aefibird

Well, even if it isn't normal we can be two freaks together , because Karate (and all Martial Arts in general) have become a passion for me too.

Congratulations on wining! Well done to you and also to your bf for coming 3rd. I was going to go to that comp, but unfortunately I couldn't. What kata did you do? Good luck for future competitions!

My two styles are Shotokan Karate and Aikikai Aikido. My Shotokan Sensei teaches many techniques. We learn Shotokan kata, although Sensei often teaches kata from other styles once a student is brown belt or above. There is a lot of emphasis on perfecting basic techniques in order to get a good grounding in everything else. We use open and closed hand techniques, kicks of all height, including some jumping kicks and spinning kicks. Strikes to eyes, groin, ears, throat etc are all taught and the realistic applications of everything that we do is discussed and taught. We are taught to block with many different parts of the body, not just the traditional forearm blocks. My instructor also incorporates some judo and ju jitsu techniques and we use grabs, throws,sweeps and pins/submissions a lot. Most of the sparring work is based upon street self defence work. Free sparring is point sparring usually, although there is full contact for higher grades. We also have regular "all out" sessions, where ANY technique is allowed, except attacks to the eyes and groin. Padding is optional. Higher grades are taught weapons if they wish. The Bo, Jo, Nunchaku, Sai and Tonfa are the main traditional weapons taught. We also train in 'street' weapons and how to use anything to hand as a weapon in an emergency. My instructor has trained and graded under many different karate systems as well as training in other styles of MA, so he incorporates this into our training. For fitness work we do bag work, sit ups, push ups, squats, and even the dreaded bunny hops. We tend to use Japanese terminology for techniques, although they are often called by their English name as well. The instructor is adressed as Sensei and techniques done to count are counted in Japanese. My Sensei's name is Graham Smith. He has been training for over 30 years and he has trained under Asano Sensei and Kanazawa Sensei, among others. I haven't been training in my Aikido dojo for very long, so I can't really tell you much about it, except for the fact that we train in traditional Ueshiba Aikido. I can't train regularly, due to the fact that the dojo is quite far away from where I live, so I miss out on most of the training. The dojo is very formal and Japanese terminology is used at all times. We also train with the traditional Aikido weapons: the Jo, the Bokken and the Tanto, although we ocassionally use the Bo as well. My Sensei has been training for about 20 years and has trained in Wing Chun Kung Fu and Judo, as well as Aikido.

I agree with the video/DVD and letters ideas. A heartfelt letter from a student would be worth so much more than if the same student spent hundreds or even thousands of ££ on a present. If you want to spend some money on getting him another present too, then maybe you could find something connected with a hobby of his or something he likes. eg, if he's a football fan, you got get him something connected with that.

Shotokan (with the Federation of Shotokan Karate): White (10th kyu) Orange (9th kyu) Red (8th kyu) Yellow (7th kyu) Green (6th kyu) Purple (5th kyu) Purple & 1 White Stripe (4th kyu) Brown (3rd kyu) Brown & 1 White Stripe (2nd kyu) Brown & 2 White Stripes (1st kyu) Black (dan grades) Aikido (with the National Aikido Federation): White (for all kyu grades) Black (for dan grades) Dan grade students are allowed to wear a Hakama too. In some schools of Aikido yellow, green & brown belts have been introduced for kyu grades.

I went through that problem when I first started karate. Before, I was always very quiet and shy and would hardly speak to people, especially if I didn't know them well. Karate gave me a new-found confidence in myself and my abilities and I quickly became a bit over confident. I was always thinking about karate and I even got to the point where I was agressive with people. I've since learned that agression is not a sign of a true Martial Artist. You can be forceful and confident but without jumping down peoples throats every time they speak to you. I didn't get as bad as that, but I've since learned to try and be confident in situations but without being agressive and argumentative. Martial arts can teach a person humility and respect, but I think a lot of people go through the 'look at me,I'm 'hard' now, I can take on the world' stage when they start training. I think that for me, I went into that mode of thinking because I was so shy before and now I had all this confidence and self esteem that I didn't know how to handle. I'm sure that it will pass in time, but if you're really worried then you can always have a chat to your sensei about it or feel free to Private Message me anytime.

I have a pair of Blitz TKD shoes. I wear them occasionally for training in, especially if I go to train at the chief instructors dojo. He hires a room in a leisure centre, but the floor isn't kept very clean so all his dojo wear MA shoes. The first time I wore them it felt very wierd to be training with shoes on, but you soon get used to it.

Personally, I feel the most amazing karateka in the world today is a little girl I know. Now, her karate isn't particularly brilliant - she will never become a world champion and will never have endless magazine articles written about her. However, she is a total inspiration to me as she was born with one 'good' arm and one arm that ends at the elbow. To watch her train and give her best constantly, time after time after time is a very humbling experience to me. Martial Artists often complain that they can't get a particular technique right and get frustrated and angry with themselves and others. With her karate, Brodie is utterly determined to give it her best and to try and overcome her disability in the best way possible. As for other karateka that I admire and am in awe of my sensei tops the list! I also admire the head of my organization, Sensei Aidan Trimble. If I ever get to be even half as good as he is then I will have surpassed all my expectations!

