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.

I have to agree with the quality over price. I have gone through two KI heavy weight (14oz) brushed cotton gi's. they just don't hold up like my Tokaido.

Their website is http://www.satori-gi.com/ and I think it is $140 or $150 for a custom Gi they make a 15 oz which may be more.

You might want to try a Tokaido middle wiht Gi. It has the best of both worlds.

I have tried all kinds of techniques on my too many Gi's (took me a while to find one I liked). If you wash a heavy wieght Brushed Gi on heavy duty, it will wear out faster, I know. If the Gi started out to large on me, then I wash it in hot each time AND dry it. it will stop shrinking after a while. I purposely buy them just a bit big, so i can shrink it. from then opn it is idiot proof and i can dry it in the dryer.

Can't go wrong with either. make sure you have a good idea of the size though. I have a KI heavy wight brushed cotton Gi in a size 5, it took a 6 1/2 Tokaido to fit me.

I just wanted to let people know I just got a Tokon Kodomo Gi for my son, size 000 and it is suprisingly well made for a $30 Gi. He is 8 and is 4' 3" tall (130cm) but the size chart says 000 is for up to 3', which is crazy because I still had to wash it in hot water to shrink it a bit. It is just as good as his KI Mugen Gi (which I really like but he didn't because their smallest size, 00, was too big) which is almost twice the price. He also has a ronin light weight, which is all cotton, but doesn't look as nice as the other two. he stated with a cheap , made in Pakistan, poly/cotton blend, but it is aweful. Yes, I have more money than Brains. I have recently went through a Ronin middle weight, a KI 14Oz. heavy weight brused cotton and I just bought a Tokaido heavy weight. I have to say that the stitching on the KI is "nicer" (more uniform) but the brushed material is not nearly as nice as the Tokaido. Funny, I am only 5' 7" but i weigh 200 Lbs , so I had to get a Size 5 top from KI and a size 4 bottom (bought two sets a 5 and a 4 , before i found a good seamstress. I had to get a 6 1/2 in the Tokaido to fit.

These are the “big” names in the US, all having studied with Funakoshi Sensei in Japan in the 40’s and 50’s (yes they are all old, but good) Hidetaka Nishiyama – Los Angeles – ITKF and JKA Teruyuki Okazaki – Philadelphia - ISKF and JKA Takayuki Mikami - Louisiana - ISKF and JKA Yutaka Yaguchi - Colorado- ISKF and JKA Shojiro Koyama – Phoenix Arizona- ISKF and JKA Shigeru Takashina – Florida- ISKF and JKA Tsutomu Ohshima – Los Angeles - SKA

I wish wehad our old belt systems,. In the 80's my Sensei used White, Green, Brown and Black. Somewhere along the line they went to White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Purple, Brown and black.

"they would have to prove black belt level skill to achieve any advanced level." I thought a black belt meant you knew the basics (along with the attitude, dedication etc..) I would think it depends on the persons dedication and attitude.

Is the Phoenix Dojo good? Fred Buck's?