Zaine

That's a really great way of viewing kata, solid post!

Welcome to KF!

Agreed. If you're using a weapon generally I think that the intention is to hurt the opponent.

It doesn't sound scamish to me. That's just the school's schedule. Some do it only twice a year, some have an opportunity every month. It probably is just easier for the Sensei to do it annually.

Welcome to KF!

Then you should talk to the Sensei about it privately. Remember, though, that they get the final say and that includes an impromptu changing of the rules to fit what they want.

It depends on the issue. Management: It's really not your business. If they do something that they feel is a good move for the business, then you should trust them. It's their business and they know more about it. Say they raise the prices. Some students might find that unfair but the Sensei has to pay the bills to keep the place open. He knows the numbers and what he needs to do. Wrong move: It depends. When it used to happen I just used to ask. "Hey, I thought it was this way?" Be polite and respectful, Senseis make mistakes too and are usually more than happy to correct it. If they're touchy about being asked in class like that, wait until after and ask them about it privately.

Firstly, welcome to KF! This is not necessarily true. I find that different styles of martial arts are popular depending on the area. So for example, where I live I see a lot more TKD schools than anything else. In other areas I have lived it has been kung fu, different types of karate etc.

You'll do great!

Great topic! I have always had a special place in my heart for the Pinans. Pinan Shodan was the first kata I ever learned and later on the Pinans became an introduction to crane. Pinan means peaceful mind because the idea (or so it is said) is that after the kata you were to have expended so much energy that you were at a state of having a peaceful mind (euphoria or enlightenment would fit here). There are two origins for this that seem to be prevalent. Both agree that it was introduced in the early 1900s. The first is that it was created by Anko Itosu. Many practitioners at the time assumed that it was a watered down advance kata meant to introduce children into karate. However, it was adopted by many systems in spite of the view and grew to what we know today. The second (and the one that I find more likely) is that it was introduced originally as a kata know as Chiang Nan by a nameless Chinese man. The kata became Channan, which then Itosu separated into 5 different kata. I like the second one better because it makes more sense (because of the crane techniques) and it seems to tell the full story. It's short, but it shows the diverse history that a single set of katas can have. Sources: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/article/brief-history-pinan-heian-katas http://web.archive.org/web/20090805102716/http://geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/9536/pyong_ahn.html Channan: Heart of the Heians

First off, welcome to KF! This is a controversial topic and many don't believe that this is a real thing. They may be right, they may be wrong. I will, however, attach a disclaimer to it: I have never seen a legitimate use of someone's psychic power (or chi/ki) used to disarm an opponent. Does that mean it doesn't exist? No, certainly not, it just means that I haven't seen enough to prove to me that it's something that one can accomplish. That being said, if you're interested on reading up on the subject I would suggest that you go to your local library or bookstore (probably would have better luck at your local big chain bookstore) and look in the sports section. If you don't find anything there, look in the new age section. Be careful about looking it up on the internet and finding people who will teach you how to use these techniques for just a easy payment of X amount of money. Most of all, use your judgement and talk to your instructor about it. I haven't know Goju Ryu to focus on chi/ki but that doesn't mean there aren't practitioners out there who do. Good luck on your search.

CredoTe hits the nail on the head, especially with the mention of using your core to move the bo. Get this down, and you will feel less awkward with the weapon in your hand. Confidence is key when you're using a weapon so I would definitely just keep practicing at it. The more you practice, the better the weapon will feel. Thanks for sharing!

We don't make contact with each other and everything is at half or quarter speed. Helmets are only necessary when sparring, which we don't really do at this class. We never got the impression that he was disrespectful, just a little arrogant.

People who are interested in training like this should try to approach it a bit more tactfully. If I go to another school, I'll ask if I can train with them, not ask if I can spar someone. If you trundle in and ask for some sparring, it tends to get people's attention, and not necessarily in a good way. But if you ask to train together, then there is more of mutualness about the encounter. I'd build a rapport with a school training with them for a time, and then let them lead into anything to do with sparring, or bring it up after such a time that there is a bit of a comfort level between you and the school. I think that would be a more respectful way of approaching it. You're right, though I do think it is a bit harsh to assume the challenge was hostile. Not everyone is equally good at being tactful, or understands the Martial Arts etiquette. We never assumed that the challenge was hostile. His arrogance, however, was clear, but we assumed that he was looking to prove himself and show his skill. Had we thought he was hostile we would have handled it much differently.

I train in some way at home 6 days a week. Different things, a couple of days for kata, a couple of days for just basics and a couple of days for weapons. I don't have any equipment (at the moment) so it's never punching a bag, which I would like to do much more. Also, I do various cardio and strength training.

Whereas I am not a Goju Ryu practitioner, I believe the answer to you questions is that times change. We're in a different world than the founders of most of our respective systems and with that sometimes techniques need to get added and subtracted from our core practices. That's just my two cents.

If someone asks I will let them know, but I don't go around letting people know unsolicited, that's just asking for a problem. I will practice in publicly accessible areas every now and again, but only if no one else is around. Other than that it's my backyard.

Good luck!

Generally it contains: Bo Nunchaku Sai Kama Tonfa Eku Not necessarily in that order, a lot of Okinawan karate that practices kobudo as well contains these weapons. However, more specialized schools that I have run into have commonly contained: Sansetsukon (three-section staff) Nunti-bo (Spear) Tinbei (Shield) Surujin (Weighted rope) Kuwa (Hoe) Tekko (A variation on what we would recognize as a brass knuckle) Again, not necessarily in that order. Usually never a katana or any type of sword.

Welcome to KF! Oddly I can find nothing on this kata on the internet. Is it called something else as well?

When you get a BA in Culinary Arts you are essentially getting a business degree so I imagine that this would be similar.

Fantastic advice! I agree 100%, contact the authorities and avoid confrontation with this guy.

I wouldn't mind have a BA in MA, just for the novelty if nothing else! I know many colleges hold various classes, so I imagine the study tract would be to take a lot of the different classes, mixing Kung Fu with Karate. I wonder if you could use it in place of a degree for something related like physical education where some jobs might require it.

Congrats hammer!

Always a pleasure.