BJJShotoshe

Honestly.... Before I do anything I step back and think, unless I know it is something I have done before, and ask myself.... "What kind of impression would this leave on my honor, and is it respectful?" Another question I ask myself, this sounds stupid, when I cannot think clearly is..."What would my sensei do, or would my sensei do this?" Thos questions usually keep in in check. Something that I think will help you in you Dojo Kun search, it easier words (no offense) I had to do this. Dojo Kun: Seek Perfection of Character (will this make you better as a person?) Be Faithful (always be trustworthy. will people trust you still if you do this?) Endevor (Always finish what you star ,within reason) Respect Others (<-- this pretty much explains itslef) Refrain From Violent Behavior (don't do anything that might hurt someone in anyway unless it is absolutley necessary) I hope I help in some way.

I do not instruct fully by myself yet, although I can tell you from experience. I switched from a TKD version of MA to shotokan. The way my instructor did it for me was, he told me to start as a white belt again and that at my testing he would see how well I have progreesed and if it was enough and I was good, he would promote me a couple ranks ahead. But shotokan is a complex style to learn, but it is easy to pick up if you train hard enough.

I prefer the O-Soto-geri

This is the way I see it. I am an overweight Martial Artist, but I can, however, run about two miles, and do more then 20 push ups without getting tired. I think it is more of the stamina that a person has and thier mind set. Granted, I can't jump ten feet vertical, but I am a good Martial Artist. My instructor honored me, not to long ago, a compliment that I took to heart very seriously. I said: "Thank you for you honorable presence in my life and your respected knowledge. As well as the challenges that I am not able to overcome in one night, along with the frustrations that go along with that." He said: "The only reason I challenge you to your breaking point of frustration is that I know that you will overcome those challenges. If the biggest worldwide known MA tournament asked for one of my best you would definately be on the top of my list. If I put you in a weapons class you would figure it out. If I put you in a grappling situation, you would figure it out. If I put you in a room full of 100 other martial artists and told you you could not go home until everyone of them give up or are passed out on the floor..... eventually you would go home." I also believe that it depends on the instructor (s). If they are clogging your head with nonsense like, don't worry about it you don't have to do push ups, sit ups, running, jumping, if you feel that you can't. If you feel that people will make fun of you because of what you look like. I think the instructors should be like mine. Suck It Up and Do It, we will wait until you are done with your set or laps. And then they pull you off to the side at the end of class and explain why they push you so hard. If you do not understand my thinking, please e-mail me about it and ask, and I will explain more.

Why did I choose the MA that I am in...? Good question! I chose shotokan karate because I liked the history, the discipline, and the people who were teaching it. I love to be in shotokan karate. I have tried TKD, didn't like it, I didn't feel challenged enough, mentally, physically, or mentally. I don't know why. I can't really explain it. But, about 2 1/2 years ago I started BJJ. I love it more then karate. Although I would have never joined BJJ if it was not for Shotokan Karate. Thanks!

Well, I do not have a child of my own, but I have taught many young children in karate, starting at the age of four. I don't know how it is in anyone elses' Dojo, but we have this program called "Lil' Tigers". This is a program that is made for children between the ages of 4 and 6. In this program it helps them get ready for thier OFFICIAL yellow belts. Until they turn 7 they are promoted with many stripes on one belt and all of thier belts have black stripes down the middle. there are quite a few belts. If they just happen to go throught the belts quickly, it is proven that they are ready to start learning kata and some sparring. I hope this helps a bit. I know it did not directly address your question. It think your child is old enough, as long as he gets the correct type of training.

Hey, I would recomend Shotokan Karate. It has a lot of mental and physical challenges in it. Shotokan karate is just the perfecting of ones' character. I think this would be a good start. I know that it is not a bug surprise that I am recomending shotokan, afterall, thats what I study. I would also recomend Tae Kwon Do. That is also a good start. And believe me, I do not like TKD at all (not dissing it or anything, just personal preference). I hope I helped out. If you would like more infornmation, just ask. In Truth and Honor

I read it at the age of 15 (not much older 16 now). It was enlightening. My sensei tested me on the book, it was a required reading fro me. It was pretty good. I can't belive I made it through the whole book, I had toread it about 10 times to have some understanding of it. I was thinking about reading it again. Well, if there are any questions about it, just e-mail me, I will try to answer them.

