Jussi Häkkinen

http://www.kendo-usa.org/reference/hakama_fold.htm One way of folding a hakama. I use a variation of that, but that's a good one as well.

Broken ribs: No. Bruised ribs: Yes.

Yes. And should be, since it helps women to get used to a stronger, bigger opponent. Injuries depend on rules. If contact is allowed, some minor injuries (bruises, small fractures etc.) are usually bound to happen even when two equally sized opponents do spar. After all, karate is a martial art.

Hirota would be my choice from those. Maybe otherwise as well. Tokaido would be the other noteworthy possibility.

Generally, "osu" is used in (usually) male dominated sports clubs and within certain groups. It is close to the meaning of "hoo-ah!" of some soldier groups. Using "osu" when visiting a foreign dojo or foreign style (in Japan) is rather risky. It has insulting tones when people that you address to don't belong to same group as you do. Personally, when someone greets me with "osu!", my first thought about him is "ignorant idiot". This may be a bit different if the person is wearing a karate outfit and Kyokushinkai-insignia. Even then I think that he really doesn't know what he's doing (despite the importance of "osu!" in Kyokushinkai, he doesn't understand its meaning outside his circles). So, if "osu!" is used in your organization, use it. When working with other people, don't use it - use "hai" and other needed words if the teacher is Japanese. Otherwisely "yes", "no", "hello" and classic handshakes work just perfectly (of course, if your language is not English, use whatever is your native language - or teacher's native language. I use Finnish when visiting other dojo).

Shotokan version might be Itosu no Wansu, since Funakoshi Gichin lists it as one of the "original kata" of Shotokan. However, it may as well be Matsumura version. How different is Itosu no Wansu from Matsumura no Wansu? I'm personally familiar with Maeda no Wansu, which is most commonly found in Kyan-lineage Shorin-ryu (Sukunaihayashi).

In which country?

It will wear out a bit when the fabric rubs itself. It's occasionally OK to use the dryer (to return the softness to fabric surface), but if you repeat it often, your do-gi will wear out very fast. I'd say that one tumble drying is wear-wise similar to about a month of training.

Oh? I've actually noticed something completely different. Actually, during last 5-10 years, the popularity of kata has gone up like never before. The single most significant reason for that is the popularity of bunkai training - first via Dillman's bullshit and then via more traditional bunkai training forms. Especially Okinawan karate seems to have gained popularity (which isn't all negative for us students of Okinawan karate). It certainly needs a different person than kumite competition does need. It depends. When style openly tells that they're doing things certain way and always train that way, it seems to attract certain kind of people. We're pretty lucky to have a good bunch of people. It might also be that we aren't doing "competition pretty" kata (although we're still aiming to exact and proper execution) but train a lot of bunkai. Old way of training, so to say. Everything I do in karate is kata. Kihon is kata taken apart. Pre-arranged sparring (bunkai) is training the basic applications. Sparring is training the free application. That all is kata training for me. Kata is karate - karate is kata.

I use machine, 40 or 60 degree (celsius) program, normal detergent with bleach. I don't use softener. No tumble drying (wears out the fabric), hang drying, ironing to soften the inside a bit. I wash the do-gi after every training. Having a couple of them will allow you to cycle them.

Usually yes.

Good for you.

It's just a normal grading, a bit more hyped but nothing different. Expect to sweat and be tired after it - and to hype to others how hard it was and how special it is.

Yep. My mistake probably was to ask if their uniforms were tournament cut or not. I got really arrogant answer about them being a "traditionalist" firm and that they wouldn't have any tournament products available. That really didn't tell good things about their knowledge of karate products - especially since "tournament cut" actually is the more traditional cut. I gave them the measurements etc. and they didn't bother to tell me the sizes - they said that they had a chart (then just height & weight instead of the better chart now) that I could use. They also didn't respond to my questions about the possibilities of shortening the sleeves and pantlegs (I like long jacket with just below the elbow sleeves and 3/4 long pants). All in all, I was very disappointed to their "service" and arrogance. If I had used their chart, I would have bought 1-2 sizes too small uniform. Well, I ended up with buying a Shureido again. Haven't really regreted the decision.

