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Here's something that happened at the dojo last week. I'm curious to get your feedback. First, let me set the stage: Our Shotokan Karate association is family focused and non-competitive. Well, we have kata competitions and there is a kumite course for contact sparring, but on the whole, the association isn't competition focused. It's a really non-threatening place to learn karate where most people soon realize that they don't have to prove anything; they can just practice and learn karate at their own pace. Obviously you don't advance through the belt ranks unless you know the material and can demonstate it accurately, but the emphasis is on training and learning, not belt color. Anyway, last week a new family joined our club. It was a man and wife and their four kids, aged around 10-17. We were doing some basic front snap kick drills with punching-bags and several of us noticed that each time the father approached the bag, he really gave it everything he had. When we did a few basic punches first, he had his hand open (no fist) and threw his shoulder into the punch, turning his head down so he was no longer looking at the target, and only making a fist at the last second. It seemed kind of obvious that he was trying to hit the bag as hard as he could, and didn't really care for the instruction Sensei had JUST given on how to do a shotokan basic punch. Whatever. We chalked it up to him being new and realized that we were all there at one point or another and just continued to encourage him. So then we start practicing front snap. The Sensei is giving pointers like make sure you contact with the ball of your foot, raise your knee high and get your hips under to increase the height of the kick, make sure you push your foot in to the target and try to avoid simply flicking your foot upwards, etc, etc. Anyway, I'm standing in front of this guy and he leans over and whispers to me "You couldn't kick your way out of a wet paper bag with that kick." He wasn't referring to me specifically, but rather was making a comment about that kind of kick. I turned to him and said "Well, I think I'll reserve judgement on that unless you can prove otherwise." At which point he leans in again and says "I'm a 3rd Degree Black Belt, Grand Master, in Jujitsu. I used to teach the black arts to the Military (Canadian military)" That shut me up for a few minutes. Mainly because the guy had such an attitude that I didn't really feel like there was anything I could say that would change anything. I asked him why he was taking shotokan karate then, if he felt the basic kick was a waste of time, and he said that he wanted his kids to learn good basic karate in a family environment. Anyway, the guy seemed like a really nice guy, except for that comment. He even came up to me and a couple of my friends after class, shook our hands, and gave us his resume again (verbally) "I'm a 3rd degree jujitsu master, blah blah blah." It really seemed like he was bragging but we couldn't figure out what the point would be. We were like "He doesn't have to prove anything here. What's the deal with this guy?" It also got me thinking about the basic kick. I don't know anything about jujitsu, but I'm pretty sure the basic front snap is a useful kick. A friend of mine said they teach that kick to marines. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it seems like the general consensus is that the front snap is a good kick. Ultimately I just felt like this guy insulted shotokan, insulted our sensei and insulted the dojo with that comment. I thought that someone who was a 3rd degree ANYTHING would have learned respect and discipline through their years of training, enough to keep such comments in check. Anyway, the guy's registration to the association eventually got denied (him and his entire family unfortunately) because he couldn't validate any of the jujitsu claims he was making, and the head of our association felt that we just didn't need someone that competitive in the association. Sensei also said that the military does not hand out dans, so he doesn't know how this guy gets away with claiming he's a 3rd degree black belt. The guy couldn't provide ANY documentation to support his claims. So I guess I'm curious about a few things: Jujitsu students and teachers out there - what are your opinions about the front snap kick? How about the way he first punched? Would a 3rd degree jujitsu master have performed this way? Is that how jujitsu works? Fathers out there - what are your opinions about a father who makes such claims in full view of his family? Is he telling the truth? What kind of message is he sending to his kids? Senseis out there - how do you feel about the guy's registration being denied? Everyone out there - how would you have responded? Let me know what you all think... Wap

I have only been studying Shotokan for about 2 years. Currently a 1st level Brown Belt. Probably another year or two till I get my first Black Belt. I train with the All Canadian Karate Union under Sensei Addison James Bray. http://www.acku.org/ We have the same basic 26 kata, but through the National Instructor's Course Program we have the option of learning many, many other katas, from a few different styles of karate. We also have workshops throughout the year where we can learn the jo, bo, nunchaku, bokken, kama, tonfa and sai. Wap

Our dojo has started trying to transition to using English phrases only, or at least using the English phrase as well as the Japanese. I can appreciate the traditional aspect of continuing to speak in the original Japanese, but I also think there is something to be said for simply speaking the most understandable way. I don't think the original founders of karate used Japanese words because it was traditional. They used Japanese words because they spoke Japanese. They counted to 10 in Japanese because Japanese was the language they spoke and they needed to count to ten. We speak English. Doesn't it make more sense to use the language we understand, just like the founders of karate used the language they understood? Why not count to 10 in English? I sometimes wonder if Japanese people shake their heads and wonder "Why don't they just count in a language they understand? It's just counting..." Anyway, I digress... Wap

