aefibird

Has anyone got any links to decent Wing Chun videos, especially of the first form? Thanks.

Next session my Sifu has said that I can use the wooden dummy for the first time. I've ver exicted as I've ben looking forward to training with it. Hmm, maybe I oughta get out more?? As a newbie Wing Chunner, has anyone got any training tips for using the dummy?

Well, it doesn't really contain that much info, apart from the training times and locations. I'd suggest that you go and try out their intoductory sessions and see what you think.

As this thread is repeated in the General Martial Arts section, I'm going to lock this one and direct people over to here. Thank you.

http://members.aol.com/chajonshim/images/pf%20lightning%20shin%20group.jpg These are the dipped-foam kind. They're usually used at kickboxing competitions, although I've seen them used at karate competitions a lot more in the last 12 months or so.

Well, what annoys me with Blitz is that it is only fairly recently that their standards have gone down. Their equipment used to be top-quality - the first karate gi I bought from the is still going strong and looks great, even though it has taken some hammer and gets used as my 'grappling' gi. It's just lately that their customer services seem to be very poor - slow to ship orders, poor telephone service when you call them, etc. Also, I don't know if they've changed their manufacurer, but the quality of their equipment is also on the slide. A purple belt that I ordered for a student was found to be shorter than the specified size (by about 15cm!) and the colour of another belt was wrong. I also bought some "smartie" pads for the dojo (as club sec. I'm in charge of ordering new equipment) and I had to send them back as they were split on arrival. It took me over a month to get the money charged back to my credit card. So, they've lost me and my dojo as customers.

Try washing it if you feel uncomfortable with the sleeve length - it may shrink it slightly so that the sleeves & legs are the right length. Don't use water that's too hot, though!! Guess who made that mistake with her first gi... Don't worry about the fold marks - everyone has been a beginner at some point and I'm sure many people on here have worn gi with fold marks in them! Just as a side-note: if you do buy yourself a heavy-weight gi, then don't get rid of your old light-weight. It may come in handy for when Britain has those (very rare) hot days in the summer!

See if people at your dojo will let you try theirs on. That way you'll find out what type you like and have a rough idea of the size that you'll need. Also find out if you'll need the cloth or the dipped foam type before you buy them.

What size do you currently own (if you have a gi)? If you have a gi already then go with the same size that you already have, unless it doesn't fit properly. If you don't have a gi then see of you can try some on that belong to people at your club. If not, then go with the weight chart. Better than your gi is too long in the sleeves and legs, than too tight round the middle. At least you can always get the sleeves taken up if they're too long. Personally, I always buy a half-size or even a size larger than I need. Firstly to allow for any shrinkage and also for comfort!

Hi there! Welcome to Karate Forums. Well, if you're looking for 'popular' styles of karate, then I'd say that Shotokan karate was probably the most popular. However, even if you pick up the basics in one style but have to switch to another style when you move town then don't worry about it. As for your goals, you'll be able to imporve your physical fitness no matter what style you train in. Regarding competitions, some styles encourage competition participation and other styles are more against comps. However, that's more to do with each individual instructor than the style itself. Styles that tend to compete in competitions include Wado-Ryu, Shotokan and Kyokushin. When you are looking about for a school, see if you can get a personal recommendation on a place. If you know someone who already trains or has trained at a particular karate school then you'll be able to get a more detailed opinion of the place. When you're comparing karate schools, think about the price that you'll be paying there and the distance from your house. Also, consider how many times per week they will let you train. If one school chrges (for example) $50 a month but will only let you train once a week then it's worse value than a school that charges $85 a month but lets you train 3x a week. For any martial arts schools that you visit try out at least 2 lessons at the place. One lesson might not give you enough of a feel for the place. Also, you might have trained on a night where the class is doing something completely different from normal. Visiting that club again will give you a better feel for it. See if any karate school that you go to is registered with an organisation. Don't worry if they're not - some instructors prefer to be independent. However, its easier to check out credentials and background if the instructor & club are registered. If the instructor claims he has trained with Mr X and Sensei Y, then see if you can track Mr X and Sensei Y down - ask them of their opinions about your potential instructor. Be wary of any instructor or school that won't let you look round or watch a lesson for free - they may have something to hide that they don't want you to see until they've got money from you. Also be careful of instructors that won't answer questions about the school. Even if that instructor has been asked that question a 1000 times before they should still be polite and helpful to you - after all, you are a potential paying customer. Also be wary of schools that guarantee that you'll become a blackbelt, or promise that you'll earn your blackbelt in a very short space of time (usually 18 months or less). Such clubs will probably be "belt-factory"/"McDojo"-types and the instruction may be inferior to other schools in the area. remember, its better to earn your blackbelt in (for example) 5 years under a competent instructor than it is to get a blackbelt in a couple of years from someone who can't teach and is more interested in money and testing-fees. Finally, remember, it's your hard-earned $£$£ that you'll be parting with. If you feel unhappy about a particular school then don't train there. Take your custom elsewhere. Good luck in your search for a martial arts club. I hope that you find a school you enjoy training at. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask. It can be very bewildering being a beginner to the world of martial arts.

