Kind of a touchy subject and should be approached only if there is a good reason you feel you are not ready. Most modern dojo/schools have a time in grade component to their grading. However, NO, there is no set time. Everyone learns at their own pace and everyone has different abilities. To say that everyone should test at a given time is IMHO not practical. Some will be ready sooner than others and others will take more time than average. Minimum/ Maximum grading time is based on an average. That does not cover everyone. Your Sensei is the deciding factor of when and if you test. Focus on skill. Belts can be bought. They are only as good as the person wearing them. Being a BB is different than having a BB. Again you can buy a belt or can even be given a belt. However it means nothing if you get destroyed by a Hachikyu. The belt is only as good as the person wearing it. You focus should be on obtaining the knowledge and skill. The belt does not represent you. You could be a black belt and be wearing a white belt. If the belt defines who you are then do you loose the knowledge and skill you already had obtained to earn the black belt? On a different note, if you are given a black belt and get beat by a schools green belt are you truly a black belt? You define the belt not the other way around. Concentrate on skill and knowledge and the belts will come. If you hold value in the belt, what happens if you change styles and are forced to start over? Belts mean nothing. As Sensei8 likes to say, "proof is on the floor". It's not around your waist. See my Royce Gracie quote above. Fits exactly what you're saying, IMO. You reminded me of when I first got my black belt during my first stint in karate in my mid 20s... I spent 4 years chasing a black belt. I trained hard, and was in class 4-5 days a week, and multiple classes every day. I helped teach and taught on some classes myself. My sensei was a great guy who truly believed in my ability and my potential to teach. I had black belt on a pedestal. I thought I'd be some amazing karate machine once I earned that belt. I was awarded it on a Saturday, and came in for my first black belts only class on Monday night. I finally felt like part of the club (no, we didn't have a "black belt club"). I didn't walk in thinking I was going to show everyone what's what, but I stupidly thought I could hang with those guys; the guys who'd been beating me down (in a good way) all those years. They were glad I was there and the ones who couldn't make it for my test congratulated me before class started. After we bowed in and got going, it became painfully obvious (figuratively and literally) that despite the shiny new belt around my waist, I was still JR. Not some new and improved JR, but the same guy I was the night before my shodan test. I was like the dog who finally caught the car he'd been chasing - now what am I supposed to do with it? It put the whole rank thing into perspective. Now when my teacher invites me to test, I still get excited. Not for the promotion, but the test itself. I like the intensity of it and being pushed out of my comfort zone; the promotion and new belt are just more or less good side effects.

I don't know why exactly, but I immediately thought of the Hit-Away when I first saw it... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-TAJowYPP4 Picture a bunch of college clowns drinking in a basement while watching a baseball game, and taking turns at the Hit-Away that's attached to a support beam, and you've got a great picture of several of my college buddies. And me. The Sparbar is one of those things that made me wonder "Why didn't I think of that?" Looks like a great tool. Too pricey for me, but what isn't? I'd love to get one that I could attach to something like a support beam in my basement. Edit: Then again, a boxing slip bag is pretty similar and probably cheaper. And could be homemade with a small ball and some sort of net... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U12ys8kCGrA I've been wanting to get one.

Welcome to the forum

Im not trying to take a shot at you, Brian, but why do they have patches that say that? Doesn't the belt say that in its own way? Doesn't their abilities and leading class say that? Sorry, it's just one of those things I can't wrap my head around.

"A black belt only covers two inches of your (butt). You have to cover the rest." ~ Royce Gracie That pretty much sums up everything I feel about my own rank. Chase improvement, not belts. In addition to everything that's been said, your sensei knows when you're ready to move forward/promote. If you don't trust his opinion, why are you training there? Trust your sensei. We all doubt ourselves often; others with genuine knowledge often see what we don't.

I like and respect the responses so far. But here's my thing... If it's to slow down the practice of bunkai (in all it's forms), wouldn't you slow down every movement? If you subscribe to jodan uke/high block is a joint lock/arm break (I do), then shouldn't that be done slowly? I've seen gedan brai/low block broken down as a neck twist; combine that with a 180 turn (taikyoku 1), and you've got to go pretty slow in practice. Yet I haven't seen it done slowly in any school. The more I ponder it, the more I think it's duty emphasis on particular movements. And possibly the whole sport movement adding to it, depending on school. Noah: Do you do Seiunchin? Is the opening sequence done slow or fast? Ive never seen it done fast. It would be interesting.

