Sasori_Te

It depends. If you are studying a classical style or a style that is headed by someone from Japan or Okinawa, or if your instructor would like you to then teach the Japanese pronunciations. If not use your native language.

Codyydoc, is this a Keichu Do dojo?

Pressure points do exist. Some people are naturally resistent to certain points. The points that I've seen listed here are purely physical points that have very little to do with the study of styles like kyusho jitsu, Torite Jitsu, DimMak....so on. I've personally been knocked out by Senesei Rick Moneymaker with a light touch knockout and a no touch knockout. It's a very strange sensation. something akin to tingling, dizziness and then you wake up on the floor. Do some research before you knock it. It can enhance your martial art as well as help you understand some of the movements better. Warp Spider I'm curious as to who tried to use this on you and what were their qualifications.

"Combat Ki" is something that you can get through sanchin practice if you work long and hard enough. I think it's extraordinarily dangerous to teach techniques like that separate of the art in which they were originally used. Besides, what is the point? How often would you have a chance to mentally prepare the way they do before you get hit? The way they practice is useless in my opinion.

I've been reading all of these posts lately that have inspired this post. What do you think of what has become of the belt rank system? Do you think it is a good way to perpetuate the martial arts in a society where status is so important? I personally think it is a hinderance since the belt so often becomes the focus of training and not the knowledge or ideals behind the art. This forum has inspired me to not wear a belt again unless I'm required to do so by my instructors for formal occassions. I'm interested to hear what everyone else thinks.

G95 is correct. one per belt is the norm. Although I start teaching the movements for sanchin as well as the first kata required for grading.

BTW, it was me who said that Demura Sensei said that the best karate was being practiced stateside and elsewhere besides Okinawa and Japan.

I would like to ask this of Hohan. You don't believe anyone except an Okinawan can be a master? Why? Do you believe that they are somehow smarter than everyone else? Are they more athletic. Or, do they just have some magic ability perhaps that makes them better at karate than everyone else? Do you somehow have more knowledge, skill and ability because you were trained in a classical style? Has your master taken you under his wing and taught you the secrets of your style? *L* What you are spouting is bigotted nonsense. You mix in facts with your opinions to try and make them sound like facts as well. I don't believe this board is here so that you can come in a try to make yourself sound superior to everyone else. It's supposed to be an exchange of ideas. You may be a nidan but you certainly don't act like it. You need to learn to respect other people besides yourself.

Sorry Angel. You can research the material online if you want. Or, you can try the books that I mentioned earlier in my posts. But I will not give out any information to someone that has no knowledge of the points or that I do not know. You should be able to find a ton of information by doing a computer search. Good luck.

I suggest that since you are training in Shotokan, that you learn how to deal with th slipping through stronger stances. I allow my students (and myself) to wear shoes during outdoor training on extremely rough or rocky groung, during self defense training to better simulate a real situation or if they have a foot condition that would cause a problem for other students. Other than that it's bare feet. I usually don't allow shoes for slipping problems. Try more work on your balance and hitting your stances stronger. You may still slip a little but you won't fall. But I still maintain for times when shoes are appropriate that wrestling shoes work best. If you don't tie them too tight there's no problem with ankle flexion. Good luck.

I think instructors especially should avoid dating students. The instructor is in a position of authority over the student. If an instructor does date a student he/she should be aware of the fact that the dojo will be watching. Any perceived special attention given to a partner by an instructor in class can cause tension among the other students and the instructor. I've seen this and I've also seen the student expect special treatment. College professors can't date students. There are reasons for that. The same reasons that I'm stating here. You have to be careful not to compromise your professional relationship with the rest of the students in class over an affair. It's very hard to ever regain that respect again. also I would like to qualify that I'm not talking about students dating other students. I'm referring specifically to instructors. Instructors must remain unbiased and be perceived as being fair to be effective in teaching. IMHO.

I think we all agree back leg kicks are effective too, but we were specifically discussing front leg kicks.

Thanks everyone for the great posts. I love a good discussion.

Thank you Sens55 for so elegantly summing up what I was trying to say in my last post.

