major_motoko

Sai Kata diagram: http://www.kenseikan.net/sai_kata.html Anyone else think the guy in the diagrams looks like Elvis? motoko

A few good ones: http://www.bushido-online.com/ http://www.wadoworld.com/ http://www.karate.org.yu http://www.fightingarts.com/ http://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/ motoko

In shotokan I was taught mawashigeri with the instep. In Wado I have been taught to hit with the ball of the foot, like Maegeri. It's simple physics.. the smaller the area the greater the pressure exerted.. that's why we all learn to punch with the front two knuckles, not the whole fist, as it more powerfull. I can't really understand how instep or shin can be more painfull than the ball, as the force will be spread out over a greater area. I'm sure a powerfull Muay Thai kickboxer is a very powerfull kicker indeed, and I would never wish to be kicked by one, but physics is still physics! I have been kicked with the instep, sure it hurts, but it's more of a slap than being kicked right on your leg bone by the ball of the foot.. that felt like someone hitting my leg with a hammer! Now, I've never been kicked intentionally with the shin (only when someones instep missed) but perhaps that does hurt more than instep.. I couldn't say unless I had been kicked by someone trained to kick with the shin. Just my two pence motoko

For those who want to reminisce: The Official Marage Studios Comic site for TMNT http://www.ninjaturtles.com/ motoko

Both Wado and Shotokan have produced world karate champions. Both Wado and Shotokan train heavily in self defence and kata. Nothing is ever cut and dry like saying "Shotokan is only into tournament fighting, Wado is only self defence..." etc. Find the style that suits you best. Shotokan_fighter, your love of your style is inspiring! Osu! motoko

Yep somewhere along the way we got talking about JJ, but it's all good discussion Tho it won't help LoneWolf as he said he's only got Karate and Judo clubs near him I am genuinley interested in what JJ folks think about Wado cos it's all facinating to me. I guess when it boils down to it, Wado is karate through and through. just a few nice little JJ things thrown in along the way to make it distinct from other styles such as shotokan etc. Hopefully I'll be going to a JJ day course next month so I might actually know a little bit more about what I'm trying to talk about thanks! motoko

I also study Wado. It's interesting that a Jiu-jitsuka (is that the correct term?) does not consider the JJ influences in Wado to be real JJ, as I always thought it was. But then, I haven't trained in pure JJ It is true that Ohtsuka Sensei's style of Jiu-jitsu, Shindo Yoshin Ryu, did specialise in kicking and punching, but Ohtsuka also studied other styles of JJ. But there is more JJ to Wado than taisabaki. The only thing I can say is that a lot of the JJ moves in Wado are not studied in depth until you get to high grades. In the low Kyu grades generally only basic taisabaki and some throws are studied, as far as I have seen. I would really like to study Jiu-jitsu in more depth tho! It is a fantastic art IMHO osu, motoko

If you have time, why not do both? Karate will teach you punches and kicks, Judo will teach you throws and grapples (I know that is an overly simplified description of the two arts, but you get the idea) Both will keep you fit, teach you self-discipline and give you a good mix of techniques to defend yourself with. Plus if you are the competing type, it will give you two types of tournaments to enter! motoko

In the summer we sometimes train on the grass outside the dojo, that feels nice under the feet motoko

In my karate class last week two guys were practicing arm locks and chokes with rolled up newspapers of all things! It seemed to work pretty well, as it was a heafty newspaper and when rolled up was very hard to bend.

wood floor is good for general training, kihon and kata especially if it has a bit of spring. Personally I like to have matts if we are doing throws or ground work as I have got injuries in the past being trown onto a wood floor. motoko

yes keys are good, put them between your fingers like claws. Use to stab or scratch. In some women's self defence classes they teach the use of keys to defend yourself. If some guy trys to grab a women she can stab the key into his hand, or use to poke or sratch the eyes..ouch! motoko

I have trained in both Shotokan and Wado. I really love the Ju jitsu that is incorporated into Wado, so that's what I'm training in Wado now. But Shotokan is also a very effective self defence art IMHO and the Sensei at the Shotokan club was very heavily into self defence and even ran extra self defence lessons. I do feel that Wado is giving me slightly more in the way of self defence, being that I am a women the Ju Jitsu moves and emphasis on redirecting the opponent's force seem to work better for me against a man than the moves I learnt in Shotokan.. but for you Shotokan might be just as good. I would say go and check out both the clubs before you decide. They should both offer the first class free as most clubs do. See which style suits you best. Also, it's not always the style, but the ability of the sensei, atmosphere of the club and equipment available that you should consider. Hope you post your decision later! motoko

