AndrewGreen

kempo & Kenpo are the same word romanized differently. One (kenpo) usually refers to Ed Parkers "American Kenpo-Karate" lineage though. But they are the same thing. They mean "Fist Law", kendo means "sword way"

Side kicks require a lot of commitment and are hard to recover from. Depending on who you are fighting and what rules (if any) are involved they can be very useful. However you are sideways it is not hard for someone to slip in behind you and take your back. It is also very hard to sprawl off of one. If they land they're great, but if they miss you're in trouble. They are also not that easy to land against a more experienced fighter. A front kick will do almost the same thing and leave you in a better position for whatever comes next.

themat.com - coaches corner section at the bottom and judoinfo.com would be a good start. I'd recommend starting with some clinch control, a double leg takedown and a sprawl...

Isshin ryu has 2 sai kata, 3 bo kata and 1 tonfa kata (not always), sometimes a 3rd sai kata as well Order depends on your school. You will learn either bo or sai first, and then the other. TOnfa comes much later (usually not required till 4th dan, but often learnt earlier) Some groups do weapons before black, others don't do weapons until after black. Ask your instructor,

Just keep in mind that most karate instructors don't speak Japanese, Dojo japanese and what people would say in Japan are often different. The names can vary from club to club, ask your instructor if he has a list.

Right, "traditional" is a bad word to use

and any top level wrestler will have very good form, same for any top level BJJ, Boxer, MMA, etc. My point was that these are not really considered "traditional" arts, although they are older. The reason is in there training methods, which are based on sports-like competition, not tradtitions.

I think what most people are refering to is training methods, not the name on the sign. TKD may be recent but it uses what are considered to be the "traditional" training methods. Kata, one-steps, 3-steps, horse stance punching, non-resistance on most techniques and sparring using very restrictive rules. Judo and wrestling would not be considered traditional either, but wrestling is older then most "traditional arts" that are being practiced.

Glove up and spar...

At the end of class say "Congratulations, here is your new belt" and thats it.

Slip to the outside and take the back on the linear ones. Shoot on the kicks Oh and forget about blocking, just go straight to the takedown, its faster

Actually MMA fighters have a lot more realistic views on there abilities, because they test them daily. Go to any MMA board and look for discussions on dealing with weapons or multiple attackers. The only response you will find is "Don't try it" Now go to Traditional boards and magazines and you will find all sorts of bad A$$es who can tell you exactly how to do it.

Wish I knew... He's also not going to expect me to jump up and down screaming and try to pee on him. That doesn't mean it will work... (although this might work better then relying on a reverse punch ) Some do, but a very large portion of them only know how to fight other karate fighters.

for more information see Sonny Chiba

The mythical creature who every traditional stylist fantasises about reverse punching... I think there was an X-files episode about it once...

*sits on hands* I can't resist. BULL!! That would group a whole lot of schools as McDojo's that I don't think you want to. Rank - Rank is nonsense, ignore it. I have a hard time seeing it, I think the whole idea is silly. Different schools do different things. A McDojo is a school which doesn't meet the criteria of the person calling it that. There are things that I think are wrong like long term contracts, belt testing fees and saying you provide something you don't (ex functional martial arts)

One more thing, A reverse punch or a front snap kick require a very specific engagement distance, one which no street fighter (or untrained fighter) would fight you at. I'd say it would be a lot easier to get a karate trained person with a reverse punch then anyone else, they are the only ones that put themself in the right position to get one... Work on controlling a clinch, thats more likely to help you out. And try to pick up some boxing skills. Reverse punches don't show up anywhere but karate dojo's for a reason.

LOL Yes, I've seen a lot of "Proper" defences that really make things easier for the other guy.

Nope, many karate fighters are only trained to fight other karate fighters. Street fighters don't follow a karate fighters "rules".

I think that is a little more myth then fact. A sword will generally beat someone armed with any of those.

put him on his back ...

They're gym clothes, treat them as such.

Depends on your interests.. In Thai boxing being able to fight with a 3-sectional staff won't help much. Pretty much anywhere but in training that won't help much. But it is fun, and I do it. SOme weapons are more practical then that though, Doesn't matter, I have fun with and with out so I do both.

If you can't deal with a haymaker punch after a month or two of training (at most) find a new school...