Shorin Ryuu

As people mentioned, keep your room clean by not letting it get messy. My place varies from perfectly orderly to mildly messy. Anything worse than mildly messy forces me to clean up.

I've bought some of Kyoshi Roberts' hojo undo equipment (bushifitness) and enjoy training with them about 3 times a week. His stuff is great quality. Sadly, his store has been down and most likely will be for a while. I got to meet him in person once. A very skilled karateka and a very nice individual.

I've met someone who taught himself Japanese (not just simple Japanese, but fluency) so when he went to Okinawa (something he did and still does on a regular basis...several times a year), he would be able to learn much more. From what he says, he learned quite a bit after going out to drink with all of them and then clearing away the tables and asking them about various things...I'm sure it's a combination of this and simply being able to speak the language in the dojo in Okinawa (I'm pretty sure he just knows Japanese and probably only some Okinawan) really helped. He is extremely skilled and knowledgeable, so it has apparently paid off.

No prob...I was just warning her, actually. I don't like giving pronunciation via the keyboard to people who don't know the "proper" way (there's actually 2 main accepted methods) of romanizing Japanese just because the way it can be mispronounced without taking certain things into account, so I understand where you're coming from. Well, it's more like "Ki o tsuke", to be more precise. Actually, in even more precise terms, it's "ki wo tsuke". But yes, it does mean "Attention" in a more military/discipline/school sense. It's a very big sign of the Japanese influence on karate. "Ki" meaning mind or spirit (yes, the same ki you hear about all the time) and "tsuke" (NOT pronounced Tsook...) meaning to fasten/attach/append, although in this context, more like "bring order to" or "get control over"...something along those lines. The "wo" is pronounced "o" and is just a particle used for grammatical purposes to indicate a direct object. People just say it really fast, as it's become a common expression. You can say "kiotsukete", which is actually a more polite (more or less) of saying kiotsuke and is an expression just meaning "take care" or "be careful" (you say it to someone as you are parting, for example).

Just be careful of dipthongs when you use words like Key-oats-kay to sound out Japanese words. There is a difference between short (length-wise) and extended syllables.

Well, seeing how the belt system in karate is less than a hundred years old, it'd have to be a pretty new superstition. I've never even heard of it, to be honest. I've never washed mine because it seemed tacky (There are those who wash their belts to make them appear older and more worn out). I wear my belt because it is an organizational thing, but I don't have any especial attachment to it (certainly not through a reverence for "tradition", which is often misunderstood or misrepresented, especially in karate).

If you're interested specifically in an Okinawa-esque diet (I used "esque" because I think some of it was a Procrustean bed), I recommend you check out The Okinawa Program by Wilcoxx and Suzuki. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609607472/002-5023116-7528044 I don't follow the diet per se in terms of strict observance in what I eat. I did use it for some good nutritional information to help me in my overall guidelines for what to eat. Like AnonymousOne said, it's simply a balanced diet avoiding junk food and processed foods. I go a bit hardcore and gave up eating junk food about six years ago, but you don't necessarily have to go "cold turkey", just moderate. I also eat very little meat (in the Catholic sense...I eat fish often). You can get the book for very cheap, especially if you buy it used. It's far better than simply having someone post their diet or giving you tidbits of information. Just spend the few dollars...well, pounds, and pick up the book if you are serious. It isn't a miracle book, but will give you good guidelines on what to do. Just like when you train in the martial arts...you don't specifically have to focus on a particular technique. Instead, you train in principles and concepts that allow you to adapt it to your situation and needs. Likewise, you can learn general and specific nutritional information from this and adapt it your needs rather than sticking religiously to a specific diet (some people "need" that though). Don't buy it simply because it is a "secret Okinawan recipe for long life", just buy it because a lot of it makes sense...there are some other sections on stress management and whatnot, but I used this book for it's nutritional information rather than lifestyle alteration. If you read past the marketing, it's still useful.

Do you have the link to the website? If you are unfamiliar with a style, the best thing is to ask someone who either is or has a critical eye for the martial arts. It does sound strange: "if you get high enough belts in the classes, they start paying you." Sounds gimmicky, but I haven't even seen the website or anything. Plus, unless you keep just making typos, "Laido" just sounds strange. But it could be a decent place. Many places with decent instructors don't necessarily have their history/terminology straight all the time, anyway.

