Shui Tora

I s'pose that when practicing with Nunchaku, you are using both sides of your brain because you are using both sides of your body. Don't forget that the more you practice, then that faster your reflexed become, as well as your mental capacity.... Either that, or you get hit on the head often than more and it helps you!

My sister passed her balck belt 6 weeks ago... As it was a really warm and sunny day, on a Saturday, we had my Sensei's family round to ours for a barbeque... Really fun! Lovely food!

^ Well; isn't that just surprising... Typical

Without focusing on what your target, then you can say that you do not have talent. There are people in the world that can do complex algorithims (and other stuff!) in their heads without having to apply themselves; and i think that those people are the ones that don't have talent. Talent is something that you are not only good at, but you stirve to learn more about; not just knowing that you have the talent and doing nothing about it. "To seek over the mountain is when you understand, not just standing at the top."

He has spirit that one! (Probably a tad too much! )

Opps... My bad The Other element is..... Metal

"Never judge a book by its cover" You see some of these Akido Masters (going off topic but...) and they are old and fragile, trying to attack them, they are agile like a 15 yr old! (I have tried to do so in a seminar! Believe when I say that nothing but your ego and pride is hurt!) Yes, they may be obese; but just try and attack them, or see what happens when a street thug atacks them; i'd bet they would floor them with no effort!

It has to be Shotokan! (I wonder why? ) I have tried Kyusho Jitsu which is interesting... Very hurtful if you try it out in practice! But then what is to say that when trying Karate out it too doesn't hurt!

^ You are right there Jaymac... When I do Bassai Dai, the second move i pause for about 2 seconds, then turn into uchi uke really fast. We all put different timings into our kata... And trying to explain them in a forum is hard (not saying we shouldn't try...) Practice, Practice, Practice (haven't I heard that word loads before! ) Glad you like site!

Hello! Welcome! Konnichi Wa!

I suggest that you have a look at this website... It uses the traditional stances of Shotokan (extended Zen Kutsu Dachi) rather than the JKA, but still the Kata is the same. I love Bassai Dai! My fave of all Kata's! http://www.lelandvandervort.info/ma/index.php?doc=3 Have a look through, a good site! About your Uchi Uke... have you thought about shortning your stance when you do it. It seems that because of your back leg is coming up, your stance may be too long. Any qestions, do ask / PM me etc...

What's in the history of the Yin Yang is confusing. It is believed that the concept came from Taoism, and was introduced by Master Zhuang. However, there have been connections with this in two other books before Master Zhuang; The Great Appendix and teh Book of Changes which talk of the Yin Yang (also known as the Taijitu from Taiji) and incorporate the Five Elements (Earth, Wind, Fire and Water) with opposites. After this, Confucianism came in during the period of the Song Dynasty and merged this theory along with Chinese Buddhism and Taoism, pulling only certain aspects about the Yin Yang from only the Book of Changes. You can tell that I like History! Especially Chinese and Japanese Hope that clears it up! Any questions?

How about using your hips more? I do workout; but still, my hips deliver a good punch!

There is an old fable that is still used in Japan about Dim Mak; "An old man, of around 85 lived in the outskirts of the village... Everyday he would travel through the village to see his daughter; however, he would have to pass the verbal abuse from the local shopkeeper. One day, he passed the shop, and tripped accidentily over a stone. The shopkeeper came out and started to hurt the old man. The old man defended himself well, being a student of a presteigous (sp?) Karate school. Once the shopkeeper stopped attacking the old man, he asked; "Why do you attack me and verbal abuse me?" And the Shopkeeper replied by; "You're old... You should die soon." The old man thought about the reply, and said to the shopkeeper, who turned his back onto him; "Anyone dies at anytime..." And; with his palm, lighlty hit the shopkeeper on the back... Within seconds, he fell dead..." (That took me five times to edit it! ) The moral of the story there is that; there is such thing as Dim Mak, however, you have gotta be trained... The chinese believed that is you focused your Qi you could stirke a pressure point (it always comes down those, ironic...) with little effort (still focusing your qi) and in turn would potenitally kill that person... However, it has not been proven.

I'm getting mine this September when I'm 17yrs old! Can't wait! Thought; now i'm starting to feel a bit old...

Apart from the points that have been suggested by other people, you have managed to show the main and relevent points of what people are asking... True, hard facts. I concer with what you have said!

Hey there Daniel! 2nd Dan Junior Black in Shotokai... Impressive! I do Shotokan, so our views should be interesting about stances etc... I'm currently Brown Belt in the Adult syllabus (I too got 2nd Dan Black Junior when I was 12yrs... Been doing Shotokan for over 10 yrs! ) Glad to have you here! We're a friendly bunch and don't bite! Shui Tora

My Kiai's tend to be loud, with strength and sound more on the lines of; "Tai!" (Literally! Its sounds good... Short and sharp.)

I Suggest that you begin on low numbers for any workout (thats how i got started for my training) and then gradually worked up... Anything can work, crunches, push-ups, sit-ups etc... Just start low then work up. Did you manage to get a hold of a copy of your syllabus? I have copies for all in my style, and I tend to practice bits from here and there.

Why thankyou... Only a couple of other students (incl. me) are taught about pressure points as my Sensei does not want the younger grades to start going around and using them for NOT their original purpose.

Yep, that's why they're called Pressure Points! (Pardon the pun) To be honest, pressure points are to be used in self-defence, not kumite... You need to have been attacked on more than one occasion (like me... ¬_¬) to get the the feel and understanding of using presure points. You cannot use the same partner everytime when learning the points (I try to use a different person each lesson) to get the variation... About 65% most of the time, on a complete stranger, I can hit a pressure point with a good solid punch or a grab, and have them on the floor in agony... (from past experience). Mystical or Biomechanics? The chinese thought they were mystical, until the theory was disproven. They are biomechanics; the way the body has been made: and you DO need strength to hit them, they are covered by about 200mm of skin, just gently stroking it won't work! That being that! Or have I missed the point?

The White Crane Stance is my fave of all! I dunno why, but the name suits it very well!

Are you talking about; Qigong. As this is about breathing, body postures and motions of the body... Nothing like what you said about Self-defence etc. It is a style used for breathing enhancement, and many medical practioners beleive it works in cases such as Bornchitis etc. Thats about it... Not sure if that answers your question

Hey! Wassup!? Forget those other people at the horrible forum, this forum is A LOT better! A LOT friendlier (sp?) and we don't bite! So; do tell us more about you... I see that you do Mantis Kung Fu... Do you use the "White Crane Stance?" by any chance? I have always wanted to try some style of Kung Fu; but never got the chance.... (Pardon the puns! ) Hope they weren't that insulting? Welcome! Shui Tora