Jiffy

I face this situation on a daily basis. I am becoming the principle when it comes do business, but the final say still belongs to our chief instructor... my father. Him and I have some very different views on how things should be done... For most things, we meet in the middle. We sit and discuss things and try to find some common ground. We go over them and write the pros and cons of each way, then we make a decision on them. Sometimes I get my way, sometimes we do it his way. It's a compramise. I too am at that point now where I need to decide, am I going to do things for myself or continue to work together. I think we'd probably be better working together, but I need to monitor that. For me, it appears that the most logical solution is what I've pretty much decided I'm going to do as of next year. We will still run the club together as one club, but I will be opening classes in a completely different area. That will allow us to get a wider market and also allow a little more freedom in what we do while still maintaining the financial and organisational benefits of working together. Hope this helps, if not, PM me.

My advice, time to move on...

Couldn't agree more!! The sequals completely ruin the name of the first movie! A disgrace compared to the first one!

Good idea in theory, but I don't think it would work in practise due to the huge amount of steps in some katas/forms, the huge amount of different katas/forms and the difference in size of all the practitioners.

I just thought I'd put in something here... Everyone except those who live in the USA laugh at stars and stripes clothing. Weather it be boots, undies or Gi's. I'm not trying to insult anyone here, I mean in the states, I'm sure it's the done thing and therefore normal, and I guess being patriotic is a great thing... but to the rest of the world, it looks funny! Good luck finding some!

It all depends on a couple of things. First of all, are you going back to the same club? If so, then yes, I believe they should recognise it and help to bring you back up to speed (which you'd be surprised, won't take that long. It all comes flooding back). As it's unlikely you'll be going back to the same school 10 years later, the next question is, is the grade recognised by anyone. For example, our grades are recognised by WKF, which means any other school in the world that is certified by WKF should accept our grades and vice-versa. Failing that, it will be up to the instructor in the club. For example, we have had students that have come to us with a non-WKF-certified grade. We will assess them and allow them to train at the level we believe they are at. Often this will be the same grade they were, sometimes they will need to work a bit to be graded back to that level. It depends on the individual student. If it's either of the first two scenarios, it should be easy. If it's the last scenario, find a school and talk to the instructors. See what they can do for you.

I'd like to offer a simplified explanation as it was offered to me. (some may dis-agree, but history of Martial Arts is part fact, part legend, so take what you will, discard what you wont) The begginning was one master art, primarily chinese based (although believed to orignate from india many years ago). This is thought to be the begginning of Kung Fu. The Japanese took the bits they liked and called it "Karate", the Chinese and took the bits they liked and called it "Kempo". Master Ed Parker saw that Kempo was a great art, but lacked evoloution, so he added and modified the style based on principles from modern science and biomechanics. This became "American Kenpo".

If you do not rotate the supporting leg and you thrust your hips forward, you will almost certainly damage a ligament. Explanation. If your knee is pointing to the side and you thrust your hips forward, you are putting sideways pressure on the knee, which is not safe. If the knee is facing directly forward, you put excess rotational pressure on the knee which is also very dangerous. There are two ways to stop this problem. My way is that you still use the hips, but rotate the foot. Millers way is that you do not thrust the hip. Either way will prevent damage, just make sure you don't thrust the hip AND keep the foot still.

Can't argue with that!! Work out what it is you want out of that class and work on that. When you're in the street, hopefully you have trained enough in ground and stand-up so as to increase your chances of survival. When in the class though, just enjoy what you are learning as it applies to that scenario.

This one has been asked before. Some say that one is american and one is chinese. In my experience, they have been used interchangibly between both. Regardless of the way it's supposed to be used, that's the way I've seen it used. Don't worry too much about the spelling difference.

I think you need to remember here, you're not out there to hurt the guys feelings, just to decline any romance. As someone said, you don't owe him anything either. Just because the guy is interested in you, there is no need to dis-respect him, it's a normal reaction. If you want to go out with him, then go. Just make sure he understands that it is friends only. If he is still happy with that, then there is no problems in a couple of friends having some drinks. If he pushes again, politely decline and advise that you are not interested in romance or extra-curricular activities with him, but are more than happy to remain good friends. You can do that politely and still not need to give him any further reasons. As well, you can maintain your friendship because he maintains his dignity. Everyone wins.

As far as I'm concerned, there are ways to remove someone from your personal space without causing injury. However, if I determine that will not have an effect on them, or the level of threat immediately warrants it, I will do whatever is necesssary to ensure my safety.

Have a look at our website. There is a syllabus there for 4 different styles. https://www.aacd.info Click on "A Good Read" then "Syllabus"

His fast strikes sound more to me like Kenpo, but the easiest way to figure it out..... Ask Him.

Zorbasan is absoloutly correct IMHO. Skill and understanding should be the basis for grading, not time. Irrelevant of weather it is long or short.

Constantly. Our chief instructor is my father. Growing up, everytime he had a story or something to tell me, he would say "relate it to your karate". That's why it's disapointing to me that most people (including myself) commonly refer to it as Karate, not Karate-Do. The Do is what makes it part of life (way)

I've never studied Goju, but that sounds much like what we do in Shotokan. Haven't heard that name for it before, but makes sence.

That's because for Keage, a lot of schools don't pivot the supporting leg. They only do it for Kekome (thrust). While it does help with protecting the knee and with power, it is not necessary for Keagi because Keagi is a snap, not thrust. Therefore, the hips are not thrusted through and therefore, do not put the excess pressure on the knee like a thrust does. Also, rotating the supporting leg inhibits the speed of the technique, which is it's primary objective. As for power, power is not needed in Keage, only Kekomi.

I hate a T-Shirt underneath. If find it so uncomfortable. I can understand women wearing one though... the Gi doesn't exactly stay closed too well. (a little on the exposing side)

Sorry, I couldn't find a video that illustrates the difference between the two. It's not so much in whipping the knees as it is flicking the leg. At first, you may be a little sore because of the sudden full extension of the leg followed by a quick contraction of the muscles. Over time, this will ease off.

I agree, they certainly give you an advantage in combat, no question there. The difference is, some people like yourself believe that survival in combat is all that matters and thefefore it's okay to carry them. People like myself believe it's more complicated and there are other social and moral issues that come into it. Neither of us are more right or wrong. Just a difference in opinion.

Glad I could help

Search is your friend I think this is in the old threads somewhere with exact dimensions and pictures.

Excellent Post. Couldn't agree more.

And your advice is based on what experience?? Sorry to challenge you, but this is a strong statement you have made. As Zorbasan said, every technique has a use if you know what you are doing. The idea of the kick is not to break things, but to apply a snap to vulnerable areas such as kidneys, groid, jaw, armpit, tricep, inner thigh etc. If you're going to make a statement saying that something is useless, please state the reasons you believe as such. To answer your question sir, forget power. The idea of the technique is snap and speed. As well as attacking vulnerable areas, it can also be used just to gain enough time to get a stronger technique in. Think about getting the kick out and back as long as possible. Minimise un-necessary movement such as rotating the supporting foot like you would do in Yoko-Geri Kekomi and the thrust of the hips. Hip rotation is fine, but just make sure that the primary goal is to get it out with a SNAP and back as fast as possible.