knarfster

Kenneth Funakoshi is related to GF, but I beleive he is a "grand nephew". GF's son that studied Karate dies of Tuberculosis when he was young (before he turned 40 I think).

Polio? What are you talking about. i have Never seen or heard any reference to Gichin Funakoshi having polio. He states himself that he had perfect health and never went to a doctor.

What is the difference between a Dragon fist? and a "regular" karate fist?

His stances were high because he was studying with Okinawans, whose Shorin Ryu has higher stances. The JKA has lowered their stances after his death.

Is there anyone who teaches "real" ninjitsu left?

People tie Belts differently in our dojo thanthey did 20 years ago. I see most of the newer black belts (in last 10 years) now use a "judo" type knot.

I need it for the excersize, i took 23 off and recently started again for my health. plus I have an 8 year old son who I want to learn the art. My 3 year old daughter is already bugging me to start because she loves wathcing her brother. My kids will probably keep me going until I can't.

Wow, I am going to try to age my Purple belt, so i look like i have been a purple belt FOREVER! LOL.

We had a guy who lived in our drom in College who always talked about his Martial Arts experience (he was TKD or TSD). We all hated it. one day his 210 Lb roommate had heard enough and said lets go outside. we all went outside the dorm to watch. Wham bang pop it was over in less than 5 or 10 seconds. The guy really did know his stuff. he kicked his roommates you know what by blocking a punch to his head with his left arm, kicked the guys inside right knee so that he went down AND on the guys way down gave him a round house to the side of the head.

What kind of shoes do vegans like you wear? i imagine you don't wear leather shoes right?

I would have just stuck with it. i took 23 years off after studying for 3 years (went in the Army) Now that I have a son I have taken him to my old Sensei and started training again my self. Some of my old friends are now 3rd and 5th Dans (not easy to get GoDan in JKA as a gaijin who is not running a dojo yourelf) if I had stuck with it i would have 26 years experience and be around a 4th or 5th Dan my Self.

I used to carry around this great advertisement from a Cali news paper years ago, it had a picture of turtle on it and said you to could become a teenage ninja! It was hilarious.

I would consider my style as part of both. The JKA has applied a lot of kinesiology to there style. however, since I study with a Sensei who is Japanese and studied under Funakoshi himself, he has made it a life style and tries to instill that "Art" into us students.

I would feel weird wearing abelt from another style, unless it was VERY similar, at least in the kihon (katas can be learned quickkly if the Kihon is similar and sound). When I started back in Karate after a long break, I wore my white belt (under the same sensei) until my Son teste for his frist belt, then i went back to my old belt (6 months as a white), with my sensies approval of course.

If you look at old pictures of Funakoshi Sensei, he was more upright than Shotokan is today.