stl_karateka

Well every school is different. My IsshinRyu school started on Bo at green belt. Breaking was outside of the curriculum --- maybe done 3 to 5 times a year thru seminars.

Check the advice I gave someone else on their 1st tourny: http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=10780&highlight= As far as tips for fighting --- 1. Don't stop until the judges call 'halt' Just because you think you got a point or think your opponent got a point...do NOT stop. 2. Don't throw just 1 techique -- use combos -- backfist reverse punch....double kicks without setting down...hands and feet. 3. Know when to be offensive and when to be defensive. If you have the advantage of not fighting first -- watch your competition...do they 'fan' like a chicken at every kick and punch that comes at them? Do they stand flat-footed? Do they move around the ring? Are they offensive or defensive? Have contingencies for each scenerio, but at the same time don't limit what you can and cannot do. 4. As an orange belt you probably only know a few techniques --- stick to what you know! Tournaments aren't the time to practice advanced moves you haven't mastered yet. When I was a yellowbelt I won matches with just side kick, back first and reverse punch Good luck and let us know how it goes Kita

Is this just in Pinan Shodan or any cat stance in general? What style do you train in? The Pinan Series are VERY popular amoung many styles so what I am about to explain is the Matsubayshi ShorinRyu way --- the best way is for you to talk to your instructor. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart Step SLIGHTLY FORWARD with your right foot and pivot into your cat stance....now to help with your problem, put more emphasis on shifting your hips / buttocks back. Think of sitting on an imaginary bar stool. Make sure 90% of your body weight is on your back leg --- you should be able to lift your front leg and put it back down without barely shifting your weight. Do this in front of a mirror if you can and make sure your back is straight. Just keep practicing that opening series since you've already pinpointed your error...good luck! Kita

I prefer using the side kick defensively --- I guess that would be the thrust kick

I started IsshinRyu when I was 9 cause I guy was handing out business cards about his school --- at the time I didn't have the time and my parents didn't have the money for me to continue past the 3 month intro class. By the time I got to college I was flipping thru the course guide and saw I could take karate as a gym class -- eventhough I didn't need one cause I was in ROTC --- I called anyway to find out what kind it was --- once I found out it was IsshinRyu I just HAD to take it ---- the rest is history!! Well, not really --- I progressed to 1st Kyu brown in IsshinRyu when it was time for me to move to IL --- I searched long and hard for another IsshinRyu school --- closest one was over an 1hour away --- I tried it but I couldn't deal with the commute --- so I found a Matsubayshi Shorin Ryu school and the rest is history!!!

Welcome

Wa hooooo --- 'falling back' --- get that extra hour of sleep!!! ZZZZzzzzzz

yeah sensei says is a good one! and for the older kids you can make it more advanced by using terminology -- like sensei says 'mawashi geri' -- and they have to throw a round house

Hola

For Balance --- we used to do an elimination game with the kids at my old school. For example an instructor would chamber leg --- throw a slow kick, hold it out --- slowly bring it in, chamber to side kick --- out and in, slow and fast, back kick etc --- all without setting down. The other instructors go around and tap kids out when they have lost their balance or drop their foot --- they then sit down until the next round. You can do this with the older kids by getting a little fancy --- front kick, pivot to low , middle high round kicks, hook kicks etc We also do kicks down the room using a hitch step --- so pump side kick all the way down, pump round house, then pump side / round without setting down. Hope this helps Kita

I am a BIGSHOT?! ( Some of it is true -- some not # 8 - THE BIG SHOT 8's are the problem solvers. (that's true) They are professional, (that's true) blunt and to the point, (nope -- been faulted for being indirect) have good judgment (yep) and are decisive. (eh --- maybe, maybe not) They have grand plans and like to live the good life. (true) They take charge of people. (when I have to -- or is my job) They view people objectively. (very true) They let you know in no uncertain terms that they are the boss. (Not me at all!) They should learn to exude their decisions on their own needs rather than on what others want. (this line lost me)

