aefibird

We use it quite a bit when we get up to brown and black belt. Practicing double handed striking or simultaneous blocking and striking is a good way to speed up your reactions. It also helps you to think about what you actually do with your hands when performing certain techniques. I found too that it helped me break away from the mould of automatiacally putting my 'unused' hand chambered on my side, which is alright for beginners, and in basic techniques, but isn't so good for sparring.

I'm worried by your remark about 'random comments' from your instructor. Do you mean that he doesn't seem to help/talk to you much? If you've had to learn the Heian kata by yourself, does this mean that you just taught yourself the next kata in the series to get ahead for your next belt test, or does it mean that you learned them because your instructor wasnt teaching them to you? If it is the second reason, then I'd really suggest that you think about finding another club. An instructor that doesn't bother to teach people aspects of that particular style (and, lets face it, kata is a pretty big aspect of the majority of Shotokan clubs) isn't worth bothering with. Go ahead and learn the Tekki's by yourself if you want to; they're a great series of kata to learn (watch out with Tekki Sandan!!). However, learning kata without the help of an actual instructor isn't really recommended - you need someone to wach you and make sure you're performing the kata correctly. Watching someone else perform them is a good thing too. Books, videos and CD-ROMs can only teach you so much, though. Good luck with learning the Tekkis.

If you don't learn the Heian/Pinan kata first in your club, which kata do your beginners get taught first, and do you know if there is a reason for teaching that particular kata first? My organisation starts all beginners off with Kihon (Taikyoku Shodan).

Good luck with your belt grading! I'd suggest asking your instructor or other people in your class if you want to know more about your style. Plus, if you're enjoying it... well, that's the main thing, innit??

weeeellll, yess.... you should watch to see if they're matching the speed with good technique (as you are doing too), but really, if you're sparring with someone of the same or higher (espeically fot higher grades than you) then it is up to them to be responsible for their speed and good technique. I know what you mean, but really if you are sparring with a high grade then they should have the experience to be able to control speed and technique effectively and be able to perform good techniques, as if it is without thinking about them - it should be natural to a higher grade by now. Agh, sorry for the rambling post. It's late and I should get to bed...

Punk would be a good category to include too, so would blues and jazz.

Sounds interesting!

Yup, definate fraudster money-making scam going on with that website. I'd love to know what the "mystical world of martial arts" is - maybe I can join it someday, or is it only open to shysters who start their own cruddy system??

Both my arts are Japanese - Shotokan and Aikido.

I think they're a good training aid. My sensei and I made one for my back garden and one for the dojo for about £5 each. Bargain!!

I agree about Tekki Sandan - a tricky kata to perform well IMO.

I recommend Karate-Do:My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoshi. Even for those who don't do Shotokan it's a good read. I like the 'Best Karate' series of books by Nakayama, but they're mainly for Shotokaners. Sorry, I don't really know any good Kyokushin books (apart from the ones by Mas Oyamas, of course). Angry White Pyjamas by Robert Twigger is a great book for any martial artist, not just those who do Aikido. It is a good picture of living and training in Japan. For a funny book on the Martial Arts I really recommend Fudebakudo (https://www.fudebakudo.com). It is soooooooooo good!

I agree. If you're sparring with someone who is slow at blocking then allow them to know that you could hit them if you wanted them to, but you're gonna go slower to allow them to practice and help them to build up speed. Slip in a couple of contacting punches now and then to let them know you can still hit them so that they don't become 'big headed' and think they can block everything that you throw at them. It's a question of balance. Obviously, if you are sparring against someone of your level or better, then go for it and really stretch yourself with your punching!

One of the hardest kata for me to learn and perform correctly was Heian Godan. For some reason I just couldn't seem to get it right! I must have managed it OK in the end, I passed my 4th kyu OK with it... When I first learned Nijushiho I had no trouble remembering it, but I fouind it really hard to perform correctly at first. Unsu is another tricky one. I've only recently started learning that.

Last night I learned (again) never to look anywhere near Sensei when he's about to demonstrate anything, 'cos he always picks that person to demonstrate on and IT ALWAYS HURTS!! lol I also learned (also again) that you can never have too much practice at the basics, there is always something to be learned, even in something as 'simple' as Kihon kata.

Wow, that's a VERY impressive list of acheivements, equaninimus! My resume looks pretty pathetic at the side of yours. Academic= Degrees: er, none. I haven't finished it yet Martial Arts= 10th dan in 'dazed and confused-do' Languages= I speak fluent Yorkshire!! Does knowing a rude phrase in Russian count for anything?? (Actually, I can speak, read & write Spanish, French and Swahili and I'm learning Twi.) lol, how do you manage to find time for the unimportant things in life, such as sleeping and eating?

This is mainly for UK Martial Artists, but anyone would be able to donate! Sensei Keith Turner, of Oldham UK, has set up a charity called Martial Aid. Its aim is to collect equipment and to raise funds for Martial Arts clubs in developing and war-torn countries. One of its current projects is the development of a Judo club in Bosnia. If you have any spare martial arts equipment, such as suits, belts, mitts, focus pads, etc etc and wish to donate them to Martial Aid, please send them to: Keith Turner 3 Seville Street Shaw Oldham OL2 8SF UK If you wish to donate money, please make cheques payable to Martial Aid. Thanks!

I'm doing up (very slowly) an old VW Beetle. They always get my vote, but it isn't really the type of thing you're looking for...

I love most music but my fave is metal and punk. This week I have mostly been listening to... Black Sabbath, Send More Paramedics, Green Day, Queen, My Dying Bride, Jerry Cantrell, The Distillers, The Transplants, Rancid, Iggy & the Stooges, Emperor, Zyklon, While Heaven Wept, HIM, Grand Magus, Mnemic, Less Than Jake, Pist On and Metallica. Oh and a bit of Michael Buble (pronounced Boo-blay, not Bubble!), P!nk and Ben Folds 5, just for a change!!

This is just a stupid little poll, but, hey! I'm bored and it beats doing university work...

Hi Beka! Welcome to KF.

Welcome to KarateForums!

Wow, that sounds like a very interesting style! Beka, does your dojo have a website? Also, did you do any other martial arts before CN or is it your first MA?

True, that's why I think it's a good idea to get used to training with and without shoes and also with and without a gi (ie train in regular clothes occasionally IMO).

Most of our lessons have at least one kata in them. Even when we're working on basics or kumite we tend to do a 'karate warm up' (after the regular warm up/stretches) with Kihon kata or a Heian kata.