Master Jules

Torris wrote : "Without belts and the grading system, there would be nothing to set goals with, no way to measure accomplishment. " Addressing this point first....... Your goal as a martial artist should be to constantly improve yourself, both as a martial artist, and as a human being......as far as "measuring accomplishment".......Do you REALLY need a belt to indicate or understand what you have accomplished ? If your sole interest or goal in the martial arts is to wear a certain color belt.....my friend.....you have missed the whole point of your training. Markusan wrote : "Belts are a great motivational tool." Again.....Isnt the simple fact that you are LEARNING something both interesting and usefull all the motivation that anyone should need ? There should be TWO belts.....white....and black.......white obviously denotes someone who is a true beginner to the arts.......and black.....well.....Shodan black indicates that you have "mastered the basics"......now......you have reached the "beginning". ~Master Jules.....aka....The Sandman

Thank you Dre, for the compliment.....Im very glad I was able to help, and hope I can continue to illuminate your path for you. ~Master Jules....aka....The Sandman

Not to "feed" a possible flame war......but......Stencil is correct in his suggestion and observation. ~Master Jules

Sanchin is a kata which facilitates health......provided it is done properly. Some of the health concerns are as mentioned in an earlier post.....hemmoroids.....but.....NOT high blood pressure, or some of the other thoughts mentioned ......another one of the health concerns is sterility.....the end goal of sanchin....practiced at a very high level is the ability to withdraw the testicles into the body.....the constant practice of this can lead to sterility, as in the case of Sekichi Toguchi.....however.....the dying at an early age thing.....NO....not related to sanchin training in any way......sanchin is a form of standing Chi Gung, very health PROMOTING, not the other way around......the real reason that so many Okinawan masters died at an early age has nothing to do with martial arts training at all.......the Okinawans were typically very big drinkers, and smokers......many died due to issues related to the "rotgut" sake they drank, and years and years of HEAVY smoking....one of my teachers had been a student of both Sekichi Toguchi and Masanobu Shinjo since 1960, and has seen and heard it from them both...FIRSTHAND.......think what you want....but Okinawan Goju Ryu has its lineage in white crane kung fu, along with other things like Pakua.....if you have a knowledgeable Goju teacher, then you will be instructed in the old ways, which included a very lengthly series of chi gung excersises......the art of Goju Ryu is one, if practiced traditionally, and correctly, BRINGS health.....it DOES NOT....under any circumstances.....detract from it....... In regards to the comparison between Kanryo Higashionnas training, and that of Miyagi......and this is in NO WAY to detract from Miyagi's training......Kanryo's teachings were much harder and more brutal than Miyagi's, which is the main reason why Miyagi traveled to Fukien....to seek out Higashionna's teacher....Ryu Ryu Ko, who was still alive, although very old.....

The most important thing is that you train.....period....it doesnt matter if youre wearing a Gi, a t shirt, or just a pair of shorts.....it really is irrelevant. The only exception to that would be if there is a need to be "formal"...then, wearing the Gi is a must.....but.....if its just a regular class....especially over the summer months.....then....wear your gi pants, belt, and dojo t shirt......as mentioned in another post.....those of us who practice Sanchin and Tensho kata from Goju Ryu....the gi top (or t shirt) must come off so the muscles can be seen to ensure the kata is being performed correctly......there have been nights that I cant sleep and Im in my living room going through kata in a air of shorts......that still doesnt take away my rank......it really doesnt matter what you wear......again, unless theres a formal occasion that demands full uniform......JUST TRAIN.......it would be a good idea for teachers to have dojo shirts so at least there can be some consistency in class......and students shouldnt have any resistance to purchasing a 10 or 15 dollar t shirt to train in.....it helps support the dojo for starters, and it can be considered to be the top half of an "informal" uniform....... Whatever you do.....train hard....even if its in your underwear.... ~Master Jules .....I may be a trained killer....but Im really a nice guy....

