Myst

Hi all, I recently began training at an Okinawan Kenpo Karate Kobudo dojo, and the sensei there speaks conversational Okinawan with his students. I've been trying to pick up some things, but just wanted to clarify something. When we start the class, we all gather around and kneel, then the sensei says "Matte yame"(sp?) and they all sit. I've always known "Matte" to mean "stop". Is there a different meaning to it? Also, any conversational phrases (good evening, how are you, etc.) are most welcome!

Well, I'm still training in TKD & weapons on a regular basis at my dojang (mine offers both tkd and okinawan kenpo), but my master wanted me to start training with his master in kenpo and karate. Kyoshi Coffin is wicked awesome - lived in Okinawa for several years, training with Master Odo, competing in the circuits. He's absolutely terrifying at first, but very knowledgable about his art. In TKD, almost all of the angles we use are 45 degrees - I think it's more practical that way, in terms of self-defense. You want to deflect the momentum, instead of bearing the full brunt of it. Hmmm.... Whip kick.... I'll have to look it up. I think our term for that type of kick is "snapping kick". In TKD, we basically have two "types" of kicks: thrusting and snapping. I did notice that there weren't a lot of kicks, but I knew the ones that we did (front kick, side kick, etc.) And yes, the hand techniques threw me off. We do some in TKD, especially since we teach an aikido-based self-defense as well, but the movements were very foreign to me. Thanks for your comments! Any others are welcome!

Hi everyone. I've trained in tkd for 12 years and earned my 4th dan, and my master wants me to start training in Karate. I've earned a brown belt in Okinawan Kenpo (we use bo, sai, tonfa, & ekubo), but I went to my first class last night and found that I don't know any of the emptyhand kata (except Naihanchi Shodan). Not trying to stereotype, but I know some Karate practitioners have negative opinions towards TKD. Could someone give an unbaised explanation of the basic differences in TKD and Karate (I think the system I'm training in is Okinawan Kenpo Karate Kobudo)? Thank you, and I'm excited to be learning this art. I walked through a couple of the kata last night (Naihanchi Nidan, Samdan, and Wansu, I think) and they're beautiful.

My instructor wants me to research some creative nunchaku katas on the web so I can practice them and formulate my own kata for tournament use. Does anyone know any good websites with videos? Also, could someone recommend a video that I can buy that has some good katas on it? Thanks!

Pam Titles: Grand Champion poomse in the black belt division. Age: 17 Height: 5 feet Weight: 140 lbs. or thereabouts. Style: WTF Taekwondo (3rd dan) and Okinawan Kempo Karate (3rd kup). Favorite Technique: Spinning hook kick, or any variation (jumping hook, 360 hook, etc.) Weapons: Nunchaku, tonfa, bo staff, sai, ekubo, and I'm just learning kamas and nunte bo.

Our school charges $30 a month, with no limit on how many classes per week (we have classes 5 days out of the week). There's another plan for 2 classes per week, but I don't know what it is.

My grandmaster is 8th dan in TKD, and he probably has some other titles that I don't know about (he lives out of state). My master instructor is 5th dan in TKD, 4th dan in Traditional Okinawan Kempo Karate, and he's certified in Defensive Tactics (he trains security guards and police officers).

Before I actually started training, my parents bought me a video that featured the Green Ranger (from Power Rangers), and he taught simple moves and did a kata at the end. Not exactly a training video, but fun for kids.

I'm 3rd dan and my longterm goal at the moment is to earn my 9th dan before I die. If I've figured it out correctly and I don't take any breaks between now and then, I should be at 9th dan by the time I'm 54. Like I said, LONGterm goal!

White, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, red, high red, deputy black, 1st dan.

Last night after tkd class I went to pick some groceries up for my mom and I bowed to the cashier when he gave me my change! Then that same night when I was picking up my dinner, I did the same thing to the cashier at the counter! Guess I was still in "the mode". But as for assuming a fighting stance at odd times, if I ever get alarmed (at home by myself and I hear a noise or something) my hands instinctivley go up to fighting position.

I take etiquette very seriously, but probably only because it was "pounded" into me at a young age. We're not super-extremely formal in the dojang; we call our elders or senior belts sir or maam, and we call our head instructor Sah Bum Nim. We bow when we enter and exit the dojang, but that's about it. Outside of the dojang, I still bow to my instructor when I see him and address him as Sah Bum Nim, but its a little more casual. When he calls on the phone though, I always find myself unconsciously standing up and pacing nervously...

My favorite form is Basai as well. I remember being a yellow belt and watching all of the higher ranks doing it. Then I would imitate the movements as best I could. I actually had the form down, though I had no understanding of what the moves were. 2nd place would have to be Taebek (sp?). I love the gracefullness of the techniques and how it just flows together.

We don't spend an entire class on values, but we focus on it throughout the class, and opportunities always open up during class for little mini lessons on misusing tkd or being courteous. And we always recite our TKD Spirit at the end of every class and go over what it means when we have a new student.

I never really had any trouble with the guys not wanting to hit me because I started tkd during my "tomboy" phase, so I practically was a guy! Now that I'm older, the guys don't insult me by refusing to spar me, and they're not afraid to beat me up in a match. My advice would be to try telling them that you want to spar them and they shouldn't be afraid to hit you... If that doesn't work, then just fight them so hard that they can't help but fight back!