Zaine

Wagnerk nails it. I would add that most instructors are okay with communicating with you before you join. So if you're interested in Shotokan, email a couple of the schools in your area and ask what they're about, whether they are more self-defense oriented or if they focus on going to tournaments a little more. Remember, regardless of what their answer is, you can still learn some great self-defense and traditional karate from a tournament focused school. Just because they're "sporty" doesn't mean that they don't know what they're talking about.

It is not. However, some instructors who don't do it may have a place that they can recommend. I started at 9th kyu. Is that the best time to start? Who knows, it's just the time that I started. I am a proponent of starting earlier in your martial arts career however and being that I love weapons I believe that it's something that every martial artist should at the very least dabble in. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1996-75/current/pdf/1996-75.pdf It seems that "nunchakus or kung-fu sticks or other similar device" are banned under the "Prohibited hand weapons" section, but I saw nothing else about martial arts weapons. Make sure to read over it more carefully than I did though.

http://www.amazon.com/Takashi-KARATE-280cm-Master-Black/dp/B00BLM93WM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396024875&sr=8-2&keywords=silk+black+belts The all powerful Amazon has some posted.

That awkward point when all of your rank progressions are political? I hate that as well.

What if the owner is an amazing business manager/marketing guy but a so-so martial artist? If he's able to hire people who are outstanding martial artists and manage the work environment to let the talents of his people shine while he concentrated on keeping the place running smoothly for them, wouldn't that be better? I agree, I think that it would be a better arrangement. I think that overall our conceptions of what a mcdojo is can be pretty black and white. Just because you sign a contract doesn't make your dojo a mcdojo. One may pay a lot of money to train but that doesn't make their dojo a mcdojo. While these things may be red flags, they don't necessarily mean that the place is a mcdojo. All in all it's hard for us to say that this-or-that thing will necessarily mean that the dojo is a mcdojo because we can't be aware of all of the circumstances or reasons. Remember that some places make you sign contracts to protect you from them as much as it is to protect them from you. If I had to pick on thing that would define a mcdojo, it would be a mass allowance of students to progress to black belt quickly even though they lack the skill to hold the rank.

My favorite way to teach a kata is step by step. Do the steps a few times, then introduce the next part until completion.

Language. My teacher started not using Japanese names for things and then switched to using them.

The Maria thing is pretty off-putting. Congrats on your new dojo though! I hope that this one works out many times better than your last!

Welcome to KF!

Reaction time is definitely a huge issue for me. Hopefully it will improve. It will! It just takes time an practice! Before you know it you will have blocked or dodged a strike without even thinking about it.

This is great advice! mal103 is absolutely right, every dojo is different. One might not do any cardio or strength aside from the actual practice itself at all! Some might require a mile run before every class! A lot of us here supplement our training with cardio and strength training outside the class room. Do you have to be in shape? Not necessarily. However, as you progress, you will start to be more fit and you may have the desire to supplement to help your progression.

AdamKralic hits the nail on the head, don't go toe to toe with the guy. Stay on his outside and keep moving. This also depends on the judge. Again, I would look for good technique, as I stated above. However, make sure that you're intense. As a judge, I want to know that you believe in what you're doing. This doesn't necessarily mean screaming at the top of your lungs for a kiai, but if that helps you the go for it! However, do the kata as it is mean to. If your bassai is anything like the way I learned passai, then there are parts that are calculated and slow, and parts that are fast and intense so you should use that to your advantage. Again, make sure to practice this kata a lot! Remember that you're putting on a show for the judge to be impressed with, sell it with your technique and knowledge!

That's really cool Bob, thanks for sharing!

Sounds like a great dojo!

I think he was saying here that they are above high risk. Basic kicks and punches are definitely effective regardless of what level you are. The thing with some of these kicks is that there is a little bit of telegraphing that goes into them. Even if you're very fast when you throw them there is always opportunity to counter and if you know what's coming the counter can be more dangerous than the kick you threw. So as you become known for throwing a certain kick or if you have had a certain kick thrown at you constantly you may be better able to counter effectively. Same with basics though, although it's a little easier to counter simply because at a BB level you've been on the receiving end of these techniques for your entire MA career, however, you don't put yourself in as much risk since you're not leaving the ground to do them (as an example). Still, awesome video! Thanks for sharing!

That seems like it would work. As long as you make sure to keep good form according to Kyokushin standards. I would add that after you get to the point in the video, to start throwing them faster and faster. This video is great for static balance, but static balance is a different beast than keeping balance during constant motion.In the end, I would suggest drilling it slow at first, kind of like the video (although I wouldn't hold it out there) so that you can practice good technique. Find that sweet spot for you and drill that while gradually moving faster and faster. Drilling away from the dojo is the best way to get the balance that you want.

For beginners, my first teacher would take some funoodle and cut a square out of it. He would wrap that in canvas (so it wouldn't curl) and then attach it to a post for us to start out with. We would then move up to the rope. It's a pretty cool idea.

That's awesome that you found a dojo? Tell us about the dojo! (Like what style it is).

This is one of those things that passes in time. We're not built to be okay with strikes coming at us, so our reflex is to shrink away. I would suggest one-step drills. This way we can work on blocking instead of flinching. She'll get there, just keep encouraging her!

What is your martial arts goal? Whether it be to get in shape, create a system or get to black belt, post it here, I'm interested to know. My goal is to be a weapons master.

Not outside of Cowboys and Indians unfortunately. https://www.Coldsteel.com has a cool pdf on it though, it seems pretty legitimate. https://www.coldsteel.com/files/Riposte/Tomahawk.pdf

It depends on the weather and if my wife is up (being that we have a kid). In the mornings when it is cold I practice in my living room (I currently don't have a home dojo ) but when the weather is nice, I do a quick jog to the lake (about a half mile) and practice there. I always warm up with basics and then practice kata and cutting drills. Before living in my current location there was this awesome park that had some amazing trails where I would train.

SOLID POST! I agree with this description 100%

That's good news! What did you settle on?

Great advice! Also, don't be discouraged if to exhaustion means only 1 or 2 pull-ups. They're not easy at first! Keep at it and you will build up the muscles to do more!