Fat Cobra

Best of luck to you! Karate no michi!

It is a great documentary. Fumio Demura Sensei dedicated his life to karate and that Dojo.

Bad Dudes is great!!!! Gotta save Ronnie Reagan from the ninjas!!!! I have it on an old school arcade machine I bought from Walmart on sale for $25. It has a lot of other games on it too, though it is not the stand-up arcade replica mentioned above.

Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day!

ashworth, Congratulations!!!!

Mr. Perez, Very cool! Karate no michi!

Mr. Perez, Unfortunately, I was not at the 2008 Summer Camp. At that time I was still in the Ryute Renmei Organization. I moved over to URKA in 2009, after attending my first summer camp with Kaicho. At that year's camp, there was also a huge Bogu Kumite tournament, which was pretty awesome. The video interviews with Geraldi Hanshi are really good. I always love hearing the history of Ryukyu Kempo and how it was brought over for Okinawa. If there are more videos in the future, please share them. Karate no michi!

Mr. Perez, Thanks for sharing these videos. I will give them a look shortly. You are spot on in regards to the legacy of Geraldi Hanshi. Karate no michi.

Our style is "old school" karate. This is defined by no superfluous motions. Everything is direct and efficient. Move from point A to B. This includes our kata and techniques. We have locks and throws (Tuite Jitsu) and Pressure Points (Kyusho Jitsu). We do body toughening exercises, like Ude Tanren (forearm conditioning) and makiwara punching. We also do Kobudo (traditional Okinawan weapons training: Bo, Jo, Tanbo, Chizikunbo, Kama, Nunchaku, Sai, Tonfa, Eku, Manji Sai, and Nuntebo). Our classes are small and more informal than some others. We do not break boards, point spar, or compete in tournaments of any kind (kata or sparring). Everything is practiced for practical self defense. However, "old, old school" karate, as I see it, goes back to Okinawa in the early 20th century and before. There were no uniforms (Gi's) or belts (rank). Practitioners wore long shorts and no shirt. They practiced in somebody's house or backyard and classes were small and informal.

Absolutely!! Mainly because pressure points don't always work for one reason or another. Whenever a point doesn't react as it should, you better gave an immediate plan 'B' or 'C' or something. I've trained in Kyusho Jitsu forever, and I believe in it for cause, however, as in anything that's MA, sometimes plan 'A' doesn't always work for one reason or another. Absolutely! Well said. The same can be said with joint locks. I am a huge fan of joint locks, but in the end they, along with Kyusho Jitsu, and strike, and kicking, and throwing, are all tools.

sensei8, good luck on your #1 goal. I will be sending you positive energy, prayers, and blessings.

1) Eat healthier. 2) Lose weight...(Fat Cobra needs to become (non)Fat Cobra)!

sensei8, thanks for the feedback. I have some follow-on questions. Is Shugyo is interwoven in all your training? Do you have special events, such as training in the elements or under harsh conditions? Domo arigato.

I always buy my Gis from Century Martial Arts, but that is a personal preference. I like heavy Karate Gis...10 ounces or more. However, for beginning students I recommend a medium Gi of 8 ounces. Here is a link: https://www.centurymartialarts.com/shop/uniforms-belts/uniforms/uniform-type=complete-uniform/martial-arts-style=karate/uniform-weight=8-oz/8-oz-middleweight-uniform-041?returnurl=%2fshop%2funiforms-belts%2funiforms%2funiform-type%3dcomplete-uniform%2fmartial-arts-style%3dkarate%2funiform-weight%3d8-oz%2f

kenpo4life, congratulations!!!! Well earned! Karate no michi!

Tepul, welcome to the forum and good luck in your new Karate journey. Training in Japan has got to be an awesome experience. Karate no michi!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year!!!! Bushido!!!!!

Does anyone do Shugyo (austerity) training? I was considering adding it to the curriculum in 2020, probably only once per year, but I would like to get ideas first. Thanks in advance.

Welcome. It is a great martial arts forum.

Congratulations to all! A distinguished group for sure! Karate no michi!

I have addressed this a few times in these forums. I make a clear delineation between fighting and self defense. Fighting, in my definition, is where 2 or more opponents square off with each other. They both approach each other at a set distance with their guard up, ready for battle. Fighting can range from friendly competition to the intent to do mortal harm to someone. In anycase, though, all opponents start with a constraint--they "put their dukes up" to some degree ready to brawl. They subconsciously agree to somewhat of a fair fight where they both start from an equal position. Self-defense, in my definition, is where you find yourself in a dangerous situation where your safety, up to and including your life, is in peril. In this case, you do everything possible, from a close distance, to incapacitate your opponent. Dirty moves and tricks (i.e., biting, eye gauging, fish-hooking, etc.) are encouraged. Anything goes to get the opponent incapacitated so you can vacate the area. As opposed to fighting, the defender (uke) in this situation does not agree to start from an equal position nor to make this a fair encounter. The uke will use any and all means necessary to get out of the situation. Sometimes self-defense situations evolve into a fight, but the uke should try not to let that happen. Just like in the military, you want to gain and maintain contact. Stay close to the aggressor and control the situation. Do your damage to him before he can do this to you. That being said, and I know this is a long answer to a short question, I teach self defense primarily and fighting secondarily. This includes street fighting.

Thanks for the tips. We have ordered a size larger and have them hemmed, that does work.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Does anyone know where/who makes Gi trousers custom made? The reason I ask is my wife is having trouble with the standard sizes. She has long legs for her height. If she gets pants that fit her hips correctly, they are too short. If she gets pants that are long enough, they are super baggy in the hips. It would be nice to find a Gi manufacturer or tailor that can take measurements and make the pants directly off the measurements. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Welcome, and good luck on your martial arts journey!