I initially started training in karate because a friend of mine stared and she showed me a kata and I thought it looked great! Now I train for fitness and self defence, and also a few competitions, but I continue my training for more than that. If I just wanted fitness training I'd join a gym. If I just wanted self defence I'd take a 6 week police-run course. I train because I enjoy the company of my MA friends (wihout sounding soppy about it, the people at my dojo's are like my family). I train because I am interested in a martial ART. I train because karate has helped to give me a sense of self-confidence and self-worth. I train because I like the discipline of a rigid training system. Heck, I train because I enjoy it!!!

Good luck with your return to training. Just take it steady and enjoy it. 14 years is a long time to be absent from anything, especially martial arts. I know that it will be frustrating for you to have to (essentially) relearn everything again - but remember, you can now try and avoid making the mistakes you made the first time around!! lol Relax and I'm sure it will come back to you. You've already taken the hardest step in deciding to return to training after a serious accident and also after a 14 year absence. Good luck with it all and don't forget to let us know how you're getting on!!

Congratulations on passing your grading, Trekman! What grade are you aiming for next?

Meijin gi's are one of my favourite sorts. I'm a bit of a 'gi magnet' - people seem to give them to me, so I have lots of second hand ones as well as ones i've bought myself. Hmm, maybe I've got 'hard up charity case' written on my forehead, but I can't see it. Anyway, the Meijin gi's are good and I still think Tokaido make good gi's, even if they have gone downhill a little recently. Japan Martial Arts (trading as Blitz in the UK) do their own range, which I find really good for everyday dojo wear. I wouldn't recommend a Hayashi gi. The one I own is very small in size (it's supposed to be a size 4, but it's more like a 3 or even a 2.5) and it also streches into a very wierd shape after washing. For people in the UK who just want a cheap gi, then Playwell.com do their own range - very cheap but still good quality.

Ah right, well the move in Godan from the morote-uchi uke in back stance to the front stance head grab type movement (sorry, I can't remember the name of it!!) is done as a movement of the front foot in my dojo. It is a full back stance into a full front stance, not really like the sliding/weight shifting movement we do in Yondan. 'Flavour of the month' with Asano Sensei is as I described. Dunno how the other Japanese top bods are doing it.

Hi NoNai, welcome to the forums!

My organisation is Shotokan and students learn: Kihon Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan These take you up to brown belt level. During the 3 grades of brown belt, you must learn Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi and Jion. You can be taught any other kata during 1st, 2nd or 3rd kyu at your instructors discretion, but you will only be expected to know the ones mentioned. After Shodan kata learning is fee choice and up to instructors in which order they teach other kata, although students taking Nidan MUST know all 3 Tekki kata, Bassai Sho and Jitte as well. My instructor has studied and graded under quite a few different karate styles (although he only really teaches Shotokan), so he knows other kata as well as the Shotokan 26. Occasionally he will teach a kata from another style (or another styles variation of a kata we already know) - he says it's good for our karate education!

Hope your back gets better soon CanuckMA! As for the 'hearing yourself get up joint by joint as you get older', well, its all downhill for me. I'm 23 and thats already happening to me. eeek, i'm dropping apart bit by bit!!

well, if you're happy with the length of your gi, the better. Personally I always prefer a gi to be long in the jacket, but that's just my own preference. You 've gotta wear a gi for your own personal comfort - if you spend most of the lesson fidgiting about in your gi then you're not going to be fully concentrating on the techniques.

lol, good suggestions Warlock!

We do that with the FSK too. It's also part of dan grade tests - shodan is maegeri, yokogeri kekomi and ushiro geri. Mawashigeri is added for Nidan and you have to do ushiro-mawashigeri as well for sandan. It's a good little warm up excercise and good for improving balance too, as you're not allowed to touch the floor with the kicking leg until all the kicks are completed.

Good site, thanks!

For those who like the sport aspect of karate it would be a good thing- much better than point sparring IMO, which is a bit naff really.

Wow, that's certainly a lot grading! I'm glad it went well for you. Did your knee hold up alright?

At my club, in Heian Godan, we generally just do the 'hip twist, leg straightening' combo that you described, but with a very slight front foot movement. As for Heian Yondan, the knee strike & grab is done in front stance, and the pivot to the shuto-uke in back stance is done whilst the leg is still in the air from the knee strike - the striking leg doesnt go back to the floor to change into back stance, it is done as a pivot on one foot. Eeek, that was really hard to describe!!

That's the best way I found to soften my belts - rub them in your hands. Try bending them side to side and up and down as you rub. Generally, just keeping wearing a belt is the best way to get it to soften! Congratulations on becoming a black belt 'owner'!

Congratulations! What was the grading like?