IronWarrior

I'd also recommend Wing Chun as well, nice Kung Fu style and very basic to the point..

I also agree you have a very good Sensei! and he knows what hes taking about, I can tell just from you as a student.. Kata is the essence of Karate in my opinion, Katas contain all your basics and alot more once you get into the Bunkai 'Self Defense applications'' Personal I try to visualize a real fight when I do kata and the bunkai applied in each tecnique, thats why its said it takes years to master, you have to visualize the actually attack and defense in each tecnique, then it becomes much more then just punches,kicks and blocks.. theres some katas where I would just think the tecnique was a block but actually it was a trap and break and then a throw e.t.c..

Just wonder how many off you come from the 'old school' of Karate, by that I mean before Karate become really 'sport' oreintated, and before black belts were given away easily e.t.c.. Now I see dojos on every corner poping up with students wearing flashy gis e.t.c.. but the basics seem to be missing and that true fighting spirit is not there.. I'am only 28 but I started in Karate when I was 5 in 1982 and it was different learning in the 80's as it is now gradings were tougher e.t.c.. seems some students have it easier now and are just pampered and instructors are afraid to push them hard.. I'am not saying all dojos are like this just seems Karate has become 'watered down' from say 20 years ago..

Karate Champ! that game came out in the arcade when I started karate when i was 5..lol for the people in there early and late teens just watch Blood sport with Van Damme when hes in the hotel lobby playing the video game..thats Karate champ..loved that game!

I would'nt worry about using alot of supplements just stick to a good multi vitamin maybe some extra Vit C and a good high Calorie whey weight gainer in addition to your meals..I always see young teens starting out in my gym blowing there money on 3-4 different supplements when all they need is basics and lots of high protein foods e.t.c.. combined with heavy weight training and lots of rest.good luck

Always ask yourself first why do you want to change styles? If you spend enough years in Karate you will find similarities in each style to yours, so do you want to leave Karate all together? I have studied Wado Kai Karate for 23 years and having earned a 3rd Dan have no need to change ever! I just keep a open mind and incorporate aspects from each style in terms of self defense and kumite.

I had a white heavyweight Ironman when I was 16 got it when I received my Shodan with the blue and black label, the quality dos'nt seem the same anymore, I liked that gi alot! Right now I'am waiting for my Meijin Gi with custom embroidery to arrive.

Start taking a weight Gainer powder in addition to your meals, and lift heavy and rest and sleep... and you will grow! as long as you stretch and train in Martial arts you should only get stronger and faster as you get bigger..

Wado was developed before Enshin Karate, they are a bit similar in the theory of evading a attack, bodyshifting 'tai-sabaki' e.t.c.. Enshin employs alot of Kyokushin priciples as well low kicks,knees e.t.c...

Sounds like you 'think' about 'it' 'breaking' too much... Dont think just DO!' think of the board as a soda cracker visualize that in your head and just destroy it.. seems to work for me

Super Ninjas..lol

Your Genetics will also play a role also, in how much workload your body can handle, I also have a labour intesive job as well.. I'am 5'9 220lbs 19 inch arms I train 'lift' 4 days a week and 2 days in the dojo, I just make sure that I get enough sleep and extra on week ends as well.

Kung Fu movie made in the 70's, a guy lays down in a bed or tomb of 1000 needles, which movie is that scene from??? anyone know? seen it on Kun Fu theatre when I was like 6 years old 22 years ago..lol and it stuck in my head.

Yes, the karate kids where excellent movies, wish there where more like it.

Yes its the same Karate, Its confuses alot of people..lol! Its just a political difference, Kai means 'orgainization' Ryu means 'school' in order for Otsuka Sensei to register it under the JKA he changed it to Ryu like Goju Ryu e.t.c. which would make it 1 of the 4 Karate styles reconized by the JKA in Tokyo, Japan Originally it was Kai, when Otsuka Sensei passed on it caused some confusion e.t.c. of who should by right take over e.t.c. it is now reconized in the JKA as Ryu or Kai..see..... very confusing so yes your doing the same karate as me..lol a block or strike may be a bit different in some katas, but thats about it. its still Wado.

I just ordered a Meijin Gi with embroidery, has anyone here bought a gi from them whats the workmanship like, gi, embroidery e.t.c...

A self-made Man! that guy worked for everything he has now! Growing up very poor and very very shy and look where he is now, one instructor I did some training with lived in his dojo in Sherman Oaks Cali for 6 months in the 70's said he was a great guy.

Underestimating is a key to failure, underestimating yourself or others!.

To me alot of the stuff is written over and over again, but I have also been in the Martial Arts for 23 years, for me personally I like fighting arts magazine much better now.

I trained in it a bit also.. its up to the students and instructors of the art to keep it 'pure' and not diluted, as long as they keep there 'Honour' and 'Integrity' intact.

Yes that would be a good choice for him, Its also my style as well, Just remember some call it Wado Ryu or Wado Kai its the same Karate though, just a organization thing.. Kai's the organization Ryu means 'school' so you can saw wado-kai ''wado-organization or wado-ryu wado 'school' same thing..lol can be confusing, I could go more indepth on that but it dos'nt really matter..lol its a bit easier on the knees also since we focus on higher stances in katas and theres not much jumping high kicking, some incorporate the high kicks but the basis is low kicks , high stances, there is also a system of Jujitsu blended into the system for self-defense that works nicely, its a nice style and has a lot to offer..good luck

PINANS'SHODAN'NIDAN'SANDAN'YODAN'GODAN' Wado Kai/Ryu below blackbelt katas.

For Shodan.. Pinan'shodan'Nidan'Sandan'Yodan'Godan' Naihanchi Kushanku For Nidan Seishan For Sandan Chinto there are some others but there not mandatory after learning we then get into the perfection and Bukai 'self defense applications' for each kata... so really there are only 9 katas white belt to 10th dan that are mandatory.

LOL! sounds like the kung fu movie I was watching at 12am on Kung fu theathre yesterday... 'you dishonour my teacherrrrrr'lol!!! all joking aside.. Brush it off man, just goes to show that this Sensei that goes around saying he beat your sensei has'nt learned one of the most important things in the Martial Arts 'humility' and humbleness! for that you should feel sorry for him, dont challenge him, he will come to his senses one day hopefully..

You yourself are the only that knows the value of the blackbelt you earned! I agree its 'given' out too easily in this day and age, I earned mine when I was 16 with 11 years already in spent in Karate that was 12 years ago.. Even back then I saw 10-11 year old blackbelts..lol! its just gotten worse today, my Sensei got his in 1973 and he told it was pure hell he went through then and 'everyone' he knew went threw the same thing to get theres..