Daisho

This might be at the heart of our difference in opinion about this. Where I'm originally from, you couldn't walk into a boxing gym to save your life. In all honesty, you'd be pretty lucky if someone had an uncle John who boxed in the Navy. I didn't notice you were from New Jersey until just now, and I certainly understand where you're coming from. You'd have to drive a long time to find a Shotokan gym where I'm originally from, and if you were interested in something like that, a brown belt who had a good teaching style would be appreciated. The guys that still attend my "home gym" are 25 miles from a TKD gym, 25 miles from a good MMA gym, over an hour away from a legitimate Muay Thai Gym, over an hour away from a legit BJJ school, and I couldn't tell you where you could find a dedicated karate dojo. So, yeah - in the metropolis of New Jersey, this guy's idea probably sounds insane. From my personal location and therefore history, a million dollars couldn't get you a karate lesson within walking distance. Maybe this is a case of location, location, location? It's hard for us to not say "the more the merrier", whereas in a real life city, you're probably full to the gills. If I were in a large city with lots of competition, I'd be nuts to open up a school without some seriously amazing credentials. Man Liver, ya know I hand't even considered how difficult it might be in other areas to find instruction. I live about 5 mins from Manhattan, 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, 5 mins from Brooklyn, Queens, 25 mins from the Bronx etc. There's literally A TON of schools here. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Okinawan, Philippino, boxing, wrestling, etc etc etc. I guess either way CallMeLuke has received a ton of feedback highlighting both sides of the situation. From here it's up to him to decide how useful his program might be.

Kintanon vs Sirc Gong SauBets? Kintanon's guard better be sick. Can Sirc strike though? Kintanon is a kyokushin BB on top of BJJ blue (purple?) belt. No striking game is a nightmare among amateur fights. I learned that the hard way in that fight vs the MT/wrestler from Queens.

honestly bushido, among people who've had any decent quality of instruction, I've experienced nothing but respect and camaraderie in the martial arts community. It's too bad schools like this even exist. If people left that class that night and thought to themselves how shoddy Judo must be in comparison to their training due to their sensei's apparent disdain for my experience, it's a real shame…. as the type of Sambo that guy seems to be teaching seems like nothing more then poorly executed and understood Judo anyway. I mean the whole point of the throw they were trying to teach is to feint a push technique first to get the opponent's momentum moving into you to accelerate the throw. Not only was that part completely left out, but these poor guys are trying to do it all with arm strength alone. yeeesh

I hear exactly what you're saying, and I don't think we're really in disagreement at all. My Mcdojo comment wasn't directed at his potential school, but at the similarities it might have to the practices I remember in the late 80's early 90's. I've stated before that during that time, when I was 9 or so I joined an Isshin-ryu school. By 13 I had my first blackbelt, and in the 18 years since then I can't think of a single time I employed anything at all that I'd learned in that program. It gave me a terrible view of Isshin-ryu, that stuck with me until 5 years or so ago when I met an Isshin-ryu practitioner in a BJJ class that was more than just competent in fighting. The reason I bring that up is because when I realized I wanted to resume MA training, and went to the school over issues with other Isshin-ryu programs saying I wasn't certified, I was given the explanation that the sensei had broken away from Isshin-ryu 10 years before I'd even begun training, because he had issues with the association he was training in. Apparently he also had issues with the traditions of Isshin-ryu. In that dojo we wore gi's with belt rankings, and generally carried on in what you'd consider a very traditional way. So it seemed his only problem with tradition was the fact that he didn't want to bother continue training, and wanted to play karate master instead. As much as I agree with a lot of what you're saying, I also still disagree with some. He isn't fully trained in his style, and I'll use the same example you did of a boxing school/wrestling program. Could you imagine what a collegiate wrestling coach would say if you told him you were going to do all your pre-college wrestling in a school that had no affiliations, didn't compete, and had a wrestling instructor who was never a qualified practitioner? A boxing program would be even more so. I can't imagine walking into Harvey's and telling them that my choices to train seriously were between me learning there…. or me learning from my uncle John who did a few years of boxing in the Navy. Sure I might get some real practical training by either my uncle john, or some semi-qualified former wrestler, but that coach, or the head trainer from the boxing gym would think I was nuts. Maybe that sounds pretentious, but I can't imagine ever training in a place again where actual fighting skill and constant competition wasn't the measure in which people judged their self-defense abilities. I know in Judo, a lot of the best competitions are invitational and they invite according to the prestige of your program. Where would the people taking his class compete? Internet MMA events? I'd been a very serious student for 6 years by the time i went to my first mma throwdown, and my ability was strained. My sensei's had helped me with both my on the mat and off the mat regime, reworked my weightlifting and cardio programs, and other students who had experience competeting in MMA styled get-togethers took on the role of personal trainers in the gym to maximize my preparedness. Could you imagine someone walking in from a program that doesn't have inter-art competitions for them to hone their abilities, nor a sensei with any competition background? If you think I don't know how high the signal to noise ratio is in modern martial arts I'd like to direct you to my other thread: http://www.karateforums.com/trial-class-nightmare-vt40859.html . I live 2 blocks from a krav maga program that seems like it'd be better suited to have the people dress as wizards and monsters and battle it out with fake swords in the park. I just don't think having another school open up with an unqualified instructor is the answer to the problem. You travel to three separate cities to train in 3 different styles that you feel all lock in together to round out your ability. I've got nothing but respect for that, and am sure we could probably get together and talk for hours straight about martial arts and have a blast. But think back to being a newbie, and finding a local karate program that you think is going to have you ready to rumble; not judging the actual fighting skill of CallMeLuke, but do you think this kind of program would maximize whatever money/time you'd be spending?

