PLEASE HELP ME!!!

[OkinawaKarate04]

Ok, I have been training with nunchaku and kama since june when i got my 1st Dan and i am about ta start with bo and i have heard the purple heart is the best...sorry for bring up a topic i am sure is already on here i just need to know where i can find one price is not a issue i just cant find anything i am about 6'2 and need somthing that is about 6'6

 

I also feel like i have hit a wall and i am wondering if anyone can help me out or if anyone has been in the same situation:

 

I have been teaching for about 2 years and i have hit a point when i would like to start controling my ki more or at lease have a larger increase in power more on in inner level then on a physical level and i have found it hard to talk to people about it with out getting some wierd looks. I guess many people see the martial arts as a strictly physical activity not as a way of life as it was intended. Does anyone else feel that frustration. I feel to many people lack serious dedication

 

Thanks

[Sauzin]

Ok first question, go to this web site and order it from them. You will be in purpleheart paradise:

 

http://www.murasakikobudo.com/pages/products.html

 

Your second question has a simple answer and a not so simple answer. The simple answer is you inner power will strengthen over time and repetitive kata practice, specifically as your Sanchin grows so will your control and projection of chi assuming you've got a qualified instructor.

 

The more complicated answer involves your definition of what karate was really meant for. You must understand that there are many views of what "karate as a way of life" means among traditional martial artists. It does not always mean that karate should focus or include chi specific exersizes or development. I will tell you this; some of the most amazing chi I've ever seen demonstrated was from a 4' 10" 90lb Okinawan called Seikichi Odo who didn't believe in it. That's right. He believed chi was made up out of lack of understanding and was convinced it was an unnecessary distraction. Yet he was able to pick up and throw 260lb men across the room and drive wooden military tent spikes into the ground with a single palm strike. Things that were not seemingly physically possible.

 

I guess what I'm saying is you might try worrying less about chi and focus on kata. You are only a Sho-dan, so you are just beginning. I am a little concerned you are teaching at such an early rank. As a San-dan I do "co-teach" but I do so under the supervision of 5th dan and I am hesitant to take credit for actually teaching, since I am really only passing on instruction that has been approved by a real teacher. Your rank would denote that you are very early in the game. You should not be frustrated that you are not a chi master yet.

[OkinawaKarate04]

I guess i shoud refrase some of what i said i dont excpect any mastery of chi i would just like a better undstanding of it. And on the matter of teaching i am also under the supervision of my sensei i guess i should have worded that diffrently i only mean that i am at the stage where i teach solo but i am still under supervision i agree that i am nowere near ready to teach alone i am still novice for that. Thank you for your wisdom. When it comes to chi... i just feel that some times i feel energy that i cant understand i feel like alot of what i do contains alot of wasted energy and i hope to understand myself more the actual development of my chi is somthing i dont even grasp yet. Sorry if this is too personal but how old are you you speak as if you have age and excperiance over mine. Thank You

[Sauzin]

i just feel that some times i feel energy that i cant understand i feel like alot of what i do contains alot of wasted energy and i hope to understand myself more the actual development of my chi is somthing i dont even grasp yet.

 

I like this wording. Don't worry it's not too personal. The answer (if there is such a thing) is in kata.

 

I know what you are referring to and my opinion is that you need to keep working kata and give it some time. In time as you practice your kata your body and mind will gain control, focus, and efficiency of this energy that you are building. The kata in Goju are more then sufficient to do this when practiced properly. Work the physical details. Work correct positions, once you hit these consistently, work the transitions and the efficiency of movement, then work the timing, when you tense what muscles and then work when and where you focus on what movement. These things will occupy you for years and years then seemingly without noticing you will find that your energy will align and focus to match your physical precision.

 

There are other ways, but this is the most common approach in Goju-ryu.

 

Oh and weapons help too.

[Shorin Ryuu]

Oh...I didn't see this post before I posted on the other one.

 

Anyway, Sauzin gives some excellent advice. I especially like how he said the answer lies in the kata, of which I am a staunch advocate.

 

I do disagree with him on one point, though. I think that perhaps by the shodan level (I had started before), you should try to start incorporating energy (ki/chi energy) into your kata, or at least try and figure out what it is. It obviously won't come to you right away, but that is where the time comes in.

 

I think it is necessary to start thinking about these concepts early (at least by shodan level, you should have all the movements down in the kata, so you don't need to worry about that). Since there are so many layers of kata (bunkai, biomechanics, energy, etc.), I think it would be such a waste to only think about energy years and years down the line. Eventually, I think it is the goal to seamlessly integrate all the layers of the kata at once. However, I am unable to do this perfectly (or perhaps even well), so I do them individually. I usually do each kata three or four times. The first time, I do it completely without any thought or focus. The second time time, I do it concentrating on bunkai and visualizing the opponent. The third time, I try to listen solely to how my body feels in terms of energy and biomechanics. The last time, I try and do all of the stages at once. Granted, there will be some overlap in these stages, and I actually try and pay attention to energy and biomechanics during every stage. Sometimes, I just do them all at once without breaking up the levels of analysis. But you get the picture.

 

But once again, since I believe energy plays such an integral role in what you do and where you want to head towards in your kata and karate, I think it is beneficial to think about these things even in the earlier stages of training. Now if you aren't comfortable in knowing your kata, then Sauzin and I are in agreement: you should worry more about learning the basic pattern. After a point, however, even if you are learning a new kata, you should be incorporating all these levels when you learn it, not just learning the basic pattern like you did back when you were first starting.

 

And then, I revert to the often used, but never over-used answer: "It takes time."

[OkinawaKarate04]

Thank you both

[Sauzin]

I don't disagree with you entirely Shorin Ryuu. The best way to do it is to focus on all the aspects at once. I haven't found very many people who can do this right off the bat though as you noted it is difficult. I noticed you described energy and biomechanics on the same step. The problem I have is with people who separate them. Like you said, you really can't. But what do you say when you are asked, "How do I incorporate chi?"

 

I usually reply, "How do you not incorporate chi?"

 

What makes chi work well? Proper breathing, correct body position, efficient movement, and the proper mindset. What does a person need to know about chi to do these things? I'm not saying don't think about it or don't learn about it. I'm saying you don't need to. In fact if you focus on it too much, especially during kata, you may miss one of the fundamental things that makes it work. Instead I suggest passive awareness of chi while doing kata. Acknowledge that chi does exist but do not attempt to force its existence. Instead focus on the things that allow it to work and it will develop and strengthen naturally over time.