smr

The Mars Volta At The Drive-In

I was told at a seminar that the best defense against a knife is to pick up a chair. They didn't elaborate or demonstrate on how this works, but I remember thinking it was wierd.

I think the original poster is asking the wrong question. It's no longer a valid question to ask the purpose of martial arts. The term has too broad of a meaning. I think the question should read: "What purpose has martial arts in your life?"

I know exactly how you feel. I was out for about four months due to a knee injury. I was finally able to get back to training at the beginning of March 05. Now here it is March 31 - and I'm out again. This time due to a hernia. I was finally just beginning to regain some of my former stamina. Prior to the injury, I could work out hard for the regular class hour then stay late for some moderate to intense sparring. After I returned I could barely make it through a class. My technique also suffered. This is partially due to the time off, and also due to the fact that I started at a different school. The school does practice my old style, but also teaches elements of a different style; although they do keep the two styles separate. You know when your doing one style or the other. Like said before, just stick it out. I'm using my time out of physical training in order to beef up on my history and general karate knowledge.

Hohan Soken, Kosei Nishihira, and Yuichi Kuda. Perhaps also Fusei Kise before "the change."

This article claims "Historians have established that Tae Kwon Do is the oldest form of martial art in the world, and that it began in Korea." http://www.blackbeltworld.com/features/history/historypage1.htm

Learn a genuine form of Okinawan Karate, such as Matsumura Seito. Genuine Okinawan Karate is not watered down and maintains very effective applications.

Shorin not traditional? It doesn't get much more traditional than Shorin, does it?

We strike with the index and middle knuckles. To prevent damaging your knuckles and wrist, it is necessary to have proper bone alignment AND a tight fist. Tightening your fist not only makes the fist "harder," it also tenses the muscles that connect the hand and forearm thus causing the weapon to be more rigid. It's also important to make sure that the angle of your arm when making contact is apropriate for the target surface, or else you're likely to make contact with the wrong knuckles, or even the second knuckles (the ones pointing down when your fist is palm facing down).

What I'm saying is that how is it possible that a twelve year old have the ability both physically and intellectually to be yudansha? Suppose it takes five years to reach shodan in a typical school training two or three times a week. The student had to have started when they were seven years old. There are exceptions, but most seven year olds I've worked with have not been competent enough to learn Karate at the same pace as someone in their teens.

My organization wears these as well. The lowest ranked person that I know of who wears a red and white striped belt is a 6th dan. The only time I have ever seen anybody wear these belts is at tournaments and ceremonies. During workouts and seminars and any other time where the person would be working out, they've always been wearing their regular black belts.

I want to be able to beat people up. Just kidding. I can't really explain why I do it. Maybe it's the kata, maybe it's the lore, maybe it's the budo philosophy, maybe it's the sport, the self defense, the nuances of technique, the people... I can't pin it down but I love it.

Ouch! What kind of stick are you talking about here?

That's why we train. So that we may be able to control the situation, and prevent mayhem from occuring. Blocks work if you use them properly. For a block to work, you need to block _and_ move. It's up to the instructor to teach effective blocking; something many schools don't do. You're not fast enough to use a rising block from hikite to intercept a punch you didn't know was coming.

Hey Shorinryu Sensei -- If I ever move to the Montana area I'll be looking you up. You seem to share my idea of what a good school should be. At my school, I think they take testing FAR too seriously. I'm new to the school, thus I haven't been tested there. However, a guy who moved to this school along with me took his green belt (5th kyu) test last weekend. It was THREE AND ONE HALF HOURS LONG! I guess it started with 30 minutes of calisthenics, followed by being drilled on basics then finally kata. He didn't mention kumite, but I'm sure there was some. This to me is excessive beyond all logic. They said if you pass out you automatically get your belt, except at your shodan exam in which case they wake you up and continue. I hope they were kidding. This situation is dissapointing because everything else about the school I am very happy with.

The funny thing is that schools who do this don't believe that they do.

My only beef with TKD is that, although it may not apply to all schools, I always see twelve and thirteen year old TKD blackbelts running around at tournaments. I even met a fifteen y/o TKD second dan once. What is that? None of these kids could fight their way out of a paper bag. THEN they even have the audacity to think that because somebody bought them a black belt, they get to boss around kyu's ten years their senior. This may not be limited solely to TKD, but TKD seems to have the most kiddy black belts of all the arts I've encountered.

I was responding to this quote. I just know that many people, like was said earlier, will cut their belt to cause it to fray. Others use sandpaper. I'm just saying that the uniform can be deceiving. As far as sentimental attachments to your belt - Sure! Of course you're belts have sentimental value. You've earned them. Keep that first black belt forever. Even if it's faded, freyed, or torn in two. But don't be afraid to clean it when it stinks or to replace it if necessary (a good quality belt probably won't need to be replaced for a long, long time).

How so? Your gi gets more blood, sweat, and tears soaked into it. Why isn't it disrespectful to wash them out of the gi rather than your belt?

By same logic then you shouldn't wash your gi, either.

Not true. One of my instructors has had her belt for over a decade, and it is a little dull but it is definitely still black. Why don't you watch them work and listen to them speak before you give them your instant respect. A belt is just a belt. There are many ways to make a high-quality black belt fade premateurly.

I wash my belt all the time. What I find offending is odor... specifically offensive body, mold and fungal odors emmenating from unclean, sweat-drenched belts.

Matsumura Seito Shorin-Ryu

Many schools in my little karate world wear their belts for 24 hours after getting their shodan. I'm going straight home and staying there when I get mine...

One shotokan organization that I can't remember the name of only has five dan grades.