Hecklerboy

White Belt: None Yellow Belt: FukuGataIchi/FukuGataNi Blue Belt: All the above + Pinan Shodan Green Belt: All the above +Pinan Nidan Purple Belt: All the above +Pinan Sandan/Pinan Yondan/Weapon Kata Brown Belt (San Kyu): All the above +Pinan Godan/Advanced Kata Brown Belt(Ni Kyu and Ichi Kyu): All the above + Additonal Weapon kata

Like eveyone else has said. Practice, Practice, Practice. However there are other things you can do to make it look better. Make sure you do every move with intent or power as some say. Make every move count. Don't just walk through the kata. Work on your timing. Try not to do the entire kata at the same speed. Like a robot Speed up and slow down at critical points in the kata. Stances are very important. When I judge kata I look for Technique, Stances, Power (intent), Focus, and of course if they perform the kata correctly.

I teach that method at my dojo. Everyone loves the fast as possible. I also make everyone face a different direction while doing their kata. Messes with their visual ques. Really helps when they go to a tournament and nothing is fimiliar.

I absolutely love katas. I also love competing in kata. It sometimes helps to get a different perspective from other martial artist on how I perform my kata.

I love to compete. I always learn something when I attend a tournament. Tournaments are great for testing your nerves and finding your weak spots. If you only spar with people in your dojo you will only get so good. It's like two basketball teams playing only each other all the time. They will never get any better than the other team. Sometimes you need to spar against someone of a different style or that uses techniques that you are not used to so you can find your weaknesses.

I like to use a flying backfist to the face when possible. Also like to fake a roundhouse and when they block catch them with a side thrust kick. Of course allot can be said for the basic jab/reverse punch.

Try relaxing your stances a little. I have some students that try to get into very deep stances. When they do this it causes their katas to be slow and off balance. Experiment with your stances so they are comfortable to be in and still look presentable. Remember to relax and only tense up when you are striking or blocking. Relax when you move.

We travel to different dojos in our organization to be graded by various blackbelts. We have to explain and demonstrate certain techiques and also have a japanese word list we must learn. Then we have to perform all of our katas in front of the Grandmaster and other blackbelts. Our instructors are not allowed to test us in order to avoid any bias. Once the testing is completed the blackbelt retire to a separate room to discuss everyones grades and then the results are announced to eveyone in attendance. Blackbelts are recommended after so many years of competing, working tournaments and belt tests. They are judged by their sensie on how much they give back to the organization. If it is determined they are ready to advance in rank there is a ceremony before the belt test in front of everyone. Hoping to get my Ni Dan this summer.

Pinan Yondan Pinan Godan Hangetsu Go Jushi Hosho Jion

The best block is not to be there. Keep moving and try to stay out of their reach. The more you spare the faster you will block. Soon you will be blocking without even thinking about it. The great thing is that you see your weaknesses and want to work on them. Some students in our dojo never seem to realize their weaknesses, even when we point them out to them. Learning your weaknesses is the best part of sparring. It will make you a better fighter.

Definetly the Blue Belt Blues. I felt the exact same way. It gets a little frustrating after you learn the basics and you want to advance faster. Then I started working harder on my technique. Remember, no matter how advanced you are you can always work on technique. Are your kicks as good and they can be? What about your block? Are you katas smooth and powerful? I always like to watch my instructors and try to make my kata and techniques look as good as theirs. Just hang in there and keep practicing.

If you really want to have some fun and learn about guns. Buy a black powder pistol. These guns have to be loaded manually. Meaning that you measure and pour in the powder and then seat the ball (bullet). Install the cap and fire. It teaches you allot about how the gun operates and how the amount of powder affects the shooting. It also makes allot of smoke which is pretty cool. No matter what gun you use, make sure you follow all safety rules. Always treat a gun as if it's loaded. Even if you know it isn't.

Our organization holds a karate camp every year around Memorial Day. It's for both adults and kids. Training classes are held on various subjects like learning new katas to Ju Jitsu training. You can find out more info here and can also contact our Grand Master (Don Madden) http://www.akjuteamamerica.com/

I don't post often on this board, however I do read it almost everyday. I actually like the belt system. It keeps you motived, especially the kids. We just recently had a yellow belt earn her blue belt (9 yr old). She now has more motivation and is doing really well in class. Our style recognizes other organizations belt ranks and will allow them to keep their belt rank in class while learning our system. In fact we recently had a brown belt from another organization join our class. We recognize his belt rank, but he will have to learn all of the requirements before he can test for his second brown. As far as the money part. Our works a little different. Everyone in our organization that is testing will meet at a designated area to test. This ensure that the testing is fair. You are not allowed to be test by any blackbelt from your own school. It cost money to rent the hall or gymnasium to hold the test in. Also the belts and certificate have to be purchased. So some cost for a belt test is reasonable However, it only cost $30 to test for your belt in our organization. I could see $250 to test, even if testing for a blackbelt, discouraging people. That just seems a little steep to me. Well that's my 2 cents worth, not that it mean anything.

Oh OK I get it. I honeslty didn't know that religion had such a strict rule, but you've got the nail on the head there. Assuming a thing like martial arts leads to somethinig else is silly. If they are willing to hear you out then by all means do what you can to tell them what a martial art is. On the other side of the coin, though, many martial artists will tell you the same as your family has. In certain cases martial artists are peacemakers. Even Master Gichin Funakoshi encountered violence in his life and refused to fight even when it was evident he should. He allowed muggers to take his tobacco and his pipe, because it was the most peaceful resolution...even though he could have fought his muggers. This is a very important midset to have, and something you can relate to your parents/family when chatting/debating about martial arts. You may even want to pick up Funakoshi's book. I bought my copy for about $10 and if your family reads it perhaps they'll even understand you a little better. Thanks for the book recommendation. I just ordered it. Looks like a good read.