MatsuShinshii

Unfortunately what makes a good self defense demo to the laymen compared to experienced MAists are very different things. To get those with no or little experience excited about it it has to be spectacular. Choreographed to the n'th degree with lots of excitement like throws, spinning kicks, etc. To me a good self defense demo is one that incorporates good old fashioned common sense and 100% realism. But again that will not impress the masses.

Looking forward to seeing your progress and how they turn out.

Do you have a life time?????? If you have read about the history you might have come across quotes from the old practitioners stating that they studied a Kata for as little as 3 to 7 years before being allowed to learn a new Kata and as much as a life time to understand them. If you're asking when you know everything about a Kata, it depends on which Kata. Some Kata only contain so many applications, others like Naihanchi contain a life time of study. Again it will come in time and after years and years of experience and practice. Look at the individual posture or sequence of postures for a clue. The one mistake most make is taking the Kata literally. It can in some instances be taken very literally but the thing to focus on is the individual or a group of postures to find the answers. After 40 years I can honestly say you will think you have discovered all there is to know and one day you'll realize another application. It's never ending if you're truly looking at and studying the Kata.

Happy Birthday.

First off there is nothing hidden about the applications. To me the number of Kata is less important than understanding each Kata that you have been taught. Most do not go past learning the Kata's movements. I would ask first if your teacher knows and teaches the applications of the Kata. If not then it depends on your years in the art and your knowledge and understanding of the art. The reason why many call the applications hidden is , one they are not taught them and two they can not see past punch, strike, kick and block. My suggestion, if your teacher does not teach the applications, is to find an instructor that does. If this is not possible you can discover the applications, to a degree on your own. I hate to even recommend this due to the loose interpretations, but you could look up your Kata and watch what others interpretations are for the applications. If you do this remember that there are two rules to follow; must be efficient and must have the potential to end the fight. Just because it looks good in slow motion doesn't mean it will be effective against a live opponent in a real fight. Test them against a compliant Uke first and after you get the movements and mechanics down you need to transition into a more non-compliant Uke to find out if it actually works for you. Good luck.

Welcome to KF!

Be sure to post pic's of the finished product.

Your right Sensei8 I did say leaving that aside. Having said that, if you ask practitioners if they would use this or others (blocks) in a real fight 50% or more will say yes due to loyalty to the art. When challenged to make them work in a real scenario 100% revert instantly to the best defense, getting out of the way. To me if you have time to block you have time to step outside of the opponents path which is where us Okinawan guys want to be. My Shinshii made this whole thing clear in that he explained the mechanics of attack and defense when using this and other blocks. He had an attacker face the defender and asked them to step forward and strike (attacker) and to block (defender). He explained that the attacker has the advantage because their intent is to strike so they will not stop after the first strike. Further more they have the advantage of momentum. All of their energy is focused forward whereas the defender must focus energy upwards which causes a momentary lag in their momentum and thus the attacker is able to beat them to the punch. Worse, since your blocking arm is in the air and the other is chambered, you present a large target. Kinda like having a big neon sign that says "burger king, have it your way" strike where ever you like. Rather than blocking (Jodan Uki [uke]) we turn this into a strike. We use the Kosa/Hikite to brush/deflect and trap the incoming weapon and at the same exact time we execute a "Jodan Uki" to the opponents throat up into their chin. This is one of few examples of how you would meet force with force and counteract that force and beat it. If the attacker's momentum is great than your's typically that force will over come the defender. However if the defender attacks a weak area of the body such as the neck, the brain stops the body and drives it back away from the danger of a crushed trachea. Other examples are outside of the opponents path but I'm trying not to write novels this year. Call it time management, which I really need to practice.

Congrats RW!

There it is. Right on tract.

I'm not sure about TKD because I have never studied it however I come from an art that don't use a whole lot of kicks so it wouldn't bother me at all. Blocks... well that's for another discussion.

In terms of an actual block, I'm not a fan. I am surprised to read most of the responses. This particular, among others, technique has baffled me for years. I have never found a reason to use this this technique in terms of an actual "block". I'll have to think about the possible reasons why one would use this in actual combat before commenting on why I would not. I'll get back to ya.

I hear you. I live in a house that was built in the early 1800's. Ton of character and a ton of head aches fixing all of the issues. However I do appreciate the architecture throughout. We have actual tree's that were hand hewned. The three main beams are joined with actual wooden pegs. Pretty cool but the old style lead pipes and cloth wiring were a real bite to replace. I feel your pain but the thing to remember is after the head aches are over and the jobs are done the wife will find more to occupy your time with. I don't think I've had a moments rest in 30 years.

I really should start reading others posts before commenting. Wastelander pretty much said it all.

I hate to admit it but I have done this since I started. I guess it's a force of habit. Going to train = put on Gi. Having said that if I'm cross training with a friend I wear my Gi pants and a t-shirt. I'm a complicated individual I guess.

Leaving the whole "no such thing as blocks" argument aside. A student asked why anyone would actually use this in a real fight. I thought about this and for me the answer is "I wouldn't use it". In terms of an actual block would any of you use this in a real situation? If so explain why. Note: For you other old school traditionalists, the premise of this question is would you use it as a block (as in modern Karate's perception of the Kata) . I know some will automatically say they would use it correctly as a strike, throw, deflection, redirection, etc. Block only. How about Gedan Uke or Barai?

Welcome to KF.

