rickinto

Hey Goju..no our blocks are pretty linear in nature. In fact the only thing that I can think of that has any sort of Circular morion is it is our reverse punch stance, whil moving forward, we open up, do a little half moon step, and then the reverse punch. So from the limited experience I have with my style...it is pretty linear. We do however, have of moves involving Nagashi, or moving diagonally off line...so if a punch is coming in, we move our hips, and our bodies, off line, while keeping our front foot in the same spot, the back foot follows the hip and plants, as our wedge/Block and counterattack land.

We not so much block, as evade and deflect. A lot of times we use the term Wedge, in my classes, to describe a block. The purpose of a block, in my limited wado knowledge, is for added protection against a technique, if we our evasion of the technique fails or goes awry. With the Wado, I am studying, everything is done with minimal strength, and minimal effort, the emphasis is to evade and attack, all in one motion, not in a one-two combination.

One of my favorites is...bringing the back foot up to the front foot, as I am throwing out a head punch, with my lead hand, then, quickly, push my front foot, foward, and connecting to the chest/stomach, with a reverse punch. This is a all or nothing attack..as once you start, you move fast and you don't stop, so if a punch comes at you, you must deflect as you are constantly moving forward. This combo, if done right, can really make up distance on your opponent, which is what makes it all the more effective.

What there was life before the Internet??? Who knew? Actually, I do remember having to actually go to the LIBRARY, and using actual BOOKS to do research for College papers and other educational stuff... Do they still have libraries?

Don't knock the Rainbow flag.... Whatever you do, make sure that it means something to you, whether it be a symbol, a date, a character. It is permanent, and you have to think of it that way, so make sure it has meaning and that you won't be tired of it, after 2 weeks.

Thanks for the welcomes...

I always treasured my White belt, it represented my entry into the martial arts world, it signified that I had a lot to learn, but I was ready and open to learn everything I could. It was my first belt, and it is the one that comes to represent that first step, ranking has nothing to do with your fighting ability, to me, it represents only how far in your MA journey you have come and how far you have to go. Okay I will get off my soap box now...

original meaning of the symbol: http://www.swastika-info.com/en/bedeutung.php Indias influence: http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001761.html THe difference between Nazi Swastika and Sanskirt Symbol: http://www.iearn.org/hgp/aeti/aeti-1997/swastika.html

Hello, I thought I would introduce myself, My name is Rick, and I have just started back into Karate after a 5 year layoff. I am a 35 year old male, and currently hold the rank of 10th kyu in my new style. (I feel like I am filling out a MA singles questionnaire! ) Lets see have I left anything out? I guess thats it for now, thanks, and I look forward to participating in these forums.

If that was meant towards me, thanks. I have been reading these forums for about 2 weeks, and decided to start participating.

I belive the Style is Shorinji Kempo, a style that was developed in or around 1947. This is an excerpt from a Shorinji Kempo webpage. "The reason why Shorinji Kempo uses the manji Shorinji Kempo uses this manji as its symbol, in Japan practitioners wear it on their "dougi" and one is displayed in training halls at the "front" of the hall. The manji is used because of its Buddhist connotations, and the fact that Shorinji Kempo seeks to follow in the tradition of the original Shaolin Temple, where the Indian priest Bodhidharma taught the Chinese monks to develop both their physical and spiritual sides. Because of its connotations in the West, a different mark is worn on the uniform of practicioners in most countries outside of Japan. "