steveking63

EOM formed the basis of Bruce Lee"s JKD. I was taught Shotokan as long powerfull techniques, using speed to make them effective. After studying JKD I have applied the EOM principle to my Karate and made it more effective. My Karate training did not educate me in EOM.and when I spoke to my old instructors about it they said WHAT ! If you want to understand it I suggest looking at any of Bruce lees books or seek out a JKD class

Bassi dai and Kanku Sho are 2 of my favs. I would love to learn Nijushiho.

I have just come back from a very enjoyable comp at Karate International Leeds> very well run and organised. Nice one Jim. However certains aspects concern me. Fighters being openly encouraged by their coaches to be excessively aggessive towards their opponents. This rather stirs the emotions. I thought it was about controling your aggression and anger to best effect, not just steaming in all guns blazing. Should these coaches be reprimanded and are they letting their students down by not directing them properly.Fight hard but fair and with respect.

Or of our own downfall

Too many people call themselves masters today. Mainly to impress or for commercial benifits. A master would suggest someone who has mastered and learnt all there is to know. Does this person exist ? I think not. We are all eternal students and should never think we have ever learnt all there is to learn. Yet we are also all masters. Masters of our own destiny

Anyone who says that katas are a waste of time has obviously not taken the time to understand them. Take the time to really explore a kata and examine the many senarios within each one. Ask Russel Stutley if katas are pointless

I know how you feel Jakmak53. I had knee surgery last Feb. Infact my 5th knee op. Lost both cartlidges and ligament damage. I was told to pack up all sports. I have however changed the way that I train and am still going. I don"t compete any more but I am enjoying my training once again.

Tae bo or cardio karate workouts are spot on for improving fitness stamina, flexibility and timing. I teach classes as well as karate classes. Important to remember tae bo is not a martial art but a good all body fitness workout, particuarlly when combined with body conditioning work. I took my workout routine into a karate class of experienced students. They were all burnt our within 30 minutes. My cardio students lasted over 60 minutes. I also helps to improve co ordination and timing for sparring I also exhausted a dan grade group at at gradeing session for my association in 1 hour. They thought they were fit

One legged squats and slow motion kicks worked for me. Once you have mastered these try the same exercise with your eyes shut.

What was your best weeks training ?. I have just graded 64 of my students this week. Watching them perform and work made me feel very forfilled and satisfied. It was so rewarding to see the fruits of my teaching and coaching , and has motivated me to work even harder for them. It was far better than any competition that I have won.

The point to think about is that nothing in traditional karate is wasted. Every move stance has a purpose. It may not always be obvious. But as your journey continues it may well become clearer. This gem was left with me early in my Karate training and has stayed with me. Some really good points already made guys. Thanks

Wise decision breaker. You should always seek that which you desire. I favour tradition , but i also include kumite in my classes and enter comps. But Karate without the tradition in empty. and sport karate is just sport. You need to find a balance between the two.

Wise decision breaker. You should always seek that which you desire. I favour tradition , but i also include kumite in my classes and enter comps. But Karate without the tradition in empty. and sport karate is just sport. You need to find a balance between the two.

At the end of your training session when you are nice and warm try a sitting inner thigh strtech, a lying hamstring stretch, and a lying glute and adductor stretch. To develop flexibility here hold each stretch fot 20 seconds. Inhale and as you exgale takel the stretch a little further and hold for a further 30 seconds. You should by able to find details of these stretches in books etc. If you can"t I could mail you some. These work for me and my students.

Another idea may be to leanr some basic weigth exercises like bicep curls shoulder press and so on. You can show you mom the motion with no weigth. That would be good exercise for your motor skills. Your mom could then copy the movements with light weights. Get some advice from a qualified gym trainer, your mom my need to work on some aerobic and body conditioning stuff first.At your age of 12 I personally would not recommend using weights.

I too always wondered what horse stance was about. I experimented myself , and found many of the points made previously. I have also be enlightened to some more. I was once told that every move stance turn etc in karate has a use or purpose. Nothing in karate is ever wasted, seek and you will find. The obvious is not always obvious.

This is a great piece of information GoldDragon. Sadly this is a element that is missing from many schools today. It is a element of karate that I have had to seek out myself, as my original instructors only paid it lip service. Karate was taught as a series of physical movemnets, if you want any more read a book. Now as a coach myself I include the philosophys of shotokan. To me without them then karate is like having a empty box.

Another point to consider here is that the best martial artists do not always make the best coaches. Just because you have a great skill does not mean you can develop it in others. I do not cosider myself a great martial artist, I have reached a good standard but I am still learning , but I have better skills in coaching and motivating others. Being a good coach is more than gaining knowledge it is knowing how to use and apply it, and being an eternal student yourself.

I can"t understand Funikoshi being a fav sensie unless you actually trained under him. He blessed us with Shotokan karate but you need to train with someone to really apreciate them. Bruce Lee is my hero, but the most inspirational person I have trained with is Dan Innosanto .To be in the company of the man was just awesome , he has real humility and generosity, something found only in truly genuine martial artists.

Just a further comment on my previous post nd how students can help you see the bigger picture. Last week a new student came to my school, his Dad told him to listen to me as I was a black belt and the most important person in the dojo. I thought about what had just been said and replied. That I was not the most important person there, in fact his son was. He had the bravery and courage to take his first steps into a Karate Dojo, a completely alien environment. I had 90 minutes to find out about him excite him and motivate him to come back next week. It is not just about learning new techniques, but how poeple view things and draw their opinions. That moment helped me to see the bigger picture.

All good instructors or coaches learn from their students. I came from a background where the instructors were only motivated by the studenst money not by his potential. By seing the students potential you find ways of furthering your own. I have become a beter karate ka since I have been teaching, and have benfited from the excellent advice and encouragement from Sensei Steve Leak. I look forward to training every week in anticipation of what my students me. I would also gladly swap some kata training with Tobias in return for some kumite tips. See ya soon friends

Music is great for warm ups and cardio routines. I would not use it certain areas of a traditional lesson when focus is required on technique ref Tobias point.. However music can help develop rythum and timing two key skills for sparring. Don"t knock it till you"ve tried it. I was reluctant to use music in a class from a respect point of view. Untill I attended a training weekend with Dan Innosanto. He used background music of rythmic drum beats. If it"s good enough for Dan t"s good enough for me.

always train in the pool when on holiday. The water supports the body and you can focus on pure technique. This will build strength and muscle memory. Water training is also very good when recovering from injuries. Particuarly knee and ankle injuries, and for developing a weaker side. If you have one. You can add weights, or even try a cardio workout in the pool, but not in the deep end ! Plus it stops all the girls looking at the beach bums. Unless you are a beach bum training in the pool.

I sugest looking at Pilates exercises as these will strengthen the lower and deeper lying lower body muscles. You can work the front and side abbs as much as you like but the real strengthen comes from these deeper lying muscles . You will gain better posture, better alingment, and greater core stability. I invested in a book and video 6 months ago and have really noticed a difference. I now balance my core rotine with Pilates and crunches. But don" t forget if you are doing crunches you must balance them with Back extensions. You need to work opposite muscle groups in order to maintain good balance.