Style: Shotokan karate-do

How long: 6 months

Rank: Orange Belt 7th kyu

Recommend: definately and without a doubt.

A few years back i took Judo for 3 years and got to the rank of 1st kyu or Brown Belt and after two different organizations students was never able to take the test for 1st dan black belt as i moved away from the club.

After a couple years of sampling various Judo and Karate clubs only to find poorly organized or those with "buy-a-belt" philosophies..i finally came upon what i train in now. 1/2 a year ago i joined a JKA club in the ottawa area from which i was incredibly impressed. It represents and adheres to the common values that most martial arts share, and those who train there have the right attitude and desire to learn. I train under a 6th dan Sensei who immigrated from Japan and has taught here for close to 35 years, and have had the honor of attenting two intensive training camps under the guidance of an 8th dan grand master from the Japan Karate Association, one which was held just this past weekend in toronto.

Although quite a few martial arts enthusiasts belittle the practical methods and doctrines of Okinawan karate styles, if taught properly and used correctly they can be just as or even more deadly than other prolific modern martial arts, while still retaining their more sport-oriented aspects.

If anyone else takes shotokan or any of the other okinawan styles like wado-ryu, shorin-ryu, or goju-ryu, i'd enjoy chatting with you about it.

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I go with my furious fists after half a fifth!



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when i was 13, i went to learn aikido, and accidently broke someone's shoulder with a too powerful kick, so my parents didnt let me go back there.
a year later i went to study capoeira, stayed there for a year or two, dont remember.
was plenty of fun, but i stopped it in favor of focusing completely on music.

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quote:

Originally posted by Psy-T when i was 13, i went to learn aikido, and accidently broke someone's shoulder with a too powerful kick, so my parents didnt let me go back there. a year later i went to study capoeira, stayed there for a year or two, dont remember. was plenty of fun, but i stopped it in favor of focusing completely on music.

although i've never taken it i have several friends who continue to practice aikido, and i was under the impression that it was a strikeless martial art, consisting of nearly only holds and throws so that could be reasoning for you being scolded for kicking..

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quote:

Originally posted by d0uble h3lix although i've never taken it i have several friends who continue to practice aikido, and i was under the impression that it was a strikeless martial art, consisting of nearly only holds and throws so that could be reasoning for you being scolded for kicking..

I think it was probably more the parents who objected to the injury - I know that, as an instructor, I understood the risks involved with letting children partner up together, especially when they were intermediate belts (just got some skill, not enough control )

I am under the impression that Aikido and Hapkido are very similar - just one is from Japan, and one is from Korea, respecitvely. I'm not saying that both styles are the same, I'm just saying that they're similar in the respect that they both emphasize defense with the whole body - controlled movements involving legs as much as hands and small-circle diversions. Such as deflecting a straight attack with a brushing motion in a small circle away from you - anyone know any better ? the distinction between the two, that is.

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There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Not to come off as an asshole, but every time Ive been to martial arts classes (a lot) its filled with a coterie of girls (who just cant fight, im sorry to shatter illusions) old people, fat people, skinny people, nerds, and just generally people who nature has decreed non-combatants.


It comes down to this:

People who can fight, can fight. It doesnt matter if they never have formal training or not, theyll most likely be able to kick your ass no matter what training youve had (unless you too, are a fighter)

Ive met people from every school of training and ive never found one to be better.

Mainly because anyone whos actually been in a fight knows that its about 2 punches and then youre on the ground wrestling.

Ive seen so many people talk about their training then just start wailing on people and kicking them on the ground.

Ah well. People who havent been in street fights will get grounded one day you know when someone hasnt been in a fight when they are cocky as shit and get in your face.

Let people enter your space, dont enter others.

!

Yep, NInjars are no match for the Superheroes!!!




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quote:

Originally posted by Orbax Not to come off as an asshole, but every time Ive been to martial arts classes (a lot) its filled with a coterie of girls (who just cant fight, im sorry to shatter illusions) old people, fat people, skinny people, nerds, and just generally people who nature has decreed non-combatants.

