Andrew_Patton

1. how much: Free, I teach, and actually get paid a small monthy check 2. What style: Shorin Ryu, my main instructor is a student of Tadashi Yamashita 3. How may days a week are classes offered: Tuesday, Thursday, Sat (at one school) mon, wed, fri at the other. 4. Special perks: monthly paychecks if I teach, and free gym membership (can't beat constant access to weights, heavy bag, and cardio rooms)

no a katana cannot 'slice' through everything, look up the howard clark L6 katana destruction tests over at http://www.swordforum.com while not traditionally constructed they're thought to be the strongest "katana-like" swords around, and even they aren't impervious.

well a slight clarification is in order, my boxing trainer, utilizes more of a long and wide stance than what is comonly used in boxing nowa-days, but he won three or four welterweight titles with is and accumulated more than 80 wins in his career. actually, the goal is pretty much described here: http://bujutsublogger.blogspot.com/ yes, I know all about how things are done in the UFC, and I've trained with four different UFC competitors (not seminars, but trained with) and honestly, all but one of them didn't hardly impress me at all stand-up wise, yes, they're explosive striking wise, but they're footwork is to much into that "boxer mentality" that is explained in the link I provided.

I've always taken time after classes (okay, mainly seminars) to write down everything I could remember of what we learned OR video myself or someone else doing what we learned for future reference, it's always a good idea.

I agree with you nightowl, experimentation if a great thing, and the thing is I think I've got caught up and set in my ways in the past ten years and got stagnant and used to doing things "my way" I think mixing it up a little bit and going back to doing things with the beginner's mindset is a great approach to improve my sparring. He really wasn't faster per se, he just knew how to apply it much better, the "boxing stance" is pretty much built for a long drawn out back and forth battle (look up "Harold Brazier" he's my boxing coach ) and isn't really lending itself to point stlye kumite at all. It's more of a "stalking" stance, and isn't to explosive, but a great base for punches, not to much for kicks though. (I'm def. not a kicker, but have powerful kicks) Thank you cross, that was quite an interesting read of a thread, I swear I've read that one before though, good refresher.

Why thank you for that link, that thread is quite informative. Well, I think I'm going to slowly transition toward utilizing the stance and what I see as more of a traditional approach (actual, full reverse punches, etc.) in fact a few days before this sparring session happened I commented that the boxer's stance wasn't a karate thing.

I was just simply stating that to many MAists take that phrase at face value, and merely teach a "don't escalate things" viewpoint

Ever since I could remember I've adopted a "boxer's stance" for kumite, that was until quite recently, when I sparred a Shorin-Kan shorin-ryu student who utilized a more traditional stance, front arm in a middle block position, hand open, back hand in hikite, and relaxed, but long-ish stance. Standing across the ring from him, I thought he was a joke, but that was until he practically destroyed me, the amount of power and speed this guy had comparitively speaking was mind-blowing, I couldn't even touch him, and it reminded me very much of the old story of Choki Motobu and the boxer. So which stance do you prefer in kumite practice? and have you had any experiences like mine?

ah yes, "there is no first atack in karate" hmm, that's never been an issue with the founders of karate, I've heard a story about Choki Mobobu being asked to "step outside" by a fellow wielding a knife and when the other man was about to exit the building Motobu kicked him in the back effectively ending a fight (a fight where he would have most likely lost his life) without waiting and abiding by "Karate ni sente nashi"

I just recently gave up MMA training due to accumulated injuries (two broken fingers, broken toe, arthritic wrist, damaged knee, cracked sternum, bruised ribs) and while the knowledge gained in BJJ experience may be invaluable (mainly in TD defense) I don't see any reason to go back to training MMA or BJJ any time soon, the only thing I might consider going back to ATM is Judo. All the injuries that happened to me occured within a year of training, on the other hand, I have only been hurt twice in Shorin-Ryu classes (a concussion, and sprained wrist from a botched punch when I was a green belt)

hmm... not really a cliche, and slightly off topic but, I have to say: that's something I've heard from almost every karate instructor in the area, and something that irks me a good one every once in a while, it completely takes the influence judo had on karate, and tae kwon do, (rank system mainly) and just stomps all over it! I always seem to wonder if MA instructors do read books... oh the horror stories, I wont get to far into it BUT: * Goju Ryu ppl are slow and only know how to take punches * JuJutsu (not BJJ) is just rolling around on the floor * Japanese Karate had no influence on modern TKD * Aikido is the Japanese Samurai form of unarmed combat (I've also heard that Aikido is the Japanese sword system, and Iaido is Samurai fighting 0_o) So, I'd say my cliche is the "know it all" instructor /Rant

