G95champ

I teach the Traffic light awareness system. Green Stage - This is how you are at home with friends or family watching TV. No danger. Yellow Stage - This is how I teach you should be in any public place but I use the example of being a rival High School Football game. The crowd is pumped up and the fans are rowdy. Everyone is foucsed on things going on from the game, to the cheerleaders to the band to old friends. etc. Know where you are and whats going on but be ready. Case like any HS sporting event a fight is just arround the corner. Red Stage - This is when someone has made a threat towards you. Words have been exchanged before so you know troulbe is comming. Also could be like walking down a dark alley at night. I focus on getting my students to realize which phase they are in. Keep your eyes up notice people look at them. Same goes for the enviorment. Get to the point where it clicks in you head I am in Green or Yellow or even Red. As far as you statement about karate being useless well. I think too many people have ranks they did not earn. Thus to say I have a blackbelt don't mean as much now as it did 20 years ago. With that said being a blackbelt don't mean you can fight but it does mean you will always be ready IMO.....

When people are feeling no pain it is hard to hurt them. This is why everyone MUST know how to use and apply several simple chokes. I don't care how messed up you are when the lungs don't get air the brain don't get blood and you pass out. No pain or damage done but a nice nap to help them get ready for the hang over.

Glad you found us as well Welcome

Shotokan - Balance between kicking vs punching. Balance in Art vs fighting vs SD. Fianlly Balance in traditional vs the ability to change.

Not to say its right but an eye for and eye. Sucide bombs kill kids too. Its not a good situation but at leas the Isrealies do hit legit targets and not shopping center and bus stations.

Welcmoe

Just depends. I usually only spar when I got enough advanced students to help break in the new kids. I have no set order os schedule of classes. I try a spar at least once a week but at times we may go a week or so. Then we may spar 3 or 4 times in a week.

The Kata Hangetsu uses that stance. I assume you are talking about the stance with your knees and upper legs together. You step in a half-moon shape. I have saw this refered to as an hourglass stance. I think that is our version of what you are refering to. Funakoshi includes that kata in Karate-Do Kyohan. So check it out and see if we are talking about the same thing.

All are good but when I go on vactation I go on vacation. LOL. Have fun sleep late, eat good, relax. There will be time for training later. LOL......

Welcome

I got Funakoshi's books on the shelf above me and I can show you pages of throws. Shotokan has tons of them. In face befroe WWII it had a lot more. Shotokan was VERY close to Judo. Howver because the Japanese militray wanted a fighting sytem to teach the troops many of the throws were taken out and hidden in kata.

I will say we each do our own style. Reguardless if we are Shotokan, Kemp, BJJ, TKD, TSD, etc.... by trade once we understand the basic movements the style then takes on the appearance of the one using it. Bruce Lee said that himself after comming up with JKD. More or less he said you got to teach yourself. I can not show you how to do something cause the way I do it dones not maen it will work for you. So I will make the argument that everyone does his or her own MA. My Shotokan is not the same as that which Sai does. Or what Funakoshi did. Mine is not even the same as what my Sensei did nor are my students the same as mine. To each his own. We all will find our own paths thus our own arts. Style is nothing but a starting point.

Hello

Welcome I helped one of my former Sensei's train a girl in a wheelchair several years ago. As long as you got a good mind the rest don't really matter. Hope to read more about your sons and your progress.

Not like the UFC by any means. I have not been in a fight since 8th grade a year before I started karate. However things in a real fight you must look at. 1. Suprise - most start with a sucker punch or attack with one not looking. 2. Bare Knuckle - no gloves not pads flesh on flesh is much differant than glove on flesh. 3. Clothes - hard to do all those fancy moves you practice in class in blue jeans and a coat. Stick to low kicks and know some grappeling. 4. The Ground - When I said grappeling above I don't mean go to the ground. I mean expect to get in a head lock, bear hug, etc. Know how to get out. Also know the ground you are on. A hill is differant than a parking lot. Gravel is differant than a hardwood floor. Rain and Mudd are much differant than a dry dojo. 5. The Unknown know if the person attacking you has friends who are ready to jump in. Much less weapons and how they fight. So a real fight is nothing like the UFC. The guys who fight in the UFC and K1 and other events are so good it is hard for them to actually land a clean shot and knock the other guy out. Plus they know where they are how long they got and they got time to scout their opponent.

Speed + Techinque = Power This is the only truth I have found in karate. Bulk and Size don't mean power by anymeans. The one thing it does give you a pad. Most big guys can take more hits. However that has nothing to do with power.

Frank Shamrcok is the best pound for pound fighter I have seen. He can do it all. Ortiz is a good fighter and could take almost anyone but he is not a Martial Artists because of his disrespect for others.

Don't know what the office is but when Bush 41 was in office 88-92 he appointed A. Schwartznagger to a postion where he was like the head or spokesman for the Presidential Physicall Fitness Test Winners.

Yeah that is a great idea. I have played with that idea but never put it into effect. I may try it after football season.

Few things to keep in mind. 1. High Kicks are more for show. If you use them for SD they will do nothing but get you hurt. So the split is not that big of a deal. 2. Several things to look at. How old are you. The older a person in the harder it is to get limber. 3. Do you lift weights. If so always stretch you hamstrings and hips before so you will not loose any flexability. Also after you get done. 4. Take 10 mins each night or mourning to do some light streatching. 5. Just relax sometimes people try to force a stretch and can't get a good one so just be calm and take your time no big deal. Again I will point out don't worry about it. Doing a split is more important for cheerleaders, dancers, even athletes than martial artists. Train to your ability not anyone elses. Make up for your weakness in other areas. I used to be able to do one. However I tore my hamstring showing off one day without getting warmed up. I can get pretty low now but honestly I don't try anymore. Flexability is very important but doing a split don't mean you are flexable. _________________ (General George S. Patton Jr.) "It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory." [ This Message was edited by: G95champ on 2002-07-27 01:33 ]

Welcome And I like Quiet Riot so Bang Your Head. LOL

Welcome you need to choose your words better. Hate to see you go before you come. Post smart good luck.

Was a big fan of Dale Earnhardt howeve I had all but stoped watfhing NASCAR untill he was killed. I guess in a sad way I watch it more now. LOL. I like Harvick. I guess cause he took over for Dale. LOL......

Without listing exact moves I will go real general. 1. Above all else we got to understand what it means to be a black belt. (mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and spirtiually) In other words know what other espect of you and what your new postion is in and out of class. 2. Complete several combos of basic moves 3. Although at the time of the test we should know roughtly 11 kata we will only test them on 3. The one that is next in line, One they pick and one we pick. 4. Sparring. We try and bring in 3-5 other black belts and go 5mins each for 30 mins or so. 5. Self Defense aginst a serise of moves from differant postions. 6. General understanding of the Founders and style history Then most important is you character. We do not give blackbelts away. Much less give tests to those who in our minds will dishonor the belt and us. Effort means more than talent.

Well with everything said no question the best way is to simply not pay any attention to him but at times you must move on to the next phase. Most bullies only understand violence. Sort of like the kid who keeps putting his finger in the light socket sooner or later he will learn. LOL