Shorinryu Sensei

If it's that old, maybe to keep it from coming apart?

Just an idea of perspective here, at a tounament I was judging/referring a number of years ago, there was this kid...around 16 years old...that showed up with patches literally covering just about every square inch of his gi jacket, and runing down the outsides of both pant legs. I stopped him and looked at all of these patches. He had assistant instructor, weapons patches, flags, Ninja Turtle (really!), Okinawan patches, Chinese patches, Japanese and Korean patches...and I even think there was a Joe's Bar and Grill patch! I, and a number of the other judges kept making jokes about that kid all through the tournament when he was competing because he wasn't very good (brown belt) for one thing, and all those patches just made him look worse.

I've always had to buy my own belts after promotions, so no, we don't get a new black belt with each test. My current belt is around 12 years old or so and still holding up well. As for stripes, I was always against stripes and my sensei never wore them himself. I didn't either until about 10 years ago or so I got tired of people at tournaments asking my rank so that they could determine where they wanted me to judge or referee. Also, competitors would ask me just out of curiosity. So, i grabbed some tape...and have had stripes ever since. When my senior student got his Shodan, he put one stripe on his belt...now has 3. I guess I started a pattern here, and it's to late to change it back!

A very nice post AnonymousOne! Although I am in general agreement with the majority of your post, I'm not sure I agree on working on just one kata at a time for three years. I too, have been involved in the arts for quite a few years and the longer I do kata, the better I understand and appreciate them for what they can teach you about your body, mind, spirit and the art. Those that say they feel kata doesn't have a place in "modern karate" I feel are missing out, and it is their loss.

They're probably smoking more because they are getting so IRRITATED at you're using all of those icons!!! If they're only smoking 4 cigarettes/day...that's practically nothing. Also, you can't make someone quit smoking...they have to WANT to quit smoking. If if bothers you, stay away from them.

Meaning no disrespect here at all (it's early here), but I think the most obvious place to ask this question is to your instructor first and see what he/she says, since it is their dojo. With that said, generally a martial arts gi is a "uniform", and the meaning of uniform is that you all look alike. I've seen some people put patches darn near on every open spot on a gi, and it looks horrible IMHO. I don't mind a school logo on the back, or a few patches hee and there, but extra stripes with no meaning for them other than decoration...and the next thing somebody's going to want to sew pink dingo-balls onto the hem of the jacket! Where does it stop?

You mean you were before?

Here's a link to the thread. I'm hosting it. http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=18156 There's also a 7 page thread called "A Gathering of Friends" under General Chat.

Hey...this is a GREAT topic! Yes, I screen my students to a point, but not so much at the initial meeting, but asthey enter the class and begin their training. In the scenerio you mentioned, I would look at it this way. if the cop was following up on a violent, freuent offender...then I would use hisjudgement and not allow the offender into my classes. The last thing I want to do is teach someone how to hurt someone more effectively than he already knows how...and has a history of doing so. The main thing I watch out for are bullies. Those people that want to come in and learn how to "kick some a$$!" I turn them around and point them to the door. The other thing I actively watch for is that I have a printout of every registered (and convicted) sexual and violent offender in my area and if a prospective students name appears on that list, I tell them exactly why I am refusing to teach them, and escort them to the door. I know women and children that have been abused, and it inferiorates me to no end! I used to have a sign in my dojo that said: "The owner of this dojo reserves the right to refuse instruction to any person, at any time, for any reason."

First of all monkeyking I want to let you know that I find all of those icons VERY annoying in your posts. With that said, forms movements are not designed to be used in sparring...or at least, not in the sense you're thinking of. They are designed to teach your muscles certain movements, and to teach your mind certain principles. You can't get into a fight and say to yourself "Gee, I think I'll do Pinan Shodan against this guy"...it just won't work.

There's also another thing to consider here. If your arm is cut badly, you can still fight or run. You won't be able to if your leg is cut badly and you can't stand on it. In a knife fight, I would use my kicks if the opportunity presented itself, but they would be low kicks aimed at the knee..possibly the groin depending on the situation. The higher your kick goes, the more likely it is to get cut.

Hey...congrats on your baby girl bud! I have two sons myself. nothing like being a "Dad"!

Anytime! You see so many people posting questions that, IMO, they need to go to their sensei first and ask them for the answers. To me, it's the obvious place to start. Live long and prosper. BTW, if you look in the General Chat forum at the bottom of the main page, you'll see "A Gathering of Friends Part II" thread. We are having a little get together in June. Where do you live?

All of my students, from beginning white belt to Sandan (3rd black belt) are in the same class also, and all working on the same things (except kata of course). Also, we do stretching at the beginning, and at the end of class.