If there was an implication in what I posted that I thought you weren't skilled enough to teach, that wasn't my intention. The points I really wanted to stress were the positives of being a member of an organization or association. In your school you'll be the only person capable of teaching your style, considering the modifications you've made. That will lead to a very narrow point of view. Also you'll be the only person that can rank and grade your students, and i'm a firm believer that an outside source for grading is of huge importance. I haven't seen anyone make this argument, so i have no idea who is being addressed by the comment. I can count to 10 in Japanese, have studied in a dojo that is very traditional, and at the same time has done EXTREMELY well in Judo competition. Outside of Judo competitions members from my dojo have competed in "Throwdowns" hosted by a different and well known martial arts website. My ability to count to 10 didn't hamper me from winning against a kyokushin/BJJ practitioner in my first Throwdown experience back in '08, nor did it hamper me from giving a MT fighter that had competed collegiantly in wrestling, a serious run for his money either. In a separate event hosted by The Universal Warrior Arts program I was able to take down and submit a taijitsu practitioner by rear naked choke in under 30 seconds. But then again, i love taking field trips. Also my post wasn't meant to say that only black belts have an understanding of their art, but I do come from a dojo where you don't make it to shodan without putting in some serious work, competiting successfully, and staying in top physical shape. It's disheartening to hear how many dojo's out there have belt systems that might be so useless as to be considered an afterthought. It sucks that people would have an experience like that. We've always had a lot of guys from law enforcement and the HArvey Boxing Studio that have come in to train, so the signal to noise ratio of nonsense martial arts has always been kept to a minimum. You're obviously going to do what you want to, but keep in mind at even the moderately expensive school, training is pretty cheap for the amount that you gain from it. Sure you're not looking to charge a fortune and fleece people, but could they spend a similar amount of cash and benefit more from a school with multiple instructors, that engages in competitions, and has a rotation of instructors that can visit and help bring fresh perspectives? Only you can answer exactly what you think you can bring to the field. Either way I think you'll save yourself a ton of second guessing if you just find a shotokan schoolt hat you can meet with the sensei and se eif you can qualify as a instructor level practitioner. The local schools might not want the competition, but a little trip to a further one might provide you with some insight. just my .02

i thought you meant kogusuko like a double edged knife, as opposed to a tanto. maybe the japanese term is something different. all our knife training was from Kali, which was taught by a member of local law enforcement. we don't have any traditional japanese knife training in that dojo.

haha, i meant bokken! we set up cones with rope bridging them 3 feet apart once around the track next to the dojo (1/4 mile) then hold the bokken over our head and two footed hop all the way around. it's guaranteed to make you light headed, and new students lose their lunch

the entire focus of your training should be to be better conditioned then those you train with, and be a better fighter than those around you. this isn't the pinnacle of your training, it's just the beginning of a new level of training you should be rededicating yourself to.

