Shotokan-kez

Congrats! x

Congrats to you...well done!

I'm a 1st Dan in Shotokan and currently in training to take my 2nd Dan in May and starting to feel a little scared.

Aww white owl, we both in the same boat. Good luck to you x

There was something else i forgot to mention in my last post. The boxing instructor i feel has less stamina than the students lol He showed me and my friend what to do but then left us to it, he didn't come over and check on us, i think he came over once in the whole hour! He is a little overweight and gets tired easily, not sure if he is a retired pro boxer or not. Its quite funny because he needs a few minutes time out Anyway, another go tonight see how i feel after that. Another thing i don't like is that we have to use their gloves and they stink something rotton. I imagine how many hands have been in them and they smell like sweaty feet Will have to buy my own if i stick at it.

with us we keep them tight, straight and together. This is for shuto uke as well as other knife hand strikes. The thumb is tucked in nice and tight. I much prefere it this way, i have had to many injuries doing it other ways.

I like Rockport and Timberland for footwear...jeans i like Bench and lambretta...sooooo expensive though!

Well it seems my wish has come true! And now im scared stiff My Sensei has set a dan grading for 31st may this year and has said i can go for it...now it has come along i am really worried...i've gone from being eager and excited to nervous and aprehensive. I am putting in 3 sessions a week now, as well as teaching and judging when im needed...im tired but i know it will be worth it...i also know Nidan is something special and a very difficult grading.

Well guys last night i gave it a try...and yes i was pleasantly surprised. I have suffered though. Just in that one hours lesson i have damaged my elbow and both my arms are weak and shaking today...is this normal and will this get better? Right now i cant even lift a mug of coffee without shaking This is due to the fact that for almost the whole hour i was holding focus mitts while another boxing punched them over and over. It didnt help that the previous night we were doing arm locks in my karate lesson. I will give it another go, as i say i did enjoy it, i don't think i have ever had a better work-out!

Thanks for the replies guys, i will go on thursday and see what i think. Do you think i'll end up taking boxing traits into my karate? I hope not, i wouldnt want it ruining my karate training.

Hello everyone, Just wondering how many of us think boxing is to violent compared to other arts? What i mean by this is that boxing just seems like your getting your head bashed in. The reason i am asking this is because my friend wants to try out boxing and she wants me to go with her. I am already a shotokan practioner and i love it, i hold a black belt but boxing worries me. Karate is controlled and when i watch a boxing bout i just see lots of split eyes and busted noses! I'm a bit concerned about this, as i am not a great fighter in the first place and really don't fancy having my head bashed in by someone twice my size. What do you guys think, should i give it a try? Also i have heard that some boxing clubs can be quite intimidating, being a small female myself im not sure i want to be intimidated by a bunch of large sweaty men! We are going to this boxing club on Thursday...advice please

I do agree to a certain extent what you are saying Brian, but i agree with an earlier post that white belt to orange belt (our system) has very little to do compared to the higher grades such as purple to brown. Our purple to brown is still only 3 months but since we have 3 browns it is 6 months, but still at sensei's discretion. Are we saying that a karateka going from 1st kyu to Shodan should be able to grade within 3 months just like a 9th kyu to 8th kyu?

We are not allowed to use knee or elbow strikes while fighting but they do come up a lot in kata, where we have practiced the bunkai for it. I like to use knees for blocking though.

Never heard of it either, but looks cool!

It took me a while to think about this one, then when i did think of one i realised a film was already made. What about pacman then? I think that could be a top family film if they could pull it off. I also agree that Tekken would be a good one of they can do it...and yes street fighter flms do stink!

Thanks all...i am feeling better about things..still training harder and harder and loving it no matter what grade im at!

For us kyu grades are 3 monthly up to 3rd kyu. From 3rd kyu to 1st kyu its 6 months between. From 1st kyu to Shodan its anything up to a year at the chief instructors discretion. 2 years 2nd dan, 3 years 3rd dan, 4 years 4th dan ect ect.

Awww we had our last one today..it was sad but we finnished feeling very fullfilled and it seem we have some new interest in our club, which is an added bonus. The kids were proud as punch this afternoon when they recieved their certificates and had their photo's taken. I can't wait to see them on our website.

I agree granite, there are much softer katas such as hangetsu and nijushiho. But if you think of the three moves in Jion where you bring your knee and arm right up and pound them down? Can't remember what that is called though.

Woohoo...i did it! go me lol I went through gedan bari and front kick then paired them up, then showed them how to block the front kick with the gedan bari. I also did the same with age uke head block and the jodan punch. We also practised the front kick on the kick pad which they really enjoyed. Went on to some basic freestyle, tennis ball games and wrist locks and grabs. It was so fab. These kids have been hard work, but they have enjoyed it and im sure at least two or three of them will join up. Tomorrow we are having a presentation and maybe some games and pictures..I can't wait. Thanks for letting me share this with you all! Kez

Thank you...im still smiling

hehe i see what your saying. I am totally happy with my karate and club and have no wish to change...just that kinda stuff looks good Movie it is then

Hello guys. I just thought i would share this with you all. I don't know if this is in the right place so feel free to move it. This week all our children have broke up from school for the half term holidays. My instructor has been runnning a course during the week for the local kids to come in and have a look and take part for the week if they wish. He has asked me to assist him in the teaching, which i jumped at the offer. So far the course has been running from Monday this week and it's going very well. My sensei cannot take the class on Thursday (tomorrow) so i will be doing it alone, well for the most part until he can get back. I am so proud to be able to do this. I have never taught on my own before so i'm very nervous. What is making this harder is that the kids are from a very rough local housing estate so they are not the easiest kids to teach, especially since they have never had any Martial Arts experience before. To be honest this makes it all the more rewarding. I'm worried they may give me the run around when they realise my sensei isn't there but i am sure i will cope if i try and make it fun for them. I am at the moment wracking my brains trying to think of what i can do with them. probably working on basic punches, blocks and kicks and then maybe incorporating them into self defence techniques...any idea's guys? Anyway if these kids see the rest of the week through they will earn themselves a certificate and a group photo will be put on our website. I am just so proud to have a been a part of this and to teach these kids something rewarding and constructive. Also keeping them off the streets making mischief My sensei has now said to me that because i have involved myself so much and help out with the teaching a lot, that my own karate lessons are now free and he is even considering insuring me permanently...how cool is that, im so happy! Thanks for listening guys. OSU Kez

OOps o just realised i haven't been on here since making the thread lol I agree with what everyone said, thanks for all your thoughts. Although i would still like to try something a little more 'flashy'.

White Orange Red Yellow Green Purple Purple white stripe Brown Brown white stripe Brown 2 white stripes Black 3 months between grades up to brown belt, then six months, anything up to 12 months or more for black.