koryu

I think it's just something that happens to a lot of people over time. Some focus more on teaching instead of training, which makes them very good teachers, but not very good karate-ka. I train harder now than ever before which keeps my metabolism high, but if I get fat over time, I know it won't be from lack of training. It would probably have more to do with my love of fried foods and chinese cuisine.

most traditional schools have some sort of bowing in system as a part of their etiquette or "reishiki" just ask questions about things that you don't understand, a good teacher is always willing to explain.

All stances have practical application. Such as the "horse" stance (I'm assuming it's about the same as shiko dachi. this has practical application if you have an opponent on the ground and you don't want to be on the ground with them, just lower yourself to be in position to strike. so, in short, they are important, so practice them, you'll use them later on in training if not real life situations

I've never heard of it classified this way. Ibuki just refers to breathing, something we do every day. As far as hard and soft, this refers to your body's muscle tension. Although it may feel as though you're doing a "hard" ibuki in a kata such as Sanchin and a "soft" ibuki in a kata such as Tensho, you're really breathing the same way, you're muscles are just acting differently. One way you could classify breathing techniques is loud and quiet, but also not exactly accurate. I remember back in my tournament days, these guys sounding like they're trying to hack up a hairball when performing a kata. This is unnecessary and usually added for effect. Breathing should be natural, but it should also be correctly trained.

Hello, and welcome. I have know people to be in similar situations. Usually only takes a couple of months to fall back into the routines of things, but those first few months are going to feel like they go on forever. You're going to be tired, uncoordinated, etc... this will pass. it will all come back to you with time and practice. Congratulations on returning to the martial arts. Keep us posted on your training

Personally, I think everyone, at some point during their training (usually during the 3rd, 2nd, or 1st kyu ranks) needs a wake up call so to speak. I remember when I was a 2nd kyu, bogged down with school, work, training, and assisting teaching. My sensei pulled me to the side one day after my normal class and told me that I would not advance to the next rank if I did not improve and that my training had really gone down hill. I was upset of course, but after about a week of analysis, he was absolutely right, and I dug in, and trained harder than ever before. I don't think a student should ever fail a test. A sensei should recognize a struggling student before the test even comes up and address the problems and maybe postpone the test for a month or two to allow for improvement. Failing a test is very embarrassing, but is sometimes necessary for some students to have their wake up call after being spoken to by the sensei. Congratulations on passing your test! You can overcome whatever obstacles are in your way, and you've just shown that you can overcome a very large obstacle.

proper diet is essential for any excercise program, just make sure that you incorporate all food groups and don't starve yourself. improper choices in diet can hinder your training and do some severe harm to your body. I would consult your physician for a recommended diet based on your body structure, height, weight, age, etc...

As far as karate training goes, I run every kata at full power and speed once a day. Can't go wrong with good kata training, the masters have been doing it for hundreds of years. I also keep up on basic cardio and weight training,

a lot of great responses here. I've never heard of someone actually "losing" rank for any reason. Of course, after several years without training, you're going to be out of shape. You have a dan ranking, and nobody can take that away. Although, if you're going to a different style, then expect to start out at the bottom and work your way up in the new style. It'll come back quickly and you'll be promoted faster than others based of your previous experience and knowledge. Good luck

Here's what I do.... I have studied in karate for over 14 years. I have achieved a few different black belt ranks in a couple of different styles. The highest of which I currently hold is Sandan in Goju-Ryu. There are local schools that I visit on a regular basis, and I have trained very closely with the sensei of those schools. Because of my past training, and that I am a guest in that school whom is also of sensei status, I line up in the front of the line. If it ever bothered anyone, I would gladly move to the back of the line. Things of this nature become less and less important to you the longer you study the art. If you are referring to a new student JOINING a school, then that is a different story. I always have a preliminary interview and demonstrations of skill. Kind of a pre-test when someone from another school wants to join mine. This test will determine where I place the student. Obviously, I wouldn't start out a sandan at white belt, because this would not be beneficial to them. I may start them amongst the 4th or 3rd kyu ranks and see how they progress and how quickly they pick up on the new material. All karate is BASICALLY the same, although each style is very different in concepts, kata, stance, etc...

I don't feel there is a need to create more kata. There are already more than enough out there, I don't need to be creating more. Goju-Ryu has only 12 kata: Geiki Sai Di Ichi Geiki Sai Di Ni Saifa Seiyunchin Shisochin Sanseryu Sesan Sepai Suparempai Kururunfa Tensho Sanchin It would take a lifetime to master these katas alone, but then again, everyone likes change every once in a while. When I need a change, I see some friends of mine in the karate community and pick up a kata from a different style. I study the kata that I am taught and come up with my own bunkai application for the kata. After training the new kata for several years, I may decide to pick up another kata from a different style. I tend to lean toward more of the white crane and chinese forms when I'm looking for new kata, since this is where my style originated from.

First of all, I don't believe that a kick to the head is necessary. All I have to do is kick your knee or quadricept and bring your head down to a good kicking height. A few things that I always found helped me out with higher kicks, since I'm not very flexible. If you pivot correctly on your base foot, it will open up your hips and allow for a higher extension. I also recommend doing a lot of your flexibility training after a long workout where your muscles are good and warm, this will allow them to move more freely. There are also several different training devices that you sit in and crank until your legs go behind your back. you could use these as well. just stretch a lot and practice.

