cathal

We do that as well, but its very informal. My previous Shotokan sensei had a more serious "ceremonial" feel to it. He called you up, and you sat in front of him. You removed your belt, folded it, and placed it in front of him. Your new belt was on a pillow placed between you, and he picked it up and placed it at your knees in front of you. You then bowed, picked it up, and put i on. Then both bowed.

You can learn some moves, no doubt. But you have to train with an instructor to really "get it".

Not a bad site

We use kiba dachi. Do you others, while performing these katas, endeavour to stay at the same level or is it allowed that you rise up/lower down while moving? For us, we have to maintain the same height throughout.

That is assuming you actually do a lot of harm, I think.

Here is an example, from a Google image search: http://www.budopoint.de/Karate/Karate_Grundtechniken/GedanBarai.jpg Yes, I tend to agree, that guy was just out to do damage.

Sounds like the hunger! I think I tend to feel it if I have to miss a class or two...you feel the itch.

There is a lot of subtley to the tekkis, and a lot of power. Aside from that, everyone's advise so far is really great

First of all, welcome to KF Shotokan_Master I'm sorry but I am a little hesitant. You have been training for seven years under a sensei, and have earned over 300 trophies, and you perform all jumps really well and with great ease...yet you want tips on how to perform them well. So either you aren't doing the jumps well, and have earned the trophies on other aspects of your performances, or you are exaggerating on your successes. As for the jumps themselves, they aren't meant to be very high. Exercise your legs, the stronger they are the better you'll land. Don't lean while jumping, or you could injure yourself in landing, or not land properly.

Welcome to KF osuperu! Most of my experience is in Shotokan and I tend to prefer it. But I suggest you get a good introduction to both dojos. I'm not sure about Kempo, but most Shotokan dojos prefer not to have contact sparring. Pads and bags are used, though.

Yes, the strategy there seems very practiced. The guy knew what we was doing.

Tradition seems lacking in my dojo as well. But to each his own, I guess.

I typically do not carry weapons, they just aren't needed where I live.

A potluck meal is when everyone brings a different dish of food. Then they fill their plates from it buffet-style.

This tradition to keep black belts on for 24 hours is pretty common. Anyone else?

Hello all, Does your dojo have a unique tradition, or unique way of celebrating something? Anything from belt promotions to new students, pretty much anything. Have you tried to start one, but just couldn't get it off the ground, or maybe just couldn't think of one?

It can be funny, LOL. But I imagine that you can do it with some practice, regardless of the weight up top. It will just be that your mucles will learn a different way of balancing themselves as you perform the task.

Hello all, I watched a very quick fight last evening, after leaving a club. We were there to celebrate a good friend's birthday, but none of us had been drinking much. I had the most, at three beer. My friends and I left, and were waiting outside in the cold for a taxi, when two guys came out of the place arguing about a girl. The larger of the two (much, much larger--we guessed he was 6'2", whereas we think the other was 5'7") started pushing the other one. Well, as the cliché goes, push came to shove and the fight started, and it was so fast! The shorter guy stepped into punch with his right arm, to the taller one's head. But the guy was ready for it, or at least it seemed that way, and grabbed the guy's arm with his own right hand. He did a hook kick to the shorter one's head, but not very hard. He hooked his kicking leg around the guys' arm, and took him to the ground. As he landed, he did what we think was a standard gidan berai block, but this was striking the guy's head, in the same place as he had just been kicked. The guy was on his stomach, and his right arm was still trapped in the taller guy's bended right leg. His body went mostly limp and we figured that was all, but to finish him off, the tall guy kiai'd as he went into a left-leg forward front stance...we heard the guy's arm break from where we were, like 20 feet away. We're pretty sure it lasted only something like 10 seconds, but while we watched it, it felt like it took a long time. Everybody that was watching was in kind of a shock and it felt like we all waited too long before calling an ambulance, or even reacting at all. You see this kind of fight on television & movies, but when something like that happens in real life there isn't applause or cheers...just broken arms and maybe a jaw.

Something about obese fighters is the weak knees. If you are truly fighting one, they are a good target. There is so much weight on them that a good kick to the upper thigh or kneecap will put him on the ground very quickly; and most likely to stay.

This link may help, but it is always a good idea to search on google http://www.tai-chi-centre.com/lohan.htm

I'd view the once per week oppportunity as a great chance to get the feel of the dojo and the people, plus the instructor.

Yeah that's definitely something a good roomie does.

That's a good story What about watching/judging a lot of students performing the same kata? Does the repetition get to you?

Please let us know what happens.

Thank you Red J, stoneheart.