Gino

It can be hard at times but try not to look to hard at what other people are doing. Martial arts training is a personal thing,concentrate on being the best YOU can be and train as hard and as often as you can and in time you will get what you want.You may pick things up quick and your technique may be good but remember theres much more to learn than that.Your learning about yourself to,that may take a bit longer.Through dedicated hard traning you can learn alot about yourself, your good points and your weaknesses but it does take time, don't try to rush it. Grading times vary alot from style to stlye and association to association. Heres ours, 10th Kyu to 3rd Kyu-3 monthly 3rd Kyu to 1st Kyu-6monthly 1st Kyu to Shodan-1yr continous training from date of achieving 1st Kyu/ must have trained consistantly and with no breaks for 3yrs at least. Shodan to Ni Dan- Must of trained minimum of 2yrs from date of last grade and be over 18 yrs old. Ni Dan to San Dan-3yrs consistant training from Ni Dan. San Dan to Yon Dan-Minimum of 4yrs since San Dan grade/This grade is on the recomendation of the president of the organistion or people elected by him. Hope I've been of some use to you.

If you wear a white belt in your new style it doesn't mean you lose your old ranking in your first style no doubt you worked hard for that and no-one can take that away from you.However it is respectful to put on the white belt if your starting a new style.Leave it to your teacher to decide.If the styles are very close you may find the teacher will let you wear your green belt and take the next grade as everyone else does.If you pass that, no one can take that from you either.

I'm sorry Treebranch but I don't really understand you on this.I don't beleive there is a real issue here.It sounds as if maybe your concerned that the word "Style" some how reflects the wrong message to people but what I'm trying to say is don't worry about it to much, everyone sees things slightly differently any way.If the word "Style" was never used again people would still have very different out looks and probably misinterpret another word instead. Osu.

Fighters do need a certain amount of protection from injury.Rules and a type of point system can sometimes offer that.Remember the type of fighting that is being described here isn't life or death, there not trying to kill oneanother, just over come or over power the other one to a point you can reasonably call a winner.

I train in England in Kyokushin!Any good to you.

Very nice!

Theres no better way to learn to fight than being taught or helped by someone more experienced and knowledgable than yourself.

Your Martial art is a very personal thing.Only you really know what it means to you, what it's called or how other people categorize it probably isn't to important.

I remember when I first started the martial arts all I wanted to be is a black belt,but when I got it all I wanted to be was a good black belt.I still do and always will.Thats where the work really starts to get tough.

You can't put an age on this really.It depends on the child.

I think its illegal to carry any weapon of any discription in Great Britain unless you are either going to or from your place of training and it has to be covered properly and out of sight.I also think the law in England has changed or may be changing soon so that you can not even carry it to and from training,I'm quite sure thats true of most Knives especially the Sai but it may also include the Nunchaku

Muay Thai Fighter, Your lack of understanding and respect for other Martial arts is shocking and an embarrassment to your chosen art, if you even study one at all.

WOW someone doesn't know who Chuck Norris is I didn't think that was possible!!!!!!!!If you check on line for" Black Belt magazine" have a look at the hall of fame I think you'll see him more than once on there.

The more I use this site the more I enjoy it.Great stuff!

The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama by Cameron Quinn.A great book on the philosophical foundations of Kyokushin.A VERY in depth look at Oyamas interpretation of Budo through Kyokushin with forwards written by Mas Oyama and one of his longest standing pupils Bobby Lowe. It also has a very in depth look at; Symbolism and Purpose of coloured belts,The five elements and the Chakras,or spinal centres of intelligence and many more facinating facets of Budo Karate.It also trys to explain the names of many Kata and looks closely at the history and development of not only Kyokushin Karate but Karate in general. This book is a must.Regardless of what Martial Art you study you'll gain something from this book.

Good luck in your new training and welcome to an excellent forum.

please stop you guys, I can't take it any more your cracking me up!!!!

I don't really feel to strongly on this point even though I come from a style that prides it's self in breaking.If done properly its pretty damn good to look at.To be honest its not something we do at my dojo very often but I'm sure there are plenty of clubs from my style that do. In my opinion its only a very small part of the whole picture.I have to admit I've enjoyed the breaking I have done though.In the organization I'm in up untill very recently it was mandatory to do Tameshiwari for your 1st, 2nd and 3rd Dan.You had one mandatory break using seiken and one of your choice.Also in our Knockdown tournaments you have to break a set amount of boards before you can fight in the first round if you are unsuccessful in breaking the required amount you are not alowed to fight in the Knockdown.

Tibby, yeah very funny!Thanks for the message.

Shocking!

Welcome.It's good your back.Remember, the more you put in the more you'll get out of your training.

Welcome.

Hello and welcome aboard.

welcome. Have a good look at as many Martial arts as you can before really committing yourself.

Treebranch, No I wasn't refering to San Soo which I admit I know little about. I was suggesting that any Martial Art that has very limited contact may well be missing an important ingredient for preparing it's students for a real life situation.