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We've done blindolded kata and groundfighting. Kata isn't that hard, but you keep feeling like you're gonna run into something, even when you know you're not. Grappling, on the other hand, is kinda weird. Not hard, but different.

By far the most ridiculous one I've ever seen is some guy *attempting* to do a kata to the Lone Star anthem, dressed in a red, white, and blue gi. That was just sad. There is no other wod for it. Imagine if Funakoshi found out about musical kata...

True, there are much more civilized ways of going about it, but feudal Japanese tended to be a bit touchy about honor, their family lines and martial arts included. If you don't believe me, read Hagakure. That book will scare you.

Yes, I did generalize a bit too much. Let m rephrase: Karate, in general, is a rough martial art, in which you can expect to get hurt at least a little. Although th individual disciplines vary greatly, all Karate shares the theme of solid, physical power-based fighting. I didn't mean to imply that there is not a mental/spiritual aspect. In fact, I believe this to be the most important part of Karate. I just believe that many people would find other arts more appropriate for their physique. Not everyone can afford to wear out their knees standing in low stances, or toughen their shins, forearms, and knuckles.

Calm down. I'm Pakistani, too. Now come on, look at the political condition of the place. My dad's a politician, his entire family line is. When somethin bad goes down, we know about it even before the media does. It's a beautiful place, to be sure, but war and hatred has reduced it to ahes. Ever seen any of the old pictures of what Kahmir used to look like? Y'know, fields full of flowers, majestic snow-capped mountains and all? The smoke and ash from mortar fire has killed nearly 80% of the original flora. The country's falling apart. I myself consider it a wonderful place, being fom Karachi, but it's not what it used to be.

No, we just have the tough guys who can take more hits. I realize this style isn't for everyone, and personally, I also take Taijiquan, an art anyone can use. None of the guys here are violent or dense. We just take our training to a level most people don't go.

Way back in feudal Japan, if that kind of thing happened, one school would challenge the other, usually to the death. The sensei left alive would continue teaching. The dead one quite obviously would not.

Shotokan is more about the body mechanics, while Goju focuses on the ki, breathing, dynamic tension, etc. Both are great styles, in my opinion.

I dunno about y'all, but around here in Houston, most people know how to fight some way or another, be it boxing, martial arts, or whatever. The point I'm trying to get across is that different martial arts are for different people. A lot of people can get by okay on Karate, but there are other martial arts that would be better for them. Karate is not for everyone, that is a simple fact.

I guess tradition wasn't the right word. Dedication is more like it. It's not really the art that matters. Some instructors are good, others are jerks. I'm just saying that it shouldn't be about money and belts. That's what we call Egojutsu.

All in good fun. We don't seriously hurt each other, just enough to...persuade....the other guy to back off. This way, we also get a feel of how much damage we're causing, so we can control how much damage we do in a real fight. You seem to oppose this kind of training. I think anyone who's in a class like that should be subjected to it. That's the difference between war...and war games.

Well, you have a dedicated instructor. The difference between martial arts and driver's ed is that martial arts are meant to have traditional discipline. I can't count how many times I've seen tradition ditched in favor of cash, and it's just sickening.

That's just the thing. Karate is not a peaceful pasttime. In my opinion, most people should not be in Karate. Most would be better off in Aikido, Jujutsu, or a related art, because Karate is harsh. For tougher people, it's good excercise. Not necessarily violent or masochist, but rough along the lines of football or boxing. If you aren't much of a football player or boxer, there are other arts that will make better use of your physique than Karate. And as for the insurance issue, it's ridiculous. We are living in a country where a criminal can sue a cop for 'excessive force' if the cop punches him while trying to capture or restrain him. In Karate, you need to take a beating to condition yourself. If you take lots of punches and kicks in training, you will know how to brace yourself and be ready in real life. If you take none in training, you will go down in a real fight after one or two strikes. This is a factor that I believe is seriously lacking from many modern Karate schools.

Regarding the Neem: A couple of American botanists went down to India to study the Neem tree, which has been used for medical purposes for millenia. Even sleeping under one makes you feel better (I've tried it). Anyway, they did intensive research and such, and in the end, being the capitalists they are, they PATENTED the neem tree! Have you ever heard of something stupider than that? Hey, what's up? You see, we're Americans, and we're now going to legally claim the rights to these trees that have been growing here for...oh, I don't know, 17 million years now? Anyway, they tried to monopolize the export of any neem-related products, but in the end, the Indian government took away the patent, and now anybody can make anything from the neem. In fact, that liver medicine, Lev41, or whatever, comes from the neem. Everybody go buy neem products! the capitalist within you demands it!

