Luckykboxer

Boondock Saints Gladiator Last Samurai

First off, you need to inform the authorities of the people that are attacking you. Get that crap stopped immediately. Secondly go into any local karate studio, watch how they train, ask the students what they think, visit a few schools first before you make a choice, talk to the instructors about your problem, listen to their responses. And then choose the instructor that is going to give you what you want most, and is still going to help guide you and help you grow not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. good luck

In my opinion this organization is no more valid then any other numbers of organizations out there, and has no say in what is valid karate and isnt. traditional is a matter of interpetation. If someones grandfather does kenpo karate, their dad does kenpo karate, and they do kenpo karate then it is a traditional form of karate to them. I think that while the "traditional" japanese styles have certain benefits, I think that alot of the Varients you mention give alot of valid modern day self defence and solutions for health safety and defense.

the simple answer is the best trained athlete will win regardless of which style. I am of the firm belief that no style is the best around. Every style teaches counters, offense, etc. The practitioner that is faster, stronger, smarter, better trained wins. I have seen white belts with no pure martial arts training, but plenty of practical experience win in a fight against a trained black belt in martial arts. The key is getting to know the rules of the type of fight you are doing, and adapt your skills to best handle the rules and your opponent. In a grappling fight, in most cases if all otehr things were equal i would probably say the BJJ fighter would do better. In a stand up fight, all other things equal i would think the karate practitioner would do better. In a no rules/no holds barred situation it would depend on the person. A person with the right training can mame, render unconcious, or kill another with one shot. I personally train in several styles and cross train. I think that it makes for a well rounded martial artist, and I think it adds to any style if they are an evolving adaptable style to learn new skills and adopt them into their system in some way. My advice, decide what style you want to learn first.... and for what reasons.. And concentrate on that fully until you get to a level you feel comfortable, and have attained goals you set forth, then if you are interested in another style try it out.

Ok I love sparring.. from point sparring, to continuous point sparring, to boxing, kickboxing, full contact karate, and no holds barred. The best advice I can give is this.. First, start any sparring you are interested in in a friendly environment... i.e. your karate school... If you enjoy if then move on to friendly tournaments... i.e. your style only closed tournaments, invite only type of things.. If you still like it then go to open tournaments. that means any of the different types of sparring.. ok as far as gear. get gear appropriate to your training. some advice.. get a shock proof mouthpiece, a good one with a gel insert to shape completely around your teeth. it costs up to $25.00 US, but its worth the investment. Do not just use the cheapo 1 dollar mouthpiece that you dump in hot water and then bite on.. you are protecting your teeth, your head, and your life. the better mouthpiece is only slightly more, and it will prevent your brain from taking shock damage if you take a hard punch to the mouth. It wont prevent all damage, but it greatly reduces it over standard mouthpieces. second. get a great cup/jock that fits you and is appropriate for your sparring activity. I use a steel cup for kickboxing. I use a fitted jock and hard cup for karate. It will protect you from blows and even if its an off chance of getting hit you want protection. now.. if you are talking point sparring karate format, then the rest is obviously up to your personal preference. headgear, handgear, footgear, shinguards, chest and rib protectors, even elbow and knee guards are available. Many of them are good, some have extra foam so that you have an extra 1/2 inch or so or length on your weapons. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable. I dont care how good a protective gear is, if it bugs you it will prevent you from doing well. obviously boxing and kixkboxing would require hand wraps, and boxing gloves. different weights depending on your size and training. some amateur boxing and kickboxing matches require a headgear as well, which is much sturdier and better then karate headgear. a groundfighting style of sparring might require open fingereed padded gloves. If you need glasses then sports goggles are a must, and I might recommend a karate headgear with a faceshiled as well in that case. Also a few things of note.. if you are competing in tournaments, make sure you know well ahead of time what the rules are. Many tournaments have slightly different rules, and not knowing the rules is as good as fighting 1 handed. I wish you luck in your sparring, and i hope my info helps somewhat.

I cant help you here.. My suggestion is to make or find a family tree and go back as far as you can to the beginning and speak to the person closest to the source of the founding of American Karate... I dont know how long that style has been around, but with what you are saying, I would say a good tape recorder, and some time to interview is the only way you are going to get there.

I guess im confused what exactly your researching... are you researching the arrivals of martial arts in america? or are you researching american martial arts and their origins? because while there are probably close to every style of martial arts in america, i would venture to say that very few of those are able to claim they are American in their creation.. The two most successful american designed martial arts so to speak would have to be Kajukenbo and kenpo karates. I am sure there are many more, but none that i know of that have as large a following. obviously america is a hotbed for all martial arts including traditional japanese forms, brazilian jiujitsu, chines kung fu styles, korean, etc.etc. I would imagine that if you were looking for the arrivals of different arts in america you would have issues, due to competing claims by different styles that they were here first. I am sure that the major styles with large organized governing bodies will be easy to track though I would imagine this research could take a lifetime, but man that would be one hell of a read i imagine

so to teach someone how not to be disrespectful and use unnecessary force against another you beat him up? Ya I have to say that sounds pretty childish to me, and while I am one of the largest black belts at my school, and fight in muay thai, boxing, kenpo, and no holds barred contests, I find it particularly distressing that someone would use this opportunity to beat someone into submission. maybe i understood your quote wrong. But if you are wanting to get physical and enjoy it, maybe spend more time in competition against those that are equally trained?

