wagnerk

I haven't experienced it in Tang Soo Do, as I've only just started it. However I have experienced transfers between different associations of Shotokan karate. Depending on the assoications own rules and by-laws (that you may end up transferring to), they may accept your grade, accept your grade provisionally (this means that at some point they will ask you to re-grade and then according to their system, promote you/demote you or keep you where you are) or they may not accept your grade. Different associations, different trains of thought. You could speak to your instructor, s/he may feel that it may benefit joining a non-polical/non-interference organisation and/or federation, these can be Tang Soo Do specific (for example: World Dang Soo Do Union) or a general martial arts one (for example the WKC or the UK Martial Arts Association). Benefits can include access to policies such as Child Protection, etc... Access to courses such as First Aid, etc... Possibly cheaper insurance for instructor/students, etc... However it can cost and may not be financially viable (eg instructor has found a better insurance deal, already developed his/her's clubs policies, completed the courses that he/she deems necessary, etc). As for competitions, again it depends on the organisation hosting it. Some are closed (only people from certain clubs/associations can enter), some are open (anyone can partake). The main thing is insurance... There could be valid reasons why there is no history of anyone in your club attending competitions, it could be that the "version" of Tang Soo Do that you do isn't sports orientated, but more geared up towards the traditional aspects of defence. Take for example one of the differences between Shotokan and Shotokai. Both are traditional arts, however Shotokan participates in competitions, Shotokai refrains from them because Gichin Funakoshi used to say that there are no contests in Karate. There is no right or wrong, it just boils down to which path they take.

I haven't... Yet. However my first sensei did as well as his sensei. I would love to study with a SKIF club, but there's none in my area

Yes, currently training in Kyokushin and Tang Soo Do (but hold no belts in them). Have trained and attained black belts in Shotokan karate and Freestyle karate. Have trained (and gained at least 1 belt) in Ni-Sen (which is based on Ishinryu karate, not to be confused with Isshin Ryu) karate, GKR karate and kickboxing. Have trained but not gained any ranks (trained at least 1 week, but no more that 2 1/2 months) in Lau Gar Kung Fu, Lee Style Fung Fu, Tai Chi, Judo and Ninpo. No Yes Yes, class was concentrating on kicks - recovered after a good few minutes though. Yes No Yes during a competition, ran out of energy just couldn't compete anymore When I was a kid. Now, I tend not to get into fights. No No Depends what you mean, use to work in healthcare and a First Aider; administered rectal diazepam during a seizure, among other things. Most of the time, you're there until a more qualified person arrives, then they do it.

Continue my training towards my Nidan in Shotokan karate and to start/continue my new studies in Tang Soo Do.

I can't vote for just one (but if I had to it'd be Semi Contact - Continuous), as I practice/train to spar on the following rule sets: Semi Contact - Continuous (currently main concentration) Semi Contact - Points Light - Continuous Light - Points Due to the different arts/styles that I do; Shotokan, TSD & Kickboxing

Thanks

Martial arts maybe the art of war, but your explanation only shows only one way of dealing with things. This character (武) means martial and is also associated with bravery. It is made up of the radicals (止), to stop, and (戈), halberd/spear, thus meaning "to stop the spear" (we're just talking about the martial arts in general, not specific arts). Violence should only be used as a last resort and martial artists should be considering non-violent actions first, because it means stopping the violence before it happens.

If you don't mind me asking, what style of karate do you/were you studying?

That's nothing, . It's in a movie, so it's got to be true

Thanks guys I can only make it to 1 lesson a week in shotokan due to work commitments and when they have lessons, however the TSD club is on an evening that I can do.

Like the title asks, has any one made the move from Shotokan to TSD (or vice versa or trains in both at the same time)? How did you find it? I'm considering taking up TSD along with my training in Shotokan karate (currently a 1st dan). And just wondering about other people's experiences (good and not-so-good), especially things like the differences in language, techniques, confusions between patterns/kata, etc... Thanks

Can't speak for MA training outside the UK, however in the UK you will get the occasional self-defence lessons per year. The law in the UK is complex especially when you also have EU law involved, eg even though you may be the person being attacked you can face legal action if you use more than "reasonable force" against an attacker.

No No Yes, both Dan and Kyu grades.

This. If I could rep this post, I would

Depends on the club/associate and art: Kickboxing (American)* - first name Kickboxing (English)* - first name karate (GKR)* - Sensei, Sempai, etc karate (Shotokan -JKA)** - Sensei karate (Shotokan - non JKA) - Sensei (& Mr/Ms for the instructors below dependant on club/associate) karate (Ni-Sen)* - Sensei karate (Freestyle/sports)* - first name Judo* ** - Sensei Ninpo* ** - Sensei TSD**- Not sure, will be trying that in a couple of weeks time. Kung Fu (Lee Style)* ** - Sifu in the beginning, first name later on. Kung Fu (Lau Gar)* ** - Sifu JKD* ** - First name Tai Chi (short form)* ** - first name * - don't train in them anymore ** - haven't/didn't gain any grades with them (pre or post black belt)

I would say ask your instructors, as alot of info normally would be passed association to association. Apart from that, not sure how far this is from you (as it's in Columbus), but there's The Arnold Martial Arts Festival. Apart from that check out your local cable tv channels, not the same atmosphere as watching it live, but at least you'll be able to watch some.

I did freestyle karate for a couple of years, it was ok. But not what I was looking for, but did stick with it for a couple of years. It does vary club to club and instructor to instructor. Some (like some kickboxing clubs) offer relaxed and informal training, others are more structured (like traditional training). You can get some freestyle karate clubs/association that can/will only do semi-contact, light continuous and some will be knock-down and/or full contact.

I've trained in a few different Shotokan karate clubs and associations. The practiced 26 (or 28 depending on clubs) Katas of Shotokan: Taikyoku shodan Taikyoku Nidan* some clubs practice this, others don't Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan Bassai Dai Kanku Dai Enpi Sochin Meikyo Ji'in Gojushiho Dai Jion Jitte Hangetsu Gankaku Tekki Nidan Tekki Sandan Chinte Bassai Sho Kanku Sho Nijushiho Unsu Wankan Gojushiho Sho

I was thinking that too... Found a site with katas for Shito-Ryu, can't see any for beginners that include elbows and are 5 or 6 movements.

Personally "no" (I'm assuming that you're talking about kicking, striking, etc). However my cousin had to at work when he was attacked.

Agree, however personally I've found the following books pretty good: Winning Karate by Ticky Donovan & Karate Fighting Techniques: The Complete Kumite by Hirokazu Kanazawa

Shotokan came from Shoto which was Funakoshi's pen-name meaning pine-waves or wavy pines and kan which means house, so "House of the Wavy Pines" or pine waves house - depending on how you translate -Ken

To get my black belt in Shotokan Karate, I had to learn the following kata's forwards, backwards as well as bunkai (application): Taikyoku Shodan Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan Tekki Shodan Bassai Dai Kanku Dai Ji'in Jion Jitte Enpi Wankan However since I haven't practiced Shotokan karate since 2002 and since then moved on to Freestyle karate, now kickboxing... Actually doing them now is a different story...

4 Years Shotokan karate (Shodan), then crossed trained in Freestyle karate (2nd Dan). Had a break due to injuries gained 6th Kyu Ni-San Karate (based on Ishinryu). Another break, currently Kickboxing. All together 6 1/2 years training.

My main MA 2011 goal is to get back into shape and practice - quite a few years out of practice, easing my way back in