learning kempo-karate

Hello, We had a storm last week ...drop some snow on top of ( Mauna Kea) mountain...HAWAII....last week...melted in one day. To get to the top of this mountain is only 50 miles from my house and it faces Mauna Kea. Last year it really snow in MAY..and lasted for awhile. It is the tallest mountain in the world from ..BELOW SEA LEVEL (measure from the bottom of the ocean to the top.) Big Island of Hawaii...........sheeps,goats,donkeys,wild boars, turkeys,ducks can be seen often too. Theyu live in the wild and mountain areas. (all the donkeys are now fence in). Anyone saw my goat? ...small white patches and goes by the name? ...Kata! ....kata go now ( gotta go).........Aloha

Hello, The future is HERE!. Robots will lets us really test our skills and strikes. They could be set-up for various speeds and increase as your skills increase too. Now we do not need "Robert"...our real dummy (just joking here) ...sorry Robert?.. Maybe a future body guard too! ....like's to eat oil, squeak when speaking,no sense of humor,always wears the same outfit, NEVER showers...just polish....we call him Robert..oops..Robo Can we get a choice of height and weight too? This one is a Korean one, will we be able to choose a ..Japanese one or Chinese models. Wonder about the warranties too....sun roof, ,two doors or 4? ...leather...ahhh the colors (silver or chrome). .....Aloha

Hello, Many brands has many prices and quality of Gi's. Usually they come light weight, medium weight, and heavy weight (usually canvas). We use Pro Force and other brands too. The Pro Force medium weights is very popular among our students. The light weights seens to NOT last as long. The heavy weights...I think too thick and heavy for everyday training. As you progress in your training and talk to others what they like wearing you will learn what is good and NOT! One day you may find yourself investing in the quality GI"S. It is like wearing a suit from JC PENNYS vs one from a top of line store. A $300 dollar suit feels so much better than a $100 suit. If you find the ones you like? ...you may want to get another one too! Then you won;t have to laundry everyday. Century is OK too! Now for the pants...I DO NOT LIKE THE TIEING TYPES ONES.... elastic wrist lines works for me w/ the pull strings. ...Aloha

Hello, When we train in our Shotokan Karate school....we only did hard blocks and strikes. The theory is One strike..one kill. Meaning to hit or BLOCK with enough power to destroy. A part of our system was the Goju Ryu...which had some softer style of blocking. When at Shotokan training...train there way. Since you have a Kung-Fu background keep what you know in your head. Learn as much as you can from Shotokan. One day you may change arts....each time you will learn what works!. Keep a open mind...observed...see the difference.....keep what works...Aloha

Hello, In our system...only the Black belt testing is free and you can retake as many times too ( Very rare here). Your Instructor will not sumit you name unless you are ready. Collecting money will always be a hard part of the business. NO payments, NO promotions. Let them train anyway. Just an Idea here? . ....collect the first month payment and a deposit of the same amount, to be given back when they quit. (keep a special account for this). Never give uniforms and equitment unless pay for! Expect students not paying things (monthy dues,equitment)...especially when they quit......expect this! Write it off as a loss...taxes...let the problem go...do not harbor resentments...they may come back one day! PS: Running a school is a BUSINESS....treat it as one. People expect you also to be humble and kind. (tools for collections- staff,swords,kali sticks, etc.)

Hello, My daughter does Wrestling and there was a girl who train for many years....than in a couple of matches she was finding herself having a hard time breathing. She saw the doctor(S)...Not quite sure..but they say her heart murmer..now they say asthma. Anytime you feel your body is NOT right? ....Please see your Doctor as soon as possible........................Aloha PS: a smart one too!