I would have to agree with smr here. The ferocity in Hohans statement suggests to me a lack of confidence in his own system to have to resort to belittling other styles and their respective GM's. It reminds me of a child on the playground saying "my dad can kick your dad's butt." And Hohan, I'm not calling you a child. I'm saying you're earlier statement came off as child like. Sorry everyone. This has nothing to do with the original post what-so-ever. Everyone else, I think we can probably ignore further comment and get back to the topic at hand.

I believe we have a unanimous vote for lead leg kicks.

You're welcome Ben.

I never said you couldn't high kick in self defense. I said I would never high kick in self defense unless a sure fire opportunity presented itself and I've never seen one of those. I'm a firm believer in practicing high kicks. They promote several good qualities. I've used low kicks in actual situations before and they worked for me. I even used a midsection kick once and it worked for that situation. Of course that someone was running at me blindly trying to hit me with a bottle. My point initially was that high kicks are more dangerous for the person doing them than low or no kicks.

I would never think of awarding a full black belt to anyone under 16 years of age. Since I don't start teaching the full range of techniques until age 14 this isn't a problem for me since it would take an absolute minimum of 3 years training to be considered for Shodan. Also kataman, the study of weapons is called kobudo. Budo is a general term for the way of the warrior. Anyone is welcome to correct me if I'm mistaken.

Wrestling shoes don't allow your feet to slip around inside them. They are extremely lightweight and comfortable. They're high top and give the ankles extra support when suddenly shifting your weight. They run about $40 to $50 for a good pair. They also come in basic black and white colors.

I see some of your points. I agree that inorder to win a fight you have to be able to take punishment. I disagreer with the percentages that you throw around. But that's what we're here for, to discuss differing points of view. I know I teach leg kicks and groundfighting to supplement my core art. I also teach people that there is nosuch thing as a fair fight when it's real. Let us not forget that I'm referring to truly a no rules life or death street fight. I teac people that if they find themselves in that most unfortunate situation that biting, eye gouging, throat and groin strikes as well as picking up the nearest thing to you to put the odds in your favor. I will be the first to say that MMA would be very hard to beat in a ring. I'm not knocking the UFC or any other contest. They're good entertainment, but that's all they are is entertainment. We also have to realize that there's absolutely no measure that can be used to quantify the opinions being expressed here on this topic. My opinion is my opinion, nothing more and nothing less. We're all entitled to that.

Good luck in your grading. I know my grading for Shodan was tough, even though my subsequent gradings were tough I had a better idea of what to expect. For shodan my grading was 5 1/2 hours. Technique had to be almost flawless and the stamina definitely had to be there. I received a cracked rib during sparring and still had to finish my grading with Sanchin. That's when I truly realized what Sanchin kata practice could potentially do for you. I was so into it, I didn't feel the testing at all. Although life sucked for about 3 days afterwards. Again good luck, or congratualations, or better luck next time. Whichever is the case.

Hohan, I'm not sure what you consider to be real, but what you are discussing is more dojo politics. Kuda and Kise both are in your lineage somewhere. None of the GMs that I know and respect would sell rank for money. They display the proper respect for all styles and this is what makes them worthy of being a GM to me, the proper attitude combined with a mountain of knowledge. Asians no longer have a corner on the martial arts market. They are revered and respected for being the foundation, but remember a foundation is not a house, only a part. I heard Master Fumio Demura say that the best karate going on in the world today is happening in the United States and other countries outside China Okinawa, Japan and Korea. I've also trained long enough to know that people that are as sure of themselves as you seem to be are the ones that are truly clueless to the ways of the art you study. Remember, every tradition has a beginning.

No. I don't know you or what you would intend to use it for. Sorry. Ask your instructor. Vital points are not play things. You can kill or seriously injure someone striking these areas. If you do happen to discover how to utilize a vital point you better be sure of your intent before you use the technique. Is it worth going to prison for winning a petty fight? Again, ask your instructor. tell him/ her what's going on. Maybe they can give you some advice.

Krav Maga is still Asian Martial arts wrapped in a different philosophy just like Brazilian Jiu jitsu ,CDT, Lethalo and any number of other new arts out there. Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu nor am I putting it in a category with these other systems that I mentioned by name. My art is considered a new art too because it is not a classical style. However, most if not all of the techniques are still from Asian fighting systems. I'll stop right there and continue to defend as I need to. *L*