Jussi Häkkinen

Not true. Karate does include weapons in many styles. Although "karate" means "empty hand", it is a pretty modern name for the art. Empty hand can also to be able to grab a weapon - I think that name as well implies that side.

It originated as a Shotokan stuff, now the forum has spread to cover pretty much all karate styles. His style is his style - get past the style and read what he says. Worth thinking, I think. And, at least it is a honest opinion expressed without overly excusing way. And I like the style - we Finns tend to talk straight, without softening our message too much. Straight talk and strong opinions makes me feel good.

Old good clothespin sparring is also a good drill. Kids will have helmets and 10 clothespins attached to their do-gi. Both have to try to take clothespins off from the other - and other has to defend - and vice versa. So, sparring where "contact" is replaced by taking off a clothespin.

Career. Chicks come and go, good career gives more of 'em.

The exact style is rather hard to find out, but Chinese general Ryu Ryu Ko and Wei Shinzan from Fuchian were known to teach Goju-Ryu master Kanryo Higashionna in late 1800's. Some sources suggest that Ryu Ryu Ko would have been a master of Pangai Noon -kungfu. The name Goju-Ryu may origin in Pangai Noon, since Pangai Noon can be translated as "half hard, half soft". In Shuri- and Tomari-styles (as well as in some Naha-styles) (Although Shuri/Tomari/Naha -isn't actually a good way to divide styles) there are traces of white crane and perhaps other styles as well. According to Dan Smith, possible traces of BaGua/Pa Kua can be identified in Naifanchi-kata.

I have some news for you: Drop the "oss" or "osu" and you'll give us a better impression. I know it's a nice gung-ho -alike grunt, but it really does not belong to anywhere else but to your own dojo - and most likely not even there. Read this: http://www.24fightingchickens.com/mu/osu/index.html and rethink your "osu":ing a bit. When it comes to a study group about Bubishi, try this: http://www.society.webcentral.com.au/ It's the translator's website where you can join to be a member of his group. If Bubishi is your thing, I guess it's for you. However, I'd recommend a 4. kyu to stick to the curriculum and create a strong base in his chosen art before spreading too wide.

In Heian Shodan (Pinan Nidan) the first movement has been altered (it's commonly been thought as to be a mistake on Funakoshi's side). While in Pinan Nidan the first movement to the left is a tate tettsui uke, in Heian Shodan (Shotokan) the kata begins with gedanbarai (low block). In Wado-Ryu this mistake does not exist, since Kenwa Mabuni corrected Hironori Ohtsuka's kata. That's the main difference between Heian and Pinan. In certain spots, Shotokan also uses jumping movements where other use the turning movement. There's one example of such in Pinan Godan/Heian Godan, where throw has been made into a jump in Shotokan. However, when considering the body dynamics, jumping shares certain things with throwing - I think that Funakoshi may have wanted to underline this.

Training. Staying fit. A great hobby. I used to think that it means more...but...no, not really. It's a part of my life, but nowadays I keep it from infecting everything too much. It's a hobby - and hobbies are an important thing in our lives. In our society, we don't need martial arts to teach us values or philosophies. We can access that knowledge via books, via internet and via other information channels. Our educational level is also generally higher than the founding fathers of karate did have - so, we have a better base for analyzing the gatheret knowledge. Karate is a rich hobby. You can train and you can study the history. You can also - for curiosity - analyze the connected things - such as so called "philosophy" - to the modern philosophy.

stl_karateka: https://www.24fightingchickens.com Read the articles first. Especially 101 and Mu -sections. Then, think about the things that you feel about disagreeing - usually there are several views to the subject. Don't think "you can't think that way!" but "OK, that's one view". After that, you might feel like signing in to Forum. But don't post anything to Forum if you haven't got yourself familiar with the rest of the site. I just decided to prep you a bit before you go and rush in. The Forum-section is rather heavily moderated - and people who haven't read the pages usually get a pretty quick snap.

tommarker: Exactly. The whole idea of his site is to make people to think and to use a common sense. I don't have a feeling that he wants to give use the definite answers - that would be against his own ideas as well. I don't feel like I'd be a R. Redmond ditto-head either. However, his site has encouraged many to actually think about things. It also sheds light to a situation in USA and abroad. Shotochem: Heh, well...you should post there if you have something to say. They won't eat you alive.

