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It may be more like 3.70 seconds Seriously though, nice job! It's easy to see you've practiced hard.

I believe that kata are a tool to introduce us to principles and to develop those principles. As you advance through the kata so you are introduced to more principles. The ultimate goal would be to have the principles ingrained, so that there is no technique log-jam, but instead an indepth understanding of how to move one's own body and manipulate another's body. Fighting is not a set-piece and to practice it as such gives one a false understanding and confidence in what one can deal with. (IMHO) Nice post! In short, Karate trains you to have proper responses and habits.

SWEET!!!

I've already written possibilities for the first two you mention. As for yondan try this out. This particular bunkai sets one attacker from the point of the combined high block/ ridge hand on. You've just completed your augmented forearm blocks. You then have an attacker throwing a rt. punch (haymaker, lunge...whatever). You block(and grab the arm) with the left hand and haito (ridge hand) with the right to the temple/ mandible/ neck (take your pick). Next is the knee smash to the face/ groin/ stomach (still holding the hand you grabed earlier, your rt. hand can cup the back of the neck to secure). Now you turn and pull with the left hand as the rt. elbow strike goes back (this is the first shuto). During the crossing of the arms for the next shuto you grab the already trapped hand with your rt. and cup the hand with the left. As you perform the shuto it tosses your uke to the ground, completely and utterly cut down. Wow, that sure sounds more complicated than it is. Just ask if there's any confusion. It's really not a difficult interpretation. I've worked other interpretations where every single technique defends against and finishes an opponent.

Yeah, whenever people ask me about this, I simply answer "yes". This is because I believe that for a beginner it can be one consistent fight from start to finish. However, for the advanced practitioner, it is a collection of techniques. Afterall, the likelyhood of getting attacked along the pattern of the kata is not high. IMO. As long as it always teaches good self defense, it's always correct.

I study Shotokan. Heian Shodan ends with 4 shuto. Most of the basic bunkai puts the first as a block with the second as a strike to the neck. Then you turn and do the same with the other side of the body. I think some people keep the original order (what I call nidan would be shodan). In that case the last 4 movements are two sequences of gedan barrai, open hand age uke, followed by another age uke. The basic bunkai we teach for this is blocking a low strike followed by a joint maneuver similar to BJJ's Americana defense for a knife. It's then repeated on the other side. Of course, bunkai has many many variations between different schools and different instructors. Afterall, it's the bunkai that spurred the different schools of karate. Different people do/ see things differently.

Keep up the good work. Now it's time to work harder. This is tbe best way to ensure your next promotions.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, Judo is the safest sport for childeren of all ages.

While I agree that someone who knows little about the ground should attempt to bite, claw ect... However, let me first point out that a blue belt represents only about 1-2 years of training. Additionally, we have methods to deal with people who bite (or attempt to) such as moving to the across side position. From this position pressure can be applied such that the head is effectively immobilized. Reaching of any kind (be it for the groin or otherwise) usually ends up in nasty consequences. Small joint maneuvers (wrist locks and whatnot) are effective, as you pointed out, but we practice them also. I'm not saying what you propose is not correct, I have practiced Shotokan for some time. I believe karate has very effective self defense techniques, not to mention the amazing tradition and cultural lessons it tells. However, elbows_and_knees is exactly correct that ground fighting is all about position. Once you get into the proper position, you can beat anyone. Shotokanwarrior, you make the same assertions that people, myself included, did during the first few UFCs (the only things outlawed were biting and eye gouging). The grapplers dominated because they got into the most superior positions. That said... Karate does, as Alsey wrote, teach the nage waza (throws) and kensetsu waza (joint manipulations) and Shime waza (chokes & strangulations), but does not, as elbows_and_knees pointed out, it does not teach how to gain the most dominant position on the ground. There are several plausible reasons for this. I submit the following possibilities for dispute: 1. Those who had developed the kata had never ended up in a less dominant position and, therefore, never considered the possibility. The techniques in the kata were enough for them to appropriately dispatch their opponent. 2. The techniques in the kata are set up to place you in the dominant position to begin with. Most of the nage waza allow a person to perform a take down and end with a joint manipulation or strong strike. 3. Some of the more ancient techniques are based on battlefield combat. Staying on the ground was not a good idea when weapons were in use. Plus their armor made ground combat a little cumbersome. So they were always trying to utilize techniques that avoided having to go to the ground to begin with. Grappling was a last resort, just like today's combat situations. Please do not think I'm saying the above are historical fact. Just possibilities I came up with off the top of my head. But, none the less, karate kata do contain many grappling techniques.

When I earned my black sash in Chuan Fa my mother threw a small party for me. Everyone from the school and some of my family. I haven't had any celebrations for the subsequent degrees or Dan grades. I will, however, do something in about 8 years, when I earn my BJJ black belt. I'll probably do something when I earn my Godan also.

All you can do is practice what you know. If you're advanced enough, perhaps you can find a person who would be willing to learn from you so you have a training partner. All the ideas mentioned above are good ones. Good luck.

Really, most martial arts magazines are going to contain a lot of crud. This is because they just don't have a big enough audience to support their costs. Without a big audience, you don't get the biggest advertisers. Now all that's left is to publish the highest bidder. IMO the best articles aren't the ones advertised on the cover, but are usually the shorter monthly columns. They have been the only reason I buy the magazines for a long time.

Adorable video. It reminds me of watching my BJJ instructor with his daughter. "Armbar Dad!!! Tap dad!!" Kids are awesome like that.

Excellent videos. Thanks for sharing the site!

I've never performed or seen the kata. However, I did a search on youtube.com and found 3 completely different versions of the kata. Therefore, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm sure your fine.

This was extremely interesting. Thank you very much.

What makes him a Dr.? It says he has a Bachelor of Science. Which websites please? You could always call it American Martial arts, rather than relating it to a way (budo) you clearly aren't extremely familiar with. Don't mean that to be overly offensive, just a suggestion. Why does a brownbelt teach the Jujitsu program? Afterall, everyone else seems to have a black belt. Not that this never happens, but it just seems odd, considering the apparent knowledge base in your school. I look forward to your responses, Bill

You may want to note that their Jujitsu instructor does not hold a black belt in jujitsu. Quite odd. That wouldn't be uncommon if it were BJJ, but the systems he's studying are Japanese. Not that it's easy to earn a BB in JJJ, but usually no one under BB teaches JJJ. Did anyone else catch on that he's being called Dr. Brownridge, but he has a Bachelor of Science in education? Why is he called Dr? Another funny but unrelated note: I had originally abbreviated Bachelor of Science, but it was censored

I've had experience in Kyokushin, Shorin Ryu and Shotokan. I like them all very much. But I guess I'd rank them this way: 1 Shotokan 2 Kyokushin 3 Shorin Ryu I've also studied Shotokan much longer and, therfore, understand it best. Kyokushin longer than Shorin Ryu. I guess that makes me biased also.

I like your golden rules. Thanks for the post.

Well put Sohan...well put.

If you want to get better, work harder. Remember that rank is virtually meaningless and, one day, you will reach your true goal. That goal probably hasn't even occured to you yet.

Sounds like Zanshin at it's best! Create an impeneterable posture. Very well handled.

Excellent post. Thanks for the info.

Hopefully, he would be a little less cocky. A little more wise. Realize he did nothing new. And continue to inspire millions.