strangepair03

Thanks again Shorin Ryuu.

Any idea why the store is ou of service???

Your right...sorry about that, it's really hard to try and give pronunciations with a keyboard !!!!!!! Thanks for catching that Shorin Ryuu.

Outstanding post.....Really opens up the mind...Thank you again for this post.

I grew up in a pretty crappy city and have had my share of fights...but like most they were mostly quick, "kid" fights...a few shoves, lots of name calling, a punch/kick or two then wrestling around usually ending with the 1 on top shaking the other and making him say uncle. However, I have spent the last 10 years in law enforcement in the same crappy city, and have been in my fare share of street fights..and I can tell you that when you are in a "real" fight it really changes your training outlook. "Real" fights are super fast and really nasty, I trained in joint locks and stuff...which is great, but I have never used them in a 1 on 1 stand up fight...I have used them in to restrain/control someone, but I have never been able to use one against a guy that has attacked me. Usually it has always been "block 'em and clock 'em", and then follow up with some other technique(joint lock etc;)..My advice would be to work your close quater stuff...Never had an incident that was more than 3 feet away. And your focus under stress, when things happen they come fast and hard, keeping your head is the most important thing...that and not going overboard once the threat has been stopped. (easier said than done..trust me Hope I did'nt go on too long...Just my mindless ramblings

I don't think I have heard of kwuen, but ryu is pronounced somthing like roo...and kiotske is like key-oats-kay....or something like that

Hello all, was wondering how many different color obi's are out there....I assume we all work off of a 10 kyu system, some schools have a few colors while some have many....How many you got and what are the corresponding grades??? Our dojo has: White-10-6th kyu Green-6-3rd kyu Brown-3-1kyu Black-1-10 dan (optional red/white-7-8, red at 9-10) Just wondering what else was out there in the world. Thanks

I use the same...tide w/bleach alternative and oxyclean, takes the dirt out and keeps patch colors intact

Excellent post Shorinryu Sensei...sums up my thoughts. Why lose training time to meditation....goes with the adage about training how you would fight.

My mistake. And Strange, its $119 per month. To get paid, you have to get to a high enough belt, and start teaching the classes. Its not like you get paid $368346893986239868732068989 per class, its probably minimum wage, and you dont have to show up every class. He said that promotional tests start at like $15 and get higher per belt, but not much higher, "because testing should be a privelage, not a way for the instructor to make money." <- his own words. Fair enough....not knocking the dojo or sensei...just advising to keep both eyes open......ps..if you made the amount you listed, I would move and sign up!!!!! Good luck!

Now that is hardcore.........How could you argue with that???

I live this site because people go out of the way to answer your questions honestly...like the replys or not, and the help is sincere. Outstanding job Patrick for sharing your time and energy, and thank you to any other moderators involved....and a big thank you to all who investigate and reply with speed, and respect.

My name-Strjo Rypat My title-Yawcutlass of Augmentin

Sounds great...you pay until you make rank than they pay you.........sounds a little too great, I would watch that dojo...sounds like a scam...find out how much promotional tests cost, do you have to pay in advance or monthly, and the sensei is the highest ranked American......ranked by who and can he prove it???(more than just a certificate, hell you could be a 10th dan with an inkjet!!) Not saying these things to disrespect you or the dojo...just words of caution, be careful who your paying and what your getting. Best of luck and hope everything works out for you

I tell you what...there is a dojo in Little Falls, N.J.(10-15 min away) named Golden Eagle martial arts...it is owned by 2 good freinds of mine and the style is a blend of shotokan and taekwondo, same katas...very good stuff and my freinds are cool and highly skilled...both are city, street cops so you know the stuff works...if it sounds good, I will introduce you to them when you settle in the area. If not, let me know and I will keep you posted on other options.

I have never heard of your style sankenryu..what would your be looking for? If you have an idea..I'll snoop around, I live about 15 min. away from parsippany. Just let me know.

Shorin Ryuu, is the book Unante: The secrets of Karate that good of a read? I was up in the air about buying it, as I heard very little about it...Judging by your post it will be in my library straight away!

I would like to suggest the Bubishi...the Patrick McCarthy translation, I was told by my 1st sensei to read it as a white belt and then re-read it once a year as I progress in my training and I was pleasantly suprised how the text offers more as your knowledge grows, I am not talking about the iron man stuff or the herbal medicine stuff. I wonder if anyone else has done this or your thoughts on what I have done. I am also a big fan of Living the martial way, really helps me to put the ancient principles and lessons into modern practise. I also like the book The twenty guiding precepts of karate by Gichin Funakoshi sensei. Liked Okinawa island of karate by Alexander sensi for the historical info....I too have seen some of his "works" on video and have also been as sorely disappointed as Shorinryu Sensei. An 8th grade a/v class could do far better work. P.S. I also enjoyed Traditions by Dave Lowery...a nice read. IMHO

My limited close-quaters training has been strikes to "soft" targets-eyes, groin, kness, whatever you could reach while trying your best to defend your "soft" areas....sounds a bit simple, but the best things often are. Goes with the K.I.S.S. idea--Keep It Simple Stupid

I like to spar against more experienced karateka(not to hard for me!!)...I like having to work hard trying to land a technique and if they are aggressive, I get to work my defence...I have a regular "fighting" buddy, a sandan in Shorinryu shidokan...he is fast as lightning and has been training for about 22 years(compared to my 3 as an adult) he fought in the sabaki challenge a few years back and it is always a learning experience when we go at it. As you could guess..he can pretty much hit me at will..and does!!

I started tkd at age 6, trained seriously till age 13, moved and took up isshinryu for about 2 years, to much of a change at that age so I left and trained in american freestyle for about 2 years, left the arts all together in'93. Came back in'02- to isshinryu, and now as an adult, I love it...glad to back, can't see myself without it.

For my sankyu (3rd brown) I had an 8 hr test. 1st was a 100 question written test on Isshinryu history, traditions, terminology, and what the art means to me. Then the basic warm-up, chart 1 and 2 basics (15 upper and 15 lower) which includes all basic strikes and kicks, followed by a short p.t. test push-ups, sit-ups,etc; then kata- twice thru each...at my level 6 empty hand..the last being sanchin and 1 sai kata. Then hard ippon kumite/self defence techniques, 55 in all both as attacker and uke....and finally, sparring-3 3min. 3 point matches, 4 1 min. 1st point win matches and then 10 1 min. no point, just all out matches with 30 sec. breathers inbetween.....can't wait for shodan..mught take a week!!!

Has anyone tried the double secret urinating on yourself while simultaniously screaming "IT"S A COOKBOOK"!!!!........has yet to work for me but I keep trying, NEVER QUIT!!!!!!!! Just kidding folks, Hope I did'nt offend

Sounds like a great drill...can't wait to try it this week

We get the kicks to the groin, if your sanchin dachi is correct, then your inner thighs will stop the kick.....we also get all the other slaps, punches, pulls, and pushes while performing the kata.....usually only done during testing and demos.