bushido_man96

Wow. Uncalled for.

I pity the fool who don't like breakfast!!!

Don't forget that Funakoshi was born and raised in Okinawa, as well. It is natural that he would take those ethics with him in his Karate. Good points on Kyan, as well.

These are good examples, but it doesn't mean that someone who is well rounded won't come along and dominate. Machida does hold rank in BJJ as well, doesn't he? Just because he doesn't use it as much, doesn't mean that he isn't good at it. He just doesn't have to.

I never knew that, Rateh. Thanks.

Interesting form. Thanks for sharing it.

I agree, Heidi and Bob. Very much the case when it comes to a test.

Way to go, Joe!

Congrats!

Yeah, but still cool.

I have seen Savate, too. Not bad at all.

11-6-09 Little jog. Bench dips: 15, 15, 10 with my 4 year old sitting on me. Knee-ins: 30, 20 11-8-09 Intermitten jogging. Knuckle push-ups: 15, 10. These didn't bother my bicep like regular push-ups and bench press do.

You can work with the ankle weights, just do it carefully. Kick at a moderate speed. Also, get in the gym and do some leg weight lifting. That will help, too.

Go check with the physiotherapist. Who knows what it could be? Be safe, Keri, and get it checked out.

That is nice history, guys. Thanks for sharing it.

I can take it or leave it. Neither bothers me, and I have worn my belt both ways.

Possibly they LIKED it! Their style of sparring fit into their needs! The Kumite they practiced was effective! These are just some of the possible reasons as to why certain styles of Karate "get attached to one particular style of sparring." And aside from this, competition drives a vast amount of people, and Martial Artist fall into this, as well. So, different ways of competing come into vogue.

Our school has a 5 colored belt system, but each has a low and a high rank (except white). Brown has 3 levels, actually. So, don't be turned off by it. Its a legit system of ranking.

What do you mean by head work??

I'd say that if you start out at 3 days a week, you should be good. See how you feel, and if a day off every other day is enough for your body to recover. If it isn't, back off to 2 days per week.

I've been reading in Harry Cook's Shotokan Karate, A Precise History. There is a point made in the book that the Okinawan people, in general, were a nice, polite society as a whole, and followed the Confucian beliefs that I think came from their contact with the Chinese. So.... ...I don't really think that all of the moral/ethical underpinnings that came out of Okinawan-based styles have anything to really do with the practice of the style itself, but more to do with the culture of the people. When you take something into a different culture, I think things start to take on characteristics of the culture that they are in. Just a thought...

Absolutely!!! I couldn't agree more here. When it comes down to it, you have really got to the meat of the discussion here. Great suggestions, too, Toptomcat.

What you need to be concerned about is if it will draw the wrong kind of attention to you in the areas you travel. If it does, then you should maybe wear a sweat suit over it or something.

I agree with ps1. You'll learn as you go. You may even find out that some of the moves you do know may be legal to use, with a bit of modification.

I see statements like this a lot concerning cross training. Although I think that following this method does have merit, I don't think it is necessary in becoming an effective practitioner in multiple styles. I think the appearance of more and more MMA gyms will lend to this, as well. If there are good resources available for someone who wants to cross train, or better yet, a facility that makes it an all-in-one endeavor, then I think it is just as beneficial to cross train right out of the gate.