superleeds

The colour red represents authority/power, in the japanese culture. So that could explain why japanese sensei's does not like, members of their style adding that colour to their belt. It's like an "unauthorized promotion" of sorts.

I dont think that sensei Higashi will lose any sleep over it. Does sensei Andy Covac's train at your dojo btw?

Reverse for me also...

I cant believe I actually read this entire thread...

Sensei Higashi visited our dojo some months ago. He's very down to earth, and quite funny. he's the sort of sensei who will always find a way to make learning karate an enjoyable experience. That he also has the highest rank you can have in Chito-Ryu doesn't hurt either.

Have you checked out sensei Higashi's dojo yet?

You can also check out the local Chito-Ryu dojo's. I think sensei Higashi (8th.Dan) teaches in Toronto. Higashi sensei is the leader of Chito-Ryu in Europe and Canada. Happy hunting.

Thanks Saint. I'll need it!

Get this! 3 days ago i agreed to enter another tournament. What they didnt tell me, is that there are no skill level categories at all . Best man/woman wins....I'am so gonna get my * whopped! Even the national team is entering this one!!! After all it is the national championships. But I feel that they should have warned me..

yup. My mates (also orange belts) went up against 3rd and 4th dans. scary scary scary.... Were all happy we didnt go up against them in the kumite part of the competition

I'm currently wearing an orange belt.

Well my first tournament sure was a humbling experience! The kata competition was arranged as a cup, where I was "lucky" enough to compete against a 1st dan from Norways best karate dojo when it comes to kata. Needless to say I didnt go on to the next round. The kumite part of the competition was arranged as a series. In my first match I got my butt handed to me (and then some) My opponent has been doing karate for 2 years, which actually is twice as long as I have done...He told me after the match that if I hadnt been so defensive I would have won the match. Wich was a very nice gesture. The other 2 matches was a much better afair as far as I'm concerned. I have a new competition coming up in 14 days time. I can hardly wait. (My injured hands can though ) Thank you everyone for all the encouragement!

I'm attending my first tournament tomorrow (semi-contact kumite+kata) I'm literally tingling with excitement.

It depends on you really, and your instructor obviously. I dont know what sort of style you do but after your first/second test, varying on the style you train in, your technique should allow you to as we say in our dojo "to use the floor" i.e. use the muscles in your feet through the hips to add power to your punches. And do wear a cup i've been kicked in the groin quite a few times in the recent weeks. these things happen all the time. So unless you enjoy pain a lot (each to his own ) wear it!!! good luck and enjoy your self.

Why on earth would someone have music to the kata they are performing??????? Yuk!

Lifting weights work for me, as a supplement to my karate training that is.

Yo Monkeygirl! Why are you currently retired??

We spar with the black belts and brown belts all the time..Dosen't everyone?

One of thr girls at my dojo didnt have to take a test. Last thursday sensei was training our blackbelts and brown belts. After a while he comes over to the brownbelt girl and basically tells her that she is waaaaay to good to be a brown belt and promotes her to black.(just like that!) This has never happened before in our dojo's 30 years of history!

since we have about 5 different instructors each week, no training looks the same. But it is generally starting withs some stretching/warm up exercises. then we'll do some basics, some kata and then a bit of kumite. We do most of the stretching after class. We train about 5 times a week. Fridays we do ju-jutsu though.

I think everyone does them from time to time, some obviously do it more than others though. A nice variation is to vary between making all three punches count, or doing the first or the second punch as a "sucker punch". Where you hit can also change from time to time, as a nice variation.

Yup I do that to..It really impresses my freinds..

I should hope not!