hammer

http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2005/08/29/appropriate-usage-of-osu

Doing the kata in different directions is a good way to practice as well. Forgot about that one.

I always strive to train kata the way they are supposed to be done. Doing otherwise can introduce bad habits. IMHO...

I trained in TKD for 14 years and reached the rank of 4th Dan...and when I decided to make a change I started up with a Kyokushin school. Differences in techniques aside I feel the same way about my previous training...I'm seeing challenges in just meeting requirements for 10th Kyu. It's tough because one usually wants to validate the time investments already made in MA training.

Little late to the party but thanks for keeping this forum around for all these years.

Been in a Kyokushin school for a few months now and it's been great. Was at a TKD school for 14+ years and I thought I was learning a lot...but I've since realized that while the school wasn't a complete McDojo, the standards just weren't really there. Good to be correcting that now. The problem is that the school is quite short on students. The instructor has a presence on the Internet (web page, Facebook) and has done open houses and advertising in the past, but has had limited success getting new students. It appears that there is the usual attrition of kids but otherwise I do not see any issues with students leaving the school. We did have one adult who tried one class and left but I think it was because he wasn't up for the physical demands (it is Kyokushin after all). Any other suggestions on helping to increase the number of students would be appreciated. While I don't think the school's in jeopardy at this point, I'd hate to see the instructor run out of resources and have to close down just as I'm getting started...

Put in what I feel I can and the try to add more. I've driven 20-30 minutes to get to class and I'm paying dues for it, why would I want to put in any less?

Week to date: 5/18: 6.2 mile run 5/19: 90 minute karate workout, hand techniques, kata 5/20: 5.5 mile run, included 12x400 "speed" intervals 5/21: 3.1 mile jog in AM, 90 minute karate workout, kicks and pad work 5/22: 6.6 miles run, included 4x1 mile "speed" intervals Legs are feeling OK but quite tired. Intervals this morning were slower than I hoped for. Rest day tomorrow and then 2 runs this weekend including a long run of 12 miles. Note that I'm looking to run a half marathon in August, if I didn't I'd still run but I would cut the distance considerably but increase the speed. Edit: First time in a few weeks that I was able to get in two karate workouts. Felt good to do so.

Quoting my own post because I had a re-read of the article. I'm not sure I entirely agree with it...seems the author's opinion is that schools that emphasize kata, one step sparring, etc. (anything other than full contact sparring and grappling) are McDojos. Guess I usually basically think of a McDojo as commercialized MA. Does make one think though.

Not sure what anyone thinks of the content of this article... http://mcdojo-faq.tripod.com/ Unfortunately based on my recent training I have been getting concerned that I spent many years in what could be considered a McDojo...guess the one good thing is that I'm working on correcting that.

I forget, classical or jazz or rock? I have some strange and eclectic tastes... I was just finding that my breathing was adjusting to the beat which was messing up my pace. I can see how a music player can help with the boredom of running but it just doesn't work for me.

My advice...MP3 player! I dislike running for the same reasons so an MP3 player or someone to run with or both is really a good thing! Sadly, I do not run anywhere near enough, when I do run, I'll run for 2-4 miles (3'ish km to 8'ish km). Twice, maybe three times a week was what I was doing last year...not so much this year, I need to get that sorted out! ...not doing myself any favors letting this slide!! I tried the music player thing, ended up messing with my pace...but YMMV. I don't know how anyone can run on a treadmill, if you think road running is boring than a treadmill will drive you nuts. IMO Long run last week was 11 miles...at my leisurely pace it was just under 2 hours. If I didn't have the HM goal I would keep the runs down to a faster 4-5 miles, I was at that level last year before getting injured and it was a nice balance. Do need to vary the route to keep from getting too bored. Speed work also helps to mix it up.

BTW, to give you perspective, I'm running into similar issues with the basics, and I trained 14 years in another style and was promoted to two BB ranks above my current instructor's rank. FTR I've mentioned my length of experience but never my previous rank, and I have no expectations of quicker promotions in this new style, especially after seeing the syllabus and rank standards. Yes, the stances and preps are different, but with my background I can get frustrated that I'm not getting it as quickly...and not to be disrespectful of my previous school, but I can't help but question the quality of my training there.

All I know is deflecting hurts less...and evading hurts even less...

AFAIK the school I'm going to is part of an IKO organization. The school I left had no affiliations, the head master chose to stay out of any associations. Associations don't matter to me, the quality of the training does. Since I've left, I've heard that the head master has been telling other students not to contact people outside the club. Not sure if that's really true but if so it's not a good sign. I'm just glad to be in a place where I can train and be challenged.

My sempai uses the Japanese terminology but demonstrates the techniques...I've tried to look up the terms and memorize some of them, but in my own personal experience doing helps to learn the terms better than studying. The older brain doesn't absorb like it used to...oh well.

That's the way I was taught to do stance transitions in my TKD school...and my Kyokushin instructor has been working on getting me to change that to a "direct" step. Not sure if it a Kyokushin thing or personal/school preference.

First bit of advice I can give is to persevere...might sound trite but at some point the body will do what is needed if you keep the training up. Second bit of advice I can give is to get to class twice a week if possible, more frequent training might help. If you can't get to class then try to do work on your own provided you can identify and make corrections as needed. Third...as frustrating as it is, be glad that you are getting the corrections now. Much more difficult to fix problems now than to try to correct them as a higher ranking student, I know this from personal experience... Which forms are you doing? I'm working on Taikyoku Sono Ichi & Ni now, and while the moves are overall much simpler than the ones I used to do in TKD BB forms, it's been a challenge to get the turns right.

First school I chose because I was signing my son up and they had a great deal for additional family members. Stuck with it for over 14 years. After leaving the first school I didn't do any MA for a few months...I then chose to stick with my current school based on a trial workout.

Just started in Kyokushin a little over a month ago... I don't think you need to be fit to train but the training will definitely make you fit if you aren't already.

Got into running about a year and a half ago and I'm trying to train for a half-marathon in August. I look at it as cross-training for MA since it's my understanding that it works different muscle groups. Main benefits are health (keeps the BP down) and weight control, and I also find it to be mentally therapeutic. Main disadvantages are that I have more of a tendency to get injured running, usually because I push it too hard. Recommendation for cardio that I've heard for MA is to do interval runs. If running isn't doable or desirable then I also think that multiple sets of forms for 20+ minutes would work as well...

It's a part of bowing in and out of each class. Good (albeit short) pause to clear the mind before starting and reflect on what we've learned at the end.

I've read something similar to this before and it pretty much sums up what I think of at the master's level ranks.

This brings up a question...what do people think of wearing a T-shirt with some kind of martial arts emblems or logos? Not that I want to advertise but I do wear T-shirts related to other recreational activities. Kind of like the idea of a T-shirt with the Kanji because as mentioned most westerners wouldn't know what it means...