ramymensa

1 to 1 training? Dude this is HEAVEN. If the guys really know their stuff, I'd take their TKD classes. It might be worth the financial effort.

I feel it too, and sometimes prefer sweating a bit just to wear my jammy I feel complete with my karategi, though I must confess sometimes it's unbearable to wear it (when it's indeed that hot you sweat even if nude )

Grandmaster what you say is indeed the truth for many people in the years that MA was taken seriously. Unfortunatelly these days a training schedule like you presented and my sensei told me they did is not the one to keep your dojo full of paying students. Mercantility and economical problems that come with running a dojo made this "watering down" of the MA's. There are stil instructors that train their students very hard, but they are few

Now you've touched another sensible spot I sweat and my pants become "sticky". So doing jodan level kicks can be quite a problem

I'd say it changed my life for the better too. Not that much in the confidence level, because I'm a radio DJ for more time than doing Karate, and if that's not a confidence booster, I don't see what it is But ... Karate helped me in: - making up plans ... well put and realistic. - working to achieve the goals ... and knowing to see the progress. - FOCUS. I was kinda unfocused. Now I can really work something wothout seeing or hearing anything else. Great for school and work too - humility. Not a fake one, the kind of humility only I feel and see, but it makes me more understanding and respectful - pride .. with myself (was kinda full of complexes). I've learnt to respect me and my body, I'm happy with myself, though far from "perfect". I love and take care of my body and changed some things in my life too. I'm out of line, hope you can see where I'm aiming

Now that's the spirit, mother of two involved in MA. Great indeed,although I think it's kinda hard to be in all places. Good luck in your martial life and in posting interesting information here

FlailingLimbs ... I know there are some differences between our style and KK, but we should keep a respectful tone. I have got all the respect for this style for some qualities Shotokan didn't emphasize, but since I train Shotokan it means I find it more suitable for me. And as for shotomen beating kyokushin guys ... that's childish. You could have the unpleasant surprise of findign some fighters to give you a very hard time or you could be lucky to find someone who's not that good. It doesn't mean a certain style sucks, just because a practitioner got beaten, although in a way we represent our styles and are kinda responsible for it's image. OK. I'mm ranting now ... The idea is to keep an open mind and realise what's good for me may not be for others. Regarding the gloves .. I like wearing them. Otherwise I tend to keep myself from punching at jodan level. I really hate to give somebody a black eye. So when I want some fun I put the gloves and kill them. Gloves (ours in Shotokan are not full gloves, they cover the knuckle area) are indeed an aditional weight and don't feel that good in your face as I thought before .. still it's more "pleasant"

Ant, there is no ridiculous belt. Look at your progress and stop being biased I was proud even when an ungraded white belt. I was kinda good between fellow whites and I didn't feel ridiculous. And skipping belts shouldn't be your goal. Your goal is to improve, first in comparison with yourself, then comparing to the others, to learn and surpass all problems and difficulties. Ranks are OK, but don't focus on the colour of the belt. It means nothing. If you are bored with your current belt, buy another, brown or black to make you happy. I can tell you it would't make you feel better, but you could try. Hang it in your room and plan to work your ..tt to really deserve the colour Anyway ... good luck in your way to perfection. Keep us posted

Good luck with your site. I could give you my link http://www.dojo.ro It's in Romanian right now, but in few weeks I indend to translate the information in English too Of course I will reciprocate as soon as I get your link

You've got to work more and more, but it's worth every drop of sweat. Congratulations for your double grading.

Yes, but the fact you understood the technique in the tapes could be "blamed" on those 6 years of Shotokan. If you didn't learn much thing in your days in karate it's your fault or the instructors (more his , because you were under his guidance) And the health problems could be avoided by smart training and not overpushing yourself. So please stop saying the style is to blame for all the bad things in the world. Usually the problem runs deeper

With the shorts ... well my dojo is strict in that. You can't wear shorts. Long sport pants or karategi pants. And I think it's quite OK, especially in order to avoid the kind of embaressment you've mentioned.

