ashworth

He is better than me then... main style is karate, back foot is generally pointing at a 45 degree angle depending on what I'm doing, but when I started Iaido the back foot wanted to point forward, that's been very hard to correct that, they kept calling it my karate foot!

This is huge News!! massive congrats to you! let the fun begin!!!

I am in a very similar situation myself, been a karate-ka my whole life, a few years ago found an Iaido club, trained on an off for around 2 years, until I moved and could no longer keep it up. I have been trying to keep on top of what I did learn, which was basically just the 12 seitei kata, just because I enjoy doing them mainly, you have to have a clear reason what you want to achieve from your self training, if you want to do it to keep up with the current training standards in Iaido schools it would be very difficult, as already mentioned, there are so many little details in Iaido that are easily missed if not training under a watchful eye... and bad habits can easily start to form... I also noticed from my time in Iaido that there tends to be a big gathering every so often, and then the instructor comes back to show you small subtle differences in the tiny details of the kata! so after a while your training will likely become out-dated... For me, with what I want to get out of it I'm fine with being slightly out-dated and possibly develop slightly incorrect habits, because I enjoy practising it now just for me, with the view that if the opportunity comes up to join another club, I'll still have the basic knowledge of those forms and can then work on correcting the details then...

Congrats!!

Now that is interesting! I look both proud and happy all at the same time!

Welcome to the forum! and welcome back to your training!

Indeed I am certainly happy with the result. My new belt arrived and the other sensei in the club decided it would look funny to present myself with the certificate : https://servimg.com/view/20104976/22 (tried to insert an image... it didn't go so well!)

Thanks After I submitted the video that's exactly what I thought! (about it possibly being harder) any mistakes they might not necessarily pick up straight away they can re-watch and pause. Made me even more nervous!

Thank you both! I do still feel like I earned the grade. I even treated myself to a new belt! my current one I got about 11/12 years ago, back then I was very skinny. I have built up a little bit since then! so have a slightly longer one arriving next week

Past couple of weeks I have slowly been making space in the gym at work so I can use it more like a Dojo! This was my first week using it as such, the only gym equipment I have set up properly in there at the moment is the multigym which was pretty much the only piece I used in there anyway... However this week I haven't gone on it once, made the most of the space and just practised karate the whole time. It's the excitement of actually having the space in there to do so. The novelty will soon disappear and I'll balance my sessions with karate and multigym exercises.

I also find that kata can provide us with a universal tool that we can take to other places. for example the Kata Bassai Dai, learn the pattern, applications and key principles from your instructor. Further down the line a different club may be hosting a seminar on that particular kata which you can go along to and learn a different view of the kata, different applications and different principles from another instructor...

Unless it's a kata Tournament?

Personally... I love kata! It's something I just really enjoy doing, so for me whether it's practical or not doesn't really bother me, I'll continue practising it mainly because I enjoy doing it Aside from that I do believe that it is actually beneficial as well, sections of kata can be drilled with a partner when working on application. (I hear many say well what's the point in doing the kata then, why not just work on the drills) For me when I perform the kata I get totally in the zone, this is the time where I can visualise the opponent and put everything I have into the technique without fear of harming my partner... Karate can never be perfect, you can always be sharper, always generate more power, kata is where I push myself to perform those moves, faster and stronger every time I perform it...

I don't care if it was April fools... lets do this!

There could be a few differing opinions on this one, so initially I was going to avoid announcing/posting this. but have decided to anyway out of curiosity to see what your thoughts are... Basic background... I have run my own small club for 12ish years now which is pretty much a Shotokan based club with a few extra things, 10 years ago I graded to Sandan with a multi-style organisation that I was with at the time. for the past 3ish years I have been trying to find a way to attempt my Yondan, organisation I was with at the time couldn't offer an in person grading so said I could get it on other requirements (Time served, status of my club) which I refused. Then lockdown happened anyway which delayed things even further, but gave me time to really focus on my own training and make a few changes to the club. I look back at where I was 10 years ago when I got my Sandan and where I am today and a lot has changed. I feel like the club and myself has evolved a lot since then, and I do feel ready for my Yondan. Since coming out of lockdown we joined a new organisation. When I enquired about an in person grading with them it didn't seem feasible again, but they offered a vocational grading option which they only offer to people in my situation. after a lot of thought I decided to go ahead with it. We decided on a syllabus for me to grade to, in this case the KUGB Shotokan syllabus was used. and I had to record a video of me performing everything that they asked me to based on that syllabus. Using the help of a black belt student to help demonstrate the kumite aspects. Despite this not being a formal in person grading I still felt very nervous performing for the video! They send the video to a panel of higher grade Shotokan instructors who determine success or failure... took them about a month to come back to me, but I got the news this week that I was successful! They confirmed that the panel issues a straight pass and acceptance of my new grade, with no makers or critical review points to feedback. A couple of the panel felt my transitions within Jiyu Kumite were particularly clean and of an excellent standard! I know that there are a lot of conflicting view points with gradings like this and not being done in person. I had these views myself before deciding to attempt this, but I am happy with my decision now and rather happy with the result and the positive feedback.

Welcome to the Forum!!

Welcome to the Forum!

Hello Tim! Welcome to the forum! I hope you enjoy your stay here

Certainly a tough situation to be in, I'm afraid if your getting paid a decent amount for running a class you have to accept that there might be things you don't fully agree with. If I was in that situation I would try find a different job, and try to find another club to join and hopefully teach for one day, the other option is setting up your own, but again you will probably need to find another job as you will probably not be making the money that you are on at the moment...

Welcome back and Congrats!!

Looks Cool, But looks more like a climbing axe!

Find a way to work the basics into your obstacle courses. Maybe have a small obstacle set up which leads to a line on the floor, they need to complete the obstacle, stand on the line (perhaps in horse stance) and complete a set of 10 punches for example. Then have to complete the obstacle course again on the way back. Mix up your obstacle course and choice of technique at the end to keep mixing it up. But if you have discovered something they enjoy, in this case the obstacle course, find a way of including the basics that you want them to learn...

Welcome to the Forum! and congratulations on getting back into Karate! Good luck in your upcoming belt testing!

Also very excited for this! was a bit disappointed that its not coming out till September but oh well.

8th and 9th Feb In the gym after work, warm up and light stretch, then just a set of lat pull downs and chest press, just so I could say I done some weight training... bought a new balance board for the gym at work so went through a couple of sets of various kicks to work on balance. Then just worked on some grading combinations and kata.