Hello, You have some nice kicks and move pretty good and not bad speed too! For guys/gals with long legs (those that can reach the ground) ....kicking or using the legs will be your better weapons, especially for keeping the attackers away. Everyone will improve if they keep on practiceing and training harder each time. Let the legs fly............Aloha

Hello, You may also want to look at Kenpo/Kempo styles too! Most kempo are very close to karate. More towards chinese influence of martial arts. ...depends on where your Instructor learn from. ........Aloha

Hello, Will you be able to share some of the highlights of your writings when done? I believe most of us are curious about this? .......Aloha

Hello, Thank-you for sharing that article. It is nice when you can learn a few more things. .........Aloha

Hello, Great article written here. I belive the first person to learn to fight was the Caveman. The first caveman took away the first cave woman from the 2nd caveman...who then learn how to fight back to get the first cave woman back. (call gecko style). Seen this on TV..........Aloha

Hello, Talk to your Sensi in private and tell him of your concerns. Prevention is better than cure. It does not take much to take someone eyes out, or slash someone. That person is proud of the weapons,is showing off, and does not realize someone can get injury. Again talk to your teacher about this in private. ........Aloha PS:If your teacher does not do anything...than if something does happen he will be responsible.

Hello, Professor is a title (rigth about most use for Colleges). For Martial arts it usually means the head of organzition (The Professor). Our teacher/sensi/almighty one....is the man guy! Today Professor means chief instructor,head of schools, the top dog! On the radio I listen to the CAR DOCTOR (not really a medical one). but he heal/repair cars. Remember it is only a title...and now has change it's meaning in a boarder sense of the term. (more people using the name Professor for other than college). Professor is the most learnit one and profess's expert knowledge . Define Professor: One who is an expert in his field. (has many degrees). If we know too much...expert at that...are we to be call a Professor and if we know to little and is expert at that? ....can we be call a Professor too! Lets all call ourselves Professor? .............Aloha (from Professor member of the forms).

Hello, We always ask how you are doing? We also give nothing but positive comments. Appreciate them coming and training. Thank them for always showing up. (and when they don't we show concerns). Every student is important to us because we feel we are helping them achieve their goals from the martial arts. We also have talks on some of the current events from the news. We also have talks about family life,about growing up, time management skills,social skills,etc... We do change the routines (we have so much material to cover). We also let the students lead the class in many activities (get them more involved). Keeping students from quiting is NOT easy....keeping them modivated and happy with the training is NOT easy... You can offer them varitions of the lessons. The more you can involved the long term students to be an active part of the teaching will help them stay longer.....Aloha

Hello, How's the bag? does it need rest? ....just checking! ....Aloha

Hello, To be the best...one needs to train harder than anyone else...many times ONLY you will be left lifting weights,doing push-ups,hitting bags and etc. You have to be self minded (think of only yourself)...to achieved this level. The things you eat, the time spent on training is long and daily. Kinda like a person who only thinks of his work,spends alot of hours on the job and rarely home.....(ends up not knowing his kids and wife). BUT has a sucessful business and money. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are people who knows how to balance this.....and does it. You will see them everyday all around us. and you will see those who are self-center on their sports,hobbies,work, and other activities. Bruce Lee at one time train for 8 hours or more daily. Masahiko train for 9 hours a day and did 900 push-up daily,(was unbeatable in JUDO). There whole life was to build them selves to be better than everyone else. To do this...you family, friends,partners...takes a back seat. There needs to be a balance...and it can be achieve too! ....Aloha

Hello, Try Yodan..most people are familar with shodan. It is your choice...take the one you feel will work for you! .....Aloha

Hello, There is NO rules on time. I have seen school advertise (earn a black belt in one year). One school we train in...took us two years to earn a black belt. In our Kempo system..it takes about 5-6 years before you can test for a black belt (student black belt-worn for a year or more)..than test again for 1st degree. Most school can be from 3-5 years. Joe Lewis got his black belt in 7 months in Okinawa (he kept beating all the black belts in class). Judo a fast learner can be 2 years or less. Masihiko Kimura started at age 14 in Judo..by the time he was 20 year old, he was a 5th Degree Black Belt. (before world war 2) He is known as the JUDO GOD. Consider unabeatable when he was alive. (train for 9 hours everyday, did 900 push-up everyday too). Your school may have it's own requirements to achieve a Black belt. Today wearing a Black belt does not have the same meaning as it did in the Seventies and eighties. On line you can buy a black belt for under 5 dollars....takes less than a week to get one( priorty mail). It is not the color or title or rank....that is important....what is? IS what you know and can do with it. Most people do not train in a adrenline stage or fear factor (real life attacks)....real fighting can be fast..furious..and anything goes..Aloha