Some jujitsu schools use more classical Japanese weapons, such as the jo or even the katana (depending how classical the jujitsu is). Originally, jujitsu was the discipline that samurai studied to kill their opponent when they had little or no weaponry themselves. The submission or temporary incapacitation of the opponent was used only to grant enough time to perhaps use the short sword or other such weaponry to kill them or end the fight. As many opponents were armored (not in the medieval sense, but armored nonetheless), it focused more upon the joint manipulation and things that would work without necessarily having to resort to a strike, although they had them in their repertoire. The short answer is that it will really depend on your school. I've seen some with a broad range of weapons (bo, katana, jo, bokken, tanto, etc.) and some that taught no weaponry at all.

A combination of the internet, phone book, word-of-mouth, and visiting is usually best. When you think about it, you're about to invest a good deal of time (possibly money) if you're going to train there for any extended period. Therefore, you want to make sure you really get what you're looking for. Sometimes just looking at phone book ads or websites can be enough to dissuade you from some places (a critical eye for the martial arts will take you places). Word-of-mouth is usually best accomplished by simply asking (politely) other instructors or students when you visit their places. Most will give you somewhat of an honest appraisal of other places to train. Then you can sort of pick up a general pattern based on what you hear and see. Since you're in New York, you should be able to find plenty of places if you're near the city. Also, don't discount a place just because it isn't a stone's throw away. I go to a place that's a 2-hour drive away and couldn't be any happier (unless of course, it was closer).

Some of that's very true. But I think a lot of us guys welcome that kind of girl. Usually, our first response is "wow, cool." I for one much prefer the friendly kind than the other (whether we're talking friends or dating). For now, I've stopped caring about the whole date scene, anyway (I've got too many goals to reach without having to worry about getting involved with other people...I realize if I do this forever it may become too late one day...). Unless she shared most of my hobbies, it'd be difficult to work the whole time issue out...

My experience of Shotokan isn't limited to one town. I've met people who practiced shotokan in my hometown (high school) as well as from all over the country (college). I've also met some where I am as well as all over the country again (grad school). Being in the military, I have the opportunity to travel quite, quite frequently. Since it's me, the topic of martial arts always comes up, so I've met a very wide selection of Shotokan stylists. So you're saying the kata they perform in their dojo or at tournaments is in the same (practical?) stances they fight in? I would actually like to see this as a widespread case. In most cases, it is either the same (where the stances are both energy in terms of energy) or different (fighting stances are different from kata). You also have to keep in mind that an energy dead-locked stance also doesn't have to be deep, either... Again, you're missing my point here. Stance transition relying more upon muscle power can be fast. No, it can be very fast. But biomechanical stances will always be much more fluid and efficient. So where is your explanation about the grappling and pressure points? I haven't seen it yet. Instead, I've seen you write posts in the past such as these: Dear friend ,good luck with your training ,there are grappling techniques in shotokan katas which you will come across ,first one I can think of is in heian sandan Not saying you are wrong but we learned that these movement as block and punch ,because of the speed this aplication in hein nidan ,we have learned that the slow movement in the kata where you apply tention are the grappling ones ,like the opening move of sochin . First of all, I don't usually dig out a person's past posts, since many times as I continue to learn, my posts from a half-year ago or more may not even apply to how I view things. However, these posts were written a little more than a month ago in a Shotokan thread I revisted for a reality check. Secondly, your very answer to this belies the difference. An Okinawan karateka would have answered that there is grappling in nearly every move of every kata. This is quite a marked difference than your answer. Also, when you state that "slow movement in the kata where you apply tention [sic] are the grappling ones", that shows the difference as well. Okinawan kata does not do such things, since nearly every single move would have to be done very slowly and with tension. The fact that there is a difference in speed like that points to a lack of depth in analysis. There isn't an established speed or tempo for kata (and I'm sure you realize this, so I'm not accusing you of saying that), but framing it in the way you did makes it sound suspect in terms of this discussion. Of course there is grappling in Shotokan, but the depth and level of it is often lacking. No matter what I say, apparently you will just repeat yourself. I may even look into getting that video, provided it isn't too much money. But this will be my last post in this thread. I'll let you have the last word.

