SenseiMike

LOL, I have 2 women in my dojo. I actually offer a women only class, but so far it's empty. Anyway, these 2 girls are from the rugby team at the local university....they usually spar harder than the guys, I'm almost scared of them myself

I'm not going to disagree with this statement, the more I look at other schools (shotokan), the more I agree with it. I trained shotokan, with kicks to the legs, sweeps, ground fighting, etc...All pulled from the kata. I can identify 2 distinct throws in Heian Shodan. I hit the makiwara untill my hands were bleeding, to me that was karate do. But the more I look around on the web, it looks like my beloved art has gone completely sports related...... Anyone outhere other than me who practices shotokan the way I do?

Figured I better reply to this, sorry, got knocked off line by the cable company for a bit. Yes I train Shotokan, coming from a tkd back ground. There are no kyukushin schools around here, nor shotokan schools untill recently, I trained most of my karate in a private club, located in the basements of it's members. I've seen enough shotokan competition videos to figure that it's a lot like TKD matches. Not my taste. It's not just Kyukushin Karateka that train hard, I train my students the way I trained, and it's very, very, very hard.

hey there, question for you tournament savy guys, I found these rules for a dutch kyokushin tournament online. never seen anything like them in the us, but I've only been to tkd tounaments as I quit competeing before I moved into Shotokan. Are these rules legal for the US? Cuz I would love to host a few matches in my area under them. RULES Open Dutch Championships Kyokushin Karate 1. Rounds: 1st round 2 minutes, 30 seconds rest, 2nd round 2 minutes, winner appointed. HALF FINALS & FINALS : 1st round 3 minutes, 30 seconds rest, 2nd round 2 minutes with possibility of 1 more extension of 2 minutes (encho sen). 2. The matted area for matches shall be on 2 tatami’s 3. No protecting clothing than groin guards may be worn. Gum shields are strongly recommended. Women only cups, NO SHIELD. 4. A participant wins only by knock-down or knock-out or appointed by the referees. 5. Techniques allowed: - Punches and elbows to the body - Knee techniques to the body, legs and head - Kicks to the body, legs and head - Throwing- and sweeptechniques followed by an authorized technique - Grabbing the opponent for a split second is allowed for throwing techniques or kneetechniques. 6. Prohibited techniques : leads to Hansoku (official warning) and Shikakku (disqualification) - Any attack to opponents head, face, groin or neck with open hand, fist or any part of the arm. - Kicks to the groin, straight kicks to the kneecap - Head thrusts or butts - Any attack to an opponents backspinea - Strikes or kicks to a downed opponent, unless the attack or strike immediately follows a sweep or downing technique, in which case there is no contact allowed. - no-one may attack while opponent is down - Failing to obey the referees instructions during a match. - Frequently retreating from or out the contest area or moves that waste time. - Persistent bad behaviour or violence. 7. Weight differences/extensions (half finals, finals) - If there is no clear winner after two rounds the referree may ask both contestants to be weigh. If there’s a difference of more than 5 kilo, the lighter competitor will be declared the winner of the match. - If there is no difference of weight there will be the possibility to 1 extension of 2 minutes. After the extension the referees must point out a winner, no hike wake (draw) 8. Criteria : Minimum age 18 years 9. There will be no Tamishiwara 10. This competition is for men and women, open for any grade or style. 11. Only one coach is allowed at the ring area during the fight. 12. The coach must wear trainingsuit and sportshoes. 13. The organization can adjust the rules due to special circumstances. I hope that your team will be able to attend to our championship. Osu Shihan Sjaak van de Velde. THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS.

It depends, I think you have to tailor budo to today's world. I teach using traditional terms and methodology, but I through in as much "hip hop culture" as I can to relate to my younger bunch. I find ways to slip in some zen in ways they can relate to, and just generaly try to make karate do a part of their world, not the other way around. The values and lessons of budo should never be changed, but I think that by giving them a face lift, they become much more understandable to today's youth.

here's my situation, I'm opening a school near my house in murfreesboro tn, I got the building at a great deal, from a wonderful land lord, but I have small problem with it: The total ammount of training space in it is about 450 square feet. Now I'm not planning on running a big school, I wanted one that'd stay small enough for me too focus on each student as an individual. But I'd like to have more than one or two in a class, how can I teach kata to students in such a small place? I know the bunkai won't be much of a problem, but running the kata at full pace, well.... thanks

You sir, do rock !! thanks a million

anyone know a site on the 'net where I can find kanji for kyu and dan ranks? it'd be very helpful, thanks