Dobbersky

Osu!!! I do an Ashihara Style which is a Kyokushin off shot Osu!!!

I agree with all of you. I have a system where my Junior Blackbelt have a Blackbelt with a white stripe throught the centre, or for 2nd dan 2 white stripes through the centre. This reverts to an adult 1st Dan upon reaching 16 where they must 'spar' with the adults to gain the full black belt.

Ditto I agree, I could not have a child teaching adults at a class at my dojo on a regular basis, although as a treat I would allow it under supervision, I would allow them to teach the othe kids or the Mon grade class but adults are different. I do allow my students to take the warm up now and again to break the consistancy of 1 person always doing the warm up. Also in the UK to be legally considered as an Instructor (assistant instructor) the person MUST be 18 years old.

To be honest, IMO I would stick with where you are now, your old Sensei 'closed shop' and you were forced to train with someone new. If you Old Sensei was not 'opening' again would you have considered this situation arising, I presume the answer would be NO. Remain friends with your old sensei if you can but stick with you new Sensei as you have already started on your new journey through the Ryu PS. an issue you have to think about is, what if your Old Sensei opened shop and then closed again 12 months down the line, you'd be stuck for somewhere to train as I am sure there would be a little 'barrier' between you and your new Sensei put up due to you leaving him like so.

Is there a local radio station you can get on or a 1/2 marathon that you can do in Gi's and a group, handing out leaflets by the non-runners Just an Idea

NeilT-san Welcome to Yudansha-ship!!!! Now this is where you start to learn what Karate is all about. You have made the first step (Sho Dan). Remember YOU make the belt not the belt makes you, stay humble and be a karateka that your kohai can look up to. Bows down with respect!!!!

Wa No Michi and Bushido Man96 I am my own group I am on my own and do not have any blackbelts below me, note it will follow Ashihara knockdown karate rules. Also I am talking about a 10 man kumite for a Dan Grading

Fellow Yudansha I need between 3 and 8 black belts to help me with something to do with a 10-man. It would be best if you lived within 10 miles of Manchester Airport UK PM me to find out what it is I need Thanks Dobbersky

Lungefisk my perfect question, I study and Teach Ashihara and study Wado Ryu, They are I feel quite similar but different at the same time. Wado takes a more traditional stance on things, using traditional Kata and applications it is more akin to shotokan but with more Tai Sabaki and not as rigid. Ashihara, this is Kyokushin based and follows its own kata and syllabus regime. The Kata are not like any you would have studied before and are more akin to Muay Thai in a Gi than traditional Karate. wow I just read moriniuk's post its vertually the same lol. I would recommend as you have stated doing some lessons of each and decide from there. Note, don't try to study both along side each other until you are atleast Brown belt in one Good luck in your journey and what ever decision you make IS the right one. Osu!!!

My fellow MA, The BB o' C I was impressed with the quality of the Kata that was performed. Excellent. Is there a Bunkai (application) for the kata you performed? I watched the first fight and its was a nice amateur fight, the Kyokushin guy (I couldn't see what belt he had on -I'm colour blind) looked like he'd not competed much or 'sparred' much in competition. His techniques were to all over. I saw a lot of 'telegraphed' techniques. If you like competition, I would recommend, once you are ready, taking part in a open Kyokushin/Ashihara 50/100-man kumite or even the Sabaki Challenge hosted by Kancho Ninomiya (from Denver) not to sure where in the US it is held but it is a very popular multi-style knockdown competition. Most AshiharaKa/EnshinKa that I know are counter-strikers as most of our kata are combat/kumite orientated. Kyokushin/Seidokan is a excellent training ground for full contact, ask Semmi Schlitz (K-1 World champ 2006, 2007 & 2008). Finally Well-done in achieving the positions/trophies that you won. It takes a lot courage to attend a tournament and my full respects go out to you. Osu!!!!

Wa-no-michi-san I like you excellent responses to my posts, it is good to find someone who thinks in a similar way With regards to Wado techniques and Kata My Wado Sensei will be assisting me with the techniques and Gumites be it Kihon or Ippon etc I am looking at Niseshi, Wanshu, Naihanchi and Chinto for the kata But I will not be looking at bring them in until I feel I am worthy enough to teach them back to my students. I believe that Traditional Karate has a lot to give in todays society, I have studied Ashihara Karate (this I teach), but I want those who think Traditional Karate is too 'old' to find what I have within Wado

Hmm!, I am not sure that's right. I guess all schools are different, but it is my experience that most dan gradings are conducted by a panel of judges. This panel comprises of at least 3 Yudansha with a combined grade of 10 dans or above. But then thats my group, others may do it differently. Note, I do have an assistant Instructor within my club who is also Yudansha and we work on a point system, an average is found and this decides the grade and Level of Pass (grade 3 up to Grade 1) The Kata we used/practice are predominately Ashihara Kata so these are very different to Wado Kata.

