Goju1

Sometimes I wear shin pads, they are optional, footgear is mandatory (the open bottom, velcro strap type) By the way, what is the point of limiting sparring to above the waist? Most of the best techniques are down below i.e. foot sweeps, low round house to the thigh points, stomp kicks. If you are facing a larger, taller or more powerful opponent the best way to bring them down to size is low work, IMHO. Could someone let me know why some karate styles don't allow sparring below the waist. Just curious.

OOOOH! I get it Yeah, nuthin' like a good knee strike, that and the elbow are two of the best weapons close in if ya ask me!

Me too - there's so much good stuff out there, don't waste your time!

Well ok, maybe I was overreacting a bit But it sounds like it's all this guy is using. I would propose for discussion (maybe a new topic?) that point sparring actually can lower one's ability to free spar or street fight - pull back the blows, certain areas allowed etc.... What d'ya think?

Yes, this sounds so familiar!!!! The classes at our dojo start pretty late for me - 7pm. After a long day of work and working out, I am wasted by then! Plus the wife/kids thing, and an elderly mother to do errands for, etc.... You are definitely not alone! I tried to get the entire dojo to adjust themselves to my schedule, but that didn't work So I go when I can muster up the energy. Another guy with similar issues and I went to our Sensei and arranged for private classes in the middle of the day, which are great much better training, but the feeling of class comraderie is missing... but I figure any training is a good thing and I am fortunate to be able to train as much as I do!! (But imagine being 20 again with no responsibilities, training every day, tons of energy) Sounds like you are a good Dad and family man and that is so important nowadays, be proud of yourself and train as much as you can and it'll all be fine in the end!

There's two problems right there - you've got to spar with a variety of people, and IMO point sparring is absolutely useless! Maybe look around for a good traditional style dojo?

This is not point sparring, but rather free-form dojo sparring.

Any sparring rules in your dojo? Or is it more up to the two adversaries? Only things not allowed are direct face strikes or knee attacks. Only other one I can think of is that you're not allowed to hit your sparring opponent in the head until green belt ( our 5th belt). You must restrict your contact to below neck level, since It is assumed that one's control is not yet great enough. I wondered if this was common practice? Sure is fun for the higher belts hehehe

Goju Ryu, and yes, we do also. Jodan level, chudan, and gedan.

Jeez - where does this guy train? Naw, I thinks he's yankin' your chain. Sometimes our sparring consists of 3 or 4 on 1 for the higher black belts, but that is only a part of your grading. You're more likely to fail for not knowing the proper applications. Maybe in old Okinawa they used to do things like you mention, but I doubt anymore - imagine the liability issues, for one?

There is also a video featuring him doing the kata and applications. Matbe that will be easier to find? I know those books are pricey

Our 'official' warm up is the same every time and fairly lengthy. We stretch and work every muscle from head to toe (including toes ) Of course if you get to class early most people stretch on their own or practice kata, but the warm-up is like a ritual, even written in books as how to do it correctly and why.

Yes it is a must IMO. As mentioned by Kirves beforehand to clear the mind and be ready for karate, and afterwards to clear the fighting mindset and return to real life. The time depends on the senior student calling the instructions. It can be as short as 10 seconds or as long as several minutes. I usually like to let it go on for a good minute or so when its my decision.

Any of the books by Morio Higoanna are pretty definitive resources for traditional Goju Ryu. Search on EBay or Amazon, they're usually hard to find. Good Luck

Yep - we had an intensive this weekend with one of the well known Okinawan Sensei's and all were welcome. It was interesting to see even the reasons for the specific warm-ups broken down and explained, let alone the kata and bunkai. Fascinating stuff (at least to me). So, Kirves, you're saying the main difference in these posts is primarily whether the type of karate is Okinawan or Japanese?

Thank You! I've been trying to explain this forever and no one seems to get it! This is the only way of karate I know - I was beginning to think I was alone?

This sounds like a perfect class !!

Heyyy - Watch out now...

Yes, I've given up heavy weights for the most part, there are plenty of overload intensity workouts that use lighter weights, like pyramiding. Good idea for us all, I suppose, hard to compete with the youngsters... Dang it!

Had an intensive today - 4 hours seiza, makuso warmup -45 min basic drills -1 hour partner drills -arm conditioning, leg conditioning, - 30 min kakie (push hands) with applications - 1 hr Kata - Seienchin -45 min seiza, makuso, talk by Higoanna Sensei -30 min A great time was had by all - gotta go lay in a bathtub full of ice now!

Thought we could compare what we do in class - I realize every class is different, but just describe what you did last time. Me: Bow - in, makuso Basic warm-ups, 5 minutes Stretching, 5 minutes Kata practice (Sanseru) 45 minutes Stretching, cool down 5 minutes makuso, bow - out

Hey gang - I'm 49 (50 in November) I train with weights daily as well as swimming (and karate of course) The aches and pains increase with age, don't they? (currently have a right pulled groin muscle and a left strained hamstring ) Weight training is the way to go IMO, keeps you strong, lean, flexible. I lift pretty heavy, but am not all that large (6'2", 180 lbs) Combined with a good stretching program and karate (or ?) we can all stay young forever Seriously, though, I feel karate keeping me more flexible, more agile, quicker, etc.. and I plan to continue until they haul me off the old dojo floor!

They all are sport. At least to some extent. We are not Samaurai warriors fighting for the Shogun. Nope - still don't agree. there is a wide range between being a Samurai and doing sport karate. How about those who train for spiritual purposes? Or just love kata? Or want to be as good a fighter as they can, even if it is meaningless in real-life situations? If you want to substitute another word for sport? Maybe I'm missing your meaning?

Hey, I'm half Finnish and proud of it, my mother was from a town called Kotka (sp) and her maiden name was Sauvinen (sp) I visited there when I was younger - lovely country, lotsa lakes, saunas, pretty girls! Can I be a "semi-finn"?