armanox

Responding with "Yes teacher"? Different. We do standing bow with feet together I think. Also, when we just have one of the lower black belts (Nidan, etc), we use either Sempai ni Rei, or just a stading bow with Rei.

When we bow in at my dojo, we use the following (after the students are in line): Seiza (kneel) Sensei ni rei (Bow toward sensei) [students say] Onegaishimasu (Please teach me)

Yes, and to comment on what was mentioned above, Seisan and Hangetsu were at one point the same kata, and for my purposes are still the same. The difference is that Funikoshi changed it from being "13" to being "Cresent Moon." But, the Seisan that Funikoshi used clearly is not the Seisan that I know. I may ask sensei to write to Okinawa for more information as to the origin of our Seisan, so that I can distinguish it from other variations.

I posted the same thread in a few different places, and so I'll share the videos that pop up since this one has been the most active. Thanks to moosey on MAP: http://www.aokdojo.com/Video%20Clips/Hangetsu%20Video%20Clip.mpeg Any other input would be appreciated video wise.

You can use my Kobayashi Shorin Ryu kata if they're useful. They should be the same kata, save the kihon kata. The site is http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Shorin%20Ryu/. I'll finish posting kata as soon as my main comp is up and running.

We had at our dojo, about a year ago, a guy that showed up in gi and white belt that I hadn't seen before, and I got the impression from the other students that he was new. A few weeks later, he came in wearing a black belt. He explained that since he had been out of practice for an extended time he thought it appropriate to wear the white belt until he was back up to the level he was when he was promoted to shodan (still his current rank). He had not been a previous student of sensei's, rather, a student that trained under sensei's sensei and in Okinawa - he was able to maintain his shodan rank because the organization is the same(Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karatedo Association). Make sure that you verify with whatever dojo you plan to attend that your rank is recogonized by them.

Total agreement here! A friend of mine, about to get his blackbelt in TKD, asked me to spar with him once. I agreed. Now, at the time, I was still a white belt. And he lost. Miserably. I invited him to come down to my dojo to see how we do things. He agreed. He learned much from sensei, not just about karate, but about his TKD. He learned bunkai for things he had been doing for years that he had never been taught. Needless to say, he's joined my class.

No offense taken - that's why I asked. I'd rather someone be honest when they have a complaint. I would also appreciate if you could provide what you consider to be a better demonstration of the techiniques. But, with that said, two of the three green belts are not what is to be considered the best example of the class. They just happened to be the three underbelts in class that knew the kata, and for the purpose that the clip was made we needed to have the underbelts in it to show there progress.

Not quite sure what your referring to by "standards". Do elaborte. Please.

Actually there is only one Shodan in the class. The layout from the clip is as follows: http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/diagram.jpg c = cameraman (sensei, 7th dan) 1,3,5 are 4th kyu(Green belts) 2 is a 2nd dan 5 is a 1st dan 6 is a 5th dan but why did you ask about rank (curiousity)?

If anyone could link a copy of their version of Seisan for comparison that would be appreciated......

I must say that kendo was not on my mind when I originally posted the thread, but I do understand that target identification is vital to kendo. Still, that must make competition in kendo also quite loud?

Cotton. Size 5. Green in color.

It'll improve your dexterity, but not your (DnD moment) Wisdom or Intelligence and could lower your Charisma

Indeed the cat stance is probably the most used stance in our style.

Ummm.....they are cat stances. Two of the three black belts in the clip also hold dan ranks in Shotokan, but they sink as deep as Miyagi stressed. When Miyagi first visited the states, his first class with them was nothing but stance work, pressing the importance of good stances, and sinking down.

Just to update my own entry: Kihon I-V Naifanchin I-III Seisan Pinan I-V Tensho Can't wait for Itosu no Passai!

We teach Seisan after Naifanchin Sandan and before Pinan Shodan. So, it's the last kata one learns as a white belt (gokyu) before green(yonkyu). We do Kobayashi Shorin Ryu http://kobayashiusa.com/Images/Lineage.jpg

My favorite kata. But, I'm curious to know about the other versions of seisan - I have only seem to have found one other person aside from my school and Okinawa that use this version. Your thoughts? BTW, you can also view the version that we do. http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Shorin%20Ryu/th_Seisan.jpg

Strong spirit and focus on a particular technique are important. But it looses effect when a kiai is used every attack - most kata that I'm familiar with have 1-2 kiai used in them, not 20.

Learn the Pinan kata. The five of them pretty much some up the basics.

I would point out that when you watch me do a kata you will not notice my breathing, yet I still am breathing.

Miyahira is the former head of style. He stepped down(last year? early this year?) and was replaced by Ishikawa(sp....I'll reference it somtime). Sohan, your school's history does correctly denote Miyahira and Nagazato. My school followed Katsuya Miyahira, who has now retired, and now the current head of style is Seitoku Ishikawa.

Anyone other then myself notice that when they're at a competition, that people just yell and yell and yell? And also kiai excesively. Maybe it's just a result of many of them doing sport karate vs my training in traditional karate? But it seems that exessive shouting has become status quo in karate outside of Okinawa/Japan.

I once heard someone in class yell "Arrg!" when the preformed their kiai. I tell you, pirates in martial arts. What is this world coming to?