hajimekyu

Which means that you have a lot more fun ahead of you

Awesome...congrats! It just keeps getting better

I love riding my motorcycle and belong to the Christian Motorcyclist Association.I also love music of many types,including Celtic and Native American.I swim but don't care much for crowded pools I also have my menagerie, which includes two dogs,two birds,a hamster,and an assortment of fish,one frog,one newt,two crayfish and a turtle.My son is trying his hardest to persuade me to buy a guinea pig,but we are moving to another state soon and it will already be hard to get all the critters from Point A to Point B.Some of the fish will go to new homes. I love to read.My son is 12 and we still have story time every evening.We've been through all the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings,and the Chronicles of Narnia,and much more.

I have been studying Sanchin Ryu for almost two years.I know only a very little about other styles of karate,but I am curious about some things.I am wondering about the forms and kata in other karate styles. In my style we have basics,then combined basics advanced(CBAs),then forms,and finally katas.Each leads into what follows.For example,the last basic is a double strike,the CBAs start with a double strike and progress to more complex techniques which lead to forms.The forms increase in complexity,each leading into the next, and become the foundation of kata.The last form is a combination from the previous forms.It's sometimes referred to as the form of beginnings and endings.The first kata we learn is known as "kata called form" which puts all of the forms together in sequence.More advanced katas are usually not learned until the upper belt levels.At purple belt level I am familiar with all of the forms and am working on kata called form,but I am learning only a little of the more advanced katas.Is that more or less the usual progression? I guess what got me wondering was a reference I saw here to the kata learned as a white belt.For us,white belt is the very beginning and people at that level are working on basics,CBAs and maybe the first form is beginning to be grasped.Kata comes much later.So is the word kata sometimes used interchangeably with the word form in some styles or are they different? Thanks,

In the style I practice,the black belt senseis can take care of belt testings up to purple.But only the higher ranking masters can do browns.Blacks are done at a special black belt class and then the new black belts are presented to their regular class.We are fortunate that our dojos are not owned by any of us.Rather,we use schools and community centers.We are non competitive and so the senseis and masters all work in cooperation with one another.So far,we have not done video testing that I am aware of at this time.But this is probably because there has not been a need for it.As was said,don't worry too much about the belt itself.It is a recognition of accomplishment but there are many more subtle recognitions that will come regardless of the belt.

It probably varies a bit depending on style and type of school.But here are some basics that I think may be fairly standard.It's how things are done in my style and many others.There is a bow on entering and leaving the dojo.This is an inclusive gesture of respect towards the dojo as a whole.The class will use a formal bow to begin and finish the session.When speaking to your sensei or the person leading a group we will bow first and address the person by the appropriate title for their rank.If we are partnered with someone for practice,we will also bow to each other before beginning and when finished.If a person is joining a group they will bow in and will bow out if they are leaving.We do this even for water breaks and that sort of thing.Punctuality is very important,but if someone arrives late for some reason our sensei (7th dan) will usually bow them in.We wait quietly off to the side and do not interupt,and she bows us in when she has the opportunity.Until you get used to it,all this may seem awkward.But it conveys a lot of respect for self and others and this is an important aspect of martial arts.I hope that helps

In my style we don't break things.We do learn a lot of self defense applications.Some things are especially geared toward kids,ie stranger awareness and techniques for getting away safely.We also have some Grace Under Pressure classes for women.But everything learned in the open classes has the potential for self defense applications regardless of age,gender or size.Contact is kept pretty light until you get into upper ranks and have demonstrated an understanding of control.But we partner up for practice of techniques and that's pretty important.I think some things can only be learned through hands on experience.For example,I never really understood the "dump" from our form of Wansu until I put it into practice with a brown belt partner.Then I got it.I had to get the feeling of coming right into my partner's space with an open L or an Iron Horse stance,striking the upper thigh muscle with the knee to upset her balance before making the turn and directing her fall with the heel palm and open shuto.Of course,there are other ways of applying those techniques,but the point is that I had to try it on a live person in order to understand it.And I had to attain some skills before I got to the point of being able to apply it to someone in practice.

Thanks.One of the things that I really like about this site is the mutual respect shown for the various styles of MA .I'm learning so much from reading the different forums here and I'm sure it will be a great help if I have to look for another area of study after I move to Tennessee.

