kurome

Also, try to avoid schools that have something like Blackbelt Academy in their name, or at least something to the effect. That more than often is indicative of a McDojo.

You're right in noticing that. Many quality gi manufacturers (Such as Meijin) only carry do-gi in white, and even if you go to some of the better companies, such as Shureido, they never carry the newer material gi in black. I take it you're talking about the excelent polyester/cotton blends offered by such companies? You won't find one. Your best bet if you need a good black gi is to go with something cotton.

Isshin-ryu may be a combination of Shuri and Naha, but it is not by any means pure. You're not exactly taking the best of each system if you're adding your own now are you? Not that I am at all prejudiced against Isshinka, as I study it myself, it's just that I am not all that fond of the changes that Shimabuku made, such as the increadably narrow stances and the arm position on blocks. Anyways, the reason I've always known for Shimabuku cutting out those kata is that he put them all in Sunsu. If you are versed in all of the Shuri kata, you notice that Sunsu contains elements from all of the major kata (discounting, of course, the kyu kata, which are actually included in the curriculum.) I am not sure about the Naha side of it, but I'm sure that Shimabuku included some of his Nahate into Sunsu. On another note, I do believe I should change my last list, for it was foolish of me to forget Tensho. If I had Sanchin, I couldn't possibly leave out Tensho.

I agree with you on the Okinawan brand thing, that was always a plus when I was looking for a gi. How is the NW-3? I've heard that the cut is great, but how is the fabric? Does it feel different? Is it heavy or light, say, in comparison to a K-10 or K-11?

Naihanchi Shodan-Sandan Pinan Shodan-Godan Wansu Ananku Seisan Niseishi Passai Bunkai for all kata, a written test on lineage and terminology, an essay, a show of self defense, and free sparring.

Jussi, maybe I haven't been around for long enough. When did the quality of Shureido goods drop? I own a great deal of Shureido equipment that I actually bought within the past year that is pretty good. I have a medium weight gi that I bought two years ago, however, that for some reason is much better in quality than the heavyweight that I purchased recently. Could this be what you speak of?

I think I would probably switch Kururunfa with Seipai. It's much more suited to our purposes, Kururunfa is to purely Chinese compared with Seipai, it just doesn't fit in. 9-8 Kyu - Seisan 8-7 Kyu - Naihanchi Shodan 7-6 Kyu - Seiunchin 6-5 Kyu - Sanchin 5-4 Kyu - Wansu & Rohai 4-1 Kyu - Kusanku Dai Shodan - Tomari Passai & Seipai Nidan - Gojushiho Ichi Sandan - Suparinpei Yondan - Hakutsuru Ichi Rokudan - Haktusuru Ni

I believe that it's completely separate. While Shinko Matayoshi was in China learning kobudo, he learned the kata while studying white crane. I it may very well be the same as the Gogenki variation, or at least similar, as Gogenki was a master of white crane, and he brought it from China as well. It may very well be that this is not the Matayoshi lineage Hakutsuru that I am thinking about at all. I inferred this because of my Okinawa Kenpo background. The Hakutsuru that is done in Okinawa Kenpo (added to the system by Odo sensei) must've come from Matayoshi's son, Shinpo, because none of Odo-sensei's previous teachers were learned in white crane. The problem is that I don't know if he trained in Karate with him (or I guess it would be Gung-fu, wouldn't it?) Anyways, that's all I know about the Odo Hakutsuru practiced in Okinawa Kenpo, and it's mostly conjecture on my part.