The actual owner (the person who pays the rent and has the business license) should be the only one allowed to name the dojo. Unless this organization is paying part of the bills, then this is your sensei's dojo and he should be able to name it whatever he chooses. Even if the organization is offically a part owner, you could try a democratic approach and petition to the board of directors of the organization for the name to be changed.

I have seen so many different variations on so many different kata thoughout the course of my life. Just about every school will perform the same kata a different way. Although the basic movements are still the same, it can look like a very different kata altogether.

A very valid point. I belive that the wrist grabs apply more to female students and children than male adult students and here's why. For some reason, certain guys out there like to grab a woman by the wrist and just pull her along. I have taught a few techniques in a practical self defence class for women and children. Granted, they do have real life application, and it is good for everyone to learn. With the lapel grab, I have always told students that we grab the lapel in class, in real life, someone's going to be choking you. We usually use this technique in the more beginner classes so that everyone's more comfortable with it. Belive it or not, but people like to grab someone's neck and try to choke them. I don't really know why, but i've had a couple of people try to choke me in the course of my life, which they immediatly regreted.

Hi and welcome, My opinion on the subject: Typically all martial arts were created for self defense. Although all martial arts have very real sport qualities. The direction that the style favors depends on the school and the sensei. I trained at a VERY traditional school. I have also competed in several tournaments and won titles, trophies, etc... I have different variations of my traditional kata and so forth that I perform at tournaments, than I would normally perform for training purposes. My school never condoned or prohibited tournament or sport karate, as long as you trained traditionally, sensei had no opinion on the subject for or against. I always found that tournaments were a lot of fun and that's the only reason I ever competed. If you must choose a school, I would recommend one that is focused on traditional ways, but one that will allow you the freedom to experience the sport karate as well. It is really a lot of fun, and you meet a lot of people outside of your dojo with the same interests as you.

There are too many styles to mention, karate is traditionally japanese and okinawan, while there are several other martial arts that originated elsewhere. Belt colors will be different in every school you go to. don't get too caught up in what color of belt you have. Typically, in karate, there are 10 kyu (below black belt) ranks and 10 dan ranks (black belt). Most dojos in the US use a different color belt for each kyu rank. In japan, they typically only have white, green, brown, and black belts from what I've seen. Traditionally, when students first started wearing belts or sashes, they were always white and they never changed belts. Training was typically done outside and over the years and changes of seasons, the belt would go from white to green (from the grass in the summer) to a brown color and finally to black after being so stained over the years. Just thought I'd throw in a little history lesson in there.

In our dojo, we used the "shodan-ho" rank for junior black belts. The belt was black with a white stripe to indicate the difference. When the student was of appropriate age or understanding (usually somewhere between 14 and 16 years old) then they would receive their full dan ranking without having to test again. We allowed students as young as 5 years of age to start in the dojo, and under normal training conditions, this child could have a black belt ranking by age 9. Without any experience in teaching classes, bunkai (the children's class didn't learn bunkai), and other philosophical aspects of the art. Once a child was a junior black belt, then they would start attending and help instruct the basic adult classes to learn all of these aspects that they were missing. Then when they learned enough through these classes, they were given their shodan. Hope this helps

My testing was very grueling to say the least. Starting about 6 or 7 months away from my testing date, I did a lot of cardio work. Running every day, started off slowly and after about 2 months was up to 5 miles a day. I didn't bother with much weight training outside of my normal routine, but I did a lot of pushups and crunches. About 500 pushups were somehow worked into the 6 hour testing. Generally the purpose of a black belt test is to test your spirit and see if it can be broken. There is no point in cramming for such a test, If you didn't know it, your sensei wouldn't even have you up for a black belt test to begin with. It will be his job to try to break you down as far as he can and see if you can take it. When you're doing your training, do it in the heat. We weren't allowed to have the air conditioning on in the dojo during our shodan test, in the middle of july no less. Just prepare physically as much as you can, you'll still be hurting after your test, but it'll make it a little smoother. Good luck, keep up posted on how it's going.

Suparinpei was definately my most favorite kata to perform at tournaments when I was competing. I've also picked up Hakutsuru recently, which I could also see being a very good tournament kata, although I don't compete anymore.

Glock 23 - 40 cal. Always be prepared.

10 in my style, but 10th dan is reserved as an honorary rank after a hanshi has passed. The highest level a living person can achieve is 9th dan, and this usually happens after 50-60 years of training.

4-5 years, but shodan is never guaranteed. I got mine after training for about 4 1/2 years, but for 2 years of that, I was training at the dojo 5 days a week and also teaching classes. I've known for someone to take up to 8-10 years to reach the shodan level. It depends on the individual.

I agree completely. All styles are effective, it just depends on who you are trained by, and how well you train. Avoid the popular "Black Belt Factory" (otherwise known as "McDojo") and you should be just fine.

my dojo accepts 4 or 5 year olds based on maturity.