This will usually happen to anyone who is put into the position of teaching kids, especially in something that intrigues them. whether it be soccer, karate, chess, basketball, etc. Now stepping up and becomming an instructor, or stepping into that task brings some interesting things. first once you become someones hero, role model, mentor, etc. you really have to be careful about how you come across not only in the karate studio, but outside as well. If you are like most people you will be teaching in or near an area you live, and its quite possible you will run into people you teach outside of class. The parents, the kids will all look to what you are doing, and you are setting an example for those kids... like it or not thats part of the deal. Its pretty powerful, but it can also get to a point where it can be a little scary.. I would take the risk to say that most people in the martial arts, especially ones that are around long enough to teach tend to lead fairly respectable lives that i have seen. Just remember that kids are fairly fragile emotionally... and you are now in a position to make a large influence on these kids live, both positive, or negative. The positives of having kids look up to you is incredible. Hopefully you wont ever have to feel the negatives of letting one down.

I have a simialr problem. I want a really tough well made gi for jiu jitsu, and atm i am having a tough time finding one.. I have a black one, but unfortunately i need a white one for the instructor i am currently training with. I really like the Koral Kimono. based on your measurements an A4 would be perfect size for you.. I tried one on and it was a little small. I am 6'3" and 250 pounds, with a 54 inch chest the Koral Kimono is about $110.00 US dollars. and is available at https://www.koralusa.com thats my suggestion,.... now of course i am basing this on the assumption that Judo and Jiu Jitsu gis are the same thing. I do not have any experience with Judo so thats the best i can do. my problem with the Kimono atm is that A4 is the largest size available that i can find... It says there is an A5 but it isnt available /sigh good luck

Hehe dont you just love these type of kids? Here is my suggestion.. First off ridiculing anyone in a karate studio is a horrible thing to do. you have no idea why they are there, they could be challenged with some learning disorder(it seems every doctor on the planet is recommending karate classes to kids with ADDS or similar ailments, possibly have abusive parents who are pushing them, they are bullied in school, etc.etc. especially if its kids. I think that most kids will challenge someone if they are given the chance, now for a smaller school i can understand having adults and kids train together, but in my experience this is not a good thing. kids and adults and even teens all learn and behave differently. to mix them in the same class is almost asking for trouble, either the kids or the adults will be frustrated by the other, its bound to happen. Now as far as the kid pressing or challenging you, as soon as you establish you are in an authoritative position, you become much better at dealing with this. the senior instructor should have made it clear that the kids were to do whatever it was you were doing, and that you would be leading that group. If this was done, and the kid still spouts off, then tell him clearly and to the point, that we are not taking any questions until we are done with this set/form/exercise/ etc. and to hold his questions until we are done, or until you ask if ther are any questions. If the kid still presists to cause problems, then i would just have the rest of the group do their drill and bring the kid to the senior instructor, unless that instructor has given you permission to discipline the kid.... i.e. pushups, chinese chairs, etc. never discipline a child in class unless the senior instructor has given you that authority,a nd even then id be very careful about it. I dont know the status of your school, but It puts everyoen in a difficult position when adults and kids train in the same class, and then also when beginning students, even intermediate ranked students are asked to teach. It also seems to cause issues when kids are asked to teach adults. just my 2 cents.

My Black Belt test last June we had 24 Black Belts on the testing board. The highest rank was 9th degree, my intructors(6th degree) instructor there was at least 4 others all above 6th degree. Then we had some black belts from a few other styles there. I kind of liked that, because even though they didnt know the curriculum, they had a different point of view by seeing how we moved, and looking at our efforts from fresh eyes so to speak. that day there was 8 of us testing. 5 1st degrees 1 for 2nd degree 2 for 4th degree We are having our next Black Belt Tests in 3 weeks, I am obviously not testing fo rmy next belt, but we have 4 peopel testing for their next belts. 2 for 1st black, and 2 for 2nd black. From what I am told there will be approximately 30 black belts on the testing board.

I just noticed this thread was started april 12.. and Bill Klause passed away on April 17th. My condolences. BTW this website belongs to the original poster.

The more I have looked into it, and the more history i have read, it seems like certyfing bodies are a good thing. The problem is that there is alot of egos in the martial arts world. Too many Black Belts of different systems have chosen to break off from their instructors and start rival affiliations, and change their curriculum, and in essence create an entirely new style. I do think that a main stream certifying body would be a great thing.. Especially in areas that are saturated with martial arts schools and clubs like California. It seems everyone in California forms schools. I think that poor instructors, or instructors that promote themselves on whims and then leave a bad taste in peoples mouths are only hurting the community as a whole. /shrug

