Dijita

I found another real nice video. It's a promo video for the Vancouver Cup. Nicely put together. http://www.vancouvercup.com/promovideo1.htm

I think the media has muddled a lot of people's perceptions. Personally, I love karate. To me it is a life time commitment with a lot of hard work but a lot of personal rewards. I get a lot out of it. When I work hard I improve, I honestly can say it makes me feel a lot more focused and it's helping me be calm because I'm known to be a hyper person. The people in my dojo are like my surrogate family. I agree though, a lot of people have the misconception about Karate, or get into it for the wrong reason. I think a lot of people's main and sometimes only goal is to become a black belt. I think a lot of people do get into it as well thinking they will be this great fighter and expect to aquire that in a short period of time. Anyways, sorry if this post is a bit all over the place, I'm kind of tired today.

You guys/gals are awesome! Thanks!

Before they did the open tournement, one of the dojos did a kids demonstration. It was really cute! Check out the video here: http://www.kyokushin.ca/events/21st%20canadians/21stcanadians01.wmv

Haha, probably old. Yeah but did they actually do anything with it? Is having bone fragments bad?

I'm 95% sure that I broke my toe (the one beside my big toe) about 2.5 months ago. It's still twice the size of my other toe and sometimes it bruises right up. I've been buddy taping it all of the time. It still hurts. I grabbed the broken toe with my hand and physically tried to bend my toe at each joint. It can bend where the toe joins the foot, but limited because of swelling... but when I bend the first joint it does not move, I cannot bend it at all. Not because of the pain but because it physically will not bend at that join any longer. I called the clinic to see if it's worth making an appointment, but the lady at the desk said that even if it is broken theres nothing they can do about it. Should I see a doctor? If it didn't hurt I wouldn't care. However it's uncomfortable to wear footwear. I hate seeing doctors for stupid things... but darn what am I supposed to do with my toe. Has anyone had something similar happen? (edit: Shoot, sorry, I accidently posted this in the wrong discussion, should have gone under Health and Fitness)

Sevenstar, how does Muay Thai allow for a higher level of contact? Do you mean because you're allowed to punch to the face? That's the only thing I can think of. I'm preety sure that both styles will be hitting each other just as hard though.

Welcome ibiza130! Don't let the language barrier intimidate you, I'm sure we will understand you just fine. These are great forums and you will find that you get the oppurtunity to learn so much about other styles.

I am confused by your last statement. Are you saying your kumite is not free sparring?? An ippon is a point correct? I'm not sure of Shotokon rules but in Kyokushin an Ippon is awarded if you land a clean hit that visibly hurts your opponent and keeps them from fighting for at least 3 seconds. One ippon is a win. As for advice. The only thing I can say is to have fun formost. The second point is try and stay calm and fight a smart fight. Practice your combos a lot, try to get them innate. Any last minute tactics that people give you now, you can think about but when it comes down to the fight you probably will not apply them just yet. You will be fighting on instinct. Good luck!!! Let us know how to you do! How's the martial arts community on the east coast by the way?

Your sempai or sensei might be the best person to direct these questions too. The equipment you use will probably vary from club to club. Your instructors might even be able to supply the equipment. In our dojo, we often wear hand and shin/instep guards. Sometimes we don't wear any protection. If you plan to do tournements, find out what you need to wear for your style of rules. Currently I own: bag type mitts, cloth shin/instep guards, and mouth piece. The tournements I fight we often are required to wear head gear but it is usually provided, that is why I do not own head gear just yet. For the guys, it's probably not a bad idea to wear a cup. Accidents happen and I'm sure it hurts. My friend has this cool one that's built into a pair of shorts. He said it is the comfiest one he's ever owned and he can hardly tell he has it on.

I'd like to add following point/opinion: When you fight, whether it be a tournement or a real street fight... you're going to fight purely on instinct. You can train for months and think in your head what you are going to do if a certain situation arrises... but when it boils down, chances are you're not going to do what you thought you would or thinked out in your head what you would do. I think the important thing with martial arts, is that you train for years and years. Eventually (it's a slow process), the proper techniques that you learn will slowly start to be what you instinctivly do. For someone who is not trained for example, could possibly break their hand because they punch incorrectly. With years of training you will start striking more properly with greater speed. Same with all the techniques that you learn. I don't believe that the argument should be what style of martial arts will make you the better fighter, but how long you practice and dedicate yourself. I strongly believe that it will take many many years before you become a decent figther because it takes a very long time for your brain to "re-code" it's instinctive behaviour. I hope this made sense.

