Shorinryu Sensei

I disagree. Watch my eyes, and you'll miss my feet in your groin or lower abdomen. I tell my people to watch the center of the chest or a bit lower to see everything. Plus some people (my origional sensei for example) are very good at psyching you out with their eyes. I try that and people just laugh at me. As for why you can't see a backfist coming..how are you standing in relation to your opponent? Straight on in a front stance, or sideways to them? if sideways, he might be coming from in back of you just at the edge of your peripherial (spelling?) vision.

I'll give you a quick "For Example" here. I received my shodan in 1978. This June 19th will be 26 years...

Of course I don't know waht the rournaments in ?Frisco are like, but around here, "beginner" means anybody under 1 year..which can be a HUGE differance in skill levels. For kumite, I'd suggest being aggressive and launching an attack immediately and as fast as you can on the first bout. Basically, scare/dazzle your opponent if you can! Not that that always works, but often it does. for kata, don't worry about what the others are going to do. Do you best and focus on speed, power, stances, eye/head positioning and doing the best that you can do.

One thing I've always been amazed at is that competitors don't always keep track of where they're sitting points-wise in relation to their opponent. with time running out, and they're behind, they just sit there and don't try to get in and at least tie the score, or win! so, watch the points, and if you're behind, get moving! In kata, I look for speed, power, control, stances, head/eye positioning rather than technique, because all systems are different. I don't always know the kata personally that I see being performed for me, so I NEVER judge the accuracy of the lkata itself, but rahter how the kata is performed. Even if I do know the kata, I look for the above highlighted points, not whether the competitor performed it correctly or not.

Way back in the early 70's I had a choice of Hawaiian Kempo, TKD or Shorinryu. I knew the previosu two instructors to be bullys and common thugs that frequently started fights. My Shorinryu sensei had just gotten out of the Navy and had been stationed for several years on Okinawa training with the head of the system. I found that appealing, plus he was a very good man and martial artist. There was no other choice for me, and I have never regretted it.

This is quite true. Personally, I've never actually trained in any other art other than this one, but have had the opportunity over the past nearly 30 years to observe other systems classes, demonstrations, tournaments and to work with instructors of quite a few other systems, and in my opinion, many of them were good (others I would say are so much garbage), but not so good that I would ever contemplate switching systems because I felt they were better for me, and what my belief in what a martial art should be. Many of the people that origionally trrained in Shorinryu and went on to found their own systems based on that system, didn't train for a very extended period in it, and I feel missed out in the more subtle movements and techniques that only come from long term training, practice and knowledge that only time and effort achieve from it. Basically, they didn't know enough about the system before they went on to "improve" it. My opinion of course. We're still a free country, right?

AGREED! Not so much with the various systems out there, but with phoney, over-ranked and unskilled black belts that are teaching. I also agree. I used to be an elementary teacher, and in my honest opinion, kids younger than 6 aren't mentally capable of really learning the arts. Sure, they can mimic the movements, but are unable to grasp the concepts behind them, which is what the arts are about. Kids between 6-8 years are borderline, depending on the kid. Some can do it, some can't, and I tell their parents this when they bring their child to me. If I feel they can't do it after 2-3 weeks of class, I inform the parents of this, and ask them to withdraw their child for another year or two. I won't waste my time, or their money if the child isn't ready to learn. This I don't agree with. Kids are like sponges and can learn many things, if they are mature and ready to do so. I also agree with this. A number of years ago, the parents of a 9 year old TKD black belt sponsered a tournament in his name. The kid was actually teaching a class of adults and kids at the time (parents were non-martial artists). When the kid came up to compete in the kids upper belt kumite division, his attitude and manner was such that I, as the center referee, had to warn him to quite growling at his opponent and quit trying to intimidate him. The kid was a real JERK! The rules of the tournament were to respect your opponent and good behavior was expected by all, or you could be disqualified. To make a long story short, I disqualified the kid from his own tournament! Boy, were the parents MAD! lol Again, I agree with you 100%!!! I visit dojo's whenever I travel, and am usually appauled at the poor level of expertise of most blakck belts I've seen teaching classes. A good post and topic.

Lightly? HRMPH! That's called (by Okinawan systems) kotoate drills (pardon if misspelled..never sure about that) Kicking the outside, AND the inside of the leg gets you used to the impact. Two people that have done a lot of it can really smack the heck out of each other without a lot of damage.

I tell my people "Don't try to box a boxer. If you do, you're playing HIS game, and that's not good!" I agree..use your legs, go for targests such as knees, groin, feet, lower abdomen, etc that the boxer isn't used to protecting. Also, if you feel it is reasonably safe to do so, go to the ground and get below his hands. Sliding under his punches quickly and attacking the above mentioned areas fast and hard can take him down and off his feet where he has lost his only advantage. I've been lucky over the years to have had the opportunity to have soem good boxers, wrestlers and street fighters in my class to work with and see what they suckered for. You just have to be VERY careful and very quick with them and know how they attack inb their chosen "system".

I've never had the opportunity to see, let alone use those tommarker. I'm sure they have a different type of movement and application, but ho, I don't know. Sorry.

I also think it would be a bad idea. Look at what it did to TKD. It took a martial art and turned it into the joke of the martial arts in my opinion. Many of my non-martial arts friends thought it was so rediculous that two people would stand toe-to-toe and try to kick each other on the head, and hardly ever a head punch. I can't say I disagree with them. No...no karate in the Olympics. I think it would do MUCH more damage than it would do good for the arts.

I've always found that flyers and posters never seem to work very well. I've also never had much with newspaper, television and radio ads either. What I do find that works great is youself, and your students. Basically, word of mouth. If your students think it is a good thing, they will often be talking about it and spreading the word. Plus, they will bring in a much higher calibre (in my experience anyway) of person that flyers and such will.

