chillindan

Hey, ive just started my running again, I know what you mean about the dark, but I do prefer to run in the cool winter air. Once your out you know that you will feel great about it! I managed a 52 min 10k in september after not having run for around a year properly. Need to work on my pace a little me thinks!

I have just graded to 8th Kyu in GKR and I am now working on kata taigyoku nidan for my next grading. I find that when I am doing the front kicks that I struggle to get any power in the kick when I am trying to execute the technique correctly and follow it up with a punch. I can do front kicks ok when I am just executing them on there own. What I really have problems with are 1 - height, i struggle to get my leg into the correct position 2 - power, i know that the kick i am performing, if it was for real would have little or no effect 3 - control, as i execute the kick i find myself overbalancing forward causing me to rush the execution of the following punch, rather than choosing to move forward and execute the punch in a controlled fashion. I know that stretching will help, and I have already asked for advise on another thread about this, ijust wondered if there is anything else I can try to work on, or if anyone else has similar problems? Thanks D

I could really do with some stretching advise too as my kicks are terrible. This is probably dur to the fact I used to cycle a lot, but I would really like to get some flexibility back. Any advise, greatfully received. D

Hey all I run as well. Just started to get back into it after a bit of time off. I am aiming to be ready for the Stafford half marathon at the end of march. I last ran it in 2005 in a time of 1h 42mins. I wanna break 1.40. I have got up to 3 or 4 regular runs of 5 miles so far but that is mainly a time thing rather than a stamina thing, I reckon at the weekend I will go out for a longer run around 8 or 9 miles, but much slower than my 5 mile pace. I love the peace and quiet when I go out for a run and I also like the relaxation. I'm also hoping it will improve my overall fitness for karate.

Nice shades

I will look up your reference bushido_man96 and get back to you. As it is I may be forced to look for another style anyway as I am moving to Stafford early next and I dont think there is a GKR in the area.

Hi Mike thanks for your comments. I have read a number of posts on a number of sites with similar statements; however, I have also read a number of things that simply are not true of my dojo. My instructors are all B/W belt instructors, but they are open about their grade. All three are Brown Belts (2 3rd kyu and 1 2nd kyu). I suspect that the quality of the dojos does vary, but I can say that whenever I have asked a question about why we do something a particular way or what is the reason behind move x in kata x, they have always been able to give me an answer, or demonstrate the bunkai. I’m not going to blindly sing the praises of the organisation as a whole, but what I can say is that so far I have been impressed with: 1 - What I have been taught so far. 2 - The attitude of my instructors (even though they are not Dan grades). 3 - The atmosphere in my club. Is it too far fetched to think that it is possible for there to be some good instruction/instructors in a club with 40,000 members? Also I am grateful that they came 'knocking' as otherwise I doubt whether I would ever have had the nerve to approach a dojo myself. I am also amazed at the amount of criticism in general that I have read about GKR, much of it ill considered and badly argued. I have not read any posts yet by GKR members attacking any other forms of martial arts (although I am not saying they don’t exist, I just haven’t found them yet). From the little reading I have done about karate and its origins I understand that humility and respect for others are quite high in the principles? This doesn’t seem to stand very nicely with attacking other people’s arts (Mike this isn’t targeted at you specifically, it is just a general comment). Respectfully, D

Hi thanks for the prompt reply. I cant fault your reasoning in your post except to say that if the guy had not knocked on my door would I have ever been introduced to martial arts? I am sure there are many more GKR members who are very glad they had the 'knock on the door'. As for real fighting I can seee what you are saying, but surely a counter to this is we are taught to control our actions. By the very fact that we can control them surely this means I will be able to 'step it up' if the time ever comes that I need to use them. Failing that i am an excellent runner! Seriously though I take your points and I cant really respond with any authority as I only had my first sparring session last week.

Don't know how much my opinion counts but I think you can have what you want on your belt. It's your belt you earned it. Maybe have it in Japanese though?

Hi I graded to 8th kyu a couple of weeks ago and did my first sparring on tuesday. Although it was non contact it was a good learning experience as I was sparring with blue belt (5th kyu) karateka. I really enjoyed it and found that although we practise the basics week, week out, when you come to spar it is whole different ball game as I froze like a rabbit in the headlights. Still I learned a lot about defence!

Apologies for the numerous spelling errors in my previous post, it wont happen again.

Hi. Im quite new to karate, and train in the GKR style. I've been training for around 4 months and I would just like to raise a couple of points: 1 - Why the Mcdojo tag? As I have said I am new to Karate, if it hadn't been for the guy from GKR knocking on my door I don't think I would have had the nerve to walk into a dojo. Sure Mr Sullivan is in it to make money, but who is in business for any other reason these days? He is just lucky that he has been able to make money doing something that he enjoys. 2 - Yes it is nocontact, but from what I have gathered karate isnt just about being able to knock the living daylights out of your opponant. I believe there is a lot more to it, is there not? Such as teching discipline, self respect, respect for others, confidence etc. How does teaching no-contact effect these benefits? 3 - Also the no-contact nature is another reason I was enticed to come along to a session. I do a customer facing job and was concerned that doing martial arts would leave me bruised, not good in front of customers! I would be interested to here any unbiased opinions on the subject. Incedently I went to my first grading a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the higher grades who were grading for 2nd and 1st kyu. Awaiitng any intelligent and considered responses. D

Hi there. Im also new to the forums. My names Danny and I have been training in the GKR style for about 4 months now, and I'm really enjoying it.