Shorinryu Sensei

This should help you quite a bit. It's a new goju forum, and I'm sure they'd be able to answer any questions you might have. http://www.bosando.se/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi Tell them I (Shorinryu Sensei) sent you. You'll see some posts of mine on there.

Yes, you're correct Sasori_Te. The end of a block is actually a strike of some sort, or a process of opening your opponents guard/defense up to give you an opening. It's always easier to demonstrate this to someone than it is to try to descrive it in print on here, but I'm sure this is the ultimate goal and application of all arts, but little understood by most sensei I think. Also meant with no disrespect, but I've worked with a number of sensei from various systems that never really understood what they were doing with even such a basic technique as a block.

I agree with all that's been said thusfar also. if you have to back up, the slowest way is to "step" backwards. Instead, "leap" backwards by pushing off with the front foot and keeping the same foot forward. Better yet, as has been stated, is angle FORWARD (45 degrees is preferable) instead of backwards. I assume you have learned blocks? Use them. There are a whole bunch of other things to suggest, such as block/couinter with same hand, body shifting/change of body, etc, but without knowing what system you practice, I can't really suggest anything else. Plus, they're very hard to descrive on the forum. Much easier to show in person. Hey! I got an idea! Fly me out to wherever you are, and I'll show you!! (I need a vacation)

As has already been said, a lot depends on how fast you learn and how hard you work. With that said, we have MINIMUM time requirements as follows: 10 - 9 kyu: 2 months minimum 9 - 8: same 8 - 7: same 7 - 6: 3 months minimum 6 - 5: same 5 - 4: same 4 - 3: 4 months minimum 3 - 2: same 2 - 1: same 1st kyu to shodan: 4 months minimum. These are just guidelines of course. It's not that difficult to go through the lower belts up to 7th kyu, but at 6th, standards are raised quite a bit and more is expected rfrom students, so I'd say generally that you can add at least a month to tests starting at 6th kyu and above.

Drunken Monkey -- "totally off topic but i prefere to kick at the knee than the groin." I absolutly agree for a street fight. However, for tournaments and dojo sparring, it is (IMHO) far to dangerous to practice that in the heat of sparring. aefibird -- "Contact has to very light, though, even with groin protection. We're trying to get a technique right, not damage an opponents 'nether-regions'! lol And, yes, even though I'm female it can still hurt getting kicked in the groin. *eyes watering at the thought*" Agreed. Of course, contact has to be light when talking about a groin kick. tommarker -- "I dunno what your juevos are made of, but a kick to the groin with a cup still friggin hurts." Yes it does! That's where control comes in. To tell you the truth, I rarely (in the last 29 years) ever wear a groin cup. Why? Because my personal philosophy is that I'd better learn to block that groin technique, because I'm not going to have one in a street fight! Have I been tagged? Of course! A bunch of times. Put down to the floor in fact. But by God, I sure am pretty good about blocking it now! lol before anybody asks..yes, my class is required to wear groin cups. However, as I tell my adults (18 and over), I will not physically walk around class and check. If they tell me they are wearing a cup, and ren't..they do so at their own risk, and that is well understood. I'm leaving in a bit for an out of town business trip and won't be back until Saturday night, so I'll be looking forward to more feedback and opinions. Have a good week people!

...that is the question. On another thread, we got off the subject a bit with this, so I thought I'd start a new thread on the topic. I doubt if anybody would argue that a good groin kick can be an effective technique in a street fight, but how about in the dojo or in a tournament? I know in many TKD dojangs for example, groin kicks are forbidden, even looked down upon as being disrespectful. Why? Wouldn't you want to practice a technique that can be very useful on the street? Get your timing and distancing down pat BEFORE you actually need to use it, just like with every other technique we strive to perfect? The open tournaments I've judged and referred in my area have always allowed light contact to the groin as I also do in my dojo. However, the two TKD tournaments I've watched do not allow them. It makes me scratch my head actually, as watching these guys trying to kick each other on the head just SCREAMS to me..."KICK HIM IN THE B**LS!!!"..yet the rules say they can't. With the developement of the groin protector (cup), why can't the groin be a viable target for controlled contact?

I would imagine it would depend a lot on the rules governing the sparring, the attitude of the sensei in charge, and general class attitude. If you have a bunch of testosterone high jocks in class that resent a woman in class, they can make it very intimidating for a woman. I won't allow that sort of attitude in my class. I enjoy women in class because they tend to learn faster, be more receptive to concepts, and I feel are there for better reasons than a lot of the men.

