armanox

Here we go! After 9 years of training, 5 of which have been since my last promotion, last night I was awarded the rank of Shodan in class. A few highlight pictures (images and videos are still coming in to me). http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Black%20belt%20promotion/IMG_1211-SMILE_zps6436f865.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Black%20belt%20promotion/10269380_10204198881477768_678423583986262144_n_zpsc389d957.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Black%20belt%20promotion/IMG_1223_zps2ac8f806.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Black%20belt%20promotion/IMG_1220_zpsceefd94b.jpg Instructors (plus me): http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Black%20belt%20promotion/IMG_1192_zps59608519.jpg Class Picture: http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Black%20belt%20promotion/IMG_1207_zps736fcfac.jpg

What metric are you defining effective by? With that said, having defended myself, and knowing the stories of others who have come before my (some of my instructors, for example), I don't doubt the effectiveness of the art. Am I prepared for any situation? No, and I don't think my frame could handle it. Am I better off then had I not trained at all? Yes.

Thank you everyone.

I'm going to have to vote Pinan Sandan personally. The Bunkai in Sandan continues to facinate me, and the kata has some wonderful moves in it that leave outsiders wondering.

Hello Everyone! Tournament itch needed scratching, so it got itched at the 2013 Battle of Baltimore at CCBC Essex yesterday. Results: third place weapons and second place kata. See video of kata (Gojushiho), and a few (attempts at) awesome poses with trophies. I know where I goofed in the kata, but the judges don't.... http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Shorin%20Ryu/IMG_0569_zps45093dbd.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Shorin%20Ryu/IMG_0578_zps73011ace.jpghttp://[/url]

Put me in the "it's up to what you want" crowd. I usually wear either my heavyweight Gi or a Judo Gi, for a couple of years now. They just hold up so much better (ripped my first gi (light) being thrown, haven't been happy with the middle weight ones). As far as black belt, I'm still working to get their (just passed the eight years mark!).

Maybe you want a karate style that doesn't use such deep stances, like Shorin Ryu? We have quite a few people that have had knee issues (a recent black belt of ours has had both knees replaced...).

Wow, that's quite a while ago. Prior to my latest stunt, it was early 2010 that I competed last. Something just feels wonderful about the thrill of competition.

Thank you. It's not easy winning with a traditional form either.

Hi everybody! After getting my body back in motion, my tournament itch needed scratching....So here's what we have! Entered the Awesome Internationals tournament, in Baltimore, MD. Results: First place in 18-34 Mens Underbelt Weapons and Kata, First place adult Underbelt Self Defense. We have videos and pics! As always, comments and criticisms are welcome. Very happy to be moving again (for those that don't know, I suffered a strained groin ligament and strained hamstring tendon last summer, and a staph infection in May). Playlist (Including a secondary angle on kata and weapons) http://www.youtube.com/playlist?feat...HzII2KLtY01Sry Particular vids: Pics: http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/IMG_0314_zps7284d2f6.jpg http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/IMG_03132_zpsbacd6b3a.jpg

I've seen quite a few schools that do "accelerated" grading for students with previous experience. For our school, you still start at white and move up, but the time requirements (prior to shodan) are flexible based on your prior experience and current skill level. One TKD school I visited (and debated joining before I found out their price) told me I would start at white, train until their next grading (two months IIRC) and then test to where ever my skills let me fall in their grading system (I had been doing martial arts for ~5 years at that point). And I've seen many schools that you have to follow the same ladder as everyone else - either because that was the rule, or it was a style that most other styles skillset didn't overlap (Aikido and Jujitsu come to mind).

Woot! Congrats!

Dojo emblem embroidered on the left breast (on some, most of my gi are blank). I'm a fan of simplicity.

Well in that case, my instructor fits the bill. As another Shorin Ryu student said in the thread, we really don't have a "Grandmaster." But, if you must have a lineage...

I did not see how many times a week one can train listed. $11/class doesn't sound bad. $110 for 3 weeks sounds a bit more expensive then I would pay. The average I've seen here (for mostly schools in exposed rented spaces like shopping centers and the like) in the Baltimore-DC Metro area is $110/month - 160/month. I pay $5/class for karate and $60/month for Aikido.

I often wear a judo gi to karate class - holds up better when I get thrown.

I used to compete all the time. One year I did six tournaments. Last year I did two, and none thus far this year. Always have enjoyed it though, and I usually fare well in them. Hard to be a traditional stylist admist all the non-sense around here...=(

The Red/White and Red Belts for the final Dan ranks comes to us from Judo, IIRC

Who is Gata? "-gata" is the pronunciation of "kata" when combined with another word, IIRC.

No bars or stripes. At 7th Dan a Red and White Panel belt may be worn, and at 9th Dan a Red Belt may be worn. (See image. Left, a 6th Dan (now a 7th), Center a 10th, and right an 8th) http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/MA%20Misc/Training15.jpg

In an actual situation an opponent should be expected to be non-compliant. A throw should not be attempted without first unbalancing an opponent (kuzushi). Punches, kicks, eye-gouges, etc; are all strikes (atemi) that are unbalance opponents and can be used to create openings for throws. I believe the term is "Alive training"

Aikido is a fantastic complement to karate. And, despite what you may have heard, is quite effective. Like many arts, it is a matter of being taught correctly.

Wow been forever...let's add Chinto to the list. Working on adding Aguni no nunchaku to the Kobudo list.

Shorin Ryu (Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Association): White Green (4th Kyu) Brown (3rd - 1st Kyu) Black (1st Dan and up) and while still considered "Black belts" While/Red Panel belt (7th - 8th Dan) Red (9th and 10th Dan) Aikikai Aikido: White (All kyu ranks) Black (1st dan and up)

We seem to be debating in a circle... My point. 唐 and 空 are homophones. I am not arguing that Funokoshi changed some names, (as a Shorin practitioner it is not so important. Just that the pronunciation "Kara Te" is most likely much older then Funokoshi. On a similar note - I could argue that Kendo, Aikido, and Judo do not qualify as martial arts either - they all evolved after the Classical Combat Era ended in Japan. Also, name wise, Karatedo, Kendo, Aikido, Judo, etc; are "ways", vs Kenjutsu, Jujutsu, Iaijutsu, etc.