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I'm not sure what exactly you're trying to say, Ripper, but I do know it is the MA that has influenced everything. Being more aware is simple enough evidence of that.

I've been practicing Shotokan on and off since I was 15 and in January of this year I've made a life-long commitment to both Shotokan and MA. Since that time I've noticed some major changes take place in my life, both physical and mental. The physical changes were first. The first of which was the surge of energy in my body. I have more energy to do more things throughout the course of my day, and I feel tired much less. This was the first thing I noticed. Next, breathing. I breathe much better, clearer, and slower. I tended to have asthma attacks, but they're much less frequent now. My carpal tunnel syndrom is less painful and my hands feel stronger. What a huge surprise! I find I'm doing much more with my hands and my morale has skyrocketed. But the most influential changes, I think, were mental. I have more focus, more self-discpline, and more...well, of me. I am essentially a different person. All of this is flooding into my personal and work life and I find I am more efficient, more attentive, and even my memory has improved! I feel regrettful that I didn't commit to this earlier in my life, but it isn't healthy to dwell on such things. Now these soft skills moving over to the other aspects of my life were a total surprise (in a long line of surprises, LOL). I understand that an increase in self-confidence can change someone almost overnight, but all of these little things are making the biggest impact in my life. Has anyone else noticed these changes, especially when it comes to home and work life?

An Irish MA called Comhraiceoir Bata (Irish Stick fighting). This got started during the faction fighting when the bare knuckle boxing craze got very popular. Practictioners are called "Students O'The Stick" and some of the stances and techniques are very similar to escrima. Sli Beatha, an old celtic art that focuses on offensive and defensive blocks, parries, traps, strikes, takedowns, joint locks/submissions, chokes and modern weapons training. There is a major focus on the mental and spiritual aspects of this style and is very demanding. There are 33 Ceims, like degrees, and the students are called tuaths. Here is a link: http://mmac.homestead.com/

Yes, that's actually how my sensei approaches it too. She will have us do it (sometimes with our eyes closed) and envision that we are surrounded. She will occasionally emphasize the fact we are telling a story and that it is our responsibility to tell it correctly. Its a very interesting way to train, and it definitely helps you learn the bunkai and perfect those movements.

Something else you may want to do is locate an instructor or otherwise experienced karateka who knows the kata well. Learn the theory behind the kata and practice practice practice.

Good luck, Jade.

Yes, I think its about 1 second. Not sure though, but the webmaster is nice so you can ask.

Very interesting, thanks for the info.

Not as much others. 3 bo 1 jo 2 pair nunchaku (1 foam) 1 pair octagonal sais 1 tanto

Your own footage is quite impressive, great work.

Check out this website: http://www.ozwebart.com.au/kua/kata.htm

I'm working on refining my katas (I know the Heians, Tekkis, and Bassai Dai).

Shotokan (ISKF-WF) White (Ungraded) - 10th Kyu White - 9th Kyu Yellow - 8th Kyu Orange - 7th Kyu Green - 6th Kyu 1st Purple - 5th Kyu 2nd Purple - 4th Kyu 1st Brown - 3rd Kyu 2nd Brown - 2nd Kyu 3rd Brown - 1st Kyu 1st Black (Shodan) - 1st Dan No stripes on our belts, just solid colours.

Yes I'm aware Shotokan is a strict empty hand style but I also know about many who also wish to practice weapons to help balance their training.

Something similar happened to my older brother in high school. Every high school has this couple, though, the one that always fights? Well, it came to blows one day when he hit her in the abdomen and threw her against a wall. This they seemed to take care of by themselves, and no one did anything about it. Well, a week later they were standing outside of the main doors to the side of the school and not only did he punch her in the face but he threw her head into the glass door. The pane of glass needed replacing because of the damage, and she needed minor reconstructive surgery. Needless to say in the end they broke up, but when my brother saw this he didn't bother speaking to the man, he just proceeded to fight him. My brother ended up taking the guy's head and putting it into the other glass pane of the door. (At the time he was studying Jiu-Jitsu with me and he already held a blue belt in Rikidokan Judo.)

Oops, you didn't read my post too carefully. I didn't say the katana was straight. I said its tsuki was straight compared to the tsuki on the tachi. My second sentence also indicated that the tachi had a more pronounced curved than the katana, thus also implying that the katana was curved.

Well I've found a link to a site: http://www.keysi-uk.com/main.html Seems like an off-shoot of Jeet Kun Do, and from Google I found several forum sites which seemed to have equal positive/negative posts. I suggest going to their dojo and checking them out to get a feel for how they'd train kids.

I remember reading Gichin Funakoshi's book "Karate-Do: My Way of Life" and he did touch on the shorei/shorin difference, but I'm afraid I don't know enough about Trias or if its al frilly competition karate.

Prepare to pat, my friend. The tachi differs from the katana in that the tsuka (the pommel) is curved, but the katana is straight. So basically the tachi's blade has a more pronounced curve than the katana's. Moreover, the blade is lighter, and it was worn hanging from the belt, edge down as opposed to the katana being worn tucked into an obi, edge up.

Every class we work on a bunkai for one of our katas. Its very informative and helps you to understand why certain movements are peformed. Its an invaluable training tool.

Hey Sky. Head over to this site: http://www.laneskarate.com/LanesKarate.cfm. Its very informative, and to answer your question on the weapons I'm pretty sure they use tonfa, kama, and nunchucku.

Jade, Renketsu, you're help has been great. Thank you very much.

I don't think so. I'm certain you'd want to study bushido, and not kendo.

I don't know which dojos you studied in for these other styles, however it is impressive you bothered to check them out. The dojo I go to doesn't focus on the sport aspect, thank goodness. But I do agree on one point that the system doesn't necessarily make the fighter; its the person that makes the fighter. Case in point, I've seen a boxer defeat a BB, and an untrained fighter defeat a trained boxer. So perhaps that is a honest truth you must admit to yourself as well.

Gekkisai, as I'm told in Shotokan, is a bo kata. I'm not sure about other styles.