Dobbersky

THe Blitz White Diamond to me is really good, I prefer it to the Cimac Master's Gi I had. Gi's for Tokiado are good. I've not tried Black Eagle or Ki Sports but I suppose its what you want out of a Gi. If you had a standard 8Oz Gi from Blitz (Cotton) it does shrink alot. getting the 8oz Polycotton Gi would be better if you didn't want a 14oz Gi. Note some suppliers have a different WEIGHT CATEGORIES, to some heavyweight is 8oz, to others 10oz is Heavyweight, also 12oz compared to 14oz and 18oz compared to 16oz. Lightweight is 6oz and below. just confirm what weight your buying before you get it as it may be that its actually dearer as your getting a lighter gi for a few pennies less than a heavier Gi. I know the weight of Gi's these days is not as heavy as they used to be. I loved my 10oz Gi but I wish I'd have bought more of them as I can't find any now. Although my style involes grappling so a heavier gi IS needed think about what you need the Gi for as you don't want to buy a Gi then get it ripped in half because the material is not strong enough to take the tension etc

All, I have bought a 180cm and a 190cm Gi, but I'm a XXL in size the Blitz Gi's are not wide enough and I don't want to buy a 200 or a 210cm Gi as the arms/legs will be too big. I borrowed an XL cracked fingers Gi which fitted me perfectly. I don't want to buy an expensive one as I'd only where it a few times a year Thanks Ken

OSU, have you tried the National Organisation or ask your Shihan if they know (Also if you check on K4L that you're on too OSU

Never if NAKMAS was the only NGB, I'd operate independantly. They allow GKR to have non Dan Graded Instructors to teach in classes around the country

Just the price of a certificate from the NGB The thing is I'll sit on the panel of their gradings too as I'm a senior instructor

I'll pm you tomorrow I'm using a Blackberry and its awkward to type lol, I'm ex RAF and Army Sergeant so it won't be just Martial Arts we got in common. Also my Dai Shihan is a Kenpo Karateka with many years experience (9th Dan), I will be graded by a multi style panel, with styles including Ashihara, Tang Soo Do, Kenpo, Judo, Jujitsu, Shito Ryu etc. My assistant Instructor used to be my Tang Soo Do instructor, now I am teaching him - the student has become the teacher.

The style I practice Teach is a Mix of Ashihara Karate, Tang Soo Do and a pinch of Wado Ryu. But if I was to say where its core is I would say Ashihara as all sparring etc is Knock-down Karate rules The grading will be done Free of Charge apart from the cost of the Certificate. I feel I will be ready in October to take the grading, my only issue is it will be less than 3 years from my 2nd Dan. How do I expect my students to wait if I didn't. Not one person from my Dojo or from the Dai Shihan's dojo has said wait, I also want to technically grade as it would be my last formal grade and could concentrate on the Ryu and not have to worry about my own gradings any more. With regards to whether grades are important, no not really, if I didn't have to grade again I'd be happy but I need to be promoted in grade so as to not prevent my students from advancing up the grades themselves. I would be able to look at myself in the mirror, I wear my belt with pride and I am karateka for life not just till I reach the grade I wanted. I have heard of 2nd Dan's jumping to 5th Dan when they open their own school but I refuse to go down that road (one being a huge organisation from Australia).

All I took my Nidan (2nd Dan) grading June 2009, now I have been using my own syllabus and it is written to my last formal grading up to 3rd Dan, I know the full syllabus as I teach it out and practice daily. Now my assistant instructor, and a Senior Dan grade from the area say I am more than ready for it but although I said ok to take it in October 2011, I feel like I should wait at least until 2012. Your thoughts please Thanks

I saw that too lol it was pretty close, OSU!!!!

They have both retired. Randy announced his retirement in the after fight interview in the octagon with Joe Rogan. Saying that though, he's retired before but let's hope this one is permanent. Thanks Gary, I hope that the get to be excellent coaches or enjoy their retirements. They've worked damned hard for it. Gary, where about in Manchester is your Dojo would you mind if I came to one of your sessions

Not seen the event as I don't have cable. Randy and Chuck need to retire before they start getting beat by everyone. They are Legends to me and I want to remember them as champs. Not like TNA where the wrestlers too old for WWE etc go!! In all my years of Karate I've never seen it used except in the karate kid so I suppose it is "Jodan Tobi Mae Geri" GSP = OSU!!!!!

