Goju1

With all due respect, only 15 years and you've already rendered your Kata useless? I'm thinking maybe your Sensei could show you more? I've seen people with more than twice that experience constantly struggling to better their first Kata. Please take no offense, we just must have a totally different perception of what Kata are about. In our very traditional organization, they are everything.

Couldn't agree more.

Never been a fan of point sparring. I suppose any sparring or martial arts exercise has some merit, but for the following reasons, I don't think point sparring has much real world application: 1) real fights don't stop after a 'score' 2) you learn to focus only on certain areas in point sparring 3) learning to pull back punches/kicks is a really bad habit But, I guess if you enjoy it, its better than nothing. I personally think working a bag is better training.

He should be! Heck of a Martial Artist way before Hollywood

I just thought of another good one! Fighting right-handed, fake a left mae-geri, then drop your lead (left) arm over your opponents arms, followed by a right ridge-hand to his/her temple. Almost a knockout every time

Good story !! In our Black Belt testing we must remove our tops and perform Sanchin to allow the panel to observe proper breathing and muscle tension. Glad to hear others have Sanchin as their root kata.

I remember reading a while back that he actually defeated Bruce Lee in the World Championships. do any of the older guys recall this? Chuck was and is the real deal!

I agree! We have so few Kata. Some of these styles with 50 kata? How do you ever master one?

Well said, but I still feel and see more in the Kata, just can't quite explain it in writing, y'know?

Just curious: do you practice kata? What style, and for what reason? In response to the original question, I would have to say yes, kata practice is important in 'real' fighting, but especially if the applications are stressed and practiced at real-time speed and power.

There are far better methods to remember drills. Wrestling and BJJ don't seem to have a problem with it. Also drills need to be created to deal with specific things, which differs from person to person. No two people should be doing the exact same drills the exact same way. I don't look at Kata as just 'drills'. At least for our style they are art forms in a sense which are done exactly the same by everyone. The bunkai (applications) are also quite precise. Herein lies the mental, physical and spiritual conditioning inherent to some of the more traditional styles.

Right on, my brother! And it is not lost in all styles

Exactly - this has happened to me on occasion, when its my turn I respond with the same force or technique that the "problem student" is using. that will get the message across whether he's being ignorant or doing it on purpose. I think kicking his * would be frowned upon in most dojos..... might be fun though?

Yes, the sensei will usually strike or kick to make sure the appropriate muscles are contracted, including a kick to the groin from behind to make sure you're in correct sanshin stance This sure helps your focus and you usually don't end up in the wrong stance more than once

We start at 3rd Kyu (1st brown belt), about 2 years into training, and I think you must be 18.

Following on a similar post discussing the perceived harm of Sanchin, I am wondering how many of you out there practice Sanchin Kata at your dojo, and if so at what age, or rank, are you allowed to start? Let us know your style and briefly what your Sanchin performance is like. Thanks, Bruce

I'm a long time Goju-ryu IOGKF stylist, having worked in fairly close contact with Higoanna Sensei many times, and I see that Sanchin is misrepresented. It can be potentially dangerous, therefore no younger students are allowed to practice it or its sister kata, Tensho. However, these 2 katas are considered the roots of our style, and are the most difficult to master. They provide a way to coordinate breathing and movement, mind and body, and make all kata more powerful and dynamic. Sanchin is for the 'Go' or hard aspect of our style and Tensho is for the 'Ju' or soft. Sanchin is closed handed, Tensho is open handed. They are performed with dynamic muscle tension and extremely powerful breathing techniques, so after a few times through, you can feel like you've been sparring for an hour. Properly done, though, there is little possibility of any harm, to the contrary, there are many benefits, both physical and mental! I know some Goju practices are percieved as 'black magic' but there is sound reasoning behind these katas, and even though they are old, they were well concieved. I happen to be in the physical fitness business, as a gym owner and certified personal trainer, so I have a fairly in depth knowledge of the workings of the body, and find everything we practice to be in accordance with current safe principles of exercise. Our style is extremely traditional and we often practice single katas and applications for full classes, even months, to perfect the movements. I'm wondering if this is typical and how many others practice Sanchin. i always assumed it was the basis of all karate? This calls for a new post, I think!

Sounds like a pretty good deal money -wise. Regarding the Black Belt issue, I wouldn't personally want any part of a club where one could obtain a black belt with less than 3 years solid effort. Normally, there is a minimum time and/or classes between gradings anyway, so even if you never missed a week due to illness or vacation, etc.. it should still take well over 3 years. Of course, I'm assuming that you aren't in it just for the belt and actually want the training, mental/physical discipline, serious fighting skills and all? If you just want a black colored belt, there are plenty of schools where you can buy one for a years worth of training or so.

Low roundhouses to the inner and outer thigh points, work in close, elbow and backfists

Before Black Belt: Gekesai dai ishi Gekesai dai ni Saifa Saiunchin Shisoshin After Black Belt: Sanseru Sepai 2 others Funny how some styles have so many katas and others so few, eh?

totally agree, never see 'em much even in regular sparring (except by newer, younger guys who watch too many movies) Sano, just out of curiousity - 1) Whats your age? 2) What style do you practice? 3) How long? 4) What rank? 5) Do you train on a wood floor? 6) Height/Weight/strength? Just trying to get some more ideas for you.

Sano - another thought - I cross trained for a while with a semi professional kick-boxer. It was an eye opener for sure. I thought I was pretty good, but being forced to put on gloves (thereby losing open hand techniques) did a couple of things: incredible conditioning just holding those suckers up for an hour!!, and you're forced to focus more strictly on precise placement of punches and kicks. A good pro kick-boxer will also have some "dirty tricks" to teach you, they are vicious, their only weakness is lack of grappling, and ground fighting. Maybe you could run an ad for a workout/sparring partner, they may be willing to train with you for free. Just a thought, but it took my fighting level up several notches real quick!

I never mentioned religion, although we have done extended meditation (great for endurance, focus) and historical readings are encouraged/required. as a matter of fact, we rarely spar during class. However I wouldn't want to irritate any of our black belts, if ya know what i mean.

No kicks higher than belt (doesn't work against good fighter in real life, leave it for the movies) focus on side/roundhouse kicks to his thighs and knees to weaken him, then get in close and use elbow strikes and backfists, etc. Learn the vital points and use them, you can paralyze an opponent quickly. Sounds to me like this guy has probably worked out a bit with some fighting style, he's probably BSing you a little, but you can take him - someday. Practice, practice, practice!