italian_guy

I started kickboxing in Mar. 2003 when I was almost 42. Then I switched to karate Apr. 2004. I also started Tai chi chuan in Jan. 2004. I wish I would have started earlier, but still enjoy my MA practice. I hope I can continue training for long.

In order of importance: Fun. Fitness. Self defence Cultural aspects. BTW I downloaded your Karate Guide, It looks quite good.

In my schools I have 2 different test approach. I both school test is held twice a year. In my Tai chi chuan school the test is purely formal the head instructor decides who should be admitted at the test but if you don't mess up everithing you are going to pass, however being admitted is not straightforward. In my karate school there is not admission but the chances you are not going to pass are higher. The exams, in both school are just physically demanding as an ordinary lesson even less... In tai chi chuan we execute all basics and this 108 movement forms divided in 4 quarter for each exam you add one more quarter, and for higher grade there is also pushing hands and form applications. In karate the test is divided into 4 parts 1) kihon (very long) 2) kata (2 or 3 different katas not only new katas but also previous exam katas) 3) bunkai 4) a 3 minutes round of kumite. It lasts about 1-1.5 hoursin total.

I agree with that, but a person evolves (both physically and mentally) during its life, and what can be good today may be not longer good tomorrow... and this for several reason, when you are not longer at the edge of your physical capabilities you may ( I use the word "may" and not the word " should") look for something which have more aspetcs then just the physical aspect. This is what I mean by "richer". Never said that non-physical is better, and btw MA is always at least partly physical (for example I can tell you that even martial Tai chi chuan is physical and depends on how you do it can be also quite physically demanding, during a Tai chi class I sweat almost as much as in my karate class ). My message is: I understand people who started, at a certain age with a sport and purely combative martial art like kickboxing, and at a certain age feel the need to turn to other more traditional MA, and this is also my experience.

Hello and welcome.

Don't be afraid of starting from white belt... I started almost one year ago as a white belt I'm 43 (almost 44 now) and I still hope not to receive my BB ad memoriam. The interesting thing of the first dojo is that it is lighter on your schedule and that you are already familiar with the techniques. However if the second (according to the way you talk about it) is a better place, get the spirit and have a new start!

My own curiosity... which kata are you talking about?

My congratulatios swdw, that was really interesting

I think I can understand (and also somehow agree with) what Georgi says Kickboxing is very good for competition and can be good also for self defence, but sooner or later you realize that is not as rich as a TMA (not only an internal one IMO). You spend your life perfecting few techniques which is good if you compete, it is also good for self defence but then if you stop competing, sooner or later you fell the need of something richer. This is also why I left kickboxing for karate and Tai chi chuan, I maybe lost some proficiency in fighting but I gained in fun.

Congratulations.

My fighting is stance is pretty standard: foot spaced a little more then an ordinary step, feet pointing forward, (in left stance) left harm forward elbow bent 100 to 150 degrees, right hand in a fist at half-sternum level (I had to change this from my kickboxing practice before I use to keep my right hand at jaw level an my forward harm bent 90 degees or less).

I agree with swdw, similarities are relatively few, their katas are different from our katas and their stances are lower (I have my son who practice Shotokan and I wached some of his lessons, and I have friends at my goju dojo with previous Shotokan experience). Even their Zenkutsu dachi is much wider then ours. During sparring those differences are hard to see but if you watch their kamae stance is usually lower then ours.

Welcome and Congratulations, first place at your first turnement is very good. BTW tell me more about your style I've never heard about it.

Hi Welcome to KF.. BTW here's afternoon.

Isn't it enaugh? Anyhow welcome to KF! Osu

In Italy the JKD/kali escrima (Inosanto lineage) organization named AKEA has colored labels on black/grey shirt: black shirt/Yellow label black shirt/orange label black shirt/green label black shirt/blue label black shirt/red label grey shirt/black label (BB equivalent) grey shirt/red label (Instructor grade)

Yes, Shorin Ryuu is perfectly right... So I just add on top of it. This style enphasize breathing exercises and ci kung practice. It has two katas (forms) mostly devoted to this Sanchin and Tensho. It is great fun to learn if you find a good schools with good instructors. We do a variety of exercise from basic body conditioning, flexibility training, kihon (basics), kata (pre-arranged forms), bunkai (application of forms) kumite (sparring), grappling and ground fighting drills, self-defence, breating exercise (as I previously mention), and some school (my does not) offers also kobudo( weapon training). So it is FUN with tons of things to learn.

This connection between Naha-te and Shotokan is something that I heard but I was not sure it was true(or right) , thanks for your confirmation. Let me add my two eurocent to this topic... I think the dispute if Shotokan can be considered or not an Okinawan style is somehow irrelevant because all the present karate styles (both okinawan and Japanese) underwent some evolution, any living thing or concept can evolve or die and since karate is not dead it evolves and it will continue to evolve... I think that even the most pure okinawan karate styles (i.e. Shorin and Goju-Shorei) had evolved since their foundation and Goju itself was already an evolution of Naha-te but probably not exactly the same thing. So I think that what matters are other consideration like it is still self-defence effective? competion effective? Fun and healty practice? Because people practice Karate for Self-defence, Sport, Fun or Fitness. If your karate style fits your demand in one of those four items it is a good style... It is your style.

We do all commanding in Japanese during kihon. For the most fancy techniques the instructor translate the term in Italian, I found this hard at the beginning but suddently, when you get used to it, you start understanding. The process is not gradual it just "turn on" at some time.

Don't know much about sumo and its training. Judo may improve the grappling part of karate, even if in this case I would try JJ. I also heard that some time ago in Japan Judo/karate or Ju Jitsu/karate was a usual cross-training combination.

Welcome to KF

Osu! Welcome to KF

Welcome to the forums

Welcome.

Welcome to KF