Shuri- Naihanchi (Shodan) Kusanku Dai Seisan (To start with?) Wansu (Another good beginner) Tomari- Tomari Passai Rohai Gojushiho Sho/Ichi (Could fit in Tomari or Shuri I guess) Naha- Sanchin (Double-breath dynamic tension type) Seiunchin (Another good beginner kata) Kururunfa Suparinpe Maybe add in the Matayoshi Hakutsuru Ichi or Ni I know that exceeds you requests by a few, but those are all good solid kata with great bunkai. I don't think I would go so far as to change them though, like Shimabuku did with Isshin-ryu; like I said, they're already good, solid kata. With stance I would keep a nice solid high stance, feet turned parallel as is seen in Isshin-ryu and Odo-lineage Okinawa Kenpo. I very much agree with you that the hearts of each styles are Naihanchi and Sanchin separately, however, I believe that dynamic tension in moderation is a good, healthy thing. In moderation.

Bob I think your best bet would be to ask your sensei about this. I see that you study Okinawa Kenpo (a good art if I do say so myself ) Could it be possible that you study under Hanshi Heilman or another IKKF instructor? I can say from experiance that they are very well versed in some of the most creative and advanced bunkai, you really should ask them.

I agree with powerof0ne, you first need to ask yourself if you still deserve that rank you held before asking the instructor if he'll allow it.

So far as kyu ranking goes, in the dojo I attend, we have a 4 belt system: white, yellow, green, and brown. I myself favor a three or even a two belt system.

For those of you who read (or will read) the thread mentioned in the title, what is your opinion on higher ranks (shodan+) studying through books, videos of masters related to system, etc. Let me give some background before I ask the real question. For those of you that helped me before, my previous screenname was mattys (the account stopped working properly). I am a shodan in Maehara-lineage Okinawa Kenpo Karate- Kobudo (League/Kenburyu). Now, I get very confused when I look at outside sources. Okinawa Kenpo preforms kata very differently from other Shuri lineage te, and within the branches of Okinawa Kenpo there is variance as well. For example, where Odo Sensei would have leaning stances (and I think he only punched twice) in the beginning of Kusanku, Maehara sensei would remain in kiba-dachi and punch three times. A question that is somewhat unrelated, but corresponds to the previous paragraph (this is aimed at Sauzin in his infinite Kenpo wisdom) would be: why is there so much within Kenpo? Did both Maehara and Odo Sensei not learn from Nakamura Sensei? Another example would be our Ananku. They look completely different from other Shuri Ana(n)ku, and Maehara Sensei's Ananku doesn't even resemble Ananku from any Shuri-te anywhere. Ironically, given the quote in my signature, Maehara Sensei seems to turn in a completely different direction from Odo Sensei at the end of Kusanku. At the end of the kata when you finish the elbow strike, the downward block, and then turn and block, then preform a downward x block (I hope you followed that), does Odo Sensei turn clockwise, or counter clockwise. Maehara Sensei turns counter clockwise, turning only 180 degrees instead of 360 as other branches (such as Shotokan) might. My biggest question, again, directed at Sauzin, is, is this change in kata (if there is one, I have never seen Odo Sensei preform a kata) wrong? Am I, because of how I have been taught and the lineage of my teachers, preforming my kata wrong? Okay, now back to the question before. I have in my posession myriad books and tapes of Okinawan masters, often founders of their own respective systems, preforming their katas. When I look at the katas, I see variance between the different styles, and I pick and choose the variant that seems to both fit my system and fit to better bunkai. Is this wrong? Also, I have within my posession my Sensei's Sensei's Hanshi preforming all of the kata in our system which was recorded in 1983. My teacher gave this tape to me for supplimental learning, and also because he wants me to know what in his mind is good karate. I have noticed some slight, and some large, variances between the way my Sensei taught me kata, and the way Maehara Hanshi preforms his kata. Which way is (from a technical perspective) right? Lastly, I have sometimes at the request of my teacher learned katas from this video so that I do not need to be taught the steps by him, and then for a few weeks after learning the kata from the video he asks me to go through it and corrects mistakes and explains techniques. Is it wrong that I initially learned this kata from a video and not a person walking me through the steps? Thanks, I know this was a long post.

Gojushiho Ichi and Chinto for my nidan test.

Does snow/rain/cold temperatures harm a makiwara outdoors at all?