I honestly don't know what the origins of the kiya However, our sensei does talk about kime, and spirit. Perhaps they are the same thing? I honestly don't know enough about it. We are taught that a kiya brings focus and power to a punch, kick, whatever. Whether that's simply because you are breathing properly and expelling your breath in a sharp exhalation, or whether that's because you are focusing your ki, I don't know. I know it's more than simply a shout though. One thing I always thought was interesting, and kind of cool, was when our head instructor said that sometimes a student will kiya during a kata at the "wrong" time. He believes there is no wrong time to kiya. While a kata does have specific points for the kiya to happen, he believes that when we kiya by accident (a true kiya, that seems to just happen without even thinking about it), it simply means that we have focused and released our power during that move. He says that when it just seems to sneak out, that's a sign that we're starting to let our spirit, or kime, release during a move. Anyway, I'm not really an authority on kiyas, ki or kime, but those are the things I've come to understand in my brief 2 years of training. I'm sure I'll learn so much more as the years go by. Wap

I would have to agree with Rick. JeetKuneDo, I'm also interested to know if you have had any formal, professional instruction. While books, tapes and other information sources may provide great insight into martial arts and their application, there seems like a high chance for mistakes and bad habits to develope through a completely self-taught system. I know there have been numerous times when my stance, form or timing have been "off" and the only way it was corrected was for someone who had been training in karate for years and years (my sensei) to notice it and advise me. I still read a lot of information on martial arts and get some of my study through books and tapes, but those corrections my sensei makes are things I would never have picked up in any book. A book and tape can tell you how to do something, but they can't observe you and make suggestions and corrections. And to be honest, we can't really be trusted to observe our own ability and judge it; an impartial, experienced instructor needs to see it and tell us. Those are just my thoughts though. Wap

Fortunately I've never had to suffer the nightmare of getting attacked with a weapon. I used to get in a few fights in school (15+ years ago), but that was long before I ever started taking karate. Haven't been in any fights since I started martial arts. Which I think is the idea... Wap

Ok, I looked him up. Now what?

Xerxes, I think you have ki confused with a 'kiah' shout, as Master Jules indicates. The ki being discussed here is not a shout, though a shout could certainly contain some 'ki'. I'm not an authority on ki at all, but I know what a kiah (sp?) is. Wap

Isn't it amazing how much value we give 'science'. Doesn't it take a degree of faith to decide that everything that can be proven scientifically must be true, and anything that can't be proven scientifically must be fake? We have reached a stage where the physical realm is the only one that matters. If you can't prove it physically, then it's fake. That takes a lot of faith, if you ask me. Or maybe it's just easier that way. Wap

47MM, I have not heard of him. Why do you ask? Wap

Take Shotokan. I am basing this suggestion soley on the fact that it is the only martial art I have ever taken, and therefore the only one I can speak about with any degree of knowledge. Seriously though, Shotokan is good for equal distribution between punching and kicking. Then again, I think most, if not all, martial arts involve fast moving punches and kicks. Good luck! Wap

My favorite weapon. http://www.pr.afrl.af.mil/divisions/prt/ihptet/images/APACHE.GIF

I've read that something like only 15% of communication comes from the actual words used, and that the other 85% comes from body language, inflection, tone, cadence, expression, etc, etc. So it pays to keep in mind that when you read something on here, you're only getting 15% of the message the author is trying to send. And as authors, it's important to keep your messages as 'informational' as possible. Wap

I think hydro-electric is probably one of the best though. Clean, efficient, generating stations make for good tourist traps... What are you all looking at me like that? Wap

I think it's like any other sport or profession that gets the hollywood treatment. Whether it's movies or television, most sports and professions are portrayed somewhat inaccurately, for the sake of entertainment. I'm sure real Doctors watch ER and wonder why they do some of the things they do. Same with CSI and just about any other show. Sure, they are "based" on actual techniques, but they've all been Hollywood'ized. That's why there is such a huge entertainment difference between something like ER and something like Operation on Discovery. One's real, one's not. Same thing goes with Martial Arts. All legitimate martial artists probably look at those movies and shows and wish they could be portrayed more accurately, but the truth of the matter is that the real deal is probably not nearly as entertaining. At least, not for the majority of the population. Just my thoughts... Wap

Actually the character of Pei Mei had been created years before Kill Bill was even an idea in Q&U's heads. According to the Special Features from the Kill Bill 2 DVD, Pei Mei was a villian used in a number of old kung fu movies. Ironically, Gordon Liu starred in several of those shows, often as Pei Mei's adversary. He said it was a great opportunity to finally play in the role of his ancient enemy. Wap