You probably have all the help you need, but I would like to offer my opinion. If I were to go to dojo searching, I would watch one of thier classes, maybe ask to participate a little, I would interview the instructor about thier views and goals on how to teach, students, and the dojo.

Earlier I said I didn't like Heian Nidan. I have changed my mind (there is a tie), we just went over Heian Sandan, and I could not remember it for my life. It seems to be the hardest kata for me to remember.

The wisest one. The one with more confidence and the one that studies or studied for the true art of it. Not to show it off in movies. Although they were and are very good martial artists and they look real good.

Hey, don't sweat the small stuff. Black is just a color and a belt is just there to hold up your pants and hold shut your top. This black belt obviously does not remember what it was like when they were a beginner. When I hear any higher rank say something like that under thier breath or just say it to my face, I just take that as an incentive to do better, work harder, train more, and someday, when I am a black belt, hopefully be more respectful and honorable then them. And to sound a bit greedy and arrogent, be a better black belt. They may know more about what you are training for, but that does not mean they can execute it in a good manner and represent your school for it. Talk to your Chief Instructor about this black belt and how you think they are representing your school, he will talk with him, but only if he is a true instructor. Good Luck, and like I said, don't sweat the SMALL stuff.

I agree. I have always had the most fun "sparring" with my Sensei. (I grapple with him, hence the " "). The greatest joy is watching my sensei's eyes and listening to his comments on how I have grown in my studies and seeing in his eyes the pride that he has for me.

How did I feel when I first started karate? To put it nicely....OUCH! Other then that, I was scared, nervous, open minded, and maybe a little over confident at school and under confident at the dojo, but that went all away.

Hey There! This feels a bit unusual, giving a higher ranking belt advice, but I hope it is useful. I can only give you general adivice on kata itself because I do not know Bassai Dai all that well, however I may be able to help. In general, the most important thing that I cannot stress enough is keeping a serious face. I knew this black belt going for his third and he kept making faces of confusion, and he failed, just because of that one kata. Ummm..... lets see here. In Heian Godan, I think the most important thing to do is to do the kata like you mean it. To help with this, we learn Bunkai to the kata, so you know the meaning, and you can envision what you are doing. Bassai Dai, I can't help you with, sorry, we don't learn that kata until we are second browns, although I do know it. Well, I guess that is pretty much it. I hope it helps. Stay Strong Keep Confident Focus On The Prize Mean It Practice/Train Hard Never Quit and always.... Look For Encouragement and Guidence, even the younger ranks have things to offer. "I learn the most from a white belt. When they test, they only have to do one kata. So focus on your katas like it is the only kata you have to do, then you will do well." Sensei Phil Oakes

Hey! Caique is my "team leader" if you will. He is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie is the leading family in Jiu-Jitsu, and Muchado is another branch. Every dojo must have a certified instructor, we have no certified instructor in our dojo, although we do have many certified instructors that do teach the Jiu-Jitsu. Well, it is hard to explain, so...

There are different belt systems for different styles - there are even different belt systems within the same style. To go with aefibird, I am also in shotokan, and my belt ranking is as follows: white, yellow, orange, blue, green, purple, purple 2, brown, brown 2, brown 3, black. In Jiu-Jitsu (in my academy) is as follows: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black.

Shotokan Karate: Shotokan Karate originated in Okinawa, a small island south of Japan. It was popularized in Japan by Gichin Funakoshi in the 1950s. The name "Shotokan" comes from the name "Shoto," which was Funakoshi's pen name.Shotokan Karate is a traditional martial art. This means that improvements in character and mental discipline are as important as physical skill, if not more so. Shotokan Karate is meant to be accessible to all, including, women, children, and those without great athletic ability. Shotokan karate consists of many type of kata. Theses katas are: Taikyoku Shodan, Hein Shodan-Hein Goda (or Pinan katas),Tekki Shodan and Nidan, Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai,Bassai Sho, Hangetsu, Unsu, Enpi,Gojushiho Dai and Sho, Jion, and many, many more. Shotokan Karate also includes Kihons and Kumite (basics and sparring). Shotokan karate is "the way of the empty hand", meaning, in shotokan karate there is no use for weapons. Well if you need any more info, let me know.