I agree with this, also in self defence you are not going to be worried what stance you are in, attack and escape is all that you should be thinking about. I disagree that stances are unimportant in a self-defense situation. If you have a weak foundation (stance), your techniques will be weak. As for the left/right side forward, I do both during a fight often. It keeps the opponent off balance and gives me the opportunity to exploit different openings with different techniques. I'm right handed and my right side hits harder, but I find I can mix it up far more effectively by switching legs.

I don't do Shotokan, but have worked at his request, with a local Shotokan shodan locally that was teaching here in the past. He had no knowledge of grappling techniques or defense against weapons, and I helped him a number of times with those. I applaud any system that see's shortcomings in their training and wants to improve it.

That sounds pretty excessive to me. yes, during a demonstration of a technique to the class, you can expect "some" contact so that you realize that if he/she had fallen through with the technique, it would have done what he intended it to do. Byut if he/she is breking bones, hitting balls hard, etc..I'd say no, that is a person who is tryting to intimidate, bully and generally not a good sensei. Now, keep in mind, accidents do happen when speed and power are utilized while demonstrating a technique. I have done it, and I'm surte any other sensei will also say that they have hit a student to hard demoing a tecyhnique. It just happens. To give an example, about 2 years before Ed Parker, the founder of American Kenpo Karate, died, he gave a seminar in Missoula, Montana which I was invited to attend by sensei Chris Crews, the hosting sensei. Mr Parker gave a nice seminar, but I woudl guess during that seminar, he popped a student he was demonstrating on maybe 8-10 times pretty good. He apoligised to the student each time, but I honestly felt Mr Parkers control wasn't what it should have been for his level of expertise. Like I said, accidents happen, and there were abou5t 100 people in attendance at this seminar. but what you're describing is lack of control on your sensei's part, or a desire by him to prove his dominance perhaps. Me...I'd be seeking another sensei.

I'd say a cane or walking stick. Very versatile and totally legal anywhere. 2nd choice, a kobutan key chain. Very good for close in and grappling. Better yet..get BOTH!

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Those are all good ideas the others have provided. On the down side, you'll be competing with instructors themselves (like me) who order at wholesale prices, and charge the studetns retail prices. I absorb the shipping into my profit and that keeps the students from ordering gi, weapons, bags etc themselves because they save on shipping, and I make a few bucks in the process. Basically, I get what I want at wholesale prices (doesn't everybody?) for myself and wouldn't purchase at a retail store. It's just what I do, and have been since about 1979.

lol...that was good!

I don't know guys. Keep in mind that all I have to go on with this technique is that picture, but this is what I see when I look at it. 1. Clearly, the guys right arm is not tied up and is running under his body with no weight on it and appears to be easily pulled out to use in his defense. 2. The bottom guy's right leg runs along the shoulder blades of he guy on top, not aroudn his neck. As such, and his head being pulled down to the chokers chest, I can't see how the blood or airway would be choked off. 3. The guy on top's left arm is clearly and easily able to reach up to the bottom guy's head to claw, poke, whatever the guys face and throat. 4. I see no reason why the guy on top can't gnaw a big chunk of flesh out of the other guys stomach. Anyway, like I said...all I can go on is the picture, and that's what I see. It's late and I have to hit the sack. Big day tomorrow. To be continued! lol Nite all.

Thansk for the pic...I had it mentally pictured all wrong. I see at least several things the guy can do here. 1. Bite the guys stomach/lower abdomen area. On the street they aren't going to be wearing a heavy weight judo gi. 2. Take his right hand and oull it back under himself (looks easy enough) and grab the guys testicles. 3. Get his feet under him and lift the guy up as far as he can (won't be able to go fully erect) and body slam him down on the the floor (preferable on a chair or rock) as hard as he can. 4. Left hand and eye gouge or claw at his face/throat. 5. Possibly take his right knee and start hammering to his testicles. 6. Reach up and grab a finger or two and pull real hard. 7. Sit and wait..his leg will tire and he will have to let go in 2 minutes or so. I can't see where this is actually a "choke" as there's nothing pressing against his throat except your stomach, which won't do it Rather, it looks more like a head lock. Again, I'm not trying to bad mouth the technique, but it doesn't look all that tough to get out of to me.

Understand I'm not saying your wrong here, but I'm trying to visulaize how you have a guys head between your legs, and holding his arms...and he's not able to turn his head at all to take a big bite out of whatever is available? You don't have a pic of that do you by chance?

Effective, I'm sure, but isn't that a good way to get a chunk bitten out of your leg...or another vital part of your anatomy (depending on where your mouth is of course!) And if you say "biting isn't legal or allowed"...then you need to clarify your answers by saying "In competition we use..."...see what I mean?

Well, that's the point of the majority of martial arts out there, but that doesn't mean that what you're learning is actually doing that. Competition and self-defense are like night and day. One has little to do with the other. Competition has rules and protective gear (pads) that protect the fighters, whereas self-defense has basically no rules at all. Back to the origional question. A jo is a short staff. As to what the differance between the Okinawan and the Japanese techniques...I didn't know there were any. I'm sure the kata are different, but the techniques, as far as I know, are the same. It is used for striking, parrying, and throwing an opponent. I'd be interested to know what differances your instructor said were between the Japanese and Okinawan systems.

There's a variety of different strangle holds out there, but the one that I always enjoy using is just wrapping my forearm around a guys throat, pivoting my hip under their butt, then I bend over and basically dangle them with their feet totally off the floor until they stop wiggling. There's no way that I've found for them to get out of it. If they try to raise their legs, I jsut lower them a bit and that stops. They can't reach any part of my anatomy with any effectiveness, and the oxygen runs out real fast.