Zanshin

He probably wouldn't do to well over this side of the pond. There are references to him having 10 black belts?, although as far as I could see, he has three; a Karate 7th Dan (no style mentioned), a Jujutsu second dan (again no style mentioned) and a silat first dan. Is the sum of all these how he accounts for having 10 black belts?. Still not bad going, I suppose. I guess what I am trying to say is that IMO it would probably be more accurate for him to market his wares under the banner of "Self Protection" (purely based on his web site you understand). Mind you, I suppose we have Mr Abernethy over here so I suppose thats the same thing really.

Yes, Jiyu is free fighting. As far as I understand it, Ohyo means transition or application really, ie taking moves from kata/kihon and applying them to fighting. Some styles use the word Ohyo instead of Bunkai.

Thats super cool. If i were about 20 years younger I would have a crack at that. Unfortunately I bruise a little to easy these days so I try to fight with my mind and get out of the way a bit more. That said nothing wrong with it if you are a young buck, but I suspect you can expect a few visits to casualty (ER). That doesn't make it a bad thing. I am no stranger to the ER in the name of karate. If anything it will be a lesson on what it feels like to be beaten up. A very hard lesson to learn and one you will take with you through your Karate career.

Yep, you have a point there Bushi. I guess that it could be name for their style of fighting, IE Jiyu, Shiai, Shobu etc. I didn't consider that. Not withstanding, if it is a competitive style, the name reflects the process... perhaps? Z

Hi Throwdown, Afraid I dont know anything about Enshin Karate. I know that there is a sword school called Enshin Ryu and for what its worth "Enshin" means Open Heart. The Sabaki you refer to means "Management" or "Work" it is usually prefixed with the word "Tai" which means body. Tai-sabaki (body management) is the process of manoeuvring your body into an advantageous position against an oponent. All MA employ Tai-sabaki to some extent or another, whether they know it or not. The Tai-sabaki of most traditional Japanese styles of Karate is influenced by clasical kenjutsu (sword arts) of which "Enshin Ryu" is one, so I guess there is a connection there. Good luck with your endeavours and let us know how you get on.

Hi Fish, sounds like you were well and truly put through your paces. Was the "Ohyo Kumite" you did at the end of the grading, the Wado ohyo that most people would refer to as Mr Suzuki's. IE WIKF ohyo, or are you applying the term more liberally. Whist Wado has a version of Bassai kata, Bassai dai (that you made reference to in your earlier post) is not a kata practiced. Two very different katas from the Wado perspective. So, what style of Karate will your dan grade certificate say you are graded in?

See Bushi, I knew exactly what he meant (I refer of course to the earlier KF thread on whether it was better to use Japanese or English in Karate classes.)

Hi Fish, Actually, it was me that asked about Kihon Kumite not Patrick. Nonetheless, thanks for answering the question, I think I understand now. And well done for passing your provisional exam. By the sounds of it, the group your school is with now, is not Wado but more of a governing / examination body covering a variety of styles. In saying this, I don't mean that it is wrong or bad for one second, just not really traditional Wado. As I understand it, Mr Sharkey is a Shotokan man and katas like Bassai Dai, Seienchin, Gojushiho do not feature in the Wado spectrum of things. As I say not knocking it, but out of interest, what style will your Dan grade certificate say you are graded in? Z

Reading your reply, made me re-read Mel's original post. I must admit, I did not interpret from it that he/she was 70 years old, but maybe I got that wrong. Mel, if your out there, are you able to confirm your age? Z

Yeah! go Fish you nearly yudansha! Well done fella. Tell me though, amongst all of the blood and guts, what Kata (solo and paired) did you have to perform? You explained that you did Oyho Kumite, did you do Kihon Kumite as well? Just interested really as the format you have described is not typical of a Wado. But who cares really well done. Who examines you for your big test later in the year! Is it Steve Rowe par chance?

Hi mel, First, welcome to the Forums. Secondly, I'm afraid that I couldn't agree more with PS1 and Fish. You will find that 99% of people on this board share this opinion. Whilst I dont advocate throwing beginners in at the deep end, Shiai/Jiyu Kumite whether it be full or semi contact, is a vital part of your Karate training and for many styles (like mine), it is an essential part of our conditioning as well. That said, giving you the benefit of the doubt you may have just been unlucky with the few experiences that you have had. It could down to the instructors in those clubs being thoughtless knuckleheads maybe. More and more these days it seems that instructors substitute their lack of technical knowledge with fighting for the sake of fighting. Unfortunately, I am not a great believer in self teaching from books or videos either. I agree that reference material is useful, particularly for people who already have a good basic grasp of the art they are studying, but this should always be used as a companion to dojo training and not as a substitute IMO. In short, as has been said before, budo arts like karate are forged in the furness of the Dojo. It is the tireless, exhausting, bruising training under the watchfull eye of a knowledgeable instructor (who has been along the path you are walking) that will eventually shape you into a karate-ka. But again welcome to the forums

Hay season?, IE you are farmer yes?