If you can't find a Shorin Ryu school then you'll have to enrol him in another school using a similar ethos. Google or the American Shorin Ryu Organisation etc would assist you. Try local sports centres, churches etc. I spent 4 years doing Wado Ryu because I couldn't find Goju Ryu! Just a note, All because he has 'graded' to Purple belt does not mean won't have to start again in another school be it the same style or another one. I have a student who came to me from India, he was a few grades up and I started him again at white belt because none of what he was taught was relevant to my syllabus. Remember, He is just a 7 year old boy, he is young enough to adapt with only one year's training its not enough to warrant him keeping the grade. And relax he's as he's just a boy, he might not even want to do Karate when he gets to his teens. My daughter gave up at brown belt when she was 13 and although everything she was taught she has used to protect herself, she doesn't want to go near a Martial Arts school. Although I have many young students she is just one of the 39,999 that won't make it to black belt! Only 1:40,000 Makes it!!! Note, Any school that gives a full black belt to anyone under 16 is a belt factory and is only after the money.

I checked on a similar thread on Kyokushin for life and one of the posters advised that OSU, via the Kanji used is: Osu is a combination of the words: Oshi which means "Push", and Shinobu which means "to Endure". It means patience, determination, appreciation, respect and perseverance. So I'm happy with that explanation. I use OSU in my Dojo and as I am Yudansha when visiting other Dojos

APerson-san. Take a chill-pill. Doing a course is nothing like taking it up full time. Just attend enjoy and relax

I agree with this statement, you should take time off and train at home if you must OSU

Fish_headz-san, how do you differentiate between ShotoKan Kata and TaeKwonDo Poomsae. ITF have a "Sine" rhythm in their Poomsae whereas Shotokan is very smooth and one level. Do they not interfere with each other when practicing?

Not yet. Your ankle needs rehabilitation. If you took a week off, take a week to strenghten the ankle. In other words, do ankle lifts. Then stand on a balancing board. Then ice the ankle down. Check for swelling. Do it for a week. If you don't, you're asking to re-sprain it. Agreed but in theory I should be claiming disability benefit with all my ailments lol. I forgot to mention my Arthritic spine too (got this from a broken back when I played Rugby in my teens) We all know what we should do but our love of Karate steps in and makes us go back early lol

I believe karateka of ShotoKAI, do not compete, are there any other Ryu that don't?

Not too long, I have Achilles Tendonitis, I should rest it so I've stopped running but Karate is still being practised, although jumping kicks are not done as often. I think there are not many martial artists that don't have an injury long or short term that they're nursing lol.

how long did the doctors say you needed to take off before you can start training again? If you practice Kata/Poomsae, you can practice these with just "twitching" the legs where kicks are required

It would probably be better to pick one specific Style and concentrate on that's styles specific History, and as you find Links then you can work on that style's history too. Hope this helps

OSU!!!

I actually thought it was rather good and have added it to my favourites

Good Analagy my friend, Are there any "grappling" techniques or "anti-grappling" techniques in Capoeira? I'm not to well versed in the style but would love you to elaborate a little into your style with regards to this question?

I was wondering, I've contacted many Judo Dojo's around the country and none of the ones I've contacted don't practice the Judo Kata. There are seven kata that are recognized by the Kodokan today: Free practice forms (Randori), comprising two kata: Throwing forms (Nage no Kata) Grappling forms (Katame no Kata) Old style self-defence forms (Kime no Kata) Modern self-defence forms (Kodokan Goshin Jutsu) Forms of "gentleness" (Ju no Kata) The five forms (Itsutsu no Kata) Ancient forms (Koshiki no Kata) Maximum-efficiency national physical education kata (Seiryoku Zen; Kokumin Taiiku no Kata) There are also other kata that are not officially recognized by the Kodokan but that continue to be practised. The most prominent example of these is the Go no sen no kata, a kata that focuses on counter-attacks to attempted throws. I was wondering from our experienced Martial Artists has anyone had any experience to ANY of the kata quoted above. My main concern is Goshin Jutsu Kata it is perform in Kodokan Judo AND Aikido and its "reputation" for being an excellent kata preceeds it. I know it is normally taught to Yondan and above but someone must be able to advise or comment on whether it warrants its status in being one of the best kata in Japanese martial arts.