shotochem

Sasaori, If the jab is used as a leading technique to penetrate and gain distance it is difficult not to get jammed while trying to throw that kick. I find the options that work for me are either to side step and counter or take the bull by the horns and just commit fully to moving foward with a pre emptive punch to the ribs before the incoming hand gets out. Its a timing thing. If you miss or guess wrong you could get hit, but you will still get your shot off.

Hey!!! Wait a minute here!!! If Master Funakoshi stuck his genitles in boiling oil do ya think Id be crazy enough to do it too!!!! There is too much mystical * and idol worship in the MA. We have to see through this stuff and not put blind faith in the practices of the masters. Lets use some common sense and not get ourselves hurt needlessly. Is it any wonder they had such a short lifespan back then?????

It will take time for your body to get used to using your "Karate muscles" You will be sore in places you did not know could even be sore . Dont worry as you get used to it (adults probably about 1-2 months you wont hurt as much. Your best friend is a bottle of Ibuprophren and a good soak in the tub afterwards. The key is not to push yourself too hard too soon. As you become accustomed to the workouts you can start pushing harder.

I would rather give 1 good full hard jab than 3 or 4 little ones. If you can do 3 why not follow through on #1 and make it hurt. When you keep reloading to throw the next 1 or 2 there is no penetration, thus much less power. IMO that kind of technique will distract or probably irritate who ever you may try it on. I do not see it as practical for anything other than show. With that kind of quickness just nail it on the first one.

Yikes, I hadn't even considered that. We are close friends with them and I already did 1 session at hy house and one at their house. I do not allow them to spar or really hit each other I let them hit the bag and pads or do the heavy contact on me. Im just sticking to that and basics. They study a different style than I do so I just correct their technique and body mechanics. (ie. a bad punch is a bad punch ect...) This is just for a few months to keep them sharp and ready for their classes to start up again. I have no plans to continue with it after they start up again, just with my son every now and then. It would be great if I could get him to come back to train with me in Shotokan again. Funny thing is that his old TKD instructor never could take the Shotokan out of his punches. I guess thats my fault.

In our Dojo the rules for free sparring are...... Face and head contact for Brownbelts and up (controlled contact) All others no face contact. Body shots a controlled 50% power Upper ranks, lower a little less due to lack of control. The higher ranked adults usually discuss with each other before we start and take it from there. The most basic rule is that if a more skilled student is paired with a less skilled one you are to work with them and help them improve not pound on them. Sweeps, take downs and grappling to a finishing technique are allowed for the adults and advanced teens and discretionary depending on who is paired up. We have not had anyone lose their temper or get too crazy in quite a long time. That is not acceptable, if ya dont want to play nice......... Go sit in the corner Injuries do happen on occasion, though they are few and rarely serious.

Wife, Kid, Fulltime job, PT job........ Im always a little worn out before I even start to train. Its difficult but I still find ways to make time because I really enjoy it so much. Bribery with the wife also hepls too. (But honey if you let me go to class Ill do the dishes, laundry, take the kid with me.....ect )

You may be right. We tend to have that safe happy feeling at home and take our personal safety for granted. Its just a clutzy streak at home lately. I guess I save all my coordination for the dojo.

Well, I got through my first session . It started out a little rough, my son wouldnt listen. It turned out his friends were really into it and he had to knock it off. I just stuck to basics and working the bag and target pad. They seemed to have had a good time and cant wait till the next time. I also demonstrated a few katas and explained some of the differences within my style. It only took about 10 min for them to get used to me and it was smooth sailing from there. My son also gained quite a few cool points with his friends for having a dad crazy enough to do it in the first place. I just have to be careful not to fully Shotokanize them by Jan!!!

I said I would not do it. No! Never!!! Well I just started to teach my son and 2 of his friends. (I was volunteered by the wife. ) I am going to train them once a week possibly twice until their regular instructor starts up his next sessions in Jan. My problem aside of my son driving me crazy (he's the annoying one) is that they all study TKD and I study Shotokan. Do you think it would be detrimental for me to train them in Shotokan or should I just stick to the basic blocks, punches, kicks and bag and focus work. I do not wish to confuse them or make it harder on their instructor.

My last one went like this...... Bow in Quick 5 min warm up (we streched be fore class) 30 min Kihon 30 min Kata 30-45 Sparring (pre arranged then free fighting) Bow out

In our dojo we practice kata in various ways. We go regular speed, slow motion and also as fast as possible without losing your technique. That along with mirrior, reverse and when sensei is in a crazy mood, blindfolded. Its amazing how when you think you know a kata a little thing like sight or change of direction can be a somewhat humbling experience.

Hi All, I was wondering, I ve noticed lately IVe been safer in the Dojo than at home. When I started I used to get banged up all the time, now not too often. OTH, at home I trip over things and bang into them. Yard work will be the end of me. In the last 6 months Ive cut my hand open, dislocated my shoulder, sprained my wrist and have had a mild concussion. NONE of these things happened at the dojo they happened at home!!!! Go figure???? Does this happen to you guys too???

IMO, both are important though I would take a little more on the side of strength and size. One thing I feel that is just as important is poise. Keeping a cool head and not panicing. As a vertically challenged individual I have found that a little bit of keeping your cool and using your head have worked against a bigger opponent, not to say I didnt take a bit of a pounding, it just helped in the outcome. I wonder if I were a little larger might I have had an easier time.

