Dobbersky

i agree with this, you tend to look at opposites here and you already do Karate so its sorted

UeshiroKarate-san My appologies my friend for not making it clearer, consider this when sparring/competing when you give or receive techniques to/from you partner/opponent do you consider it as: Full Contact is from 70% to 100% power on impact Semi Contact is From 40% to 70% power on impact Non/Light Contact is 40% and below power on impact if any It might as many of us move between the varing levels depending on the partner/opponent or the level of the grade, age etc, I wouldn't expect an Adult to fight Full Contact with a 14 year old boy etc OSU!!!

I would dare say that Daido Juku fighters when THEY make the move over to UFC and other Caged events I am sure this will be the next "best" thing for MMA giving all the other "styles" a run for their money!

What you said is predominantly correct. Most work pick the Kumite Champ, but what type of Kumite is it? If it was a Knock-down or Daido Juku champ then yes I would look to him for instruction, but I would pick the Kata and Weapons Champ as far as I could say is that he has understood the ethos of "Shu Ha Ri" unless it is that silly Musical Kata which is just glorified Gymnastics!

Why is this as the rules point in the favour of the BJJ player. But the Karateka does not help the situation or at least the Karateka shown on the BJJ versus Karate videos on Youtube where the karateka looks more like a 7th Kyu than someone worthy of the Black Belt around his waist. Most Karate schools teach Non or Semi contact sparring and have no consideration to an opponent wanting to take them to the ground etc! They tend to go into survival mode, and all their training goes out of the window! Now there are many Karate based fighters in UFC but for some reason they are introduced as Mixed Martial Artists even though they only cross train in something else like Judo or Wrestling to improve their Grappling skills ; BUT they ALWAYS say BJJ even though the fighter cross trains in Boxing / Kickboxing to improve their striking skills

I've seen this before, Bill is really humble and respectful, the other guy, I never seen anyone so arrogant and full of himself, no respect for anyone! And as far as I am aware, he never won any of his "fights" in the series! The Fight Quest one is much better. Also Blue Samurai: Karate is a good one

Solid post!!!

With a lot of various new guys joining on here, I thought I'd look and see what type of Karateka we have on the forum! What I mean is the level of sparring that you do in your Dojo or in competition. You may do several styles of sparring and compete in many arenas but all's good.

Interesting. A Kanazawa Sensei book from a student of Eneoda Sensei! Do you know the history of those 2 karateka and how they got on together? Do a search on Amazon to see what they're going for, 1st editions are usually higher in price but to make anything drastic there needs to be a demand for it

Do what you do in class at home the warm up should include stretching. So you need to warm up you legs first before you stretch. Also there's plenty of tips on you tube (I'd a a link or 3 but I'm on my Blackberry)

For me Judo just bolts on perfectly to my style, we already do Stand-up and quite a lot of "Aikido style" Throws we have 2 Nage Kata (although NIKO has 4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFEU4_ZKfdE&feature=related I'm ok on my back but would trust it in a street situation.but before you go to ground there's got to be some sort of stand-up first! This to me is where Judo is better FOR ME, as its ticks the boxes that I have. If I wanted something else probably BJJ would then be a better match.

So Strange but I find Judo better for me than BJJ, I like Aikido too but I can't get used to the "offering" of the hand and the open finger stance

Hapkido is predominately a 2 man style, not too sure how you could learn practice the drills on your own? you should see if there is a way you could train on a budget, failing that, you should find another style

OSU!!! Sensei, I totally understand where you're coming from. I have had a few students from other styles who were black belts but couldn't keep up with the lower Kyu grades when it come to Kumite! I used to have everyone who wanted to train with me wear a white belt to begin with except Knock-down Karateka from all the various Orgs etc as I too know the politics involved. Now through the years I decided that only knock-down karateka would I honour whatever grade they were and only Black belts from other styles were allowed to wear their belts. They still have to work through the syllabus though! For me in my syllabus its 10 x 3 min fights for Shodan and 12 x 3 min fights for Nidan & Sandan. I also expect black belts to compete in the inter clubs we do. The fact of the matter is, its YOUR dojo so you make the rules and that's it. Another way around it is have them wear the relevant belt, white to Brown, but put a thick black band around 1 end to recognise their Dan grade in their other style! OSU

It should be an Olympic Sport!!!

One of my Students is an ex-amateur wrestler, he found a Karate style which he CAN adapt his wrestling skills to street combat, OSU goooooo Ashihara!

Confused.com me thinks to the relevance to the topic you r question is

Solid post!!! Totally agree, when you have a goal, put in a 1/2 way point aim for this first and then when there reassess the situation to see if BB is all you want! If it is and you don't want 2nd, 3rd etc you might as well give up as 5 years down the line you won't remember anything you learned after giving up and not practising!!!

OSU!! If you want to be a fighter, you need to train like a fighter! I would also recommend going on K4L Forum too! As. I think all the knock-down stylists like me and Evergrey are there too! As I keep saying 30% in the dojo 70% outside the dojo for you training. Its your choice but your Sensei would be honoured if you asked him to recommend any of the Sempai's to train with regards you kumite after class. When I was younger I used to go to loads of Thai Boxing Gyms to 'play' with for experience of fighting with other styles/fighters etc

OSU!!! Some teachers prefer Kata to Kumite, watch Samurai Spirit: Karate this is hosted by Nicolas Pettas, the last Uchi Deshi of Sosai Oyama. Kumite you don't need a partner to learn how to fight. What's wrong with 10mins fight speed shadow sparring, you will be totally knackered IF you give it 100% The bag aim for at least 1000 hits a day (250 punches, 250 Kicks, 250 knees, 250 elbows) Also use the bag for rounds 3 mins then 50sit-ups, r mins then 50 press-ups etc I am sure some of the Brown and Black belts SHOULD be up for Kumite OSU!!!

Nice clean topic!!! In all my years I've never contracted anything 'touch wood' but since I started at the gym at work and used the showers I got what I think is a corn! I had to mention hygiene to a teenage student a few times, he didn't change so he's no longer with us! The only thing with renting church halls is that you don't have full control of the training/changing areas

It will be such a humbling experience for you! A word of advice - leave your karate at the door, remember it is kungfu not karate, you need to use a different cup, OSU!!!

In the UK, CRB checks should be done every 2 years. If they are with a bonefide NGB then this is compulsory as party of their membership! Also confirm the person teaching is a genuine Black belt too

Follow the rule - 30% in the Dojang & 70% outside the Dojang! If you are practising what you are taught at home, in the park etc, you won't need private lessons. If the Instructor says private lessons are compulsory I would see it as nothing more than a way for him to make money!!! Just relax, it will take however long it takes for you to get BB! Getting Black Belt is just the beginning anyway If all you want is a BB and a certificate then move on to a different style collecting "trophies" then you might as well buy some from EBay its cheaper and quicker

Watered down infers a weaker version of something. I don't think they are watered down - I think they are something entirely different. I can’t speak for Shoto folk, but Wado - on a surface level - could be perceived as easy to learn, however it is very hard to master (trust me, I have being trying my best to do so for over a quarter of a century). The devil really is in the detail. I'd also say that out of all of the major styles - Wado is probably the least aesthetically pleasing. It is however very functional. However - all that said, Wado has become a victim of its own success in many ways and the end result is more bad schools than good imo. Sojobo I think Wado is Excellent, my second love, Ashihara Karate being my first, there is so much that it, Wado Ryu, has, but one has to dedicate oneself to the style to really appreciated.