patusai

I see my training as achieving exellence of body and mind , but feel that a better understanding can or could be achieved by me, by a personal embrace of a philosophy from the area or a system of belief around whichever art I participate in?

You can rent them things???? I never knew that. It would be interesting to see how other styles do it and not have to buy the DVD! Got to find me a rental.

I do kata because my teacher told me to and his teacher before him told him to and so on and so on. I respect them all since each have forgotten more MA then I will ever learn.

It takes a lifetime

Kanken Toyama

I personally prefer the front kick

I like defense because defensive techniques can also be used as an attack. However, as someone put it to me, even the greatest MA can only defend for so long.

I am partial to the backfist personally.

I have been fortunate. I have not had to fight. The first day of class my sensei showed me what he called the greatest self defense techiques. It started by getting in a zensoku dichi twisting 180 degrees and walking (or running if necessary) away. Stand and fight if you are left with no other choice. I never, fortunately, was left with no other choice

Personally I like a little what it called So Ryu

You must fine a Ki master (or whatever they call themselves) to really understand it in depth. Books and such can give you a valuable insight. I'm not sure where you search will take you but... good luck. When you find it let me know.

Ooooo I wish that I said that

Povisional or Shodan Ho I believe they call it is given to a student and then there is a requirement for retest in a selected period of time before the official Shodan rank is permanent.

Oops! Sorry

The only standard (pretty much) as you can see, is that you start with White there is a green belt along the way, a brown belt along the way and then black

All depends on you. You can train in the finest style (whatever that may be) by the finest teacher/s...even being trained by Matsumura himself but it all depends on ... you. Besides, there is no best MA there is only MA

I agree. This book is great. However, I have found some instructors have variations of the kata so, as mentione before, ask the instuctor for advise. Welcome to KF

I don't use sparing gear.

It allows you to develop combinations and hammers them into your head and it offers options. These options are practiced and practiced. Heck, either do kata over and over again or practice technique individually over and over again. Either way would help but it is less boring to do kata

I'm an old man. My fighting style has changed to adapt to my age. In the street, whatever it takes if my life is in danger. I mean what else is there? If I am either going to use the brick on the ground or not and die I mean there isn't much of a choice is there ...

This is coming from a 50+ year old man. You will NEVER be 20 or 30 again. You need to do MA at your own age. MA abilities and development changes as you get older...as you can see. You are not a kid anymore. As for me, the youth are quicker, stronger, taller, etc but,,, when it really counts I believe that I am able to get one good one in and end it all if necessary...hopefully.

In the beginning they were assassins plain and simple. Today I am not sure what the heck the training is for....self defense but they do not act as assassin types anymore...or do they???

Way to go!

I have used both. Horizontal supply more power although the vertical does supply a better fit if hit into specific areas of the body