carl

Welcome. Carl

Welcome. Carl

Welcome. Carl

Welcome. (Roman numerals?) Carl

O.K. I'll bite. Hmmm. Bunkai. How many do I know? As many as my teacher taught me and as many as I learned from other sources and from practicing the katas over and over again. How many are there? Your guess is as good as mine. I have been studying Okinawan Goju-ryu for almost 15 years now, and there are so many more bunkai to learn. Do you think I'm being vague? I hope not. I answered as truthful as I can. But maybe somebody who has studied Okinawan Goju-ryu longer than I can answer better than me. Oh, and one more thing. Just how much bunkai does one need to know to defend oneself? Just wondering. Regards, Carl

Welcome, cluelesskarateka. I like your name. Very humble. Although I myself haven't seen what you are talking about, I prefer the block and counter with a strike. Carl

Yes, I went on your website. Very nice. My sister-in-law is from Union City. Great to hear from people from around these parts. I look foward to hearing more from you in the future. Regards, Carl

I use my chiishi once a week along with some weights I devised similar to nigari gami for gripping. I power walk 4 to 5 times a week, 2 miles each time, using 3 to 4 lb. weights that I do blocks and punches with. I switch off on these for strength and speed and so I don't get bored, doing different exercises each time. I think the main thing is mixing it up so you don't get bored so you can keep at it. And ofcourse, kata, kata, kata. Hope this helps. Carl

You're welcome, Steve. But tell me, you say it's nice to hear from people from around home. Are you from here originally? Regards, Carl

Welcome, Garth. Carl

Welcome, notuern. Carl

Welcome, Mervyn. Carl

Welcome, WarDragon. Carl

Welcome to the forum, drunken.master. Carl

Welcome, Steve. It truly is a small world. I live in Jamestown, N. Y. Although I never met Bill Reeders, he is somewhat of a legend in this area. We have 1 Goshin jutsu school in town run by a man by the name of Gaffar Adams. Do you know him? I think you might be the only Goshin Jutsu practitioner on this forum, but I could be wrong. Anyway, welcome again. Carl

Congratulations. I'm sorry it's late. Carl

Congratulations. Carl

SenseiMike try this site: http://www.kanjisite.com/ You are going to have to enter them separate. i.e. Sho, Ni, San, and Dan for level. There is a search on the site. Hope this helps. Carl

Congratulations, Sam. Carl

Congratulations, karateka477. Carl

When we are taught Sanchin (Three Battles) kata, we are taught to tense our neck muscles so that it is harder to choke us. Also, as far as the groin kick goes, I too have heard and read of people, Kanryo Higaonna being one of them, that could draw that testicles up, on their own, much the same way that a doctor does when he is checking you for a hernia. Anyway, when we practice Sanchin kata, we pivot the heals of our feet out to help bring the knees together to protect against a groin kick. One thing you have to remember, the target is not necessarily the testicles, but the vital point between the testicles and the anus. Hence, bring the knees together slightly to catch the foot before it reaches this point. So if you see a groin kick coming, simply bring your knees together while blocking just in case. Carl

Thank you, Shorin Ryuu, for your contribution. I have never remarked on a submission in this thread, but I felt compelled to do so today. I used to question weather of not I was studying a "traditional" karate. (Goju-ryu) I looked up the definition in the dictionary and I would like to share it with you. Main Entry: tra·di·tion Pronunciation: tr&-'di-sh&n Function: noun Etymology: Middle English tradicioun, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French tradition, from Latin tradition-, traditio action of handing over, tradition -- more at TREASON 1 : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) 2 : the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction 3 : cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions 4 : characteristic manner, method, or style - tra·di·tion·al /-'dish-n&l, -'di-sh&-n&l/ adjective - tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb - tra·di·tion·less /-'di-sh&n-l&s/ adjective As you can see, virtually every form of martial art can claim to be "traditional." Although I prefer to consider the Okinawan styles of karate to be traditional rather than the Japanese styles. (Gee, I wonder how much flack I'll get over that one.) I say that because the Japanese, in the beginning, didn't even want to consider karate as a martial art because as you said, too barbaric, unorganized, etc. I also firmly believe that kata is the essence, or backbone if you will, of karate. Kata was developed to teach people how to defend themselves. How simple can that be? Anyway, I'm sorry this is such a long post, and I hope I didn't take anything away from your superb article. Again I thank and bow deeply to you, Carl

I train with a student of Glen Grabow, Shobu-kan, although Glen's not affiliated with them since Masa Shinjo's death. I see Glen several times a year as we live in the same town. He trained in Okinawa under Seikichi Toguchi at the Shorei-kan and then went with Shinjo when he opened the Shobu-kan. So I guess you could call it authentic Goju-ryu without the affiliation although we still wear the Shobu-kan patch. Carl

I/we don't pull our punches. When doing Ippon, Sanbon, Nihon, ect., kumite, we adjust speed to suit the experience. In other words, I would strike at a whitebelt a lot slower than I would a blackbelt. We don't get into the what I think is the bad habit of pulling punches. Have I ever punched anybody in class you ask? Yes. But that is because that person didn't get out of the way in time. Result? A broken nose. That is the first thing we learn. Get out of the way, then do as you wish. Carl

I kiai with my mouth open slightly. I agree that the kiai is used with a finishing technique. But what about to startle your opponent? Try it sometime. You might be suprised about the suprise you create. On another forum, we were discussing the sound you make when kiaiing. Try it, and pay attention. You might find yourself either changing your kiai or chuckling at the way you do it, or smiling when you realize how it has changed over time. Just some thoughts. Carl