isshinryu5toforever

Before the one in the Korean martial arts section was shut down we were discussing differnt divisions. This is in response to that. I know Aikido has takedowns, however from what I've seen most of the JiuJitsu tournaments don't allow wristlocks, fingerlocks, or ankle locks. I know that Aikido can deal with many intricate small joint locks. I'm also not saying that Thai fighters are the beall endall to martial arts strikers, I just know that with the competition we were beginning to discuss Thailand's Muay Thai amateurs would do a good amount of damage in the Olympic world. They are taught how to clinch and throw, as well as leg kick and sweep. There's no denying the power of a Thai leg kick. The only reason I said a pure TKD competitor may have a problem crossing into the world of takedowns, leg kicks, and hand-to-head applications is because their tournaments aren't set up to allow such practices. I'm not saying someone who has done pure sport point-fighting would fare any better. It would be interesting to see a striking division allowing leg kicks, etc, but no takedowns or locks, a takedown grappling division ex. Judo where the throw itself is what is scored, a lock oriented grappling division for styles like Aikido, and some sort of forms division (China IS trying to bring Wushu into the Olympics afterall).

That sounds almost too hillarious to be true. I knew some people were ignorant, but that bad?

By what rules would the full contact kickboxing be governed. If you allow head shots with the hands, the TKD guys could have a disadvantage there. Also, would this be a real full-contact match where leg sweeps, leg kicks, and assorted takedowns are legal. In that case, TKD could again have a small disadvantage. You could also end up with Muay Thai practitioners stepping into the arena. In generalized grappling, you would have to set certain rules as well. Aikido deals with small joint locks, wrists, fingers. Jujitsu and Judo deal with takedowns, and larger joint locks. That is if I'm not mistaken. That's the problem with trying to introduce broad martial arts competition to the Olympic arena. You can't make everyone happy.

In response to Karate origins. I'm sure everyone knows the history, but I will repeat some anyways. A monk named Boddidharma brought it from India to China it went from China to Japan and Japan to Korea. However, most people do not know the story of Boddidharma's first student. He waited in a cave for a worthy student. It took him something like 13 years to find a young man he deemed worthy. That young man cut off his right arm. This act of humility was what found the man worthy of learning. Humility has been a part of martial arts from its beginning. Many a master began his training sweeping the dojo floor for months before sensei finally said, "Oh, you're still here. Come in and maybe you can begin your lessons." I would never tell anyone off the street that I was a black belt, but if you step into the dojo I train in things begin to change. A new student may not know me from a bum off the street, but in a dojo a higher rank has a certain amount of skill and knowledge that a beginner does not, and this should be respected. I understand that too many karateka take this to too far a level, and that is where humility comes in. However, a bow of respect to a higher ranking student and calling them sir or ma'am, or Mr. or Ms. is not what I would consider far fetched in a place where honor and respect should reign. This is only what I have been taught, and what I believe. This may be the result of observing too many traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean households. I was adopted and raised in the Midwest so this is an entire other story, and one that doesn't belong in this forums. Pay me no attention if you have strongly opposed feelings.

bowing has nothing to do with worship in this arena. It is a lot like Americans shaking hands. There is a traditional etiquette to the Japanese bow. There is the full 90 degree, eyes downward, bow signifying deep apology. There is a short bow of greeting. The kneeling bows are where the religious connotations can come in. However, in a standard kneeling bow, it is once again a show of utmost respect. It would follow something like a tea ceremony before a duel. Or in China a series of three bows where the head touches the ground from the knelt position might be done out of respect to a deceased person. These bows have nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with respect. I am Christian as well, and if you take the time to study the culture you will soon realize the bowing you are doing has nothing to do with Japanese religion, it is a way to show respect and greeting. I am not slandering your decision, I am simply trying to give you insight into the decision you are pondering. It is important to know that the world of traditional Okinowan and Japanese martial arts is different than that of the American world. This goes for Korean and Chinese martial arts as well. Maybe I understand better because I have studied far eastern culture, history, and philosophy and happen to be Korean as well. Another general point to ponder, is that no matter what style you choose, there will be a ki (no pun intended) element with the advanced levels. The flow of energy is important to your ability and power in striking. This is why someone can break a brick with their knuckles barely an inch from the surface. Understanding the flow of energy throughout the body can help your health and is necessary to your martial arts training. If you never understand the flow of your energy, you will never understand the martial arts. If you can't deal with this fact, you can practice, but you will always be just good. You will never be great. You will also never be able to realize your full potential. Trust me, many realizations will come to you as you develop as a student of the martial arts. Please, do not take these comments to heart, I only wish to share with you my observences. I am only 18, but I have been studying since I was 5. However, maybe someone with far greater wisdom and insight can better assist you. If you would like to e-mail me my mail is wiaznatnyu@hotmail.com Any questions, or general statements are welcome.

