Pyran

Congratulations.

In tournaments we actually have : Gohon Kumite(Kihon) - five step sparring for 10-8Kyu Ippon Kumite(Kihon) - one step sparring for 7th-5th kyu Jiyuu Ippon Kumite - Semi free one step sparring 4-3rd kyu Jiyuu Kumite - Free sparring 2nd kyu onwards Shobu Ippon Kumite - Tournamant one point sparring 2nd kyu onwards This is to allow the lower belts to compete safely with what they have been training in the Dojo. Or atleast that is how it was at my last tournament 14 years ago. Lee

There are a few different types of kumite in Shotokan. Gohon Kumite(Kihon) - five step sparring Ippon Kumite(Kihon) - one step sparring Jiyuu Ippon Kumite - Semi free one step sparring Jiyuu Kumite - Free sparring Shobu Ippon Kumite - Tournamant one point sparring Lee Good luck Cathal just remember good clean basics in kumite are the key to success. And in Kata timming and effort is essential to impress.

Shotokan Perisai Diri Silat BJJ Shotokan for a good base. Silat for circular and avoidance BJJ for ground work. I should be really good in about 40 or so years. Your mileage may vary Lee

I have friend who is an instructor in Perisai Diri Silat. His Style has many elements both hard and soft, circular and linear. They have eight distinct styles which translate roughly to "Dragon", "Princess", "Crane", "Tiger", "Eagle","duck", " monk", "warrior" as well as various traditional malaysian/indonesion and chinese weapons. Their teachings are based firstly on avoidance, secondly on avoiding with a redirecton and thirdly Destroying and attack before it begins and this is only the defensive side of their training. Your mileage may vary Lee

Second week update. Just the act of training has improved my outlook on life. My Arthritus is giving me less trouble (According to my GP due to the increased movement and Glucosamine) and I'm feeling ontop of the world. I've bought a new white belt and have been getting a lot of questions from the dans about what and where i used to train. I have had to make a few minor changes to my Katas and was able to remember the five Heians and Tekki Shodan. I was a little vauge on Bassa Dai and Kanku Dai but Empi and Jion were no shows. Its amazing what a little bit of your life back will do. Lee:)

Thank you very much Lee

Japan Karate Association of Australia. This is Australia's branch of Japan Karate Association founded by Grand Master Gichin Funakoshi in 1948. The current Shihan is Sensei Motokuni Sugiura. The JKA(AUS) Chief Instructor is Takahashi Sensei who visits Australia twice a year. I didn't know there was more than one JKA. I am enjoying the training again but it is frustrating when i throw a kick and it doesn't go where it should. Lee

I've just returned to training Shotokan after a 14 year forced absence due to a serious motocyle accident. I don't remember being this sore although i didn't suffer from arthritis back then. My Sensei has deemed my level wil be white belt untill i regain the standards of my rank. The really cool part is that i forgot how to turn around at the start of class but it all slowly came back to me by the end of class. My question is does anyone know of a site with the current kata's for JKA Shotokan because my memory of them is a little different to what was practised last night. Lee