I've often wondered it. Why are some movements done slowly in some kata? Examples... A lot of movements in Pinan 5: In the beginning after the inside-out block and punch to the sides, the hands come back slowly to the side as they're stacked on top of each other. After the high cross-block, the hands twist slowly before the step and punch. The slow knife hand inside-out block (not sure what to call it in English nor Japanese) in kiba dachi before the crescent kick/elbow/backfist combo. Saiha/Saifa: After the 3 initial steps with elbow/backfist into kiba dachi, there's a slow step into kokutsu dachi with a slow shuto chudan uchi uke/gedan brai (again with the terms). After the morote haito/morote jodan tsuki, both hands come up and do a big circle, one hand open, one closed. This is done slowly. I could keep going in a bunch of different kata, but I think you get the gist of it. I know there's variations of these movements and not all schools do them slowly, but there's many examples in many different kata. Is it emphasis on a key movement? I don't think it's really done to dramatize the kata, although it does help make it look cool sometimes. If you're into that sort of thing. I've just never heard an explanation, so I thought I'd ask here. Edit: Some movements are done under high tension with ibuki breathing. Sanchin and tensho come to mind. I understand coordinating breath, movement and tension in those. I'm talking about the movements that aren't done with ibuki breathing.

Hikite is an example of the beauty of the art of karate - hikite can be whatever you need it to be when you need it to be something. It could be a grab and pull of any part of the attacker; it could be holding said part while you strike or joint lock; it could be twisting your own body as you strike with the other hand/arm in a push-pull sense; or it could simply be cocking your hand back so you have more power in your next strike with it. If you're not a thinker, all it is is a good way to drop your guard so your opponent can get a free shot. Any good example of art is supposed to have many interpretations. There's no right nor wrong, but there are better and worse interpretations of the artwork. Karate is an art, and as such, falls under this premise too.

We wear the organization's kanji (Seido Juku) on the left chest, and the organization's logo on the left sleeve. Kanji and logo are blue; I have no idea why blue was chosen. Our logo is a plum blossom, which is our founder's (Tadashi Nakamura) family crest. It has 3 circles within it, representing love, respect, and obedience (not subservience). Pic of me in gi (with Tadashi Nakamura 2 years ago)... https://m.facebook.com/AdirondackSeidoKarate/photos/a.620020301375195.1073741826.346940395349855/916150475095508/?type=3&source=54

We have a few regulars here from Texas and the surrounding areas. How is everyone doing? Anything we can do to help?

We go back the Wednesday after Labor Day every year. I have to go in the day before students start for teacher professional development. The 2nd biggest waste of time day every year. The day before school starts is always the most depressing day of the year for me. I realize how many things I didn't accomplish over the summer. Then the first day of school begins and I'm fine again. Funny thing happened a few weeks ago - one of my coworkers said "I can't believe we only have 28 days left until we have to go back to work." My reply - "In what other profession would someone complain about only having 28 days of vacation left?"

Welcome to the forum

Happy birthday, Zaine!

Congratulations

That was then, so short lived... ~Kaicho of the SKKA/Hombu ~Owner and CI of the Kyuodan Dojo This is some of the best news I've heard in a while. Congratulations for getting things back on track!

I think you need OCD tendencies to last any length of time in MA. How many times have I done Taikyoku I? How is it I still haven't come close to perfecting it? How is it I haven't given up trying to perfect it? How is it that I keep trying to perfect it, knowing I never will? I've done that kata every class since I first learned it. We do what we call the 4 block drill - high block, opposite hand high punch; punching hand then does inside-out block, opposite hand middle punch; punching hand low block, opposite hand low punch; punching hand outside-in block, opposite hand middle punch, then other hand middle punch. I learned that one my 3rd month of karate. We did that one at my previous dojo and my current dojo. We do it up and down the dojo floor (the entire sequence is one count) during kihon. Every single class. I honestly can't remember a single class where we didn't do it. Still haven't perfected it yet. Never will. But I'll keep trying Insanity? Well... I keep doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result every time And my teacher keeps saying the same things every time, expecting a different result If you don't have OCD tendencies, karate probably isn't for you.

