Dobbersky

I am truely grateful for your excellent breakdown of the techniques. I totally agree with all you are saying even chuckling at the last point. My main issue is that the Kumite Competitions I am describing are usually attended by 3rd Kyu and above who in my opinion should have gone through alll the learning etc that you describe in your post and be ready for the type of kumite that we both practice. I get fed up of People saying stuff about Karate and its down to this tippy tappy bouncy bouncy stuff that someone decided was good. Look at TKD, olympic style is nothing like Real TKD I know this for a fact again thank you for your input it is truly appreciated Osu

All, I personally think that the type of sparring, kumite and competitions that follow Standard WKF, WKA etc rules are a waste of time. The "types" of Competitions I have seen advertised in which I would be disqualified in within the opening seconds. Also the fact that no thigh kicks are allowed either. This is also the reason why Other Martial Artists consider Karate as a "Soft" art. In Boxing Bouts, it is continuous striking. Imagine a Boxing bout where once one fight has hit the other the bout is stopped they are re-centralised for the bout to begin again. You’d think this was stupid and unrealistic. So why do we "allow" it in Karate. The One Strike = One Point Rule is useless, I've never seen this happen in a bar brawl or on a street where to "fighters" have hit once then the "fight" stopped and they restart again Non-Contact - again this is useless especially if its 1 strike = 1 point rules, usually it’s the bouncy bouncy tippy tappy guard on your hips type of Kumite. How many times have you heard of someone breaking their wrist/foot the first time they've hit someone in a real fight. To me Non-Contact is the same as performing Kata. Board breaking - well I've never got into a fight with a piece of wood. Semi-Contact - This is getting there as long as its not bouncy bouncy tippy tappy guard on your hips type of Kumite. I tend to use this type of Kumite for my Kids. Its more street realistic and gives Karateka an Idea of what a street confrontation would be like. Again I would compare this to Kata Bunkai classes Full Contact or "knockdown" - This type of tournament competition is closer to "real life" personal combat, although it still in a tournament setting with rules. There is definitely no bouncy bouncy tippy tappy guard on your hips type of fighter in this type of kumite. Also Full contact is allowed all over the body (except the joints, groin and face, in Kyokushin and Ashihara and Enshin etc, as these are such an easy targets to hit and as it is full contact concussion or fractures may occur). This style of kumite, often, they don't award any points for controlled techniques delivered to the opponent. In fact, they usually don't award points for full-force techniques delivered to the opponent either. Instead, points are only awarded for knocking, sweeping, or throwing your opponent to the floor. Kyokushinkai and its "offshoot" karate organizations are the styles usually known to promote knockdown tournament rules. I look forward to your responses OSU

I second Sensei8 with regards to signing any Contracts. TKD is a good style but it unfortunately, is a victim of the McDojo Fever. They are more like Belt factories than Martial Arts Schools. However you do find "real" TKD Dojangs about here and there. I tend to warn people off "Black Belt Academies" and "Family Martial arts Centres" and Huge organisations such as GKR (they have Kyu grade Sensei' running some of their classes) as they tend to be belt/programme factories. I hope that the school you have chosen is not within this group and indeed has good instructors etc.

Back to the topic at hand Black belt is Idolised as something that is all mighty as in the Old days in the UK atleast "Black Belts" had to register themselves at the local Police Station as a dangerous weapon. We had plenty of Wrestlers with the "BlackBelt" tag in the Character's Name. I think its just a bit of cloth with holds my Gi together, puts me in a different line and means that I know a few more techniques than a "Coloured" Belt holder. Who decided that "Black Belt" was the "top" colour, why was it not "Midnight Blue", "Brown" "Purple" etc. I always tell my students this - "...the only difference between them and myself is that I've practiced longer........." nothing more nothing less. As a KarateKa you get you Blackbelt then you begin to make Karate "yours" Funakoshi stated ......Karate "begins" and "ends" with "REI" - REI translated means either "to bow" it also can be translated to mean "nothing" so in principle Karate begins with nothing and ends with nothing meaning it is a forever learning journey which is never mastered

Totally agree In most styles Kyu Grades are not honoured as each school has its own ethos and practices I started a School a few years ago already a black belt in my style and wore a white belt at the class. Remember a karate ka makes the belt NOT the belt makes the karate ka. Whether you wear a Red Belt 9th Kyu or Red Belt 9th Dan it is what is within that makes you worthy of the grade

Ti-san Yeah Ashihara has a good historical back ground, Kancho Ashihara was an orignal Uchi Deshi of Sosai Oyama. We don't punch to the face in my school but I do allow strikes to the side of the head (reason being the face is SOOOOO easy to hit it doesn't take 10+ years of training to be able to do that). We do allow strikes to the front although discretion is acknowledged if the woman has forgotten her chest guard. We do allot more grabbing in my school too I think Kyokushin rules don't allow grabbing in the comps etc. Osu!!!