Yes, that's true. Gymnastic ability will help a persons balance and fluidity of movement, should they ever get into a fight/incident.

Yes, I also know a couple of people who have used aquatic training as a method of recovering from injuries. My mum (who is crippled with arthritis) also has regular sessions in the pool and claims that it helps her.

i've thought about getting a tattoo of myself all over my entire body, but two inches taller.

You have my sympathy!! Good luck... I have had steroid injections in my knee and I've found them very painful. They did work..but only for a short while. I hope you have more sucess with yours!

As well as Tae Kwon Do (as has already been mentioned) Judo is an Olympic sport. I've heard rumours of the introduction of Karate as a sport for the next Games, along with WuShu, but I've not read anything definate about it.

We train with 'air' techniques in my dojo - one of the reasons is in order to allow beginners and lower-grade students the chance to practice them and remember them. We also train with and use bags, pads and makiwara on a regular basis.

I'm not sure what surprises me more: the ignorance of your statement or the lack of flaming you've received for it. I can just imagine the response I'd get if I made the statement that all Americans are backward and stubborn. Newsflash:Americans aren't backward and stubborn. Xerxes, that was Hengest's point.... he didn't say that all Americans are backward and stubbord - he was merely pointing out that if the general sweeping statement that you wrote about the Japanese was to be applied to Americans it would have a lot more backlash than your statement about that Japanese has recieved. Please keep this thread on-topic (recommendations of MA-related places to visit in Japan). Thank you.

I occasionally try out techniques in the swimming pool, if it is quiet there. A friend of mine and I often go swimming together. She is also a martial artist and we've been known to play around with kata application whilst in the water - getting some very strange looks from the lifeguard in the process!!

As you are a person of great experience and knowledge.... can you teach them to us??

I'm certainly not famous. However, I am directly related to the Duke of Norfolk - it means that if I murdered about 600 people I'd be the next Queen of England. Also, my family can trace it's branches on one side back to just after the Norman Conquest of England On the other side (my Mum's) we're related to famous leaders in various Welsh uprisings against the English. As for meeting famous people...well my Sensei was pretty well known in certain karate circles in the 70's and early 80's. Plus, a kid from my club has been on local radio & TV and has also had a couple of his karate tournaments televised and shown on TV. I've also met Tom Baker (Doctor Who), which was incredible as I'm a MASSIVE fan of Doctor Who and I collect stuff to do with the TV series. Myself and a friend had our picture taken with him and published in the newspaper. A great day for me! I also once gave directions in Leeds to Brian Lara, a very famous sportsman in the world of cricket. He was with the West Indies youth team, who'd been playing a match I was watching.

The best way to give money is through a respected and well-recognised charity, such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent, UNICEF, Oxfam or MSF for example. Folks, please don't let email scammers put you off donating!

*topic goes completely above my British head...*

I bought one for my brother a couple of Christmases agao. I got it from Woolworths.

THE most important aspect when it comes to gi, IMO!!

Cool! Great story Dijita!