I have to laugh, I am a 1st Dan and I've had my own club for 3 years, I feel I'll have to take my 2nd Dan soon so as to be able to grade my students upto 1st Dan, etc. I would focus on 'it takes as long as it takes to get to 4th Dan', Don't let it worry you. It sounds like you already command respect from you students so why let it worry you. In a ring, does it bother you that the fighter you are fighting is a 1st Dan or a 4th Dan, the answer should be no. YOU make the belt NOT the belt makes you!!! I hope this helps

Hi Dobbersky, that's a very bold thing you have done. What is your new system called.Thanks everyone for you kind words The New style is called 'Koku Tora Ryu Karate Do' The Reason for the name is that I have looked at all the Kata etc and Tiger's tend to 'patrol' alone and as I am now 'alone' I though of this also I have a Black Tiger Tattoo on my arm. As Wado Ryu Techniques will be coming into the style I pre-empted it by adding the 'Ryu' to the name Some may say its not a good reason for naming a style but to me it gives me completion in my Karate journey I will have a website shortly with Demos of the kata etc so you will be able to view it.

All I've actually left my Sensei' organisation since I added my last post. I am greatful for all the time and guidance he has given me but I began to think differently about Karate. As I already my own club I still have all my students. I have affiliated to an organisation that is headed by a Friend of mine and moving my Liability cover to the AMA. The Syllabus and kata I have changed too including the Belt colours although I was tempted to add a Camo coloured belt for junior Dan Grades (you'll be glade to know I didn't go through with that). My Friend and new Sensei will be able to grade me up the syllabus for the technical Dan grades. I am also looking at expanding to a few more locations once I have realigned the accounts as grading fees are now all coming to me. It just shows that the same issues affect more than one person at a time.

Zanshin-san I completely understand your question, I have thought that myself on many occasions but such is life. I cannot continue to study two arts so merging them will allow me to perfect the techniques and Kata I have chosen. This is an ongoing situation, until I reach a standard that I can do that I will continue to teach Ashihara Karate. Again I must re-iterate that I owe it to my Sensei for showing me the way in martial arts

I know how you feel; I am in a similar situation now, although the issues are not about style etc. One issue is, I love traditional Wado Ryu Kata and enjoy Ashihara Karate, but I want to blend the 2 this is not an option with my Sensei. My Instructor is like a big brother to me, I am so grateful for all his guidance and friendship over the years I will always accredit him with making me the Martial Artist I am today. I am looking at going on my own and it’s because of my students who are loyal to me that I must make this choice. What ever decision you make, remember that once you step over the threshold, there is no going back. For this reason alone you will realise why there are hundreds of different styles of Karate and not just the main 6 as stated in Japan's listings I know that the guys on here will assist you if you need some guidance. PM me if you wish I can point you to other sources of guidance etc. If you are not wishing to be 'alone' in then from the Honbu find a umbrella organisation that you can join who isn't out to 'take' all you dojo revenue. Whatever decision you make it will be a good one.

Naihanchi Kata was used in James Bond - Casino Royale when he fought that guy on the crane. I’m Wado trained so I’m calling the kata as Sosai called it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPYOQRJ7PRc

That was a very different form that what I have been use to seeing. I liked it, and I liked the Bunkai as well. Pretty straightforward stuff. Is that a form unique to Ashihara style? Hi Bushido man, Yes this form is unique to the Ashihara style, (it is a Shodan kata) we have about 16 kata all taken from a similar stance and movements, Enshin also have similar kata but tend to grab a lot more as Kancho Ninomiya (based in Denver) was a Judoka before moving with Sosai Ashihara from Kyokushinkai to NIKO before he formed Enshin. I feel the kata were created to allow better combat in the competitions and also to look more at street situations and take small, simple steps to overcome your attacker. We focus on Sabaki a lot (I know that Sabaki is not exclusive to Ashihara but it is shown more in our techniques). I still study Wado so enjoy the traditional kata (although I would if I was honest like to skip the Kyu grade kata and get at the Dan grade kata like Niseishi, Bassai, Chinto and Rohai etc. I hope this helps

In my teaching Style I would say that Jissen kata 1 and 2 would be the best kata that describe my style.

I couldn't move to the Isle of Wight because I would need a decent Job and a nice house for my family before I could move down there. I usually go to Shanklin when I do go there. Also all my students I couldn't leave them they've been with me for so long. They haven't even got their Black Belts with me yet

I was thinking of moving to the isle of wight

Okinawan? Wouldn't that make it Naihanchi??? Ah, its semantics, isn't it?? For my TKD style, I think Choong Moo. exactly only japanese styles use the name Tekki, Naihanchi is the okinawan name and the okinawan kata are much different from the mainland styles Not 100% certain but I think it may only be Shotokan that refer to it as Tekki as Funakoshi is credited with changing the names. Other mainland Japanese styles either don't do the Kata or refer to it as Naihanchi - its original Okinawan / Chinese name. I always believed Wado Ryu was a Mainland style but Wado still lists it kata in the original Okinawan format Wado also uses the term Kushanku instead of Kanku Dai, Seichan instead of Hangetsu and Chinto instead of Gankaku etc I wonder why this is.

The Street fighter Trilogy staring Sonny Chiba as this is a Karate based movie series All time is between Enter the Dragon and Game Of Death.

I applaud you and your team, that was excellent It makes me laugh when people say there are no locks and throws in Karate. Keep up the excellent work Osu!!!