Fat Cobra

Welcome to the Karate Forums. I study Ryukyu Kempo.

Congratulations, Spodo Komodo!!! Welcome Back! Karate no michi!

I trained for a long time on my own, and timing is certainly an issue. It depends on a lot of factors, especially what type of training you plan on doing. If you are including stretching and conditioning along with technique, this can take a while. If you are only including technique (like kihon practice, kata practice, etc.) this time can be reduced. I think it is practical and realistic to set aside time everyday for training...but how much time is the true question. If you can spare 10 to 15 minutes, you can work on some very specific technique. If you can spare 1 hour to 2 hours, then you can add stretching and conditioning along with technique. When I was training alone I was also in the US Army, some I did conditioning and physical training as part of my work day, so I did not include that in my Karate training, where I focused only on technique. I tried to train every day, but ended up averaging probably 5 days a week, with 30 minutes per session.

John Wick is definitely a martial arts movie...and one of the best (all 3 of them, but the third one being the best of the 3).

DankMeme97, I understand your predicament. When I was young, growing up in Houston, TX (early to mid-1980s), we did not have money for lessons. The kids in my apartment complex really wanted to study martial arts, so we bought a few magazines and would share them with each other to learn moves. We would also copy moves from movies (some classics, like Enter the Dragon and The Last Dragon ). If you can't afford training, don't let it discourage you. Sensei8 is correct that the best way to train is with a qualified instructor for all the reasons he listed. However, if I were you, I would look at some YouTube videos and some books, check out: Fumio Demura videos and his book, Bo: Karate Weapon of Self Defense. Just know that at some point, when you are older and can afford established instruction, this will move you much farther along your path. Good luck and Karate no michi!

Naihanchi Shodan for Ryukyu Kempo.

Gary, welcome to the forums!

Great post! In my opinion, they are very different. Of course, there are multiple styles of each, so simplifying them may be misleading, but I will do so just to continue the discussion. I believe that they are both complete systems (with strikes, grappling, joint locks, pressure points, and weapons) and Karate takes a lot from its predecessor of Kung Fu. For the differences, I believe Kung Fu to be faster and more acrobatic, but less powerful than Karate. About a decade ago I went to a series of Chin Na training seminars at the, then, YMAA Headquarters School in Boston. The Chin Na was solid...very, very solid. The training group was mainly Kung Fu practitioners but there were a few Karate-ka there as well (including two of my students). While they taught us joint lock techniques, they did not teach us how to enter the techniques...that was left to your particular style. When we paired up I noticed 2 things. 1) all of the Kung Fu practitioners were much faster than me. They used lots of body and positional movements with their blocks and parries (lots of movement). 2) Our (Karate) power was much greater compared to them. We do a lot of Ude Tanren (forearm conditioning) and our blocks (which are really strikes) are simple, with little body movement (just enough to get off center-line and good hip movement for power). When we would hit their arms with our blocks, after a couple of times, they would shake off their arms and say "that really hurts." Of course, that was the point and that is how we train. This is my 2 cents.

Congratulations RW! Karate no Michi!

Agree 100% on all!

I would tell him why you are leaving. As a karate instructor I would like to know why a student decided to leave class. If he decides to fix the problems you highlight for him it might make him a better instructor. If he does not, well, so be it. You are leaving either way.

I believe being a black belt and instructor means that you have dedicated a lot of your life to studying the art, practicing it, and potentially getting hurt and injured all in the name of the art. This person had to have a lot of dedication and love for the art to pursue so long and intensely. This person probably has a lot of pride in themselves for doing this, as well as loyalty to the art they love so much. There is nothing wrong with this. Does that make you better than anyone else? No. Does that make you better than your students? No. Every student is unique. Some may learn faster than you, some may not. Some may be stronger than you, some may not. Some may be more athletic than you, some may not. All of them, at least those that stick around, have one thing in common. They want to learn what you are willing to teach. So, to me what that actually means is that you are the student's servant. Without them, your martial arts life would only be partially complete.

hammer, congratulations! Karate no michi!

Here are some that are great (and some that are OK, but are classics): -Enter the Dragon -Ip Man -13 Assassins -Black Belt Jones -Kung Fu Panda Series -Forbidden Kingdom -Karate Kid series -No Retreat, No Surrender -Bloodsport -Kickboxer -Kickboxer (the new series) -Above the Law -Out for Justice -The Last Dragon and for TV/Cable/Netflix series: -Daredevil -Punisher -Iron Fist -Defenders -Cobra Kai -Warrior -Wu Assassin -Into the Badlands

I am also interested to see the different Naihanchi kata from other forms. This is our first three, and most fundamental, kata (Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan), so I am always curious to see how different it is across the styles.

We are shut down until at least mid-May. However, I use space in a gym on a US Army military installation, so I have to follow their rules. I plan on working out some classes on Skype for my students once a week and assembling once a week, no touching, and keeping our social distance, for live classes at the park.

Radagast, congratulations! Karate no Michi!

Kanku65, congratulations! Karate no michi!

Ilya, welcome to karate forums. Those are good videos of competition.

I just watched Enkemp Sensei's documentary on his trip to China and it was awesome. I am a historian myself and love to learn about the history of karate and all martial arts. What was really cool was to see the lineage back to "Incense Shop Boxing" as one of the two primary influences on karate....Incense Shop Boxing....that is cool!

I would tape it to the 2nd and 3rd.

I would contact the CI, just as a courtesy and so there are no surprises.

My name is Fat Cobra and I am a martial artist. I do not: 1) let disrespect or insults go unchallenged! 2) fail to seek revenge when necessary! 3) listen to any other martial artist except for Master Ken!

Welcome. Good luck on your martial arts journey!

Welcome, Glenn. This is a great martial arts forum site!