bokendowanderer

I've never heard of that art. It sounds very interesting. If you can't find anything on it, you might just have to switch to another style similiar to that, or contuine the art by starting your own school. Thanks for the feedback. My first goal is to get a school started with a decent number of students. I'm not realy interested in doing MA for commercial purposes, but, teaching is a vehicle to get people to train with. Shortly before my bokkendo instructor passed away he told me there was not much more he could teach me. He said that for me to go further in the art I would have to teach. Thus the saying: "you can't keep it if you don't give it away." He urged me to open a school, which I did. I had to relocate for job purposes and closed the school about three years later. Looking at starting up again.

Theres martial arts in Scotland? Just kidding! I'm sure there are. Welcome to MA and the forum. Enjoy!

welcome to the forums. enjoy!

I've been involved in martial arts for over 25 years. I still practice a front kick, side kick, back kick, roundhouse kick, front punch, reverse punch, blocks, etc. the same way I was taught by my first instructor. But, I do take each basic technique and alter them for different situation. I practice high kicks (head level) and low kicks ( down to shin level). I've had different instructors try to make me change my basics. Some I changed a little as long as it still fit. But if I found the original technique was better I kept it. The key thing is I was given a good FOUDATION to work with and i don't see a need to change that. I worked on that foundation untill I was comfortable straying away without disturbing that. I'm not saying you have to be a master of an entire style or art before you can do that. I did'n't. I wasn't even a black belt before I explored a different style. I had been training for about four years constantly. Today I practice different styles and still practice the same basics in warm up and cool down. I think when you can do all your basics without your instructor watching over your shoulder and do them correctly, you should follow your ambition. If that's a single style great. That's whats best for you and you should go for it. If your hungry for other things and feel theres stuff out there you could use go out and feed that hunger. If you don't you may never be satisfied. I don't think your wrong if you say stick with one style or one way to do a technique and I don't think you are wrong if you think you should study different style or ajust techniques for different application or situations. Let your imagination be your guide. P.S. Keep in mind. If certain technique are done improperly and you constantly strees a joint, such as a knee, past its capabilities like overextension you could injure it permenantly. Some basics are designed that way to preserve the body instead of tearing it down. I know a lot of people who have had knees and hips replaced in martial arts because they put to much stress on the joints.

The principles & philosophy of the style must first be understood. In that way any alterations you make will still fit within the framework of your chosen martial art. Eventually the style you practice will become your own interpretation & expression. I like to use the example of how you were taught how to write the letters of the alphabet. In the begining you are taught specifically how to move the pencil - remember those writing books with the arrows directing how to draw the letters. A very rigid process until you learned the skill. It's the same with your martial art training you need to master the basics so you have something to fight with & a solid foundation to build upon. I could ramble on but I'll stop here thanks for that analogy. i think you hit the nail on the head

Some of the stuff i found online was about a guy I think by the name of John Monterro. From what i read it sounds like a well developed and rounded art that includes restorative (healing)massage. Thats something i'v been interested in for a long time but haven't had the chance to get exposure cause there no one near me who has the knowledge. learned some from books and found out they have some courses at the university here that i may try to attend in the future. I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same school(art). If i remember correctly Okazaki was the founder and was i Hawaii. Thanks for the wealth of information. Keep it coming.

Just do the right think. Always. Not that easy for someone with an ego like the one I have. But when I'm thinking straight, I have to remember that sometimes the way I react to what other people say or do is often worse then the other persons actions or words. Is there a such thing as justified anger. Anger, jealousy, envy, and greed all lead down a one way street to a bitter end. Let the other guy meet that end alone. Don't go there with him. If your instructor is as good as you say he is, he knows this also and would advise you to let it go.

I think you are confusing it with KodenKan Danzan Ruy (Judo) hold on to any info you have by yourself, could be really valuable in the future Your probably correct. Is KodenKan Danzan Ruy (Judo) what one of the founders of Kajukenbo studied?

hello & welcome to the forum.

Sounds to me like you have your head in the right place. That last thing you talked about, talking to God, is the key. He will always guide you in the right direction. When all else fails he will be there with you and for you. Have fun with your rank test and if your body says slow it down listen to what its trying to tell you. I think your going to be fine.

Correction to my last post. Its not my email. Its yahoo messenger.

Thanks for the cultural info and links. I'm interested in finding out more about your style. I think I read on the sight I visited that one of the founders studied Danzan Ryu Aikijitsu. I've studied some online literature about that style and there are some mentions of bokkendo. They don't say much. I've been trying to find information on Bokkendo (Bokendo), which I am a 5th dan in. I realize that there may be different systems using that name. If you have any info, I would be greatful. As far as I know, my instructor had no written history and what I have is what he told me. He passed away several years ago. I'm the only person I know who is actively practicing the system I was taught. P.S. You should be able to email me. I placed my address in my profile.

Stretch both arms out at shoulder height. Start rolling them forward in circles. Now! Without stopping change the direction of the left. Works both sides of the brain.

