Goju1

Basic kickboxing would be the quickest way to be able to defend yourself without getting involved in the tradition and lengthy process of true karate or similar art. Long term, though you will be a better street fighter with both. So maybe take kickboxing for starters and add in karate, kung fu as you go along??

I would only add to Cross' great explanation that a proper block can/should be a strike as well. A well executed block can cause great pain and damage.

You get to learn 3 new katas with one belt level? We only got one kata about every other belt!

Your Sensei should not ask you to grade until you are proficient enough to advance to the next level. There is no point to being a high ranking belt who has less skill than a beginner, is there. Ask yourself why you are in the amrtial arts to begin with.

True - old style tough training Not necessarily - if the breathing is done correctly, it is fine, actually promoting proper breathing technique. However, done incorrectly it can even be fatal, so one should make sure they're being taught correctly. If in doubt, don't do it.

Try every upper body technique you know 20 or so times from each side, for instance, jab, cross, hook, backfist, elbows, etc.. then do the same for lower body, front kicks, roundhouse, knees, etc.. Then to finish, time yourself for a set time liek 3 minutes with all upper body combos, then all lower combos, then everything. That should leave you well-practiced and exhausted.

Ditto to the above gentlemen. We never back up - simply move to the side, 45 degrees, forward, whatever - straight back is asking for trouble. Now if your sensei is asking you to practice backing up, that's a bit different, like mentioned above, move your rear foot first and then slide your front foot back. If you practice enough you should get quite good at this. Hope you get it

Here are the minimums, but as stated before, it is really up to the head Sensei to decide when an individual is ready. It seems to take about 5 years to get to 1st Dan 10th kyu - 4th kyu = at least 3 months and 30 classes 3rd - 2nd kyu = at least 6 months and 60 classes 1st kyu = 6 months, 60 classes with at least 3 a week, no missed weeks.

Probably generally true, but try fighting a professional kickboxer sometime, it'll change your mind. It all really boils down to how much you practice, who your teachers are, things like that. All in all I agree an average karate-ka could usually take an average kickboxer.

Headgear, mouthpiece, hand and foot protectors (light padded), cup. No point sparring, freestyle full contact, anything allowed except intentional face strikes or kicks to the knee. Fairly heavy contact at times, blood and injuries are not uncommon ( although you're supposed to show restraint when facing someone of lesser ability, in other words fight down to your opponent's level)

stl-karateka: I think the point is that if someone is asking for a clip of a particular kata, it does no good to have them see essentially the wrong kata. Not being critical of you at all, you were just passing on some info, but that is barely even capable of being called Seienchin. And I've never heard of being able to change the hand movements, you could get killed for doing that where I come from Nothing personal, thats just horrible karate

Basically I would agree, except in a traditional MA, there is more to it. The entire training session is rooted in history in many cases. Its not just about bowing or wearing a Gi, much deeper than that and not available in kickboxing (though I have practiced that form and respect it greatly)

Very well said, Cathal! I couldn't agree more. I think one must have the right style to begin with, and then spend a certain length of time with it, to get the feeling that you appear to have. (and I) Enjoy!

Has a couple of Goju katas, but most are not.

I don't know about free, but if you can find the video of Higoanna Sensei performing the Goju Ryu katas, it is worth any price. You get what you pay for

My personal preference is to have fewer katas and work on mastering (or at least bettering) them. The discipline required to work on a single kata for years is what I feel makes karate great. It may not work for all in our modern 'instant gratification' society, but I think it closer to the original intent of traditional karate styles IMHO.

After 7-8 years in Goju Ryu: Gekesai Dai Ishi Gekesai Dai Ni Saifa Seienchin Shisoshin Sanseru Plus 2 breathing katas: Sanchin Tensho

Yes, I agree - Goju is very different isn't it? I've been studying for 8 years and have some experience with other styles. The close-in fighting is unique, I think. We are taught to never back up, sideways maybe, but never back, then step in and stay there to use, as you said, elbows, knees, backfists, pressure points, etc. And the sticky hands or muchimi - the 'never-letting-go' is unique to Goju, I think. Yeah, it freaks people out when they attack and you not only don't retreat, but actually slip inside their defense!

Hi, sorry for taking so long to reply, haven't been here for a while. I really don't know that much about Naha-te technically, but I do know that Okinawan's preferred closed fist, while the Chinese preferred open palms. In Naha-te kata's this was often changed by the Okinawans, which also means that some aspects of the kata had to be changed to accommodate the change so that the techniques are still optimal. Hope this helps. Thanks, although we use quite a bit of open handed techniques, don't know if its because we are so traditional or if all Goju styles do?

Good one - I was trying to think of the answer and I read your post and it said exactly what I was gonna say!

We do not breathe audibly during Kata, you are not supposed to be able to notice one's breathing during kata (except Sanchin & Tensho). It is to both show control and practice for not allowing your opponent during fighting to see your inhalation/exhalations and use them against you.

We grade at our Dojo, since fortunately it is the Dojo where others must come to test (for Shodan and above). Testing for the colored belts is done at their own dojo.

In my teaching experience, it has a lot to do with the basics. No, it has nothing to do with kumite, and it won't prepare you on its own for a real fight. What it will do is provide a starting point from which a great number of people can practice being in a fight, without being in a "full" fight. Perhaps in your art, students come in and sign up with the frame of mind that they have no problem going full contact right from the beginning. However, there are a great number of people, taking a wide range of arts, that have to work their way up to full contact, and point sparring is a good starting point. I suppose its ok for some, but I would still maintain that point sparring teaches bad habits. The limited areas of contact, the pulled punches and kicks, etc.. are not realistic. I would rather have students spar realistically, but with slow speed, or practice the one or two point sparring techniques safely at full speed without contact first, then allow them to progress to full speed full power if they desire. With all due respect

Sorry - don't see any 'point' to point sparring. has nothing to do with basics or kumite and does not prepare one for a real fight, actually causes harm to ones ability to perform well in a real situaution. Can you see the old masters of 100 years ago doing point sparring??? I didn't think so .....

All I got to say is - Music while training? Huh??