aefibird

I train with a Jo staff in Aikido - mine is 4 foot. I've also been using it to try out Shotokan kata with Jo applications, with some interesting results. I suppose I really should use a Bo staff, but seen as I don't own one....

I'm sorry to hear that Warlock. I hope for a recovery.

*sigh* No, I don't think he was joking, he really seemed to believe what he said, that TKD was only suitable for tall people. Personally, I'd have thought he'd have know better than to say stuff like that, especially as he'd done TKD himself. I've always been under the impression that TKD was suitable for any person of any height, so what he said really puzzled me. Thanks for the replies everyone.

Hi Luckykboxer, thanks for letting us know a bit about yourself. Oh, and yeah, it's true - I AM 7 foot tall, 500 pounds and invulnerable. lol, erm I mean I'm actually 5'2", weigh not a lot and am certainly not invulnerable! heh heh. Glad to have you on Karate Forums.

Stick to combos you know. The middle of a competition is not the place to try out new or fancy stuff. Use what your instructor has taught you; stuff that you've done before and know well. You need to be fast - in and out like lightening, and not just with one technique either. Use of high-low combinations can be good too. Most important advice - relax and have fun! Hope you do well. Will it be your first competition?

WhiteBelt, that was very unlucky!!

I have a leather bag. My knuckles did get bloody at first, but I treated them & rubbed surgical spirit on the area when it healed & now I don't have much of a problem with it. I tend to alternate training with gloves & training without.

Well said. Point sparring is great for those who like it - same as full contact is great for those who like that. Not everyone is going to enjoy the same as everyone else; that's partly why there are so many styles and differences in martial art, because we're all different. If one way works for a person, then that's great. It just doesn't mean it's the 'be all and end all of sparring' or that it would be suitable for another person.

BritNoob, a good website that gives terminology, numbers etc is The Cyber Dojo. It's a Shotokan site, but is still informative. You can also download a terminology tester application (like a mini game) to check how much you know. If you're really stuck on a particular thing then go to a senior grade in your club. It doesn't necessarily have to be a black belt - just someone welcoming with a bit of karate knowledge. Remember, everyone has been a beginner. Most people can remember how confusing & bewildering everything is when you're a MA newbie and will take that into account and try to help you. Good luck & keep going!

Blimey, I wish I could draw as well as you guys. I like drawing, but I'm not at all talented at it. I have great respect for anyone good at art.

I agree, Rotten. I'm also right handed but prefer to lead right-foot forwards. However, we train in both equally well in my karate dojo, so I've got used to leading with the left now. I suppose that I prefer to lead with the right because then my stronger right hand is closer to the target. Either that, or it's just 'cos I've always been a bit 'awkward' and gotta do things differently from the norm! lol Although I'm right handed I play pool left handed and generally use scissors left handed. Maybe that's got something to do with it.

I was chatting with a friend of mine the other week at a training session for my karate federation. We were talking about how MA has changed our lives. I was telling him that I loved my Shotokan training and that I was glad I started martial arts. He replied, that, yes Shotokan was a good style for me because "you're too short for TKD". Now, I thought that that was a surprising response, especially from a 3rd dan (who probably should know better). The guy has trained mostly in Shotokan and Shukokai karate, but has also done some TKD and reached quite a high grade (I think he got to 1st level black belt or maybe the grade just below). I was always under the impression that TKD was suitable for all people, not just the tall ones; even though there are a lot of kicking techniques you don't necessarily have to be very tall to train. I'm 5'2" tall and I know a TKD instructor who keeps on bugging me to train with his club (I would do if I had the time!!) - if he thinks I'm tall enough to train in TKD then is that correct, or is the general consensus that the taller you are the better you'll be at TKD?

When working on my heavy bad at home I use either no gloves or Blitz fingerless gloves.

If you need any specific equipment, then you're probably better off asking your instructor first. He or She should be able to tell you exactly what you need, as well as being able to recommend a brand and where to buy it from. I'm glad you did well at your first time sparring - keep up the good work!

Good post Warlock, especially that last piece of advice.