Yes, thats true......Chojun Miyagi did travel to Fukien province of China to seek out Ryu Ryu Ko, who was Kanryo Higashionna's teacher (Miyagi's teacher)....Goju Ryu has direct attatchment to the White Crane system of kung fu, as well as elements of shaolin chin na (seizing and grabbing techniques), and Pakua....not to mention the endless Chi Gung breathing excercises that many schools DONT teach.....In fact, if you see the "real" version of the White Crane kata....also known as Hakutsuru in japanese.....you will see key elements of just about EVERY Goju Ryu kata.....needless to say....the form is VERY long.......think of going through Pechurin (Superempai) 3 times in a row.......Miyagi's leading students founded there own "branches" of Goju Ryu on Okinawa.....the main dojos were Jundokan, under Miyazato, Shoreikan, under Toguchi, Shobukan, under Shinjo, Meibukan, under Yagi.........Some of these students were able to get "more" from Miyagi than others, one example would be Toguchi......being half Chinese, half Okinawan, he was able to understand all of the Chinese terminology which was used to describe the suptle intricacies of GoJu.....even though GoJu means, "hard/soft"....its not about being "all hard"....or "all soft".....its about being hard and soft....AT THE SAME TIME.....a continued brief history of where GoJu Ryu went from there.....Yamaguchi, of Japan, studied somewhat sporadically with Miyagi for about 12 years on and off.....he went back to Japan and founded "Japanese GoJu Ryu".....which has MANY differences, including changes to many of the kata, as well as different bunkai applications......One of Yamaguchi's students was a UDT/SEAL member named Peter Urban.....after reaching the rank of 5th Dan, and being told by Yamaguchi that he would never be promoted higher since he was an american.....Urban left Japan , came home to the USA, and founded what became known as USA/URBAN GoJu Ryu......in turn, two of Urban's top students, Frank Ruiz and Ron Taganashi "broke away" from Urban's organization founded his own system called "Nisei GoJu"....which, ironically, means "second generation".....then, a further "offshoot", is Ron Van Cleif's system called "Chinese GoJu"......thats a lil GoJu history for ya in terms of lineage and stuff.....if youre gonna chose GoJu Ryu as a style to study.....do your self a big favor.....stick with the original....traditional Okinawan GoJu Ryu.....I have seen many systems in my years in.....and Ive even got sensei rank in the USA system as well.......but my master rank is in OKINAWAN......GoJu is one of the most complete fighting systems there is....if you have a good teacher. "I may be a trained killer....but Im really a nice guy" ~Master Jules, aka "The Sandman"

Sure !!! left and right arm bands.......not the usuall barbed wire thing....more like tha crown of thorns....to symbolize the pain of the training the last 30 years has brought me.....red coloring to symbolize the blood.....and the "GoJu Ryu" characters on the left arm within the band....cause GoJu is closest to my heart.....the characters for " bushido", the way of the warrior on my right arm, also within the band.....the bands are identical except for the Kanji.....I also have the characters for "master killer" on my neck in red and black......but....like you......Im feelin' the need to get drilled again......thinkin' of twin dragons the start at the center of my traps...right by the "master killer" kanji....and going out towards the outer part of my shoulders........whatcha got now ?.....and what are ya thinkin' of gettin ?????? ~Master Jules

Train wherever you can, whenever you can......if youre in a public place.....try to find the most inconspicuous, non-attention getting spot.....hold back on the "kias" when going through your kata....as far as wearing your belt and gi.....you have trained hard to earn your green belt....wear it....it would be disrespectful to the person who gave it to you if you didnt.....however.....there really is no need to wear your uniform outside of the dojo.....the uniform is simply a formality....the belt is a way of showing a level of attained knowledge, indicating also where you "fit in" in your dojo as you "come up through the ranks".....along with holdin' up your pants....lol.....seriously though.....whether you train in your gi (again...NOT a good idea in a public place).....or if youre like me and go through kata in your living room wearing a pair of shorts when you cant sleep at nite.....youre still the same karateka.....just remember to train hard..........On a side note.....at green belt level, you shouldnt be "teaching" unless you are accompanied by a Dan rank to "look on"......good luck in your training.....no matter what you wear... ~Master Jules

