Dobbersky

Totally agree! I learned how to do jumping kicks in the pool! OSU!!!

Jissen Dai, this is the amalgamation of Jissen No Kata Sono Ichi and Ni. I found during the formulation of my school that the kata had a lot of duplication, which to me wasn't required as if someone practised all the kata. Duplicating techniques wasn't required. This was the same for the following kata Kihon Dai - mix of Kihon No Kata Sono Ni & San Nage Dai - mix of Nage No Kata Sono San & Ni (with added techniques) Kumite Dai - mix of Kumite No Kata Sono Ni, San & Yon Goshin Dai - mix of Shoshin No Kata Sono Ni & San Some of the Ashihara Kata combinations were amended/replaced with ethos from my Traditional Martial Arts experience. The Taikyoku Kata are MY additions. I found that the First Kata, Shoshin Sho Kata (Shoshin No Kata Sono Ichi) was at times too technical to junior beginners. I then looked at a way to best present the kata more basically, but still encompass Ashihara Karate. Thus the 3 kata were created Below is the first Kata in a basic description - the only stance is a fighting stance! Taikyoku Shodan Kata 1st Move – Left Leg forward Front foot back, Palm Heel Block, front foot forward Back Hand Punch to the face, turn opposite direction Bunkai Attack: Back Hand Punch to the stomach 2nd Move – Right Leg Forward Front foot back, Palm Heel Block, front foot forward Back Hand Punch to the face, turn to front Bunkai Attack: Back Hand Punch to the stomach 3rd Move – Left Leg Forward Front foot back, Palm Heel Block, front foot forward Back Hand Punch to the face, Step Forward Bunkai Attack: Back Hand Punch to the stomach 4th Move – Right leg Forward Front foot back, Palm Heel Block, front foot forward Back Hand Punch to the face, Step Forward Bunkai Attack: Back Hand Punch to the stomach 5th Move – Left Leg Forward Front foot back, Palm Heel Block, front foot forward Back Hand Punch to the face, Kiai !!!! Step to Left Bunkai Attack: Back Hand Punch to the stomach 6th Move – Left Leg Forward Front foot back, Palm Heel Block, front foot forward Back Hand Punch to the face, turn opposite direction Bunkai Attack: Back Hand Punch to the stomach 7th Move – Right leg Forward Front foot back, Palm Heel Block, front foot forward Back Hand Punch to the face, turn to front Bunkai Attack: Back Hand Punch to the stomach

Could it be that belt structures are a crutch for a weak Western mind? I prefer white and when you have the skills your Sensei will advise that you may now wear a black belt. (After completing the grading requirements - whatever that may constitute in your style.) I am probably one of few that went from white to black twice in their lives. I have, also had moments of great humour when a 'higher grade' student suddenly realizes this white belt in front of him is 'different'. (Again an opportunity of growth by not placing a subconscious value on the skill of an opponent based on the colour of his belt.) I must confess that coloured belts makes sense in a training session when you have to match students with similar skills. You are from Sth Africa, have you heard of Kaicho Narker from Ashihara Karate?

Wtih my Style everything is important and follows he same route. The only difference is that I have basic application and advanced application. The Kata IS the basis of my style and everything is worked from there. I do NOT have a separate Self Defence system as "what's the point of the Kata!!!!" if its not a "Self Defence" system already!!!

I always thought that Jukado was as already stated Bruce Tegner's system and was an anamgram of Ju - Judo Ka - Karate Do - Way I've already ordered the book on this sytem thanks

I would have put her with my 3rd Kyu Female and told her to "Destroy" her legs!!! It wouldn't be the first time she's "humbled" a Nidan ShotoKan When I visit Other Clubs I always consider even the White belts with the respect THEY deserve in THEIR club!!! I would have been disappointed in someone who I had considered a "friend" to have done this to me. Never mind we know what Cyndi Lauper said about "True Colours" lol OSU!!!

You could also ask at your local gym for "specific" workouts?

Anything which doesn't increase BULK is good for you. So if the exercise Shortens Tendens or buts too much muscle on this will slow you down or decrease your flexibility. There are a few books on Amazon which are specified for a Martial Artists work out Failing that light weights more repititions!!! Note - Cycling does short the Hamstring which is one of the most importent MUscle/Tendon Group for Kicking

What do you call your Instructor(s) Kyosanim, Sabeomnim, Kwanjangnim, Sempai, Sensei, Shihan, Shifu LaoShi, Guru etc. (appologies if I have missed off your title as it was not purposely) Does the ettiquette within your school dictate that you call them by their title or is it more western and allows First names or Mr X or Sir or Ma'am to be used? I expect all my students to address me by Sensei - within class, I also expect them to address visiting Instructors by their titles too Looking forward to some excellent discussions

