Morgray

Hi everyone, A few months ago someone posted a message from Belgium asking for information about Byakuren Kaikan Karate-Kempo. At that time I was not able to read it and now the e-mail address he/she left doesn't work. The nick was OSU and the address was bvanvaeren@hotmail.com. If you are there, post a response. Thanks.

A very common problem. Try this link. It can be useful. http://www.kenpokarate.ie/feature_articles/line/index.html Good luck.

You could also try a full contact style as Kyokushin, Ashihara, Seido, etc, if you like the traditional side too.

Very interesting.

Which criteria would you follow to give a child a "Jr.black belt"? I know in Taekwondo does exist but I don't like the idea. A 9 year old black belt... What does it happen when the kid grows up and become an adult? Another black belt test? No, you're right. The ideal of black belt is not and never will be as it was in the past, but in the beginning there were not "dans" anyway... What should reflect then? I think it should be a certain degree of art's understanding and that can't be reached by a boy. Although a boy can have the physical skills, of course... What did happen about the 9 year old girl? Did you give her the black belt? By the way, forgive the spelling (again)...

I think a rank should reflect not only a technical progression, but also a character progression that implies maturity. It's the same for the driver's license. I met 11 years old boys that really knew how to drive a car but that didn't mean they were mature enough. A minimum age to test for black belt should be at least 16. Better 18.

Thanks God at least the link is well written...

Try https://www.sherdog.com. It's a MMA site but it's OK. Interesting videos.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I think the best form of "blocking" are open hand blocks but when you start blocking kicks it's better with closed fist because you can got a broken finger. The reason for an open handed block? Easy: 1) You don't block but parry the opponent' strikes. 2) Closed fist blocks doesn't work in reality... Have you seen a bare knuckle full-contact bout?

Maybe Sem Schilt?

Yes, Hironori Ohtsuka decided to create his own style because he and Master Funakoshi had different opinions on sparring and competition. Master Funakoshi got really angry when he saw his student Ohtsuka practicing sparring with another student using protections (kendo armours). So Master Ohtsuka (who already was a Ju Jutsu master) left Master Funakoshi and started Wado Ryu. It's interesting to see that Wado Ryu katas remained closer to original Okinawa katas...

Wado ryu is fairly traditionnal but is not an Okinawan style. It's a Shotokan offshoot so it's Japanese.

The one hit one kill may work... when the opponent is tied up or whithout moving Please, stop phantasizing. Any bare knuckle full contact tournament demonstrate it doesn't work (kyokushinkai, shidokan, enshin, daido-juku,...). Do you think the fighters hit without power? They search for the KO sistematically. When I asked Master Takashi Azuma (8th dan founder of Daido-Juku) about this matter, he laughed a lot! All full contact karate masters think the same way.

Dear ckdstudent, although meditation and breating techniques can help, it HAS a lot to do with conditioning. When your brain feels the danger it triggers the adrenaline pump and in such state your aerobic endurance is much lesser and you get tired faster.

You felt sick because: a) The adrenaline. b) Lack of conditioning. Try to change your training or maybe your style. May I suggest some style of knockdown full contact karate? Kyokushinkai, shidokan, enshin, etc. They focus a lot on conditioning and contact sparring. It's only an idea. Good luck anyway.

Yes, he's not politically correct but for that very reason I appreciate him. In the today's world there are so many hypocrites that it feels good when you found someone who talks his/her real thoughts. Many people thinks Grand Masters are just like Miyagi Sensei from Karate Kid movie... By the way, I don't think Shihan Bluming insulted neither gay people neither any race. He has his reasons to speak about JKA people that way, but that's another story... A true living legend, anyway.

Yes, very helpful but the true is at the bottom of the page. See note 3 and change Iai-Do for Karate-Do... You can also see what a Grand Master thinks about Kata and some "traditional" practices. Read the interview with Jon Bluming (10th dan Karate, 9th dan Judo, he also holds black belts in Iai-do and Jo-do and was friend of Don Draeger), the man who brought Kyokushin to Europe. http://www.realfighting.com/0102/jonblumi.htm

They charge an average of $30 to $35. Yes, I have a problem here... But I'm starting to seek new avenues... Regards

Dear Chris from CT, Your case is slightly different. In my case the sports complex doesn't pay me a flat fee. To become member you have to pay a $200 fee but ONLY as membership fee! After that, you have to pay about $40 each month... Thanks anyway.

Thanks for your help!

Please read the "Martial Chronicles" book written by Henry Plée (10 Dan Karate, 5 dan Judo, the pioneer of Karate in Europe).... About kata and mystifications.

Daido-Juku is a good example of a Japanese style (with roots in Kyokushin) that doesn't have katas.

Good style. If you want a tough style that could be a good choice. It emphasizes more sparring and conditioning than kata. Kyokushin started a different form of competition in Japan: Knockdown Full Contact Karate. Any related style would be OK too (Ashihara, Shidokan, Daido-Juku, Seido Kaikan, Byakuren Kaikan,...) "The essence of karate lies in combat" (Mas Oyama)

Hi everyone, I'm currently teaching at a sport complex but I have only a few students. There are several reasons for that, but the main one is you have to pay about $200 to become member and the active members are there mainly for tennis. Well, I started to think about opening a dojo but I have no idea about how to do it. Any suggestion? Thanks in advance.