Jiffy

Good luck. I hope you make it through. Just remember, that like your martial arts, your mind control is paramount. Remember that cravings are a mental signal and like all other mental signals, they can be controlled, or even switched off. Good Luck

Just have a look at anywhere that has a decent room and give them a call. In the past, we have hired schools, churches, community centres etc.

That's fantastic! Well Done! I know how you feel, I too will be going for Sandan in 3 months. I haven't graded in 4 years.

Congratulations

Okay?!? How does that work?

The term "Warm" is used for the sake of convenience. It doesn't actually dictate the temperature of the muscle. The best time to stretch is after excersize because the muscles are fully oxygenated due to the increased blood flow and they are also supple due to the breakdown that occurs during excersize. The muscles are indeed more supple with the heat from a hot shower, but you will not also have the added benefits of excersize listed above.

We also don't use them. We used to have some a while ago, worst thing we did. Now that we have some brown belts that want to go at it a little harder, it would be nice to have them, but we don't, so oh well.

That's so true. Those guys can move quick!!!

I honestly think that the only way you can improve this is to spar. Make sure you spar hard. Aggressiveness is like anything else, it needs to be practised often to make it good. I too lack the agression I would like to have.

My personal view is that at least a couple of years before you move on. Get a good grounding in one, then move on.

I have written a few articles now, but haven't got around to getting them published yet. I really shoudl do that. Anyway, I'd also like to agree with Miller. Don't think about what you are writing, just write. Let it happen and let it take you where it does. Then, when you finish, go back and start modifying it to suit.

True, but just because Funakoshi didn't practise them doesn't mean they're not there. JKA is originally from Funakoshi..... (well, by that I mean his students started it....... I think)

Yeah, just you I rekon, I find Nidan easier... It's just those akward cresent kicks and the slow movement at the top that are hard in Sandan. Nidan is at least mainly basic movements.

No. The literal translation for "Shodan" is "Beginner Step", but is usually used in the contect of "1st Step" When used on it's own, it generally means a grade. ("Shodan" means 1st Dan, or 1st Step) With the Kata, the "Shodan" is used to give katas of the same type an identifier. Eg. Heian Shodan = Peaceful Mind, 1st Step Heian Nidan = Peaceful Mind, 2nd Step Heain Sandan = Peaceful Mind, 3rd Step etc etc Tekki Shodan = Horse Riding, 1st Step Tekki Nidan = Horse Riding, 2nd Step etc etc

That's a really interesting point. Do you have some sort of documentation on this? I wouldn't mind finding out more...

I think Funakoshi switched them because the first one was harder to learn, and he was teaching children, and not worrying about the applications at the time of them learning. These forms mainly became exercise, and the later forms were focused on for bunkai (I think). That makes sence (explains my previous post I guess)

For us, it isn't. Hein Shodan is first for us. (of the colour belt katas. We have "Kihon Kata" before that)

By the way, thought I'd just mention, there is 26 Shotokan Kata, not 19. Other than that though, great comparison!

Isn't it weird, we think of Asia as the likes of Chinese or Japanese, but there's so much more.

What's the quote??

Well make this a first. I have referred students elsewhere due to medical reasons.

I too have noticed beginners doing this and I completely agree with you. It is funny, but once you get further up in the Martial Arts, pick the one that is going to do the damage, and put everything you have into that one.

My take on this whole thing is this. Learn the pressure points. Know where they are and what they do. When you are in the midst of combat, attempt to strike these areas with the view that a hard hit will get the job done, and the pressure point is a bonus.

So was he serious or was it just messing around??

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