armanox

I'm familiar with the weapon defense bunkai in Passai Sho (Itosu no) and Dai(Matsumura no), but also as anti-sword, not just Bo.

I never understood why some styles have a jump there either. I never questioned it, I assume it serves a purpose. In Koybayashi Ryu we have a throw in that place (view kata below) http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/Shorin%20Ryu/th_PinanGodan.jpg

AK! I must say I prefer my steak medium rare =)

Thinking about it, I don't know that I've seen any female students really leave since I've started. Even the one that had a child stayed with it.

Yeah!!! With a marinade of Italian dressing...and Montreal steak seasoning...good stuff...Just what I was thinking....

I used to work in a tux (was a waiter in a catering establishment) and I found that my uniform did not hinder my kicks, punches, etc. For that matter, I am equally comfortable in my tight jeans as I am in my loose gi. Just doesn't seem to be an issue to me.

Most of the encounters I see are do to alcohol, sadly. People drink too much and think themselves invincible.

You're quite welcome.

Hit the sword first perhaps?

Sadly the tournaments in my area all fall under NASKA jurisdiction, with the exception of a few small tournaments hosted at various schools. Such tournaments, though, usually are not open for outsiders to participate. And, I've taken a lower place to the flashiness of flips and rolls a few times now in tournaments.

For Kobayashi Ryu.... 1st dan - 6th: Black belt (no stripes) 7th & 8th: Red and white 9th & 10th: Red As can be seen in the pic. In the photo ( Left to right): Daniel Simons, 6th dan (Now 7th), Takeshi Miyagi (10th dan), Jim Lilley (8th dan) http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c47/armanox/MA%20Misc/Training15.jpg

Ask the instructor first to see what the school requires. Other then that I really can't say too much on it. I started with a bokken and then I bought a steel Iaito.

We need cake and ice cream to go with it..... =)

Reminds me of something Sensei says - There are only so many ways to swing a sword, so many ways to throw a punch, only so many ways to throw a kick, only so many ways to effectively damage another. Therefore techiniques across styles must overlap to an extent.

I don't quite agree with this statement. You can generate a good amount of force throughout a kata without getting tired after every one. The key is to relax your body until the last moment before impact, relaxing those muscles until the next move, and utilizing the proper "breathing timing" as Killer Mike refers to it. Sounds like something I hear all the time in class. "RELAX"

Good to hear. Just think how much more it'll help in the long run.

Who said that a nunchaku was just a one handed weapon?

Depends on what you like. Aside from no historical evidence that such a weapon was actually used. On a side note, it would be made in real life similar to a Zweihänder, would it not?

I was in the top 10, so I bought all of the issues available...sorry. Man, why'd you do that? It would be bragging rights for you if others got to see it.

Shorin Ryu. Sensei had me test for promotion last Monday, and the unofficial word is there is a promotion in my future.

Um...how do you cut yourself with a sai? They don't have a "blade". I've dropped the point of a sai on my foot before (sooooo embarassing!) and sliced the bottom of my foot really badly with a kama blade (don't ask.... ) and whacked various parts of my anatomy with nunchauku and even bruised a rib once with a bo. Pulling the sai back into the chambered position incorrectly....took the prong into my ribs...nasty metal scratches bleed...

That's where I met my wife! However, when my wife and I started dating, it took the instructor about 2 weeks to figure it out, and he didn't figure it out in class. He saw us at the local bowling alley together one night, and that is how he found out. I think you are right, and the sensei should have probably mentioned something to the couple about their demeaner while at class. Seriously? That's really awesome! I hope my girlfriend does my martial arts... Yep! bushido....you're nightowl's girlfriend? Nightowl, if she doesn't, you can always try to get her into martial arts.

I went to a high school with a "Zero Tolarance" Policy on fighting. There were a few issues with that though -the local law here defines an action as self defense and not as a fight if either of the following are met - The aggressor has attacked twice, the aggressor attacked and left a mark, witnesses are present to verify that the aggressor engaged the defender in such a way that the defended needed to respond (grapped shirt and about to apply a fist to the face, for example); and also requires that the defender only acted in such away to remove themselves from danger quickly (joint locks, throws, punch and run, submission holds, etc). So, even though they said that in any form of encounter the police would be involved, people arrested, etc; the extent that they could do that was limited. On another note, they didn't bother with me or my friends for all of our sparring matches, which drew crowds as though it were a fight at times.

Best of luck. I'm looking forward to the the Battle of Baltimore in October.

In most styles I've seen a lot of time all of the basic techiniques are known by the time one reaches black belt. For the lower dan ranks (2 - 4 let's say) there still may be new forms, new weapons, etc; but nothing fundamently new. Also techinque refinement and perhaps combonations may be required. Often times for the middle dan ranks (5 - 7 let's say) teaching experience (as an assistant) is needed to advance. The upper dan ranks are usually special, reserved for instructors who have distinguished themselves, people who've been in the art for 50+ years, people who have students reached the middle levels or are now teaching on their own, etc. But, as BB of C said, it will vary with style.