Sasori_Te

Using simple logic your statement is faulty: Martial means "having to do with military or war", not all sports can be considered martial arts. Therefore not all martial arts can be considered sports. Competition rules negate the martial applications which are used to injure or kill. If you take away the martial you don't have a martial art. You can have a great sport that may provide you with confidence and some level of self protection. Anyone can kick or throw a punch. That doesn't make it a martial art. The philosphy and techniques determine whether or not you have a martial art. IMHO.

I think scorcho and major motoko have it right. Stances are transitory. You train then so much individually to strengthen muscles and acquire balance. They are designed to be balance points when you're moving. This way as you move through an attack your balance will be stronger because you are used to being in these positions. Although, most schools don't train this way. If you've never noticed, the basic stance can all be transitioned through while standing in one spot by simply adjusting the foot direction as the waist turns. Or, by sliding the foot back or forward or turning the feet in slightly depending on the situation. I practice these "walking" or movement exercises all the time with my students. I don't believe that stances were meant to be what they have become in so many schools. These hard, stiff and unyielding positions are meant to be practiced more like Taijiquan. The heels should be down and there should be a relaxed tension feeling to the stance. You should feel as though you can move easily into another position if you need to. I'm rambling....

My classes and the ones that I attend are structured the same general way kempocos explains it. You really should talk to your teacher if you think that you aren't getting enough training on higher rank techniques.

smr I agree. Good answer. Although it's another "to each his own" sort of topic.

smr, I don't believe that the front leg kick was meant to generate a tremendous amount of power. Like I said earlier I equate learning karate like learning to be a carpenter. You make sure you have your tools. You learn how to use them and then you use specific tools for specific jobs. Although sometimes a master carpenter can use a hammer like a saw if he has to. *S*

Karate_woman I wasn't referring to you. I was talking about practise_is_the_key. I was speaking specifically of his knowledge level seeming to change from beginner to advanced at will in English and Karate.

Cheeky Musician is right. Let it heal completely before you even attempt to use it. I'd wait about another month after they took the cast off before I taxed it too much. I tried training too hard after I thought I had recovered from a separated rib and I re-separated it. I just thought it hurt the first time I did it. It also took me a lot longer to heal than it did the first time I injured it.

angel, I'm not saying that to try and be funny. That's what my instructor told me once upon a time. If you make a mistake correct it and keep going. When you look at it, there's really not much else you can do. Getting up, brushing yourself off and continuing on gives a better impression than getting upset and making excuses. Accidents and mistakes are going to happen no matter what level you're at. It might not always be that obvious but everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Fix it and continue.

I dislike contracts in the extreme. I understand the idea behind them. I think White Tiger's idea is better. Although you need to have a fair refund policy if something comes up.

I always liked blasting them as they flew by. They kind of land in a heap if you time it just right. I didn't do it to be mean, only to give them something to think about.

practise is the key, I notice your English gets better on some posts as opposed to others. So does your martial arts knowledge. How is that? *S* Since we're talking about sandbagging here.

I'm referring to dojo politics and money for rank. That kind of thing.

Then no. I don't know of any points that will kill you simply by touching them. Even if anyone did know how to do it how could you prove it. Would you do it just to see if it worked?Pressure points , in my experience, are not the magical manueverings that you see on blockbuster martial arts movies. You're not going to do a "bloodsport" and break the bottom brick, especially since this is more in the realm of iron palm training anyway. the pressure points that I know use, at the low end, a moderate amount of force to effect immobilizing pain and knockouts. And, I'm not sure if I said this already or not, you are correct Warp Spider. Not everyone is affected the same way. Some people are naturally more resistant to some points (usually not all though).

This again is inspired by another post. What sort of checks and balances could be put in place to prevent the spread of corruption and politics in our art? I'm speaking of karate generically as any system that has it's heritage in the Okinawan art of Karate. How can we, as hopefully honorable practitioners, do this?

My question to Hohan (I just can't seem to stop responding to this guy) would be, Where are the checks and balances in the Asian federations? The head is usually the Soke of the style and they are surrounded by their cronies. So tell me, what is the difference? Corrupt is corrupt whether it be an American or an Asian. Not all Asians are corrupt and neither are all Americans. I'll concede that there are some excellent Asian Karate organizations, but you also need to concede that there are some American and otherwise organizations that are just as good. Unfortunately politics and corruption run rampant on all sides. It's a part of martial arts that we all have to live with whether we like it or not. Can't we all just get along? *L*

My good friend in Shito Ryu had to apply for his black belt like that. I believe he also had to make at least 6 trips to the main dojo before he could be recommended. However, I totally disagree with this policy if your instructor holds a master ranking 4th dan and above. If the main dojo feels that they were deserving of their rank then they should be allowed to promote their own students to within one grade of themselves. Actually, I feel this way about any instructor that is given express permission to teach on their own. Sorry, I got off the topic. *S*

Excellent point karate_woman. I hate people sand-bagging in tournaments. You should always wear your highest rank in a tournament. If you choose to compete do it in as honorable a way as possible.

I agree rb. As for having a visiting instructor working with the students, he still doesn't have any idea of the true skill level of the student. I think the permanent instructor should be taken under advisement about his students before any training on the part of a visiting instructor. I know this isn't the norm but IMHO it should be. Belt meanings change from school to school even in the same style. And before anyone says anything, this goes for the classical styles as well. I'm not arguing whether it should or shouldn't (it shouldn't), but it does.

I've met Master Oyata as well kungfumaster. He's an AMAZING little guy that you would never think twice about if you were to see him on the street. However, he is probably one of the most dangerous people that I've ever met IMHO.

Try the resources that I listed for you. It may be your best bet. Also you can try going to https://www.dragonsociety.com . This is Sensei Moneymaker's and Muncy's website. You can find out more about Torite Jitsu there.

inferiors? I'm not picking on you angel but you prove part of my point here. There are no inferiors or superiors in a karate class.There are people with more and less knowledge, but they all have the same goal (ideally anyway) and that is to increase that knowledge. I teach and I don't think that instructors are superior to their students. I happen to have more knowledge about what it is we're learning and I'm in charge of the class but I don't think of myself as superior. This alludes to our status seeking society. If I misunderstood what you were trying to say then by all means please explain. Thanks for the replies everyone.

I like Shureido's 16oz uniform. They're more expensive but they last years. Tiger Claw's Hayashi line is ok too but it tends to shrink a bit.

Quite right Goju1 let's stick to the topic at hand. angel, as you lok around at different black belts that can teach let us know if you change your mind.

Angel, if you fall at your belt exam get up and keep going.

Any student that is senior to you is your sempai. In Japanese and Okinawan tradition even if a person drops out of the dojo and you surpass them in rank and they come back, they're still you're sempai. It's sort of like a big brother. You would always be their kohai no matter what. My school does not wear patches or logos.