Dobbersky

With the same 3 kata? sojobo The first 3 kata are for the kids syllabus only then the kata after that is where this ethos comes into play. Apologies for not making that clearer than that

I have 3 kata in my syllabus which are "Literal Kata", the first 3 kata that are taught in the children's syllabus. They're just training kata, every technique in the first 3 kata are exactly what is done - strikes are strikes, blocks are blocks etc. From there all kata are taught literally within this syllabus whereas in the Adult syllabus this is where the Bunkai/Application/Hidden techniques comes to life. Excellent topic and excellent responses Osu!

OSU!!! I've trained with a few Kyokushin Karateka in my years as I am Ashihara Karate, I find that a lot of the techniques filter between the styles. Kyokushin has like most Karate Styles too much Politics. Fore Example a IKO can not train with an IKU etc etc. This is NOT what Sosai wanted Take out the Politics and I feel Kyokushin is probably the best traditional Karate Style about but that's my opinion. Okinawan Karate (Kode Te) is a very very close second OSU

Very Nice Can't understand how something that existed before the Website can be copyrighted, I.E. Bassai I am sure this Kata existed before the organisation was formed etc

Well Done Sir, I salute you, I am sure after watching your son's classes quite a lot of the techniques will be second nature to you Enjoy your journey OSU

All, My Dai Shihan has asked for a new belt, so I need your help? We need a 360 - 380cm long 5cm wide Red belt with 9 DAN BARs (or a Large block and 4 BARS) on it, can't seem to find one in the UK to match the requirements. Possibly go for his name embroidered on it too Can you recommend suppliers and approximate costs thanks Ken

I think Tang Soo Do is an excellent art but it has too many McDojo's involved in the art. The Style itself is dare I say Japanese Shotokan meets Chinese Kung Fu. In the UK it tends to be Non to semi contact and the syllabus involves Hyungs that seem to only used for grading purposes. Self Defence Techniques and a series of Basics up the grades. I practice TSD for 4 years and would have loved to keep it up, and bring into the school real application of its Hyungs Never mind

lol me too!!!!!!

My niece was a competitive cheerleader, and she's tougher than me. I think you need to train harder then MP *running out the door* Are you using Parkour to run out of the door with? I would say Parkour is as close to Martial Arts as Scateboarding or BMX'ing is

Although my school has a website, it did for many years not have one I actually find that some of the best schools DON'T have Websites and can only be found by word of mouth or from checking with your local sports centre, Church or community hall. It seems that Most of the Websited Schools are infact Aparty to being McDojo's or Belt Factories or Black Belt Academies etc. as these are the ones with high numbers of students who can afford the fees to set up a really good website

Sounds like a Bruce Lee Movie or a Scene from Sonny Chiba's "The Streetfighter" Seriously, I have only had 2 challenges in my Dojo, to which I have accepted and did not embarrass myself either. I am always the first to spar with any new students so they get to see what Sensei is like (note I do not use the first sparring session for me to beat them to a pulp in fact I act as a "living punchbag" to try their means), although, I do show them that I can disperse their endeavours to overpower me when I wish too. I have been told some excellent sotries from my senior Grades that I know about such challenges. Kancho Ninomiya Founder of Enshinkai talks about such Challenges in his Autobiography.

Totally agree, having several Gi's is a must, 12oz is an excellent inbetweener from 8oz to 14oz. I don't use American Products myself, what's the difference in quality? Tokaido is an excellent gi but you pay the prices for that too. I thought the Stats looked a bit extreme myself but it was quoted in the magazine article. I will search my library to find the article and get back to everyone on this. To the OP, visualising yourself with a Black Belt on gives you the focus, I let my students put on one if they feel the need to then know how it "feels" watch the other Black Belts, see how they act, a good Black Belt is no different to you, they've only been practicing longer. I have no issues students purchasing their own Gi's but I find they can get it cheaper through the school.

