RichardHangHong

Welcome to the forum Shui Tora. Like cathal said, you should put up a thread on ushiro mawashi geri, you'll get lots of help in there. I'm sure there was a topic on it recently so have a look around in the Karate threads.

I used to play, but my brother had the fingers for it. I had stubby fingers so I just played the drums more.

I would have continued learning the drums, guitar and most definitely would have started karate sooner or at least had a shorter break. I did Wado when I was 6 for a year then moved out the area. Wish I had continued training, even if it was somewhere else.

Just tetleys tea for me. Occasionally I'll have a fruit herbal tea, no preference on flavours though.

Rimmer? I'm guessing you're lucky they didn't go with a more "inappropriate" associated nickname

I've had a couple of nicknames that stuck for a few years... AZTEC ~ 14 to 17yrs ~ Given to me when I was in the ATC (Air Training Corps) because apparently I looked like the people from that period/area (I'm mixed race and had rather dark olive skin). SENSEI (Sonic the) HEDGEHOG ~ 18yrs ~ Given to me by a couple of students because of my spikey hairdo and fast moves in the dojo. Which later converted to... THE RED HEDGEHOG ~ 18 to 22yrs ~ One of my blue belt students was attempting his 4th kyu (red belt) and because of my nickname I was going to colour my hair blue but the dye didn't work so we went with red instead. Everyone was pretty impressed with it and it stuck for a few years during that time I dyed it again at a gasshuku and left a stain on our chief instructors' leg mitt. It finally disappeared when I turned 22 and had started doing karate full time and had to take over another instructors area. It lingered for a couple of months then went alltogether.

Male, 25, started driving at 18.

Good luck smitty! See you in 9

Sounds like so much fun Sensei Mark!

You did the right thing doing what you did. Sometimes when ego takes over people can get a little big for their boots and try to push their weight around, challenging people senior to them, etc. So when they get put on the butts it brings them back down to earth with a satisfying thud. Everyone needs to eat a piece of humble pie from time to time and it should always be a senior like yourself who feeds it to them.

best thing to do is ask your instructor to show you instead of "one of the guys" in the class. I was totally confused the first time I put on a hakama. Took me a few weeks before I could do it myself. If you're in a school that doesn't wear gi trousers underneath the hakama, make sure you where shorts of some sort as there's a big gap on either side of the hakama where your butt, or at least a your hips and a bit of thigh can be seen by anyone. Being the only girl in the class I imagine you want to keep your modesty intact.

I started doing lots of cardio training about 4-6 months prior to my black belt grading. In our school the dan gradings are about 4 1/2 hours long so you've got to be fit for the long haul. I would go to the gym 3 times a week for anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes per session doing treadmill, exercise bike and the cross-trainer. I also did some moderate weight work, just to build up my strength rather than to bulk up as that would slow me down (I'm only a little fella, 5'5"). On top of that I was training 4 times a week in the dojo to keep my technique up to scratch and my katas sharp. Depending on what the focus is in your school and the length of your grading any of these training tips should be useful.

How often does your sensei run a grading?

By the way, I wouldn't mention that you train(ed) in GKR. I train with Sensei George Andrews, 7th Dan IOGKF and I made that mistake, although is was nearly 10 yrs ago that I trained in GKR. Their name is mud to them.

Try looking on the IOGKF website International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Federation. World Chief Instructor is Morio Higaonna, 9th Dan. http://www.iogkfoz.org/flashSite/iogkfoz.html Sensei Simon Beaumont is the instructor in Sydney These are the details on the site University of Technology Sydney Kuran-gai Campus Sydney, NSW 0419 499 805 Good luck

Most likely. I heard somewhere that the PS3 will cost about £400-500 just for the console! Surely not!

XBOX 360 is the next step up. Better graphics, like Hi-Def really, a lot of the CGI clips are like watching a scene from Final Fantasy. In other words, very detailed and really smooth. Can't say anything about the games as I haven't played any yet. The PS3 is supposed to be the equivalent of the 360 but even better.

1st one looks more creative. 2nd one is a little plain for my liking. Keep up the good work.

When my brother had his taken out they gave him a complete anesthetic to knock him out. Mine are okay but I hate local anesthetics, had one years ago when getting a tooth pulled out and it hurt like hell!

My recommendations History of Karate - Morio Higaonna Traditonal Karate-Do Vol 1-3 - M.Higaonna Best Karate Series - Masatoshi Nakayama The 20 Guiding Principle of Karate - Gichin Funakoshi Karate-Do: My way of life - G.Funakoshi The Karate Dojo - Peter Urban Moving Zen - C.W Nicol The Bubishi - Patrick McCarthy Zen in the martial arts - Joe Hyams Bunkai Jutsu - Iain Abernethy

Not yet, but I'd like to in the future though. Isn't he connected to Shikon Martial Arts?

Oh, and whilst you're out and about looking around for a dojo, try your best to avoid any McDojos.

Aren't all four styles both hard and soft? That way, there is a balance of the two. Also, should it really matter which style is the "softest"? All are on the same journey so what does it matter if their routes are different? Did you choose these four styles for any particular reason or are they just random choices? If you're thinking about taking up karate have a look around at some of your local dojos. It's not the style that's important, it's the instructor. If you can find a good teacher you'll do really well and learn a lot.

My sentiments exactly KarateK

Does anyone here train in Seitou Ryu, Kenshukai or Shinzui Kai? If you do, where do you train with and with who? How's your training going?