Tommy_P

Nothing wrong with that. Not all Shotokan organizations are sport oriented. Some teach point kumite and some don't. I'm a Shotokan stylist and when I was coming up through the ranks my dojo sparred both hard contact and point sparring. We also practiced bare knuckle kumite. These days the organization leans more toward competition but each branch dojo is free do teach pretty much how they want. I am not a "sport karate" type of guy and don't teach that kind of thing. I prefer no safety equipment (foot and hand pads) and hard contact and I'm not a stand alone instructor. I think people confuse systems and personal preferences. Kyokushin isn't any different than Shotokan or Goju or anything else, as a matter of fact it's made up of both styles. What is different is the way the particular organization chooses to run it's training/kumite/competition. Same techniques, different way of practicing them. The individual is free to practice however he likes though. When you really think about it, if your system or organization is entering competition, no matter if it's light contact or knockdown, it's still competition. that makes what you're doing a combative sport. It's geared toward competition. Some traditional Okinawan schools never compete at all and there are Shotokan schools that don't believe in or practice that way also (Shotokai). These schools practice only realistic applications of their art and it cannot be practiced/performed safely as in competition. Even knockdown is not true technique otherwise people would be getting seriously injured and /or killed. I don't see that Sensei Mike is doing anything but practicing his Shotokan as it is ment to be practiced. I think the competition folks, no matter the style, are the ones doing "something different" a modern morph/modification of the system. Tommy

Yes, I was once being beat up by a woman and said, "those pants make you look fat". She broke down crying and I ran away!! Tommy

After reading your post the first thing that comes to my mind is a question. Why? What is your reason for wanting to become a street fighter? Do you expect to live a life of crime? Join a street gang? Become a mugger? Any "martial arts" school would be the wrong school for this. Getting out there in the street and getting into fights will teach you to be a good streetfighter. You may want to frequent a few tough bars too!! Sorry, I don't get it. Tommy

If you practice Iron Body you should regularly rub yourself with oil to prevent rust Tommy

Hi, Tommy! Looks like you got another belt here to your credit, buddy. Is that a black belt that has worn out until it's white? I Guess not, my new belt seems to symbolize newness or beginner status! Tommy

I read that thread and it didn' have any of the history I'm refering too. The post below is what I'm interested in. Thank you. This is what I find odd. All These forms seem to be versions of Okinawan kata. Pyung Ahn for instance, is the Korean pronunciation of the Okinawan word Pinan, isn't it? I've seen the kata and theyr'e the same. The Pinan kata (forms) were created in Okinawa in 1908 by Itosu Anko for introduction into the Okinawan school system. Another note is that the versions practiced in Tang Soo Do aren't the original Okinawan versions but more like the more modern versions (1922?) revamped by Funakoshi and brought to Japan. Tommy

Hi, I hope this question isn't out of place and my oppologies if it is, but I am very curious about the Korean arts and Tang Soo Do in particular. I Studied A Korean art for a couple of years long long ago. The school was under S. Henry Cho and the system was called Ji Do Kwan. Although I haven't been involved in TKD or any of it's sister arts for many years I still have the opportunity to watch a class or read an article every so often. I often hear or read about the forms (hyungs) and how they are thousands of years old. My question here is what info is given in the Tang Soo Do schools as to the history of their art and the forms they practice concerning age and where they came from. I might ask the same question of the rest of the TKD schools. Thank you Tommy

I wash my gi after every workout, sometimes after two if I don't have time. After a good workout it "has to" be washed! I wash it in cold water with regular liquid detergent and hang dry...never in the dryer. It's in the wash now as a matter of fact. I iron my Kamikaze gi but my Tokaido I hang dry and wear as is, for some reasoon it holds up without ironing. After a few minutes and lots of sweating the wrinkles are gone anyway! Tommy

Taking Okinawan/Japanese systems as an example we can see a common thread running through them regardless of style. If you look deep enough and understand what your system is trying to teach it can be broken down to certain fighting principles. For example, instead of looking at a particular block as defending against a punch, we might look at the underlying principle of the defense and instead of against a punch, we might apply it against any incoming attack regardless of what it is. It may be a punch, a grab attempt, a poke or choke or whatever. We can do the same for stances and footwork and by examining the various kata and their history. By understanding some of these principles and practicing them in varied defenses (against resisting opponents) we become better able to adapt to a given situation. The bottom line in dealing with different fighters and/or different styles IMO is knowledge and adaptability Tommy

It's not quantity it's quality that counts! Tommy