cathal

Welcome aboard,

Welcome to the forum, Tanja

Welcome to the forum

Good job.

Likewise. Thanks Patrick

You're welcome of course.

I had heard he was ill - but it's probably a rumour.

That is a very similar technique to Heian Shodan's hammer fist.

I will review it later on - don't have the time just now. As I recall, military combatives are simple because they are easier to remember in the heat of combat so I don't expect these techniques to be challenging to learn.

Heh that's a funny story. It's always important to take everything with a grain of salt I guess.

My impression as well.

I have voted 3: 1. Shin-Shin Toitsu 2. Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu 3. Shotokan

59 Feels like too much.

I also do Shotokan, we have the 26 as well. I know the core 15. Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan Bassai Dai Jion Kanku Dai Hangetsu Empi Jitte Gankaku Nijushiho

I haven't learned this one yet but I enjoy watching it.

Welcome to the forum

You're welcome of course.

Yes, you can't see the fist position so well for my particular style. The fist is definitely closed and on the side of the body which is attacking rather than along the centre of the body. We'd usually practice that technique as a jodan strike but since the purpose of the drill is to focus on hip rotation the chudan-level attack was preferred.

Well the first elbow strike is easy, just bring it up and end it with the palm toward your face. Here's a few pictures I found online. http://www.karatetygr.cz/t_techniky/Tate-empi-uci_150.JPG http://www.stichtingkaratenederland.net/technische%20hoek_bestanden/thj%2024.jpg Also here are some pics of mawashi empi: http://www.lelandvandervort.info/ma/images/lv-mawashi-empi.jpg http://www.selfdefence.se/pictures/peter_emil3_500x375.gif In this case the drill calls for a chudan-level mawashi empi.

Our dojo is the same. One difference is that some of our Nidans will have silver embroidery, and when they go to Sandan they will change up to gold. To me the colour really does not matter.

Here is a link to the picture of the stance, I found online. http://www.keithgeyerkarate.com/tipshtml/stanceimages/sanchin1.jpg

What katas do you do, or could you be asked to do?

For those of you who are having some issues with space, like if you live in an apartment, here's a good drill for you. All you need is a six foot square space, basically enough room to take one step forward, and another back, from the starting position. Once you are more comfortable with the techniques you can change it up and use different angles so try to find a space in your place that you can do this on 45 degree angles as well. If not then just go with the back and forth. Start from fighting or natural stance. 1. Moving forward, drop into left-leg forward front stance (Zenkutsu-dachi) while performing a jab (Kizami-zuki). Your hips are half-facing at this point. 2. In-Place reverse punch (Gyaku-zuki). After rotating the hips, they are front-facing. 3. In-Place snap kick using left leg (Kizami-geri), rotating hips into the half-facing position, then change to front-facing for a rear-leg front snap kick (mae-geri), landing back. i.e. don't step forward. 4. Stepping back to starting position perform a retreating jab, landing upper-rising block (age-uke) with the right arm. Your hips are going from half facing to half facing here. Finish off with a left-arm reverse punch. 5. Step back again into hourglass stance (sochin-dachi) while performing Tate Empi-uchi, and finishing with roundhouse elbow (mawashi-empi). This exercise is aimed at making sure you're comfortable with hip rotation from half-facing to front-facing. As you know hip rotation is a major factor in generating the proper power, and if you practice this series of techniques while not moving much your body tends to generate more power and you get a better feeling for how your hips are moving. For those of you not doing Karate I imagine this can be adapted to your stances, etc. Let me know how it goes if you play around with it.

I once had something similar happen while I was at work. He decided to throw a punch and at the same time as saying something like "think fast!". I turned to look at him, and was greeted with a punch to the face. He steered clear of me for a few days afterward.

You'll do fine - let us know how it goes.