Hey! Don't worry so much about it. Everyone has thier "bad days". Just think of this... A "bad day" has been experienced because there is something else that you need to learn that is more important, you just have to find out what it is and work on it. Believe me, I have been a second purple belt for six months or so and the average learning speed is five months, and thats not the bad thing. I only have one stripe!! It makes me sooo mad , i still have four more stripes to go, but I know that this is happening to teach me something that I need to know, it just chose, in my opinion, the wrong time to do it. But hey! I am learning a lot of stuff the black belts usually lear for thier testing, getting ahead of the game!

Well Hello There! I have always been taught that MA will most definately work on the streets. But we train as though it is ment to be used in a real street fight, we train with guns, knives, other people, and so on. But the one thing that I can easily say without any doubt is it depends on the type of training you do. My Sensei (Sensei Phil Oakes) says, "Train hard in here, easy out there!". So basically it depends all on how you train. Thanks

Well, considering on how much I have looked into a lot of styles of MA and have studied in MA for 11 years (since i was 5). I would rate myself as a 0. There is always more you can learn. You can never stop learning in the MA. I mean, MA is not just the techniquie of fighting, it is the mind, spirt, body, etc... you get it. And the only way I am going to get to that perfect 10 is if I study for the rest of my natural given life and study when I have passed on. And once I have passed on, I have all the time I need to master this. And believe it or not, I still wont know what the heck I am doing. But, you know, if I had to rate myself upon what my sensei's say, I would rate my self an 8 for the belt level I am at now. Thanks for listening.

Hey Ant. Congrats on your grading. Did you know only 1% of the people that join a Marial Art only stay in it?? Your on your way. And forget about the outside block incident. When I was a whilte belt and I was going for my orange. (skipped my yellow) I couln't even make it through Hein Nidan, so my sensei's promoted me to Orange belt with three white stripes. I could never get over forgetting Hein Nidan. And guess what. Hein Nidan is one of my favorite katas. I love Tekki Shodan, it is soooo short. Well, I have shared my blushing story. I hope it makes you feel a little better about your mistakes. And don't worry. It will go away. Train Hard, Never Quit, Have confidence If you never try, you'll never fail, and you'll never achieve Victory. Yes that sweet, sweet taste of Victory. BJJShotoshe 4th kyu

Does anyone study under Professor Caique?? I was just wondering. I see a lot of people going with Gracie and Muchado.

Hello, I have black belt friend in TKD, and he tells me that TKD is an off shoot of karate. I would like to know if this is true.

Hello! I am also in Shotokan Karate, I am currently a Second Purple Belt. I will try to help you in two ways. Since you are in a different Dojo than I, I do not know what the requirements are for your kumite. In our dojo, we are not allowed take downs until my level, but in yours it might be different. So here I go. First off: If you are not allowed take downs and even if you are, the best thing to do is get to your opponents back side, that way you are out of the danger of their hands and feet, but still be cautious. Second (No take downs): The mawashi-uke is the best block to learn and use. If you are unable to perform the mawashi uke a simple Soto ude-uke will do. These blocks are just to get the first punch out of the way, if they attack with their foot, you may use a Gedan-Barai. This is important, to get the first punch or kick out of the way, but watch the other hand or foot. Third (still no take downs): If you would like to go to the inside a Mawashi-uke will work as well! Once you are inside you have various options. What you use is up to you. I would suggest a mae-geri then a quick Oi-Zuki, try to execute this punch even before you set your foot down. (Hands before feet are good). Fourth (Both no take downs, and take downs): Bunkai!!!!!!! If you study Bunkai you are in like flinn. At my academy, Bunkai is not studied. But, if you know some, use it! Bunkai can lead to take downs and it can lead to simple counter punches and kicks. Bunkai is a big one! Fifth, and last (with take downs): If you are allowed take downs, there are a couple options. Bunkai and the following techniques. I don't know if you have ever studied BJJ or any simple take downs but, theses take downs are fairly easy. Use hip throws, shoulder throws, chokes (not a take down, but it works), and leg throws, <-- not recomended, only used in desperate situations and you as well could get injured. Well thats pretty much it. I have shared some of my knowlege with you, I hope at least one thing comes in handy. Train Hard Never Give Up Have Confidence!!!