I checked out that website. It's for kids to buy t-shirts, games and sell ninja "stuff". It's not a legitimate ninjitsu website other than for entertainment purposes. I mean, look at this crap: Ninja don't sweat. Bullets can't kill a ninja. Ninja invented skateboarding Only a ninja can kill a ninja. Regular humans are useless. Ninja never wear headbands with the word "ninja" printed on them. Ninja can breath underwater anytime they want. Ninja can change clothes in less than 1 second. Ninja don't smoke, but they do use smoke bombs. Ninja always land on their feet. If they don't have feet they will land on their nubs. Ninja invented the internet. Ninja don't eat or drink very much, and they never have to go to the bathroom. Ninja always move to America when making a new start as a non-assassin. Ninja don't play sports. Unless killing is a sport. Ninja can crush golfballs with 2 fingers, any two fingers. Ninja have a bad temper when they lose at anything. They will usually cut off the winners head before they have time to gloat. Ninja lie all the time. Even when the truth serves better, ninja will lie anyway. Ninja swords are always straight with a square handle guard. Always. Curves are for girls. This is where you do your research on authentic ninjas? ARGH!

Welcome to karate forums! IMHO, the FIRST thing you should have learned was the proper way to kick before you did repetitions. You're learning bad habits right from the start that will have to be corrected instead of learning the right way from day one. It sounds to me like you're instructor's emphasis is more on aerobics and body conditioning rather than learning the art properly, especially after two months. Maybe you might want to check out a different dojo? Just an idea. if you're not satisfied with what you're learning, then it's time to start shopping around for something that is more of what you want.

If you could do that...GREAT! I'm really wondering if he teaches a class himself, or just has his students teaching for him. Oftentimes I've found that these higher dans don't teach anymore except to just their higher students, which I think is a mistake. You have to keep in touch with your "roots", and what better way than to teach all belt levels? Looking forward to your report if you can do that krzychicano.

Just a simple question here. If you're testing for yoru brown belt and are expected to be able to tell the sensei this information on weapons...I'm sure somewhere in your training your sensei told you about this? Why not ask him, as he will have the answers that he wants to hear from you. What we tell you may not be what your sensei wants to hear.

Well for one thing, twirling the bo in your fingers like a baton is NOT a legitimate bo technique. That's a good place to start from I'd say...quit doing that.

In all my 30+ years in the martial arts, I've only seen one person that had a kick so fast and accurate that I think he could get away with it. I don't remember his name, but he showed up at a tournament we had in this state and he was frequently scoring with a cresent kick to his opponents head. Man, that guy was FAST! His system? French Savate. He was from somewhere in Canada ... Calgary I think.

OK, so if I understand this correctly, you've been involved in the martial arts for 19 years? And the highest rank you've achieved during that 19 years is purple belt? Is this correct? Again, how old are you please?

My classes are two hours long, twice/week. My instructor was teaching 3 hour classes for a while, 3 times/week. Ahhhhhh...those were the good old days! Personally, anything under an hour and a half isn't enough. I've seen many posters on this forum say that their classes are an hour long. I'm barely getting started teaching a class after that amount of time.

People that do that for real are usually nicknamed "Stubby"...or Lefty I think. Catching a katana blade by slapping your hands together and catching it between your hands? Yeah..right!

Hi again all. With Patrick's permission, I am basically restarting the "Gathering of Friends" thread, but asking for your help here. The other thread has gotten entirely to long with posts like "I'd like to come, but I can't." sort of comments and is 7 pages long now. What I would like to request from people reading this, is to please not respond if you'd like to come, but can't, but rather leave this thread open for those that are truly interested and want more information on the "Gathering of Friends 2005". This is what we have so far. Where: Kalispell, Montana USA When: June 24th - 26th. Contact: tallpaul@sofast.net (that's me) "The Plan". Nothing really planned as of right now, but I'm thinking of a campout/exchange of ideas/workout in Glacier National Park, weather permitting. The one thing about Montana is that you can't ever count on the weather, especially in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. It could be 80 degrees, or it could be snowing. Yes...it could be snowing in June still. However, as it looks right now, we are having the 5th driest winter on record, but that could change rapidly. BTW, camping in Glacier Park isn't that big of a deal. Bring a tent, sleeping bag and whatever else you deem necessary (guns are NOT allowed in the Park) for camping out. There are no showers (a VERY cold lake though ), but there are bathrooms. In case of bad weather, we can all crash at my house and workout at a gymnastics school that I know of. All expenses are up to each individual, as I'm just offering to host this "Gathering", not fund or support it. Costs will be minimal outside of getting here unless you have special food requirements (protein shakes anyone?). I strongly recommend that you have health insurance "just in case" and I will not be held liable for any injury or misfortune that happens to you on your way here, while here, or on your return trip. Let's be adults here people. Again, let's please use this thread for those of us that are actually being able to come to this gathering. Hopefully, this will be a yearly event! Those of you that would like to possibly host one of your own in the UK or somewhere other than in Montana, please start your own threads on the subject.

OK...guess it's time to add my $.02 worth here. Of this, I have no doubt. BUT...are you going to be able to throw this Shotokan hip into it punch...totally committing your entire body into the technique...into a moving, dodging, weaving and non-stationary target? Doubtful. Yes, it's a powerful punch with the eintire body and hip rotating thrown into it, but you're likely not going to be able to use it that way unless the guy you're fighting stands there like a post and says "Hit me". So, if you can't expect to use the technique realistically, what good is it other than for kata?