I don't know if I speak for all styles but in matayoshi kobudo we train nunti-bo with one of two kata (modified of course) Choun no Kon Tsuken no kon (sometimes called Chiken no kun) as there is no set "Nunti" kata, these are the two kata we generally accept as fitting this weapon. As far as videos I'm really not sure where to find one of the modified version of the kata, and I don't like playing with hosting video on youtube or google.

I can't think of anytime I've showed off with my MA training BUT.... I know this is the kind of thing you're talking about http://www.midwestkarateacademy.com/yamapple.jpg

here's what I've got, the one's I currently practice anyway, rest are in my 'styles' list. Judo BJJ Shorin-Ryu Kobudo Boxing

Actually, I know 9 out of ten times that's absolutely correct, but we just recently had a few linebackers come in at the BJJ school I go to (from notre dame university no less) and nearly all of them said my brother who trains with us has extrodinary strength... the smallest of these guys was around 240-250lbs and my bro is 190 soaking wet, in fact he fights at 170. And they were all outmuscled by him. And yes, I'm aware they aren't 'bodybuilders' or 'powerlifters' but they do put up large amounts of weights and they are used to pushing around a lot of mass on the field... and they're grappling cardio sucked FYI

Well, I don't understand that concept 100% myself, but having been there, and gone through everything firsthand, the ego battles, the phsyical pushing and shoving, the in-your face attitudes, holier than though feelings, and outright disrespect (and even if the people in class 'respect' the higher ranked kid, junior black belts are still 'kids' in their opinion) being that I lived it, and have first-hand experience... but hey, I don't know, I got my Shodan just before the turn of the millenium, times may be different for us, but I'd love to hear from someone else who received there rank sometime ago and was a 'junior' when they got the rank. Keep in mind I was a big sixteen and still think it was to young. And FYI I seem to recall that the most disrespect I received was from the Adult black belts, one in particular, who was a Nidan, decided to go toe to toe w/ me during routine/partner work, and ended up yelling at me and asking me to hit him... and referred to me as 'hey you get your brother off of me' all because I used our schools 'black belt' level of contact with him. and made contact, with his arm of all things, after he drilled me 'accidentally' in the neck... He may have been a bad black belt, but considering I was the only person he outright disrespected, it was an ego issue, an older gentleman apparently jealous at a younger, lower ranked person. I have other stories, but those are just personal experience, and go along these lines over and over again. Looking back it's one heck of an infuriating thing really.

So, you have to test twice for EACH rank, hmm, maybe I should start doing that, sounds like a good revenue opportunity j/k. Is there any way you can get around the 'recomended' rank, and just go to the 'decided' one, I've never heard of anything like this, but it seems a lil iffy to me.

