SyracuseJundokan

Welcome...

Strength & Conditioning: 2 hours x 3 days Karate Training: 2 hours x 6 days Competitive Kumite Training: 1.5 hours x 4 days Stretching: 30 mins x 7 days

It matters and it doesn't matter... If you're happy with your training, it doesn't matter to you. In my post I was curious to see people out there that are practicing the original way, so in the context of this thread it matters... I guess it also matters when someone uses lineage to promote their practice, but then doesn't follow the teachings of that lineage...

Welcome...

Welcome...

Welcome...

I think the prevailing wisdom is not to pull punches (meaning less than 100% power) but rather to refocus the target in front of the person so as not to do damage. Punching at less than 100% is bad training...

I would release the bengal tiger!!

Hi there - welcome!!

It's a reflection of the ultimate irony in warfare: That the better prepared you are for war, the less likely it is that you will do battle... For more insight into this, read Sun Tsu...

I carry my brain - it came with a handy (and not bad looking if I may say so myself) carrying case...

Well said Eiichi!

Hehe - that's what I like to hear...

Nice to hear - sounds like your area is in better shape than mine!!

Hello!! Who out there is Goju-ryu? Talking about strict goju-ryu, not "modified, adapted, evolved, blended with others, etc." What organizations and affliations? In my area there are a LARGE number of schools claiming goju that have nothing in common with authentic goju... Is this common where you are also?

Welcome!

Yeah - I guess my earlier point is that when you try to "protect" your attacker, you are taking a HUGE risk. If it comes to the point that you need to get physical, my opinion is that you should usee 100% force to end the encounter as quickly as possible. Any damage they incur is a result of their actions to provoke. Any damage you incur as a result of trying to "protect" them with "appropriate" force is a result of you taking such risks. The real question is what you would do to avoid blows (including not being there in the first place) and not how much force you would use when it came to force. The second question should be an easy one for anyone who understands the true dangers that an uncontrolled encounter presents... $.02 chaching!!

Hehe - well said Sam... easy to talk about eh?

Mercy = Risk... It is better to be judged by 12 of your peers than carried by 6 of your friends...

hehe - then why is it in your signature?

Here's a thought... There are generally known to be three phases of martial ability as you progress through training: Phase 1: You have no "trained skills" but your lack of knowledge allows you to move naturally and freely without concern for "correct technique". This instinctive way to fight can be very effective. Phase 2: You are now learning correct technique and strategy and the effort to do things correctly undermines your natural movement and ability to fight. This is a dangerous period when false-confidence and an overestimation of your abilities can cause easy defeats. It should be noted that karate rank progression and tournament success can be your enemy here in that it prevents you from realizing that you are still in this phase. Phase 3: Now your trained responses and strategies have become instinctive and natural for you and you are once again free to act naturally, but this time correctly. At this point, new experience improves your fighting abilities without hindrance. An advantage for "street fighters" is that they never move from Phase 1 since they don't try to learn "correct technique". They merely get more and more experienced and gradually improve their skills without seeing them as "new" and therefore unnatural at first. However, their lack of focus on scientifically effective technique leads them to plateau at some point. I believe that when correct technique becomes natural (Phase 3) that you will have a definate advantage over a street fighter. As martial artists looking to improve our skills, we need to face the facts presented by this progression of skill and practice diligently to make sure that we reach this level as quickly as possible without letting our rank progression and tournament success give us a false-sense of our true abilities. Here's another thought... If your training is realistic (good partner work, random situations, feedback mechanism that accurately reflects effectiveness, etc.) you will have much more experience that your average street fighter. If you train six days per week and have 10-20 training encounters or realistic sparring matches per session, you will have 60-120 encounters per week. I doubt that many street fighters have even close to this experience. Finally, the most important ally in this type of situation is positive self-confidence that you will win. You get this confidence gradually through success built on success in the training environment. And if you have the misfortune of being in a real fight (and winning) your confidence will grow even more. Everyone now owes me $.02!!

Goju-ryu

I think Charles Hobbib has a dojo in LaFayette... He is a student of Demura Fumio Sensei...

Not you necessarily... people in that stance... Sideways stances set up for lead-leg kicking have a lot of vulnerability against good punchers that know how to sweep...

Hello