Johnny Cash was also a Diabetic and IMO this song was a personification of his struggles. "The needle tears a hole ".......ect. as well as the passing of his wife and also his good friend Waylon Jenning also from Diabetes. Quite different from Trent Resner who was refering to drugs and addiction.

They all are sport. At least to some extent. We are not Samaurai warriors fighting for the Shogun. I did not say that our techniques are ineffective by any means. I have no doubt what so ever that if I hit something it will hurt. If you all rember Master Funakoshi was a school teacher and he designed his karate training system for school children and everyday civilians not warriors. We tend to place too much creedence in the mythology of the arts and not enough into the facts. MA can be under the right instruction a good form of SELF DEFENSE as for combat Ill take an assault rifle instead. AS for the issue of what style anyone takes .... that is irrelevant, Gojo is not anymore deadly than Shotokan, TKD, JKD, or any of the others. Unless of course anyone can fly through the air and catch bullets in their teeth. It would be foolish to overestimate ones abilities and training and have a false sense of security. It can get you killed..........

Seek perfection of character ........ Be careful, character perfection is subjective to personal interpretation. I could ba a perfect A-----e with few morals and that would still fit. Be faithful ......... I could be faithful to being the statement above. You may put effort in any endeavor not just karate. Respect...... is earned Refrain from violent behavior........ Martial-Arts are violent behavior !!!! My point is that we take ourselves way too seriously. Karate is not a religion or moral guide. Karate is a SPORT based upon an Asian fighting system. Yes it can be quite effective in a self defense situation, when taught properly. If one needs moral guidance, do not look to karate to find it. Look for a Priest, Rabbi, Dali Lamma, guru or Witch doctor. It is just a basic pledge to recite as part of the club. At my age if I need a dojo kun to guide me morally I would be in serious trouble by now. (As he slowly rolls up sleeves and waits for the flames to begin...... )

Hi Welcome, I had to smile when I read your post. That was me when I started. I HAD the same exact dimensions. I have been training in Shotokan and find it to work quite well for me. It may not look as pretty while doing katas (forms) as the younger leaner more flexible ones out there but, it is quite effective. Guys like us are like a freight train, raw strenght and power. Shotokan is known for powerful punching and kicking techniques though we tend not to kick as high or put as much emphasis on the more complicated fancy kicking techniques.(we leave those to the kids ). Whatever art you choose, your flexibility will improve with regular training and you will shed the extra pounds. Ive shed 50 of them myself!!! Go for it !!! Have fun !!!

Sorry Laurie, I agree with BlackDragon. I believe in moderation. Red meat 1x a week Chicken 2x a week Fish 1x a week All with veggies- cooked or salad. (go easy on the potatoes!!!) 1 Day Pizza or Chinese 1 day All veggies & fruits ???????? only 6 Days???? The other is what ever leftovers you have from the rest of the week. Also, lay off the soda, ice cream, cookies, and chips as much as possible. (except on sundays during football season!!!! ) Last but not least NO SODA and not too much cheese!!!! Ive lost a lot of weight this way and kept it off for years. I dont feel like Im missing out on anything either. I prefer behavior modification of lifestyle to actual dieting.

I couldnt agree more. It is a strong powerful art. Yes, it does take time to really be effective. I feel I really did not start to understand what I was doing until I reached Brownbelt. You will find in time that it has very powerful blocking and punching techniques which would surely help against the average drunk.

Nirvana, one of my favorite bands of all time. Kurt Korbain in essence was my generations John Lennon and todays Tu Pac. We related to the music and the times. His music represented the the silent angry white male majority and frustrated youth at that time. It makes me wonder if he were still alive what music would he write today??? Lets also not forget Alice N Chains!!!! Lane Stanley another tragic loss and waste of life. Same type of music, different bands, same sad ending. The story is always the same... Jim Morrison, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Alliah, Biggie Smalls, Jam Master J, and many others. Its just a shame.

Yes, in fact he could shoot fireballs from his hands and lazerbeams from his eyes too!!!!!

I would start with the rec center. Looks can be decieving, a lot of rec centers offer excellent MA training at a very family friendly setting and price. On another note, they generally do not require contracts. When young children are involved, they tend to lose interest easily or you may find it might not be for you or your wife. Why commit to contractual obligations? Here is a lhelpful ling about choosing a school. It is written about karate but it holds true for most MA. http://www.24fightingchickens.com/101/14_findadojo.html Its brutally honest about the bussiness side of MA in general. Happy Hunting!!!!

I can feel your pain!!!!! It happened to me a while ago and it was quite sore and tender for 2 weeks and I coulldnt go hard with it for a month. Thats a pretty tender area with a lot of little bones to damage. People tend to forget that kicking people is not the same as kicking a soccerball. Ice it, rest it then dont kick anything solid with it until it doesnt hurt or you will reinjure it again. If it swells or doesnt improve in a couple of weeks see the doctor. Good Luck.

What about Tekki shodan or Bassi or Kanku Dai? They do not start with the left side? Im not sure there really is a reason most start with the left. Perhaps since most people are right handed there would be a greater percentage of attacks coming towards you from your opponents right side which mirrored is ....your Left.