G95champ

Thats just a list I got off a site.

Ole Pat is not to bad but I don't think I'd call him the greatest but a top 10er no doubt. LOL.... When you phrase the question everyone knows Lee. Because of what he did for MA on the whole be it karate, kung fu, MMA, etc..... All of us can list our styles founder or great master but that don't mean a lot to people from another style. In other words Gichin Funakoshi don't mean a lot to many MT and BJJ guys. So I think the question needs to be put as to who do you think did more for MA. Which means it has to be someone everyone knows reguardless of style and org. So with all the BS said my vote has to go to Chuck Norris hands down.....

Wood is eaiser to break than plastic. LOL. However the plastic boards cost a bit more in the long run you save money because you get several hunderd breaks out of them.

Just did a search of differant types of karate and here is a small list of styles that are "known as styles" Im sure TKD, Kung Fu etc can have lists just as big. Chinto-Ryu Chito-Ryu Doshinkan Gohaku-Kai Goju-Ryu (Kanzen) Goju-Ryu (Okinawan) Goju-Ryu (Meibukan) Gosoku-Ryu Isshin-Ryu Kanshin Ryu Kenseido Koei-Kan Kyokushinkai Kyu Shin Ryu Motobu-Ryu Okinawan Kempo Okinawa Te Ryokukai Ryuken Ryukyu Kempo Sanzyu-Ryu Seido Seidokan Seishin-Ryu Shindo Jinen-Ryu Shinjimasu Shinko-Ryu Shito-Ryu (Itosu-Kai) Shito-Ryu (Seishinkai) Shito-Ryu (Kofukan) Shito-Ryu (Kuniba Ha) Shito-Ryu (Motobu Ha) Shorin-Ryu (Kobayashi) Shorin-Ryu (Matsubayashi) Shorin-Ryu (Shobayashi) Shorin-Ryu (Matsumura) Shorinji Kempo Shorinji-Ryu Shoshin-Ryu Shotokai Shotokan Shotoshinkai Shudokai Shuri-Ryu Shuri-Te Uechi-Ryu Wado-Kai Wado-Ryu Washin-Ryu Yoseikan Yoshukai Yuishinkan

You are quite right in saying this, but just wanted to say that there is a highly acclaimed Judoka that lives in these parts that has been awarded 8th dan at the age of 51 It was awarded by the International Judo Council (or something like that). This guy is exceptional, just wanted to let you lot know that there are exceptions to the rule. Your right there a some exceptions but in general if a person says they are a rank higher than 5th Dan you should look into it.

It is??? You watch any traditional Shotokan tournments they are bare knuckle and pretty much full contact. Thats only a plus if you like pain IMO...

We had three browns in our ranking system so most of our guys wear brown for at least 9 months if not longer. IMO Brown is the most important rank. However like you said its sort of like you teenage years as well. Your not a Dan but you not really a color belt anymore. Your ahead of most people but you not able to lead yet. I usually see the greatest growth of my students durring their time and brown because they tend to realize where they have been and where they are going.

In HS when I started training and was comming up the ranks I would meet with several black belts and work with them on days we did not have class. We went pretty much full contact (pads) but after a few broke noses and busted ribs we had to stop. LOL. Young and dumb. In college me and a group of guys from other styles would meet a few times a week and work together. Pretty fun learned a lot. I was Shotokan, we also had MT, TKD, Hapidido, and a Judo guy, plus one or 2 mixed MA's. My class now only has about 10 people and we don't spar but maybe once every 10 classes. Just becuase we get used to each other and the age and stuff is so spread out its hard to get equal groups.

Shotokan is prob. the most popular form of karate. So finding a lot of info and resources on it should not be really hard espically if you really get into it. Shotokan was founded by Gichin Funakoshi who is one of the top 5 most reconized names in Martial Arts history. The style its self is built arround the idea of "one punch one kill" Lots of focus is put on the basics. Stance, Good Focus, Form, and Techinque are always stressed. The Reverse Punch is prob. the most reconized Shotokan move. The style is about a 50/50 split on punching vs kicking. However its not a flashy kicking art. Powerful front, round, side and back kicks. Shotokan is very balanced. You will pick up enough SD and Sparring to be sucessful at SD within a few ranks. At the same time its a art built arround a moral code and way to live. The dojo Kun. Its a great art for exercise and physical development as well. Shotokan does not have any weapons training which may be a draw back for some. However we do focus on weapon defense so to say its completely out is false. Lots of people will say Shotokan does not have a ground game. And although it is not taught early on the deeper you get into it you will find it has a pretty well thought out grappling attack. From throws, and takedowns to the guard and mount. Its not BJJ by any means but its enough to get you past the avg. Joe if you get on the ground. Now I am a Shotokan person myself and yes I have strong beliefs in it. However you will not find an art as well balanced IMO. Yes some will teach you to fight better faster and some will use things like weapons but not many will offer a little of everything without breaking from the founders ideas for it. Is the Shotokan school JKA, ISKA, ASKA, FSKA, or other.

Most things will mix pretty good as long as they are differant. You run into troulbe when you start mixing things that are close. Differant styles of karate lead to kata confusioin, Jujitsu vs Wrestling leads to differant ideas about going down. MT and TKD lead to differant ideas about kicking.

No anyone can learn to fight in a matter of weeks and do pretty good. However that has to be the focus of your training. Karate, TKD, Kung Fu, TSD, Hapikido, Akkido, Judo will not give you that. Because their is a focus on other parts of training that take away from the actualy fighting. They sort of give you a little bit of everything reallly slow. (sparring, SD, kata, weapons, history, phillsolphy, blah blah blah) as opposed to walking into a MMA school where you just strap on the gloves and start fighting. The more you do something the quicker you will become good at it. However to say you Mastered anything IMO is a falsehood. Because you can always be faster, stronger, quicker, smarter if you work harder.

I know.

Welcome

The ability to use it and get by. However just because you can use it and get by don't mean you have Mastered it by any means.

They may have a differant way of teaching some things you know. Its always nice to hear some other thoughts behind the same move you have done for years so don't be in a rush to move on. However I agree that you should tell them you have had training and to what extent. You may just want to bring it up before class in general conversation and not seem like you are asking to be bumped up.

I don't know that it should take that long but it will. Their is a differance in knowing and using the move and profecting it.

12 bucks for a pair of bag gloves is not a bad idea either.

Time off never hurt anyone.

The shin gives you IMO a better chance of hitting the person which makes it a better version. The instep if missed by being to far away you end up hurting your foot because you don't have any support on you toes. The ball of the foot will drive deeper and prob. does cause more pain however its a harder kick to land because you have shortend your kicking motion. I think the ball of the foot lends its self to targets more so. Such as the knee cap, rips, spine. As to where the Shin/Instep you have an area you can hit and do damage such as the leg, body, back, head.

Keep your hands up Stay light on you feet React to his actions don't stand Show no fear espically if you have FEAR... Spar with as many good MA's as you can

As long as they meet the standards set then I have no problem with it. Yeah it may be less than men but at the same time its pretty good. There are many things each can do as well as the other. However there are certin jobs that men need to do just because of the risk of capature such as Sp Forces work. Correct me if Im wrong but I don't think women can but on Sub crews. Again for obvious reasons the only girl on a ship for 6 months would be way to popular. LOL

Short - to do my best at whatever I do. Long - to be able to look back at what I've done and be proud.

I would sweep before I did about anything I think. Its just not something people look for.

LOL I was not going to watch the video but heck I want to see some cats fight now. LOL....

O ok well the 3 I listed were Austin Powers if you did not know.