hobbitbob

Hmmm...perhaps the frequent journies to Old Chicago Pizza post class are why I'm overweight? So, to answer the question, yes, definately socialize with other Dojomates.

The question of "discipline" seems to vary according to the perceptions of the student. At my old uni club in Baltimore, I taught as I had been taught (corrections, pushups, adn little more praise than "good, do it again!") and found that the students felt I was "mean." Where I study now, similar measures are used, and many "old-timres" consider the training too easy beacuse we (gasp!) stop one hour into the training for a water break, and can ask our partners to go a bit lighter at kotekite (arm/shin/body conditioning). Perception seems to be the key.

From Pina I (Heian II), the initial technique is often refered to as an example of the natural "startle" reflex. Any thoughts?

My old BB lasted from 1985-1996, before it finally tore at the knot. My new one is already quite tattered, and may not last through the year. I think it depends on the belt you have. The old one was a generic black belt (I think it was Bear Brand, I'm not sure) with no embroidery. The new one is a Shureido, embrioderied, and cost much more than the old one. I think the next belt will be a "cheapie" again, it may last longer!

Training in Seibukan Shorin-Ryu now, adn loving Chinto. Its quite different from Gankaku of Shotokan, or Chinto of the Shito-Ryu style. Closer tothe Matsubayashi-Ryu version. Very challenging!

Shotokan is good, basic Karate with nothing fancy or flashy. I love that aspect of it. Unfortuantely, it is frequently taught as simply line drills, kata,and sparring (mostly sambon and ippon kumite, little jiyu kumite). This in itself is fine, apart from the lack of work on Bunkai and Oyo at all but a few Dojo. The other major advantage of Shotokan is its portability. I have lived on both coasts, in the middle,and in Germany, and have always been able to find a Shotokan Dojo.

I hate to disagree, but... Balck Belt is perhaps one of the WORST publications. It is driven by fads. IT offers most of its space to the latest "reality-tough guy-no holds barred-swat/ninja/special ops/woof hoorah" dreck, and little to traditoinal and classical martial arts. The only thing worth reading in the magazine is Dave Lowry's column, adn those are beginning to be reprints.

Can you leave before your contract is up without paying the additional $200.00, and does your school charge additional fees if you leave? There is a chain in teh BAltimore area that adds an additional $500-800.000 as a cancellation fee if students leave early, adn trhey are not shy about taking the students to colelctions, garnishing wages, etc...

My Kung-fu or Wushu question relates tot eh martial art of Kung fu, as opposed to the post revolution acrobatics called Wushu. Was the segment with the "monk" the former or the latter? To my knowledge, the Shaolin temple is no longer a "temple," but a gymnasium for training wushu (acrobatics.).

My two cents worth: I thought that the Krav Maga was mostly just good Karate-do technique. AS Far as Ninjutsu, Hatsumi is the real thing, and the comment made by the Englishman "The flashy stuff isn't what works, it's what you don't see.." was one of the best statements during the entire hour. I thought the kids during the Goju-Ryu segment were cute, especially the little guy swinging the nunchaku as big as he was! As far as the Shaolin Kung Fu, was it Kung Fu, or Wushu?

For Shotokan Kata, if you can find Vince Morris and Aidan Trimble's series of books on Kata, they offer good, unorthodox (i.e.: block, punch) bunkai. They are out of print, but well worth the investment if oyu find them. I have seen them at Capitol Hill Books in Denver, and Half Price Books in Seattle at various times.

bloody thing censored the url. it is https://www.hkshi-toryu.org minus the hyphen. Hope this helps.

I found a site that has walk throughs of the Shi-to ryu kata. http://www.hkshitoryu.org

I broke down and spent the money for the JKF Shi-to Kai Kata videos in order to have a handy reference. They aren't exactly the same as the HAyashi-HA kata, but they are close enough. Its too bad that no one has put Shi-to Ryu kata up on the web yet. Goju, Shoto adn Wado kata are available.

By Mark Bishop: Secrets of Okinawan Karate By Nagamine Shoshin: Tales of Great Okinawan Masters. Also, read Dragon Times (it's changing its name to "Classical Martial Arts"), which is a scholarly journal that deals with Okinawan and Japanese Karate.

