equaninimus

Here is an article that may be helpful: http://www.wadoworld.com/articles/norma/normafr.html

Seibukan: Itosu Kata Pinan 1-5 Naihanchi 1-3 Passai Gwa (Passai Sho) Jion Kyan Kata Sesan Ananku Wansu Passai Gosjushiho Kushanku Chinto Wanchin

I agree. Things like "Master's Clubs," 20 y.o. 8th dans, and 5 y.o. black belts. What a plus!

Aikido is always a good complement to a striking art, although some styles of Aikido, like Yoshinkan, are quite "combative" in their own right. I did Yoshinkan for six years in the '90s, and have been practicing once a week with a Tomiki group for the last few months. You may find that Aikido opens your eyes to a lot of techniques in Karate in a different way.

Same in Seibukan.

This site also has Seinchin, as well as several other kata done by fairly high ranking Okinawan Sensei. http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/index.html

The "higher stance" comment is relative mainly to Shotokan. I'm doing Seibukan now, and the Wado stances seem artificially low. I have always thought of Wado as the intermediate point between Shito (which retains a great deal of the original Okinawan flavour) and Shoto (which retains very little). I have also come to appreciate the influence of Motobu on Ohtsuka's style, especially in his use of primarily jodan blocking movements, and his development of a set of kumite exercises. Wado also emphasizes more "looseness" in the upper body than does Shoto, although not to the extent of "floppiness," like I have seen some SKA people wxhibit. Hang onto the idea that you are doing something new, and have fun with it. Eventually, you can have the fun of practicing comparative Kata and discovering how much the different styles actually resemble each other. BTW, I'm confised about the "never an attack" comment. If you mean philosphically, then that should hold true for all of Karate, should it not?

Err..actually, I went the other direction. 10 yrs of Wado, followed by 12 of Shotokan. Its not difficult as long as you keep in mind that what you are doing is a diferent interepertation of the concept. Wado is a little more relaxed that Shoto, and you may find it easier on your knees and back.

No one is threatening to eject me, and no one has said not to wear it except when either Zempo or Zenshum Shimabukuro come to visit (in July and March, respectivily), or when I go to Okinawa in August. I wear the thing to evey practice.

Don't know. I'm, going to have to re-read his autobio now.

"un-educted?" Quack?

One of the toughest instructors I've ever had was Amber Travsky, who teaches Okinawan Kempo in Laramie, WY. Sensei Travsky is five foot nothing, weighs about 100 pounds, and is blindingly fast, with punches and kicks like a collision with a freight train. In my current Dojo, one of the most "interesting" yudansha to work with is "Sheri." "Sheri" is a twenty-three year old Buffy lookalike who has ribcruncher side kicks. I would'nt worry too much about being a woman!

Ahh..tact..who needs it?

I was taught kime in Wado, and in Seibukan.

Drunken Monkey has pretty well summed it up. If given a choice, I would prefer not to fight at all. If I have to fight, a firearm or a long stick would be nice. If I am unarmed, I accept that I am going to get injured in the course of the encounter. Onaga Yoshimitsu (Shorin Ryu) has a saying that I find particularly appropriate: "Ti (karate) is not about winning (tournaments), but about not losing (in self defence encounters)."

Unlikely. That's probably best put in the box with Okinawans punching through armour, and the nunchaku used as a rice flail. Most likely jumping kicks were used for training in leg strength. They occur in Shotokan in the Kankus, Gankaku, and Unsu (tobi mikazuki geri/tobi ushiro geri), and in many other styles as well. I have read McCarthy's theory that jumps in Kata represent the opponent being thrown, but have major questions about this conclusion.

I have to admit, once I recognized Sanada, I kept waiting for Sadako to climb out of a well!

Does anyone else think this would have had more emotional meanig if Algren and his bushi pal had both died? I was hooked up until the point where Algren manages to be the only one not killed by the Gatling gun.

Same here. I have rotator cuff surgery scheduled for this summer due to similar problems affecting my right shoulder.

Have you worked with your instructor to try and corect any improper punching habits?

Lets also add: The Karate Dojo, by Peter Urban. A great collection of tall tales, but it does allow insight into the way martial arts were seen in their early years in the US. In a similar vein, Ed Parker's "Secrets of Chinese Karate" is also good, although long out of print (I paid almost $150.00 for it on ebay.). Jose Fraguas' interview compilations are also useful: Karate Masters, The Masters Speak, and Kung Fu Masters (although the last one is heavily Wing Chun oriented.).

The new Mcdojo that just opened nearby uses the word Karate,even though they are Tang Soo Do. https://www.seosnationalkarate.com $139.00/month. Are they kidding?

Again, the Kyan 3/4 twist seems the best answer.

Get John Sell's book "Unante," and begin reading that. Also you might wish to subscribe to "Classical Fighting Arts," and "Journal of Asian Martial Arts." Both of these pubs are far more usefult than the pretty picture magazines like Black Belt. There was an article in "Dragon Times (the precurser to CFA)" on the relationship between Goju and Fujian White Crane, and on the possible form taken by Higoanna's karate. It isn't one of those available online from their website, so you may have to order the back issues, or find them in a library. Depending on where you are in Va., I know that GW and Georgetown's libraries subscribe, and I think UVA does as well. This article on the Bubishi by Cook is pretty typical of the high standard of scholarship of this publication. http://dragon-tsunami.org/Dtimes/Pages/article17.htm. THere was also a two part series in JAMA in 2002 on Kiyoda, Juhatsu of To'on Ryu that was quite good. You also might want to look at http://www.e-budo.com, they tend to be devoted to the more classical arts, and have a research forum. In addition, Pat McCarthy, Harry Cook, John Sells, Robert Dorenwend (sp?), and Joseph Svinth frequently post there. Good luck! [/url]

The person I saw with red was from a Shito-ryu school. I think I should have gone with my first thought and had midnight blue embroidery done. A friend of mine, who is a bit of a smart-a__ has his belt embroidered in black thread. Now that it is losing the black covering, his name and style are finally visible. This is black belt number four or five for me, I forget which. The more expensive, the shorter their lifespan, it seems. This one is cotton, rather than the fancy silk covering. The longest lasting belt I ever owned was a plain black belt from AWMA with no embroidery or anything. I got it in 1985 and it finally tore at the knot in 1992. Replaced it with a Kwon (I was in Germany at the time), that only lasted two years. My then GF bought me an embroidered Shureido belt as a "getting out of the Army soon" present. That lasted a year, although it did outlast the GF! I replaced it with a simlar one from Tokaido, which finally died in 2000. I replaced that with one from Daruma, a company I haven't seen in the US, that I bought in a MA supply store in Kyoto. It has almost none of the black covering remaining, and is tearing at the knot, hence the reason I bought another belt. Ah, well.