I haven't heard anything else. From what I heard though, she has no prior experience, so I'm assuming they just taught her some basic sword techniques. It is somewhat plausible that she learned some techniques with the jian without learning a martial art. With Jet Li there though, I would expect that she would have learned wushu techniques, because I believe Li won a Wushu broadsword title.

Maggie Cheung has absolutely no martial arts experience whatsoever. I think that Zhang Ziyi may have some Wushu, maybe just movie martial arts though. I know she did ballet.

Aikido is one of those martial arts that you will train in for years, not be able to grasp each concept to use it, and then one day everything will click and it can be one of the most effective tools in your arsenal. I have not studied Wing Chun, so I cannot make a comparison. I just know that Aikido can be a long arduous undertaking if you want it to become an effective fighting style.

Karate forms and weapon forms aren't generally meant to be put to music. Actually, there are some martial arts schools near you that are good at competing in Musical forms and musical weapons forms. Try Grand Master Dr. Terry Warner's House of the Dragon school. They have some phenomenally athletic martial artists in that school. I know that United Karate also has a school in West St. Paul I believe. I'm going to college in New York, but I'm from about 90 miles from the Twin Cities. I know quite a few guys from Minnesota, Gary Mattevi, Steve Koski, Bill Lassi, etc. If you want anymore suggestions on people that might be able to help you out you can IM me or e-mail me.

I've met Dillman a few times. I don't know about the dim mak, but the rest of the pressure point stuff will work. Grand Master Tae Zee Park was a national TKD champ in Korean here are some of his credits: - 9th dan - World Tae Kwon Do Federation - The 15th person to be promoted to 9th dan (WTF) - National Tae Kwon Do Champion - Korea 1963-1968 (12 medals) - Captain of Korean Army Tae Kwon Do Team - Instructor of National Teachers College - Korea - Member of Korean National Tae Kwon Do Demonstration Team - Captain of Sung Kyun Kwan University Tae Kwon Do Team - Founded Tae Park Tae Kwon Do 1974 - Vice Chairman of the U.S. Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan Association To clarify things, I'm not white. I'm Korean, I just happen to think that Marciano was a better pure puncher than Ali. Marciano was never a boxer really, he was a brawler. Ali was a great fighter, but he never had the pure power to stop a grappler if he needed to.

If you want to talk about pure punching power with boxers, you're forgetting Rocky Marciano. What about TKD's Grand Master Tae Zee Park? Pressure Point guru Master George A. Dillman from Ryukyu Kempo.

Within the confines of the dojo, the sensei is master. Outside of the dojo, he is a very good friend of mine. However, I have seen, and come to expect, that immoral behavior by a student outside of the dojo will be dealt with inside of the dojo. This is because a martial artist is not a martial artist only inside the dojo, but outside as well. For example, my sensei punished one student for receiving a DUI (Driving Under the Influence). This showed poor self-control and judgement by the student, and sensei felt it ultimately reflected back on him and the school although the man was nearly 35. A sensei's power lies within the dojo, not outside, however things his students do outside of the dojo, can be dealt with within the dojo.

