Shui Tora

I'm not sure if i have posted in here... (if i have, do forgive me! ) Our first 2 classes are mandatory, but then I go for an extra 3 classes (one being on a Sat in the eve) the other two being in a weekday... all in the eve starting from around 5 and ending round 8.30ish...

I think that the PS3 is going to be a big let down... The XBox 360 took most of the "punters" away from Sony, and don't forget that the Nintendo Wii is coming out too... There is serious competition now, and i think that the Ps3 isn't going to handle it... Sony made the cut when they released the PS2, but now, after releasing the PSP, i just think its time for them to try something new out... I think they've lost race...

I do Shotokan, and so be warned that my views may be over towards Shotokan... From that little annecdote that you told me, it shows that you have good agility on your feet... Shotokan, being a sports stlye karate, will help you with larning to control your balance when fighting... The traditional Shotokan (some Sensei's will teach both) will teach you to move your body out of the way of the attack, and then learn how to deal with a counter... Shotokan will also teach you how to control your punches and kicks... There is a punch called "Tate Tsuke" which is a verticle fist punch, and with control learnt from Shotokan, you will be able to see that with a flick from your hips, you can be able to throw a punch with a quick flick to say like the collar bone, and possibly be able to give it a hair-line fracture... Shoto will show you how to block and punch in the correct way so that you won't be able to hurt your arm; it will teach you how to move and give form to your attacks and moves... Shotokan will also teach you how to apply Katas (forms) in a self-defence position... It does teach self-defence too... As well as pressure points (which are handy if you want to really hurt the attacker, or paralyse him for 5 mins)... Like i said, I am a karate-ka of Shotokan, so my views are leaning over to Shotokan (can't balme me can you? ) However, Kempo and Ryukyu are also very good styles, there will be difference bewteen them and Shotokan, but if you are looking at Karate (and not Kung Fu for example) then any style within Karate will give you what you want to learn... It's just seeing which one you want is the hardest! Hope that helps!

Kung Fu is good for, and like you said, the spiritual aspects of MA, as well as discipline... But it looks fairly fancy, and not that great for self-defence (that is my view) Karate is good for balance, learning how to control your body's energy, understanding how your body works and with your build, it shows like a good style for you... Tae Kwon Do, in the other hand; is good for those who are flexiable... I have tried it (my kicks are good for Karate, not for Tae Kwon Do) and I have to say, that it is for those with a strong balance and flexiable hips... With your build, i'd think you would have trouble there... Hope that helps!

Perosnally, I would choose Hankido as of what the syllabus teaches you... It looks a very effective MA to use... However, with Kung Fu i cannot comment, i haven't seen Kung Fu inaction (with Hankido I have) and so I'm stuck there to tell you. How about you try both of them out (on different evenings of couse! ) and see what they are like and then compare them...

Tekki Shodan hasn't changed that much... In fact, my Sensei believes that technique performs over athleticism... Why? Well; if you get caught in a situtation, doing the techniques will favour than being able to have a long lasting stamina... If you understand how the techniques work (and the application of the kata) then you should be able to perfom that kata quickly, and efficiently... Katas only change because of how the styles of Karate evolve... But also not a lot of people use Katas for self-defence... katas were formed primarily for training, and since then, as the years have gone, people have adapted them to be suited for show, stamina and competitions...

The PS3 does cost too much...(a big downfall...) The PS2 is good for graphics (though rivilary with the XBox isn't helping it!) I suggest that you get the PS2... there are loads of games about that are really good (Final Fantasy X being one of them... ) and as it is out for some time, you can pick them up for a good price... However, it depends on the amount of money you want to spend...

This is where you have to learn to move your body out of the attack line (instead of going linear) Personally, I would an inside block (so that their body would be closed from the arm that they are using to attack wtih), a counter to the ribs using a knee or gyaki-zuki (hitting a good pressure point ) and then tell them to go home... If they still persist, then put them into an arm lock or a leg lock; although an arm lock would be safer Its all about getting yourself out of the way from the line of attack; dealing with it and then walking away... One of my friends used a kata to deal with such an attack (she was using the first three moves of Heian Nidan) and it worked, after that; she had put him in an arm lock and called the police... Naturally he got "done" for assult on a women...