I just got back from the Canadian Championships in Vancouver, BC. Wow, what an experience. So many fighters, and wonderful people. I had a blast going to the championships. I lost my first fight, but I'm not upset in the least. I learned so much, and I fought a great fighter. I fought better than my previous tournements. I was a lot more controlled and I blocked a lot and didn't take a single head kick. My blocking is beginning to become second nature. It was awe inspring to watch all the other fighters. It's a great feeling to know that so many people come together to compete in something like this. Everyone showed great spirit and should all be applauded. The men's open division was spectacular. Those guys fought so hard. I've never watched an open division fight before and it was just fabulous. The guy that won was amazing. He ended most of his fights in half the time by scoring an ippon. He landed some nasty knee's and kicks to the face, as well as a strike to someones abdominal area that really winded his competitor. The guy that won the spirit award really deserved it as well. The determination he had, and how hard he fought was very inspirational. I really enjoyed my trip, and I met some really great people. I also got to shake hands with Shihan Bobby Lowe; wow, what a great person. I love how martial arts is such a tight community no matter where you are from. If anyone is interested in seeing the official results, here's the link: http://www.kyokushin.ca/events/21st%20canadians/fighters.htm

Our dojo is fairly even, though I would lean to more men. However in tournements, there are always more men than women.

Oh, ok... thanks for claryfing.

I need to vent. I'm bummed out because last night I found out that I didn't get into the animation school that I had applied too. My dream is to someday follow the steps of the great animators that have inspired and entertained me. I started drawing, and I draw like crazy. I draw a lot from life as well as from my head. I've taken many continueing education courses on drawing to sharpen my skills. I applied to this school... and was sooooo looking forward to moving to North Vancouver and becoming a student of something that I love. But I got rejected. I'm going to try super hard again next year... but I guess maybe my self esteem is hurting because it gets hard to believe that someday I will be able to get a job making cartoons when I don't even have the skill to get into school. I guess there are some positives though: -I get to spend another year with my great friends. -I get another year to save my money. -I get another year to prepare my skills.

The #1 Strategy for any tournement: When the ref drops their hand: Rush your opponent, punch them in the face, and kick them hard in the junk (or box if you're a girl). You'll get a warning, but your opponent will be scared to fight you and will stay away from you the whole match. (Kidding by the way)

Drunkenninja, If you want to get there, take baby steps. Don't let people discourage you and tell you that you will never get there. You can get there if you dedicate yourself, but it will take a lot of time before it happens. Like people have already said, start doing as many tournements as you can. My advice as well, is if you like the styles you do now, great... but try and cross train in a style that actually trains for full contact and has full contact rules in their tournements. Getting your body conditioned to take the hits is important as well as practicing in realistic contact so that you get used to the feeling of hitting someone properly.

I agree with White Warlock. Seems a bit risky and dangerous if you ask me. Do not fight in brown/black belt category if you are not ready. Especially if you are a full contact type of MA. You'll get injured or a concussion or something.

I agree. Hehe, if you have qualified to fight in the world championships then perhaps shouldn't you be the one giving us advice?

Hi Jade, welcome to the karateforums. This is a great question, though maybe should be in General Discussion? I have two great teachers in my class. One of them just teaches part time and was actually my current teachers instructer when he first started out in Karate. Both of them are excellent. They are easy to approach, and always answer my questions so that I understand. They walk around the class often and help us better our technique. Our main instructor does such an amazing job at creating a family feeling at our dojo and often has us over for things like BBQ's. Their techniques are excellent, and they both have some great accomplishments under their belt. You can tell that they are both willing to guide you. They are very encouraging, yet critical. They push you very hard too. I love my instructors and have the upmost respect for them, as well as the other students in my dojo who help me out each class.

My friend does BJJ and absolutely loves it as a grappling art. I do Kyokushin and absolutely love it as a striking art. Sounds like a good combination and that they would compliment each other nicely. Welcome to IKO!

Sublexation of the whuu? What in the world does that mean? By the way, where in Michigan do you do Kuk Sool Won? Years back I used to do Kuk Sool Won near Sault Saint Marie, Ontario.

We've been doing a lot of squats and such in our training recently. I woke up this morning, got out of bed and walked, and my knee cap popped out and I fell to the floor. My knee cap feels like it is floating right now, and it keeps popping out and it's quiet painful because it hits the bone beside it. What's going on? I have a tournement on Saturday, what should I do to make it better? Ice maybe?

Sorry Fat Donkey, tournement is at UBC in Vancouver. Though if you want to see a Kyokushin tournement I'll let you know when there is one in Alberta. Though it probably won't be for a long time. Mart, I'm a girl

Thanks! Yes I am competing. I am very nervous.... but I have trained very hard. If I can stay calm I will do well.