Goju1

How many and what rank Sensei's do you have presiding over your BB testings? And for Nidan and up, do you have to have your Head Sensei/Master there? (Or go to them?) Ours is like that, pretty strict and all, just wondering about the rest of you?

Yep, me too - I just don't see too many people using them, do you? They can be vicious to attack the leg vital points

Just wondering if many use their leading leg for attacks? I find it pretty effective, especially to inner thigh/groin, but most people I know don't seem to use these much. Since my higher kicks are limited, I've had to find alternatives and these work well, esp. after a hand feint. Any comments appreciated.

A great inspirational story! Congratulations on persevering! Sometimes it's all about endurance (mentally and physically ) I can relate somewhat due to physical problems as i aged, mainly hypothyroidism. It was very frustrating to barely be able to finish a training session when I looked so healthy to everyone else. I took some time off, but came back to gain my Black Belt and continue onward in the journey, so keep going yourself!

This is the kind of school that capitalism should create, as I explained before. People should be unwilling to pay for a poor product or service. Blind loyalty, pride, and peer pressure prevent the standard model of capitalism to work for karate schools. Unless one is fortunate enough to find a devoted Karate person to lead a school, but they are few and far between

I generally agree, except no kicks? I find and have seen low kicks ( knee take-outs, back of calf, quad pressure points, etc... to be very useful and not very risky (even for an old guy like me ) What d'ya think?

Patience, grasshopper. for all of the thousands of times I've done my first Kata (Gekesai Dai Ni) I still am corrected constantly and shown subtle nuance of movement each time, speed, breathing, timing adjustments, etc... This is part of the basis of karate, developing the patience to constantly continue learning and yet never learn enough. Hehe, you'll find out if ya stick with it

By direction and angle, you mean a slight upward tilt to your knife hand strike, for instance? Is there info online re the Five element theory you care to share? And I agree, the kata and vital points are intertwined in a beautiful manner. Not that the anti-kata people would agree

right, thats what I meant, you just put it better!

That's too bad. The likelihood that you will ever find a free karate school is slim. People have to make a living, and running a karate school costs money. Even in okinawa before 'commercial' karate schools were formed, an instructor often was compensated by the student doing work, donated goods such as rice, or sometimes the instructor would even shack up with the student. Preachers work for free, karate instructors don't. Well put! A well-managed school should be able to support a successful junior/youth program, which in turn should be able to promote a strong adult program at the highest levels; being able to offer more classes, classes by rank, internationally known guest instructors, optional weapons classes and the like. As a matter of fact, it almosts makes sense that only a "commercial" school could really offer the best in Karate? Its great to make money, as long as its not all about the money, IMO

Another good topic, Sasori_Te! We use the vital points extensively, as a matter of fact during the BB written exam, you must name and locate them. most of the applications/bunkai target them in relation to the katas. I feel they are an important part of karate and certainly fighting

I've heard that on occasion when there is no one remaining higher ranked than the 'Master' of the line, then the next most senior people can get together and vote him a higher rank. (?)

Yes, and preferably from Okinawa - 60+ years of age and one who has the 'power'. I think one must have the life experience and the karate experience, even if you can fight like Jet Li. IMHO

Ditto and yep!

"Kata is a necessary" Why? Its like that old saying - "if you have to ask......."

I agree from personal experince - many more classes, higher level of instruction, more structure/stability. Depending, of course, on the particular school/sensei

I guess we all need to realize that - depending on your particular style, its lineage of Senseis, the tradition (or lack thereof), history, type of katas, etc.. - We are never going to agree on the importance of the kata! So it might be easier to drop the idea and just go do our kata (or not)

If you really want to find out, you have to have an opponent who is willing and able to take a really hard kick. in our sparring you are expected as a higher belt to fight to the level of your opponent, so you don't want to nail a yellow belt in the head, but with another high belt, ask them if they will go full power/speed, or set up some training outside of the dojo. There have been plenty of broken noses, near knockouts, etc... amongst the (usually) older high ranks. Having said that, I think the general opinion from other threads is that high kicks are risky, particularly when fighting a good karate-ka. They will just be waiting for it, even if you feint low first. As soon as they catch or injure your leg - fight over! But in a bar fight with an average person, you may be able to use a high kick as a good finisher, so at least practice it on a bag where you can go full power.

Personally, I wouldn't be training in a school where the 2 Senseis are 24 and 19 ??? My advice is quit the school, go find a school with more 'history' to it, and a very senior Sensei in the system. Then you'll have a chance to learn a higher level of Karate and some feeling of continuity where you can know you'll be there 10 + years from now.

I've always taken as many privates as possible and found them invaluable! You just can't learn in class what you can 1 on 1. But it may depend on the system and certainly on the level of the instructor. You'll learn more from someone with 20-30 years experience than one with 5. And I'm getting the idea from my brief time in the Forum that some styles are relatively simple and loosely structured while others are very old and complex. So I would say it depends on your exact situation. I currently take one private every week in addition to classes. It is incredibly worthwhile and a bit of an honor, as our head Sensei doesn't realyy give privates anymore, so I will stick with them as long as I can.

5 up to Black

I don't know if its been mentioned, but I would certainly add weight training to the mix. Stronger muscles can't hurt. And our BB gradings are 4 hrs long also - designed to test endurance and see how your character holds up after basics, katas, applications, sparring, bag work, more calisthenics etc. But they used to last from Friday nite 'til Sunday morning.

Yes in most cases, also the most power in their katas.

So what you are saying is that if someone would try to kill you, you would bow to them. Yes, exactly! Get serious