Scorcho

Well, I do think that traditional MAs do involve traditional apparel (ie gi, bare feet, etc). I also think that any traditional art will be primarily focused on kata, not on street fighting, at least at first. There should be a spiritual component as well. And, of course, it can't have just been made up by someone in the last 10 years.

Been studying Uechi-Ryu since I was five. Wow, that means it's been 14 years. Pretty amazing, now that I think about it. I am also a rokyu in Aikido and Zen Jujitsu.

The best way is to work with a partner. Practice one response (ie block-counter combo) for each technique you think will be thrown against you until it is second nature. Once you program it into your subconcious, you will just react as you have trained yourself when you see a certain technique coming. Do not practice multiple counters, at least not until you really have one down pat. I used this system, and while I have no real street fighting experience (see my signature), it made me a two time Uechi-Ryu boys fighting champion. Nice to see someone else who started early. I like the Boondock Saints reference.

Sanchin! It doesn't look great, but without it you are nothing. Besides, the simplicity allows you to totally concentrate on the basics: stance, breathing, striking, without worrying about fancy techniques or forgetting anything. It is the true root of any Karate-do man!

In Uechi-Ryu, we are taught that all pwer comes from the floor, which is why we never leave our feet while striking. The power comes up throught you base (your legs), is directed forward towards your opponent by your hips, to you arm by the lat muscles (the ones that run down the side of your back), and finally out your arm and through your opponent. So, the quick answer: Power does NOT come from the hips, but the hips are very important in properly harnessing and directing that power. I hope this helps.

Also, try using your arms to increase your lung capacity. Stretch them out in a circular motion from your sides so that they form a line with you shoulders a collar bone while inhaling, and then move them back in the same path while exhaling.

In my style, Uechi Ryu, we bow in seiza and clap in the ceremonial ending to class. The clapping is a Shinto ritual, that is supposed to call the attention of your ancestor's spirits, so that they may see what your accomplishments. It is also a sign of respect for your forefathers. As a Christian, I have no problem participating in this ritual, precisely because that is what it is, a ritual. It does not demand faith, belief, or conviction. It does not require me to give up or compromise my faith in Christ. It is not a profession. Because of this fact alone, I have no problem participating in it; on the contrary, I think that it can be very benficial. I can take the meaning, honor to forefathers and to elders/teachers/sensei, without the Shinto undertones. There is nothing wrong with Buddhist meditation, even for a Christian, as the large number of Christian spiritual leaders who study eastern style meditation and mysticism to become closer to their God, Jesus, attests. Remember, there is not only one "proper" way to pray or show respect to God. It is your intent that matters. Besides, to truely understand MA, you have to understand to culture and ritual within which it obtains meaning. Karate is an "art," and, just as with a painting, to understand it, one must know its historical/philosophical/cultural background. These different patterns of thought will help you with your MA training, and may even help you with you spirituality as a Christian. At least they do for me.

I just got into Aiki because the college I am at doesn't have a Karate dojo, and I was somewhat surprised at how useful it is. While Aikido does usually assume energy flowing towards you (i.e. an attack), it does often use atemes (strikes) to take the oponent's balance, thus starting a flow of energy.

Do a lot of Dynamic stretching (i.e. swinging stretching for your legs, arms, etc). Also, check out this site https://www.ifafitness.com/stretch/stretch7.htm

Yes, Sensei Mattson's site is great!

I like to send a few scathing roundhouse kicks to the thigh to loosen my opponent up. Then fake another kick to the leg, but pull up for a roundhouse to the head. Can also be followed by a punch to the head just in case.

I am a Uechi-Ryu practicioner and Sho-dan (1st degree black belt). Sanchin is our first kata, and the new student usually starts to learn the basic Sanchin stance, armthrusts, and wauki blocks in the first week of training. We consider Sanchin the root of our style and all of our other kata are derived from it. There is an old story that a O'Sensei in Okinawa was dying and wanted to pass on the leadership of his school. He had all his students do Sanchin, and in the end promoted a white belt as his successor. This tradition is seen in Uechi today, as our blackbelt tests are based on Sanchin. It is worth 60% of the test. Part of that test involves the sensei "testing" his/her own student with punches and kicks to the stomach, chest, arms, lats (muscules down the side of the back from which the power of a Uechi thrust comes), and legs.