RichardHangHong

Wow! That's a lot of students to handle and especially when it's kids! I'd suggest splitting up the classes into 2 sessions. If you are unable to do that, get your junior black belts or adult seniors to come to the class and help you out as "sempais" if you can. Go through what you want them to do in the class earlier in the week, maybe even write it down for them. With your tuition I'm sure they can handle the task. Depending on how capable they are, you might need 3-6 assistants in there with you. This will give you a bit more room to move around in the class and teach them all. Another plus is that the assistants can help you keep the kids under control.

35 katas in total, not including the ones I'm learning at the moment. Karate katas Taigyoku Shodan/Kihon Kata Taigyoku Nidan Taigyoku Sandan Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Saifa Gekisai Dai-Ichi Gekisai Dai-Ni Bassai Dai Sanseru Seiyunchin Hangetsu Tensho Empi Seipai Jion Kankudai Sochin Shisochin Unsu Iaido Kata Seitei Iai Kata #1 to 12 (I don't know all the names or how to spell them)

Isn't it frustrating to see people get their black belts in as little as 2 years when you know they're not worth it? I see it loads in Shotokan. How long did it take for you to get to Shodan? It took me just under 5 years to get mine.

Every belt should be earned, not just given to a student so that they'll stay. To earn a belt I'm a firm believer that they should be showing these things. That they are training regularly Must be showing the level of dedication expected of their grade Have the correct technique for the level they're attempting Be able to perform quality kata and show an understanding of it to their level Strong kumite and are able to handle themselves (especially at black belt) Have a good attitude towards others A humble ego A strong karate spirit Not taking any of some of these things into consideration when grading students is just wrong. I've seen people in the past get their belts just because "They've done their time" and it really cheeses me off when others work their butts off to get their grade. Other reasons I've seen people get "given" their belts are... 1) Just so they'll keep training (I heard a student say to her sensei she would quit if she wasn't passed at the grading, she wasn't worth the grade but was still passed) 2) So the student will like them/won't hate them (Personal feelings shouldn't come into it when deciding if someone to pass/fail someone) 3) The instructor is afraid of failing a student (they should grow a pair or not be doing the grading!)

I think uniformity to a certain extent is a good thing. Especially in ones own school. If everything is uniformed then everyone knows what is expected of them at each level of progression. At a higher level when one has begun to understand the deeper meanings of a particular kata and their kihon waza have become a part of them, then I think there would be room for making adjustments of intepretation and allowing this to show in the kata. I mean this in terms of the timing, rhythmn and speed of the kata, not the techniques used. After all, if you start changing the techniques, you may as well just make up your own kata. All kata have numerous bunkai for each movement so of course where one person my see it one way, another may see it completely different. This can and should be expected of practioners who are different shapes to one an another. For example, someone who is short and stocky would most likely have a totally different intepretation from someone who is very tall and long-limbed. I see this a lot in my Iaido class. My sensei says to perform a kata to your body movements and not to try to imitate the way someone does a kata who is a totally different shape to you.

I can't remember if I ever washed my white belt as it was so many years ago. I'm sure my mum washed mine when I did karate as a little kid though.

Hopefully it'll be better than the last film he did, Unleashed. OMG that was the biggest pile of rubbish I'd seen in ages! The only good fight was the "toilet scene".

agreedWhat about Kung Phooey and Kung Fu Hustle? They're just as bad too!

Street Fighter, Crouching Tiger, along with anything else of the same OTT genre. Essentially anything which looks way over the top with flashy moves every 2 seconds paints a bad stroke on the MAs They may be entertaining, but there's no realism to them whatsoever. We're never going to learn to fly or walk on air are we?

Hey Samuel if you liked that, you should take a look at DOA4 on the XBOX 360. I haven't played it but I've sat outside a shop window many a time and just watched the demo film play over and over again. Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun!

No probs wheeze, I'll come up with some stuff over the next few days and post it up soon for you.

I've just been reading my issue of SKM and there's a site which has some good shotokan books and dvds including Enoeda's series on dvd. https://www.budopromotions.co.uk

Very entertaining to watch. Nicely choreographed and with a good standard too.

That was hilarious!

Have you tried a google search for Iaido classes in your area? Sometimes they can be linked with Kendo and even Jodo. Iaido truly is a wonderful art to study, but you really need a quiet mind to do it.

Welcome to the forums. Good luck with your training also!

Welcome to the site Samuel

Tokaido Japan Excellent suppliers of high quality gi's, belts, over gi tracksuits, bags and some badges. A bit on the expensive side and delivery takes quite some time but worth the wait.

In our club we do a game called "Stranger Danger". It's essentially a self awareness program that we make fun for the kids to learn. Start off with them sitting around you in a circle/semi-circle and go through a few safety pointers. E.g. 1. Tell your parents where you're going before you leave the house. 2. Always know your home phone number and street address 3. Safe places they can go to for help (police/fire station, etc) 4. Safe people they can approach for help (police officer, friends, family, teachers, etc) 5. How to get attention quickly if you're in trouble (yell FIRE, not help) 6. What to look out for (strangers in parks/playgrounds/outside schools who don't have kids with them, etc) Then go through a few basic self defence techniques to get them out of grabs and holds. Once they've got all that, line them up at one end of the dojo facing the wall with their hands behind their back and grab them one at a time trying to pull them to the other side. Tell them that if they use the techniques you've taught them well and they get away, they are safe. But if you get them to the other side, then they've been caught by the "big bad stranger" (which you play in this part of course) and they'll be locked away where they can't get out (Said with a smile of course! It's scare tactics, but just to get them to lightly visualise the scenario, not to scare the heck out of them!) A piece of advice on this game. Wear a groin guard (and shin/instep pads if your legs aren't well conditioned!) as the kids can kick harder than you think most times! It's really fun for them and after doing it a few times they really become much more aware of their surroundings. If you want any other ideas I've got plenty to share Good luck with your school

I don't see why not. It's part of your development expenses and enhances your qualifications for your business, but run it past your accountant to be sure of what to put it through as.

I'd love to spar with Masao Kagawa. I'd get my butt kicked from the moment they said hajime but I'd be proud of every bruise, scrape and anything other injury that came my way.

This topic got me thinking about my old belt so I dug around the garage this morning and pulled it out. Wow! I forgot just how much it had worn and frayed when I was wearing it. I'd only had it about 12-18 months and it's about 1/4 white all around the whole belt. With the main areas of use (the knot, area that presses against your back and sides of each end) showing more than the rest of course.

If you want more height on the kick then you need to open up both hips. So turning the supporting foot out may be useful to begin with. I generally don't have a problem with getting the height or distance I need to connect but I still keep the foot side on turning just 90 degrees instead of 180. It all comes down to hip flexibility and how stable you want to be when you deliver the kick as well as if are using keagi or kekomi kicks.

That's quite a common kumite combination, and a very effective one if done properly too...

Are you looking for going into traditional karate or freestyle? If you're looking for traditional it's good to go with one of the 4 main styles, Goju Ryu, Shotokan, Wado Ryu and Shito Ryu. There are other good ones of different and mixed styles, it's always good to look around first. The cheapest doesn't always mean the best and vica versa.