You're very right about this - but that's just the beginning. Those with enough drive can better themselves to the point of being sufficient combatants - women (in my experience observing) drop out because they see no further point to continue training. They often-times find it stupid and pointless to be the best at anything, it's just lack of comparable competitive nature I suppose. In that respect, women are smarter because they drop out of the game before they can get beat-down. But in the end, it's always those pig-headed men who get back up after every trip, every fall to do it all over again. Men just tend to be stubborn, I guess - the Martial Arts are just one of those universal oddities that reward this trait As for the other people you mentioned...yea.

A lot of people join because it's an activity, or because their parents/loved ones enrolled them, etc... I find it absolutely beautiful when somebody who joined as a complete novice with an open mind rises to become something sensational. You just know it when you see those people who have transformed their bodies and their minds into something far different than when they began. The martial arts are not about combat - they are about progression. If you have limited yourself to thinking that they are all about defending yourself in a 'street-fight' then I cannot take you seriously as a martial artist. Sorry if this comes off as kinda flamey, I don't mean it to be, but at the very base of things, by the very definition thereof, The Martial Way is an art - not a mere defense tactic from the cold, hard world. Sort of a state of mind thing, I guess. Of course, this is just my opinion - all different people have all different reasons for taking up self-defense and/or the martial arts.

quote:

It comes down to this: People who can fight, can fight. It doesnt matter if they never have formal training or not, theyll most likely be able to kick your ass no matter what training youve had (unless you too, are a fighter) Ive met people from every school of training and ive never found one to be better. Mainly because anyone whos actually been in a fight knows that its about 2 punches and then youre on the ground wrestling. Ive seen so many people talk about their training then just start wailing on people and kicking them on the ground. Ah well. People who havent been in street fights will get grounded one day you know when someone hasnt been in a fight when they are cocky as shit and get in your face. Let people enter your space, dont enter others. !

You're quite right about this as well - there are just people in this world who just have a killer instinct - the will not hesitate to beat the piss out of someone. Therein lies exactly where I believe 'winning' a fight comes from though, pure will. It takes a lot of confidence to fight another person, many people (especially in our current society) just aren't up to the task, and who can blame them? Fighting is no good for anyone, really - especially when it's between one who wants to fight and one who does not (sparring and fighting are considered 2 different situations in this case). I'm not saying that you can 'win' a fight merely by willing yourself to; it does take a degree of training/skill for some people - luckily, though, nobody wins a fight; one person goes to jail and the other to the hospital.

I do agree that people who don't know the reality of a situation tend to be cocky - especially those who have studied some martial arts before, but the best self-defense is eaither a) running b)talking your way out. So many people seem so eager to embroil themselves in a brawl, it's not surprising that such weak individuals (untrained fat kids, skinny kids, old people, women) feel the need to join the Martial arts initially.

Where did I go with this?

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There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Yeah, i havent been in a fight in years. Im the guy at the bar who has a million people constantly coming to sit down with me because im just this friendly crazy drunk guy who knows drinking songs and likes to invite people to sit down lol.

Although, I wouldn't mind learning my aformentioned martial arts, I'm pretty much a pacifist.


However, I am a cocky shit, but usually only when provoked. I'ts funny when upperclassmen try to start shit and you just stand there smiling at them. I've found there's one phrase that scares the shit out of people. Well, it kind of changes from time to time, but this is the basic idea.

"Now, you should be asking yourself this: Should I be scared because you're in my face, or should you be scared because this isn't phasing me at all. If you feel confident, go ahead. Swing."

Then they pin you to a wall. Repeat.

Eventually, the get so annoyed the walk off. Because, face it, most people are too afraid to start shit.

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quote:

Originally posted by Pariah Cleric Because, face it, most people are too afraid to start shit.

So where will you be when you're all growed-up and you meet one of those people who is the exception?

Oh, and here's a pacifism tip for ya: nobody ever got in trouble for not saying a thing!

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There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.