JR 137

If I'm doing it, it's real karate. If I'm not doing it, it's fake karate In all seriousness, far too many people think what they're doing is right and everyone else is wrong. If it addresses your needs, it's real karate. If it doesn't, it's someone else's real karate. To paraphrase Ed Parker, when fist meets flesh, it's real karate (I added the "real" in there).

Happy birthday, Alex!

Hilarious!!! Funny you mention, even though in a joking manner, being able to occasionally kick someone in the head. I can barely roundhouse and hook kick above my waist during kihon. In sparring, I've surprised myself and sparring partners by being able to kick them in the head. I was sparring a 13 year old that's just about my height a few months ago. I faked a low roundhouse and went high without touching back down. I thought I hit his glove, about shoulder height, but it was actually his helmet. My CI said "watch your head contact with the juniors." I asked the kid if it was his glove, and he shook his head no and pointed to his head. Good thing it was only a tap. I think. No idea why I can kick that high in sparring and not during line drills. It's just like jumping - in high school I could touch the rim if I was going up for a rebound. If I tried to get the rim, I wouldn't come close.

I trained at a Ryu-Te Renmei dojo for a few months one summer (it was a temporary thing), which is/was Seiyu Oyata's system. The sensei had us practice high kicks, and even some jumping and spinning kicks during line drills. He always said "For flexibility and coordination practice only!" I think a kick to the ribs during kumite was considered a high kick. Kicking high, jumping, spinning, etc. is great for practice. It develops strength, coordination, balance, flexibility, etc. If you can roundhouse kick someone of comparable height in the head relatively easily, my logic tells me your roundhouse to an opponent's thigh, knee, or lower leg is going to be a lot better. The only way I'd kick an actual attacker above the waist is if I brought his head down. Doesn't mean I won't nor shouldn't try kicking as high as I can to improve physical attributes though.

It's truly great to see you keeping at it and being enthusiastic.

Survey completed. Welcome to the forum. Please stick around and converse with us.

We don't have any music in the dojo. But when I'm hitting a bag or stuff like that on my own... Metal. Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Motörhead, and a few others thrown in there. If I don't have music going, I start focusing on how tired I am. Using a Fitbit, I actually burn more calories and stay in a higher heart rate zone for longer when listening to music. It's not night and day, but it's enough to say so.

Joko Ninomiya's Sabaki Method: Karate in the Inner Circle is a great book IMO.

Welcome to the forum

A lot of people don't like change. I don't see how adding other stuff waters down anything. Unless of course you're changing what's being taught during Shorin-Ryu classes. If you were my teacher and you said "for class today, we're going to do yoga instead of karate" or kendo, I wouldn't be too happy. I signed up and pay for karate. I'd have no problem with if you incorporated some yoga principles into the stretching/warmup/cool down routine, so long as it was appropriate and beneficial, but I don't think that's what you're getting at. I'd get upset if the schedule changed and karate was no longer offered at the times I usually attend. I have a 4 year old and 6 year old daughters, so free time is pretty scarce. But that doesn't seem to be the case either. I don't see anything inherently wrong with the space being utilized during down time, provided the people using it aren't causing issues. It's a good thing - adding stuff like this supports the club and helps ensure the long term stability. Without income, the doors close. Maybe work out a deal with the yoga and/or kendo instructors where existing students and perhaps their families can attend for a discounted rate for a certain amount of time and or a certain number of classes? If my CI allowed a yoga instructor to come in during down time and my wife could attend for the right price (provided she liked the instructor), it would be great. Several of our significant others and several students at our dojo take yoga. I'm sure we'd rather have it in the dojo instead, so that it's less of a financial burden on my CI. Sure they'd be things like them making a mess or moving stuff around, etc., but those things work themselves out pretty quickly most of the time.