Good Post, and excellent responses, You are correct about some Kata being considered as complete fighting styles, especially to the likes of Bassai, Kushanku, Naihanchi, the Jion/ Jitte series and others. Prior to WWII, most Karate schools practiced at most 4-5 kata and many spent years as with Funakoshi (spending 9 years on Naihanchi alone) learning it breaking it down to its components and rebuilding it over and over again. Regards to learning many kata instead of one, what must be considered is that as in Wado Terms, All kata become one. It is the building blocks of the senior kata, you will find many components in the Pinan/Heian series than can be found within the higher kata. Question on this, why learn 5 Pinan/Heian Kata when Kushanku/Kanku Dai would suffice? Naihanchi is a favourite kata of mine too, I included it in my syllabus as one of five traditional Kata that we practice. It used to be the first Kata taught to Karateka until the Pinans/Heians took its place due to internal politics amongst the styles. Iain Abernethy has a DVD on application/bunkai of the kata which many Martial Artists find more close to the original reasoning behind the kata than most. I have added the link to an excellent article which describes history and ethos behind the Kata http://www.practical-martial-arts.co.uk/practical_karate/iain_abernethy/ia_deadly_kata.html In Shotokan/Shotokai the stance is extremely wide, whereas with Wado and a lesser affect Shukokai/Shito Ryu have a shorter stance when performing the Kata. In my style the stance is more of a Ready Stance, my perception of the kata does to me take seeds to a ground fighting kata, although most kata contain stand up and ground fighting aspects to their context. When performed with more fluidity aspects of Chin Na can be seen For "modern day fighting", the crane scene from "Cascino Royal", James Bond, extracts of Naihanchi kata can be seen to be used in defence and attack. In my style Ashihara Karate (off shoot of Kyokushin) we have taken the kata one step further and we tend to use Jissen based kata from a more Modern approach and all kata taught can be used in a fight and an addage from the 70's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nZQcWG4Guo&feature=related

Interesting statistic, where is it from? Is that for a particular style? Osu, it was in an article I read years ago in one of the Martial Arts magazines I used to get, either MAI or BlackBelt or another one I got a couple of copies of

Anyone who has trained for a while would certainly use parts, but there are parts that you don't. So why? What is their application? This is the point of the thread. You question tends too fall into my topic/thread - Kata, What's it for! I use Ashihara. Kata so ours are Modern Jissen kata so everything in our Kata CAN be used in sparring or Real Fighting Generally to everyone I suppose its how Open or Closed your mind is on what kata is about. If you think Kata is useless quit Karate and take up Freestyle or Kickboxing instead

Some excellent discussions on this topic, I feel that none are incorrect or disagree with any of you I use Pinan/Heian Sandan (parts of) when sparring with traditional karateka! Try it you'll surprise yourself OSU!

^^^^This. Your choice should be the best school in your area. Visit all the schools in your area, watch some classes, speak to the instructors and students, check out the credentials of the instructors, etc. The chemistry and quality has to be the most important factors in making a decision. The style should be one of the last factors. One other consideration is how widespread the system the school in case you move. I am fortunate enough to have chosen Matsubayashi, which is very traditional and pretty widespread. If I needed to move to another state, I probably could find a quality school with this style. I would also add to it that any legitimate style will be physically demanding. This is good, as karate will do amazing things for you and make you far more athletic than you ever thought you could be. I agree, its not about style its about YOU. Each system has it good bits and its bad bits. For me I would say Wado, but that's because I have more experience of Wado Ryu As stated, attend the classes, talk to the Instructors AND the students. Also a good school will offer 1 or 2 free lessons. Take up the free lessons and DON'T sign any contracts UNTIL YOU have decided which one is best for YOU Let us know how you get on

OSU Any "Japanese Cut" 14 oz Gi will be fine. Its a lot of money to pay out and 1st Dan is just the beginning! Remember only 1:40000 gets to Shodan are you that 1 person? Good luck on your journey OSU

I could not have said it any better myself As a previous Wado Ryu Karateka OSU

In My Ryu, everything above 4th Dan is time awarded so no tests involved. I know of other Ryu which are the same too

Definately take Judo, Oyama Sosai was involved in Judo too. If you take Aikido you will have a similar "Stance" to Ashihara Karate and Enshin Karate. OSU!!!!

Mate, I'd stick to one art (Systema) or quit Systema and just wait until the art you want turns up. Have you heard to story about the dog that chased 2 rabbits, he got to tired and didn't catch either. In other words, stop swapping and changing and be patient with the one. I would love to know why you keep changing like this is it your age or what

My Friend, I'm glad you found Systema, its a good Martial Art. But Please, if you're just learning a new style, stick to one instructor (atleast for the next 18 months to 2 years). they may have a different syllabus etc to work from and it won't help you in the long run as you won't know if you're coming or going. Keep us updated as to how its going

I like this ethos, excellent, thank you my friend

Wrist locks, Amazon has loads dedicated to wrist locks. Try some books on Chin Na too as this includes wrist locks too