I have no formal training Shotokan. I also have no qualms about admitting that. I have come across numerous Shotokan stylists, discussed this very question with many of them, done research and observed many of them (in video and in person). You could say this is a weakness in my argument. But there is a reason for me NOT training in Shotokan after seeing what I have seen. Again, it's not that you can't be effective or dynamic in Shotokan. It's merely that I view it as inefficient. I believe you. I haven't seen them, but from what it sounds like, they were certainly great. Once again, it does sound like "hard" skill rather than efficiency. I daresay there have been quite a few Okinawan masters that have been able to do the same thing in their eighties as well. I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly on this one, but it seems you are claiming that Shotokan does the 3/4 punch as well. If such was a systematic change, then that would make me surprised, but rather happy. Don't get me wrong. There's even Okinawan styles that teach it one way and then teach the 3/4 punch later. I've never seen the need for that distinction. What's more, I can't buy the explanation that every single Shotokan person I met has only trained under a crappy instructor. Apparently, you didn't quite grasp my point. I understand the difference between "training stances" and "practical stances". Whenever I've seen Shotokan kata, they are always done in "training stances". My argument is "train how you fight, fight how you train". In Okinawan kata, you can fight using the same stances in kata, which I feel is a fundamental difference between Okinawan styles and Shotokan. You keep using the words "dynamic" and "strong" to describe Shotokan. You'll see in my original post that I pretty much used the same adjectives. The reason why any "training stance" stresses the muscles is because at it's very foundation, it is structurally inefficient. Herein lies the crux of the argument. All the benefits you describe are muscular. Muscle can equal power and be quite destructive. I train my muscles as well. But when it comes to fighting, I train to be the most efficient as possible. Muscle is only an added benefit, not the focus of my training. The same goes for application. Muscle is not the foundation of my technique, only a supplement, if needed. Training in the manner you describe, muscle is more the foundation. Read that post I linked to on punching. Some of that describes that more in detail (and that is just one segment of the whole punching aspect). Exactly. Many of my criticisms of Shotokan are also the same criticisms I hold of Kyokushin. I think Kyokushin may have less of these faults, but I think most Kyokushin practitioners did not receive or understand all the things that Mas Oyama did, especially regarding energy in stance and application. While you seem to have addressed only one or two of my points (unsatisfactorily, in my opinion), you didn't answer the others. We might just have to "agree to disagree". My position still stands.

Hmm...thought this was referring more to the teen and young adult dating scene...Looks like we opened it quite a bit further. *Looks at Gandhi* As someone mentioned, you can make a difference between being a nice guy and a doormat. There's also a difference between being a nice guy and a guy with no self-confidence...All too often people mask their fear of action with being a "nice guy".

I've done it. (I still do it, but only very rarely) I learned with a pair of wooden nunchaku. Our instructor was a firm believer in the "school of hard knocks".

I'll be honest with you. I enjoyed reading it, although some may think of it as an encyclopedia. I don't think it "reads" like an encyclopedia, but it contains so much info it isn't necessarily something you can read in just a few sittings without forgetting much of what you have read. All the same, I think it is a neccessary addition to the library of someone who is serious about the history of karate. Much more "scholarly" than many other publications out there.

In many cases, yes. Classic example...

Strange. I've had a Shotokan instructor tell me I was very accurate in my portrayal of Shotokan. In fact, most of the points I listed were taken from an email I sent to that instructor a while back. What's more, I am talking about generalities of Shotokan as a style. What you describe is most certainly an exception rather than the rule. Again, not all Shotokan dojo fall into the category of what I described. But most of them do. It's not because they are taught by incompetent instructors. It's because they are teaching the characteristics of Shotokan. Can you do Shotokan and still be streetfight effective? Yes. In my opinion, there are more efficient ways of training and fighting that can achieve the same effect, that's all. As far as my point about the muscles go, please re-read my post and consider what my message was. Of course you will use your muscles, but you're missing the thrust of what I was saying entirely. Since you have been training for over twenty years, you should be able to grasp the meaning I was trying to convey. If you still disagree, please dispute my original post point-by-point. Simply saying my knowledge is limited won't convince me.

Forgive me if I misunderstood. But in your post, you quoted me, then the first sentence you wrote was "I believe this is due to the great Choki Motobu supposedly performing this series of kata 500 times a day." I was under the impression that if it wasn't directed towards me, then there was no reason to quote me. But thanks for clearing that up.

