Kevin K.

I trained in WOK for about 2.5 years until recently when I moved to a new mixed martial arts school. I enjoyed my training while there but I hated not having face contact and I wanted more sparring.

I would image that Saiko Shihan Y. Oyama has (one of my instructors) as I believe he lived with him for some time (I know his brother Soshu Shigeru did).

I won my first today. Fought in adults semi-knockdown. Defeated a Youshika (?sp) black, brown and another World Oyama Fighter.

Can you describe the "Shio kata?" Our instructor recently started teaching us a different "form" of kata for lack of a better term that he refered to as Shio. Each kata was called Shio followed by Sono Ichi, Sono Ichi, Sono Nee (?sp) ect.

10 pound set? (5 on eatch) i lbiev eyou mean, because they almsot dont make 20 pound set ankles, i ware them too Thanks for clearing that up for me. You are correct though I did just bust one of them on the bags (surprise, surpise ) and still have the reciept and I did see a set of 10lbs each ankle weights at the local Sears so I'm going to look into those.

I'm not sure if this would be considered "out of the ordinary" but I just started wearing 10lbs. ankle weights every day weather it be at school work ect and do a few minutes of round-kicks with them on the bags at the dojo. Also to get faster and stronger punches, I have been using 10lbs. dumbells and do as many punches as I can, hooks, upper-cuts, jabs ect. I have noticed some positive feedback from these. Several sets of crunches/leg lifts ect every other night.

There are several reasons I train: 1. it's fun. I played contact sports when I was younger and since I can't do those anymore, MA feels the void. Simply put, I like to hit people and having a willing opponent and someone who will hit back makes it a bit more fun. 2. I like knowing that if it comes down to it and I have to fight, hopefully I will be able to handle myself better than my opponent.

I'm currently reading (and about to finish) Dead or alive Geoffthompon makes many great points about encountering fear and how to overcome it. I recommend it. http://www.geoffthompson.com/

Just out of curiosity, what part of Florida are you in? How far would you be willing to travel? I know of one knockdown and semi-knockdown tourney here in Birmingham, Alabama and possibly more than that coming up.

Osu to you as well. You didn't happen to be at the "summer camp" at the beach this past summer did you? I was there as were I believe a few San Fran guys. I hope to fight in the Dec. tournament but broke a bone if my hand last week (outside the dogo) so if all goes well and the doc sais it's alright, I'll be entering.

I completely understand. At 20 years old, I have a bulging disk in my lower back that is hitting a nerve that sends pain from there down my lower leg through my calf to my ankle. The odd thing is that the only time I don't feel it is when I do train. The more I strech the less it bothers me aswell.

Just out of curiosity, how often do you train? When I first started, trying to manage a relationship, work and school, I was only able to train about two hour-long sessions a week. After awhile I got to where training was all I was thinking about and started attending morning classes. Now I train twice on Monday & Wednesdays, and was finally able to work around my work schedule to train on Fridays (face contact) and Saturdays before work. And although I wouldn't call it necessarily traditional training, I have since found myself doing a good deal of additional training at home, working on perfecting various techniques, stretching as well as tossing some weight training in. There is a semi-knockdown coming up in December I am trying to get prepared for and so far my progress is looking good. So how often do you train?

I know this is an old post but I just got registered and while doing a search on World Oyama Karate, came across this thread and figured I would say hello. I am a member of the World Oyama Karate organization and train at the Homewood, Alabama dojo under Saiko Shihan Y. Oyama. I am currently an orange belt and was hoping to go for my green belt but was unable to attend the promotion last week. Anyway, thought I would say hello to anyone with my first post.