Bobby

Then is there a difference between martial art and sport? where do you draw the line ?

I agree with the your quote above, like I said before why bother training in something that doesn't work??? Also I never said that it was completely useless and you are right that it builds speed, however it is not realistic.... Pulling you punches, kicks or whatever wont help much when someone wants to hurt you. Everyone has different views :argue:dont they

I sort of see your point, however we today still pich tents, cook, shoot and bomb in the army. What I was trying to get across is that why bother training something which will not benifit you that much compared to todays world. For example the army wont shell an enemy base with empty shells, they will use full ones which will do some damage. So why train in things like point sparing if they are not going to do the job properly when it needs to be done?

I agree that it is a bad thing also. Many fights end up in close quarters and you will need all the sensitivity you can get!

If you condition your knuckles, do you loose sensitivity if so isn't this bad?

I have nothing against competition in karate, it is healthy. However I have always thought of a sport as something with rules. I realise that there are many aspects to martial arts but on the street in a fight there are no rules. If someone wants to kill you they can and the law is not going to stop them, just punish them after your dead. So on the street there are no rules. However in a competion there is. Another thing you have to question is how realistic is point sparing (from a karate view) If it is not much use then why bother training it?? Hope everyone understands that these are my points of view and I would be happy to hear anyone elses.

Yeah, thats what I thought. Its just that some people seem to think that pure muscle will win their fight or strengthen their technique.

Can someone explain silk reeling in detail for me??? Please............................................................................................................?

Many tecniques in karate look powerfull and hard, however do you not get power by being soft and being tense for a split second at the end of the technique. For example: many people seem to over use their muscles rather than their body to fire off punches and kicks. Any thoughts???????

There is also a book called, The Sword Polisher's Record written by Adam Hsu which has silk reeling in it. (its kung fu but it still very much related to karate!)

Well I disagree with this quote, however I do not do Wado - so I'll leep my mouth shut as you know more about it than me! Well done on your 1st kyu by the way

Kanazawa writes good books!!!! he has them on kumite and kata!

THATS JUST WHAT I THINK!!!! when someone throws a ball-they use the whole of their body to do it - and I dont think that karate is much different.

Well I agree with the sweeping bit - however if you do a front stance with the weight 50 / 50 the are you not doing a horse riding stance that looks like a front stance. Or if the weight is mainly on the back leg, are you not doing a back stance which looks like a front stance.? Comments?

Hmmmmm, ok but if your hips are rooted and not your legs - then that means that some of your weight is in your upperbody?!?!? Im not saying that this is wrong. However If you sink your weight down by sofening the chest and allowing it to go down in to you thighs (stance) then surely you are more rooted. Also if you do not root your legs then your stance may be unstable. If you think about it, every karate technique begins at the floor. So I would say that it is vital that your stance (legs / thighs) are rooted. Any comments?