shoshinkan

grappling is only complicated if you are trying to grapple a well trained grappler. Personally i think all ranges of combat have their place, karate is a complete art and should be trained accordingly, it really is all in the kata. I think different styles/instructors place different emphasis on aspects of karate according to their beliefs/expierience and training, the art remains the same.

as well as pushing the kick out, think of driving your body into the motion ie forward. it does take good hip and leg flexability

My understanding of okinawan karate is that inherent within the kata are a number of responses possible from the same movements, ie they mean different things in different situations. I will try and make sense with a simple example, the basic punch. It could be that we simply punch, as it looks. Or we could be grabed on the wrist, the same movement means we turn the attackers wrist and pull back sharply (hikite), offbalancing them and strike with our other hand - the punch. Or we could not punch them, but strike the limb with the 'punch' to lock, control controling with the hikite hand. So to me the moton of the movements is what is important, and to drill the various possible applications of that motion. However i agree that of late many are showing the grappling/locking/throwing side of the arts above the simple punch response. I think this is because it sells, and more people are interested in the explanation of the motions of karate nowdays (a good thing!). However, and specifically aimed at okinawan karate, conditioning is part of training, ie the fist (makiwara) and this is done because the punch motion works, as a punch ! Im rambling...........................................

i graded shodan in shukokai karate and shito ryu in the early 90s. I now study shorin ryu. I also trained in wingchun, thai boxing and judo and have basic expierience of them. this year is my 20th training in the martial arts !

ah forgot, hip flex - proberly the most usefull excersise for the maki - putting conditioning of the knuckles to one side. stand in whatever front stance, hold the maki with your reverse hand fully extended, drive into the maki with the hip - do not bend or give on the arm. excellent excersise and I do 25 each side each session. I also angle the maki forward about 2 inches off centre. Im not as mobile as makiwara man as i dont have alot of room around mine, but im really starting to see progress with 'freestyle' striking now, just do things at a sensible pace, the maki needs respect.

I work out 3 times a week at home, each home session includes makiwara training. I have a very authentic post built by makiwaraman - highly recomended people, and I have hit a few posts in my time. Like any conditioning work, start gentle and steadily increase work rate. Im hitting the makiwara at about 50-70% power, and started off over a year ago at about 30-40%. I work many techniques but my usual routine is something like - straight punch x 40 each side (centre of post with shoulder) reverse punch X40 each side over the top backfist X 25, each side side backfist x 25, each side rising elbow x 25 each side round elbow x 25 each side double strikes x 25, each side (hammer fist top, vertical punch bottom) toes (hold makiwara with both hands, raise leg and front kick with toes) gentle, X100 each foot Remember to pace yourself, dont forget to maintain good karate throughout session, use footwork and set up moves and work the distance. Be interested in how you guys use your makiwara and why ?

karate sparring uneffective on the street...................... point sparring (semi contact, stop/start) yep its uneffective on the street in generall continuos sparring (semi contact) not as uneffective on the street as point sparring, but still poor full contact, kickboking, kyoshinkai not as poor as the previous 2 due to contact level bringing danger into the bout, but still not ideal as RULES are abound MMA, full contact proberly the most realistic of the lot due to contact and ranges of combat allowed, condition of fighters but still not ideal So what is best, IMO training to respond to the common methods of assault in the most explosive manner possible, karates 2 man drill format but dont defend against karate technique, defend against headbutts, attempt take down, football kicks, haymaker punches, throat grabs , bear hugs etc etc. learn the fence, footwork and preemptive striking............ thats the best stuff for the street. train so full power attacks are delivered and can be dealt with. Of course good conditioning and mental strength are also a bonus. Of course any well conditioned, expierienced competitor of any of the formats is going to do well on the street (assuming they can mentally handle it), but that has nothing to do with sparring and everything to do with the practioner.

Fair point actually, i can see some benefit in that. I hope to teach again soon and might consider a junior class of some description - I do take karate far to seriously alot of the time!

it was an extremly hard kick, but hit me full in the chest so it didnt realy hit anywhere to vunerable ( i was seriously fit and strong at the time as well). In fairness it wasnt a 'run' up type, he just jumped straight up and wallop ! if it had landed in the face I would have been floored for sure. I must stress though this was after about 2 hours hard training, at a new club for the first time that was very 'liberal' with technique. He paid for it after with some good old fasion sweep to turn and reverse punches into the kidneys......................... ! However that bloke could land that kick in the street against an unsuspecting attacker, for sure, he was a superb athlete and extremly skilled in kicking.

interesting variation on this subject. In my mind something like 0-14 if you teach to this age group, it cant be full karate 14-18 cadets great age to begin training proper 18 plus adult I dont think karate is good for children under 14 on the whole, it has some benefits but I think they are better off doing school and kicking a ball around. Obviously sport karate may be ok to younger students, but teaching under 10 year olds is surley madness????????? 14-18 is a great age to get into karate IMO and obviously over 18 (in UK) gives full adult status, which I think is important when you look at karate as a whole martial art, including morales and safe practise of rather lethal techniques. However i did help in class last night a couple of rather cute 8 year olds, did they learn anything - proberly not but it was fun for 10 mins.

not my cup of T at all, however I had kick like this land on me when I was training once, i was very knackered and it came out of the blue, hit me square in the chest. I was at a freestyle club and came from traditional background, it hurt like hell but I didnt go down. yep they can work, yep they have power. would I bother training in them, not a chance.

on a good week, family and business permitting - 3 dojo sessions 5 hours class time 3 home sessions x 1 hour, makiwara, conditioning, kata, fitness 1 rest day a week, important

karate is kata, everything else comes from it IMO. Take your 2 man step sparring drills, flow drills etc etc from the kata principles, analyse the bunkai and apply it with realism and you have karate. i think kumite is popular due to the development of sport karate, along with 'performing' kata to set criteria for judges. whilst kata should remain constant technically, personal emotion, rythum and execution is permited, subtle timing differences etc etc. this is why group kata for tournaments is sadly missing the whole point of kata training. All the pressure point, grappling and tactics are contained within the classical kata IMO. Its just seeing them thats the problem sometimes!

Hi All, well I have been training for about a year on the dojo maki, twice a week. It brought immediate benefits and has continued to be a vital part of my training. So much so that i spoke to Makiwaraman and have a custom post now installed in my back yard, i intend to train 3 times a week on it. superb piece of kit essential to okinawan/japanesse classical karate training.

Hi All, I am looking to begin a basic study of either art and am intereste din anyone with relevant expieriences views on the difference. From my limited research it would seem that Shiatsu is a Japanesse progression of Tui Na, and shiatsu is possibly a more 'all round' treatment, ie focusing on well being. Tui Na would seem to be suited to more specific problems. I would appriciate any help on this decision, be gentle its my first pos ton this site!