well you didn't list what type of karate you're taking, so it's hard to fine tune what you're looking for. as a general rule of thumb, you want to maximize your strength while minimizing the size you add. bulky muscles may look nice, but they also limit your agility in tight quarters like ground game, grappling etc. in Judo strong biceps are a great plus, but big biceps also give your opponent something to grab on to. I always focus on core strength because that' where most of your power and explosiveness will be generated. power cleans, squats, deadlifts, crunches, back extensions, chin-ups, dips will get your core in really good shape. You can look up a workout routine called starting strength for a great start where you'll see very quick strength gains. on top of that i'd immediately start doing long sets of deep lunges, push-ups, and crunches. get your thighs, abs, chest, and back as strong as you can. it will help a ton in stabilization and balance. there's also ways to maximize explosiveness and power (kettle ball training etc), but that would come after you've begun building your overall strength. I know i mention this a lot on here, but you can't take your own fitness level serious enough when it comes to MA. not only will it make your own style feel more natural, and give your dojo mates a better experience (as they get to train against someone of decent strength and conditioning), but it will greatly reduce the risk of injury to yourself. PLUS cardio cardio cardio cardio. I can't think of a single legit school that won't run your behind into the ground your first month or so there. I shared my own personal story where just to join up i had to prove that i could jump rope 15 minutes straight. As far as what you should eat, well that's up to your training. If you're looking to gain strength and cardio, plus martial arts training your calorie intake is going to go through the roof! eat clean when you can. i've made some small changes to my diet that have had a massive impact on my health. Like i switched all my breads, pasta's and rice intake to whole wheat options (which i've found i like a lot better). fiber helps the metabolism, and therefore the elimination of toxins from the body. also being a protein source in carb form, which will allow you to sneak more protein into your diet without even realizing it. peanut butter is a great fat for supporting healthy testosterone levels, which will help with muscle building. i always take a multi vitamin as well. as far as supplements, they're way less important than the working out itself, so i wouldn't worry much about them. i always down a protein shake after my morning gym sessions, and a protein shake mixed with a carb (like a vanilla shake with a yogurt dumped in) to replenish after dojo sessions. i also take acidophilus regularly as it helps build up healthy bacteria, which coats the skin and helps you fend off things you can get from class like ring worm etc. Anti-bacterial soaps and whatnot usually build really resistant bacteria, and since we use anti-bacterial stuff on our mats, hands, etc that can be a bad combo. I prefer to do the opposite and foster a healthy bacterial life, something i learned form eddie bravo's jujutsu school. i've read tons of mma guys do the same thing, and many mat companies now have a pro-biotic wash/coating that fosters bacteria that actually fights off bad ones. this is a ton of info i realize, so if i were you i'd keep it all in mind, but i'd defintely start doing lunges, building my cardio, doing push-ups/chin-ups, and crunches, while adding a protein shake after my workouts. those changes alone would be of massive benefit.

i remember when i took my first month of Judo classes, most of my dojo had travelled away for a competition, and it was just me, one other student, and our instructor. I thought that was really ideal, as the amount of instruction was so high and direct. but practicing against one opponent where you couldn't change partners was really limiting how i learned the technique. i was far stronger than my opponent, but not nearly as large… and so i was only learning how to make the technique work 1 single way. it made the first grip i learned seem pointless, as it put me at a disadvantage against my larger opponent. when students returned and i had to fight against guys that were naturally faster than me, but not larger… the grip made a ton more sense.

this is funny, but it's also a really good point!

i think having the youtube is going to be a lot of fun for you to look back on and watch how your training and skill increases overtime. i would pay a year's salary to see my first isshin-ryu class back when i was 9. i remember being amazed that our instructor wasn't asian firstly, and then running ove rin the middle of warm-ups to go throw a flying kick at a heavy bag, for no apparent reason. I mean I just hopped out of line, ran full tilt at the bag, let out the most terrifying kia my 9 year old lungs/vocal chords could handle and leapt into a flying kick. then drove my dad crazy telling him i wanted a blue belt and a pair of nunchucks!

man Geo, that's so ignorant on his part that it drives me nuts. a friend of mine faced a similar situation when we went to a BJJ studio and was informed all his years in TKD was worthless. This guy had ridiculous power and thighs like tree trunks. Anyway he came to train with us, which is how we met, and his Judo game became ridiculous really fast. Having that background in TKD, plus the ability to keep himself off the mat, he was an absolute beast. the guy would do all sorts of feinted kicks and windmill looking kicks that came in so damn fast it was more than a little intimidating getting in close enough without blindly rushing. then once you were inside his Judo game was all sorts of tight. i can't think of any MA that can't be taught to be extremely effective. The fact that his TKD dojo made heavy use of spar and kumite, and they regularly competed made his ability to fight leaps and bounds better than anyone we'd ever seen join our dojo as a white belt.

no, it certainly wasn't. my former dojo had had many outside instructors come in from Judo, JJJ, and BJJ schools and we were always more than willing to learn how we could improve our art. ha, thanks. in all honesty i didn't exactly feel slighted enough to prove myself. I've always competed very well in regional Judo tournys, and have won quite a few local Judo competitions. I've proved myself among my own peers, in a very highly respected martial art. To think that JUdo is useless on the ground shows me how ignorant he is of my training, as it wouldn't be a stretch to assume my JJ to be good enough to put him in a seriously bad position once i did get him on the ground. i was really hoping this wasn't true. From some of the Sambo I've seen from the NYSC guys I'm very interested in how Sambo could increase my arsenal on top of my Judo/JJJ training. being $199 it would be very hard for me to continue both my gym membership and take on training. I don't know if I could design a military styled strength workout that would keep me in the kind of physical shape that I'm used to bringing onto the mat, nor do I know exactly how they would effect my ability to actually fight. Like would it be a net gain to lose some strength and explosiveness, but gain more tools…. or would i be better served being as strong and fast as possible with my current martial art ability. I guess if I choose to go into Sambo, I'm going to find an answer to this question either way.

congrats KITA! did you compete/participate in any of the events?