I agree with AJ here. Even within the same style of Karate, different groups have variations in syllabus from one and other. We have recently had two 4th Kyus join our club from another Wado association here in the uk (more of a fringe wado group really). Whilst their "generic" karate is not too bad, they are unfamiliar with the kata and in particular the pair work that is required in order to be a 4th Kyu in our group. So how can they be a 4th kyu in our group, they cant. Plus also, as has been said here before, there is something to be said about walking into a new dojo with a beginners state of mind (no baggage). When I have the spare time I attend a Daito ryu and Kenjutsu club near me, have been for a while now, but I wear my white belt (well my iaiobi also has blue in it) and I am perfectly happy to do so. On another wado e-group that I belong to, one of the members had an excellent way (I think) of integrating kyu and dan grades from other groups into his association as follows: Kyu grades are allowed to keep their previous rank (and belt) for 6 months, after which they can apply to take an examination in any grade they wish. If they fail however, the examiners will award them the grade they think most suitable. They do the same with Dan grades but give them a year to keep their belt, before they are allowed to apply to grade. I think thats just about the fairest way you can do this, as its recognizes natural ability, but at the same time gives a new group member time for the "particulars" of the school syllabus to bed in. Z

Welcome to the Forums! As to answer your question, it would be hard to give up a year of my life as well. Sooooo.....I guess it will have to be a reverse Uchi-Deshi, where instead we have the instructor live with us for a year or so! Brilliant! And when they weren't teaching you, they could pick the kids up from school, or clean the house. lol I was thinking of getting an "au pair" but now you have got me scratching my head. Do you think that Kuroda Tetsuzan sensei would be up for it?

Hi IIrene, Welcome to the forum. In fact you are new here today along with another dutch person, as AJ hails from the Netherlands as well I believe. Perhaps you know him?

Shotokan is a Japanese karate, not Okinawan. If it's Authentic Shotokan you are after you will need to head to mainland Japan. I have heard that the JKA headquarters in Tokyo run some pretty awesome training session there.

One reason that I understand about the wrist grab, and why it forms part of most "Nihon Jujutsu" training today is that it is a hangover from the koryu approach to budo. Indeed the applications already mentioned are spot on, in terms of peoples reaction to a hand coming toward them with applied force (its your Aiki thing going on here, perhaps). Also though, in days gone by, many wrist grabs were designed to stop you from drawing your sword or tanto. In Daito (and Wado to a point) we practice Idori / Tachidori, where an attacker will endeavor to "neutralise" the use of your sword / tanto arm, by grabbing your wrist. The "waza" that follows are techniques to escape from the wrist grab, utilising techniques that we all practice today... kote gaeshi, kote gatame etc.

Thanks, Zanshin. I just couldn't think of the term. I added it to the title of the thread. So, who would it be for you, Zanshin? Would it be the name you listed? In Wado Karate: Takagi Hideho / Arakawa (Toru or Takamasa) / Hakoishi Katsumi to name but a few. In Koryu: Toby Threadgill - Shindo Yoshin Ryu (he is American btw) Shogen Okobayashi - Daito Ryu Aiki-jujutsu But alas, I do not have 6 lifetimes to spare. Z

If you have useful knowledge and experience that you can pass on to your wife, isn't that enough? Do you think that she really needs a piece of paper/belt? If it is important to you / your wife to have this as a goal, then perhaps you need to become a member of an association who can authenticate the grade. Otherwise you are right back where you started.

Alternatively, if it is traditional karate you are after, you could go to the source of the stream. As luck would have it, I know just the thing you are looking for. These guys run an internship in Japan for a year.. You get to train with the likes of Takamasa Arakawa sensei for a year... for free. http://japankarateintern.blogspot.com Obviously you have to be accepted first. Gees how I wish i was still in my twenties. Z. PS Bushi, the expression you are looking for is "Uchi- deshi"

"Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me"...Sir Winston Churchill. In all seriousness though, be drink aware.

We have two rules in our Dojo:- 1. You do not write on the walls. 2. You obey all of the rules. An acerbic bit of British humor (from the cult TV show porridge), but it demonstrates nicely the fact that if you make a rule book, you could be making a rod for your own back!

You made the jump then Dan.I seem to remember you from other forums I visit, and I think you were training with Dave Hazard for a while. Did that not work out for you?

No Brainer!.. first day of class.

I am not sure. For me, the dan grading is about Karate proficiency not teaching ability. I always considered sandan as being an important grade to show a detailed knowledge and understanding of the art, combined with the peak of physical perfection. A convergence of fitness and wisdom as it were. After sandan, wisdom and knowledge start to play a more dominant role over physical ability. There is no avoiding getting old I am afraid! This is why many associations "award" yondan and above, based on merit rather than a physical test. Also in most traditional Dojo the sensei is ranked sandan or higher. Getting back on topic though, absolutely, learning starts from the moment you first step foot into a dojo and it should never stop. As your understanding deepens, this opens up more questions IMO. Questions for which the answers are more challenging or more difficult to find. I have heard it referred to as viewing your training as if through a "prism". Depending on where you are in your stage of learning / understanding, you will see things differently!