Dobbersky

I trained in Wado Ryu for 4 years because I couldn't find a Goju Ryu dojo. I'm actually happy I did as its had massive impact my Ashihara karate. Goju is definitely a good style to practice

Welcome to the forum. We're definitely getting a few more knockdown Karateka on here, OSU

Welcome ro the forum, really looking forward to reading your posts, OSU

Sorry, Damned Android phone again OSU

OSU, Bri, it's ALWAYS good to have another knockdown Karateka on the forum, there's starting to be quite a few of us. Looking forward to your posts. OSU

Good Thread topic! Yeah, from what I've seen from my experience its a school which doesn't conform to 1 specific style of martial arts, predominantly Karate. Would love to have my post varified by a Freestyle Karate Player, appologies if I've got it all wrong, its just my opinion of what I have experienced For Example I know of a Free Style Karate School where the Instructor is a Shukokai Black Belt BUT competes and trains with predominantly ShotoKan Based Kata. Also If they have amended the syllabus which doesn't conform to the mainstream Style (Ryu). Also Most Freestyle Karate schools have made the tradtional Kata Redundant but instead formulate their own "Kata" to compete within the "musical Kata" stage etc. I think most of it too is Money in the correct pot. and legal Reasons too

I don't believe it can be put better than that, well done. Totally agree Wastelander, thank you so much for your response

I train, because it gives me peace. I have a stressful life and practicing my Martial Arts gives me freedom from everything outside the dojo, even for just a few hours. When I teach, I feel so proud of my students, seeing the pride in their faces when they work up the grades etc and when I praise them for things done well Good thread, OSU

With respect to the Fad which is no longer a Fad and is here to stay, What exactly is MMA? Now we see MMA schools popping up all over ther place, with students flocking to train there. But what does it consist of. what makes a valid MMA school. If an Instructor did say TaeKwonDo and did a bit of J-JJ or B-JJ does this make him qualified to teach MMA, is it just not TKD with a bit of JJ thrown into the mix Or is it a Muay Thai Teacher and BJJ Blackbelt that allows someone to "create" an MMA school I can't work out WHAT the differences are to justify it being MMA and not just X-style with extra stuff added.

Now another way, if you have reached Shodan and you continue to train and you keep your standards and its 5, 6 or 7 years since your last grading, do you stay as Shodan or do you earn Nidan as time served?

Being a Christian myself, I accumulated various articles on Religion and Martial Arts, truth is its goes hand in hand, all throughout the bible it specifically states the training in "martial arts" is good for the mind / soul. I would love to post them but issue with copyright, I'll try and find a URL OSU

Manga is really good i am a fan. Don't think most manga stories are based on true schools or arts, sorry. If You're at a level you could formulate your own school OSU

Yakkee dart, shouda heeee (sorry for the spelling) Welcome to the forum. What style do you practice etc? Looking forward to chatting with you & reading your posts OSU

It's all politics and money in the right pot. I've discussed this many times but now, my answer is; Every school will gave students who want whatever that school offers. We won't change the world, so train as best as you can and if possible when you have the converted black belt, maybe open a school teaching old school martial arts. Then the more old school clubs will begin to overtake the "McDojos" OSU

Excellent post, Gives me a good Idea of the why and how, thank you my friend

It is espected if you've not remembered all of them. but atleast you remembered some. Guaranteed if we ask you in 6 months to a year from now you'll be fully absorbed back into the Dojo. Just enjoy your journey and welcome to the Forum. Looking forward to some good posts & threads from you too OSU

In my School, its my rules and anyone who has earned black belt can wear a Black belt whilst training, they will need to test for 1st Dan in My Style but that would be the first grade they would aspire too. learning all the kihon etc upto that level then progressign from there. Although it wont be 6 months to 18 months - minimum time is 3 1/2 years training OSU

All I have a question and as I don't practice "traditional" martial arts I'm looking to you guys to give me the answers. We have various Kata that are practiced that have a "Dai" & a "Sho" variant to the Kata. What is the reason for this, are they completely different Kata or 2 Kata created from one major Kata. The Kata that follow this concept that come to mind are: Bassai Dai & Bassai Sho Kanku Dai & Kanku Sho Gojushiho-Dai & Gojushiho-Sho And Albeit a few others that some could add themselves Thanks

I would presume if your training partner is holding them "correct" maybe he just needs to condition his arms a bit more or for you to strike slightly softer until he gets used to it. A "trick" I always use is to "push" into the strike, it takes the "bite" of the strike hope it works well as a good trianing partner is awesome

Yes great kick... Bruce Lee learn that kick from ji han jae (hapkido). Bruce Lee took and learned from many great masters to become such a great human weapon. I believe he learned a lot from Ji Han Jae especially with them meeting for the movie "Game of Death" which he adapted into his Jeet Kune Do. I would love to know if Bruce Lee EVER met Oyama Sosai founder of Kyokushin.

I'd agree with this, I've trained in Muay Thai and Knockdown Karate for more years than I care to mention. Definately look at the clips on Youtube. Your pad holder needs to experiment to find the best position for him which isn't dangerous for you either. Ask your Instructor for guidance would be the best way forward

True but there are still organisations out there where its more politics than martial arts. Even Sensei Funakoshi's students couldn't stay together after he passed. The current split is: 1 Japan Karate Association (JKA), and descendents 1.1 International Traditional Karate Federation 1.2 Shotokan Karate-do International Federation 1.3 International Shotokan Karate Federation 1.4 Japan Karate Shotorenmei 1.5 Japan Shotokan Karate Association 1.6 Karatenomichi World Federation 1.7 World Shotokan Karate-do Federation (W.S.K.F) 1.8 International Karate Daigaku (IKD) 1.9 World JKA Karate Association (WJKA) 2 Shotokai 3 Shotokan Karate of America 4 Kenkojuku Karate Association

best answer Cutting Kick the the legs then Round kick the Head when its at a lower level If you look into the history of Japanese arts, High Kicks are a relatively new creation in line with TKD and the likes. Looking at the Okinawan Kata etc you will find that there were no kicks higher than the waist If you can't kick to the head bring the head lower!

I would recommend waiting until you get your blackbelt in TSD. Question is your mum trying to get you to move schools because the cost but she's too proud to say so? Sometimes Parents don't see what the Qualities of a Martial Arts school are only the cost. I know as I got a few McDojos about, One Instructor I know even asked me how much I charge and then undercut me by £1.50 a lesson

This is the key, a style should be a natural progression of learning; not a way to make a name for yourself. Totally agree with this! I think its much luck that comes into play. If a Senior Instructor already has a large Student base prior to the Split then its easier to move on with the "new" style but if one is starting from scratch and needs still to find 1 student let alone the 100th student then its a lot harder, sometime impossible. I think Dojo's open and close all the time due to student turn around. When I created my "new" style I did it to merge what I was doing so I only needed to pract 1 art not several. I've never claimed a salary from the club and its not a huge club either but it would be nice to have the Dojo full time in several locations, although I think this might not happen as I would need students who are as dedicated as I am to assist me and also open their own Dojo's too