searcher

One of the basic kata that I teach has kiba to kiba stepping. The key to making it work is to perform moving stances down the floor and back. Leg strengthening also helps: squats, lunges, etc.

I just recently joined the USMA and have been talking with O-sensei Porter via e-mail. I have not had the chance to meet with him in person yet, I plan to do this at the International Training Camp in July. He seems to be very respectful and has built up the USMA to over 6000 members. I am hoping that the USMA will be as helpful in the future as it has been so far. O-sensei was also one of the founders of the USJA before he started the USMA. If anyone wants more information on O-sensei Porter you should go to https://www.mararts.org it is the official website.

Two words, Yellow Pages. They have everything. Take down names and numbers then go shopping. You might try and contact USA boxing for a boxing club in your area. They should have a list of boxing clubs in your area.

I guess I should have set it as those who are also considering becoming instructors. I have always felt that CPR is a must and getting a CPT and Cert. Nut, is also very nice to have. KK1075, thanks for answering anyway.

Hello? Is this thing on? Have no other instructors supplemented there martial arts knowledge with anything? Oh well.

Don't gorget to tell us how you do.

Shorin Ryuu, the reason I quoted you is that you made a good point and I just wanted to add my own 2 cents.

I was just wondering if anyone has supplemented their martial arts knowledge with other areas? In this I mean: Certified Fitness Trainer, Cert. Nutritionist, CPR cert., etc. Has it helped you with getting new students? Has it helped you as an instructor with training your students?

That is great. Best of luck to you.

From Midwest. My lineage runs from Uezu Angi to Lorrance to me. Isshinryu is known for its higher stances. It is designed perfectly for the American build.

Shorin Ryuu, I wasn't saying that your comment had anything to do with Motobu. I was simply stating that others often read of him and that associate the two, fighting and haihanchi.

In ukemi, the key is the transition from standing to kneeling. You are ahving a mental block and it is hindering you. Try this. Go slowly from standing to a squatting position. After doing this several times go slowly and perform the roll. The next is to go fast. The only other thing you can do is get an ukemi ball.

I believe this is due to the great Choki Motobu supposedly performing this series of kata 500 times a day. That must have been one bored guy. I have however seen a great improvement in fighting ability after students learning this set of kata. I am not saying that it is the only circumstance that lead to their improvement, but what are the chances?

I agree almost fully with your post, but I do have a problem with the light or no contract style of sparring(the non-heavy contact way). There is an advantage to the heavier contact style and that is the ability to take a punch. I am not saying that I want to take a punch, but it is that IF you get hit it will not freak you out. I have seen to many times "young toughs" come in and spar with out having ever been hit. The first time they get tagged they fold up. That being said I don't want my students to be trying to kill each other all of the time. It is just a good idea to goa hard and heavy now and again. Your comment about pulling a punch is right on. That level of control IS essential as one progresses. Now, for Rock-fights post. Oyama(Kyokushin) karate is a little more "rugged" in that the style focuses more on full contact training. This is not to say that a Shotokan karateka can't get with it and hold their own. It is just that the two styles focus on different things.

The most effective way I have found to make the Korean, Japanese, or chinese language stick it to say it in the other language, then in English. Before you know it students will have it down. My preferance is non-English.

This is a very interesting thread. I currently practise the Haihanchi kata that have a very Tomari flavour to them. They have helped me with the strengthening of my muscles and are quite helpful in preparing for sparring. I teach these kata at the blue and green belt level and it helps the students learn to increase both power and speed. As for Sanchin I do not teach currently. I instead teach other kata for strengthening the body. IMHO Sanchin is of limited use.(let the attacks come after I said this) It is only good for upping the body's pain threshold. The beginning and ending with either of these two kata, I believe that different styles would have different kata that are more important to the individual system. It is all in the eye of the karate-ka.

I have been looking and I keep coming up empty on an online video. I do know that if you go to Century's website that they have Isshin-ryu videos for 10 dollars. This is super cheap for a Panther Productions video.

I think we should all remember that in the military to get a minimum passing score you have to do 25 pushups. This is in a 2 minute time frame. You are considered to be in good shape at 68-72 in 2 minutes. It should help get things a little more in perspective, considering that they do a large number of pushups everyday. gojuinstructor, this IS a testosterone question without a doubt or a spitting contest. You choose. killer-biscuit, it can be done with good technique if you put the time in. I would think that doing alot of pushups would not really help refine your martial techniques. IMHO.

I have a video of Master Uezu performing them. However, I am not able to download to the net. I will try to find a video of it on the web. It may take some time.

Thanks for the input from both tommarker and bart. You both have class and respect in your posts. On a side note I have done weapons sparring with the traditional Okinawan weapons and I have done Kenjutsu. I have also competed in knockdown karate matches, where my opponents were trying to do harm. With that said I understand that it is like comparing apples to oranges. Bart, in your oppinion would sparring in some WEKAF tourneys help in preparation for the Gathering?

Yes, testing was sped up due to prior experience. That was all fine and dandy, but I would have preferred to go slower. It helps with the digestion of new material.

Pushups in relation to MA are almost immaterial. Strength is good, but how many pushups you can do is not even a true test of strength, but that is another topic.

They ARE the real deal. If you want all out FULL contact, they are the ones to get in contact with. As Crafty has said, "it is not for most people." Depends on what you are looking for in your training.

Please tell us more.

Just remember that anything worth doing id worth doing right.