Practice Practice Practice!!! For kicks --- make sure you are not standing flat-footed....keep your heels off the ground and put a bounce in your step For hands (and kicks too) --- RELAX! Everything comes off so much quicker when you are relaxed. I used to do drills a while ago, and I think I am going to pick them up again....3x a week on a heavy bag: 20 side kicks 20 round house 20 hooks 10 side / round combos 10 double round combos (low/high) 10 hook round combos 10 spin hook kicks *That is just one side, so actually double the number* You can also get some of those leg weights to build strength...when using those though the point is to kick low and slow --- not show off your high kicks otherwise you'll end up pulling a muscle or something! Here's a hand drill - ( now I've never used this I'm just making this up -- but its based off what we do in class) 20 backfists 20 ridge hands (front and back) 20 reverse punches 15 backfist / reverse punch 15 double ridge hands (front then back) 15 spinning backfists 15 double reverse punches (under / over) Good luck! Kita

Sorry about that Here is a pic of the machine I am talking about: http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/fitness-equipment-images/elliptical-trainers/jpe5100-elliptical.gif As far as 'springy' -- what I mean is some tracks are made specifically for running --- they are shock absorbant --- they have a soft bounce to them as opposed to hard cement which can hurt in the long run...does that help?

Where are you running? Tracks are the best in my opinion --- the ones that are kinda springy (sorry for the lack of technical terminology here!) Cement can damage your knees and cause shin splints esp if you do it often. If you have access to an elliptical machine, those provide great cardio vascular workouts with little impact / pain on the lower legs

Welcome! I also did a bit of PC support -- fun stuff!

I find that my personal training increases more when I am actively teaching! For one thing you have to work a lot harder to make sure your techniques are on point so you can demonstrate them to your students. You should be able to explain the meaning of any move (bunkai) and be able to do katas forward, backward and pick-up in the middle etc. Same goes for sparring --- unless you have an injury --- you should be able to perform the techique you expect your students to perform

Haven't seen this one in a while --- I'll have to get some people at work with it!! Kita

NASKA, NBL, MMAA, and UKA in the past year

Does anyone else do this? I've done it a couple times --- I've realized I am my own worse critic --- it seems to be helping so far. I also video tape my sparring to notice any quirks...picked up a few things I need to improve.

slow sparring --- we do that too without really putting it in the curriculum -- good point delta! For example if I am working with a lower ranked student on a night I know we are going to spar, or before or after class I'll throw a backfist slow over-emphasizing my open ribs trying to get them used to throwing a reverse punch....or slowly throw a spin kick to get them to work timing moving in and out..... I never thought of it as slow sparring, but I guess that is exactly what it is. We also do HEAVY BAG KUMITE TECHNIQUES --- this is more to work your own positioning/form when executing a move since you aren't doing it on a moving target.

Haha thanks Laurie! Them where the good ol days!!! I'm thinking about coming up to Roch in mid-December we'll have to get together! Anyway --- I digress---- sparing is cool!

Interesting....all the tournaments I've been to the divisions are broken up by skill level beginner - white, yellow, orange intermediate - green, blue, purple advanced - brown, red, rank immediately before blk and black belt divisions Then amoung the skill it is divided further by age: 18-29, 35+ etc Sometimes even further by gender --- esp with the adults.

I've always loved sparring! My first time sparring was at my first tournament --- talk about double pressure! I was a yellow belt and the others in the division were orange belts ( i think there was one white belt) --- I ended up getting 2nd place in an overtime / sudden death face off --- I was sooo close to first --- but still psyched for my first time. I was so nervous and only wanted to do kata -- I guess my instructor saw something in me and paid for my extra registration ticket. Its definately fun --- I'm one of 2 girls that show up consistently for class so I'm usually sparring other guys and I love it

3 times a week in the dojo and after class Then at home whenever I can

So as an orange belt you were going against a 1st dan?!?!