NidaninNJ

It never existed.

Why didn't you kick him with those long legs of yours before he had a chance to come in on you?

I started for self-defence but that's not the main reason why I stick with it now. I just googled 'karate why train' and I found this among other links: http://www.jkasv.com/article0002.html It seems like there is an article for just about everything there. Here's another one from the search: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Top-8-Reasons-To-Train-Martial-Arts&id=133978

Naw...Yoda wouldn't say that. He would say "Because it was easier do it that way I did not."

Hirota and Tokaido are definitely the top 2.

Not much. It's still at least 60 degrees, maybe more like 65. Why do you say that? I think its like the idea of putting your back foot at a 45 degree angle in front stance. Isn't it just what we expect of normal people and not what is the ideal for those who are flexible and strong enough to handle better technique?

That is a really cool magazine. And it's free!

here's the link: https://www.shotomag.com I guess it was obvious...

I'm not as flexible as some people who can do 75-80 degrees, but I think my hips are at about 60 when I turn them as far as I can without moving my front knee. I see your point but I also see the point of the people who say it should be more than 45. I think it depends on what your body can take and what your trying to accomplish.

There's a couple articles in the latest issue of ShotoMag about this.

These are all good suggestions. Also practice really SLOOOOOOOW kicks. Kicking slowly is good for all the kicks but I think especially for side thrust. This helps you build up the muscles but also to feel where your balance is going off.

I don't do other styles but from what I've seen Shotokan, Wado, Shito and Goju all seem to me to look almost exactly the same when you see them in kumite in tournaments. Maybe the Goju guys are a little higher in their stance. I think they are probably better at the close-in fighting and the other 3 styles are probably better at long-range. But otherwise I think they are pretty close to the same.

Hey. I think this is the first time I'm gonna disagree with Killer. I think 45 degrees is good but more is better as long as it doesn't mess up the stance. The bigger the hip movement the stronger the turning power, right? I don't know about '90 degrees' but let's say 60 or 70 is probably better than 45 if your flexible enough to do it right.

I second this. Or I guess I third it since Killer already seconded it.

More good stuff here: http://www3.baylor.edu/BUKarate/articles/mechanics.html Loads of good articles on that site too.

Oh man! There's more good stuff on that site! http://www.jkasv.com/article0011.html And check out the links on the bottom of that one. I think I'm more confused now.

Did you guys already see this? http://www.jkasv.com/article9912.html

The only problem with Tokaido is that it takes a long time to get one if you order one direct from Japan (https://www.tokaidojapan.com). If you order it any other way though you'll probably pay WAY more. They are expensive enough already so don't pay TOO much!

I'm sorry, your information is biased on what?? N are you trying to offend my TKD instructor ?? I'm not trying to offend anyone. As I said before I know there are some bad Shotokan people and good TKD people. But on average - based on the hundreds of people I've seen doing each - I think the technique is usually more refined and real ability (in a fight) higher for the 3rd dan in Shotokan than 7th dan in TKD. This is not meant to offend anyone and certainly not a cut on TKD. I know some TKD guys personally and have respect for many of the people doing it and the way they do it. But lets face it...its different. All you have to do is look at the requirements in time and ability for each rank and you'll see a big difference. And the priorities of each art is different too. You can really advance fast if you do well in a tournament in TKD but its not the same in Shotokan - or at least not the good Shotokan organizations. I know there are different types of TKD organizations and dojo/dojang just as there are different types of Shotokan organizations just as there are different types of Shitoryu, Judo and Kendo organizations and dojo. There are some great people in each and some terrible people in each and everything in between. But when you take your average Shotokan black belt at a given rank and compare to the TKD guy at the same rank, you usually see a big difference. And if you compare the 2 guys with the same amount of experience and about the same abilities, you usually see the TKD guy is at a much higher rank. That's all I'm saying.

Did he do any karate?

Lots of people lose flexibility as they get older and lots of people develop arthritis. I don't know if Funakoshi sensei and Nakayama sensei had these issues but they probably did. Nakayama sensei was covered in an avalanche while skiing a long time ago. I think it was in the 1950's. I heard he almost died and the doc's told him at first he might not come out of a coma, then he did. Then they said he might not walk again, then he did. Then they said he'd definitely never do karate again. These guys faced obstacles like so many other people, maybe more. They were not perfect. Nobody is. I don't know if these are excuses for imperfections in form but since they were older in many of the pictures we see of them I think that is at least a little excuse.

I may be biased (I do Shotokan) but from my experience seeing thousands of Shotokan black belts and hundreds of TKD black belts I would say that the average 3rd dan in Shotokan is probably better than the 7th dan in TKD. I know there are some terrible Shotokan black belts and some great TKD black belts. This is just from my experience - which I think is enough to know there is definitely a different standard between the two arts. But as somebody else already said here its not as much about rank as how good the instructor is. By that I mean how well they can teach. Go watch some classes and see if the students look like they are learning things and enjoying themselves. If they are maybe thats the place you want to be.

I agree with everything else already written here, but especially the above. Talk to your instructor and fellow students about your goals and feelings. But most of all, don't quit because you can't do something well. If you enjoy it, stay and make the most of it. We are not all naturals and most often it seems like some of the best people in karate are not at all natural athletes at all. Keep trying and keep enjoying it. Do a private lesson and talk it out with others. But don't quit just because you lack flexibility.

Unless your whole dojo is there and everyone else is wearing a gi.

The ones like the CobraKai guys wore? Try Century or Adidas or AWMA. They all carry the flashy, non-traditional stuff.