cathal

Kempo styles tend to focus on hand combinations, etc. Shotokan, IMHO is a more complete style as we train in both leg and arm combinations for attacking. In most Shotokan schools you fill find no grappling/ground techniques, not sure about Kempo, though. Sit down and watch a class from start to end, get a feel for the instructor. If you aren't going to respect or get along with him/her then don't bother wasting time/effort into learning their art.

Ah so the number are basically irrelevant then. How accurate was the information I found online? What is your take on this?

I believe the key to endurance kibe-dachi practice is simply spirit. Having the will to "tough it out" to carry on with strong focus and determination. There is no "practice" for this. You just "do it". You endure. Having gone through something like twenty special training's with Tsutomu Ohshima and having to endure 90 minutes of kibe-dachi practice in each, I have seen the efforts of beginners and long-time black belts. The first timers easily withstood the ordeal with gentle words of encouragement (i.e. 150 people yelling at them to get lower or we'll have to start all over again!) After the first time it's all down hill from there. That is until next session where you have to do... 45 minutes kokutsu-dachi on each leg! Somehow everyone always completes the practice. That is a very good point, the power of your mind is a major factor in allowing your body to do something. Keeping an open mind to allow for such activities is quite crucial. If you think you can't do more than five minutes, then you aren't going to. If you think you can do it for 90 minutes then you will. Perhaps a training partner can help you out for the words of encouragement.

Your welcome. Let us know how it goes.

Good idea, especially if they wind up hurting themselves.

Before you ask any questions sit down and watch a class from start to end. Pay particular attention to the bearing and professionalism of the instructor. If you like what you see then go ahead and ask some basic questions. - First thing to check into is whether or not you have to sign a contract mandating you to pay regardless of any circumstances like you quitting. If so, move on. - Ask about all the fees, i.e. uniform, belts, gradings, seminars. Compare these to fees of other nearby schools, even post them on this forum if you think they're too high, in order to compare. If the fees are way too numerous (e.g. $15 for a belt, which you get every month) then think about moving on. - Ask about belt/ranking structure. A standard school is most likely going to have 5-8 belts. A school with a lot of belts, belts with stripes, and a lot of strange rankings/colours may be a bad idea.

The strangest one was someone actually saying "kiai" with a whispery voice. He was one of many students who had not learned properly.

Yeah I poked around the net and found a few pages which outlined some particularly heated legal issues between the Kyukyushin practitioners. It seems that when Oyama passed away he had no legal will left behind in order to outline who would have control over the organization. Through court it took a long time, but the judge(s) felt it was a forgery and then nullified. So the organization broke up into two child organizations, IKO1 and IKO2. I am not going to get into the debate, but needless to say those webpages seemed to imply that there was no love lost between these child organizations. I've even seen a few more that broke off, each of these organizations claiming to have the legitimate claim, etc. In this case, this organization claims to have evolved from IKO2.

This is very true. Its like the "wise old man" who trains the new student in the movies, but never trains, himself. Yeah, I wanna be that guy, too. Its the American Dream, isn't it? Actually I think the American Dream involves a silver platter, or a white picket fence, one or the other...

What we usually do to help train the legs is watch TV. The goal being to remain in Kiba-dachi for a full 30 minutes. You've got the two minutes down so the hard part is over already. The next step is to maintain kiba for the commercial breaks. Do kiba for every other commercial. Next, do it for two commercials, rest for one, and do another two. The goal here is to maintain a good kiba for the entire commercial break. When you're able to maintain kiba for the entire commercial break (usually about 3-5 minutes) then you can begin alternating five minute intervals through an entire 30-minute show. Then you'll go to six minute intervals, but with no more than a 3-5 minute break. Eventually you will remain in a good kiba for a 30 minute program.

I agree here. I have trained in 5 Martial arts (Shotokan, Poekoelan (kung-fu), Aiki-Jujitsu, Kobudo, and BJJ). The only one that ever put any emphasis on training beyond black belt was Poekoelan! From day one our sifu pointed out that black belt should not be the goal. Most of the students who did earn black belt (sash actually) went on at least to earn 2nd degree. On the contrary, in the Japanese/Okinawan systems, focus was always working toward that black belt. Besides myself and 4 others out of 50 or so promoted to black none went on to second degree. Now that is very interesting to learn! In our Shotokan system we're informed that the black belt isn't "it". It is where we will step off to truly begin understanding Karate.

I haven't, but definitely wouldn't. We have no stripes, or anything elaborate. Just a standrad five colours.

I've founs some at popular online video websites, like google video. They were interesting and we've incorporated a few of them.

I have not seen this, but I like the idea. Sometimes I think that breaking is sometimes ignored.

I agree, keep up your goals and be determined. Don't be afraid to get assistance from the organization your dojo is affiliated with, they may even provide financial assistance.

I had a very similar experience when I began assisting. I find it greatly enhances our knowledge.

For us, it is 8: Heians 1-5 Tekki Shodan Bassai-Dai & Jion

As I understand it, Shin Kyokushin is "new" Kyokushin and is the same Karate, but with different administrative and organizational philosophies.

Like many others I have seen people quit around the 6th/5th kyus...as well as around 3rd - 2nd kyu.

Something about movies is that the fighters have many chances, many takes to perfect the choreography. In that practice they get the chance to perfect their speed because they know where their opponents are at all times. That said the idea for speed would be to practice a great deal and push yourself.

They were referring to Kanku Dai, as you can see in the quote.

What is a night kata? A kata which can be used in low light situations.

I have had the fortune to see this performed by two different individuals. The first a Nidan from my dojo and the second the Master who is responsible for our region.

For our beginners class they usually perform the same basics for a month or two. After that we tend to vary it as we start adding new techniques. For all other classes we'll do different ones each time, but there is usually a theme central to what is being taught/discussed.

Well as I recall (and take that with a grain of salt because it's been a long time) that right before they step up the circle, the roundhouse and punch are taught as separate techniques but tend to look like a neon-zuki or mountain punch if done very fast. It's been equally long since I've seen it as well. : /