Hehehe. Well, I think that way, too. I think that it's better to have a break when things begin to feel forced than to stay in and grow a hatred towards training inside. Take a break as soon as possible - that way you may some day feel that you want to come back. Or if you don't feel that way, you still have nice memories that haven't been buried into the bitterness of the last days. When it comes to 24fightingchickens...hmm, Rob just says aloud a lot of stuff that many of us have thought about and still think. I have always liked the common sense approach to martial arts. I disagree with some of the ideas Rob has - but mostly because of my location on this planet. Some things are different here in Europe than they are in USA. Practicality and common sense still do apply - but they apply in a local way. Funny thing is that most teachers that I've met think this way, too - and I do study a traditional art and do have a bunch of traditional teachers. (I understood that you were kidding, but I thought that I'll clarify my stand a bit.) I wish all the best for you, whatever decision you may end up to.

You don't like it? You can't afford it? You don't want to go to class? Hey, you just answered it by yourself. Take a break. If you feel like it, begin training later. Leave the martial arts if you don't feel like training. Relax. Enjoy your life! Do not force yourself. You don't need martial arts in your daily life. You don't need to fight. Only thing you need them is for personal refreshment and as a hobby. If you don't enjoy the training or things that are involved...well, you don't really feel refreshed. Leaving is OK. Having a break is OK. Quitting is OK. It's a hobby. It's your life. YOU decide what to do.

Short, bladed weapon. You know, not unalike those you have in kitchen or use for cutting wood. You just utilize the thing to open up human beings.

Hmm. I usually think that 2 hours is more or less a perfect length for a class. For beginner's class, 1.5 hours is maybe enough.

https://www.koryu.com will help you there. "Ryu guide" gives you a description for a wide array of koryu styles.

The very reason I use Shureido's stuff. Well, the true reason is their quality. Incredibly good - and price's not that bad either.

Try Tokaido or - for high quality but reasonably priced - Dragon Associated's Meijin-belts. Both translate (and let you check out if the translation is correct) the text you need. Meijin belts: http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Products/Pages/belts.htm Tokaido http://www.tokaidojapan.com/ I recommend Meijin for the prices, Tokaido for Shotokan-classic status. There's also Shureido, but it's more for Okinawan stylists: http://www.karatedo.co.jp/shureido/english/e_index.html

Having ego in karate is OK. After all, it is a physical activity and being good at it builds a healthy amount of ego. Nothing wrong with it. We're humans. Most important thing that karate can give us: Enjoyable physical training and a hobby. Not much more. If one needs karate to become a better person...well, I must say that that one has really been lost in life. I suggest some reading to be done.

Why are politics and big ego a concern for you? We're humans. It's natural for us to act that way. So, politics are rather inevitable.

Please, check out the competition rules concerning the patches of sponsors. Generally, WKF rules are very strict about that. Also, be sure that your students like that idea. I know I would never put any other patches to my do-gi than one style patch to my left chest.

Umm, karate is a contact sport and chest area is a legitimate target even in official competition rules. So, for a woman, it is wise to wear some kind of chest protection. You will get hit there. And the striker has no obligation to apologize for hitting a contact area. Vengeance by kicking the groin area or by any other similar way is just a plain childish act.

Hip rotation and shifting mass towards the target. Gravity when useful. Could be said that it's pretty much of a no-nonsense approach.

I didn't forget it. But it's fighting, not lovemaking.

Finish off an opponent? Well... Striking your fist to his face. Striking your hand to his throat. Striking your elbow to his face - or throat. Kicking your knee to his face. Kicking your knee to his groin. Using a jointlock. Choking the begeezus out of him. Anything else that works. It really isn't that complicated. And yes, it still is karate.

Depends. Simplified answer: Yes. True answer: No. It all depends on style, school, teacher, you... For example, in Seibukan's first kata, Seisan, there is a lot of grappling involved in bunkai - which is trained even before the kata training itself begins.