Shoto Tiger

Sadly I have been injured twice through MA - going through one injury right now. I have got an injury to my back that I sustained in my second ever groudfighting lesson! I have considered it but there is still a few things I can do to train. It will just take time and patience and MA has taught me plenty of that!!

Hi, At my previous dojo we were taught Taikyoku Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan. I have never heard of Rokudan though? Leaf said... B your a little off here.... I know 9 and there has to be at least 18 ( seen my seniors do some) The ones I know are Gedan, Chudan, Jodan, Maswashi uki, Kake Uki, Soto Chudan, dai cho sho, dai cho sho dai, Maswashi Kake Uki. Gedan, Chudan, Jodan, Soto Chudan are mechanically almost the same Sheesh! 18! How many ways can you show basic techniques?

Hi, I never signed anything when I started Shotokan either. I feel that an Instructor who demonstrates a technique badly at the dojo and students copy this technique and get injured...then maybe the Instructor is liable then... But as to what happens outside of the dojo...I can't see how the Instructor can be made liable? As said before...we are taught that MA is defensive not offensive. "There is no first attack in Karate!" Normally Instructors worth their salt can figure out a student fairly quickly I'm sure and if they demonstrate the wrong attitude then hopefully they will politely ask that particular student not to attend class again....this may be a way of avoiding "Gung-ho MAists"?

Oh...I wouldn't know about the club, would I Sai? I have found it very useful in fact. Reading through the archive posts are very informative too. See ya there!

Take a look...pretty funny... http://www.dalsuicide.org/stats

Hiya I think Remy passed away in the last couple of years and General Choi, founder of TKD passed away in the last month or so.

Good advice PacificShore. I just picked up Remy Presas book "Modern Arnis" and it has helped no end. Apparently he has videos too about 6 I think but I have been told they are very expensive. The best price mentioned so far is £40 each tape. If anyone knows a cheaper supplier I would be delighted to hear from you!

Hiya, We have Tobi Geri (flying kick) not quite mastered it meself yet...but its a challenge for me at a later date. Was training at another dojo recently and was practising kicking with a 6'2 chap. After a rigorous warm up and most of the lesson - I managed to kick high enough to get him worried enough to block a roundhouse kick to his head. I'm 5'5". I was chuffed anyway

I know just what you are all talking about. My chinese year of birth was the Tiger and I hope I bear similar traits! I too study Shotokan

"You redirect your enemy's power and use their own momentum and balance against them" Is this not similar to Aikido too? Just checking

Thats quite satisfying to see. I have just posted in another part of the forum that I wanted to do Aikido at a later date and so far everyone seems to think its a good idea. One thing I noticed when I went to another couple of classes this week - one in Aikido and another in Lau Gar Kung Fu - is that I was the only one doing hard strikes and kicks in the kata/forms they demonstrated. I was also shown Tai Chi and Hung Fat forms too. I didn't see all of them of course - but I wonder if they have similar strikes, etc in other forms. Does anyone know?

I started Shotokan May 2000 and to be honest only started because I was told by the man who later became my Sensei, that he wanted to learn computer applications and would offer to teach Shotokan in return as he couldn't afford classes. Funny really...he still hasn't shown up for a class...but I didn't miss any of his? I then got hooked. Since then I have been learning more and more about the history and applications and language. I find it all very interesting. Its the only "thing" I do for me and treasure my times when training. In the past week I have been to a couple of other martial arts whilst visiting Scotland on business and feel more sure than ever that I am currently doing the right art for me. Though I do have to admit, after sampling Aikido this week - I would really like to take that up at a later date. I hope to see/take part in many arts over the years to increase my knowledge and learn the pros and cons of as many arts as possible. Whilst doing this I intend to grow and develope in Shotokan and hope to one day attain a black belt and maybe even teach my self one day.

I agree - its up to the individual and what they want and can get out of a martial art. As previously mentioned on another thread - Shotokan (and others) were developed in Okinawa - Japan - and a majority of the people developing the MA were reasonably short. So it fits that Shotokan of today may fit better with shorter people rather than taller people...you know what I mean

Why do you want to pidgeon hole an entire martial art anyway? Have you done Shotokan out of interest? I have to agree with ckd on both of his last posts by the way Using your own example - imagine Bruce Lee and Arnold Schwarzenegger...who do you think would win out of those two? (Or people or similar height, weight, training and strength)

Hmmm - Eeek! Either really...its down to the invidual what they want out of the martial art and a discerning Instructor will teach the student of whatever age at the correct pace for them. Defence of any sort from any martial art can never be applied early enough to either gender. Being general