Dobbersky

Sensei's, Sempai's and Kohai's The average time to reach shodan in Karate is 3 1/2 years. It took me 7 years (although I changed styles a few times). Although there are a few Okinawan styles that take 8 years to get to Shodan. I must add that Grading is NOT what karate is about. I have students myself and I grade them as and when they are ready (although there is around a 3-4 month gap). Some take longer but I never put someone in for grading who will not pass. Hence some have trained for 2 years and are 5th Kyu's and some are 7th Kyu's etc. If you wish to practice Karate for the rest of you life then it doesn't matter how long it takes you to get to blackbelt. For example, who would you rather fix your car, a mechanic with 2 years experience or a mechanic with 5 years experience? With regards to your friend, I suppose she may have picked up the techniques Kata's very quickly and may have possibly double-graded which although I have done this once as I was already an experienced Karateka, I still think it is quite rare. I do think Grading every 2 months is not long enough to learn the actual concept of what the kihons, kata etc are about. I would say that your 2nd Kyu Grade will be worthy of you when you get there. I will leave you with this Karate is but a journey through life, do not rush to the end as you will miss all what awaits you to assist you on your way. Find peace and your journey will be a good one Osu

I totally agree, Kata needs to be practiced Karate is like hot water, if you do not keep it warm (with practice) it will go cold again! I can verify this, I stopped practicing Chil Sung Hyungs 1 to 3 about 3 years ago, I cant remember them to save my life Osu

With respect Sensei's and Sempai's I thought best defense is not to be there. ie tai sabaki as practiced in Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu , Enshin Karate and especially Ashihara Karate Osu

I second the above, I am also a member of Iain's forum. Osu

Gentlemen and ladies I am honoured to be able to converse with Martial artists who are devoted to the arts as I am. I also agree with your points and ideas bushido_man-sama. Its a shame that distance is apparent for us as I am sure we could spend hours at a Bar or Coffee shop discussing the Pros and Cons of Martial Arts, And I would love to show you some Ashihara Kata as they are exclusive to the Ashihara/Enshin organisations. I have also always want to see Hapkido hyungs and applications, but there are no clubs within a 100 mile radius of me. Again my Upmost respects Osu

Bushido_man96-sama With my upmost resepct. I am sure you are fully conversant with Karate techniques. Sometimes karate is all one requires Karate, IS a complete martial art, it includes locks, throws, strikes, blocks etc in all of its kata. The only thing is like 'boxing' alot of the techniques have been lost through mis-interpretation. As a researcher into Medieval Combat, you will agree that Boxing used to include, locks and throws but were slowly filtered out. Also within Wrestling, it slowly filtered out the striking techniques. I would recommend reading some of Iain Abernathy's books, including Karate's Grappling methods. Kata is what Karate is all about, Kata in Japanese and Korean Karate (TKD and TSD) kata(Hyungs) are 'performed' and we can see all the strikes locks and throws even in the most basic of kata. Bunkai(application) is where the Kata comes alive. I have studied many styles and Karate (Ashiharakai and WadoRyu give to me the most complete aspects of the art relevant to myself). Osu

Welcome Back to Karate You didn't mention what styel you have taken up Osu

Mya-san I agree with what you say, especially the fact that the instructors are from the same organisation and from the same instructor themselves. For 'Still Kicking':- As within the organisation I am associated with, I talk with the other Instructors about students progress etc and I can guarantee that the training in both Dojo's will be fed to the respective Instructors. Note - It is imperative that within an organisation fellow instructors should be open and honest with each other etc. So to lay it on the line, if you train with one instructor, the other will not be teaching you for long thereafter. Osu

There are many styles that teach Tai Sabaki - some do not teach this until Shodan. My main reason is to bring Ashihara Karate to the forefront. Ashihara karate do not use 'Traditional' kata, all kata in the system ar 'Jissen' (Combat) based and are influenced by Aikido, Muay Thai and predominately Kyokushin (Ashihara O Sensei a Kyokushin senior grade himself). If you Youtube you'll see some of the kata and if there are any ashihara karateka on here please just say hi Osu

Mushashi's Book of Five Rings TseSun's Art of War Hakumane - Book of the Samurai All good books and 'work' you mind Osu

Armanox-san, I congratulate you on your application to Brown belt in (sorry you don't specify what Style it is for). Also, I am honoured that you agree with my statement

My Friend If Wado Ryu will become you Way then you're going to have to stick to it. I have myself studied many styles, until I found well 2 styles that suit me. Shotokan and Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate) are virtually Identical including the performa of the 'Japanese' Kata and Basics. Although Wado Ryu tends to emphasis into the 'Sabaki' motion of the techniques, as already stated, it is rather similar to Shotokan. The kihons and one steps etc are where the differences lie from what I have seen so far. This is where Wado Ryu takes its Jujitsu Roots and presents it to its students. If you keep switching especially between 2 similar styles you'll never achieve your personal goal, stick to one Way until atleast Shodan, then if you wish cross train with another, then do so. I hope this helps Osu

Sensei's Sempai's and Kohai's I want to bring Ashihara Karate Back into the light again. I train/teach at 2 Ashihara dojo's in the UK are there any practioners of the style on this Forum I also want to answer any questions you have about the style Osu

