ESA-Shotokan

Yeah the zenkutsu-dachi works for me, though in a freestyle or jiu-ippon situation, I would be in more of a back stance when executing this kick. When performing this, you have to remember that there is no pause or stop, as indicated by the three counts; just one continuous action. I think it is taught this way (version 2 above) so as to make you slow down a bit and work more on balance and power. I can do it now and yes, very fast but that is after many years.

I have found there are two schools of thought on ushiro geri. 1. Starting from hidari zenkutsu-dachi. First count: right knee up and bent, spin around 180 degrees, so your back is to the target. Second count: perform thrust kick and pull back. Third count: Step forwards towards target into migi zenkutsu-dachi. 2. Starting from hidari zenkutsu-dachi. First count: Right leg bent and right foot brought up behind left knee; supporting leg kept bent. Still facing towards target. Second count: As you spin,(180 degrees) extend leg and thrust out kick - this kicking action should cause the momentum of the turn on the supporting leg. Then pull back. You are again facing away from the target now. Third count: Step forwards towards target into migi zenkutsu-dachi. I personally prefer the second version, as the turning action feels more controlled. Views?

I am curious. How come senior dan grades do not enter kata/kumite competitions? I am also referring to senior in age, too. I am thinking of entering some competitions and was even thinking about possibly preparing to try for the UK kata squad but I am suddenly is this right? I personally find I perform kata to a good standard and so feel confident about competition. What are the views on here about this?

It is always good to go along and watch different classes. It costs nothing but the cost of the journey. Also try to see different instructors for a given style as most have different teaching methods.

Alarmingly-Named Wolfman

That movie Doc Hollywood, starring Michael Fox was on our TV last week; I caught the end of it. Are there towns in the USA that are really like that? Or is that just an ideal type of thing? I'd love to visit a town like that and experience it for real.

I'm also a #2 though only part of it matches me. Still, the rest is correct

What would happen if you took the school bus home? The police would make you bring it back! There is a mental institution that every year picks two of it's most reformed patients and questions them. If they get the questions right they are free to leave. This year the two lucky gents were Patty and Mike. They were called down to the office and left there by the orderly. They were told to wait as the doctor got their files. The doctor came out and motioned for Patty to come in for his questioning. When Patty came into the office he was instructed to sit in the seat across from the doctor. "Patty you know the tradition of this institution so I imagine you know why you are here. You will be asked two questions, and if you get them right, you will be free to go. Do you understand all that you have been told?" said the doctor with a rather sly grin. Patty nodded and the doctor began to question him. The first question was this. "Patty if I was to poke out one of your eyes what would happen?" "I would be half blind of course," Patty answered without much thought. "What would happen if I poked out the other eye?" "I would be completely blind," said Patty knowing that he had just gotten his freedom. The doctor then sent him outside while he drew up the paperwork and accessed Mike's files. When Patty got into the waiting room however, he told Mike what the questions would be and what the correct answers were. The doctor calls in Mike and he followed the same procedure that he had with Patty. "Mike the first question is what would happen if I cut off your ear?" "I would be blind in one eye," he said remembering what he had been told. This received a perplexed look from the doctor but he just simply asks the other question so that he could figure out what the man was thinking. "Mike, what would happen if I cut off your other ear?" "I would be completely blind," he answered with a smile as if he knew he had passed. But then the doctor asked him what his reasoning was, and he said flatly, "Me hat would fall down over me eyes."

Twenty-five is a good age to be - I should have been born 25!

Seems so hard to think it has all now passed and gone! I loved the first one and I think the anticipation for parts II and III was so much better than the events themselves.

Yeah I can imagine the DVD of Return of the King will be a mega DVD set. I, too, heard the uncut version was six hours! I have read the books and I look forward to the main deleted scenes from the third book being reinstated; good stuff!

Hi there. When I am not in the dojo, I am in the gym either running or on the weight machines / free weights. One pair of useful exercises are the Hip abductor and Hip adductor. If you are not familar with these machines - you sit in them and either push in or outwards against pads on cross-arms. Most people associate these machines as "girly" exercises but they are very good for strengthening your sweeping and round-house kicking mucles.

I can't comment much here except to say that where Shotokan uses a deep, kokutsu-dachi, ( back stance) a lot of comparible karate styles use neko-ashi-dachi (or cat stance).

It's the thread that keeps on giving...

*Practice is the key* ^_^ now that is a beautiful avatar pic you have there!

I am originally from Liverpool but moved to Bristol in 1996. I love this city and I feel I should have been born here.

I would definitely say that the Shotokan style as taught by the ESA is very complete. The teachings are incredible and really do open your eyes to so many aspects of karate.

You will also know a McDojo by the fact the instructor is 99th Dan and has a class of 8 year olds who are 3rd dan! I have seen some web sites where the belt-system is made up of several sub-belts for a given colour. It's just printing money. There should be no levels of colour belts, only levels of dan grades.

In your martial arts organisation, who is the top sensei and who is your instructor? The ESA of which I belong has technical direction by Sensei Taiji Kase (9th Dan) and my karate instructor is Alan Armstrong (5th Dan). When I train with the KUGB, Andy Sherry (7th Dan) is the Sensior sensei and Ron Hicks (4th Dan) is the dojo instructor. Over to you.

I was doing heian shodan bunkai-oyo with a partner last Monday and I honestly felt like a beginner again. It is when you 'study' even the most basic kata that you realise just how much there is within it. Very good stuff.

Hey that is very good! I'm not over 40 but I am 39 this year! So nearly there!

Hi there. I posted this article as a reply elsewhere but is included here as it is of use to most people http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/skin-blisters.html

As you are training, wipe the souls of your feet dry on your gi, as blisters are caused by damp skin, rather than dry or wet skin. Unfortunately, time is the big healer here and yes, you have to wait for the skin to harden up. The following article tells you all about blisters: http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/skin-blisters.html Hope they get better soon, as nothing worse distracts you from training.

You're not Santa Clause are you?

Four years old! My God! That was young!! I started training when I was about 11 or 12 but then didn't start in karate until aged 15. Welcome to the board