My 1st Master test...4th Dan....was 7 days long......about 4 hrs of hard training and working out each day, going over every technique from day #1.....then.....when serious fatigue has set in,....katas, application, weapons, 2 man drills, 45 minutes in sheiko dachi with people intermittently standing on my legs.....followed by my master breaking a concrete cinder slab over each thigh.....a 40 minute no pad, full contact, non stop round of fighting all out on the first day, a 30 minute grappling round wherein I was blindfolded on the 3rd day, and another 40 minute round on the last day, followed by breaking of boards and cinder slabs with various techniques......my third dan was pretty much the same, but I had to fight 15 , 3 minute rounds instead of the 40 minutes non stop......same 15 rounds for 2nd and 1st dan as well.......during Sanchin....I had the pleasure of my master cracking an escrima stick on my ribs, of which he cracked two.....lotsa fun.....lol......but we do it for the love and deep respect we have for those who have come before us, so we can continue to pass on the knowledge that our masters have so generously passed on to us. So......to all Masters and students of the arts......whatever your tests consist of.....OSU Master Julian Hoenig Traditional Okinawan GoJu Ryu

Goju Ryu is a very complex and complete fighting system.....I would be more than happy to discuss it at length with you, if youre interested. A "description" of GoJu Ryu would be a VERY lengthly one, and i wouldnt want to bore anyone with an unbelieveably long post......please feel free to contact me through private email, and we can discuss GoJu in detail. ~Master Jules

Master Julian Hoenig 5th Dan, Renshi, Okinawan GoJu Ryu 5th Dan, Co-Founder CQB Tactics (Close Quarter Battle) 3rd Dan Katsugo Ryu AikiJuJitsu 2nd Dan USA/Urban GoJu Ryu 1st Dan Close Combat JuJitsu Police Tactics/Hand to Hand Combat Master Instructor Member--United Martial Artists Association Black Belt Hall of Fame 1998 Member--Action Martial Arts Magazine Black Belt Hall of Fame 2004 "I may be a trained killer.....but Im really a nice guy".....lol

So......what youre saying is that you dont really do much with yourself then ? LOL.......thats a hell of a resume......I about to start trying to learn swedish.......got a girlfriend over there..... Catchya lata.....time for my evening feeding....lol...nice chattin with ya ~Jules

Congrats.....seriously.....I wish I could speak and read Japanese too. I dont know the kanji....sorry about that.... I wish I did......The gentleman who gave me this info is also fluent in Japanese.....he trained with the Masters in Okinawa starting back in 1960, and he and I had a long discussion about this topic several years ago......I thought the same thing, but he was very emphatic about this......just curious.....if you dont mind......what is your background ? ~Jules

Eq......Im new here, and dont wanna start a flame war......Im curious to know your background.....if you dont mind......The reason I ask is that this information comes to me from a student of Sekicki Toguchi and Masanobu Shinjo, both direct students of Chojun Miyagi......these terms are commonly confused.....but you are wrong.....Kaisai is analysis..... ~Jules

This is a commonly cunfused term..... Bunkai......refers to the "hidden meaning" behind the techniques being performed in the kata Kaisai......refers to the analysis of those techniques Oyo......refers to the application of those techniques Hope that sorts that out for everyone. ~Jules

