LeaF

yep we learn it at blue blet, also being the third bo kata taught. No jumps however many interesting spins including behind the back ones

takes about 5-6 years to get shodan, then add two years on more nidan and about 2 and ahlf to 3 after that for sandan..... to hold any blackbelt rank one must be at least 18 years of age....

everyone at my clubs seems to grade at different speeds and times, basically one grades when they are ready. However we too have a loosely followed minimum time period... from white to orange I'd say about 3-6 months, 0rand up to blue probably 9 months, blue to brown is about a year and brown to shodan is a year and a half, from there times range to 2 years + for nidan and three years for sandan etc...

well first off he's right, the jo did beat musashi... my personal preference is actually the bo, I've always loved it, but I do appreciate the jo as well. I find that the nature of both weapons is quite simular and you could easily apply many of the techniques with either weapon. In praticality, which was the question asked, i would agree that the jo is probably more common, but if one looks hard enough a 6 foot staff is never far off

I study goju and love it, wonderful balence of hard and soft, hece the name go=hard, ju=soft. I would check the pl;ace our meet the sensei and see if it is an environment you'd be interested in training at.

yea it was some creed in my manual, seems like the same idea....

lets see... for all kyu ranks $40 canadian.... for 1st dan it's about $200 canadian.... and goes up after that......

If I face you with my empty hands my weapons, I have none If I should be forced to defend myself, my honour, my principles A matter of life and death, right or wrong, Then here are my weapons my empty hands

Chatan Yara no Kon

if I were you I'd wear wraps and gloves... it is far to easy to screw your wrists up when the bag turns without them....

oh god, I love eggnog... drink it by the carton... and yes the rummm is necessary Happy Holidays All

I prefer the Tokaido

yea... good idea, my bo has become a loss cause though, I recently split the end of it, time to buy a new one.....

I am currently involved in a style of japanese Goju Ryu, and have been for approximately 10 years. I train in central toronto, but I can give you a link to the organization I am involved with as the have many dojos in GTA. I would suggest looking one of them up. The organization is CMAC (classical Martial Arts Canada) And their website is.... http://www.cmac1.com/cmac.htm check out the dojo affilates page....

I wouldn't count on straightening it... however if you can I would love to know how... as my bo has developed quite the curve as well....

we do forms, weapons sparring, self-defences, drilsl (ie bo drills) and bunkai, however not all of this is done for some of the lower gradings....

i don't really see how this will become uncivil, I must admit I am rather curious myself to learn what is involved in making a quality blade and how one can differentiate them from their cheaper counterparts

I would also look up, ten yen no kon, matsu higa no kon and chatan yara no kon, fun katas

I enjoy them both. I find the opposite occurs to me Sai, when my hands get sweaty they act as an "natural lubricant" allowung me to spin my tongfa's with greater ease....

Anybody care to lend a hand?

Anyone care to share any insight on how zen and kobudo are related, this would be extremely helpful, and links or publications could aslo be of use.... thank you P.s. Also if anyone knows any perticularly good websites or other sources giving a detialed history of Okinawan Kobudo that would also be extremely helpful

I'm 17... I've been "away" for a while but you may be seeing more of me

see my signature

Very good article... it noramally takes substantial pratice for one to clear one's mind... it is so difficult because you must think of nothing without thinking... you can not make a conscience attempt to do it... your article makes me think of star wars for some reason... emotion leads to the dark side which thus clouds your mind... Interesting conicdence no

yea definitly some kinda of stick... perhaps a jo (4 foot staff) you can find substitutes everwhere.... now if we are talking about fun... then I'd stick with the katana