OSU, I can't really talk about Kyokushin as such but as My style is Ashihara, an offshot of Kyokushin, I can say that women and men are treated equally within the style. For competitions etc Men and women don't "fight" each other but in their respective Dojo's men and women spar with each other alot. I fought some women who are better fighters than some of the male fighters I had the pleasure of coming up against. Only issue is that on some women, sparring becomes a bit tippy tappy with them as I'm a heavyweight so a full blow from me will be too hard. I do hate on some women I have fought that, when I have "placed" a technique on them to the jaw/head etc they carry on as if they had not been hit. I tend to give them enough to realise the technique was there but no enough to cripple I tend to have body conditioning at a slight less than the men unless of course when its more than one woman where they can condition as hard as they need too. I'd recommend putting this on K4L too as its a Kyokushin forum OSU

I practice everywhere In the kitchen, in the living room, in the shower, in bed. at work I'm always practicing in one way or another. either physically or mentally. Note sometimes "practice" areas are space contrained so techniques are "shortened" to fit the area I'm training in

Thanks Shorikid-san Its much appreciated. It is kind of hard especially when you spent a year practicing the same thing, for the first few months it is good you put the effert in etc but after a while you loose the "heart" in it. I never felt like that whilst I was going through the grades of my core style, and I still feel the joy of practicing the techniques even now arigato gazimasu

OSU, In my school (I am the Senior Instructor - Nidan, I've trained in different arts which adds upto 13+ years) Shodan usually takes around 4 years although in my Wado Ryu Class (I cross train in that) it has taken me 4 years to get to 4th Kyu Purple belt. The Wado Club's been grading everone only 1 time per year - I'm at a plateau (I feel like I'm not moving on, I'll be Sandan in my own style before I even get near to Shodan in Wado) as I though its going to take me atleast 4 years longer to get to 1st Kyu and atleast 1 more year to get Shodan. so in total 9 years. I'm thinking that if I joined another Wado Club, if they acknowledged my 4th Kyu Grade I could get to Shodan in 2 1/2 years or there abouts so that I can begin to learn what Wado is all about. I've already taught myself Naihanchi and Niseishi, I can learn Passai, its just Kushanku, Seishan and Chinto that are the issue as well as the Ohyo and Kihon Gumites. I am also contemplating starting at new style's club under a different Instructor completely as I am sure I will reach Yudansha grades quicker. To me as I am already Yudansha I know that the kyu grades are a way of measuring how well you know the techniques for each grade untiil you reach shodan and then that's when you start to learn. Am I wrong to feel like this? I keep questioning myself, I am the "best" in my school regards techniques, kata, and all other requirements for my style. But I am just feeling that my own Yudansha grade is treated like its not worth the paper its written on in their eyes. It burning me up and I don't wish to leave the club on bad terms Appologies for my rant and if you have any advise I will gladly take it. Arigato gazimasu

What has supprised me about My Style is How different it is to most "traditional" Styles. My Jissen Based Karate has some totally different Concepts and Kata than the more "traditional" Kata. The Sparring is Full Contact Kyokushin type instead of stop start point sparring of WKA rules. Its more realistic as street fights don't stop when someone gets hit to realign themselves. That Since I have become "Independant" of my Instructor I "FEEL" like I have learned a lot more about my style - a bit like driving lessons senario, your Driving Instructor teaches you to pass your driving test, only you can teach yourself how to "Drive". How I enjoy Cross training and I don't mind if my students cross train but other Clubs Instructors don't like it (I do howver advise that they should get quite senior before they do).

Fellow Karateka and Sempai and Sensei I am honoured and grateful for you assistance and guidance, it does get frustrating at times when you get the technique "right" then you instinctively shift back to the way you're not supposed to be doing it. The Kata etc is not an issue, I get foot positions, movements etc correct although in Ashihara the speed between the various combinations is a bit quicker, I am working on slowing it down. Its just various techniques that are "conflicting" If I name them it may help, sometimes letting off steam is a good thing, as I was starting to think whether is was time to decide between the 2 arts and I don't really want to do that. Fighting stance is different - Ashihara's stance is more like a boxer's stance. Back Kick - Ashihara's back kick is more like a rear facing side kick (looking over your shoulder) Nagashizuki - I been practicing this technique in my sleep too. A few Ippon Gumite Techniques don't have realistic actions. Punching - Ashihara's punching is like a Boxer/Muay Thai fighter, I consider the Hikitae etc as grappling (push/pull) as used in Judo rather than real strikes. Round kick - Ashihara's Kick comes from the side like a Muay Thai Kick but I do like the Wado Round Kick. Also I prefer to kick with the shin not the top of the foot. I also prefer FULL CONTACT Kyokushin based Kumite not the WKA rules sparring. I feel better getting that off my chest lol

