Kyonovice

How advanced is brown belt??? Well, yellow belt (8thh kyu in some Shotokan organisations) is meant to mean that you are grasping at the meaning of Karate, you are are trying hard to understand but, like sand, every time you grasp at in your hand, it slips through your grasp, therefore green belt (7th kyu) is like grass, you are able to hold on to certain elements but others float away with the breeze. Bearing in mind that, dependent on organisation, brown belt is 2 grades above green, you should be beginning to understand what Karate is about. However, once you reach Shodan level, well, that is where the understanding of Karate-Do truly begins...white belt (10th kyu) is novice, black belt shodan is beginner. Hope that helps in some way

My diet went totally out of control a few months ago, I put on quite a bit of weight and that led to a minor bought of depression, not happy with my body shape, uniform at work feeling tight etc. My wife also put on weight and decided to diet, we were having a take away once a week, consuming too much alcohol and generally eating the wrong things. Now, my wife has started "Slimming World", whilst I don't count my intake etc, I do maintain the basic fundamentals (third of a plate being protein rich, third being veg, third being potato, rice or similar). We've cut out takeaways at home (I still have "dirty refs" at work once a month when my team are on weekend late shifts, but then I tend to stick to chicken shish kebab with all the salad). Since doing that, my weight has decreased by about 4kg in a month, waist line is much better and I generally feel much much healthier. When I train I try to consume more protein and slow released carbs during the day time before training but that's it. I don't have a specific diet as such, just waatch what I do eat and when.

After a bit of opinion. In Shotokan, Kokutsu-dachi is long and low with a 75/25 weight ratio and back knoee bent outwards almost at a right angle. In Kyokushin-kai, it seems that the stance is much higher, shorter and wider, different weight ratio and the front foot heel is off the floor, the rear knee pointing in the direction of travel. I find Shotokan stance easier (maybe because I'm lazy?) but can see that the Kyokushin stance makes much more sense, knee pointing in the direction if travel makes power transfer more effective etc... What is peoples opinion on this?

I don't find this to be totally true. Having studied at many dojo's, my current Shihan focuses on all things combat. We study the grappling arts, kata, kihon and kumite. The kumite is hard and strong with full contact to the body, it's very much like documentaries I have seen of training in Okinawa. We also focus on body conditioning and fitness as, lets face it, these 2 do go hand in hand.

So, those listed in the title have been widely accepted by many as "masters" or founders of their own "style" of Karate having developed their art into what we now know (ok, so they've gone through various changes due to politics etc, but essentially they are the "founding fathers". Listening to the latest Iain Abernethy podcast this afternoon, he is talking about the future of Karate, where it goes from here and has got me thinking about who could possibly be the modern day equivalents to the passed masters of this great art. Indeed, Abernethy himself studied in Wado Ryu (I believe) before taking the pragmatic approach to what he does now, does this mean what he studies now is not Wado as he has gone back to Funakoshi's original texts and teachings and redeveloped from there? There are many many different forms of Karate out there, all based on similar backgrounds but with different interpretations, the same, but different. But do we have people such as Funakoshi, Motobu etc still in existence in the Karate world in this day and age or has Karate become something people study just because it looks good, because they've seen Bloodsport, Kickboxer, or any other martial arts based film a few too many times and think that studying Karate makes them the next Van Damme? Discuss

Hi all, Quick question (not sure if this is the right place, or the martial arts entertainment section is). Can anyone recommend and decent Karate magazines? Here in the UK we used to have loads of martial art mags, MAI, Traditional Karate Magazine, Black Belt International and Combat to name a few however they appear to have mostly faded away (I think MAI is still in publication). I know there is a Shotokan specific magazine which was very useful when I studied Shotokan and had some great articles in it, but that is all I can think of.

Thanks, I found some stuff on wiki but not much else. Do you know what Uechi Ryu is like? Sparring, stances ec? Coming from mainly shotokan with some kyokushin in the mix, the difference between those 2 in regards to stances is quite stark.

Hi all Does anyone know much about the above "styles"? I understand they are essentially the same as each other having split from an Okinawan style, however that is all I know. There is a club fairly local to myself that I want to try, but I know nothing about it! Any help please...

Yes, that Was quite immense, thank You. Just pre-ordered my copy of the book on Amazon, UK release date of 24 June

Anyone remember to the martial secrets podcast by Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder? Well they are back with this new podcast, seems they have a new format whereby they pick a subject out of the box in the studio and discuss that for 25 minutes http://www.stickmanpublications.com/category/podcasts/ Listened to the fort episode yesterday and it was good to bear them again.[/url]

Firstly, hello. No gw, my first day at karate... hard to remember as it was 31 years ago as a gooey 9 year old! I feel I was nervous but excited. Little did I know back then Just how important karate would become in my life!