After you string the nunchucks get a good sized candle. Melt wax in the holes, particularly those at the ends where the nunchucks meet. Also melt some on the rest of the string. As you work the wax out it makes for smooth handling and helps to slow down the ware on the string. Makes them quiet too.

Any martial art is a good art. It depends on what you want. If you want to tournament fight then go TKD. If you want more self defense go shorei ryu. Personaly, I don't care for TKD. Its geared more for competition. There are rules in competition. You will learn some self defense aplications, but if you are going to train to compete, you won't spend much time practicing them. There are no rules on the street. Well! There is one! Don't get beat. Any way. It sounds like your going to make the right choice. Its closer, cheaper, and more affective. Good luck and good training.

Take it as a compliment. Unless you intend to act on it, and it doesn't sound like you do, he's got a problem. He wants something he can't have. He'll either let it go and move on or he'll make a move and get his ego deflated a little bit. He'll more than likely move on rather than make a fool of himself. Just act like you don't know when your around him and eventually it won't bother you. GOOD LUCK!

I think just the opposite of attachment. I am far from being as "enlighted" as I would like to be. I don't think its about being detached from people, places, or things. Rather you are aware of them in a different way. Instead of looking for negatives you look for positives. I can find something wrong with everyone if I look for it, but that only leads to dislike, anger, jelousy, and disappointment. I will probably be wrong about some or most of the negative preconseive judgements anyway. Look at the zen buddhist in the rock garden. He doesn't see racking and arranging the garden as work. He sees it as a way to exercise, get closer to nature, and put things in a peaceful way. Looking at negatives will only make YOU miserable. The other guy your thinking about, or the tree that is not as tall as you think it should be don't even know you are thinking of them. It's about letting things be what they are not what we want them to be. Don't let your ego lead you. It will always be there. Just don't let it be what it wants to be.

As martial artists we are supposed to discepline ourselves mintally, physically, and spiritually. That last part takes a lot of work. I don't mean on other people. For me, its all about making me a better person. To do that I have to look at me. Your little brother is probably to youg to understand that and I don't know for shure but I think you do. Martial arts is for self defense. Used for the wrong reasons it will only bring you trouble and disappointment. Part of our responsibility is to be good roll models for others weather they are in martial arts or not. I think you should have tried to break them up and find out what the problem was. If defending himself was justified and it is the only way other kids will leave him alone if they are picking on him, then he may have to stand his ground. But if you can break up a fight and turn things around and make them better, as a martial artist you have that responsibility if its your business. On the other hand I don't know all the details so I can't say under the wright circumstances I would not let it go on. If someone has to fight they have to fight. If its my brother, Im probably going to do the same thing if its the right thing. Sometime you just need to let um have what they deserve.

The 5 founders made a different art that would not take years of learning in order to be effective and that could change the approach for different types of attacker, including armed ones. Also, one art instead of having to teach 5 separately which would not only take more time but would also bring conflicting points of view if taught separately.

When I received my second dan in hapkido my instructor went into his office at the end of the class and came out with a certificate. He knew I was there before the class started. When I received my 5th dans in bokkendo and jukawusu from another instructor it was done the same way. After the class he just told me and gave me a certificate. The point is if your doing the deal and you deserve it you should get your rank and be allowed to move on. I have been tested under formal planned tests with formal certification ceremonies also. It is nice to be recougnized for hard work in front of others.

ArmorOfgod has a good point. Sometimes you have to listen to your body (or doctor) instead of your ego oops! I mean head. No pun intended. Family comes first. Doesn't mean you have to quit. You can always do something. But, its hard to work out at all if you kill yourself. Let your instructor know whats up and what your limitations are. Martial arts if self defense for everyone.

I've never been in a kendo class, but from what I know They train with shinai (babboo swords) and boken (wooden swords) as we do. We have some drawing (Iai) forms and set forms. Our drawing forms sre similar to other styles of Iai Do. I have not seen the set forms that we have in any other style. Basically we start off practicing drawing and cutting techniques and set forms with bokens. Sparring or contact practice is done with shinsai in full uniform with kendo type gear, head gear, gloves, etc. As you become more proficient you move on to live blades. P.S. I'm not familiar with buddha hand. Fil me in.

Too bad she doesn't like your goju instructor. I've had a little experience with it. Its realy solid. A great art. Stay with it. Sorry I can't help you with Defendo/Haganah. I'm not familiar.

To put it as simple as possible, Hapkido is a Korean art which was developed from Daito Ryu Akijitsu (Japanese style) and Korean kicking and punching arts such as taekyon (hope I spelled it correctly) etc. I've studied it for over 20 years. Its well rounded with lots of joint locks and throws (take downs), kicks, and punches. Founded by Choi, Yong Sul. The root art, Daito Ryu, came from Sokaku Tekeda, a Japanese Samurai. He was instructor to the founders of Hapkido (Korean) and Aikido (Japanese). There lots of info on both on the net. Happy hunting.