All I as you are aware I have been studying Wado Ryu for some time 4 years and I'm nearly a 4th Kyu Graded student. Nagashizuki - Does it work in Real situations. I ask this because it seems to have quite a few floors in its structure. I have been practicing Nagashizuki for about a year and the way I have been taught is " from Hidari Shizentai Dachi" 'slide' forward with my left foot bringing my left fist up towards my opponents face, striking them and twisting my body around to the left (facing right) then coming back to Shizentai Dachi again. Migi version is the same but with the right hand". I find that I tending to step out to the left as I "lunge" forward which I have been told is "WRONG" but to me in my Ashihara Karate is perfectly correct as we have 4 basic movements in Ashihara and this is move No1 or No3 in my style. I advised this is a conflict of styles but how do I explain to someone who has only done one style that there is actually more than one concept of this technique. Your thoughts please, and guidance?

All, I don't practice korean arts anymore although I do practice an altered version of Chil Sung Ee Ro Hyung (Tang Soo Do). The reason being too much politics and too many belt factories. There's also too many Monies in the correct Pots syndrome I got to 4th Gup in one school of TSD and my friend got to 2nd Degree Midnight Blue belt. One school of TSD which followed the same lineage as the other were uncertain whether to acknowledge our grades even though the syllabus were almost identical. This was also to the fact that I am a Graded 2nd Dan Black Belt "teaching" my own style of Karate too. It put me off, as it did years ago when I was "offered" a "Instructor Training Programme" (ITP's) for a bargin £7,000 cash or £10,000 over 4 years. The Training included knocking on doors/stopping people in the street and getting students to subscribe to these ITP's themselves. The Style of sparring was tippy tappy too!!! I know there are REAL Korean Martial Arts Schools out there who teach REAL Martial Arts, but where are they?

I've had a bit of a plateau in all the forums I'm on. I can't seem to be able to add anything to any of the threads that are being written. Has Anyone else had these time periods where no matter what you read, you can't add even the smallest piece to it in any way shape or form. I don't want to add one liners of even one word responses as this gives the author of the post dis-respect. I hope I'm not on my own on this topic

I went to a Shotokan Class Last week, I thought the Instructor was a Very Good Instructor, Had full comand of the classs at all times, The Kata we did, upto Bassai Dai after a series of Kihons. I found the Kata awkward especially some of the stances as I've been used to practicing them the WADO way. Very good would recommend it to anyone.

I agree with the guys on the previous posts as I haven't had much experience of Shotokan or Kyokushin I would recommend visiting the respective dojos and attending some "free" lessons to see what you think. The kata are similar although There is some Goju Influx into Kyokushin. On Kyokushin - Regards punching to the face although Competitions etc do not allow face strikes, you just have to watch YouTube to see the devistating knockouts from spinning round kicks etc to the "side" of the head. Also in 2-mans face strikes are included in the syllabus. Kyokushin was formed though Sosai Oymas' experience of "Street Fights" so I am sure there was a reason for not including frontal face strikes. The K1 Champ Semmy Schiltz (who gave and received frontal face strikes) is a SeiDoKan (Kyokushin) Fighter Shotokan's sparring is point scoring and this in NOT how it works on the street, although Shotokan Dojo's do have "Full Contact" fights with continual fighting but that's dependant on the Dojo's Instructor. Muchida (UFC Champ) is a ShotoKan fighter (although he is also a Jujitsu Black Belt too) By the by they're both as good as each other it depends upon which suits YOUR personal needs

Dobbersky, The question that I have for you is; Have you ever been attacked on the street by an expert trained fighter who is well versed in wrist grabs and joint manipulations?? The answer Sieja-san is no not on the street have I come across another "fighter", I have however had much experience in the Dojo of Joint manipulation etc from studying Wado, Jujitsu and Aikido and to some extent Gungfu. I won't mention the style that I refer to regards the "Static Wrist grabs" as I feel the style is excellent just that the Senior Instructor didn't understand the principles himself the be able to make me and the other students understand the concepts. On the Street, it tended to be local "yobs" who for some reason didn't want to "talk about it" I hope this last statement doesn't sound "cocky" I always teach my students that if they can talk their way out of situations it is much better than standing and fighting with someone.

