Shorinryu Sensei

You're a NUT...whacko...freak...and totally insane! That's why I like ya bud! And no, I've never kept any sort of log.

Besides what's already been suggested, this is what I've been doing for nearly 30 years and I think it helps tremendously. As you walk around the house you can practice punches and kicks as you go from room to room (watch out for your kids and spouse though). I also often turn light switches on/off with my toes by doing a kick just short of the switch, holding the leg (strengthing the muscles) in the air and using my toes instead of my fingers. It teaches accuracy and dexterity. I've been known to do kata while waiting for water to boil on the stove while in the kitchen. Lunging steps while going through a doorway, etc. Basically, any free time you have doing routine day to day movements can incorporate martial arts techniques. Grappling however, is another thing. I can't help you there unless you have a Great dane or St. Bernard.

I think the last class I paid for myself was back in 1980 or so, but I charge my students $40/month. I've taught for free several times, but found that when people don't pay, most don't come. No money, no value syndrome I think.

If the side kick is working well for you, keep using it. I've found however, that the side kick can leave you much more open to a counter because when it is swept to the side (pretty easy to do actually) you end up with your back to your opponent and off balance. With the front snap kick you are much more stable and less likely (but not always) to be in such a situation.

And there's the differance Tom...you know the what is good technique and bad. Many instructors don't, and pass on the "bad" technique as "legitimate" good technique. I don't have a problem with it, as long as they know the differance, and pass it on as such. Tournaments should show, IMHO, good, solid technique, and I judge it as such. Needless to say, I've scored some black belts very low because of the "flash".

My critisim is that people will go to that site and learn the slop that he is doing, and then pass it on to others. Ask anybody that knows legitimate, good and real nunchaku technique and has judged kobudo at tournaments. They're rampant with black belt instructors that don't know their you-know-what's from a hole in the ground, and are passing along that bad technique to their students, who, as far as they know, think it is good technique. That is my complaint with it. It's just a further progression of the degradation of good kobudo in the arts. I bow to that lad's right to do so, and his right to post it on the internet, but he is presenting something that in the long run will harm the arts more than they already are.

That would be true of course. If what he seeks is flash and no substance, he's a master of it. That's not my chosen path in the arts.

at the drum major comment! The biggest thing I noticed immediately was the poor positioning of his hold on the nunchaku. That drives me BUGGIE when I see a black belt, or otherwise, holding them like that at a tournament.

Since I have a dialup connection, and a slow, erratic one at that, I only looked at a couple of those clips. Yep, they're fancy and flashy all right, and really poor technique. Personally, I wouldn't recommend them to anybody to learn from, but rather as an example of self-learned (probably) "what not to do" technique.

FrozenRose..perhaops uif you let us know where you live, we can see if we can find any schools in your area and make recommendations as to a good one for you.

Once...just once...I'd like to find somebody who will tell me they joined a system whose focus was on what's the LEAST effective for the street! Actually, I know of one...but I'll keep quiet about that. There are basically 2 types of martial arts. Those designed for handling real situations, and those designed for sport. Do you happen to know which two systems your "new and improved" system are based on? Ask your instructor if you're not sure...he/she should be able to tell you.

There are 3 ways to improve speed in leg techniques. 1. Stretching. 2. Repetition (thousands of kicks) 3. Be relaxed. For stretching, we don't kick higher than the belly button, usually lower, but you don't want tight muscles when you kick because they will resrict the speed through tension, especailly at the end of the kick. Pepetition is vital, as the muscles and your mind need to be used to the movement of the kick. same applies to all movements of any actuivity you do. Relaxed and prepared are also vital, as tense muscles move slower because then have to un-tense first before they will move.

Good question Tom! We practice tradition (and non-traditional) weapons several times/month. I wish there was more time in class, but after 2 hours, most are about ready to call it a day and go hiome. Now that yu've brought it up however, I think I'm going to have my people (and myself) spend some more time on the weapons aspect.

Thwe question was...what defensive kick do I use, and I marked front snap kick. I have a 36" inseam and a size 13 foot, so it's pretty good about keeping people back or nailing them when the come in. Roundhouse to the groin also works well for me. Both are using the front foot, not the back.

We do both knuckle pushups and finger tip pushups every class. There are no set number, but rather as many as you can in a minute or two. Some, like Rod in my class, can do them all day long (he's 50 years old and built like a bull!), while others can only do a few, then have to relax, then start again. The knuckle pushups are to strengthen the wrist, not to toughen the knuckles.

Just a little side note here. I remember reading in Black Belt magazine maybe 25 years ago or so, that there are more Grand Masters in ANY large American city (New York, LA, Chicago, etc) then there are in the ENTIRE Orient! Wow, we Americans must be pretty dang good, huh?

I agree delta1...I have no idea how many have expressed a desire to learn, but never make the effort to come to class. I used to, way back when, get rather disappointed if someone didn't come to class when they said they would..but those days are long gone. Now it's "believe it when I see them walk in the door". Maybe 1 out of a hundred that start in the arts stays for the long haul in my experience. And maybe 1 out of 25 that says they want to come to class, actually does.

My perspective on that. I've been in the arts for nearly 30 years now and have taught kids as young as 5 during that time. I also used to be an elementary school teacher for 11 years. I see no reasoning or rational for worrying about martial arts practice stunting their growth or being harmful, other than it can be a vigorous workout and there is the potential for injury...but no more than soccer, football and such.

I really can't say if my dojo is unique or not. We don't actively seek out students and are very selective as to whom I let in the door to train. gheinisch, it sounds like you've hit the jackpot there bud. You need to periodically show your appreciation to your sensei in some way I think. Paint his house, wash his car, yardwork, etc. he may not accept or ask for money, which is (IMHO) the true spirit of the arts, but I would still do something for him. Trust me, he will appreciate it.

I've noticed this also, that not just kids, but adults as well in the majority of karate schoosl I've visited are short. Perhaps this might be because I'm 6'6" tall (198cm), and just about EVERYBODY is short ot me? [/b]

Nope, no pain in the back of my legs....and no free clinics here unless you're a Native American Indian or on the poverty level. I just started working for AFLAC the first of the year. No benefits and I'm not making enough $'s to buy any insurance myself yet. I had insurance up until last July, but they closed the call center I worked at and sent the jobs to Canada and India. The woman I'm seeing presently is an Energy (holistic) healer and she wants to try me on an infared bed she has when she gets back from Michigan next month. She thinks it will do a world of good. At this point, I'm willing to try just about anything.

uhhhh...I think a couple of you are missing something here. It isn't my knee that';s hurting. It's my lower back. And it's not a muscle injury, it's something in the vertabre. Pain killers dull the pain, but do not repair the injury. Icing helps make it feel better, but doesn't last long once the ice is off and I start standing. I've had good results in the past with a chiropractor, but it always seems to coem back again eventually. I just wanted to clarify that.

It's usually pretty good for months after a chiro gets done with it, but doesn't appear to be holding up as well as it used to. Stretches, exercises, walking all seem to help, but not totally. I'm afraid a MD is going to have to take a look at it...but not for a while. There are times I wish the US had socialized medicine! lol I appreciate the feedback people.

I was thinking of the aftermath of a European soccer match myself. Us vs them.

Question: Which system of karate are you learning? Just curious.