With Respect please read on I am having the conversation I have had with many students, with you, I would just bide your time and grade as your current Instructor deams fit. Please remember you had 20 years off and unless you have contiuned to practice at home then you will have forgot most things although with your training it wont take long to rekindle then. Karate is NOT about the colour of belt you wear it is about the person you become and to be a good blackbelt is to be humble and respectful amongst other things. I wear a Blackbelt in Ashihara and an Orange belt in Wado Ryu. Does being a Orange Belt make me any less of a karateka than when I am stood in front of MY students wearing my blackbelt, teaching them, the answer is NO. Remember as a Blackbelt you have a lot to uphold. All the lower Kyu Grades will be looking upto you. And think about it, you will gain more respect going through the grading syllabus twice, than jumping straight in and getting bored or outclassed by the other blackbelts. What you need to decide is are you a 'Belt Chaser' or are you Karateka. I believe in various strains of Goju Ryu you can take 8 years to reach Shodan. and in some 'Freestyle' Karate clubs you could be a blackbelt in 2 1/2 years. The one thing you can do is with permission from your sensei, is wear a wide Black Tab on your coloured belt to show you do have the grade of shodan or above in a previous style

As stated in replies to your post, I would say that between shotokan and Kyokushin although they are very similar in context (Oyamas O Sensei studied Shotokan as well as Goju Ryu plus some Korean forms to create Kyokushin). It is entirely upto yourself what it is you want out of Karate. If I was looking at a 'Street Style' of Karate I would look more into Ashihara Karate or Enshin Karate (both offshots of Kyokushin via Ashihara O Sensei). and concurently study Shotokan or Wado Ryu for the tradition aspects of Karate.

Osu That definately is one good thing about Karate. you can train anywhere in the world as long as you know the japanese terminology for the techniques you train with. Which ever you choice of style you need to stick to it for atleast 6 years to be able gain an Idea of what the style is about. Funakoshi O Sensei stated, '....it takes 1000 days to be become adequate and 10000 days to become proficient.....' Osu Dobber

Lexmark-san With Respect I personally would go for Kyokushin as this is a full contact version of Shotokan mixed with the Korean arts practiced by Mas Oyama O Sensei. I would also look for Ashihara dojos and Enshin Dojos in your area. These Styles are Hybrid Kyokushinkai and are very effective in street situations. Before you make a decision check out all avenues before 'signing up' to a course of lesson with one dojo. Try one month at each club and see what you think. The lower Kyu Grades tend to be very similar all learning Pinan/Heian, kihons etc . Its only when you get to the higher Kyu/Dan grades and this is where differences lie. Osu Dobber

Coming from a Kyokushin off shot, Ashiharakai, we kick with the shin for roundkicks but we do use the ball of the foot on various kicks. As mentioned before it depends on the school. Osu

Osu Zashin sama, I don't feel Wado and Ashihara are oposite ends of the spectrum, I actually feel that the similarities of the styles (apart from the kata) is amazing, both work on tai sakaki, both work on throws etc. if we look at the lineage of both styles Shotokan is a root for each. If I didn't know about the lineage of Ashihara I would say from practicing both styles (also teaching Ashihara) I would have said Ashihara was an offshot of Wado, from the Tai Sabaki point of view. If you not too far away from me PM me or email me on dobbersky@hotmail.co.uk as you are welcome to attend my dojo to see how Ashihara works My respects Osu

Guys are ther any Forum Colleagues from Manchester UK on here. I would love to meet up etc. I'd love to see how different styles work etc especially coming from an Ashihara Background with influences of Wado Ryu involved

Black Tiger Karate Location: St Michael's Church, Northern Moor, Wythenshawe, Manchester UK Instructors Ken Wylson 2nd Dan and Alan Burrows 1st Dan Email: blacktigerkarate@hotmail.com

I train in Ashihara Karate, we use Sabaki as are basis I can't believe how many style use sabaki

I remember that Shop, but I think after the Bombing and the refurbisments they just closed and moved on, I only know of one in chorlton called NWA on WIlbraham road but its not as big as Lees, failing that I'd recomend Taosport London or BLitz from Brum

My fellow karateka I Practice Ashihara Karate, aswell as Wado Ryu, I have been told that the Ashihara Karate Kata are very similar to the Kyokoshin advance Kata but I have not seen them would anyone like to advise me on this topic Osu Dobbersky

Greetings my fellow Martial Artist I used to train in Tang Soo Do and graded upto 4th Gup, I left 1 week away from my 3rd Gup grading. I miss Tang Soo Do and the Senior Kata that I was begining to learn I'd just begun to learn the Chil Sung Hyungs. My instructor changed the gradiing syllabus and rearranged the Kata for each grade, plus put the prices up dramtically for monthly subscription and gradings. I was cross training in Ashihara Karate (which I now teach), and I had to make a decision as to which 'Do' to follow. I have trained in various styles since leaving Tang Soo Do but it never had the same 'feel' until I found 'Wado Ryu'. The 'Nai Han Ji' hyung is similar to Wado Ryu's Naihanchi kata and is also practiced in other Japanese karate styles (it is know as Tekki in Shotokan) so I am unsure of its origin but most forms are predominately Chinese/Korean by default via Okinawa where Japanese Karate stems from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naihanchi