Shorin Ryuu

I train pretty often without my gi. I usually just wear a shirt and shorts or loose pants when I'm not wearing my gi. As the wearing of the gi is a relatively new innovation in karate, one should not let it gain too much significance in the mind. Otherwise, you run the risk of needing the gi to get in the mood. As the great Gurney Halleck in Dune said, "You fight when the necessity arises - no matter the mood! Mood's a thing for cattle or making love or playing the baliset. It's not for fighting."

See my post on the top of page 2...

Oo, I'll have to check that out one of these days. I really need to build my own eventually. I love your quote, Nintai. I can imagine him saying that in his voice...

I like it because I'm a geek. Wait, that's not what I meant to say. I like some anime because to be honest, they often have better plots than most TV shows do here in America. Some of the most intriguing, exciting and often thought-provoking shows I have seen were anime. As others have mentioned, there is a wide variety of audiences for various shows in Japan, where anime and manga (basically comic books) are pretty much on par with regular TV programming in some respects. There are high quality shows and there are those that probably aren't worth the paper they are drawn on. But that's with anything else, I suppose. Since I study Japanese, it also helps me brush up on the language by hearing it spoken. No offense to American voice actors, but Japanese voice actors (a very big industry there) are simply of much higher quality. In America, they really try too much to have the voices match the mouth-movements whereas in Japan, they don't care as much (to allow for more emotion and better acting). Anyway, long story short...it's because I'm a geek. Oops, I did it again. I mean...because I find some shows far better than anything I'd find on American TV.

Uechi Ryu is one of the "newer" styles of karate. I'm not referring to what most people think of as "modern" karate. Instead, I mean it was brought over from China in the early 1900s by its present namesake. Thus the techniques have less of an Okinawan influence to them and are more Chinese than some of their other karate counterparts. While all Okinawan karate certainly has Chinese roots and employ circular blocks and principles, from what I've seen, Uechi Ryu is much more overt in its usage and practice. That being said, it still is a mixture of Chinese and Okinawan practices. If you have the opportunity to learn from a qualified Uechi Ryu instructor, I would recommend it. I imagine a Uechi Ryu practitioner can add much more than my most brief of explanations.

Perhaps Sensei Kim taught it this way, which is fine. But I do not believe that was the original intent of the kata. Instead, it was more of a simplification of kata to teach to school children. That doesn't make them bad. Indeed, it is the level of the practitioner that determines the true level of the kata. However, I think adding too much symbolism to its creation cheats it of history. I don't care that he taught it that way...I just think one should try to cut through the mythology when talking specifically about history. If an extra layer of spiritualism and whatnot is taught currently by some people, that's fine by me.

Even more delayed!? Wow. I had no idea all of them were like that.

I too was pleased to have met Mu Ryuk. However, I do not share his sentiments regarding the tournament itself. I was largely unimpressed by the way it was run and the vast majority of the competitors themselves. I saw a lot of gymnastics and bouncing but very few good forms or sparring. On the positive side, I only had to pay $5 to watch...

I haven't looked at the history of everything, but I think Chinese and Indian civilizations flourished before the Greeks did. They never really even made it into India in terms of military conquest either. Sure, there was some trade back and forth, but for a lot of the time, the higher technology and culture was on the Eastern side. To be totally honest, I think the influences between Greek systems and things like, say, karate are virtually non-existent.

I imagine you wouldn't feel too much pain. You'd probably be killed instantly.

Correct. Everything IS there for a reason. Sadly, not everyone bothers to even look or think about the reason (some instructors included).

Well. You certainly like to ask leading questions, don't you? To answer your question: yes, I believe there is more to a block than just a "block". The most common bunkai I have for a gedan barai is a throw (more of a takedown really...I don't like to let go) and/or elbow destruction. There are many types of throws to list from this action, whether it be more of an arm bar or a precursor to wrapping around the arm to work on the shoulder, etc.

I'm still very confident that good kata can be adapted to any body type rather than adapting which kata you do on the basis of your body type.

For just about all the things you mentioned, they may or may not be wasted moves. This depends on whether or not you understand why you do them or if you will at some point in the future or not. There are some things you mentioned that I don't do (long and low zenkutsu or horizontal punch) except only in very rare instances. I don't punch horizontally unless I feel it is less of a punch and more of an actual grappling manuever. As a general rule, I don't get in really low front stances either. Most of the other things I either do or can see the possibility of some meaning behind them.

