baronbvp

I like the idea your dojo uses. My dojo focuses on kata on Monday nights, specific techniques and combinations on Wednesday nights, and sparring on Friday nights. I take my kids all the time also, and watch them and their classes. I learn by watching others even while waiting for my class to start. My daughter and one son are blue-green belts and my other son is a white belt who just started. I am a yellow belt hoping to test soon for orange. One technique I found that works for me, since I am a Navy pilot used to writing down procedures and studying them, is to keep a journal. I have all the dojo info in there: belt progression, class schedule, basic and advanced techniques and stances, etc. I make a journal entry after each private lesson and group class about what I learned, with notes to myself that help me remember certain things. I also study the videos my Renshi made and make notes about the kata: the order of the moves, techniques like keeping my back straight when I drop down into forward stance down block, chambering the loose hand when shutoing, etc. I find it very helpful to write because it clarifies my thinking and forces me to pay attention to detail. For instance, I noticed on the videos that Renshi always "opens the gate" with his foot before stepping forward and swiveling his hips to punch. I go back and re-read my journal while my kids are in class and even make notes about others. Other students and instructors have seen my journal and like it. When Renshi and the other senior black belts practice kata, it is power and art in motion. Renshi duplicates the kata in perfect form each time, like Jack Nicklaus does with a golf swing. Same thing every time unless you change it on purpose. I am learning very much, and I am learning from this thread so keep up the responses!

This is great, exactly what I thought everyone would say. All the comments are right on. This question obviously hit a good nerve since I only posted it last night. My Renshi (Mark Vellucci, 6th degree DAN) told me at my most recent private lesson that hidden in the kata are virtually all the later moves. For example, the 225 degree heel pivot turn to a down block forward stance, in Fyu-Ku Shodan, is really a way to trap the leg and throw the opponent later on. I have to go look up in my Shorin-Ryu book what Shoshin Nagamine said about his kata practice - something like you have to practice them for 7 years before you really even see what they are and begin to master them. Then, of course, you must continue to practice each of them for the rest of your life. I like it!

I am in it for the journey. The belts are just waypoints along the way. I of course want my black belt, but I want to earn it so there is no doubt in my heart that I deserve to wear it. My sensei advances students when they deserve to be advanced. Some who train often and hard can get a new belt in 2 months. Others take almost a year. It's all about dedication, actual learning, and being honest with yourself about what you need to work on. Our dojo advertises the average student will earn a black belt in 3 1/2 to 4 years.

I certainly don't have a black belt yet, but I wash my belts because they get sweaty and they're hard to keep tied when they're new and stiff. It's all about convenience for now. You don't have the lower colors for that long anyway. As for what I'll do when I earn my black, I'll probably wash it a few times so it stays tied. After that, who knows. But as for whether the chi energy resides there, it doesn't really matter in a real fight. You won't be wearing that puppy on the street. They'll know soon enough what belt is in your heart.

I find that I still have to go back and practice the early kata and kihons as I progress. I like it, but it seems my plate gets full because I have more to remember and practice. Any advice? My sensei can bang out each one like he's done them every day for 20 years. It's beautiful to watch -- perfect form, fast and powerful.

This a great, if long, discussion. My two cents: the more you learn and practice, the better. The more you diversify your repertoire of skills, the better, as long as you don't dilute a few good techniques that work for you with a variety so large you can't remember any of it in the heat of battle. One guy earlier on said it best: you have to keep your head, be aware of your body and your situation, and then apply what you know when the opportunity presents itself unless you can make the opportunity. Many street fights degenerate from nice-looking moves into full-blown brawls as soon as the adrenaline flows and someone gets off balance. No dojo will teach you street techniques like ripping mouths or throwing dirt in someone's eyes, but that stuff happens in a real fight. Because there are no rules except do what it takes to win. I saw Royce Gracie beat that Russian judo champ (name?) just barely in UFC. It was a long, boring grappling match that would never happen on the street because the guy's buddies or the cops would have shown up. Street fights are all about avoiding them if you can, then ending them quickly if you can't, and then getting away when the getting is good. Like fighter pilots learn, sometimes the best opportunity is to bug out with your life intact and fight another day. Tell the story of your hairy escape while you are in a bar with your buds, instead of telling the story of your loss while you are in a hospital bed. Pesonally, I like the bits of different things I've learned -- a little judo, a little TKD, some Kung Fu, some boxing, some good old fashioned bar fighting, and now Shorin-Ryu. I'd like to learn BJJ but I'd probably get hurt training and I'm too old and have a job. So I focus on a mix of striking and grappling techniques that work together for me and my body style. I know I will remember them when the adrenaline starts pumping and some dude won't leave it alone.

Buy a new gi off the web. I prefer karatedepot.com.

Lee had the biggest impact spreading the popularity of martial arts, though Carradine did that too but isn't as good a fighter. Lee had to slow down his moves to be caught on film. Seagal, Chan, and Van Damme are actors compared to Norris, who thankfully is a better fighter than he is an actor. Helio Gracie's family has had the biggest modern impact because all fights of any duration end up on the ground. Thank UFC and Royce Gracie for introducing the world to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, perhaps the best grappling style in existence. I'd like to learn it but at my age would probably end up too injured.

Tie a square knot in the front after crossing one end under and around the whole thing. A square knot has both bitter ends of the belt protruding together on one side, either into or out from the knot (toward your body or away from it). If the bitter ends are opposite each other, then you have a granny knot and it will come untied quickly.