steve57

To develop improved flexibility in your toes, you could practice calve raises. Stand with your feet together on the balls of your feet on a block and hold on to something to help your balance. Raise up and down concentrating on getting a full stretch in the raised and lower position. Aim to complete two sets of about twenty five reps. This will greatly enhance your foot flexibility and also have a knock on effect with your general kicking ability.

Really? '...blocking is ineffective because in many schools it is taught ineffectively'. What would you deem as being effective blocking? Could you be more specific with your assumptions?

I agree with what you say and yes a block can be used as a multiple technique. However, in the context of this particular question I am refering to the effectiveness of a pure block followed by a counter attack.

In the controlled arena whereby a large percentage of compliancy is administered, it would appear to the onlooker that martial art blocks are very effective indeed. However, in the scenario of a fully blown gratuitous physical assault, whereby no rules exist, would this still be the case? In reality how many times do you actually see anybody block at all? A street fight is usually complete mayhem and doesn't even get close to resembling how we usually train in the controlled arena. Therefore, my question is in reality are blocks effective?

Without a doubt books are a very effective media to learn from,however in the martial arts they are probably better served to complement your overall training. Although not impossible it is very difficult to learn correct physical movement solely from a reading source.

You are right there are many techniques that are deadly. However that doesn't indicate that we have to use them. Knowing certain 'dangerous' techniques is all part of being a responsible martial artist. Let's be honest as you rightly say any technique can be deadly if administered by a knowledgable and skillful martial artist.

Yes I do understand what you are saying and I am aware of the different interpretations of the law depending on which country you are in. I'm not saying that I agree with the British 'reasonable' force law, however as a British citizen I have no choice but to abide by it. A very interesting post. Steve

Here in the UK the law states that you must only use a 'reasonable' amount of force whilst defending yourself against an unsolicited,gratuitous physical attack. In a British court of law you would have a very hard time convincing twelve jurors that breaking another person's neck during a self-defence altercation was a 'reasonable' act.

I like Seisan and Sanseru (goju)

Regarding self-defence I don't think goju is any more effective than other styles. For it to work in a REAL street situation, it needs to be adapted, therefore specific training is required. Steve57

The disadvantage of exclusively training semi-contact, is that it is likely that you would instinctively resort to this method if you were faced with a real altercation. However, consistant full-contact training would have the opposite effect of pulling your techniques, whereby you would instinctively land them at full power. Steve

As an instructor, sparring is always optional in my classes. What is the point of insisting that students MUST spar? Sparring is only a very small aspect of karate--not the be-all-end-all! Steve