My advice is going to be pretty much the opposite of Dani's advice. No offense to Dani, as everyone's different, every art is different, and teachers within each art teach differently. That's what makes MA so interesting. 1 - I'm assuming you're turning sideways. Don't! Stay in your stance! Turning sideways gives your opponent your ribs and kidney, makes reaching your back easier, and gives them an easier front leg to sweep. You also limit your attack to your forward arm and leg (your back arm and leg are far further away). You're protecting your chest better, but trade offs are far worse IMO. 2 - this is normal when you first start sparring. It could be a conditioning thing, but quite often it's a nerves and breathing thing. You're in a new element, and you're probably holding your breath and tensing up quite a bit. You're also probably being very squirrelly in trying to block everything and hit every target that you're running out of gas. The cure - more sparring (read more experience mainly and more conditioning). What do you do in the meantime (experience can't be sped up!)? Keep your hands up, breathe, and wait for the fight to come to you; don't force things, and look for openings to attack, rather than trying to create them. 3 - As Dani mentioned - tai sabaki. What is tai sabaki? That gets trickier. I've heard it described in many different ways; my interpretation of it is body movement - footwork, angles, using body mechanics to add power to techniques. How you deal with a taller opponent depends on the individual opponent. The key is the range or distance. The only universal don't is don't be flat footed at their preferred range; that's where they can hit you at will and you can't reach them. I do one of two things - 1 - stay outside their range, and get in quickly on a counter attack, and get back out just as quickly. Picture a roundhouse kick coming in at your ribs: once you see it coming, arms up to block while stepping forward, then punches to the stomach, followed by getting right back out. 2 - stay close. Very close. So close they can't kick you. So close they have a hard time punching you. You'll see the frustrated look in a lot of people's faces. You've basically done to them what they're trying to do to you - keeping them at a range where you're comfortable and they're not. I've personally found with taller yet smaller/skinny guys, getting close and staying close works better. The craftier they are, the better they'll be able to use some sort of fake and wind up kicking you in the teeth. Protect your head! Don't get too comfortable. Taller and bigger guys don't care if you're close, as they'll lean on you and make you carry their weight in a sense. Those are the guys I typically stay away from then jump in. Either way, and it's true of practically every opponent - get to a place where they can't hit you while you can hit them (I know, groundbreaking stuff there:)) But think of it in those terms, and it'll make sense as you're sparring. Getting to that place typically involves getting off the line of attack by using angles and circular movements (tai sabaki). You're just starting out. People are going to be able to pick you apart. Expect that. Stay calm and learn how they're picking you apart. Don't run away, don't turn sideways into a ball/fetal position. Try to block going forward instead of backwards. Try circling rather than backing up when your opponent is moving forward. Those are easily the most important things at this stage IMO. The counters will come, but you have to be in the right place in order to counter. You're not going to be able to counter if you're all balled up and just trying to survive by not getting hit; you'll actually get hit more. Your brain is wired this way (as is just about everyone's), and you have to unwire it. Best advice anyone can give - listen to your sensei. He/she sees you in real time, day in and day out. We don't. Edit: Become very good friends with the gedan mawashi geri! Kyokushin's signature move. That roundhouse kick to the thighs will get you very far.

Welcome to the forum. Best of luck to you on your test

Welcome to the forum

15 rounds is a pretty high standard you are setting to get back to. here's hoping it's a clear path for you to get there. As for not making it through class, you are doing better than you were yesterday, so it's all progress They were 15 intense rounds too. I'd stay in my peak heart rate zone each round according to my Fitbit. Warmup was done before I counted rounds. It'll take a while, but I'll get there. Once the bag gets set up, I'll shoot for 8 rounds. I'll add a round here and there until I get up to 15. Or I'll die trying:)

