Goju1

I don't know what your rules of engagement are, but if he's willing to almost paralyze you, i would think a well placed kick to the knees or quad pressure points would get his attention. Also, learn grappling, take downs, pressure points and joint locks. And pump some iron to gain more strength. Good luck!

Ah, grasshopper - there is so much more to the arts than fighting

Sounds like our kakiae (sp)! Glad to hear other styles practice close in, I figured they did, I just wasn't hearing about it on the post

Yeah, i suppose i am ridiculously crazy, but: 1) you're not supposed to 'break your knuckles' on the makiwara, nor your knees shins or other body parts. 2) Many aspects of karate are not considered 'healthy', we are essentially training for violence, if you're limiting your training based purely on health benefits, take up Yoga, no wait, the original poses can be dangerous, never mind. 3) Striking the makiwara does not build just 'extra tough skin' covering the knuckles, there is more to it than that. 4) I suppose it depends upon ones dedication to the tradionality of ones individual art. 5) most doctors are wimps anyway. I would humbly suggest: 1)get someone skilled in the use of a makiwara to show you how to use one, or don't use it. 2) relax

I don't believe hitting a heavy bag will develop the scar tissue and calcifications that the Makiwara will. Not in the same way, anyway - plus I hate to see the old ways be forgotten, I don't think many dojos still use the makiwara, chi ishis, etc. IMHO, martial artists should strive to keep the history alive and promote the teachings of discipline, courtesy, honor, etc.. If someone just wants to learn to fight, there are lots of quicker and easier ways

There seems to be an impression that Karate is not a close - in fighting style. Can some of you other Goju Ryu guys comment? Our particular style emphasises close range fighting. The katas/applications clearly show the 'nasty' inside stuff. Is it just Goju ryu?

Our Sensei's books teach as most of you have said - martial art in general probably started in India, moved with the trade routes to China, then Okinawa, but not until Okinawa was it refined into the forms we know today, but called by names of cities where it was formed, i.e. Naha-te, Shuri-te, etc. I don't believe it was actually called 'Karate' until its introduction into Japan?

In our Dojo, you are expected to figure it out yourself (impossible) or ask a higher rank. Most people that stick with karate eventually notice the higher rank's belts don't cross in the back, never come untied and have that perfect knot in the front. It's almost a "rite of passage" in a sense. The links looked pretty helpful, good luck!

I was in the brown belt ranks for 2 years (we have 3 brown belts, w/a minimum of 4 months and a certain number of trainings between each one), plus I had some health issues, so I can relate to the "brown belt blues". Just keep pluggin' away, you'll get there!

It depends on one's target, doesn't it? Stomach/chest blows would require toes pulled back/ball of the foot, groin strikes with toes straight, leg/torso attacks with top of foot/shin, IMHO. In Goju Ryu, we don't go for high kicks much, mostly inside style fighting, and one of the more devastating kicks I use (and have been the recipient of ) is a low roundhouse to the quads, or inside thigh vital points.

10 adult classes per week available, some for different ranks, 2 for all ranks. they range from 1 hr to 2 1/2 hrs

In our style, its based on number of classes. If you attend at least 3x week,you can do the colored belts up to brown in 3 months