After taking a break (again) from training recently due to a few reasons (self doubt - feeling I don't have the physical ability to train in the style, time issues, needing to take a "restock" of my work life balance among them), I am delighted to have contacted my Shihan last night and will be returning to the club on Monday evening with a completely new and fresh outlook on it all. So, yes sometimes a break is indeed needed.

I Couldn't agree more, having hint Sparred & Contact spared, knock down is the way to go. Kata needs to be traditional, show the world ALL that karate is!

Taken it's time but the Ioc FINALLY announce karate included in Olympic Games ! [urlhttp://https://www.britishkaratefederation.co.uk/news/karate-into-the-olympics-2020/[/url]

Anyone with access to BBC2, I have just discovered the above program. Basically it's 4 ex athletes (Donovan Bailey, Iwan THomas, Gareth Thomas (Welsh Rugby Union) and James Toseland) doing what Fight Quest and Human Weapon did. It's rather good, worth a watch

I have become somewhat lazy of late, working shifts I have found keeping fit hard and now my lifestyle has changed. I recognise that I badly need to lose some weight and get back to fitness, the problem (other than working shifts and having little "down time"), is that I have sciatica in my left side which is worsening and recently I have had some issue with my neck (think I trapped a nerve, then it hurt like hell for days - not so bad now but it worries me). Any suggestions on how I can regain my fitness without risking further injury?

Depends where you are and what you are using... During my day job the other day, we had a shout to a park where a lad was practising a marital art (possibly Iaido) with a replica katana. Obviously local residents saw some bloke with a sword and called it in.

Another trailer for this film/documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9qcI8mQF1o&feature=youtu.be It does looked good. On the back of this, I really think that there should be a docu-drama about the life and times of Funakoshi Sensei and other karate greats such as Mas Oyama etc....anyone interested in attempting it?

What the....where did this come from? I've not logged in for a while (thanks to work and events that have happened in the world recently). Thank you, not sure why I got member of the month, having read some of my posts, I have come across quite needy! I have to say that, despite my name being a hint towards Kyokushin, I am now redirecting towards Shotokan as it's in the best interest of my daughter...still, as they say, Karate is Karate, do we need styles?

I have had to think long and hard about my decision and have decided that it is for the best that I leave my experiment in kyokushin, I just cannot devote the time required to it due to my shifts. The fitness levels required are too much for at this stage, I can't dedicate to it. As my daughter likes Shotokan (and I feel personally it is a better fit for her if that makes sense), then we will continue at the KUGB Shotokan club, I can take her as often as I can on a Monday night and I know another KUGB club in my area that trains on a Tuesday and Thursday (adults only) so I can go there when my shifts don't permit a Monday night. I know I have gone on about this a lot, but it has been a seriously hard decision to make and I have hated myself for having to make it, but as I said I can't dedicate the time to Kyokushin (and mixing the 2 styles just won't work for me). Ossu

Well, that's made things clearer. Took my daughter to the Shotokan club, she much preferred it (which I thought would be the case - it's less intense for a start). Now I have to work out if I can train in both styles without them getting in the way as such. Shotokan club only trains on a Monday so I will be going there then, Kyokushin trains Mon, Wed, Fri so I can train there once a week too. Can grade at Shotokan but not sure about Kyokushin!!!

I have found a Shotokan group locally that will allow myself and my daughter to train for £5 for a 90 minute session, they only train once a week - Mondays. They have said that if I can find my old KUGB licence book (I think it's about somewhere), then I can retain my shodan grade that I hold. They have 10 juniors who train there so I feel it would be better for my daughter and being Shotokan, it is not as full on as Kyokushin for her. I feel I may be able to reach a compromise here as well, train in the Shotokan on a Monday (work permitting) and then train at the other dojo on a Wednesday/Friday (work permitting), this way I get the best of both worlds and don't feel as though I am deserting my other instructor. I am going to go to the Shotokan group tomorrow night if I finish work on time and then speak to my other instructor on Wednesday about it as I feel that is only fair.

I enjoy it to a degree, I would much prefer there being more students though. I have thought of just walking away, but the instructor is good and although I don't feel I owe him anything, I don't want to walk away from the club. The trouble is my daughter wants to learn as well but doesn't like being the only junior there either

No one else is even coming through the door which to me is a problem

Although I would love that, there are 2 main issues: 1) Time - I barely have the time for one hobby, let alone 2 2) Severe lack of Ju Jitsu in my area. I really don't understand why the club hasn't attracted any other students, it's a well equipped dojo, local to a lot of areas. I just guess that those who want to train already have their preferred dojo's which is a shame.