I could give them a good run for their money in the flu department - I think that the sole purpose of my body lately is the production of nasal mucous. The rate I'm using up tissues I'll need shares in the Kleenex company... However, even if they did have the flu I still wouldn't like to square up against any of the fighters you mentioned. Waaaaay out of my league.

Keep going BritNoob & don't give up! After 7 lessons I certainly wouldn't expect my beginners class to know their kata or to be great at doing basic stuff. I remember being utterly bewildered as a beginner. Everything seemed strange and wierd and I was so uncoordinated it was unreal (still am sometimes, lol!). I'm generally quite a pessimistic person (my glass is always half empty...) so it really used to get me down, especially when I could see that there were others who joined at the same time as me who looked far better than me and always seemed to know what they were doing. However, I kept on at it (obviously, or I wouldn't be on here ) and now I'm a dan grade & also assistant instructor for my club. Whenever I get someone who joins my club who says they're "no good" or "can't do it" or whatever, I just tell them of how far I've come - from being unable to do Kihon kata (the examiner had to ask me to do it twice when I graded for my first belt 'cos I was so uncoordinated the first time round!) to being able to win trophies and teach classes. Hey, if I can suceed then anyone can! I'll also leave you with this little story. Last night on my area's regional news, there was a story of an 11 year old boy who has just become World Escrima Champion for his age group. Now to become a world champion is an amazing thing, but even more so when you consider that this boy is blind in one eye and also has dyspraxia (it's a coordination disorder). I was very humbled to see the report about him - someone who obviously finds physical activity difficult but has had the determination to go on and become the best in the world. So, don't give up. I'm sure that one day you'll look back on your beginner training and wonder what the fuss was all about. Sometimes, things take ages to sink in and then one day they suddenly 'click' and you think to yourself "now, why couldn't I do that before, it's simple!". Good luck with your training BritNoob.

When I was grading for my 2nd kyu and had to do 2 kata I was given the following piece of advice from a dan grade - to think about my breathing and try and make it calm and relaxed whilst performing the kata. Short quick breaths can actually leave you more out of breath, whilst deep breathing can relax you (an important fact for a belt test - most people are nervous for them) and help you to have a calm state of mind. I was also told to practice beforehand as if I was actually doing the test, even if there was no one else in the room with me. So, I would practice with the bow & the saying of the kata name, as well as running through the kata. That way you're in the correct frame of mind before you even get to the belt test. Even if you make a mistake on your grading (and I hope you don't!), then carry on. If you're confident and perform a strong confident kata then you're more likely to be looked upon favourably by the examiners. Good luck with your grading - don't forget to let us know how you did!

Amen to that! Just out of interest, when you did the Heian kata with nunchaku, was it with 1 set ot 2? You've given me a bit of inspiration there - I'll have to go and try to see how they work with weapons. Hmm, interesting!

That's certainly very colourful for a club logo!

I certainly feel that MA has changed my life - it's given me a lot more confidence for a start. Plus, it's helped me to be more motivated and also get fitter.

I train in Shotokan Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri for 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours each session in the dojo. I also teach for an hour on Mondays and an hour & 1/2 on Saturdays. Thursdays I train in freestyle self defence techniques (when I can make it to to dojo) for an hour. Sundays I train in Aikido for 2 hours (although not at the moment as my instructor has had to temporarily stop teaching ). I also train at home when I have the time.

I got my belt embroidered through Playwell. It cost about £50, which was for the satin black belt & embroidary on both ends. They also do gi/martial srts uniform embroidary.

Hayashi, please mind what you say about GKR. There are many people on these forums who practice GKR and I'm sure that they won't take kindly to you describing their style in such negative terms. Although you may have had a bad experience with GKR it doesn't mean that it is the same everywhere and in every GKR club.

Thanks for the link Renketsu - interesting to see a 'weaponless' kata done as a weapons form. I prefer the idea of Bassai Sho being a weapon kata and the application being that you're blocking with a staff. I agree with the point about catching a staff - I certainly wouldn't like to try it! Hey, it's not my application, though, just one I was shown by a senior Dan grade.