koryu

Sanchin and Hakutsuru are two of my favorites, although there is no kata that I don't like.

I was wondering who all has had any training in this style. This is the style taught by Kyoshi McCarthy. I know that several people have attended seminars and so forth. I wanted to get everyone's opinion of the style. I found a dojo in the area that teaches this style and the Sensei is a student of Kyoshi McCarthy. I've heard a lot about McCarthy during my years of training and am very into the traditional training. From what I understand he is one of the foremost experts of traditional Okinawan Karate. Just want to get anyone's opinion of this.

I video tape myself during a workout and belt tests. This helps to analyze your own technique and see what you're doing wrong.

When teaching kata to a student, it helps me to analyze it further. Both in the "story" behind it, and the potential applications. When watching someone else, it is easier to see hidden application within the kata, that you would not normally see. I used to judge competetions. The tournaments were open-style, and I judged based strictly on the performance of the kata. I mostly looked for crisp technique, solid stances, correct postures, and things of this nature. Being as I am more familiar now than I was then with other styles, I did not know enough to judge someone based upon the certain kata that they chose.

I too get the feeling that you have already made your choice for the second dojo. Even if you start from white belt, you may progress faster because of your past experience in martial arts. Even if it's a different style, your Sensei will be able to notice crisper technique because of your background and you may be able to progress faster. Have this conversation with your Sensei and let him/her know what your background is and what your intentions are. You may even be able to pick up a few private classes to advance a little faster than others.

I think that it's very important to learn words from the language from which their style originates. I feel that it's part of becoming a well-rounded karate-ka. Since day one in my dojo we have been using japanese terminoligy and studied a lot of the culture as well.

Come to think of it, I don't think there's a weapon yet that I haven't hit myself with at one time. Broke a toe with tonfa once going full force to spin downward and it slips from my hand. Been hit in the head a few times with a bo. The katana I'm really careful with and I can't think of any real injuries from it. Two person escrima drills tears up your fingers and knuckles. The nunchuku, of course, this weapon is just asking for problems. The sai, also with two person drills. The eku, haven't hit myself, but broke a mirror once (That's why the last seven years have been so rough, lol). Probably the worst one to catch yourself with is the kama... although the blades were guarded, it would've been very messy if they weren't. Thought I'd just some up a few of my disasters. I love kobudo!!! Everyone gets hit with weapons when you start. Learn from it and move on. Mastering a weapon is a great feeling of accomplishment.

The system that you are using is the traditional system that was originally created. Although several schools change their color of belts between kyu ranks to give students goals to go for. This also helps to distinguish within the kyu ranks. In the United States especially, people have to SEE achievement. It is part of how our society is. There is nothing wrong with either way in my opinion, our school used to use the 3 colored kyu system, and then went to more colors. Here is how my school's system works. White - 10th kyu Gold - 9th kyu Yellow - 8th kyu Orange - 7th kyu Blue - 6th kyu Green - 5th kyu Purple - 4th kyu Brown - 3rd kyu Brown with Black Stripe down the center- 2nd kyu Black with Brown Stirpe down the center - 1st kyu Black - shodan and above

Goju-Ryu is definately one of the most well rounded styles in existance. It is very important, though, that you make sure that you have an instructor that has all the proper credentials to be able to teach. You should have a meating with the Sensei and find out more about him. Find out his background, how many years he's been studying, who his teacher is. These are things that he should gladly tell you. Try to get a feel for him, if it seems like he's hiding something, then he probably is. Although I do not have my own school, I gladly discuss my credentials and training background with anyone who wishes to train under me, and my Sensei does as well. There are several "Black Belt Factories" out there who are just "Teaching" to make money. You want to avoid any place like that. Visit a black belt class and watch the workout. Talk to some of them afterwards. Find out how long they've been training. There isn't anyone in my opinion that should receive a black belt before having 4 or 5 years of solid training, and this is fairly standard in the Goju system.

Congratulations.