You say that like it's a bad thing? The OPEN tournaments I've gone to, allow light groin kicks. But what you're saying is what I was talking about earlier...some TKD schools don't allow them. Why not? Isn't competition all about "fighting" an opponent, but with rules? I disagree. I'm talking CONTROLLED, light contact to a viable target. not all out, "lets smash his cup" contact. No, enlighten me please. *wondering if he's going to say "Because it's disrespectful." OK Bretty. Do you know the real reason TKD doesn't allow groin kicks? It's because TKD is primarily a kickers martial art, and any sort of kick higher than the knee is a relatively easy target for an opponent that knows how to counter to the groin. Thus, if the groinis a viable target, that will nullify a TKD's primary aresenal. Then what do you have? You have an ineffective art that only works where the rules allow them to do their primary techniques with little fear of an effective response by their opponent. OK, I hate to sound like I'm TKD bashing here, but it's true. An example. I've been a judge and referree at God knows how many open tournaments which allow groing kicks, and have been a spectator at several all TKD tournaments which don't allow groing kicks. At an open tournament, you'll seldom see a high kick because the kicker knows that the chances are pretty good that htey will get neutered (simulated, of course ) However, at an all TKD tournament, it's almost a requirement that you head kick. Is this a good simulation of realistic combat? Sorry, but no, it';s not.

In a word, confidence. Start out with a women's sparring night or women's sparring hour. Once people show interest, they'll be more confident about sparring in general. Now I find that interesting. with few exceptions, every woman I've ever had in class, once they learn how to do it, LOVES to spar!!! I could get into some storys about 5'3" Judy P. or 5'10" Jenni S. kicking most of the guys butts in class..but I'll refrain.

I've had a bunch of TKD guys come into my dojo before to train, and have also taught numerous seminars to TKD dojo's, so whether this will help or not..we'll see. TKD people sucker for groin kicks like CRAZY in my experience. Unfortunately, many (most?) TKD schools don't allow groin kicks..why, I have no idea. If your particular school does allow groing kicks, try these. 1. Get in a low, side facing your opponent stance when you first line up. This leaves your head easily at a kicking height. When he launches that kick, drop to the floor, and at the same time you lauhnch your own side kick (or front snap kick) to his groin. It will work at least once, and will teach him to keep his foot on the floor. 2. Watch for him to raise his leg to kick..sneak yours in immediately into his groin area. Again, do that a few times and he will stop kicking. 3. As he starts to kick, angle in at a 45 degree angle AWAY from the kick, but towards him and use your hands (like this ---> \ / ). Yes, contrary to popular TKD belief..you do have hands, and they can be used very effectively. I'm 6'6" tall and have a 36" inseam on my pants, so I know about long legs and arms. I drill my people a lot on how to beat taller guys (like me).

Not being able to watch you spar, it's difficult to make an accurate recommendation, but I'll try! First of all, don't let the fact that he's younger and a black belt psych you out. You have to learn to look at everybody the same, regardless of age or what belt he has around his waist. Same goes for on the street. Treat everybody as a potential better fighter than yourself, and you have to visualize how you would deal with that treat. Since you're in TKD, what sort of techniques are you trying to land on your opponent? High, spinning, etc kicks are slower generally than lower kicks and hand techniques. They also leave you with poor balance and recovery. I'd recommend using low to mid-level kics to the body, no spinning at all..and lots more hands. Also, don't be a stationary target for him. Keep moving. This doesn't mean bouncing around the floor, as it's a good way to wear yourself out, and a good fighter will see the timing of your bounces and use them against you. Rather, move around the floor..left...right..forward and back...and angles...like these ---> \ / ...makes sense? 45 degrees. It throws your opponents timing off and doesn't get you into a rhythm that he can follow. The key to speed is two things IMHO. 1. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!! And when you're done with that, practice some more! 2. Be relaxed. Tight muscles are slow muscles. Be relaxed and loose. I hope this helps.

Yeah, I'm kind of a tough 'ol S.O.B. when it comes to promotions. Maybe that's why in the 25 years I've been teaching, I've only turned out 3 black belts! But dang, they sure are EXCELLENT ones!

Basically, we consider that when you get a black belt, you have the fundamental knowledge to be able to teach the subject up to a certain point..which is one belt below black (brown). Personally, I will not award a black belt to someone that doesn't have the ability to teach, as I beleive that everybody has the potential to do. Whether or not they will be a GOOD teacher, that's something else entirely.

Yeah, you're right. But in my opinion, it's ruining the martial arts with this junk. What I'm seeing to much of in other dojo's are instructors that don't know what they're doing, teaching themselves a lot of fancy junk like we're talking about here, and passing that junk on to their students who accept it (not knowing any better) as legitimate technique.

My question to you is...why do you want to do a finger spin? It's not a legitimate weapons technique. My suggestion is to get a twirling baton. Better balanced, and you can light the ends on fire for more flashiness.

Yes, our association is only a little over a year old and will no doubt ever be very large, which is just fine with me. I don't feel the need or desire to be affiliated with a HUGE group, because they tend to be to political. One nice thing about the one I'm in is that they abhor politics and won't stand for it. Nice pic BTW. I'm about 26 years older, and 30lbs heavier than when those pics on the website where taken with Sensei Kuda.