I understand that a "hug" in certain situations could be deemed inappropriate. That is where common sense needs to kick in.(something that is in short supply in the world btw) Also, when i say hug, i am not talking about a full embrace, im talking about a shoulder bump and a pat on the back, that to me is a hug. I find this perfectly acceptable among training partners as a show of respect for a job well done. We do not teach people that are under the age of 18, and rarely do we participate in what most people would consider a "traditional class". When someone reached a certain rank in our system, they are considered part of our clan, we treat that person as if they were a member of our own family. You say that because hugging as no purpose in training, then it does not belong on the mat. In my humble opinion, training martial arts is not just about learning how to defend onesself or to learn how to fight. Training martial arts has allowed me to build relationships with people who i would have never met otherwise. If one goes through their martial arts journey without building at least some important intrapersonal relationships, i think they have missed the point. Agree to disagree. Agree to a point. Hugging is kept to a basic "process" we're not talking about full on hugging as this would raise a few alarm bells. Its like hugging your "mates" you friends or your "team mates" as seen in many other sports. We're not talking about "kissing" like they do in "football" (soccer - for you guys across the pond) I think if someone has issues with hugging then either they have some personal mental scars or its just something they never got as a child. To me I see nothing inappropriate in hugging as that is all it is "A Hug"

I'm not Japanese!!! I may teach a Japanese Art but I adhere to the "ettiquette" as much as possible, but I bring in the "western" ethos after that fact. Even the Japanese Hug each other after matches

I'm the Instructor and I hug, Don't see no issues in it!!!

PMSL @ MasterPain

Shotokan Awesome Style. The Movie Kuro Obi is based on this Style Apart from the "points" sparring its ok as "Inhouse" sparring can be as full contact as Kyokushin, I know I've have the stories still in my memories about the "Lock-In" Sparring they used to do but that was "Ole Skool". i am sure some of the senior grades would be happy to aquaint you with Full contact sparring, but they do Strike to the face in Shotokan. ShotoKAI is another related style but I believe they are kata based (ShotoKAN and ShotoKAI split after the death of Funakoshi Sensei)

Oh and after al the fighting these guys >>>> HUG!!!

Lol it would have been dishonest to claim it as my own and that is not the Kyokushin way, OSU!!! This video goes int Sabaki a bit

In My dojo we tend to "hug" after sparring. I think it creates a family bond as everyone hugs each other at the end of class before everyone leaves. I know in the Kyokushin Style Seminars I've been to, everyone gets "OSU"'d from the senior Grade to the lowest grade. I suppose those who are uncomfortable with it, its for us to appreciate their "feelings" towards it. My opinion is "A Hug is Free and may make the person you're hugging feel important for one little moment"

I'm wondering IF the fact of the matter is that as one kata is learned the other is left to become part of the new kata as long as it is not a different concept. For example in Wado Ryu is is stipulated (Sojobo can correct me here) that all Kata leads to Chinto. Thus does this not mean that once Chinto is mastered only Chinto is required as all the techniques found in Chinto can be found in the "lower" kata!! For me I tell my students that if they are just there for personal training, as long as they practice the higher Kata they will have all that encompasses the style. I have Bassai in my Syllabus and can see many techniques that are in the Pinans, Kushanku and Naihanchi in there too. excellent thread OSU!!!!!!!!

Master Sken From the UK is a Muay Thai Grand Master and Also a Black Belt int Tae Kwon Do, In his style of Muay Thai some of the TKD techniques do filter through!!! Stances are very different though between the 2 arts. Enjoy both though, OSU!!!

