hobbitbob

Has anyone ever heard of "Genwakai" ? ther was a dojo teaching it in Denver, never heard of the style since. It looked a little like Nippon Kempo.

Below Shodan: White. Shodan and up: The option of wearing a black GI exists. I prefer Tokaido, but have worn, and like, Kwon (the "Kata" 14 oz. don't know if its available in the US.), Meijin, and the Adidas hweavyweight Gi ( I LOVE this gi. My only objection is the fahrstuckene Adidas skunk cabbages on the R breast and R leg!). Tried Kamikaze, didn't like them. Just felt "odd."

Before practice: Not rank at all. After practice: Pretty darn Rank!!! :smile:

I wonder if the reputed "side effects" of Sanchin training (Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc..) might have more to do with the prevalence of smoking in the Ryukyus, than with any debilitating effects of teh kata itself. You cannot maintain increased intrathoracic pressure for long enough at a time to do that much damage. Instead, the pictures of the early Karateka resemble the physiognomy typical of those with obstructive pulmonary syndromes (i.e.: Emphysema, chronic Bronchitis, etc...) commonly seen with long term tobacco use. Just a thought.

I wonder if the reputed "side effects" of Sanchin training (Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc..) might have more to do with the prevalence of smoking in the Ryukyus, than with any debilitating effects of teh kata itself. You cannot maintain increased intrathoracic pressure for long enough at a time to do that much damage. Instead, the pictures of the early Karateka resemble the physiognomy typical of those with obstructive pulmonary syndromes (i.e.: Emphysema, chronic Bronchitis, etc...) commonly seen with long term tobacco use. Just a thought.

I don't know that the discussions shouldn't be "Traditional Martial Arts vs. Sport MA" instead of "Does TKD Work?" TKD taught as a Martial Art, is valid. The watered down version taught as an after school activity producing 6y.o. 5th Dans is not a valid Martial Art. Does that iteration have possible self-defence benefits? Doubtful. Does TKD taught as a way of life and as a complete system have self-defence benefits? Of course. (Stepping down off of soapbox. )

Read this moth's Dragon Times for an article on how the JKA viewed the international Karate situation in the '70s and '80s. Dave Hooper talks about how Nakayama sensei's goal was to send instructors throughout the world. HArry Cook also discusses this in his book. The other styles just weren't as aggressive as JKA shotokan. In Wado the only instructors that I can think of off the top of my head are Kurobane Sensei in Denver, and Ajari Sensei in San Francisco. With Goju, Yamakura Sensei in the midwest, and the two sons of Shihan Yamaguchi came to the US in the early days, and I think Chinen Sensei came to Spokane in the early '60s as well. Shotokan, by contrast, sent a plethora of instructors everywhere!

I don't really see how "dropping your body weight" into a technique adds to its effectiveness. Didn't you first have to lift the body mass up in the first place? It would seem that you are negating half of the potenetial impact force right there. How does this translate into Bunkai? When using techniqies from Kata as self defence, does one lift up and down again?

Two years ago our club had a problem with a group of 18-20 y.o.'s who felt that anyone over 25 was "too old" for TKD. Snicker! They left...we worked out too hard for them.

Kick chick, how does the up and down motion help generate power? This is the sort of thing I've always dissuaded my students from doing. (I'm not trying to star an arguement, I'm just curious.) Let me add that my background has been in Shotokan and Wado-ryu. I am practicing TKD now at University and we don't practice this way. our techniques are much more like traditional karate-do. We have had people join the club who bounce up and down, and they have been corrected. This is the first time I've ever heard of a methodolgy behind this. I always thought it was just poor technique. Sorry. [ This Message was edited by: hobbitbob on 2002-06-25 13:32 ]

It depends on where you are in Maryland. (Note: DO NOT GIVE YOUR ADDRESS OUT ON LINE TO ANYONE!!!!) In Southern Maryland, near DC, the Southern Maryland Shotokan association is a small, but good group. If you are in the BAltimore area, several training options arise. IN Randallstowm, Sensei Najib Amin runs the Shotokan Karate Club of Maryland (MWF 7-8pm.). He is affiliated with ISKF. I Owings Mills, Sensei Watanabe has a Dojo doing Shorinji-Ryu. Hard training, but quite worth it. IN Baltimore itself, the Baltimore JKA Karate Club meets at Grace Episcopal Church's school cafeteria/gym (hardwood floor, lots of room!) on Tuesday and thursday Evenings from 7-9pm. The Sensei is Ed Davis. In Pikesville, Ron Doughty has taught Tae Kwon do for 15 years through Baltimore County Parks adn Rec (https://www.winandtkd.com). At University of Maryland, Baltimore County the Tae Kwon Do club meets Tuesdays adn thursdays from 6-8pm on tuesdays and thursdays. All are welcome. Close to DC, in Virginia, the Vietnam TKD Federation is active. We at UMBC are affiliated with them,a dn with Winand. (https://www.vietnamtkd.org.). Hope this has been helpful. Osu!