I don't study Goju, and I'm certainly not an expert on it, but from what I've seen... Most Goju Ryu schools (excluding Chinese Goju, American Goju, and stuff like that) have more in common than differences. Most will teach the core Goju kata at similar ranks, and while there may be differences in how they're performed, they're not profound differences. A lot of that has to do with Miyagi not having a standardized curriculum. Some organizations may include kata Miyagi never taught and/or omit a kata, but as far as I've seen there's very few differences in curricula. I'm not sure how far off Japanese Goju (aka Goju Kai) is from Okinawan Goju curriculum-wise. I think the differences will be more of application of techniques between the various branches than actual kata. As far as Goju kata variation, I've seen more variation in Sanchin kata than any other kata, especially Miyagi developed kata such as Tensho and Saiha/Saifa. Sanchin is performed with and without turns, hands open (rare) and closed, different breathing, etc. amongst the various Goju organizations. Practicing this stuff for your stated reasons is all fine and good, but if you really want to delve into the why and how, an instructor is mandatory IMO. Without an instructor, you're just replicating movements; with an instructor, you're being educated as to why, how, etc. and receiving feedback to improve. Again, nothing wrong with what you're doing at all, but be aware you're really just getting a superficial understanding of it.

I keep trying to reply to your post, Bob, but no matter what I've written, Bulltahr said exactly what I wanted to say. I couldn't articulate it any better, so I just quoted it.

Keep "punching through." Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've been down the road before, right? Do what you did right last time, and don't fall into the same traps again (if any). Your battling through this inspires me to stop making excuses and just get after it!

I know a few people with MS. They all have varying degrees of it, and different symptoms. One thing they all have in common is they have good days and not so great days. Take full advantage of the good days. I'm along the same lines as you regarding motivation. Tell me I can't do it, and I'll work my butt off to prove you wrong. Unless of course someone's telling me I can't be an NBA center at 5'8. If earning your black belt is your way of sticking your middle finger up at MS, then do it. Not just with one hand, but both hands, held up high, right in its face!

I know you're not really looking for why it's practiced differently by different organizations, but I'll give you my take on it, as it may help you decide on which one you choose... Tensho kata was developed by Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju Ryu. It came from I believe White Crane Kung Fu, as he took elements of that system while developing the kata. He developed it as a counterpoint to Sanchin kata. Sanchin represented the hard (Go) part of the style, while Tensho represented the soft (Ju) of the style. Miyagi didn't have a set curriculum in Goju that everyone followed. He was standardizing a curriculum when karate was accepted by Japan as an official martial art, but he passed away well before he was done. Not having a standardized curriculum, Miyagi didn't teach all his students the same kata, nor did he teach them all each kata the same way; he altered kata to each student's strengths and weaknesses. After Miyagi's death, his students started teaching their own students the way they were taught; ideally they taught the art as they learned it from Miyagi. So for a teacher to say "my version is right and everything else is wrong" is inaccurate in a sense. People have changed it further since Miyagi's passing; if that's right or wrong is in the eye of the beholder. Which version of those is most common/popular? No idea. Which version is best? No idea. The version my organization does is closest to the last linked version. I study Seido Juku, which comes from Kyokushin. Kyokushin's founder (Mas Oyama) was a student of Gogen Yamaguchi, among others. Gogen Yamaguchi is Goshi Yamaguchi's deceased father. Gogen Yamaguchi was Chojun Miyagi's student, who brought Goju Ryu to Japan, naming it Goju-Kai. Which version should you practice? In a non-sarcastic way, whichever you like most. There haven't been any realistic "modern improvements" to the way kata is performed/should be performed. There's no true advantage in performing one version over another. If we're talking combative reasons, then maybe. Just maybe if the student knows the kata inside-out and it fits their philosophy better, but that's really a stretch.

I got back on the floor on Thursday night and again this morning. It seems like forever since I made it through a complete class. Last time I made it through was mid-November. I was going to the dojo to check in every week or two. It was one of those good and bad things - good just to be there, bad because everyone was asking how I was doing. I appreciated their kindness, but I felt like whenever I walked in the door it was all about me. I just wanted to say hi, sit, and watch class. Getting back on the floor was a great feeling, psychologically speaking. Physically, I was tight, stiff, and lacked that snap in my techniques. And I got winded pretty easily. But all that was in a good way. 20 minutes into my first class, my CI asked if I was ok. "Osu, shuseki shihan!" He smiled and didn't ask again. He asked today how I felt after last class, I smiled and said "sore, but the good kind of sore." Gotta get myself back to where I was beforehand. I've put on about 15 lbs from sitting around and drinking 3-4 cans of Pepsi every day. It was the only thing that kept me going. Now I have to ween myself off all the caffeine. Or maybe just stop drinking soda all together (that's my best option). Looking through this thread, it's amazing how miserable I was. It was frustrating to keep trying and keep setting myself back. I'm Not fully recovered from this whole ordeal, but I'm as close to it as I can be. I still don't have the energy I did beforehand, but I'm getting there. The best sign is that I'm not completely wiped out after I'm done. Just put an order in for a BOB XL. Once that's in the basement and weighted down, it's on! I was doing 15 3 minute rounds with a 1 minute break between on a bag before Lyme. Hopefully I'll get back there quickly. Lastly, thanks for all the encouragement along the way. It means more to me than I could ever express here.

