stencil

Err, let's not generalize here. Okinawan Goju has some very deep Shiko Dachis and Zenkutsu Dachis.

Interesting. Doesn't sound like the Goju Ryu I do. Goju uses a lot of soft, fast, snapping movements. "Go Ju" means hard soft, so it combines both hard, strong movements with fast, soft, light movements.

First off, relax. Karate is about control, so show it as much as you can. You'll be nervous and will inevitably tense up a bit, but breathe and do it. You know you can, and apparently your Sensei does as well. As far as what the test will be, each system varies. I do Goju Ryu, and tests consist of kata, bunkai (kata application), kiso kumite (sparring), basic technique demonstrations, and sometimes question & answer oral exams. Since this is your first test, you will probably have to demonstrate proper dojo etiquette. Good luck, and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

It can be a very good workout, yes. But to think that it's a replacement for strength / resistance and cardio training is a mistake. If you want to become a better martial artist with better strength, speed, and stamina, get to the gym. Of course, you don't have to go to the gym. You also don't have to train in karate three times a week. See where I'm going with this?

Karate isn't an alternative for weight training and working out. If anything, keeping up a good workout routing outside of your karate training will make you a much better martial artist.

We still do kotekai in my system. I get the sense that most don't anymore because 1) it's painful, 2) it can cause problems with litigious parents / spouses, and 3) people would rather do kata and kiais.

If you want to chat, I'm stencilNYC on AOL Instant Messenger. All karateka are welcome, of course. Just like the occasional conversation with other martial artists. Nothing creepy, just sharing ideas and experiences in karate.

We never test unless the sensei things we're ready to test. As such, there's pressure and lots of sweating, but the techniques are so hard-wired that execution is usually just a matter of getting through the stress of it all. For me, the toughest so far was the last one. It alwas will be.

Shorei-Kan Goju Ryu is quite simple: White Green Brown Black

Got it, hobz. Are you checking that your feet are perpendicular?

tommarker: Not sure what you mean. Care to elaborate?

We haven't had a single Black Belt quit at my dojo. Interesting that it happens a lot - perhaps it says something about the instructors?

Hobz, listen to your Sensei. Most new techniques feel goofy at first, but there's usually a reason they're the way they are.

I think he should evaluate why he believed Shotokan is the only one out there for him. Martial arts, in my opinion, has a lot to do with keeping an open mind and, most importantly, training with others.

NinjaMaster, it's: r00l2

As far as ones that I've done so far (I've only been training 1.5 years), that my favorite would have to be Gekisai Dai San. Or Sanchin, for the mind-body thing. You feel so invigorated after doing a good Sanchin session. As far as ones I like to watch, probably Suparenpei. Can't wait to learn that one.

I'm pretty cheap, and I'm easy to clean. I'll stick with what I said.

Yes, New York is where it's at! And stuff. Anyway, I find the whole multi-colored, patch-laden Gi thing a bit suspect. But that's just me. White Gis are cheap, easy to clean, and not flashy, as the student of martial arts should be.

Just suck it up. Sweat, ruin the gi, get a new one when it's nasty and yellow. We're not out there to look good. Sure, be respectful and don't be stinky and nasty, but train hard, and sweat. Oh - and OxyClean works wonders. Just throw it in with the wash. Wash your gi at least once a week.

My school is so small that everyone trains together. It helps the upper-ranks learn how to teach, and help the lower-ranks learn in general.

Interesting. I've always trained with a plain white Gi. Do a lot of karate schools use different-colored Gis?