Not to sound repetetive... but... teaching is the best way to learn. Teaching a kata that you have a fairly good understanding of, allows you to break down and study individual movements and allows you to improve yourself. You may not know that you perform a move a certain way, until you see another student copy your move exactly. Only this way, can you identify that problem and correct it in your own kata. It will also help you to understand the applications behind the kata, because as you're teaching and correcting, you are looking at and identifying individual moves within the kata. This is an excellent training tool, and you should feel honored that your Sensei has enough faith in you, to teach a class. Also, students come up with wonderful questions that you may not know the answer to. This just allows you to expand your knowledge by asking the question to your Sensei and you will find yourself gaining more knowledge in that aspect as well. I started teaching when I was 14 and I remember how nerve wrecking that was during my first few classes. Believe me, it just gets easier. As far as respect, your students should already have a certain amount of respect for you, although you must always remember that respect must be earned and then maintained and your integrity, behavior, and habits both within and outside of the school reflect upon you. You must remember that you are a constant role model for your students and always live an ethical and moral life. 15 is a difficult age to think about being a constant role model for others, but doing this now will put you several steps ahead of everyone else throughout your entire life. If you stick with this, you will learn more during your difficult teenage years than most people know in their thirties. I admire you for pursuing teaching, and wish you all the best. One last thing. The more humble you are, the more knowledge you will gain and the better person you will be. You could be a 8th degree black belt, and, if you allow it, I guarantee you could learn something from a white belt. Just something to think about.

Thank you nanfeishen for the in depth explaination

I have done the same thing several times, also with wooden octagon nunchaku. The nunchaku is a very deadly weapon... to the person who uses it... lol

Personal opinion only... just to let everyone know in advance... The purpose in tournaments, and the way to win (in my personal experience), is to over-emphasize EVERYTHING! Whether it be movements of the head, techniques, stance changes, breathing, or kiais. Everything needs to be over exaggerated to be noticed. If you have a very strong point that you are good at, then focus on that to win tournament karate. Unless an instructor is strictly training students to win tournaments (which I have seen), then these aspects of the kata are not trained on a regular basis, during classes and so forth. Although, I could take any kata out there and turn it into a winning tournament kata. It may not necessarily be that they are trained in such a way, they just know the game of tournament competetion and play just the way that everyone else does.

I always keep my CPR and First Aid certification up to date. This can only help when teaching and training the arts, as injuries are an unfortunate side effect of good training.

These are the best and most accurate descriptions to my knowledge that I could find, I hope this helps you in your quest to obtain the meaning behind this kata.

We do shime testing on a regular basis during Sanchin kata, groin kicks are not a part of this testing. Shime is used to test the tenseness of the muscles during the kata. As far as Tensho goes, it is strictly a goju kata (since it was created by Miyagi Chojun), but I don't know if any other styles have adopted it or any variation.

you're very welcome

http://www.doshinmartialarts.com/Nigiri.htm (custom made nigiri game) http://www.bushifitness.com/equipment.htm (more traditional than most other shops, but made from modern material) http://www.shureidousa.com (shureido equipment, quality nigiri game, also very good weapons) I will post if I find more. Hope this helps

Great article!! You have given me a lot to think about. After reading this, I'm going to have to re-evaluate and make a few changes in my daily training routine. I run quite often, but not how you describe it. I truely appreciate the wisdom you have passed on to me in this article.

We do not have to spar for our black belt test. The test itself lasts about 8 hours. Although sparring is not incorporated into the testing, regular attendance in sparring class is a requirement.

Personally, the bo is my favorite weapon. Although, for tournament purposes, I have used the kama which worked out really well for me. Though it takes a lot of practice, it seems to work out well in the tournament circuit. As far as practicing bo kata, I also use a short dowell rod, you could also use a "jo".

While we're on the subject of being attacked. I was just wondering who here has trained in close-quarters self defense? What would happen if you were attacked in a phone booth, or restroom stall? Having a limited range of motion can severely hamper your technique. Just something to think about, being prepared for as many situations as possible. Also, is there anyone who trains in knife defense? I have had training in both situations, although it is nice to have the knife defense, if there is a weapon involved you should always try everything you can to get away. Allthough, there may be a situation that you cannot get away, and again, it's best to be prepared for as many situations as possible.

Somewhat, although mushin (no mind) is more related to combat as a result of training. You should not have to think about the moves in the kata while running it, as stated in the 5th Chinese precept "Techniques will occur in the absence of conscious thought"

Another person was asking questions on ki/chi, and I brough up a similar feeling in my reply. The best way that I could describe the feeling of ki is while performing kata, specifically Sanchin kata. I know the feeling that you are describing, although it is difficult to describe in detail. It is something obtained sub-consciously, and when you think about it, it goes away. When the body is in proper alignment, being in posture, execution of technique, and blood flow (meridian alignment), you will achieve such a feeling. Ki is best described as a life energy or life force. When everything is just "right". "The feeling of oneness" is a very good description of ki. Keep working and studying your kata, and you will achieve this feeling much more often. I have studied Sanchin kata in detail for over 9 years, and can obtain such a feeling almost every time I perform it. Although Sanchin is not the only kata that I have felt this in, it is the best one to learn alignment and posture and this will carry over to your other kata. Hope this helps a little, you are not alone in this feeling. Maybe I will understand more about it over the next several years.