Thank you.

I suppose that's why 'Martial' and Marital' have only one letter worth of difference. Forget muggers and street thugs, ex-wives are what you REALLY have to watch out for!

You say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to. Same differece.

In Kumite, I center all my tactics around the killing blow. If I block, I coutner with the killing blow. If I jab, it is to stun and make an opening for the killing blow. If I sweep, it is to take them down and deliver the killing blow. You get the point. For me, the blow itself is delivered by throwing yourself forward into the punch, literally moving into your enemy and punching through them. When it is delivered, there is no point in trying to go on defensive. You throw your sould into it, and if you succeed, it's over. If you don't, you're done for. Is this proper Shotokan, or just my testosterone-loaded mentality?

Nah, we really go at it, no pads or anything, just a groin protector. We slam each other down, start throwing punches and kicks, and usually end it in a submission or break up, if one of us is about to be badly injured or KOed. Before joining, our sifu checks a student's medical records, has an interview with him/her to learn the motives and goals for joining, and then puts them through a week of classes to see if they're up to it. It would seem to be like Vale Tudo, but we don't hesitate to knock the crap out of our opponents. Just beat them senseless, then, while they're stunned, go for joint locks or breaks. I can only recall three classes, out of the fifty or so I have attended thus far, from which I didn't walk away bruised, injured, or bleeding. It's very rough, and not for everybody, but if you like striking, and want to round off your style with grappling, Shuai Chiao rulez. What seperates it from so many other grappling arts is that we don't hesitate to cause fast, hard damage. We won't try to restrain an opponent; we'll simply beat them down and break as many bones as possible while they're out cold. Savage little freaks, aren't we?

All martial arts can, but most aren't made to. As long as you have control and all, yeah, I suppose it makes a good sport, but the way it's done today is bordering on pathetic. Who needs 5 refs? What would Funakoshi think of all these pads, gloves, and no-contact rules? I just don't think they do it right anymore. Shotokan is not a polite, gentle martial art. If you're gonna enter a tournament, it should be moderate contact, you should leave with at least some bruises, and you should get roughed up and hurt. That's part of Karate, taking a beating and returning the favor. The truth is, not all martial arts are for everyone. An 80-year old woman wouldn't fare too well in Muay Thai, nor would a midget do well in White Crane. And unless you're built solid, tough, and mentally prepared to get hurt a lot, I think you should be in an art other than Karate.

Heh heh heh. I've got another clip where a Karateka kicks someone in the chest, and the ribs cave in. The guy's foot sinks straight into his chest, and blood just sorta blasts out of his mouth, nose, and ears like a water fountain. It's in a video I have, Power of Budo or something. If you thought this was sick, you ain't seen nothin' yet My sensei's motto: Anything that doesn't kill you will make you stronger!

Because they overcharge. $40 for a belt test is ridiculous, yet this is the standard at most places. Sometimes they chage up to $60, or even $80, for higher belts to test. The classes are expensive, the tests are expensive, and it's all geared towards money making. It's understandable that a sensei needs to eat and have a place to live, but the amounts they charge are simply absurd (I'm trying to substitute for more profane terms). I just wear my white belt. No worries. If a higher rank laughs at my belt, they won't be laughing when they're lying flat on their face on the kumite mat.

Great site, very inspirational. Almost makes me want to start Muay Thai myself, but then I remember this: http://www.minandjen.com/Lounge/lounge.htm (click on Kickboxing Accident) Anyway, Muay Thai's a great art. Sweat is the fountain of youth!

Shoto Tiger: Yeah, Shotokan has sort of been watered down for the public, but its roots, Naha-te and To-te, were lethal. In my opinion, a martial art made to kill with one strike is not exactly ideal sport material. Hiya: I agree that tournaments can help gauge ability and imporvement, but there are two problems with most tournament circuits these days: 1) Too expensive: they charge too much to enter, charge special fees, make you become a member, make you buy their special equipment to participate, and generally suck every dollar out of you. 2) Unrealistic: they have so many ridiculous regulations and safety rules that it's no longer anything like a real fight. From such a tournament, you learn nothing. These types of circuits are commercialized, and in it purely for the money. If you can find a good, traditional tournament, we're glad for you, have fun. But most of these tournaments are a disgrace to martial arts.

Yo.