patusai

I learned to drive a manual (3 on the tree) in a company delivery van while working for a Big Chicago retailer who has been bought out by some NY company. It was an experience! Learning was 1/2 of the fun! The van only had one seat (drivers). I wish I would have saw the face of the guy who was teaching me when I dumped the clutch on my first try at starting out...he flew back into the back of the van...thank God the back doors were locked! Wonderful time!!

Michio Koyasu created Bunkai kata for Jion, Patusai, Kushanku and Useishi and they are part of the program...at least they use to be so we practiced quite often

Colors at the Yudansha level vary by school as everyone knows. In addition to the belts mentioned, one style that I practice uses a black belt with red tips for 5th dan and a black belt with a red stripe down the center of the belt for 6th.

Congratulations. what a great honor

Congratulations...good luck

Welcome, Glad that you are here!

lol, sounds like my team here in the UK. We were a major driving force in UK hockey for a long time but a sucession of poor owners put paid to any trophy winning, or even financial stability. We've just lost 3 of our best players (one to another UK club, and 2 to European leagues) and it looks as though another player may jump ship to go play in France too. Off-season is rubbish - not only are there no games to watch but most of the recruitment news seems to be bad too! Gee does William W. Wirtz own your team too?

Bo, Sai, Tonfa traditionally. The nunchacku is also used somewhat

I have never reached that level. Do not know. If you care to explain furter that would be great

I enjoy Jion too. I was not taught the Shotokan version although we did compare it to ours at one time way back. The version I as taught, although slightly different more closely resembles the Shito Ryu's version. It was my favorite kata for many years. I learned Jion and Ura Jion (which is a bunkai version of the kata). Enjoy it! It's fun

I agree rank is too important to some. That's their thing and they are welcomed to it. It does not matter who is a black belt or who is "master." Frankly, I use to and it use to upset me (especially those that created their own styles by changing a few kata or techniques of a few kata) but today it is to each his own. They are welcomed to their path. There is nothing wrong with it. It's of course not for me to say that there is something wrong. Before it was black belts then it reached a point where the "thing" was to be at a level to wear the "red and white" checked belts or other "master" level belts. Americans need status. I do too. Just different in different areas. If enough people believe and acknowledge you as a 9th degree black belt then you are one. The old masters were at that level because they were acknowledged. There may have been other martial artists who were never recognized as master who were technically as good as some of the masters. I think that was one of the points in Karate Kid I. Opps, I rambling again...sorry

You remember by doing them over and over and over again and not learning the next one until you are ready. Rushing or being rushed through the teaching of kata creates confusion later on. At least that is the way I see it.

Yes it can be frustrating. I was going to say that correct is what you have been taught but then when you teach the kata what is correct for you may not be what is correct for your student unless his/her needs are the same as yours were. Now I am more confused then ever

Uniformity would be nice but even the masters did not hand down uniform kata. Kata learned from Itosu, for example, by his students who later became masters are done differently. Sometimes it was done because of physical limitations sometimes it was changed because of misunderstanding and loss through the years (forgetfullness) and sometimes because they felt "it would be better to it this way." Uniformity is fine but the variety in kata is what makes us all just a little bit different from each other while the general idea of the kata itself makes us alike.

I'd Google Ninja and I am sure that you can find a great deal of information. My limited understanding is that they were assasins. To each his own. I will admit that from what I have read over the years they are a very interesting bunch. Again, try Googling and....enjoy reading!

Belts should be earned. I am not disagreeing with any of the comments here. Unfortunately, the definition of "earned" has different meaning for different schools. Shodan is a beginning and not and ending. Each school has different requirements and understandings of what the beginning is. If your school/style or what have you requires that you take 5 years to get to the beginning take pride in that. If your school/style or what have you requires that you take 3 years minimum to get to the point where you know enough to start learning then take pride in that. Belts should be awarded for the right reasons. The goal of karate is the perfection of the self. It's not for me to judge. I can only judge my own and my own self and until I find prefection in me my eyes look inward...to me.

Even those people who work hard and train hard to get the black belt the old fashion way can lose in a street fight. Karate is not the ultimate fighting method...is it one of may ways to defend and/or fight.

The way that the Hawks are playing these days a team full of women would be an improvement...sorry to say. I hang my head in shame almost every year.

Congratulations! Here's to your future!!!

It's been a while so...I tried it. Now my (right) shoulder is in a bit of pain because I wanted to reach a certain mumber so that I could answer somewhat respectably. What did I learn from this? Next time I'll be guesstimating.

Congratulations Sohan

"When the Earth is sick, the animals will begin to disappear, when that happens, The Warriors of the Rainbow will come to save them." -- Chief Seattle

BEing a teacher! This way I could get the summer off again!!!! Of course I'd probably have to get a summer job just like in the old days..

Indeed!

Old at 23! When I was your age.... I always wanted to say that..