cathal

It is very good to have a great first experience. I've seen a lot of karateka have a bad time and never compete again.

Why not just as a fellow student for an old belt you could use, or maybe your sensei has an extra one lying around? If its really a safety concern then it shouldn't matter what colour belt you wear...maybe even just order a new one.

Where I live in Canada is does have a factor. If they find out that you are a martial artist then they can judge the injuries of the other person in that context. If you have gone overboard then they'll charge you accordingly.

If google or any other search engine doesn't help you I suggest asking an Isshen-Ryu person to record one for you

Welcome

What kyu or dan are you at, and can you explain why it would take 2 years to test for the rank you already have? It sounds like there is more to it maybe?

Is that website a joke?

I would still train there, sure, so long as the instructors were letting me actually train and advance on in learning the techniques.

The human mind is called a "confounding variable" by many psychologists. By far it is very true, we just have to look at placebo effects to get that proof.

I agree, you rarely see any good changes when people get it in their heads to add decorative things to the gi.

We do these as well, but mostly because they are in our katas, and kihon, for the exception of the spinning hook.

10th Kyu to 9th Kyu - Taikyoku Shodan 9th Kyu to 8th Kyu - Heian Shodan 8th Kyu to 7th Kyu - Heian Nidan 7th Kyu to 6th Kyu - Heian Sandan 6th Kyu to 5th Kyu - Heian Yondan 5th Kyu to 4th Kyu - Heian Godan 4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu - Tekki Shodan 3rd Kyu to 2nd Kyu - Bassai Dai & Tekki Shodan 2nd Kyu to 1st Kyu - Bassai Dai & Tekki Shodan 1st Kyu to 1st Dan - Bassai Dai & One of: Kanku Dai, Jion, Empi, and the 3 tekkis.

I'm really not feeling any hostility from you folks but its hard to not be defensive when everyone seem to be impying that I'm lying. You've said that you've seen incredibly super-fast people use it and it worked, well I'm not going to comment on that because I haven't been around as much as you guys. It definitely isn't my place to argue the finer points of knife defense, especially with Shorinryu Sensei, as I'm not as experienced in martial arts as he is. The only thing I know is this: it worked. Sauzin, to answer your question I'm afraid I don't know. I was a long time ago but there weren't many other styles being taught in my area at the time. It could be Chito-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, TKD, or TSD. I wasn't the guy's friend so I never bothered to learn much about him. After the fight we stayed away from one another.

The purpose of the meditation before and after the training (at least in Shotokan) is "no mind". Don't think about anything, just clear your head. Mind like the moon. Breathing, seeing, perceiving touch, sound, etc. are all ignored.

Was it your firstr time competing? Sounds like a good first experience, overall. Every other time you'll be more comfortable. Congrats.

I'm not familiar with all the different styles, I'm afraid. I know Shotokan, and some Jiu-Jitsu.

I have a Paul Chen practical katana and its so far been the best I've owned. Its served me well in practice and came as sharp as I would have expected, not dull at all.

Just head over to google and put this in for the search term, I'm sure you can find a listing. DEADLY ARTS + Josette Normandeau

Yes I have. Immediately after the kick both our friends broke us up.

Rejecting the crescent kick off hand and judging anyone as goin to their deaths in using it is rather arrogant I think. Yes there is a myriad of ways to disarm an opponent with a knife. Rather than go through them all I merely suggested one option. If you'd seen the crescent kick I have, you would not be so judgemental; and yes, it was used against a trained fighter.

Other small weapons: tessen, jutte, daggers (these seem to go with TKD students I see), and nunchuku

This kata is done with a tonfa in each hand. It is a variation of Matsuhiga no Tonfa that I was taught by my first Shotokan sensei. Enjoy Tasui – the underside of the tonfa Yoko nage – the upper side of the tonfa Tsuka – the handle grip Tsukagashira – the round top of the grip 1. Twirl into Ready stance. 2. You will move from ready stance to left-leg forward zenkutsu-dachi. As you move into the stance though lift up your left knee as though you are doing migari. At the same time your knee reaches its apex, move your arms to your centre (palms toward your face), striking the tasui of your tonfa together. As your front foot lands, take your fists to your hips (palms up | tonfas touching your hips), and strike forward (the end of the tonfa should just be in front of your hips at the strike-point). 3. Look left. 4. Move into kiba-dachi, as you arc your right hand in front (palm facing left). Your left hand stays goes back to your hip during this. After blocking with your right hand, bring it back to your hip. 5. Bring your arms up together, palms facing one another with the tasui facing forward with an uppercut move (strike point is the Yoko nage). Next, bring your arms to your chest with the tasui parallel to the bottom of your ribs, then strike downward, with yoko nage again. 6. Turn 45 degrees to the right into left-leg forward kokutsu-dachi as you do Chudan-uchi-uke with your left arm. Strike with the right arm's tonfa, spinning it outside-in direction. 7. Same as #6, but turn 90 degrees instead of 45. 8. Look left 45 degrees, to the direction you originally faced in the ready stance. 9. Move Jodan-age-uke, left-leg forward zenkutsu-dachi. Two forward strikes, no spinning. 10. Right arm striking with the tonfa spinning forward, outside-inward direction. Back to your arm using inside-outward direction...then across your chest to the top of your left shoulder, then back. 11. Move slowly backward, into kokutsu-dachi, raising your left arm (upper arm parallel to ground -- forearm perpendicular) and gidan-berai with your right arm. 12. Move super fast backward, into left-leg forward zunkutsu-dachi. As your right leg lands strike downward with the tsukagashira of both tonfas. 13. Turn 90 degrees to the right, repeat arm movements of #11, but use regular speed in zenkutsu-dachi. 14. Assume ready stance, strike left-right straight using yoko naga as the striking point. Next use right arm using spinning figure 8 with the tonfa. Lift your right leg, spin underneath. Spin across chest at chudan level, return to hip and another forward strike with yoko naga (kiai) as the strike point. Repeat with left side, kiai as well. 15. Step forward right leg zenkutsu-dachi, spin right tonfa jodan level then chudan level. Spin left across chest, then down and up to the right shoulder and back to hip. 16. Step forward repeat and then do as #2 but land backward, still in left-leg forward zenkutsu-dachi. 17. Step forward into hangetsu-dachi bringing arms to jodan level with palms forward (two fist distance between fists). Slow, with power and loud exhale, move arms outwird into crescent shape. So now you have two half-moons, with with arms and one with legs. Your fists should be palm forward throughout this move and the thumb no lower than the shoulders at the end of the arc. 18. Bring both tonfa swinging outside-inward chudan level, then back out. 19. Gidan berai with left arm, bringing right arm back (upper arm parallel and forearm perpindicular to ground). Turn 180 degrees, facing the back. 20. Go to kiba-dachi left leg forward (now you're facing the starting point's left side in case you're lost at this point) with yoko nage as strike points, using both tonfas. Kiai. 21. Very powerful move: Use left tonfa to hook and bring in, striking with yoko of right tonfa. Kiai. 22. Look right. 23. Slowler. Move 180 degrees but don't move your head. Move into heisoku-dachi, then gankaku-dachi with right arm up. 24. Yame...at this point it should be about 50-55 seconds.

LOL yes. And you don't have to pick a thin bo, go for a thicker bo, maybe 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

I have seen these Shotokan katas adapted for the fan, they all look quite good, but imho Chinte looks the best with the fan adaptations. Chinte Ji'in Jitte Have fun with them.

There is a very tall man in our dojo was well. I enjoy getting in very close, because it takes him longer to respond to my attacks. He can get out quickly, so I have learned to get very fast and in there.