Say Nintai, where are you from and who is your instructor (or are you an instructor...one can never be too careful)? I'm in Monterey, California but I train in San Francisco under Sam Ahtye. It's always nice to see other Shorinkan people online. Quite right. It was Itosu who developed them for the school systems. I too once thought they were a mix of Kusanku and Passai kata (they most certainly look it), but they are most likely descended from the Channan kata. According to John Sells, Itosu told Motobu Choki in a conversation that the Pinan kata were indeed derived from the Channan kata (he derived the 5th completely on his own) but he renamed them the Pinan no kata. (This conversation was published as early as 1934, at least) I would kind of object to it being "recently discovered" that the Pinan kata were rooted in older kata. It was never really "lost" or even a "secret". Back on topic... I know a few people that believe the Naihanchi kata contain everything. Motobu Choki was probably one of the most famous people to have advocated this, and he certainly had a right to. He once performed Naihanchi in front of the karate-great Chibana Chosin. Upon completion, Chibana announced Motobu was truly a master of karate simply by seeing his expertise. I must echo the comments of those who say there is no one ultimate kata. However, there are quite a few that if you just mastered one of them, you will be a master of self-defense. I feel Naihanchi is one of those kata. I think the Naihanchi kata were perhaps derived from a single kata. If so, it would have been longer past into history at such a stage. At any rate, it is traditionally accepted that Bushi Matsumura passed down the first two (I think probably from an older version) while his student Itosu (yes, he made many kata) created Naihanchi Sandan.

Is anyone going to this tournament? It's on 14 May (this Saturday) at Monterey Peninsula College gym in Monterey, CA. It starts around 9-ish. I personally won't be competing; I just have an acquaintance who will be competing and I was mildly curious to see the tournament itself. Okay...okay...I just don't have anything else better to do that Saturday. At any rate, I'll be on the sidelines all day there. If any of you are going to be there and want to hit me up for a chat, please do. We can arrange a meeting place via PM, in this thread or by phone. I figured we have a bunch of California people so maybe a few would be coming.

In Mother Russia, Right Leg puts YOU forward. [/end geek] I won't be saying anything new, only that I tend to fight slightly more often with the right side forward, as I'm more comfortable "feeling" and grappling with my right hand. Technically, I say you shouldn't have a favored side and the goal is ambidexterity...but the reality is, I still favor my right side (I just try and minimize the gap in ability between the two sides).

Like on Xena, Warrior Princess?

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11404 http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=17748 You might find some answers there. That, or underneath their screennames...

Just some food for thought. I see most of the people here focus upon what physical things to do when practicing at home. I think the mental component is also important. Study tapes of yourself or masters doing kata (and see the differences). Try and understand why you move the way you do, and why they move the way they do. Think up bunkai you can use in class or with other people. Yes, one of the main points I hammered on was the accumulation of repetition so you don't have to waste time in class. However, just as important is a critical thinking approach to your martial arts. If you never try and think "why", your "how" will only improve slightly.

I would say pressure points are not just about pain compliance. It is also about stealing balance, breathing and energy from the opponent (no, I don't mean some cheesy kung fu movie type energy...).

Rank being what it is, I wouldn't say someone's a bad instructor if they've spent 30 years training and are a fifth dan. What you should focus is on the 30 years and how he did them, not the fifth dan. Spent wisely, 30 years means quite a lot. Keep pushing the issue if he tries to avoid it. You're his student and it's his job to take care of you. You also take care of his students, so there is another layer of obligation he has towards you. If he doesn't want to discuss it, there's obviously something wrong. If you don't push the issue, you'll never know if it's just a very brief phase he's going through or if it's something more permanent. From what you tell us, it seems like a change in training locale may be in order...

I wouldn't miss it for the world. Well...maybe I would... I wouldn't miss it for anything short of my own continent though.

Wrong! I always have to correct people on this! It isn't to hold your pants up, it's to hold your gi closed. If you relied on obi to hold your pants up, there'd be a lot of cold legs and warm ankles, if you get my drift...

You're back, Shorinryu Sensei! I was getting a little worried...