AlwaysInTraining

I wish someone would have explained to me when i started that their are rules to sparring. 1. you will get hit and it might hurt. 2. try and learn from each other. 3. accidents will happen its not done maliciuosly. 4. if someone is going too hard they might not be aware of it and so you have to say something. 5. If you dont say anything then its your own fault. 6. respect is paramount to sparing leave your ego at the door.

Do you actually know the kata because one way to draw the embusen is to map out the direction of travel for each move? Thats not the 100% correct way to do it but it does give you the pattern well. E.g. Taikyokosono ichi looks like this: ---- | | | --o-/ Yansu looks like this: | -o- o= start /= finish point Apologies for the look of it im typing this on my phone.

If this sort of post isn't allowed on this site then moderator please delete. Ive just been looking up rare Karate books on Ebay and just see The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama for sale: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/321975113587? I've actually already got a copy else and i know its very rare so i thought id point it out in case anyone else wants it.

This article from this site sums it up best for me: http://www.karateforums.com/excuseologists-vt28016.html?highlight=excusologists

I've written a book and thought id put it on here. Not as an advert but as, hopefully, that some of you may read it and give me your opinions. It's not a karate book but more my understanding on how and why we do things in life and better ways in which to look at life rather than just blindly going on and on and putting up with daft things that happen. Its aimed at younger people who don't know all those things that they are expected to know yet. I used a lot of what I know about life from my karate in order to write it and, hopefully, that comes across. Anyway Here's the link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Probably-Brilliant-Answers-Stupid-Dilemmas/dp/1511653280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430935518&sr=8-1&keywords=david+cawley

Thats really helpful. Just what i need. Thanks Hammer

Hi Guys. I can kick quite well/high with control and am quite flexable but im looking to be able to strengthen my back and legs to be able to hold my legs up high for more than a couple of seconds and was wondering if anyone had any advice or exercises that i could do to do that.

My advice is allow yourself to get hit and get used to it. You'll soon stop flinching and just hit back and work at it until you find what feels right and natural to you where you can hit and be hit. All it takes is time and practise regardless of age or experience. Also remember if an opponent is going too hard in sparring say something. You dont get points for standing there and taking it and THEN complain to the instructor.

Where do you train Hawkmoon? Im with the IFK and train at Westcroft I was also at the tournament although i lost in the first round to the guy who won my group[.

I went through the same thing when i first started. I went to my instructor at the time and he said "yes but your not going to use them on anyone are you?" which summed it all up nicely for me. He was the right because the only time your ever going to use the techniques is when in class under controlled conditions or in a situation where you have no choice but to act and get away. Unless your somesort of nutcase (which im sure your not) I wouldnt worry about it.

That is a good point. But, in a wierd way, they kind of help by exposing others to the Martial Arts to begin with.You are right it did expose me to the world of martial arts but I did learn stances and blocks really well and there were some very talented people there who had nothing but the style but it kind of set me up for when i moved on in terms of mentality of the martial arts but i found that the focus on class numbers and politics was a big thing and i feel it is a substandard style having mastered the syllabus by 4th kyu and i became much happier when i left and started learning more and better things. Overall it gave me a starting point but i would only recommend it to those people who have a family and want to do karate with their kids in same class as a way to bond and keep fit and to those who want to be a black belt by age 12 (something i came across).

Did Kenshukai Karate (Exactly the same as GKR), recruited same way as described above, learnt very little but got high up the ranks, loads and loads of politics, left, much happier now. I hate to say it but if you dont know much about martial arts then the door to door method of selling to you really does work. Who wouldnt be interested in becoming a black belt or an instructor in a short amount of time and if your being positivly renforced (when recruited) that what your doing is good and effective/authentic then how are you to know?

Im coming to watch this and a couple of my mates are entering. It should be a good tournament but knowing my luck I'll probably get roped into being a steward again

...He'd be a MMA Pundit

I was 5 and was sick one night and went downstairs in the middle of the night and found my Dad watching an old Jet Li Film (the legend of fong sai yuk). He let me stay up and watch it with him and that planted the seed and at age 19 i played Tekken one too many times and decided to something about it and took up Taekwondoe. Since then ive switched to Shotokan Karate and then Kyokushinkai Karate and im going for Black Belt in August.

