Zaine

My school did body conditioning. What we did is partnered up and light struck each other. As we got higher in the ranks we went a little harder, trying to keep the ranks even so as not to injure a lower ranking student. Stay away from the face and groin.

Generally those are signs of over-exertion stemming from either just working your body to it's limit or dehydration. Some medications do have side effects brought on by exercise but you have already asked your Doctor and if he gave you the thumbs up it probably isn't that. This could also stem from your nutritional habits. If you're not eating properly (i.e. not enough for your body to function healthy) this could also be the problem. I would suggest packing a granola or protein bar when you go to class, maybe consuming one beforehand and just be vigilant about staying hydrated. If you are demanding too much physically maybe ease yourself back in a little slower into the groove of things. When we start a new exercise, regardless of whether or not we have done it in the past, our bodies have to get back into the groove of things before being okay with the kind of exertion that the exercise demands. It is possible that your body is just getting re-acclimated with this type of physical training.

I'm personally not a huge fan. I'm not a huge fan of any standing bag that is weighted to the floor by a base filled with sand anyway. I prefer a hanging bag. However, BOB's are good if you want a general idea of how an upper-body technique is going to feel like when applying it to humans. It's not going to be exact but it will help with placement being that BOB's are height adjustable (I think).

I don't quite remember who made my sais (I've since lost them) but they were just generic sais that used a good thick metal. They were really heavy as well. If you have a local Martial Arts Supply store (not common) they should have some. Other than that I suggest looking at the specs of the sai rather than the brand name, it might help you out if you're unfamiliar (as I am) with brands in general.

Welcome to KF!

It has been awhile since I've watched MMA in general, but it was always my impression. Never said that the grappling wasn't good, just that I wasn't a huge fan of the standing game.

I think a lot of times people equate high prices with McDojo and, while this can be a quality of a McDojo, it doesn't mean that they are a McDojo. The prices are high, but if the results seem legitimate and they aren't moving up through the ranks at an accelerated rate because that's in the contract or something similar.

You're not a 1st Kyu dealing with that anymore. You're a Father dealing with a person who didn't exhibit enough control to not pop a girl in her eye with not enough common sense to take of his watch before training.

This really hasn't been my experience with Uechi-Ryu. Some might do it differently but in the area I was taught Shorin-Ryu we had a particular Uechi-Ryu school that was super hardcore. From their conditioning to their techniques it was pretty intense. Fun, don't get me wrong, but intense. As to Rockford's latest post I don't see much difference in brawling and MMA fights. Generally to me they all end up either on the ground or some kind of brawl. It can be fun to watch, don't get me wrong, but the similarities are pretty striking.

Agreed. The Godan, having taught the Yondan, knew that he could manipulate him into letting him take over the class. This person does not have an attitude befitting of someone in his rank and should be banned immediately.

Good question. I think that some will and others won't. It all depends on how the coordinator likes them I suppose. They don't seem too different from the regulation gloves that most tournaments use so I'm guessing that there shouldn't be too much of a problem.

There are a ton of good systems. I wouldn't limit myself to Okinawan systems because of tradition. Japanese karate is just as rich with tradition as any Okinawan. Shorinji-Ryu, a variation of Shorin-Ryu (I did Matsumura Seito) or Goju-Ryu might fit your bill pretty nicely. I know you don't like it but Kyokushin would fit your bill just as well. I don't think more kicks will help you with TKD and there are no Okinawan systems with more kicks than TKD that I know of. Mid-range strikes have great use, thought I should just throw than in there as a general thought. Just practice their applications more. All systems have a plethora of mid-range techniques that you should embrace just as much as close and long-ranged attacks. I would suggest, however, looking into Longfist or Shaolin Kung Fu. You have two harder styles under your belt(s) why not add a softer style?

Welcome to KF!

Welcome to KF!

I think this really depends on what you're doing. My teacher was well enough off that teaching was a fun thing. He started out doing it for free and eventually charge $25 a month. My Kung Fu instructor charged a one time fee of $75 for a month class and then just continued for free for the students who wanted to drive to his house and do it. On the other hand I can see those instructors who need to keep up with rent and other various monetary obligations it would be higher. Also the perceived worth of the school puts up the price. I've just been lucky to get a couple of instructors in a row who have had the ability to charge less for their classes.

I really have to agree. I think that if you're going to start your school you should teach. Otherwise you're just opening a business and I think it's easy for something to get lost in the translation when you remove yourself from a teacher role. In the end, if it's a business you want, teaching yourself will save cost and give you an opportunity for expansion when your students want to start teaching on their own. The old fashioned way may be wrought with problems but I think that this is a problem of how you run it and other factors that you too will have to worry about regardless of the way that you do it. This is the long and short of it: Martial Arts studio are hard to keep running as it is. With rent, utilities, equipment and other random costs, why would you add the extra cost of an instructor's salary?

Passai in the Seito version is very much a kung fu like form. I moved before I could go over all the Bunkai with my old sensei and couldn't find a new instructor in the same system but I imagine it was some kind of elongated block. My teacher used to refer to it as storming the castle, so I would imagine it had both defensive and offensive applications.

The post in the other thread is the one that made me look back at this one.

Matsumura Seito. I really like it a lot but it's what I learned so it's what I teach. I've always really liked both of them.

I take that back. Reading the OP again there is clearly a vendetta.

I don't think that was his intention at all. I've seen Shaolin Kempo in action and it's a good system. I think some of us cringe when someone rewards themselves additional dan grades though.

Happy Birthday! May you two have many more!

I can agree, but I think some techniques are better reserved for higher ranks to use. I wouldn't allow for a 8th kyu to use a ridge hand but a 3rd kyu I would allow under the conditions that they are using the technique with sufficient control so as not to take their partner's head off.

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How many morons do karate? It's not about how well you can control this or that damaging technique but that it is, even when controlled, a damaging technique. I wouldn't want my students doing these techniques on each other outside of one steps because in a situation like sparring, regardless of your level, it's hard to pop one of these techniques with control. You're right, all karate techniques can cause damage. What an instructor does is weed out the ones that can cause so much as to knockout or do permanent damage to a student. It would be irresponsible for them to do otherwise.