I've had knee surgury on my left knee, and it hasn't been a problem. It does put torque on the knee..true enough.

Ahhh..thanjks for the history lesson! I knew most of that already, but not the specifics in your particular system. Our linage dates from Soken Matsumura, and then to OSensei Hohan Soken and then to OSensei Yuichi Kuda. We're a small group and trying to keep the teaching of OSensei Kuda alive and well. This is our associations website if you'd like to take a look. I'm listed as #6 on the list and there are soem pics of me (the tall, skinney guy) taken with OSensei Kuda back in 1978. http://www.geocities.com/rohai.geo/page.html

OK..I think we've got it now! We don't rotate our hips at all, because what we want to end up with is facing the opponent straight on, not turned towards him at all. Jussi Häkkinen..in the style that you're doing, which "should" be the same as me (but there are always differances)..do you fight normally with your shoulders squared straight on to the opponent, or do you turn them? We fight square on..and there are reasons for this. (another thread maybe?)

The kick lands horizontally..and no, it's not a side kick because you're not kicking to the side, nor are you hips aligned like a side kick. Since you are in a front stance, the same as if you were doing a front snap kick, the hips do not rotate..only the foot rotates. It's admittedly awkward to learn and master, but after a while, it's rather easy to do and makes an effective hard "push".

OK..I think I'm not quite explaining the execution quite right here. Trying again. From a left foot forward front stance. You're kicking to your front, just like a normal front snap kick...not to the side. The kick/foot comes up to the knee first then shoots out to your intended target. So far, exactly like a normal front snap kick where you would connect with the target with the ball of your foot..right so far? OK, now is where the differance is. Just before making contact (remember, it's your right foot moving to make contact), you rotate your right foot counterclockwise with the foot pulled back, not pointed forward as in a roundhouse. You are NOT rotating the hips, otherwise you would be doing a side kick, but rather rotate the foot alone and making contact with the bottom of your foot to your opponenets mid-section. Maybe now it's clearer..or more confusing??? Try it a few times and see if it makes more sense. Otherwise, somebody send me a video camera and I'll videotape it and send it back to you! lol It takes a fair amount of practice to get the foot to rotate easily into this kick, but once you have it, it makes a pretty good pushing kick without doing the damage a front snap can do.

There again, not knowing what you consider a side snap kick..I don't know. To me, a side snap kick is just that..a snap kick done to the side using the ball of the foot as the weapon. That's not the same as a front, inside snap kick, because that uses the full flat bottom of the foot as the weapon, making it more of a hard push instead of a penetrating kick with the ball of the foot. Does that sound like a side snap kick in your frame of reference? Like I said..everybody has different names for the same kicks..so who knows!

My sensei taught me this kick years ago, and I teach it to my students. I don't know the Okinawan/Japanese term for it, but we call it a "front inside snap kick". This is how it works. Get in a left foot forward front stance, then do a normal back leg (can also be done with front leg) front snap kick, but at the end of the kick, instead of using the ball of the foot to make contact, you twist your right foot so that the foot rotates inward (counter clockwise if you will) and you strike your target with the bottom of your foot into his lower/mid torso. It's not as damaging or penetrating as a front snap kick, but is very effective in knocking the wind out of somebody, or just pushing them backwards without injury. The theory is, that you would use this kick when you didn't want to do harm to your opponent..just back them up. It takes a while to get that twist at the end of your kick, and you don't want to rotate your hips and end up doing a side kick. That's the hard part. It can be very fast, and hit hard. Anybody else ever done one of these?

A few thoughts. I tend to cringe whenever I see anything about ninjitsu anyway, as personally, outside of Japan, I doubt if there's a legitimate ninjitsu practioner in the world. Looking at that site. "John Sedia is currently 10th degree Black Belt in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu." How old is that guy? He looks MAYBE 30, and a 10th Dan? Major Red Flag there. To my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong), each traditional martial arts system only has one 10th Dan, and that's the head of the system. I also downloaded that bo video...weak technique. The website doesn't say anything about the 10th Dan's background, which is odd I think. So young, and such a high rank..I would want to know his background throughly. Without going into the dojo and observing, or talking to the sensei and students...my gut feeling is yes, this is a McDojo.

Well, a really large dojo would be different that what I do. I go WAY out of my way for a serious student that I want to keep, and have numerous times not worried at all about payment if that's what their issue is. If it's a conflict with class times, I've had them come over to my house on weekends and worked with them one on one, or lined them up with one of my senior students for some practices. However, I do feel that since everybody else in the class is paying for their training, that these people need to also..in some way. Like I said, work on my truck, mow my yard, wash vehicles..something to work off the training. No, it's not slave labor, and nobody has ever objected. We work it out at about a rate of $5/hour of work. If I don't have anything for them to do at the moment, I don't worry about it. Of course, I'm not trying to make a living off teaching either, and that makes a big differance. Heck, I'd teach for free..but I've found people don't come if you don't charge...no KIDDING!!!