telsun

https://www.gojuforums.com

2nd dan...

The state of English karate It seems that there is trouble with the English karate governing bodies. This site has been set up to keep those that are interested in the poitics of karate to keep themselves informed of current events: English Karate 'Back Chat'

Very good point, I will view these "juvenile" discussions in a new light, thank you

Mart from the posts of yours that I have read you do seem biased..... Unless you have in depth knowledge of all the arts that are compared how can you compare? The comparing of styles i.e "Will Muay Thai beat Tai-chi?" is extremely juvenile and naive.

One more thing on the tension thing. You will also note in Mark Bishop's book that he states that Yashio Itokazu performs his Sanchin "even softer than Miyazato". This implies to me that Miyazato did not apply the dynamic tension that we commonly see in the kata....

The dynamic tension form of Sanchin can be harmful if not taught and practiced correctly. It seems that although the dynamic tension version of the kata is popular, it is not it's original form and I personally feel that the essence of the kata is lost in performing it this way. I now practice a completely relaxed form of Sanchin emphasizing the internal system. You can read more of my own findings here: http://www.gojuforums.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=96

Hello Mawashigeri60 it would be great to have a little chat When I practice Shisochin like tai-chi I mean with the flowing, continous, no tension, etc moves that a tai-chi practitioner would do. I have done a little tai-chi and feel that this kata allows me to feel the right feeling. Like you, I also practice my other kata slowly to pick out error but that tai-chi feeling isn't prevelant. I am a member of GKI (Goju-ryu Karate International). It is quite a small association lead by Shihan James Rousseau, a very early student of Morio Higaonna (1966) and one of the founder members of the IOGKF. It would be great if all you Goju guys visited my homepage, it'd be great to see you there

Linear is hard, circular is soft. Soft always beats hard.

I like Shisochin. When not in class I practice it slowly and fluidly like tai-chi. The open handed techniques lend themselves well to the feeling. I enjoy performing Seipai, such a lovely kata. Sanchin and Tensho do teach you the most and their methods will link into all your other kata.

I haven't read this whole topic only the last page. I cannot believe you are discussing defending a roundhouse kick on the street!!! Perhaps you MIGHT receive one but it is quite unlikely. If the street fighter is confident enough to expose himself to the vunerability of performing a kick you are probably in very big trouble or you are fighting a novice street fighter. Use a low block to defend a stomach punch?! You have been doing too much pre arranged fighting my friend! Whilst you're attempting to block, you would probably have been hit by now anyway, your opponent would have hit you in the face with his other hand. Most street fighters go straight for a knockout punch combination. The fight will start with verbal confrontation, lead onto physical testing intimidation and finally physical action. If you do not control the fight then it will start from within 18", if you control it you will get your arms length. Karate is flawed in many ways in regard to fighting on the street, the biggest flaw that I come across is in the attitude of it's exponents in regard to the effectiveness of what their learning. Thing is karate teaches you alot and despite common belief it does not take years of practice to hit hard and fight reasonably well. Like other arts this can be achieved in a relatively short time period. The trick to karate is finding an instructor with a realistic approach to their art. The trick to street fighting is understanding the streetfighter....

It does work then Goes to show that our chosen styles do not seperate us......unless we let them

It is most refreshing to see someone questioning the way that techniques are performed. It is with this kind of questioning that you will gain a depth of understanding rather just a superficial movement. Cathal you are right to say about the lats, I would just like to elaborate by saying that your shoulders have to be down to access them. I do not do Shotokan but did do it for a number of years. I always liked Shuto uke, it feels good doing it. Anyway having studied Goju for a fair few years now I can look back on my Shotokan years with a different insight. I fail to see how moving your body away from a technique can actually make it stronger. For a technique to be strong it requires the body weight to be behind it. I have experimented with this and found that by starting the hips open as I raise my hand and then closing them as I strike I can generate much more power. The hand upto the ear was probably an exagerated move to aid teaching. From the shoulder or chest is more than adequate. Some may say that it is to protect the head from a strike, etc, but this is quite fanciful. All it will do is cushion the blow of a strike, although that strike may still knock you out!! Good question as to why it is generally performed in kokutsu dachi. This is off the cuff and completely made up, but give it a try and let me know...... Get a partner to punch chudan with his right hand. Block his punch with your right (this is the hand being withdrawn ready for the strike, so pull back to you ear/ chest, whatever, blocking on the way) as you do so strike to the throat with a nukite strike with your left hand (the position you're in now should resemble the mid point of shuto uke). As you pull your left hand back grab your opponents lapel and pull him in towards you, using back stance will aid your pulling power. As you pull him in strike with your right in the normal shuto method (use the knife hand or forearm). Post here so I know if it works Also someone once told me that techniques were sometimes practiced looking the wrong way so that spies would not know their training methods. With this in mind try this........ Get your opponent to grab your shoulder from behind (say your left shoulder). Reach up with your right hand and grab his wrist, whilst extending your left hand forward (halfway point of shuto uke). Now all together drop in towards your opponent using back stance, extend your right arm forward and strike with your left elbow. Post here so I know if it works Both the above examples make good use of the reverse hip movement. Just a few ideas. Like I say I stopped training Shotokan a long time ago and as far as I know these applications would not be taught in a Shotokan class, though I could be wrong Oh to make it look nice; relax and tense on the end

