hobbitbob

I disagree. A high quality heavy weight gi will cost a little more (often around $100.oo), but will last longer.

The USA-NKF on their website has a thing that shows standards for stances in the "big four." http://www.usankf.org

Has Shukokai made it into the US yet? When I was looking for PhD programs, I considered Edinburgh University, and would haev love to have trained with their club!

I've found it: http://www.tempokarate.com Go down the page and yuo will find a link to the mpeg. Hope this helps.

Check with your sensei before you do anything! As for how to keep a black gi black, other than never wearing it I don't know what to tell you.

Snicker!

It used to be on the SRSi website, but SRSI is now members only,and it resisted my efforts to copy and save.

Having switched to Seibukan, I went the first night, spoke with Sensei,and upon beginning practice, wore a white belt. The first class was the beginning class, the secon class of teh evening was the4 advanced class. Between classes, sensei instructed me to "wear my rank." Apparently this has only happened one other time. On teh other hand, I always line up at the tail end of the yudansha, nad am very up front to kohai that I am learning the system,and am not able to help them with anything other than basic technique.

American Seibukan Karate. Broomfield, CO http://www.seibukan.com

Seibukan Shorin-Ryu. I love the emphasis on close range, devastating techniques.

One of the instructors at the Uni club in Maryland has a whole laundry list'o'meds that he takes for a whole laundry list'o'medical problems (CAD, NIDDM, etc...), but he still practices and still teaches. he often says that he will quit when they are zipping him into a body bag!

I agree. My friend Ron Doughty has a "soft rule" and a "hard rule" for starting age. the "soft rule" is no younger than 8 years old. the "Hard rule" is old enough to understand what is going on and to pay attention.

After the head injury two years ago I contemplated it for a week, or so, but I am too dumb to quit!

I don't know if it is what most people think of as "physical training," but in the black belt classes at my school we often do kotekite drills (body conditioning).

It depends on the camp. I've never been to one that was absolutely worthless, bot some weren't as helpful as others. The main reason I go to camps is to train with unfamiliar people, and sometimes to meet people who do other styles.

Believe me, I understand. I have the "Naha-te" build (stocky, yet short arms and legs), therefore I always end up having to have sleeves and pant-legs shortened. According to my height (5'5") I should wear a 3!

I was 14. I'm 36 now.

Train at a young age, by all means yes! But... don't promote to Dan rank!

We use the "Funakoshi Five", but I also prefer the unwritten number six: never block with your face!

Even with a chart, you can go wrong. I wear a 5 1/2 in Shureido or Meijin, but a 6 in tokaido (remeber, christmas is coming! ).

The most important thing I look for in selecting a place to train is the "atmosphere." It should be disciplined, firm, but supportive. Rather like a family, with the patriarch (or matriarch) a firm, but caring individual, and the elder "siblings" interested in teh well being of the juniors.

aren't gold belts rather stiff and clangy?

I'm rather fond of the "decamp to Old Chicago Pizza after class" technique! Remember...Guinness isn't merely a fermented beverage....its a food group!

I do wash my belt, but not as often as my gis, obviously. The belt gets washed monthly. The Gis after each use, and hung dry.

try https://www.wadoworld.com