Dobbersky

The "Ethos" of "Sprot karate" is far from the origins of Okinawan karate. I can see the reaoning behing it as it develops speed and quick reactions BUT it teaches the "Fighters" t o"pull" their strikes. This goes against the grain. because as you react instinctively you will do exactly the same in a Self Defence situation. I've heard of persons so used to drilling where the defender hands back the knife of pistol AFTER disarming the attacker they have "handed" the weapon back to their attacker to use on them again. I hate with a vengence this leg in the air and kicking, kicking kicking without any real meaning, but if the rules change to allow take downs etc this would be immediately dropped like a bad smell. Knock-down or Continuous is the best way to compete, and no less than semi-contact either thanks

Junior White, Red, Purple, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, Brown, Brown/White stripe, Brown/2 White stripes then Black/White stripe, Black/2 White stripes (at 16 they may be invited to take Adult 1st Dan) Adults White, Red, Purple, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, Brown, Brown/Red stripe, Brown/Black stripe then Black (full), Black/Red Block belt (from 4th Dan to symbolize time served grades)

OSU! Congrats

What more is there to add, there is a way to explain this WITHOUT this tactic

We have two locations In one location we have Parquet flooring now this is really bad on the knees and I believe they are changing the floor but I'm going to have to look elsewhere as its getting bad especially for jumping kicks etc In the Second location we have solid wooden flooring, much better than the other location but the room is smaller. I am actually looking at moving out of the first location and relocating elsewhere

Yoga is the non-combatant form of Kalaripyattu, from India

All For many years we have been using the certificates of the National Governing Bodies at greate expense to the School, especially the Dan Garde Certificates. Now to design our own we have the grafics but the wording of the Certificates is the issue Any suggestions or Ideas would be truly appreciated OSU

Totally agree!!!!!!! Solid Post!!!!

Well Done, OSU!!!!

My phone it too sensitive.

I would do that for any Kata competition; appearance is part of the scoring. Other than that, yeah, that's dedication. Is it really that weird? We'd get our butts kicked if we turned up to class with a creased dobok! These days, I'll only iron my gis for our annual testing cycle. Other than that, I'll wear my gis right out of the dryer. Did I say iron, I mean dry clean, I don't have the patience anymore to iron. In my school, I have refused students to wear the black belt if the Go/Dobok is un-ironed also 100 press-ups for Kyu Grades OR Dan grad To me it shows pride, I'm ex forces so we love everything ironed. I have this warning that if anyone turns up to a Dan grading with an un-ironed Gi, I will fail them on the spot, I've not have to fail anyone yet. L

Agreed, its Pyramid selling but the "product" is Karate! There are some excellent GKR black belts BUT these are Karateka (who already have a long history of karate) that have joined GKR for money not the Art! I wish GKR was a good style with some awesome ambassadors but who wants a knock at the door and made to pay £20 before You've even stepped into the dojo to be taught by someone who's wearing a Black/White belt only been training themselves for 8 to 18 months and doesn't really understand what karate is about!

AGREED!!! WELL DONE, my friend on getting placed so high on your first Competition OSU!!!

I'll second this, and I think that toughness in this context is really just a "manly" way of saying discipline. Contact martial arts, from technique to conditioning, is just a big exercise in discipline. Being disciplined enough to learn the technique is step one. Being disciplined enough to get your body into really good shape might be step two. The final step is being and learning how to be disciplined enough to apply that technique through conditioning. A lot of guys look good on the pads, bags, and shadowboxing - and a lot of guys can take a big shot and keep going. The goal of sparring with more realistic contact, is to reach the stage when getting hit results in legitimate technique and intelligent counters as opposed to angry hay-makers. A group of civilian competitive target shooters can out-shoot most military platoons, but which one would you rather walk into a war zone with? I too second this, I've spoken to many "Champions" and Black Belts who've frozen the first time they got hit by someone on the street because they'd never experienced it within the "safe" confinments of the Dojo. OSU!!!!

Apologies, still learning this phone, OSU

Do I hint a little bit of favouritism and bias there Ueshiro-san hehehe

Agreed, my school is a small school, I tend to go woromouth, but I do have a website and I am listed on Google maps. Did a few demos we don't charge the earth and gradings and gear is charged slightly higher than we get it to cover admin. Definitely something to look at.

And I feel guilty charging £5 per lesson! Good topic, I would love a full time Dojo, but as its highlighted you need students paying regularly so contracts would be the only way forward.

AGREED! I feel its à topic dear to all Karateka's hearts we just need to watch the first lot of UFC matches to see that Karateka had no idea what grappling was all about.

Kyokushin Australia is a must to try but you'll find that any Okinawan styles like Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu, Ueshiro Ryu etc WILL give you what you are looking for. As you have access to the internet, Google is your best friend, find a style that has good grounding and a lineage that doesn't stop at the current Kancho! Email the heads of the organisation in Australia to source your local Dojo. Also try sports centres ans churches for the small schools (dont be put of with a small school as the quality will predominantly be better than your GKR) OSU

Honestly one of the worst books I've ever read. All filler, no killer. Just numerous set defences for lunging attacks don't use in Jiyu kumite. Strange as you are the only one I know who thinks that. Would you be able to elaborate on your views as Kanazawa Sensei to many is considered as one of the founders of European/British Karate. I have a vast personal library and I know I've read books by respected martial artists and thought should have bought something else. One book on self-defense that was rated by loads as THE book to get, I got a library copy and thanked God, I'd not bought a copy as it was as you say "All filler, no killer". I got another self-defense book 2nd hand as I didn't want to pay full price and again this was Judo in jeans!

How many styles have you trained in Mr Terror? UNLESS you have trained in real Shotokan or Real Goju Ryu Karate, then, and only then, can you compare it. I find the quality is never as good as the original styles than GKR is taken from. Compare this to having a dentist, one cheap, didn't finish his degree and a dearer one who finished his degree - YOU WOULD pick the cheaper one then!

Solid post!!!! Couldn't have said it any better myself, OSU

When something has been a mixed martial art all along, but it's not Mixed Martial Arts, it can be a bit hard to catagorize. Solid response! I agree, same as some Wado Ryu'ists whether Wado Ryu is Karate or Jujitsu or something else, I would consider Kenpo as Kenpo, not Karate or Jujitsu just Kenpo in its own right

I just thought, this is a thread about Kenpo/Kempo, but its in the karate section, in the UK you'd be hard pushed to find a Kenpo Karate School as opposed to a Kenpo Jujitsu School so shouldn't we move this thread to the Jujitsu section?