I went to a Tea Ceremony over in Japan. Have to admit, even though it looks pretty easy (it isn't! ) Nice tea, very sweet and a smooth feel when you drink it (if done properly...) I have to say, that after seeing the ceremony (and tasting it too) Traditional Japanese Tea is the best...

KH2 is brilliant! I am at the same part where you are Son Goku... Graphics are excellent! THe music is good too! I have the musical score to KH for piano... Birlliant works...

Very true! Having a long piece of stick is handy if you wanna stay way from those with knives etc... However, you might want to find a stick that is very thick, or the mugs will wittle you down!

Okay, I think being 4 Thuan is the same as Dan grades (after you get your black belt...) I'm not entirely sure... Hankido is the same as Akido, however, there are some adaptions to the style (Hankido is Korean) The syllabus looks really good (using a webby to look it up for you ) And you do a lot of pressure point fighting (very handy), a lot of self-defence techniques, weaponary and breathing exercises (looks very good for you) Hankido is developed for internal exercies (breathing, state of mind etc) but as it is a adpation of Akido, you now have self-defence stuff etc... If you use Wiki (go to google.com and type in "Wiki" you can look the other stuff up for you... ) Hope that helps, anything else, just PM me...

I think you should start off with Cardio, as by that way, you are getting more oxygen and glucose to your muscles (warming them up) which will mean you can possibly go further with weights...

Deputy Prime-minister to Tony Blair...

^ I know where you go that... That's from Mythbusters on the Discovery channel...

I have heard of Sochin, but not the others, are they from Goju Ryu?

Definately Tekki Shodan, Bassai Dai and Heian Sandan... Which ones do you prefer to use then?

I've had a couple when I came to school; * Mutley - People said that I muttered a lot to myself (which I have gotten out of the habbit! ) * Grasshopper (my parents called me that when i began Karate, and it stuck... ) * PJ (for some unknown reason my next door neighbour randomly said it, and so everyone in the neighbourhood calls me it! )

But then what would be the point of learning an Art if all you need to do is pull out a gun or a knife...? I can understand where you are coming from with this, and if someone has you with a gun or a knife then your body would be useless to a point... Thinking about it, I carry my Yumi (Kyudo bow) and my Bo Staff... Both covered up, and I do get some questions by the police, but my Sensei's club has built itself a good reputation and so the police know the groundings...

We always do Bunkai training at our Dojo... And everyweekend or so, there'll be seperate classes to go through with different grades about their katas... Bunkai is very good to learn and practice... It teaches you how to effectively move your body out of the attacker... It stops making Karate too linear...

In affect, there are over 15 pressure points in the head, however; like Jersey Devil siad; Correct... I have been thinking about this and i can only think of one way in which you can get out of this situation... If he has pinned your arms above your head, then you could (in theory) bring one of those arms across your body and put him in an arm lock... I'm not sure about that (and like i said, its all theory)... If you can get one of your hands away from him, punch him or scratch him or even gouge his eyes out... You could also use the palm of your hand and hit under his nose... (but that comes with a warning; if you hit that cartilidge under the nose too hard, then the bone above it will go into the brain...) It depends if you want to harm him bably, or harm him so that you can get away to the police etc...

Personally, the only weapon that i carry is myself... After all, to learn Karate is to learn how to use your body as a weapon...

When I had trouble with Hein Sandan, I would go to bed, and would picture myself doing the actual Kata one step at a time, and then in the morning, go trough it... Also, practice does make perfect, if you can get spare time, keep on practicing...

There is a quote selected from Wiki about Shoalin Kung-Fu... At first it may look all fancy with pretty techniques, however, they do do forms (katas so to call) as well as sparring, and like the quote says, everything has a meaning to it. Being a Chinese Martial Art, it will also help you with your body (both internally and exteranlly)... Same here, but on the other hand, I am pleased that I took Shotokan... The instructor is referring to Katas (like Shotokan has Heian Nidan etc) there are in essence 5 forms, Tiger, Deer, Monkey, Bear and Bird and each one is very different... As the years take on, more forms have been added, and so you end up with forms like the Snake and the Dragon...

Yeah... In my opinion, the lower leg is unprotected and plus with a good strong kick you can hit a pressure point (not caring about which one () and then continue form there)