Thanks...it is very nice,especially the option of visiting other area dojos.Of course,I do spend a good bit of time and gas money each week since they are an average of 45 minute to an hour each way.Sometimes I carpool with other students or whenever possible I ride my motorcycle.Workshops really rock as well.I prepaid for both of our Spring events so a total of 6 hours of intensive study with our Grand Master and many other masters and senseis cost me only 25 dollars plus travel.I do think high quality training is worth whatever you have to pay for it.Kind of hard to put a price tag on something that has so many benefits.But since I am a lowly wage slave it's very lucky for me that costs are so reasonable.

Wow....I feel very fortunate to be getting so much for so little.I pay about 26 dollars for a 6 or 8 week session.There are no testing fees,just the cost of the belt.For only a dollar visitor fee I can visit any Sanchin Ryu class and they are always delighted to have visitors.The dollars go to help out kids for things like our summer campout events.No one is paid for instructing classes,not even the highest ranking masters.It's considered a mutually beneficial learning experience.I'm sure that's a big part of why it's so affordable.

Try having a very direct conversation with her about how you feel. Ask if she has any negative feelings regarding the incident,but do not take on any additional negative feelings yourself.As everyone said,being hurt is an inherant risk we take.I continued training with a broken collarbone following a motorcycle accident.Everyone has been very careful,but if/when someone accidently causes me pain I do not hold it against them for even a moment.After all,I am choosing to be there. BTW...three weeks seems like an awfully long time for her to still be having a problem in a physical or emotional sense.At this point, a direct conversation can hardly make things worse and it will at least clear the air.After that,regardless of her response,it's time to let it go.

I do a lot of that stuff.I'm especially guilty of sneaking in practice at work.I work with preschool kids and they just think it's a riot when I am "dancing" to the silly songs.Little do they know that I am refining techniques out of my forms,and polishing transitions from various stances But my #1 obsessed for the day thinking is: When you go to see the new Star Wars movie and they break out their light sabers,and you actually say out loud, "Oh cool....weapons kata!!!"

I got into it initially as something that I thought would benefit my son and myself.He needed self discipline and self confidence.And I had been hurt a lot in the past.I wanted to be find ways to get beyond fear and to be able to defend myself.As it turned out,my son is not very interested in karate.Sometimes he will participate but not that often.I discovered a passion for it in myself.I love the fluid grace that develops with continued practice,as much or more than the actual self defense applications.I also love the focus on personal growth and accomplishment.In Sanchin Ryu we do not compete with each other,but we do strive to become better each day than we were the day before.

Thanks for the welcomes. I got started in Sanchin Ryu almost two years ago.At first I thought it would be something good for me and my 12 year old son to do together.But as it turns out,I have far more interest in it than he does.I am fortunate that being registered for class at my home dojo allows me to visit any other Sanchin Ryu class for only a dollar visitor fee.So I go at least 3 times a week and really enjoy seeing the different perspectives and teaching styles.Today I am going to the second of our Spring workshops and am looking forward to working with and seeing people from all over

In my style, physical limitations are not a barrier to growth and accomplishment. Shortly after I began my first session a kid on a bicycle plowed into me on my motorcycle.It broke my collarbone in three places.Fortunately,my instructor was willing to allow me to continue and to work around my injury.It has been a long slow healing process and still feels a bit fragile at times,but I am glad it didn't stop me.I visited a class last night in another city and the sensei there is legally blind.I have also met a black belt in a wheelchair and a master with leg braces.I may be moving out of the area soon but I plan to find ways to keep up my studies.I may not find a place as good as what I now have right away,but I will keep searching. I am glad to hear that you are not giving up.

My morning practice is usually done in pj bottoms and t-shirt. Later I may wear street clothes or something loose and comfy.I prefer bare feet but also practice in socks and in shoes.For myself, it's important to practice in all types of clothing.If I am attacked in an actual confontation I want to be prepared to respond regardless of what I am wearing.The chances of my being attacked while wearing my gi seem rather remote at this point. hajime~kyu

Been checking out the various forums and it seems like a great place for conversation and information.I am currently living in Michigan and study a non~ competitive style of karate called Sanchin Ryu. Soon I will move to Tennessee and while I hope to continue in this style,I may have to explore other options also, as Sanchin Ryu is not yet widely available outside of Michigan.Looking forward to participating in the forums. Tinker aka hajime~kyu