Jiffy

We used to use the saying "Practice Makes Perfect" but as we all know, bad practice does not make you perfect.So, we started using 'Perfect Practice Makes Perfect". We then realised that there is no such thing as perfect practice, it doesn't happen. So, we now use "Practice Makes Permanent". eg. If you practice poorly, you will become bad. If you practice well, you will become good. The other thing for this is it not only encourages people to train well for good results, but it says, "if you aren't doing it right, don't keep practicing it that way"

I have two. One when I was about 17 and the other when I was 25. (first Dan's that is)

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. Martial arts has changed a lot in modern years. Many new arts have come to light while others have faded into the darkness. Sometimes, we notice arts molding into one another seamlessly while others hold a steadfast rule about their origins. During efforts to analyze this, it became apparent that the usual method of separating arts based on the time in history they were created or the country from which they originated was not actually the common denominator. Rather, it was that all forms of martial arts can credit their skills to one or more of the four facets of fighting. All techniques and principles work within these four facets, regardless of the art. It is also interesting to note that the four facets of fighting are not only different in application, but that the range in which they can be applied is somewhat exclusive. In fact, it is the range that will most likely determine the facet of fighting to be used more than any other deciding factor. Weapons The weapons facet is classified as the use of a weapon that is not part of the body. This could range from a pen, to a bo, to a sai, to a gun - however, in most weapons oriented martial arts, the common weapons would include traditional bladed and un-bladed weapons such as the bo, jo, tonfa, sword, knife and Kali stick. Arts such as Kali, Escrima, Buki Ryu, Kendo and Aido specialize in the use of weapons. The weapons range is the longest range of all and can allow someone attacking with a weapon to do so with a great amount of impact while maintaining greater safety through greater distance. A defender can also gain an advantage by using weapons. Weapons allow them to keep an attacker at a greater distance, reduce negative impact from a blocking movement and increase impact with an aggressive block, counter or lock. While there are some definite advantages with weapons, there are also some risks involved. One of the risks is that the focus of both the defender and the attacker is on the weapon. This can open the opponent up to other attacks while unaware. The more obvious danger is that of having the weapon taken away and then used in retaliation. There are also certain legal issues that can hold a greater impact if a weapon is used in an altercation. Striking The striking facet is classified as the use of mainly striking and blocking movements from a standing position. This would include the likes of kicks, punches, knees, elbows, etc. The striking range is a medium range and varies depending on the technique usage. The striking facet is the most widely practiced facet of martial arts. Martial arts such as Karate, Kempo, Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu use a large amount of techniques from the striking facet. It is not difficult to see why it would be valuable to learn from an art that deals with the striking facet. Most altercations will escalate to striking before moving onto other facets of fighting. By training in this facet, the martial artist learns to deal with this common threat and also to respond in an effective manner. It is also important to recognize that an attacker can get a quick and effective result from the striking facet. A simple punch is often all that is required to end an altercation. By learning this and learning to deal with this, a martial artist can greatly improve their chances of survival. Stand Up Grappling The stand up grappling facet encompasses both grappling and trapping. Jams, traps, throws, trips, locks, chokes and holds are all part of this facet. The nature in which techniques from this facet are applied generally dictates that the range will be close. The main advantage of this facet of fighting is that it allows a greater range of pain compliance than can be offered from the striking facet. In the striking facet, while a soft strike can be given to gain control without damage, to increase the level of pain compliance, a second blow must be delivered. In the stand up grappling facet, however, the nature of the techniques that can allow a martial artist to gradually and progressively increase the amount of pain inflicted on their opponent. Stand up grappling is generally included as a large part of Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, Judo, Hapkido and other such arts. In the stand up grappling facet, a martial artist can learn to deal with very close range threats. With a great concentration on balance and pain tolerance, a martial artist using the stand up grappling facet is able to maintain control of an altercation while maintaining strict control on the amount of damage ultimately done. Being able to cope with the close range of this facet means the martial artist is able to deal with altercations in very tight spaces such as a hotel or train. While there is a definite advantage to the defender at the distance this facet requires, it can also make them vulnerable to fast attacks. At the close range required for grappling, an attacker can launch an attack and reach the target in a very short time. In addition, being so close to an attacker can also make it difficult to see attacks originating from the lower part of the body due to limits on the angle of peripheral vision. Ground Grappling While ground grappling has been around for many years, it has only become popular in the western world in the last decade or so. Ground grappling in essence is the same as stand up grappling, but the techniques are applied from the ground. Ground grappling maintains the closest range of all due to the need to keep hold of an opponent. By allowing an opponent to gain distance, they can get to their feet and gain a definite advantage. Ground grappling is not common in many arts, but is included in arts such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Vale Tudo, western wrestling, shoot wrestling, Judo and so on. It is well known that many altercations end up on the ground. By neglecting to familiarize themselves with ground grappling concepts, a martial artist can seriously compromise their ability to defend themselves if the situation goes to the ground. Conversely, by being an adept ground grappler, a martial artist's chances of survival on the ground are greatly improved due to the general inability of untrained people to fight once on the ground. Like stand up grappling, the martial artist is able to slowly and progressively increase pain compliance techniques as well as apply techniques that will act instantaneously. While it is possible to classify various arts to contain more of one particular facet of fighting, it is important to note that most arts contain at least some of more than one facet in the event of an altercation. While it’s not always possible to gain extensive training in all of the facets of fighting, it is imperative that the serious martial artist at least makes himself/herself aware of the ideas and concepts of each facet. By doing this, in addition to learning to transition between the various facets, the martial artist is able to prepare themselves to deal with any combative scenario they may be faced with.