Shotokan and Goju are worlds apart. Admittedly there are some similarities but the philosophies are quite different. Shotokan tends to be very linear and reliant on strength. Goju tends to be circular and utilizes elements of softness. Goju kumite is very close Shotokan tends to be at a distance. Obviously these are just generalizations but the list is endless. Why don't you visit https://www.gojuforums.com to find out more.....

I don't know if I dare post a link after all that talk But hey it's not me in the download (or anyone I know) so I guess I've got nothing to lose Try this site http://www.gojukarate.co.uk/ click on kata downloads. It will also be worth checking out the rest of the site, Sensei Mike Clarke has written some superb articles.

Absolutely!!! The king of hand grippers. A strong grip is definately an advantage to M/A'ist's. Not so much for punching as for.....erm.......gripping

I presume that you do not do Shotokan either as Maste Kenneth Funakoshi is a world reknown (atleast I thought so) Shotokan karateka. I believe that he is a direct decendant of Gichin Funakoshi, a nephew or something. Sorry to mock you Shorinryu sensei but it did make me snigger

I am unsure of other Goju groups but ours has stopped using the pigeon toed, knee together type stance. The stance we use now is quite natural. Both feet facing forward about shoulder width. The knees are bent and the hips are pulled upward. The groin is still protected because of the position of the hips and the big thigh muscles will protect that you. When we are tested we are not slapped our instructors squeeze our muscles to feel the tension. There is a reason they dropped the slapping/ punching but I am unsure as to what it was.

You should try these things before signing up, but you know, some things seem like a good idea at the time. Contracts are not common place in England, atleast not my neck of the woods. So not something I am familiar with. If you are struggling with your knees do not continue to train. If you feel you wasted a shed load of money in signing up just put it down to experience. Yeah you could go back to boxing, if you enjoy it then why the hell not? You could also give another ma a go. There are so many (although how many in your area I do not know) to choose from, karate, judo, kung-fu, jujitsu, sambo, kickboxing, etc, etc. Don't let a bad experience put you off.

That's superb smiler, well done Don't stop there though. Tell us about it. Was you nervous? Which kata/s did you do? How did the sparring go? Someone else entering their first competition may read this and your insights will be of more value than us experienced ones (lol) handing out advice and trying to recall our first comp.

I originally opened my own club due to my sensei leaving and I was frustrated at the lack of good clubs in my area. I got in with an association that convinced me that I could make some serious money out of it!! I stuck with it for about a year or so until I met my current instructor. I came to realise that although my karate was at a reasonable standard it was also lacking real depth. I gave up my dojo(very hard thing to do) to pursue my own training. My new instructor also taught me that karate is not for making money. Something which I never really achieved anyway, I'm just not a business man, too soft hearted One day I will start my own dojo again. Although I am starting to take quite a disliking to the whole dojo route and may consider home training/ small private classes. Not sure yet. Shorin-ryu sensei you teach at home. Why? The reasons that I want to teach: 1. I love karate and want to show people the beauty of my art. 2. There are so many bad clubs around here I want to show them what it's about. 3. I know of the positive affects that ma training has on an idividual and I want to be the one responsible for enlightening my student. 4. I want to support my association. 5. I enjoy teaching. Karate is the only thing that I am good at in life and I want to share that. I believe that is human nature. It's quite a difficult question actually...........

Martial Arts is pretty wide spread now. There are many dojos, many "masters", many students, etc, etc. Now do you think that this is a good thing? Sure it's a good thing that these things are offered to us and that information is widely available via video, books, internet. But for the very many good, competent schools there are ten times as many charlitan/ Mcdojo's. I often long for the days gone by when there were few dojo's but all were good serious schools. Whats your view?

It appears that there is some truth in this after all then. In that case a nice little ditti I think

Posted Sat Nov 01, 10.01am.

Absolutely no need to apologise