TraditionalDan

This sounds very similar to a situation I have recently found myself in. I'm looking to join a new school now.

I just thought I would share an inspirational thought I had whilst training last night. It’s all to do with purity, and perfection. What karate-do is seeming to unveil itself more and more to me as. I noticed how silent my personal dojo was whilst sitting in seiza, I noticed how pure the water, and nothing else I was drinking was. The air which I was breathing, fresh in from the valley and the sea of which I often train overlooking. My mind empty of thoughts, just having a sense of existing. It seems to me that this, is probably as close as I can get to being ‘human’, or alive in it’s fullest form. The energy that flows through me, my attention registered in almost every part of my body. Surely this is when we are at our best, when we fulfil our experience as beings in this universe.

I don't suppose I could hitch a lift? 100 miles! Wow, that's some discipline in itself. But well done on picking up others, that's admirable. It's something that I will bear in mind.

I had exactly the same problem, but I gave it a bit of time and it's ok.

I think this may be a cultural thing too.

Of course, this would be desirable, but as I have explained before, this really isn't the case.

Thanks everyone for your posts, I'd like to reply to all of them but I am at work! You are all speaking perfect sense and I don't doubt any word of what any of you are saying. I am still awaiting an e-mail reply from Bob, so I'll let you know what the outcome is of that. Yes I do know the guy from Shoshinkan, and he tests the makiwaras of the guy who sells them. But his club is a bit out of my way at the moment as I am learning to drive. Once I obtain my licence and a car I think there will be many more possibilities opened up, and for a good club, I will not mind the travel.

Funnily enough, I am waiting to hear back from them via e-mail. It's been a few days now. I would like to train in either Goju or Shotokan, and I understand that it may be a while to earn the grading requirements. Oh, and AngelaG, I think you may know me from another karate forum.

I agree with this as far as karate goes, a direct, penetrating and powerful technique if mastered.

This is exactly it, most of the instructors in GKR are not black belts, they are senior students who wear a black and white belts. Don't get me wrong, there are some good instructors in GKR, and I have one instructor in our whole region who I deem my sensei. (2nd dan). It is all a bit shoddy, and I do have a background in karate, but I still have time to resolve this. Maybe when I learn to drive I may have to travel a bit.

The transition from kung fu to goju would, I believe, be quite a smooth one. Goju can definately be of the contrasts you are looking for, but sometimes so can shotokan. Give a class a try, I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks gheinisch, I have heeded your words, and as such I am going to keep more of an open mind. Sorry about posting twice, this computer at work is rather slow!

Thanks for the advice, but cosidering that I used to train with GKR I don't think it is too bad. The senseis there were younger than me, they weren't older more experienced guys either. The problem is, that I haven't found a club that does train hard, or rather, well. I have seen a few so far and have actually been quite disappointed, and I'm fully aware that I would be on the receiving end of 'smackdown' if I was too cocky. I see so many great and knowledgeable karateka on the net and in books, yet I can't seem to find them! I also think that there is thin line between ego, and knowing better. I am actually a rather humble, and peaceful person who trains diligently. I am not an egotistical person whatsoever, just being truthful. I'm sorry if I came across the wrong way, I just think that I didn't explain or provide enough information. Maybe I just take my karate-do very seriously, and I am aiming for the highest standards, I just want to have a good knowledgable sensei. I don't want to settle for anything mediocre, or the, dare I say the 'McDojo' I was with. All GKR did for me was to allow a hall in which I could train. Yet again I am sorry if I came across wrong.

Hello all! I have currently stopped training with the club I was with for 2 and a half years. I had done martial arts before I had joined this club, and had graded to 4th kyu since. Until I had got to a point where I felt my karate skill/knowledge was overtaking that of the sensei/s there, by quite a way. This was probably because I train more often than them, and research more into karate as a whole. The problem is that I cannot find many clubs around me, and those I can will probably have me start from white belt again. When I believe my skills to be much greater, from what I have seen. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on this?

I am looking for a high quality karate gi and I may purchase one from Tokaido, or possibly Shureido. I am about 5'5 and have purchased a gi before, supposedly for my size, but the sleeves/trousers were to long, and the jacket too short. (For my preference anyway). I understand that Tokaido do a tournament gi, that has a longer jacket, and shorter sleeves/trousers. Has anyone purchased one from any of these companies or another? If so what were they like? Thanks.

The kick being effective depends on how the kick is executed. But yes, lower kicks are definately better off overall.

I think it could help a non trained person to some extent, but then they may as well at least train to hit properly. As a kareteka, I feel that the lighter could create an angle on the fingers, thus making the fist glance off of the opponent/attacker, as opposed to channeling all the force into the aggressor. Not entirely, but in these situations, you need all you can get no matter how trained. (In karate this would be with the first two knuckles/seiken).

Do you mean damage to the foot? If so, I disagree. The ball of the foot can take and do great damage if trained properly.

I too have seen that before, and it gives you an idea of the man's intensity. Quite inspiring.

It can be either, but generally in karate it's the ball of the foot. Although it is easier to use the shin, or instep, you can project a great amount of force/shock in a round kick using this method. With the ball of the foot, it is all this force concentrated on a smaller surface area, so as for a more 'damaging' and penetrating technique. Which is why people use the ball of the feet to break with, if you practice with the ball of the foot, the shin/instep will become easy.

Of course, but there are many techiques that are, I know you are aware of this. But then again, even the most unnatural of techniques can feel natural if trained enough.

I have encountered both feelings on a few occasions, and you are correct, they are quite different. Anybody who think that competitions are the same as the street, they need to rethink.

I could not agree more with this post, I still think that boxing is good enough for self defence and is a powerful tool in one's arsenal. But I too would rather watch MMA, even though it does put across the wrong image sometimes.

I often train in 'a main artillery' of techniques, ones that are drilled over and over so they can be quickly pulled out of the bag if necessary. The main factor to take into consideration is effectiveness, then simplicity and finally consequences. Not necessarily in that order, but you get the idea. I think that here (UK) resonable force deems that any means necessary can be used to escape a situation if you truly believe your life to be under threat. But should we still try to not use lethal techniques? I don't think that we should try to use them but in a more controlled way, but rather employ a technique that can be used at full force that will prove effective without taking a life. What are your opinions on how we defend ourselves in the eyes of the law?