Hello, This person is really NOT a good person here. Best thing is to talk to your Sensi or teacher about this and him (privately). BE very honest here about everything. Try to avoid him and NOT let things he say about you effect your feelings (Yes this is a hard thing to do). This guy thinks he need to prove himself tough, by picking on the less aggresive ones. He has NOT GROWN UP YET! Very immature....doesn't care about anyone accept himself. If your Teacher cannot solve this problem..you may have too leave and find somewhere else to train. (No one wants this...but sometimes it maybe the best answer..sometimes it may turn into a blessing (better things may happen for you). This guy will not change....he is insecure and this is his way...to behave. I really feel sorry for all the students who have to deal with this guy. Let your teacher know: One bad apple can spoil the rest (others leaving too). We had this experience may years ago...a new black belt had move to our location and they train with hard hitting, after the second time training with us the other black belt didn't like getting hit so hard, so he give some of the same medicne back (ended in a fight)...Sensi punish both with push-ups and (lecture after class). The new black belt was never seen again. Trust your instincts on what you feel is the best for you and the other students in class. This for sure..he likes to hit hard and intimidate others, BUT if you hit him just as hard...he will get mad and want to fight! ...people like that are really cowards inside. ..................Aloha

Hello, After viewing and reading the info's....I think I would go with the karatedepot one. The curve one seems more interesting. I am sure there is a major reason for the curve ones. It has an ajustable strap, which makes it more flexable than the others. Go with the curve one! ...Lets us know which one you choose? ..Aloha

Hello, Great topic you have brought up. The strikes to the liver is consider one of the three major knock-out points for alot of fighting arts. For boxers this is a major tarket beside the temple. Glad you brought this up..............Aloha

Hello, How many real fights look like kata style of fighing. (besides the movies). Who punches in that real deep style of stance in a real fight? (Like in katas?) Kata's is a good training tooL (but in a real fight...anything goes..). Not sure if kata applies here In the future....there will be lots of changes in the use of Kata's. People will find it HAD it's purpose. BUT no longer will it be use as much. Traditions have a way of staying. Fights are fast,furious,continueous,keep hitting and striking, most times...Did you ever see a fight that follows a KATA? .........Just my thoughts on this.......Aloha (we are require to know all the kata's in our system and we do learn and practice them).

Hello, If Kata's work so well in our training? ...How come other sports and fighting like boxing,Muay thai, basketball, football does not use kata's? I have never seen it in bowling too? ....UM" It does have some purpose...but actully fighting is very different. Just my thoughts.....kata (got to) leave now! ..............Aloha

Hello, Things we love about the martial arts.... We learn if we try hard enough..we can do almost anything. We find doing the martial arts, teaches us alot about ourselves. Another thing we love is the friendships and the fellowship made will last a lifetime. Teaching and helping others is a wonderful feeling. Seeing all the students improving and gaining aot of confidence and growth in themselves..priceless! Another things is dinner....you look forward to it after ever class.....love this part alot (I wonder why I so heavy) ? You gotta love this part! Most of us love to wear our uniforms at class? ....most comes with a belt...But NO hat! ..................Aloha PS: When you make love in karate classes...do you prefer the chop or kick?

Hello, Shoot fighting gives you more options, learn to stand up and fight...if need take them down. Most times you do not want to spend time on the ground fighting someone only to have there friend stomp on you! Grappling is great for a sport (locks and control). ..Just my thoughts (love to do Judo) .......Aloha