GoJu Ryu is an Okinawan system. It means "hard/soft". This is often a little misunderstood.....Its actually the art of being hard and soft at the same time. All karate comes from Okinawa, and the Okinawan forms descend from Chinese systems of Kung Fu.....Goju descends mainly from white crane kung fu....Being that Okinawa was so close to China, many of the Okinawan Masters trained in China. This brief history is how Goju evolved.....Kanro Higashionna traveled from Naha, Okinawa to Fukien province in China....there, he studied with ru ru ko....when Kanro returned to Okinawa, he created a system known only as Naha-Te, or ...the hand of Naha.....one of his students was Chojun Miyagi, who created Goju Ryu....similarly, other systems began to evolve in Okinawa.....The Kanji for Kara-te mean "empty hand".....Originally, before the Japanese occupation of Okinawa, the Kanji actually mean "china hand"....but due to politics, and a general distaste for anything chinese, the Japanese changed the meaning of the Kanji.....From Okinawa, karate traveled to Japan, Hawaii, and then mainland USA......Okinawan Goju is really one of the very first systems of karate, and is considered to be an extremely thourough art, considering it has all the elements of a "stand up punch and kick" system, as well as in close grappling, shaolin chin na (seizing and grabbing), and a tremendous amount of internal art known as Chi Gung......hope this helps you for now.....please ask more, and Ill help in any way I can. ~Jules

It really comes down to what the sensei wants. Regardless of colors of belts, the progression in karate is from 10th hyu (white belt) to shodan......There are many ways to "fit" different color belts in there.....Some goju schools, for example simply go.....white, green,brown and black, with stripes in between.....As a former dojo owner, I used the yellow and orange belt as well......for students that havent been training very long, its sometimes tough for them to understand that, even though theyve been wearing , say, a white belt for 6 months or so.....they have learned a lot more than a new white belt, even though their belt doesnt "show it".......My rankings went as follows.... 10 th kyu....white belt 9th kyu....white /1 stripe 8th kyu.....yellow 7th ho....yellow w/1stripe 7th kyu....orange w/1 stripe 6th kyu....orange w/2 stripes 5th ho......orange w/3 stripes 5th kyu......green w/1 stripe 4th kyu.....green w/2 stripes 4th ho.....green w/3 stripes 3rd kyu.....brown w/1 stripe 2nd kyu.....brown w/2 stripes 1st kyu.....brown w/3 stripes black....shodan ho (conditional black belt) black......shodan and so on......

First ....congatulations on passing your Shodan grading.....good job !! More important.....NEVER EVER EVER wash your belt......Only time and constant use will soften the belt.....the blood, sweat, and tears of training will soften the belt for you.....washing it takes all that away......dont rub it between your hands....dont drag it behind a car.....just wear it and train hard......being in a rush to soften your belt is like being in a rush to learn.....just give it time and it will happen on its own.......the belt is sacred.....please....dont wash it or do anything else to it but wear it......and.....good luck with your training. ~Jules

Congratulations........you have finally reached the beginning. Enjoy the journey.

Firt......there is no need to "go to sensei".......If your sensei is worth his salt, so to speak......he already knows whats going in in every part of his dojo at all times.......As students come up through the ranks, and new students fall into line behind them, some feel the need to "teach" the lower ranks......Sensei may want that to happen......teaching what you know also adds another facet to what you are learning.....what is necessary though, is for the "teacher" to realize that they have an understanding of technique that is limited by their graded rank, and that when the "teach", they should teach "humbly".....It is quite discouraging to see a color belt strut around with the attitude that he/she is actually a qualified instructor. By the same token, it is even more discouraging to see shodan strut around like he/she has sensei or master rank......Reaching shodan simply means that you have finally reached "the beginning", and that should be enough training time to realize how much you DONT know........I really find it so funny when I read posts that are written by color belts who, with such limited time in the arts, state opinions as if they were facts........We should all just concentrate on LEARNING, and being a STUDENT first......if we find ourselves in a position to answer an underbelts questions, fine.......always help......thats how we pass the art on.......Ive been in the arts for just over 30 years......I hold 2 5th degree ranks with Renshi title.....along with other Dan rankings.....Im an inductee into the Action Martial Arts Magazine Black Belt Hall of fame........Im not giving my resume to brag......just to make a point.....even with my background, which is extensive......I am always ready to be a student before being a teacher......