Shotokan-kez

Thanks for the cool advice guys, i do understand completely what you are all saying. I train 110% every single time and at home. To be honest i don't see how someone can say 'don't be nervous for gradings', i'm nervous every single time, this is because it's VERY important to me. Yeah i'm gonna try and nip these feelings in the bud and get on with my own training and development..thanks all!

I have never heard of having to sign a contract before for ma training. But i guess thats just the same as paying a yearly membership? I think i would probably ride it out if it brings penalties, but i really don't see how it should. You never know though, things may improve and you may start to enjoy it and get on better there. Good luck.

back temporarily just while im on holiday!

hey guys. I'm a little frustrated at the moment and a little anxious. There are going to be two dan gradings this year at our club and i am hoping to be taking the first one. There are loads of other 1st kyu's with me being the only adult 1st Kyu. I have been 1st Kyu for 9 months but it looks like it could be another few months before the grading. Anyway my anxieties are these. There are some of the kids on 1st Kyu that i feel are great at their karate and will probably deserve to get their shodan, but i feel there are others (one in particular) that i feel are not, yet they are expecting to grade (as are their parents). One of them NEVER kia's, she always stands next to me in class and i have never heard her do it, her stance are always bad, she tends to stand up in them. No power ect. In my mind i keep telling myself that i cannot expect to take my dan grading. My sensei hasn't said yet weather i am able to take it but i feel that i am good enough to pass. Having said that i won't sulk about it, i'll just carry on until it is my time (although i would be dissapointed). My worry is that he may allow these others to grade, i think i'm just being silly because surely he wouldn't because he's a great sensei and we are a great club. If i see these others grading and i can't i will be gutted because i know they are no better than me. (infact a lot worse). I'm trying to write this post without sounding to big-headed or childish, it's just the way i feel at the moment. My sensei doesn't just give belts out, he is very strict and a brilliant sensei so i know i'm probably worrying about nothing, i just can't get these stupid feelings and thoughts out of my head. Anyone ever been through this before or had similar feelings? Thanks for listening guys. Kez xx

I'm like you Brian, i perform lots of punches too. Why do you prefere to do it this way? My reason is that i'm rubbish with scoring with kicks, i just can't seems to make them effective while sparring. I'm sure this isnt the case with you Brian I'm not to bad with mawashi-geri because i am quite flexible and can kick quite high with it. What i do tend to do a lot while fighting is front kick and come down fast with uraken or kizami-tsuki, even tho i don't score with the front kick, its a good decoy to get in my second strike.

aww that must be awful, i can understand your frustration. Get that call made to your doctor, the sooner the better! Fingers crossed for you!

thank you

ohhh that sounds like me But i'm not back yet

Hmmm yeah it was funny, i'm not sure if it was 'awful' funny or 'really' funny Lol

Woohoo....I'm on holiday at mums and guess what she has???.......THE INTERNET!!!! Ohh i love books, i have loads and loads! But when you live on your own my internet was like a bit of a life line (if you get what i mean )

Hey Kirst. Glad your around again, alas i have no net at home. Woohoo roll on saturday for the new doctor who....don't forget to watch it! lol Hope your feeling better soon babes! Kez x

Not been to the cinema for a very long time. But the last dvd i saw was kung fu hustle! What a giggle! lol

Hiya guys. I haven't been around an awful lot lately because i have lost my internet at home, at present i am sitting in an internet cafe so i can say hello to you all I have really missed coming in here and chatting to you all and having a giggle with Brian. I'm going to stay with my mother next week so i will be able to pop in on her computer from time to time during that week. Just wanted to let you all know, everyone have a pleasent easter holidays! Kez xxx

I have to admit i did go to class a few weeks ago just as a cold was starting up, i didnt go after that though because i had no energy. Generally i wouldn't train while being ill, i don't think it's very fair to pass your germs around, even if you are generous and like to share lol

Yeah i feel this way a lot. In class i see the kids doing the splits ect, i think 'Wow if only i was 20 years younger' lol. I've been trying to do the splits for years with constant stretching ect, and it drives me mad, but i'll keep pushing myself until i can do them! Or at least stretch a bit better than i already am. Just keeo on going...it never seems to end. Lol

Yep thats the same with us too. Always left first when going down and right first when getting up.

My weaknessess are faily obvious in the dojo unfortunatly, i don't have an awful lot of stamina or endurance during sparring. I'm not very good at it all, i do a lot of attacking, however when i attack with a kick i can never score that point. Also i think my muscles and joints are wearing me down because i sometimes struggle with the warm up before class, so thats something i need to work on also. My ushiro-geri is weak, so this needs work, infact i suppose all my kicks are are weak to some degree, although i have good form. My best things are good form and technique, good kata (my fave thing). I basically have to be more powerful and lock my kicks rather than just throw them out. Great post!

Yeah you sound really tuned in to your martial arts and your lifestyle needs, it's great to see this. I think you have a great attitude towards your MA. You do often see poeple trying to rush to reach their black belts, but like me you are content to wear the same belt for a long time. Hats off to you!

Hi I only wondered becuase when i did shaolin kung fu, i was learning inner and outer crescent kicks for my next grade and was quite fond of them. Are there many other kicks in shotokan other than the standard: Front Kick Side Kick Roundhouse ? There are many kicks learnt in shotokan. I can't name them all because im not sure myself of them. Side thrust, side snap, crescent kicks, mawashi geri, reverse mawashi geri, back kick, double front kick.

I normally would check out ebay for stuff like that. Still expensive though cos they are designer brands, cheaper than the shops though i think.

Ohhhh you are a tall guy! I'm only around 5foot 1 lol

We have learnt crescent kicks in our dojo and we do practise them from time to time, but i think thats only because they appear in kata's such as bassai-dai, heian sandan and godan. But i agree with everyone else that it's not a major or useful kick. Give me mawashi geri any day of the week lol

Great stuff mrt333 i really like that philosophy a lot, i am a bit like that, walking around without a worry in the world. Now thinking on, all these particular kids i was referring to are now training! I couldn't believe it when i walked into the dojo last week and there was a line of like 10 beginners. It's good to see! Hehe Jaymac, i know what you mean.

To be honest guys i had to turn it off half way through cos i found it a little scary lol. Surely hitting someone in the chest and throat like that can be dangerous, plus you could tell it was hurting her! I think i agree with Sohan on this one.....where's the gun?

Wow i wouldn't dream of quitting, it does sound a little silly. It sounds like they don't care to much about it, or on the other hand, like someone else said an underlying reason that they haven't mentioned, maybe they are not being totally honest with their reasons.