Next year, i will also be doing follow up calls, these are a great idea. It brings people back in if they are interested, and also keeps you up to date if there are any problems. Also, it just shows you care.

never heard of it. Got a link?

HAHAHAHA, Well Done! Think in this scenario, I'll stick with stepping in close and smacking them in the head with an elbow.... but thanks for the giggle!!!

If you're going to give a prize like a bike, beware of a couple of things a) you MUST clear it up with the parents first. b) it will mean only one student gets rewarded. Also, the one will get it will be the one with either the most friends, or with the gift of the gab. The pie idea is better I rekon!

Yeah I agree. But in terms of a dummy, I think it would be a good idea. As I said, it's obviously not as good as having a partner in the flesh, but it's definately better than training with thin air or not training at all.

At the end of the day, you really should visit the school and judge for yourself. We can only judge by the information on their website, which isn't a whole lot, and tells us nothing about HOW they train. Pay them a visit, and if you like it, great. If not, look elsewhere. Nothing to loose.

That's incorrect. Karate was not known as Karate-Do until Funakoshi because he tried to change the emphasis from an art to a way of life, thus changing the emphasis from combat to personal development. Karate was either known as Kempo, Ryukyu-Te, Karate or Karate-Jutsu. (often with the masters name or location put before it as the name of a style) In modern translation, Karate Jutsu simply means "Art of the empty hand" (as opposed to WAY of the empty hand) and is generally used as a term for Karate that is more focused on the original concepts of combat, rather than competition. Agreed, this is both unusual, and impossible. You can be demoted? WOW I personally agree with this one. I think it's a big discouragement to teach the art without fully understanding it. Biggest issue with this one. In all Shorin Ryu organizations that I know of (which isn't many, so I may be wrong), and I'll quote my schools website on this (from http://kobayashiusa.com/Pages/Belts.htm) and for my organization(from http://kobayashiusa.com/Pages/Belts.htm): so really until they can promote, they shouldn't be referred to as sensei. True! But, bare in mind, not being able to promote till Yondan is not a common practice. I would also go as far as to say that Sensei should be reserved for only one instructor. For the best reference I've seen on this (by a member of this forum), see here... (under Karate-101 I think) http://www.24fightingchickens.com AND???? What is the problem with a business, like a Karate school making a profit?? And more importantly, how do you know that's profit? What's their shipping charge? Who's their supplier? Does it include anything else? Does that subsidise training fees?

The other reason it's used also is to level out the playing field. For instance, I worked it out that I have had around 7,000 hours formal training. Would you be happy to pay the same amount of money for someone who has say 300 hours experience, and not be told about it?? (4hrs a week for 18 months) I know I wouldn't!! But if I knew the level of experience, I could make my decision accordingly. That's like going to hospital, expecting a surgeon, paying for a surgeon, but getting one of the oderleys.

This is the problem right here, because of the "Instructors Belt" you don't really have any idea how much experience your instructor has. In schools that don't use this, while there is some variance from person to person, you have a rough idea how much experience the instructor has, based on their grade. I don't have a problem with being taught by a lower grade, after all, to be taught, all you need is someone who knows more than you. However, even for low grade techniques, you will learn more from a more experienced person. Therefore, I think as long as the student makes an informed choice for themselves, it's fine either way, but because of the instructors belt, the student is no longer able to make an informed choice, and this is what I have a problem with...

There's some great posts here, most of which I agree with. Think of kata like a dictionary. Anyone from any language could pick up a dictionary, and it contains within it's pages every word one will need to use the language, but without understanding how they are constructed together in real life and practicing the pronounciation regularly, they will never be able to speak english well. Kata is no different. It is a vocabulary of techniques and principles that really do work out in the street, but if you don't know which techniques to use for a given scenario, how to apply them or how to put them together, then Kata is nothing more than a workout. If on the other hand you do know these things, and you practise them, I honestly believe Kata will be the best self defence tool you will ever come across.

Just on an extension of that, I'm proud of my belt, and I'm not afraid to say it. I trained hard to get it, and no-one can take that away from me. But there is a big difference between being proud of your grade and training for the sake of grade. If you have made an achievement, be proud of it, and when you wear that embroidered belt, wear it with pride. (pride, not ego). Just because you are proud doesn't mean that you are not humble and curteous!

I really don't see the logic in this way of thinking. Are you trying to say that if you have a belt that looks nice, you haven't trained hard?? It sometimes seems that people say what they think they should be saying to appear humble rather than what they actually think. I'm not saying that's the case in this post, but it does happen. As far as I'm concerned, you have to wear the belt anyway (weather it's just to hold your gi together, or to mark grade), so what does it matter if you want it to look nice?? That doesn't take away from the training you have done, and it certainly doesn't mean that you haven't been busy training!