Now that I can't help you with. The only Tai Chi I've seen is slow moving, and more of an exercise. I understand there is a Combat Tai Chi, but I've not seen it, so can't comment on it. There's no way, IMHO, that the slow Tai Chi I've seen could be incorporated into a viable self-defense system because there is no practice of speed, sparring, self-defense techniques, etc. Hehehe. I was totally kidding. I guess my humor doesn't always come off well on the 'net. Sorry 'bout that. Wap

I find it's a good idea to go to the local martial arts supply shop and buy a six-pack of ninjas. Release them in your home and watch as they quickly scurry and hide. Then, without warning, at random times, they will jump out and attack you, testing your martial arts knowledge. Just be careful which brand of ninjas you get. I bought some no-name brand one time and the ninjas didn't do anything but sleep all day and drink all my beer. Wap

There is no way to learn how to do that over the internet. I think that's the part you are not getting. Learning to fight effectively is about instinct, which is achieved through knowledge, which is gained through time and study and dedication and discipline. There are no websites that say "Ok, here's how to take down an opponent" and studying off the 'net will never give you the instinct and focus you are looking for. I think we all understand what you are asking for Python. You just don't seem to be able to grasp what we are all saying: "No, you cannot achieve what you are looking for without studying in a dojo for months and years." This is a martial arts forum. Believe it or not, most of us actually know what we are talking about when it comes to martial arts. Wap

As just another example of why stances are important; we have recently been focusing on weight transfer during kicks, which is best practiced in stance. Without a good understand of how to transfer your weight during a kick, you severly jeapordize your ability to maintain balance and accuracy. But then you might say 'Well can't we practice weight transfer in a normal fighting stance?'. I suppose you could, but weight transfer is only one aspect of stance practice. Start considering all the important aspects of karate (or any martial art) and you will probably arrive at the conclusion that the best way to practice and ingrain those concepts is to perform them in stance. Just my thoughts... Wap

I never said they weren't permissable. I'm not a moderator, I don't make the rules. There's nothing I can do to stop you from writing one liners. My only comment was that one-liners are a waste of my time. It's a matter of courtesy, not law. If someone writes "me too" or some nonsense like that, it would be MUCH more interesting if they added their own comments, thoughts, ideas and opinions rather than just telling us all that they agree. Big deal, you agree, great. What does that do for me? Why not add to the conversation instead? Let's not forget that there ARE many people who post constantly simply so they can increase the number of posts below their name. It's just a nuisance. I'd prefer several long written posts than a million one-liners. But that's just my opinion. Not a rule, not a law. Just my thoughts. I'm sure many people will take offence and write how their one-liners are great. Actually, I would welcome such a discussion because then maybe the one-line writers would write more than one-line. Wap

G Money, I invite you to come on down to our Karate Kumite class on Friday nights and then you can let me know if you think we are just running a daycare centre. And if you don't have respect for the karateka training there beforehand, you certainly will afterwards. Wap

Wow. This is rare. It's not often that you hear someone give really good reasons for wanting to take a martial art. I'm impressed with the thought you have put into this, Tao Hodos. I think you will have a very enriching and fullfilling martial art journey. Most people start by asking what "the best" martial art is and often use fighting as their excuse. "Which martial art is the best for fighting?" I bet less than 10% of those people actually get into fights at all. Most people don't. It's only the media and hollywood that sensationalize fighting and make us seem to think that it happens every day. Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm impressed with the reasons you've given and the attitude you have about it. You'll go far. Good luck! Wap P.S. I'll throw in my vote for Shotokan karate, primarily because that is what I take. And it has all those aspects you mentioned. To be fair though, I think almost all martial arts have those aspects you mentioned.

How about Tai Chi? It has very fast movements, right? Why are you all looking at me like that? Wap

I have only taken one nunchaku workshop through my association, but one of the things I remember was that you only hold the nunchaku close to the chain when you are starting out and need more control. It was emphasized that this is more of a "cheating" technique, since it does provide more control, but starts to negate the nunchaku's effectivness and purpose. The whole reason there is a chain is to provide momentum for the striking end. The closer you hold to the chain, the less momentum you provide for the striking end. To use nunchaku effectively, you must hold close to the end of the stick, away from the chain. And if you want to use them with any skill, you should probably start learning to hold them near the end right away. Holding near the chain might make you look cool, and give you great control, but it means little if you were to ever use them. And remember, nunchaku behave VERY differently when you are actually striking something (or someone). The sticks don't move smoothly through the air; they rebound off surfaces and you must have enough control to be able to recover from those rebounds. But if you are providing enough momentum to the stick (by holding at the end), you shouldn't have to worry about a lengthy fight; one strike from a properly held nunchaku is sufficient to break a bone or crack a skull. Again, just my thoughts... Wap