What is a cynic? "A man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing." ~ Oscar Wilde I'm with LLLEARNER here. I won't hesitate to buy something expensive if it's worth it. The BOB XL is pretty expensive. It's the best freestanding bag I've come across. I'll pay for more for it because I use it and don't second guess my purchase. I'd rather an Outslayer 6ft MT bag, but I can't hang one. There's far cheaper freestanding bags out there than the BOB XL. From a durability and a hitabity (is that a word?) standpoint, it's easily worth its price to me. Buying the cheaper stuff I've seen would've been a waste of money. I own and wear a $165 Shureido gi. Ridiculously expensive. It fits me right, feels great, and is durable. The last one I had was worn 4-5 days a week for 5 years. It would've easily lasted twice as long, but I lost it during one of my many moves during my 15 year hiatus from karate. The $65 Century heavyweights I wore prior to that lasted maybe 18 months before they were trashed. So $165 once, or now $100 every other year for the other one? And I really lucked out on tuition at my dojo. It's so much cheaper than everywhere else in the area, and it's the best dojo in the area. It's less than half the price of the commercial dojos, and no contract (not that that makes a difference once you've found the right place). I consider myself very frugal. $5 for a shirt I'll never wear is a huge waste of money. $75 for a shirt that fits right and I actually wear for years is a great deal. Seriously, all my dress shirts are Brooks Brothers (I buy several twice a year during their big sale). I'm so frugal that I can't bring myself to spend $30 on shirts that I know I won't wear more than a year. I won't buy a $50 pair of shoes that I know will break down and hurt my legs and feet after about 3 months. I'll buy the Brooks Brothers shirt for $75 because I know I'll get at least a solid 5-6 years out of them, and I'll buy $180 Clark's shoes because I'll get at least a year out of them (I have serious issues with footwear). I hate trying to find pants. I want better pants than the $40 American Eagle khakis I wear, but they're the only ones that fit me. What aggravates me to no end is how they'll all be the same size when I buy them, then 6 months later they'll all be different sizes even though I wash and dry them all together. Rant over.

OMG that Video I just want to facepalm because of the comments. But some of the techniques could do some damage, but some are indeed unrealistic. We have some Pre-Arranged Sparring + Bunkai that feel unrealistic or wouldn't happen in a Self-Defense Situation. Albeit our Gyakusoku Kumite is teaching us various different skills that would be benefiting us for a self-defense situation. Be it Distance + Timing, Angles, Open + Close Hand Techniques etc. Every one of our 1st Kyu's and Black Belts are required to create our own Self-Defense Routines that are dubbed Kyogi (I've posted previously about it). So our 1st Kyu Seniors are required to come up with 25 Separate Routines from Seeiunchin Kata, and each one can be as short or as long as they want just with the one rule of at least 1 technique (or part thereof) has to be from the kata itself. Yea, the video made me (for a second) forget what the thread was about. I did not realize Ashida Kim was a GM, now. I had assumed he was a "Master" but had no idea. Then again, haven't paid much attention since I read "Secrets of the Ninja" at 12 yr old As silly as it was, I gotta say I like the whole adding a stomp to the simultaneous block/strike, in the beginning. He mentioned ripping off the genitals. Even with super ninja strength, kinda seems like this would be next to impossible, if your opponent was wearing pants lol As far as silly techniques, I wouldn't say silly so much as techniques that just didn't take real fight dynamics into consideration. Like using both hands to set a lock, when the opponent still has a hand in play, and not turning to distance yourself from his free hand. I believe traditional "one steps" are a good tool but rarely do I see folks pause and examine their vulnerabilities in the process. When I do, it is normally from instructors that have been in real scraps (normally L.E.) and I latch on to them like a knowledge sucking leach Honestly, (gulp) on an individual technique level, the Ashida Kim stuff COULD work. But the extent he brings it to is just asinine at best. Sorry, but those techniques aren't going to rip off genitals, ears, faces, and throats (did I miss one ). A shuto/knife hand to the shoulder blade or back of the arm isn't going to break it. Those stomps while the guy is on the ground (then rolled over for more) won't all land if you put any power into a single one of them. If he demonstrated them individually or a few at a time in combination without making them sound like Mortal Kombat "fatality" moves, he'd be onto something. Where his absurdity shows is his long sequence and idiotic alleged damage that'll be done. Then he shows it at full speed, and it's just Gong Show.