DarthPenguin

Thanks One of the benefits to being reasonably well rounded is i know how much i am lacking in plenty of areas! I've always tried to use that as a prompt in my prior training and actively sought out areas i believed i was weak in and tried to study them (going from totally incompetent to mildly so is an improvement!) . Everyone has arts they are more naturally suited to so i thought it made sense to learn the weaker ones (i always thought my kicks were a weekpoint so i spent several years training in a tkd offshoot style etc)

Hi everyone, new to forum here but it looks like an interesting place. Discovered it when looking up some info on karate. Myself i am in my early 40s and recently started back at Shotokan with my young son and at Judo. I had originally trained in Shotokan when i was a junior (only got to 3rd Kyu) but have started again to take my son. Have decided to start the grades again from the beginning as i wanted to learn properly. Also train in bjj, and have done for several years, though not had enough time for quite a while to give it proper attention (hopefully will manage to get back to it in a couple of years when the kids are older). Nice to (virtually) meet everyone

I've always thought that one of the most useful parts of a belt is when sparring with someone knew it gives a general indication on the level of your opponent. Obviously you then adjust based on what you observe once you start but it can help