Hehe. Given my opinion of Bruce Lee... I'll still take that as a compliment.

Ah, I see. That was more along the lines of what I was thinking. You certainly are fortunate to train with Sensei Lindsey.

Well, since you seem so awfully insistent, I'll give it some more serious thought and experiment with it. If it doesn't work for me (or maybe just not against the people I train with), then I'll let it fall off to the wayside. If it does, then perhaps I'll have another interesting way of applying the concept of distraction. I'm highly skeptical, but we'll see. I'm enough of a critical thinker to earnestly try and prove myself wrong.

Wow. It's been a real long time since I read those... Anyway, I've remembered another one. "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well." My dad always said that as I was growing up. It had an impact.

My philosophy is that they are martial arts for a reason. Certainly one should not go out looking for fights, and if you never get in a fight, then that's just fine. However, if you're not primarily concerned about the martial aspect, then there are plenty of other things you could do and still gain the other benefits of confidence, discipline, respect and self-balance that I feel are great bonuses from the practice of the martial arts. I also disagree with the statement: Frankly, the black belt has nothing to do with your fighting ability. If you're learning a karate that doesn't prepare you to fight, then it isn't a good karate. It may be stockful of the other benefits that I consider positive that you can gain from martial arts. I'm not going to open up a boxing vs. karate debate. Let's just say I've boxed before but it was karate that I chose to continue... I would argue that the legalistic nature of many societies where the open carrying of weapons is mostly prohibited, the likelihood of you having to use martial arts to defend yourself is still valid if you are attacked. Yes, many of those who will attack you have no regard for the rule of law and might have guns. But there are also those that will do so without the use of guns. It always kills me to think that a plane could have been hijacked with the use of boxcutters... WapCaplet, I understand your message. You're saying that fighting ability is important, but isn't the main focus. It's just that I disagree with this. Some of it has to do with the fact that I don't need karate or martial arts to become "someone with honor, respect, integrity and patience. Someone who knows how to avoid a fight. Someone who knows how to defuse a potentially violent situation. Someone who 'knows when to walk away and knows when to run'." Another part of it is I feel I can be dedicated to the fighting aspect of it and still gain all the other benefits you mentioned. But since fighting is a skill, constant practice and diligence has to be maintained in order for it to develop. My instructor always tells me that a martial artist has only three responsibilites and I really like his philosophy. You have to maintain your integrity, stay healthy, and always get better. You can't get better in the martial aspect by keeping it on the back-burner. As my father always said to me when growing up, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well." Without getting into a deontological/ontological debate on the worth of martial arts, I just want to say that it is important to preserve the martial aspect of the martial arts. I even consider it to be the primary focus of my training. The other benefits occupy an equal emphasis, but let's face it: during a two and a half hour practice, unless you spend it simply doing meditation or moral discussion, what else are you going to practice? If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right. But do I really care if people are learning what I consider to be a less than effective martial art? Not really. Does it bother me that some people emphasize the martial aspect much less? A little, but again, I'm not too concerned, as there are many that do not. If you want to do it because you have fun and gain a lot of spiritual, mental, health or character benefits at the expense of fighting ability, then by all means, please do so. I've never seen the need to do that. In fact, I think it is the exacting nature and discipline required to learn fighting with all of its subtleties and maintaining its applicability to a real fight that aids in gaining those benefits.

That's not quite the point I was going for, AnonymousOne. I was referring more to the arbitrary nature of the belt ranking, especially in an open forum like this. It's also just because I don't put too much stock into belt rankings in terms of learning more advanced concepts. There's usually some sort of divide, probably between those below brown belt and those brown belt and higher. But even this is a generality that is really kind of irrelevant. I'm sure I or others could pull it off effectively, despite the fact that it leaves you open. But that isn't even the point. The point is, it isn't efficient. Just to clarify, I'm still talking about shooting your hand out to side. I'm not knocking the use of distractions or feints or other things. Like I said, his suggested technique just screams of inefficiency. And at a higher level (I'm not going to assign a belt ranking), you have to worry about that. Because like it or not, at some point you'll peak in terms of physical ability. After that, you have to become more efficient or you'll never get better.