I am only 18, but I have been doing martial arts since I was 5. If you want to cross train in different styles try two that give you two different things. My first style of martial arts is Isshin-ryu Karate. You learn strength, conditioning, and striking ability from this martial art. There isn't much emphasis on grappling however. When I was 7 my instructor began showing me Aikido, because he held a black belt in Aikido as well. Thus began my training in joint locks and pressure points. The two go quite well with eachother. If you are in Shotakan try Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, or Judo. If you're in Judo try a form of Karate that has an emphasis on striking. No matter what you learn, you'll eventually blend it in with your own personallity.

I understand what you are saying. I know you don't need any spiritual guidance out of martial arts. I don't think you understood my second statement. I am not saying you get spirituality out of martial arts. I am simply saying the more you become part of the martial art, the more you learn that there is no need for the fight. It is a development process however. Initially you do take the martial arts for the ability to fight if your other spiritual needs are already fulfilled. The deeper you go into your training however, and the more you know, the more you realize it is unnecessary for you to fight. Maybe I am talking about more of a spiritual connection, and just don't realize it. I just know that I never need to fight. Even if someone attacks me, I don't need to fight them. Eventually, they learn what you are doing and they open their eyes.

I understand that many take up the martial arts to learn to fight. I just believe that the more you allow yourself to become part of the martial arts, not simply the training, the less you really need the physical skills you acquire from the martial arts.

To me there are stages to your development as a martial artist. At first you learn to fight. You can use your physical skills to defend youself. The second stage, you know you can defend yourself, but you don't need to fight if you can convince the other person not to. The last stage, there is no need to fight. You feel safe, and even if someone beats you up, they will slowly understand and eventually they will no longer want to fight. Martial arts is as much about the spiritual world as it is about the physical. You learn how to fight so you never have to.

I think that training in a soft style and a hard style at the same time is very beneficial. You learn redirection techniques from a soft style and strikes from the hard style. It also keeps a balance of sorts.

My favorite katas are Chinto and Sanchin. Sanchin is very difficult to do correctly, and Chinto is just fun with the balance involved.

The swords are probably folded steel. About steel, stainless is relatively week yes. However, there are different grades of steel. Something like 1080, may work fairly well. The steel they use in cheaply made swords is 440 or 420. It won't hold an edge, and is fairly brittle. The steel they use in REAL swords is much higher grade and can withstand blade to blade contact even though that is never supposed to occur.

PS. I want to see someone throw a spinning bo into the air and one-handed, no-look catch it with a traditional bow. Not going to happen.

I really don't like the toothpick competion bows. It's easier to develop bad habits and poor form because you don't feel it due to the lightness of the bow. It's far easier to manipulate. If you use a heavier, traditional bow, you must use proper technique and develop the speed to go with it. If you have poor technique with a traditional bo, you won't be able to control it.

I know the situation you're in, I was in it actually a bit younger than you. But you shouldn't worry about rank, I didn't. There is always much, much more to learn. If you want a compliment to the hard strikes and forcible movements in Shotokan, take Aikido. If you want to discuss it with me over AIM or MSN my AIM is writerguy86, and my MSN is wiaznatnyu@hotmail.com

You really need a group of judges that understand the kata for Sanchin. I've seen it successfully done at Isshin-Ryu heavy open tournaments, even with Tonfa, but at an open martial arts tournament it could be difficult to pull off. The only times I have seen it done were when the judges were all karate practitioners. One of the times the guy won first.

I do both actually as you can see by the fact that I do the sport (Olympic) version of TKD. Actually, I'm just on the university club team. Otherwise all of my training had been traditional until school started. Some of us just so happened to be good at competing as well. So, we'd go to open tournaments.

I would suggest sticking with Isshin-Ryu Karate. As you advance you will learn certain "secrets" of the art. When you reach your black belt, you will have a deeper understanding of how much you actually take people down in the art. You just don't realize it yet being an orange belt. If you want to get into grappling, I have found that Aikido, which is more redirection I suppose, goes well with Isshin-Ryu. You will also get to learn some very complex, and fun kata as a karateka in Isshin-Ryu. Kusanku and Chinto are two of my favorites. Seiuchin is also a very good kata, make sure you work on your horse stance to keep the kata proper. Breathing is also an important part of the kata, which you should be currently learning or know. Good luck with whatever you decide, have fun.