Ok a few things... first. I have the ability to invest up to a million dollarsfor the building itself.. so that is a foregone conclusion. I am currently looking at buildings in the area ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 square feet. My intent is to lease off approximately half of this office space, and keep half of this space for my business. I own a full sized regulation ring at this time, and plan on having approximately 8000 SQ foot, broken up into a Boxing/kickboxing floor, a floor with machines and freeweights, a floor for grappling/tai chi/yoga/free workout,and a floor for karate. My wife is in property management and has been for 8 years now. So I am fairly confident I will be able to purchase a building, lease space, and have a large space left over to build a fairly spectacular studio. Yes I realize I am fortunate to be able to invest this, but it isnt a huge overhead to be honest second. I wont be opening this until I am a 2nd degree Black Belt, which will be next june. approx 1 year, I agree that on the surface most people will look to a higher degreed black belt over a lower one, but I am also a firm believer that if you reach the right people, have the right marketing and advertising campaign, and are good at teaching, then you can overcome things like this. Now obviously I am not going to open up shop next door to this other school. I am definitely not a glutton for punishment hehe I do also have a tentative agreement, with another 2nd degree(who has been a 2nd degree for 5 years now, no clue why he doesnt test) and a 4th degree, who both live in the area already, and while they both thoroughly enjoy teaching, neither has the mindset or desire to open their own schools... for various reasons. Both however are wanting to teach/train on a regular basis. In the town my Studio is in there are 14 studios in a 12 mile radius. My instructor is not the highest ranked black belt of those schools. Those schools range over 7 different styles, with Tae Kwon Do being the prevelant style. My Instructors school has been around for over 20 years now, and I have seen people come from other styles in the area to this school, even though the other instructors were higher ranked in their arts. I am sure we have probably had some students leave our studio for other studios that may include lower ranked black belts as well. It all depends on if you have what a student is looking for. People in So California seem pretty smart, and as long as an instructor is able to offer them a service, at a price that seems appropriate, it doesnt seem to matter what the level of black belt they are is. To be quite honest, there is simply more then enough people to support these schools. I do understand that the first 5 years are the toughest. I have no qualms about that. I also am fortunate enough that my wife also works, and makes a decent salary, to where We can can float for a while on one salary and be fine. My goal isnt to be profitable the first year. My goal is to get my income to exceed my outgoing expenses. I figure that at whatever point in the future I decide to retire the cost i sell the commercial building at at that time will fund my retirement fairly well. My goal here is to do what i love. I make a decent living doing what i do now, but i dont like it. I want to do what i love, follow my passions. I believe that with the studio set up I have planned, the personel I have to work with, and the population I have in the area, that all the ingredients are there to succeed. I just need to get all the details as ironed out now as i possibly can, so that when I am ready to move on this Its more a matter of recruiting students and teaching then a matter of wondering where i am going to get all the other necessary aspects handled.

Thanks for the advice. a few things of note. There is "Master" in my area, but it is Tae Kwon Do, and while his credentials so to speak are much more developed, longer, fuller, etc. the style is different enough, and the area is large enough that there is definitely a student base to support all. His school is also across town. One of the Black Belts that will be coming in to teach has a small club out of his garage atm. About 45 students total, they will be coming over and we have already reached an agreement on that part, so there is a small base for referrals set up. I am about 1 year away, so obviously things can happen.. I am going to be incorporating, that is actually in the process as we speak. I am also in negotiations at this time to work a summer program at the community center in the area, and will go from there. I have to head out to the office now, but i will come back afterwards. Once again thanks for the advice so far.

Hello, This is my first post here on these forums. I found this site while researching my goal of opening my own studio. A quick background on myself before i get into the question. I am a 1st Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, and will be testing for second Black in June of 2005, I have been training for 14 years and am at a Black Belt level, or equivilent and have experience training, teaching, and competing in Boxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, and Kenpo Karate I plan on opening the doors on my own studio shortly after that test. My instructor is a 6th degree Black Belt, and while my school will be 45 minutes away from his studio and the nearest Kenpo studio, it is in a high traffic and largely populated area. I will have the assistance of other black belts who have no interest in opening their own schools for various reasons, this is still in negotiations, but for this purpose lets consider it handled. My question is this.. What are all the costs associated with this. at this time this is what i have slated to research.. Building - I will be buying a commercial building- Size I am unsure on, I have big plans and I have capital to back up Big plans, but i am unsure if there is such a thing as too big to start. Insurance - No clue what is required in California, or costs associated with it. Taxes - I have not run my own business before, unsure where to start looking into this. Marketing - I have a 12 year background as an outside sales rep, I am extremely successful in this area and have a wealth of training and seminars under my belt. I am also in negotiations with my current instructor to change my current job and go work for him, to build his studio up from a current attendance of approximately 450 students to his goal of 1000 students. Our area can easily support that kind of enrollment. Equipment - I am unsure on vendors, but I know what I am looking for, good mats, large mirrors, a full sized boxing ring, several dozen heavy bags and of course any other main kenpo karate gear i would need that i may not have listed here. Employees - This is a tough one, I do plan on eventually having other instructors and also front office personel, but i am unsure how to start planning for this. Office Equipment - In a perfect world I would like to have all the equipment you would possibly want. I guess thats the start of where I am at, If anyone has any good sites, or information I would appreciate it. Thanks Dave