Tallgeese-san Do you think its for the fact that I was incorrectly taught these Wrist-Grips by previous Instructors. The Wrist grips I was taught and seen are a bit lact lustre and I can not see them working in real life. The Techinques I were taught start with an opponent grabing your wrist then you do a series of techniques whilst they just stand there. There are many joint manipulation techniques found in the Kata even in the Jissen based Kata that I teach which I find much more realistic in street altercations. My experience for this instance with the "Instructors" who taught me "Wrist Grips" goes from "Basic Kata" which is "taught" as a form only (No Application at all is given for the kata in a realistic motion) then "Self-Defence" techniques including Wrist Grabs etc and One/Three-Step (This is more appliable as it does take some techniques found in the kata but taken to another level). So If I was taught "correctly" do you think I would have a better view on Wrist grips or would it still be the same?

All I need to ask the question! With many styles, included in their syllabus are various techniques for wrist grabs. I can not understand why they are still in the syllabus. I have had many street altercations and I have never had my "wrist" grabbed by my assailant. I may have had my "collar" grabbed or shoulder but never my wrist. I can understand back in the day when swords were carried by Samurai and chinese swordsmen then the wrist grab would be used to prevent them from drawing their swords but I can not see it as a useful technique to have over two dozen techniques for. I await your responses and I am happy to retract my statement "Wrist grabs don't work in today's society" if I get some good arguements as to why they DO work Thanks

Thanks Guys, I'm really grateful for the Honour. I hope I can live upto the standards set by previous Members of the Month. Arigato Gazimashita

I can understand your Sensei's theory behind teaching you Naihanchi (Tekki Shodan for Shotokan) It was the first kata taught to Funakoshi Sensei, the father of "modern karate" He spent 9 years on the kata perfecting it and getting the bunkai on it correct too. It is a simple but extreme kata to learn it looks easy but it is so hard to get right. the feet, the arms the twisting etc. A good example of this is in James Bond "Casino Royale" James bond uses Naihanchi (Tekki) to fight the guy on the crane. Good Luck on your journey Remember you have a 1:10,000 of becoming a Shodan (blackbelt) so I hope the you are the 1. Osu!!!!

I'm not Shotokan, but I do practice Ashihara which is Kyokushin based. So if you are new to the "conditioning" I would have made sure you did it less vigorously. When your knuckles have healed I always found personally that pressups (this also strengthens the wrists too) on the knuckles and gently tapping walls etc with your fist (just so it makes the minimal amount of contact) will gradually increase the fibrous texture of your skin around your knuckles. Note it does not make you immune to splitting the skin but it gives a bit more resistance.

All This is possibly from misinformation, I read somewhere a while back but I never got to ask the question A brief discription follows:- "Sanchin translates as "3 Battles" or "3 Conflicts". This has many meanings. First it refers to the struggle to control the body under physical fatigue. With fatigue the mind begins to lose focus and thus the spirit begins to diminsh as well. Therefore Sanchin develops discipline, determination, focus, perserverance and other mental attributes. The Chinese refer to this as Shen (spirit), Shin (mind) and Li (body). Another possible interpretation refers to the "Three Burners" of the body as decribed in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). One of two "heishu " Kata of Goju-Ryu, Sanchin is probably the most misunderstood Kata in all of Karate. In contrast, it is probably the single most valuable training exercise in Goju-Ryu. Like the other Kata of Goju-Ryu, Sanchin ( Samm Chien in Chinese) can be found in several Chinese arts, particulary the southern styles including four styles of Crane Boxing, Dragon Boxing, Tiger Boxing, Lion Boxing, Dog or Ground Boxing and Monk Fist. Sanchin has such aspects as deep, diaphramatic breathing found in many internal arts as well as external attributes like mechanical alignment and muscular strength. Because many martial artists have little or no understanding of the true history and nature of the Chinese arts from which Okinawan Goju-Ryu has its roots, Sanchin has become little more than an isometric form performed with dangerous tension and improper breathing techniques. The original Sanchin that Higaonna Sensei learned from RuRuKo (1852-1930) was performed with open hands and with less emphasis on muscle contraction and "energetic" breathing. With the changes brought about by Emperor Meiji (Meiji Restoration Period 1888-1912), Higaonna Sensei changed the open hands to closed fists as the martial meaning was no longer emphasized. Later Miyagi Sensei would again alter the Kata in pattern alone." My question is 'Is Sanchin dangerous to practice?' I read that if the breathing drills are done incorrectly it causes internal damage and can reduce or cause premiture death through Rupture arteries etc in the lung/diaphram. I await your responses and answers to resolve, confirm or squash any myths about this lovely kata practiced by many styles.

If you didn't have Karate what would you be doing now? I thought, many a time, what would I be like now if it wasn't for my Karate. Would I still be training in Muay Thai or taken up Jujitsu or gone to Westerm Boxing or Western Wrestling or even become a couch potato. What are your Ideas thoughts on this subject?