Tai sabaki (体捌き) is a term from Japanese martial arts and which relates to 'whole body movement', or repositioning. It can be translated as body-management. It is a term used widely in kendo, jujutsu, aikido, judo, karate and ninjutsu. Tai sabaki is usually used to avoid an attack, such that the receiver of the attack ends up in an advantageous position and it is often wrongly referred to as evasion. An example of tai sabaki is 'moving off the line' of attack using irimi and tenkan movements rather than to 'move against' the attack. This implies the use of harmony rather than physical strength. Tai sabaki is related to ashi sabaki (footwork) and te sabaki (handwork). What is Sabaki? Sabaki is a unique method of meeting an attack by combining defence and offence into one. Sabaki uses one of four fundamental circular movements in response to an attacker's thrust. These movements carry the defender to the outside- left or right of an attack, moving either slightly forward or backward. In each case, the defender move's to the attacker's back side. This limits the defender's exposure to frontal attack. In addition, it allows the defender to develop a "blind spot" in the attacker's position. Once the defender has developed this "blind spot", he/she can take strategic advantage of this position by entering that "blind spot" and countering effectively with various combinations of punches and kicks. No matter what the distance - short, medium or long - this strategy of moving outside and to an opponent's "blind spot" is essential. In Ashihara Karate the practitioner learns to be aware of three types of distances and the Sabaki that applies to each. What does Sabaki mean? Sabaki is a difficult concept to translate from Japanese. Broadly speaking, Sabaki refers to movement, often involving a concept of control, sometimes implying preparation for a subsequent movement. For example, Sabaki can be used in reference to training a horse. The rider performs certain movements in an effort to control the animal, in order to make the animal behave as he/she wants it to. Alternative spellings: taisabaki, tai sabaki, tai-sabaki, sabaki IRIMI (MOVING IN). From Migi Hanmi (Right Freefighting Stance), slide your front foot diagonally (about 40 degrees to your right). Bring your back foot up to resume your stance. Your left foot will still be at the back of your right foot. ISSOKU IRIMI (STEPPING THROUGH). From Migi Hanmi, step through with the back foot, diagonally off the line of attack. Your back foot will now become your front foot. Bring the other foot in behind to resume your stance. When you have completed the movement, you should have changed your stance to Hidari Hanmi. TENKAI (PIVOT). From Migi Hanmi, pivot 180 degrees on the balls of your feet to end up facing the opposite direction. If at the starting position, you face north in Migi Hanmi, when you have completed the movement, you will be facing south and be in Hidari Hanmi. TENKAN (TURNING). From Migi Hanmi, step slightly forward and off the line of attack with the front foot. Turn in the direction of your back 180 degrees by bringing the other foot around behind. You will now be facing south and still in Migi Hanmi stance. IRIMI TENKAN (STEP THROUGH & TURN). (This movement is also commonly known as "kaiten") From Migi Hanmi, perform Issoku Irimi, that is, step through with the back foot. Then pivoting on the ball of the new front foot, turn 180 degrees in the direction of your back. You should now be facing in the opposite direction and in the opposite stance (Hidari Hanmi) to when you started. HANTA TENKAN (STEP THROUGH & HALF TURN). From Migi Hanmi, perform Issoku Irimi that is step through with the back foot. Pivot on the ball of your front foot (left foot), then turn as if performing a tenkan but only 90 degrees (to your right). Your back should be facing west and you should now be facing off to the side of your original direction (your front body will now be facing east)in Hidari Hanmi (that is the opposite stance to when you started). Practice Tai Sabaki often to make the movements second nature. Thanks Wikipedia (lol) Can’t really add to this although a good example of the uses in Ashihara Karate is represented in this Video From around the 2 min mark (Kancho Ninomiya has a Cameo appearance in this Video as he was still with Ashihara then) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nZQcWG4Guo I also found this Also variants of Sabaki is Kyushu as used in Judo/Jujitsu and Mikiri (Absorbtion)

I have a Female Brown Belt who I like to use to "try out" visiting Karateka - she enjoyed "playing" with a Nidan from the Army Team. Her thigh kicks are awesome. I would love to put her into Competitions but she's happy "training"

Yes - several times. The one that I find funny is I saved a young girl from being beaten up by her Drunk Boyfriend, who then started screaming "Don't hurt him!!!" Her boyfreind also claimed he wanted to do me for assault - I said I'll wait here whilst he contacts the Police, they never arrived, LOL. I tend to get a few idiots who just don't know when to "walk away" Lol

I believe in some Ryu (schools) of Shito Ryu/Shukokai have upto 54 Separate Kata!!!. I don't know how you can perfect 54 kata when I'm feeling to reduce my school's Kata from 18 to lesser amount say removing Ashihara "Based" Kata are: Taikyoku Kata 1-3 (my creations) Shoshin Sho & Dai Kihon Sho Kumite Sho & Dai Nage Sho & Dai Goshin Dai Jissen Dai Traditional Kata are: Naihanchi Kata - to be no longer practiced Bassai Kata Niseishi Kata - to be no longer practiced Shichi Hoochi Kata (Chil Sung Ee Ro Hyung) - to be no longer practiced Koryo Kata (WTF Poomsae) - to be no longer practiced Goshin Jutsu Kata (Kodokan Judo)

Who looks down their nose at Wado? Ask any serious practitioner of Karate (regardless of style) what they think of Wado and I doubt they would look down their nose at it. If you think you would not be into Kata, perhaps Karate is not for you. Not being funny, why don't you try kickboxing? Can I ask Wastelander, what methodologies didn't you agree with? Hi Student4life, actually they are both "non-okinawan" karate. SojoboSOLID POST I practiced both Wado and Ashihara Karate (an Offspring of Kyokushin) I can say Wado definately is one of the best forms of Karate and its ethos can take a lifetime to understand. Wado taught me more about my Ashihara Karate than My Ashihara Sensei did, if you understand where I am coming from. Kyokushin is definately a fighting style of Karate but it takes different ethos into the kata which are the 90% practiced by Wado, ShotoKan and Goju Ryu anyway If Kata is an issue then as stated above Kickboxing/Muay Thai would be a better option.

I'd say this is kind of similar to what we do, but we try to time the landing of the technique as the foot steps down, as opposed to after the foot sets down; not so much lag, but pretty similar. But not every technique has a step with it, either. I'm a bit different, I guess. When I throw a jab, I do so with hip movement. A little twist of the hip toward the target, and the hand flys out, too. That way, its not just my hand whipping out, but I've got some bodyweight behind it, too. I'm in agreement with Bushido Man and Sojobo here when it comes to this ethos. I know I'm from the same "School" as Kuma but I suppose the influences of Wado, Tang Soo Do and Muay Thai have had the greater effect on my technique.