So you're used to the emotion You'll have to put all things aside and focus only on yourself. Imagine there's no one in the room and make sure you don't train in the previus class. I have a very unpleasant memory regarding my 8th kyu test, the night before I was training like a mad (wo)man and got 2 sprains on my leags .. one for each. Needless to say I suffered like a dog. I took my rank, but i could have lived without the "pleasure" of a double injury. Make sure you eat and sleep OK and drink plenty of water. We are waiting for news. Good luck

In my dojo it's not a problem. In summer is quite hot and I've already started wearing a t-shirt. My karategi is quite heavy cotton and it cost me a small fortune so I tend to take care of my top (usually it suffers more from perspiration). The only "problem" is in these occasions I just line up with those without a gi, and it's not such a problem also. I think clothing is not the most important thing in training although I love wearing my gi and belt

WOW. I haven't even been born when you started I'm here from '78, so no chance to keep up with you guys. I'm in Shotokan for almost 3 great years. I wish they were more to count, but life goes on

Great story indeed and we've got a lot to learn from it. I've decided to dedicate all my successes to my grandpa who didn't make it in the battle with cancer. Still it's an inspiration for me and a reason to keep on working. Keep up the effort and good luck in your way

Been there too. After 3 months in Karate I put up a site with many information about the stuff. I was indeed very well informed and studied a lot about techniques and so on. Still my body was a slow learner. I knew what I had to do, I knew were I was making mistakes, still it was hard to to the things correctly. It comes with the time. Work hard and know your stuff theoretically and practical. It would be OK

Kanazawa is a "boss" at JKA. 10th Dan in Shotokan (real rank, hard won, not like some others ). I think the guy was training indeed hard and maybe he incorporated some modern ways along with the traditional stuff. Maybe some other shotos here could help us

That wouldn't be a problem. Let them get drunk from water, and get beaten. Unfortuantelly the put up some money machine in order to benefit from other's ignorance and that's a problem

In my dojo you can sometimes teach even if not a BB. It happens sometimes when we are many and work kata for instance. In order to have all people work their respective kata, some higher ranks are asked to take care of the beginners. I've done it quite some times and I must say it's quite unpleasant to have somebody put his nose in your work. I had my share of that, but I just let them know I was asked to warm up or show a combination or a kata, so it means I kinda know what I'm doing. I'm quite tall and work hard so they respect and fear me, though I wouldn't hit anyone with no reason. It harder to work with a guy your age, who thinks he's the master of all living MA's. Kids are usually OK. They are younger than me and know I'm an adult. So it's OK. Guys my age are a problem sometimes, but when they get to know me and to work they kinda respect me. They see I could really do some damage and that they've got something to learn from me. It's like in a wolf pack. Let them know you've got sharp teeth and are not willing to take their *. And it should work

A common mistake indeed. The fact those who train and are watched move so nice and look great in their outfit, doesn't mean the one looking at them is gonna be a genius in Karate the soon he takes the Karategi. A thorough look and some weeks of training are necesary in order to make sure that's what you really want and this is the path to be followed. Buying a gi from the first lesson is a waste of money. You can't wear it on the street and the equipment is not that cheap. So, watch, try and afterwards buy

It's childish, still half of the threads started here are x art vs. y art

Nice to have you here Make yourself at home and start writing

I second your words I am stronger, faster, good looking (last weekend I was with my friends and the girls started showing off their abs. Well .. nothing compared with mine, hard and very nice looking. Thank you Karate ) ... I can concentrate better, I feel I learn faster, anyway .. only good things Not to mention I last long ... if you know what I mean

It's important to visualise the opponent (invisible as he is). I've learnt that last week when I was trying to teach a beginner Taikyoku Shodan (the kata some dojos teach in order to help beginners with the sequence of movements .. we do it also and it's quite helpful). So back at the day. She was in mist regarding the turns and kept blocking with the other hand, so I just put my foot near her body and told her: "this is gonna hit you. Block it while turning". Needless to say she didn't missuse her hands anymore. And she saw the need for the darn block (not to mention she was happy she could hit me ... and I let her to make her feel good ) .. in few minutes she was doing the kata quite convincing.