strangepair03

In our system Seisan is more of a body tension/breathing kata.

Same, same. Graded in July 2004 and never graded again. Been to Okinawa 3 times, trained all over and taught seminars but I have no students and love being Shodan for life!

I have both and they are really both have fantastic quality and awesome customer service. I think Eosin belts a a bit thicker and the embroidery is nicer. But kottaro is definitely first class. On a scale of 1-10 I rank Eosin a 9 and kataaro an 8.5 Sorry but Shureido is still my 10!!😂

Don Shapland sensei in Canada also makes both wood and metal weapons. His tinbe are a thing of beauty. http://www.kobudogu.com/index.html

Is the lightweight gi you’re referring to the KA-9? I ordered one and tried it on. It was too light for my taste. It was an excellent gi, but for the $140 or so I paid (with shipping), I thought the K-11 was significantly better for a little more money. I know what you mean, but having worn one for a few months w when I put on a heavyweight you can really feel the difference.

I will be taking a bunch. I'll post them when I get home.

Hey fellow Karate Forums members, anyone going over to Okinawa during the big tournament that might be interested in meeting up at Dojo Bar in Naha? I'm meeting a few Facebook friends, if anyone can make it let me know!👍

I was a die-hard Shureido heavyweight gi guy till I tried the lightweight gi. I love it! I will only but them from now on (only heavyweight i have is a black one because they only offer it in that weight) It feels Just as durable as the heavy one but so much lighter, softer and breathable. If you get them direct they are very affordable. I am a big guy and get them custom made and my name embroidered on the pants, the lower jacket lapel and Isshin-Ryu on the chest and it was around $120.00

Welcome back, enjoy the Hell out of it train safely. Nothing beats this life!!

Shureido USA has a tendency to twist a person's arm until it turns purple (at least from my experience). For whatever reason, they think their gi's shrink 6 inches length wise. I have never owned a gi that has shrunk that much. I bought a K-10 from them with this in mind. Nuked it in hot water and turned the dryer on max multiple times. Only shrank 2 inches. I was incredibly heartbroken and frustrated and had to sell it on Ebay. It's possible it could've shrunk over the course of a decade, but I didn't want to wear a gi that didn't fit me for that long. This is why I haven't asked for a custom gi from them yet. I did try to make my own custom measurements in metric for the Okinawa Shureido store. Filled out the form and was put on the waiting list. I cancelled the order two months later though because I was worried sick that it wouldn't fit me right. I think the only way I'm going to get a Shureido gi is if I'm in Okinawa and the Naha store measures me. I can't stand dealing with the USA store. I'm going back over in July if you like pm me when it's closer and I'll be happy to order it in person and bring it back home. Mail it to you from NJ.

I was a long time used of tiger balm, now I use battle balm. Little more expensive but I like it better. I use the demon strength one. Green tin.

Shureido will be them for free when you order. They have done it for me. Just give the measurements.

My Sensei wears white, so do I. Nothing against other colors. Just following his lead.

For me it was a symbol that I put the time in and have a good working knowledge of the basics of my system and can now begin refining and improving my kata, basics, kobudo, etc. I do not have any students so I am still a shodan since 2007 and am happy with that. If I had students that would rightly want to be promoted up that would be different, but for me at this time higher dan levels are not needed or wanted.

That is the same rank structure that I came up in. White, green, brown and black. Always preferred it over the rainbow.