No problems at all - and I understand the concern about the firms. Some really do take any advance that is possible and it's rather healthy to be concerned. Actually, that's one reason why I begun to ask the measures (and send the measures). That way I know that I get at least close the fit I need (and it tells about their service - if they bother to measure their uniforms, they at least have a decent service). I was surprised, too, when I checked the Meijin website at Dragon Tsunami and noticed that my size would be 8 or 9 in their chart - and that they really do have overly long sleeves and pantlegs. And well, when I mailed and asked them about certain things, their service proved to be something that I decided that I won't be their customer - ever.

Trust them - the fellows who run the firm are honest guys who want to have a solid customer base and good reputation.

Email the measures you need before you order one - that really is a best way.

Trust Jon Keeling. Tokaido sizes are smallish. Shureido sizes, then, are large-ish. My Tokaido size would probably be around 7+ (I'm 6'2" / 188lbs). To make sure, measure the back width of your existing do-gi (most crucial to the fit) and jacket length you desire and send those to Tokaido - they can give you more exact size then. If your current uniform fits you fine, measure it (use the "custom order" -chart from Tokaido pages as a reference) and send the measures to Tokaido. That way they can search a size that best fits you. One example about size differences are belt sizes. For 340cm belts (I currently use 330cm, but I'll be moving up to 340 - I like 'em long), Shureido's size is 7.5. Tokaido size is 9. So, don't trust the number size.

I agree with AnonymousOne's view about the performance. My belief is that it was done for educational purposes only, to show a "Shotokan version" of this kata. I don't actually wonder why it fell away from popularity.

The person you seek is most probably Joe Eigo.

Friends to drink beer with. Permission to beat those friends on regular basis. Occasional sick leaves due to injuries.

It seems that you had luck now.

It isn't a Shotokan kata. It's just Suparinpei done in "shotokanized" way. It isn't a part of Shotokan curriculum, so I wouldn't call it a "very rare Shotokan kata". Here is a link to the video, if you absolutely want to see it. Still, I prefer A. Wakai or M. Higaonna version any day.

Very true. My post was mainly meant for early training of the kata.

Pinan Nidan. Heian Shodan is Pinan Nidan. However, basic tip: Execute each and every movement as you would be doing basics. Have good stances - that gives your kata lots of quality. Even if you'd have perfect hand techniques but your chances would be too high or somehow goofy, your overall performance isn't good. Walk the kata through without hand techniques a lot - just concentrate on stance and footwork. Do it this way 10 times, sip some water and do it 10 times more. After 50 repeats without hand techniques (with water breaks), take the techniques to the game. First, when connecting techniques and movements, take a lot of time between techniques. Make sure that your every stance is still perfect - and still, execute each and every technique with full power, one at the time, taking a lot of time after each. Do the same set of 10 five times, sip some water between the sets. Call it a day after this set - you've walked the kata through 100 times with good stances, you should be rather finished. Next time, begin from the second step. Do the 50 set (in 10 sets) with good stances and good individual techniques, lots of time between techniques (yes, this takes time). After the 50 set, take the rhythm into game. When connecting rhythm to stances and movements, do one combination part of the kata with good rhythm, then take a good break before the next. Again, 5 * 10 set. Call it a day. Next time, begin from this step. Final day of learning, begin from the previous 50 set. After that, make the breaks between combination parts shorter and perform the whole kata with proper rhythm. 10 sets, sip water, 10...you know it. 50 repeats. Call it a day, congratulate yourself. Next day, perform two 50 sets (in pieces of 10) and add kiai to second set in appropriate places. Now, you should have a pretty decent Heian Shodan. Keep the stances and techniques good! If you need more excercise, add a 50 set more of any of the previous stages in any time. Here you go. And yes, it needs lots of repeats. That's just a beginning.