Superfoot Bill wallace has some very good books and dvds on Amazon whihc are very good for streatching

During my time doing Karate (10/11 years ish) ive come across a few people who seem keen and excited to be doing martial arts but lacked either the drive or ethos to do it. Ive met people who let their egos take over when they've been beaten either to grading in Kata (or something in class) or in a sparing match and ive met people who the moment they discover its not what they thought still stick with it (in the hope that it'll get better) and drag people down for not making it easy and/or not taking it easy on them. Ive met people who have tried to manipulate instructors to get advancement and instructors that have graded people inorder to have an easy life. I even met one person who made it her life's ambition to ruin my reputation because i once unknowningly (i would like to stress that) went too hard in sparing one week without realising. Despite all this i still train (hard) and love what i do and after so long training i have now learnt to try to steer clear of these people but i was wondering what experences everyone else has and how you have delt with them? Hopefully it should make for an intesting debate.

I dont know if this helps but when i switched styles from GKR to kyokushin i asked the instructor whether i would be able keep my rank because i already had a lot of experience and we came to the agreement that i could keep the belt on but i would have to re-grade to the level i was in my previous style (3rd kyu). He also made the point that i couldnt do one grading straight to 3rd kyu and that the most he would grade me to was 5th kyu in one go. This worked out better for me because i worked hard to get my 5th kyu again and 6 months later i went for 4th kyu and a further 6 months late i got back to my 3rd kyu again. This put me in a much better situation and everyone who was already in the class respected me more because of it.

I started in Shotokan and transfered to Kyokushinkai. My experence in Shotokan was that they are very hot on long deep stances and moving the correct way and kata. Form and the correct movement was also very big. The Katas started with Taikyoku Ichi + ni and go to Saifa and Bassadi and a few others. There were a few you will know the patterns to but individual moves will be diffrent. Sparing was semi contact only and it wasnt a dynamic as kyokushin and out of the two i prefer Kyokushin. My advise is give a class a go to try it out and if you dont feel its for you then find something else.

I trained at a GKR offshoot for 4 years (Kenshukai Karate) and i was recruited to the club the same way as described by someone knocking on my door. Because i had no knowedge of martial arts or their ways and methods i just accepted that it was normal. I only realised things we'rnt right when after a while i would grade nationally with about a hundred or so other people (that was the only way we could grade) and everyone would pass including people who were not good or barely put any effort in. I was lucky, however, that i was taught by a couple of instructors who put effort into their lessons and enthusiasm which rubbed off on me and made me want to try hard and learn. Unfortuantly by the time i had reached 4th Kyu i had more or less mastered the entire sylabus beacuse there wasnt that much to learn and every other grade was a repeat of the kata of the grade before. They had also started grooming me to teach but after being an assistant instructor for a bit i realised that everything became about getting class sizes up and handling people who had done their time and were looking to grade again (which i was encouraged to do). Eventually i left and took up kyokushinkai karate instead and in 4 years have trainined very hard a gone from 10th kyu to 2nd kyu and im working for 1st kyu in 6 months time. Since leaving Kenshukai Karate i learnt much much more about martial arts am much happier ofr it. I know for a fact that Kenshukai's gradeing sylabus is exactly the same as GKR's (as im pretty sure most other offshoots with the same business practices are) and im actually glad i left as i now dont have to deal with politics . I also learnt how unfit i was when i started to spar in Kyokushinkai as I would always get my backside handed to me every time we spared which was a surprise to me as i was one of the best in Kenshukai. However It wasnt all bad being there because i did learn basic stances and movements but it only took me so far and i used to meet black belts that i could match so my advise to everyone thinking of taking it up is dont deal with the politics and use it as a starting point and then move on.

School: Kyokusin Karate Chief Instructor: Hanshi Steve Arneil (10th Dan IFK) and currently taught by Sensei Paul Baker (4th Dan) Training In: Wallington Surrey Uk

Personally i dont beleave you have anything to worry about. When fighting I find that if a smaller guy can get in close to his opponent then the taller guy is going to have problems and have to back up slightly inorder to gain space to manouver. A lot of smaller fighters are also well grounded and have a lower center of gravity meaning that manouverablity for them comes easier than someone taller. Obviously a taller person can compensate for that and its not full proof but if you entering a comp you've got just as much chance of winning as anyone else. Kyokushinkai does its comps under weight and grade catagorys so you will be matched against someone roughly your own size and weight if you do knockdown or clicker. You'll be fine.

wouldnt it be more benificial if you found a higher grade before the start of class and got them to take you through your blokes and strikes? Most higher grades would probably do this.

Your going to feel very stupid when you first start in class (Bowing and doing odd movements and saying commands etc) but everyone goes through this. Also dont be intimitaed by higher grades (black Belts etc) as EVERYONE started at white belt and was no where near as good as they are now. Go with an open mind and try and enjoy it youll be fine.

My rules of Sparring are: Beware of anyone who grins in the face of obvious oblivion Passion rules Reason Never fight how your opponent wants you to fight and of course: Always be ready for the Zombie attack