Yep, it wus HERO over here in UK, except for the movies of course. Go figure! Even the names on the toys packaging was changed Have to say Raf and Don were my favourites! That might be why my current favourite weapons to train with are Sai and Bo And yes TMNT amongst other film and tv influences made me want to start karate.. and I'm not ashamed to admit it! cowabunga!!! motoko

I'll have a go, tho I'm only starting to understand it myself. Breathing should come from the dantien, that's a point in your abdomen, just below the naval. It's about directing your Ki as you execute a move. In Zazen meditation they say to breath from your hara, which is described as being two inches from the naval and it the spiritual and physical centre of the body. I hope that's right, as I said I'm only just starting to read up on this, as it isn't really taught in my dojo A "silent" Kiai is almost as effective as a loud one when it comes to Ki, though it might not sound quite so impressive motoko

I love Calvin and Hobbes! "Major" Motoko Kusanagi, from the brilliant Manga and later super cool Anime of Ghost In The Shell. She's also my avatar, obviously

Thanks wadoguy! I just repeat what my Sensei has taught me! Glad I'm actually getting it right then! I second what you say tho, Alex you still have lots to learn at yellow belt so don't worry if you don't know it all yet cos none of us do! osu, motoko

Most important thing in Wado Ryu = Taisabaki (body shifting) No block in wado should ever be done straight on if you can help it, we shift the body and deflect the attack. Kicks and jabs same thing! So for low kicks, yes block with your leg but not in a hard clashing way (that'll hurt big time!), but deflect the kick. This puts the opponent off balance so you can get a quick counter strike in. There are leg blocks in Wado, you just might not have been taught them yet at Yellow belt. As for a fast jab, i usually use taisabaki with an uichi or soto uke. Of course in real combat situations the block is much faster and less clumsy than it appears in kihon practise.. for example, the uichi uke does not have to come all the way up to your head before you bring it round for the block. It only needs to move enough to deflect the punch.. it's your body that moves the most. Hope that helps! Osu, motoko

I also find a lot of non-MA-practitioners don't even know the difference between Kung Fu and Karate!! My old relatives are always asking me "how's your kung fu thing going?" It make me laugh, but I'm patient with them But a lot of people think "it's all the same thing" and Karate and Kung Fu are the only names they have heard of usually, thanks to films and tv! motoko

I also looked up Sai kata on the internet, as my dojo does not teach weapons. I learned the basics of how to hold the zai, change grip, block and strike etc from my Sempai but from there I was on my own. Just try a search for "Sai kata" in a search engine like Google and you should find lots of online diagrams and even a couple of video clips. I also bought a book with many sai basics and kata which I actually found in Borders! Look in your local bookshop/library or even try amazon for books on kobudo. Of course this kind of learning will never be as good as being taught by an instructor, but it is a start! Yes that is true, but I have seen many karate katas performed with weapons. Pinan Shodan actually works quite well with a Bo. If it works, surely it's no less valid? osu, motoko

That's the way I do my belt too Hobz.. put the middle of the belt on my tummy then wrap it round both ways, but making sure that one end goes under the other so you don't get a crossing over. There are many ways to tie the belt tho, I guess the most important thing is that it looks neat, doesn't hurt you if you get thrown on yo' a*s and keeps your gi closed! There's one little 5 year old who trains in my club, he always forgets to bring his belt and he's very energetic, so usually by the end of the lesson his gi top is practically falling off him, or he just takes it off anyway! He's very sweet tho, so we tend to let him get away with it! motoko

Thanks for the link Renketsu! The annoying thing is, I think a few months ago that group were playing at the theatre just up the road from where I work. But I just never got around to booking the tickets, and by the time I thought about it they had gone Next time I see them advertised I will definetly book tickets! The little I've seen of Taiko on television, the drumming really took my breath away! I will try to look for a CD, but as you say, I'm sure it won't do it justice! dewa mata, motoko

breath out as you execute each move (ie block/strike/kick). That will force your body to breath in just before the next move. Think of it as doing a silent kiai on each move. osu, motoko

I agree. Yes I train for self defence, yes cos it's fun.. but what actually attracted me to karate was the spiritual and cultural side. That is far more important to me than entering tournaments. I spend more time practicing Zazen meditation than practicing kumite.. that's just my spin on it. motoko

on the subject of belts.. who has their belt flat at the back and who has the belt crossing over at the back? I was taught the belt should be flat at the back, and the knot at the front be a flat knot in case you fall flat on your front you won't get a big knot pressing into your belly! But I have seen a lot of low kyu grades at the dojo I'm at now, having the belt cross over at the back and then just tied any-old-way at the front. I don't think Sensei ever told them how to tie them. motoko