yeah, to a certain extent I still believe so, because when I look at the classes that I go to where there are no ranks being handed out, everyone still has that mentality of you don't 'deserve to be here' let's face it, a kid with a black belt, or held in high esteem, is gonna be a target. For instance in my BJJ class there's a four stripe white belt, who outranks about 75% of the class, he's sixteen, and about 130 lbs, guess who always wants to roll with him? He seems to always find partners that are at least 200+ lbs and new to the class, no problem for a four striper though As a sixteen, and seventeen year old shodan however I always ended up getting the told to warm up classes, and to relegate certain duties (sweep the floors, clean the mirror, etc.) can you imagine how a person reacts when they've been taking classes for several years on and off reacts to a 'kid' telling them that they need to sweep the floor, or some other 'household chore' granted, I wasn't the most polite teenager, but I made certain to walk on eggshells most of the time, yet with an air of authority. Also on that extent, I couldn't tell you how many times I've been drilled hard in class, by a fellow dan rank, only to have to return the favor, or sweep them and apply a lock, which are two things I've learned from judo/bjj not karate which is all an ego thing, mainly on their part. It all really comes down to ego, most people don't like being beat, or outranked, by a kid. Now in boxing, muay thai, and wrestling on the other hand, there's no rank system to make someone stand out as a target, and in those classes (don't have a muay thai class, but my bjj instructor does have wrestling and boxing, plus I was in both when I was much younger) you don't see people spotting potential targets and sizing them up. Everyone wishes to say that they can beat up a black belt, and guess which one they're gonna pick not the older more seasoned vets... they're going for the fifteen year old dan rank that they see as being an undeserved belt. Which I wish to point out two different things here, our kids class (8-10yrs old) only can go to green belt, our young adults (11-14 yrs) can only go to purple, and anyone older than that (up to sixteen), has to outspar me, or give me one heck of a hard time (depending on promotion rank), to be recommended for rank. We also hold segregated classes, for the kids, young adults, and adults, although we do have many adults watching the kids classes and being impressed by my fifteen year old brown belts (sankyus) let me tell you, I am impressed with the both of them makes me feel like a proud parent. Yeesh, this got long winded fast.

well, I have to add in my two cents, honestly I was sixteen when I got my shodan rank, and I don't really think I was old enough, now granted I was a big sixteen, 5'10 and 215 lbs is pretty stocky for any person, but I still don't believe I had it. Random mood-swings, slightly skewed techniques, know it all attitude, pretty much made me believe I was to young.

I feel I need to play the devil's advocate here, even though I don't have all the details (monthly fees, amount of students, if the old instructor owned the building, or rented space, etc.) but I have to say, I've known an instructor that used to do the kinds of things you guys seem to be expectant of, free months, cheap, cheap prices, cutting deals every which way, enough so that heating/cooling bills, water bills, and even electrical costs got out of hand, when this happend and his common sense kicked in and he decided to raise his rates marginally over the next few months, guess what happened, his enrollment dropped, his bills remained the same, and BAM had to sell the building that he owned for forty-something years and quit the business of teaching. Just don't expect hand-outs, and even though you may have a skill (building art, repairs, etc.) if the owner couldn't afford these in the first place, how can he -1 student? Not flaming anyone, just saying, there's always two sides to a coin, but I'm sure this isn't the case congrats on the new school.

thanks, I've been looking for something like this for quite a while. Quite a find

I usually always suggest https://www.crismaswoodworking.com for martial arts weaponry, the only thing is he only makes octagonal bo, and I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for. Edit: site seems to be down, no luck, don't really know anyone else that makes inexpensive quality weaponry.

I have friends that have driven hours away from home, took days off of work, and spent hundreds of dollars in gas money to go re-program things they were 'taught' incorrectly by videos, I caution you to use training media like books and videos only if you have a good foundation in whatever art you have. That being said. There's a tape/DVD out there called matayoshi Kobudo (I think, search for it on Amazon.com) and there's also a few tapes out there by my instructor Sensei Tadashi Yamashita, available from panther video/century. I'd caution staying away from the tapes made by Mikio Nishiuchi, IMO they're not to good of quality, although they have lots of information, at times I question Nishiuchi's stances and movements (incorrect blocks, iffy transitions, awkward applications.) Good luck though

I could have sworn that St. Pierre at least was a Kyokushin black belt, you're probably thinking of stephan bonnar as being the TKD black belt, I'm pretty sure he is, next time I see him at training I'll ask. But I digress, I know I've seen St. Pierre walking out w/ a kyokushin gi and black belt on, so he's def. a Kyokushinkai BB, but is he also TKD?

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but if it's not growing pains you do have the posibility of having something called 'Osgood Schloters' I don't know if that's the exact spelling, but it has to deal with the ligiments in your knee joing growing at different rates, I've had that for a while, and have had pains in the knees when sitting still into my twenties.