Jiffy

We used to have 2 hour classes, but we recently went to 1.5 hour classes. This is much better. People concentrate a lot better and it means we can fit two classes into the night. We start with about 10-15 mins warmup, then it varies from there...

That's a great idea! That do that at my work when someone resigns, and yet I never thought to do it at the Karate club. Maybe a good idea would be to send out a letter inviting them back, then a couple of months later, if not reply, send out a survey. What you think of the idea?

That doesn't surprise me at all. I completely agree. For a lot of people, you just need to bridge that gap with a bit of personal attention and they will come back.

We train in Shotokan. The level of contact will vary depending on the level of experience of the practitioners. For the more experienced guys, I expect the lightest of taps to the head (no red marks) or to the spine, no contact to the groin, throat or joints. Ribs, stomach, chest and outer back are all fair game for contact (provided it's within the limits of what the person can handle). For the less experienced, it's lighter contact and for the real beginners, none at all.

I only know Shotokan and Kempo, but as always, it firstly depends more on the school than the style. Okay, now that is out of the way. The primary difference between the two is the range, speed and power. Shotokan maintains a further distance, is a little more linier and concentrates more on power. Kempo on the other hand works at a closer range, does not have the power of Shotokan, but looks at more techniques flowing into a short space of time. Your choice really.

Although I love BJJ is a very effective art, I do not think it is effective on it's own in the street. Why? Despite popular opinion, MOST fights do not end up on the ground. Most fights are finished quickly with a few strikes. However, ALL fights that go any longer than that end up on the ground! I would say, if you could do some striking, plus BJJ, that would be the most ideal. Otherwise, Judo would be more affective as it works from both the ground and on the feet (well, a lot more evenly at least)

Normally, 3 classes a week, but I hope for more next week. At the moment though, because our Sensei is away, 6-7 classes a week (teaching).

No Worries

So.... did you end up buying one?

Be honest with her. Tell her that you have this renewed passion and that you're afraid you won't be able to fulfill if you leave it too late. Sympathise about the money, but insist that this is really important to you. If she loves you, I'm sure she'll see the light. If she doesn't, there is one saying I ALWAYS use. "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission"

The over twisting of the hip is usually a sypmtom of lack of sideways flexibility in the hip. Try to stretch this as much as possible, but you may find that it will only go so far. Side splits are the easiest way to work this. The key point is not the height of the kick (considering that most of the time in the street it will go for the knee), but to ensure that the position of the delivery is correct. As always, raise your concern with your instructor and ask if he can help you.

Yep, exactly. There is no greater joy than this. I'm so greatful for the gift of MA!

yes! i currently practice three different bunkai for the basic karate 'lunge punch' oi-tsuki found in kata, and none of them use the movement as a punch! Okee dokee, maybe you guys can give some suggestions then. Chon Ji hyung, my white belt form, starts with a down block to the right with the left arm in left front stance, and then step and right punch. I can think of a block to a low kick, and then punching, but is there more I could do? Like simulate a takedown? I just am not very creative. I was talking to my students about this just the other day. Don't feel the need to over-complicate Bunkai. This is probably the most common mistake. Sometimes, the movements are "hidden" into the Kata and it is up to us to find them, but sometimes, the movement is just as it looks. If it's a block and punch, sure it's possible that there's more to it, but in a lot of cases, it's acceptable to think of it as nothing more than just a block and a punch.

Rank is determined by what is in our head, not what is on our waist!

If you are in Kiba Dachi, and you kick to your right (Kekomi, not keage), you would rotate the foot, by spinning on the ball of the foot so that your toes point to the left. That way, as your body moves to your right, the knee is in a natural position to bend and doesn't take the impact on the side of the knee. If you do not do this (your left foot is pointing forward and your kick is going to the right) then the force you apply by your momentum moving to your right is applied to the side of the knee, which is not the natural movement of the knee.

Name - Jiffy (nickname) Shotokan - Nidan (2nd Dan). Hope for 3rd Dan in December Hapkido - 1st Gup, Hope for 1st Dan in December Various other minor grades.

Just to clarify, it's not "Horse Stance", it's "Horse Riding Stance". It has nothing to do with the legs of a horse, it's the shape your legs form when you sit on a horse. A lot of Katas are taught with this stance because back when they were created, people had to fight from horse back. As for cat stance, as mentioned, it's not really anything to do with a cat, but has been given the name for the sake of convenience. All stances have practical use if you know what you're looking for.

Hahahaha, yeah, it makes it interesting. Teaching friends is a challenge. Trying to call Dad "Sensei" in class is interesting too, but now it just comes naturally (as you know, I often call him that after we get home from training)

HAHAHAHA, yeah, that looks funny.

It depends on what your definition of "alot" is. Sure, there is heaps of them in there, but if you are comparing to strikes, then I would have to disagree. Shotokan is primarily a striking art, but yes, does have throws and ground work.

I am by no stretch of the imagination a Martial Athlete, but I believe I am a Martial Artist in the truest sence of the word. I live and breathe Martial Arts every minute.

Some great opinions here. Keep them coming. for me personally, my defence is making the desicion if I am going to be victim to their attack and then trying to avoid it, but if an attack is imminent, mine will be first.

Exactly. Humans learn through trial and error. Always have, always will. Yet so many of us try to wrap either ourselves or others in cotton wool to prevent them from making mistakes. Mistakes is what we learn from. Therefore, no mistakes = no learning.

How did you go with this??

Parkerlineage, while your post is indeed funny, the amount of phillosphy in the Karate Kid series is HUGE! Even now when I watch it for the 50th or more time, I still find bits of phillosophy that fascinate me.