I might be able to nab some from some friends. The house is 80 years old, and aside from plumbing and ungrounded outlets, not much needs to be done. It's actually in great shape! Brick, hardwood floors, plaster walls, partially finished basement, all with lots of attention to detail. If you have un-grounded receptacles that means you probably have either the old cloth type wiring or knob and tube. Both are a pain. Good luck.

Although many encourage you to snap out your strikes when practicing so you get that snappy popping sound (like this translates to power) you should never come to full extension when striking in the air. Over time you will wear out your joints and will pay for it dearly later in life.

I have seen these "surveys" before.

Couldn't agree more JR137. There is definitely a difference. Good points.

I take it that you teach Iaido in Shindokan? Is this apart of your weapons training or apart of your Tii training? Or was it added to the art as additional study? Unfortunately we do not study the sword in Suidi. I would have loved to continue my studies of the art.

The past several winters haven't been kind to Alaska. They've been seeing record-high temperatures (especially along the cost) while the arctic air has been dipping down over the north-central and mid-western US. According to climate scientists, the region where I live will probably have the most stable climate in the decades to come. Already changed my mind. I walked outside yesterday heading for the truck and flew into the air when I slid on some ice. We received just over an 1/8" of ice. I always let my dogs out before I leave the house so my wife can get a few hours more of sleep and they ran across it like it was just wet. I made the mistake of not checking it before barreling forward like a bull in a china closet and flipped in the air and came down on my tail bone. I'm still feeling it. Love the cold weather but hate the ice. Maybe I'll retire south.

Things may have changed but while I was studying the art the gradings where based on a point system to get to Yudansha and above. I can't remember the exact point required as I do not have my manual handy but I do recall that you recieved points for class attendance, attending seminar's, camps and clinic's, for local tournaments, state tournaments, national tournaments and international tournaments. As far as the tournament points went you'd receive points for wins based on their grade (so many points for two ranks below, one rank below, equal rank, one above and two or more above). You'd also receive points for winning the tournament and that varied on local, state, national and international. You even received points for coming in 2nd or 3rd. We received points for Kata as well. Then you had service to Judo, assisting in tournaments, coaching, putting on seminars, for being the head coach of a club, etc, etc. Point being you had to accumulate "x" number of points to be promoted. I guess you could collect points outside of competing but I think it would take a huge amount of time to achieve your next grade. However I am like you in that I care less about what color belt I wear or if I even wear an Obi. When I was young this was not so much the case. If he is willing to teach you the art, who cares if you wear a white belt or a black. The attainment of knowledge and skill is the only thing that matters in the end. Which would you rather be - a white belt that can defeat black belts or a black belt that gets defeated by white belts? That literally is the difference in what some arts/schools teach. You can win all of the tournaments you want but the real proof of what you are is when it gets real. I speak of personal experience. Of course this is my experience and mine alone so others may vary. When I first started studying the arts I joined a traditional school and a friend joined another not so traditional school. My teacher was a task master and drilled us and almost every class I would leave with bruises, a busted lip or the like. We did not participate in tournaments. On the other hand my friend was already competing and had been promoted in grade after only two months. After 5 months I decided to check out his school and ended up joining. After a few months I had learned a few tricks and started placing higher in tournaments. After 6 months I was winning in Kumite and Kata. My speed, reach and a few tricks allowed me to dominate my competition. I thought I was pretty bad and had already been promoted twice more. The problem came when I ran into a known bully (just a mean spirited kid that liked to fight) and he started picking on a friend that was with me. I stood up to him and for the first few minutes I danced around this rather large and slow bully. I tagged him at will but my strikes had almost no effect, then it happened, he connected and it went down hill from there. I lost and I mean I lost bad. The next day I talked to my new teacher and explained what had happened. He listened to me whine how many times I hit this guy and how I had gotten beaten almost to death by this sloth. His comment changed my life. He admitted that what he was teaching me was for competition and to win points not to actually fight. I left and rejoined my other teacher and never looked back. Funny thing was that about two years later that same mean spirited kid started a fight with me again. This time the outcome was not in his favor. I knew I had made the right decision for me. Everyone does what's best for them. I am not condemning these schools for doing what their students want. However I personally feel that they should change the name of the art to something a bit more honest and stop making claims about teaching self defense. I take nothing away from the athleticism of those that compete in what I call patty cakes or fake Kata. They do possess skills. It's just not skills that translate to actual combat. To the bold above; forget about it. 98% of the stuff they teach for knife defense is worthless. If I have a knife and they try that worthless junk on me they get carved like a turkey. If you wish to learn knife defense do not look to Karate to teach it. Go train in a knife fighting system so you can get realistic techniques that do not endanger your life. I'm sure some here that teach this junk would disagree but again, if I am holding the knife and they are trying to defend using these techniques, it ain't going to be pretty. And I have only medium proficiency compared to others that devote large amounts of their life to the study. The point is a novice with a knife is going to cut an expert of so called knife defense. It's just a fact. To the underlined above; I never said that competition was necessarily bad. Its "a" way to test yourself. However if your training like you would fight you get tested every class. It's a shame you quit Karate because of this. If taught in the old ways the art is quite efficient. Maybe you'll meet a good teacher one day and be able to regain your confidence in the art. If not I hope you find what your looking for.

If I taught children I think it would be hard to screen them. I would definitely have to come up with different methodologies. But then again, I don't have that problem.