Pacificshore

With all that has been said, let your past experiences guide you. Focus on your goals with your new school. Let others at the school find their way. Always remember no one likes a "know-it-all", especially if your seen as an outsider, and especially if you come off the wrong way whether you meant it or not

Some of you may remember this one, and some maybe too young to remember.....but by far one of the worst movies was GymKata, which starred an american gymnist, Kirk Thomas, I think it was...with Richard Norton as the bad warlord

At one time, I bought the Swain home mat when it went on sale. Think it was down to $275.00. It was 8x8 and the foam pcs. fit into it's vinyl shell. It was good for grappling, and light to moderate take downs. The only thing is that I didn't use it so much for grappling, so I sold it off. Swain is normally just hell expensive, but when they had the sell on their home mat, I was surprised at the low sale price.

Although my exposure to the art was limited to a seminar in Las Vegas several years back, I found many of the techniques that I can recall fast, flowing, and powerful. Sorry I can't expound any further.

Cool, welcome aboard!

I voted both, because as an instructor, you never stop learning

Welocme aboard!

Welcome aboard

Howzit sista! Welcome to the forum

Hey if that's all you got to work with, then why not The obviously the difference will be in weight between the foam practice ones, and the wooden ones. Plus there is the difference in feel, wood vs. foam. Perhaps you can make a decent pair by going to the hardware store, and finding different size dowels(weight, thickness).

Just as Delta said....HELL NO!!!!!!!!!! Besides, if someone wants to spend their $$ at a McDojo, then so be it. Not up to me how they train, or where/whom they get it from. So long as my students have confidence in my teaching abilities, and feel that they can defend themselves, then I'm happy

https://www.tigerclaw.com You'll find they have separates, and the heaviest gi they have is a 100% 14oz. Hayashi. They do have it in red, and it's reasonable in price.

Steinhauser: In my opinion, go with the heavy cotton. As far as Proforce brand goes, I know that they are cut larger than most gi's. Regarding your weight, I'd get the size 5, think it goes to 215lbs. Better bigger than smaller. It'll probably shrink some, but your gonna have to wash it in hot with no bleach. If anything, use the Tide bleach alternative. You can always get it tailored down the road if it is still a bit on the long side. Later

Well it'll be $$ well spent in my opinion. I spent $130(US) on mine through Satori gi. If you go to the website, just print out the page where it ask for your measurements, get it filled out, and next thing you know, you'll be wearing a gi made to your specs

How does the Kamae uniform compare to the Tokaido or Shureido??

Checkout https://www.satori-gi.com

Interesting. In our system of Kempo, we have a brown/black belt rank. It's just before 1* black. The belt is half brown and half black, not like the one you found. As for who makes them, at least in our system, it's just taking the two belts, cutting them in half and having them sewn together, one side brown the other black.

Depends on the amount of $$ you want to spend. Both are top quality uniforms, but I've read on some forums that the Tokaido isn't what it use to be, but then again I wouldn't know personally. That goes for the Shureido, many swear by it. Maybe think about the heaviest weigh out there. The heaviest gi I've used is a 14oz., but I know there are some that weigh as much as 16oz. I've used the Juka Dragon-Gold gi in a 14oz. was pretty durable and more reasonable in cost. Most my other uniforms are 12 ouncers, and have held up well enough. I have a custom ordered one from Satori gi, and it is nice because it provides extra room in the pants, as well as the armpits of the jacket. Oh, I do have a 14oz. Macho heavy, and that's nice, but I only use it as a formal type gi, testing and such, so it gets very little wear. Hope this is of some help

It is Lua, the art of bone crushing

I have to disagree with this point. Kenpo has punches, kicks, self defense, katas, and weapon katas like many tradtional "karate" systems. Perhaps isn't viewed as karate in the "traditional" sense, but non-the-less it is still a form of karate

Just my biased opinion, but in all reality, they are all the best depending on the individual, and their training methods. My vote was for KeNpO

Me and spicey hot food=

Welcome

Welcome and enjoy the forum

Peace!