Wayofaswede

I have read it at least once - but many years have passed since then and this thread makes me want to start rereading it at once! (currently rereading "Zen in the martial arts" by Hyams)

Go ho no uke (first learned, most trained and therefore most fluent) Shuto Roppo (like the "swordlike" feeling in the hand strikes) Pinan Nidan Pinan Shodan Pinan Sandan (Pinan Yondan and Godan will probably replace two of these when I learn them - yondan is for next kyu )

Thank you sensei, your replies are always encouraging and enlightening

Our club dojo unfortunately won't open until September, meanwhile I keep doing daily katas (primarily focusing on Go ho no uke and Pinan Nidan) and 3-4 times a week I do a more strength (crunches and push-ups), kihon and kata focused session. Usually going through all katas I've been taught so far, from Go ho no uke to Pinan Sandan. I have started to wear the belt as I train, trying to loosen it up some and to get a more "sincere" feel trying to stand in Zenkutsu dachi without stepping on one of my two toddlers. My 3-year old actually likes to join in from time to time, imitating moves and sounds the best she can Hope your training goes the way you wish it to. Osu!

Happy to hear that. Osu!

Just finished a solo training session focusing on strength, kihon and kata. Club training ended for the summer a couple of weeks ago, but I keep doing at least a kata and some kihon every day. Since it's vacation I have had time to start going through Jesse Enkamp's "Karate by Jesse" videos on YT. Watching these and katas performed by the masters etc truly encourages me to train more and harder. Compared to last summer, Karate has become a much more essential part of my everyday life - in a very positive way. If possible I now prefer starting and ending the day with a short meditation and some blocks. I also practice stances a lot, for instance while brushing teeth etc 😊 Hope you all have a great summer and that you can find time and feel a passion for training. Osu!

Thank you. Osu!

Thank you very much, hadn't thought of it that way - shodan seems such a huge mountain climb away. My first big goal on my Karate journey is to one day reach 3 kyu - the same as in Aikido. The goal after that is to attain 2 kyu - that is, the highest rank in any Budo art of the four I've trained. Speaking of grades, I did some backtracking and realized that my two passed tests in Judo would mean that I have 5 kyu in Judo (since the first after white is 6 kyu)

Passed the test for green belt, 5 kyu yesterday! The road goes ever on... Osu!

I wholeheartedly agree. We still have it in the "kata curriculum", it's just that we have made too many recent changes when it comes to angles, added a step etc. for it to be required for grading at the moment It's a beautiful kata, I have found a YT video where Higaonna sensei first demonstrates then goes through each part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAcBHCnLWWA (this is how it used to be performed before the system changes) Osu!

After yesterdays training session the C.I. told me that the Gekisaida ichi kata won’t be required for our 5 kyu exam (because of recent changes of system). He told me to focus on the other katas instead. So now I will be concentrating on Pinan sandan, ji no kata 3 and 4 and shuto roppo instead. Not many days left now... Osu!

Thank you very much, both of you

Another great club training session today. My Chief Instructor told me that he thinks I am ready for 5th kyu grading in a few weeks. Excited... Osu!

Less than a month left until the next grading opportunity. Not sure that I will be ready by then, but I have decided to train as if I actually will be grading. This usually means (in addition to the regular practice) going through all the new katas at least once a week and the last week before grading going through them all once a day. Planning to view my sensei’s performance of the ”new” katas that will be required for 5th kyu: Shoto Roppo Pinan Sandan Jin o kata 3-4 Gekisaidai shodan - this is the one I have least experience of and one kata that we train rather seldom. Watching the ”kata DVD” and going through these five today will be the starting point for a more focused period of training. Feels good to give my karate - and especially a few specific katas - more priority for a feew weeks. Osu!

Very happy to hear that - great that we can inspire each other in this inspiring forum. Osu!

Happy to hear that your karate feels good.

Thank you for sharing this personal experience. I will keep your realization in mind as my life and MA journey continues

Then it was a Shu Ha Ri, thank you for letting me know the specific name and pointing to a starry sky filled with moments of Shu Ha Ri as the MA journey goes ever on... Had another great training session tonight. Osu!

During the last training session, I had the sudden realisation that a block I was doing was not an isolated motion, but just a midway step to gather more force for the punch following it. Too often I tend to think of each technique as a separate entity, while in fact they are truly all part of the same flowing stream of reaction/counterreaction and motion. The natural response to any given circumstance. Wish you all a great weekend, fellow karatekas. Osu!

Finally back in the club dojo today. Great session, focusing a lot on bunkai related to Pinan-katas. Osu!

Thank you very much, I wholeheartedly agree.

You said it...NOT A DAY WITHOUT KATA...these are the words of a dedicated MAist; honed to the continuing of ones MA betterment. I bow to you and your unselfish dedication to the process of being that MAist!! Wherever one trains at, THAT...right there, THAT is the dojo, and you've not missed a day!! Train hard, and train well!! This almost brought tears to my eyes, you are absolutely right. Exactly what I needed to hear.

Way too many weeks without going to the dojo (because of illness, toddlers and toddler´s illnesses). Still live by the "not a day without a kata" (usually Go ho no uke) motto and try to add some solo kihon a few times each week. But really hope I can go training in the dojo on Sunday, February was a "nonexisting" month clubtraining-wise. Going to the dojo is much harder since my two sons decided to quit karate... Any day now though I'll be back Have a great weekend all karatekas

Congratulations to all winners!

Finally back in the gi, and back in the dojo for the first session of the semester. Got to train with a newcomer to the club with brown belt who had a focus on realistic fighting situations (approaching Karate from more of an MMA-perspective). He could punch and kick unbelievably fast and hard! It was really interesting to take part of his ”in a real fight” perspective. I usually focus on form before application, putting an emphasis on the ART and almost forgetting about the MARTIAL aspect. It was fascinating to train with someone who emphasized and seemed most interested in the fighting side of martial art. Osu!