Hmmm... "True Shotokan:" ISKF (Okazaki, Yaguchi, etc.) ITKF/AAKF (Nishiyama, et. al) SKA (Oshima) FSKA (KEnneth Funakoshi) AJKA (Ray Dalke) ASKA (Randall HAssell) etc... True Shotokan? No such animal! Only hard Training!

I have become quite the convert to the Meijin brand Dogi. The tails are long (like Anshin) and they run around 99.00 without embroidery. IS Anshin still in Business? A student of mine was trying to order a Dogi from them earlier this month and was unable to cantact them.

Pros: Increased patience, increased inquisitiveness, understanding that there is "always another way to do things," willingness to work on internal rather than external aspects. Cons: Knees, hips, back, shoulders, elbows, the accumulated beer and pizza around my middle that refuses to go away, needing to stretch longer for the same flexibility, longer recovery time from injuries. Robert, aged 35

I applaud the thought that has gone into this thread. however, let me advance one small critique. If one discounts basic technique because it must be performed diiferently whilst sparring, then does one imply that free sparring is the ultimate goal of technique? I hold with the theory which says that free-sparring is not equal to fighting. Does combat technique resemble basic techniqu? Yes, frequently. It does, however, rarely resemble the "step, block,punch" formula of "traditional (Showa era) Karate-do. Instead, the techniques found in Kata are likely to be utilized aginst grabs, strikes, etc... Developing motor skills and muscle memory by practicing Kihon is valuable. Developing understanding of Kata Oyo is vital.

As has been demonstrated in other threads, the way a commercial school survives is by generating enough income to survive. If you are running a large school (i.e: a McDojo, complete with fancy (and expensive) carpeting, shower rooms, and a "pro-shop (courtesy of Century )" you need the numbers. In order to get those numbers, usually children with affluent parents, to pay huge fees for "black belt clubs" and "Master's clubs" the LAST thing you want to do, if you expect them to keep paying, is to correct them, or fail to promote them at short intervals! If you can collect a few hundred dollars in test fees each time, as well, even better! To be fair, students at these schools often have great self-esteem (I'm a master at life! is the slogan of aschool close to where I live), sice they receive tons of positive re-inforcement and no negative re-inforcement. they just receive no martial arts training, and often can't fight their way out of a paper bag! Should the owner of a McDojo fail to promote little timmy ("all of the other 6th graders are 8th dans, why isn't my son one yet?") rest assured the parent will find a school that will!

Ahh, the hazards of the commercial school. The need to make a living. "I'm paying for this,so I should be able to do what I want to!." The majority of schools I've trained at have been comercial dojo, and that behaviour was NEVER tolerated. Is it worth the paycheck to retain a student who doesn't wish to be there and is disrupting class? I would say no, but....I am a traditionalist. Karate isn't for everyone, and I have previously voiced my opinion on this subject elsewhere in the forum.

Why is she still there? That is has always been grounds for immediate expulsion anywhere I've trained!

At the university club, at the beginning of each term, we are inundated with students (many bearing "black belts") from McDojos who join the club,m then become miffed that they must either: a: Re-learn basic technique,or... b: go elsewhere. Let me explain that the Baltimore/DC area is rife with McDojos that have cranked out thousands (it seems) of 15 year old "blackbelts" with little skill or understanding of technique. Compouonding this is that the school emphasizes proper techniquy as a martial art, not as competition, or aerobics! This proves frustrating for some. On the other hand, those who haev stayed have become competent martial artists. The quality of "product" if you will, that has been turned out by these other schools hasincluded a "red belt" who was shocked at being corrected for chewing gum in class, a "blue belt" who has no discernable stances, adn who cannot reproduce side kicks or roundhouse kicks, and numerous others who, apparently, have never been corrected during practice. One then wastes preciouos time after class explaining that If I, or any of the rest of the cadre corrects you, it isn't because we areangry with you, or that you are a bad person, but that we wish to help you to improve your technique.

That would be an exceptionally bad idea! "challenges" are always a bad idea, and demonstrate immaturity. I contacted Baltimore City PArks and Rec this morning. They are looking into it. He isn't teaching "self-defense" seminars, but is running a TaeKwonDo club through one of the city churches, funded by Parks and Rec.

Unfortuanately, he was in no way, shape, or form ready to test to shodan when he left. He is apparantly claiming a shodan from our club. I haev e-mailed him adn am waiting for a response.