Ouch! I need to go to my doctor to get a release to teach now. I guess that's what I get for asking a question. Honesty that stings. Yeah, but it's YOUR dojo. Who are you going to sue? Yourself?

My certificates are in a folder somewhere. My old belts are on a shelf because that's where they ended up. My daughters picked out one of those wall mount belt display racks for me for the Christmas before last. I keep meaning to put it up, but so I don't look like that guy who didn't appreciate their gift, not me. If I ran a dojo, I'd hang up my most current certificate. Not really for marketing purposes per se, but for verification purposes I guess. I would probably be wired if I claimed a dan rank and didn't have a certificate somewhere visible. Every dojo I've been in has one up, most usually aren't highlighted by spotlights nor anything else. Our organization lists all branch dojos and the CI's title, so if a student felt the need, they could verify that way. They could also inquire through our honbu. Our honbu hasn't updated CI's titles (which correlates with a specific dan rank) in some time. My CI and his wife are listed as a dan rank behind their current rank; they both promoted about 4 years ago. I don't think they've noticed, and quite truthfully I don't think they're bothered by it. Someone using it as a recruitment tool would, not that there's anything wrong with that; they did earn the rank/title after all. My CI and his wife have various achievement plaques on the walls recognizing them for things like branch chief of the year, etc. Their mentality is probably "what else are we going to do with them?" rather than "look at me!"

Happy birthday Devin!

I'd love to see some MA documentaries chronicling prominent figures' lives. The Demura one (The Real Mr. Miyagi) was quite good, but I think it dragged a bit towards the end. MA movies are usually too over the top for me. MA movies I own and love are Fighting Black Kings (although it is essential a Kyokushin propaganda film/documentary) and The Last Samurai. I'm not a Tom Cruise fan, but that ones a great film IMO. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is another favorite. I've been contemplating Fighter in the Wind.

I'd use private lessons as a fine tuning thing, or as a tutor type thing. It shouldn't replace group instruction under normal circumstances. And it depends on the teacher. Being a school teacher, I've seen people who are great at being in front of a class, yet aren't effective in a one on one setting, and excellent tutors who can't run a classroom to save their lives. I've seen this in MA too. There's an assistant instructor at our dojo who I'm not a big fan of the way she runs class. I won't turn my car around if I see her car in the parking lot and not my CI's, but I curb my enthusiasm when I walk in and see she's running class. But if I wanted to work on something and needed to pull someone aside before class, she's near the top of my list. She's helped me quite a bit. Our dojo doesn't offer private lessons, but they don't need to. There's several classes with about 6-7 students total (depending on the night/time; we've got about 25 consistent adults), and the CI and every other senior will work with anyone who asks. If they can't that night, they'll promise to help you next time. People don't hesitate to ask for help, and seniors don't hesitate to help. That's just the atmosphere of our dojo. When students are preparing for dan testing (done at honbu by our kaicho), our CI will set aside time for those students outside of the regular schedule. Seniors will come to help. Last time, we had 3 people testing for dan ranks. My CI arranged a Sunday "class" for them. There'd typically be 5 or 6 seniors helping out. There wasn't an end time, just a start time; they'd stay as long as necessary. Why'd all the seniors show up? They were happy to help out, got some good practice, and payed forward the favor their seniors did.