So, On the ITU page, why are they all doing the "macarena" when they do forms? They don't chamber hand techniques, and they bounce up and down like muppets? Confused!

As a beginner, you have nowhere to go but forward! The important thing, to echo several others, is to listen to your body. After 21 years of martial arts, and three knee surgeries (brought on by 17 years of carrying patients up and down stairs !) I can't do a lot of the spinny things. I can, however appreciate those who can do them. It all depends on why you practice. If you seek self improvement and self defence ability, then the flashy techniques are irrelevent. The "flash" is valuable from the treaining standpoint. In the Shotokan Kata Unsu there is a 360 degree jump, landing prone. The main benefit of this technique is in flexibility. I doubt the veracity of this technique in self defence setting. Similarly, I have taken care of many people who attempted jumpy-spinny-flashy things when attacked. At 36 you have the advantage of marturity and patience. You don't need "flash".

Actually, Tae Kwon Do the martial art IS something one can do for one's entire life. TKD the kicky, slappy, sport isnt, but that's another story, no? Anyway. I'm 35, and have found that stretching is the key. Some things you just won't be able to do well. If you understand how the technique works well enough to help others learn it, then perhaps that's even better than kicking to the head. As I often say, "the first kick may not be to head level, but the third one will be!"

Granted, its been a while since Basic Training (1991.), but we did one day of hand to hand combat. Hip throws, punches, and palm heel strikes. Two days of Bayinet (butt stroke, slash, block), and, my favourite, a morning of pugil stick (otherwise known as the "Q-Tip"). Pugil stick was quite easy to use Bo techniques with, although I was pulled from my only match for sweeping my opponent's legs out from under him. Bad soldier, bad bad! I guess teh Marines use a form of pseudo-jujutsu (or so the Discovery channel tells me ).

Univeristy of Maryland, Baltimore County is offering Korean 101 this fall, apparently after years of requests for the class. It filled the first day of registration. Japanese and chinese fill quickly too.

"without Kata, ther is no Karate." Funakoshi Gichin "Forms are the soul of Tae Kwon Do, all else is merely thuggish behaviour" Chun Rhin Moon (Richard)

In the last three years of learning TKD, I have had to: a: change the direction of hip rotation on most techniques. b: alter foot position in front stance. TKD apparently strsses both feet pointing forward, which makes most hip rotation impossible, and explains why many TKD-ka seem to "muscle through" techniques with their shoulders.

The only mention of him I recall comes from Corcoran and Farkas' "Catalog of the Martial Arts (I think!)" published in the late '70s. If I remember correctly, he was a shotokan stylist. He was also a firefighter as a profession.

Karate is karate is karate.

Having practiced both Shotokan and ****o Ryu (which the software for this forum dislikes for some reason) I am curious about the direction and use of hip rotation practiced by forum members. Rotation away from or toward the technique? Why?

I just read Darryl Craig's "Shihan Te" which is about Bunkai and Oyo and the differences between them. It's quite good, and definitely thought provoking! Andrew Bowerbank's "the Spirit of Karate-do" is also wonderful. It's about Massaami tsuruoka of Toronto's theories of training. He's a Chito Ryu stylist who now teaches Shotokan.

My favourite Katas (this week ) are: Jion- Simple, direct. Rohai- (the ****o version) very scary when you consider the Oyo. Nijushiho (Shotokan)- soooo many possibilities.

Hello. I'n new here. I have stiudied for 21 years (my martial art career is old enough to drink!). I started out in Shotokan in Denver in 1981 and with the exception of two years of Shukokai in Germany in the early '90's and three years of TKD here at University (Just made 1st dan!) I am sort of a Japanese Karate Snob! [ This Message was edited by: hobbitbob on 2002-06-17 00:59 ] [ This Message was edited by: hobbitbob on 2002-06-17 00:59 ]

I have a slightly different perspective. I have done traditional Japanee Karate (Shotokan and ****o-ryu) for most of my 21 yrs in martial arts, but have doen TKD for the last three (I'ma full time student at university, and the club is free!). Our club is affiliated with the WTF, but we do "traditional" TKD (i.e.: Self defense oriented.). We do hand techniques to the face, etc... We have had problems with students from other, outside dojo who come in and wishg to train and are uncomfortable with the lack of flash and emphasis on proper technique and self defense applications. In short, TKD is a martial art. Robert.