?

I don't like free sparing for many reasons, one is that I find those that pull punches cannot punch after a while. In full-contact, only sites that don't damage can be used and I hate the idea of not hitting something that will break. So I have come to use pre-arranged attack and counters at full force so that the target is protected. Again I think that all self-defense should leave someone unable to continue to attack.

How do you practice this type of strikes in free sparing?

I read an article about this documentary a while back. As I already warn my students on the dangers of fighting (win or lose) it will only strenthen my warnings. On another side, I now stress the value of Ikken Hissatsu. I have yet to see the movie but am planning to. After seeing the trailer do you feel we who teach self-defense have an obligation to watch it?

http://journaltimes.com/youtube-one-punch-homicide...

I am looking for common misconceptions about Martial arts, fighting, and self-defense in general, many of you have tried to point some out so was wondering which are the ones that you hate most.

I was approached by someone the other day who asked me to charge more for my classes (I do it for fun in a community center and have a job for my needs) as he felt I was "taking" his students. Currently I charge $35 a week for 3 days a week (students wanted that to get rid of those not serious) so was wondering if anyone could tell me what a 3 day hour and half class goes for. I don't have testing fees or any other charge either. you buy your gi on-line

I keep hearing people talk about how Naihanchi Kata was made to protect the king of Okinawa in narrow castle corridors. When I ask if they have been to Shuri, they tell me that they have not. For those that have been, you have seen that there are not any narrow passages in the entire castle, do you think that the Naihanchi story is correct? If not, where do you unsupported idea came from?

Karate is a Japanese word which until 1930 did not exist. In 1940's it was chosen as the name for a family of indiginous arts from the Ryu Kyu kingdom. By the 1950's everyone claimed their art to be KARATE. In truth, KArate is the intelectual and cultural property of Okinawa Japan. Just like champaigne is the intelectual property of that region of France. Unlike Champaigne, which was used by the many for over 200 years before they reclaimed it, the word KARATE, is not even 100 years old. Isn't it time it was returned to the rightful culture?

I read a very long question asking about McDojos and felt that I did not really understand the question. Still it occured to me, everyone has a different definition of a McDojo and I have seen respectable schools gradually change becoming what the tried to avoid. Many people come with their own definition of a McDojo but I think most of us believe that a McDojo is like porn, you know it when you see it, when it is another school.

My question is how do you really know that you are not part of, or becoming a McDojo. Please don't say something like lineage, full contact sparing, "Realistic" training or "Tradition" as I am sure that you can find any of these in a place that people would say they do this but are what most martial artist would consider a McDojo.

Thanks

I have seen a picture of Motobu teaching a group of women what looks to be nihanshi kata but now that I was looking for it cannot find it, has anyone see this or know where I could find it google did not turn up anything

I am looking for topics to research for my webpage. It is meant mostly for Karateka but I think anyone serious in Martial arts might find it useful. It usually takes me a month to write articles as I do not want them opinion based but rather want everything to be backed up by academic articles. Right now I am looking for my next topic.

One suggestion I have gotten which I am working on is the anatomical problems with the round house kick (figure it had to do with the last UFC fight) not too much has been written on it so am in a block while I find the modeling for it.

http://karatedr.com/published-articles/

Everyone knows that Karate is from Okinawa but for some reason people look to the teachers from Mainland Japan to say if a kata is correct and will go there to train. To me it does not make sense I mean if you wanted to study Parisian cooking you would Paris right. Can someone give me a rational explaination to why Mainland Japan has so much weight in the Karate world?

Heard that the stock market fell a lot this week so looked at my stock today and wow, I can retire tomorrow and am not even 40 year. I was curious and it looks like for the last year stocks have hit an all time high every month. It this just me who sees this and if not why do I only hear when the market sinks not when it hits records?

So I see these chain schools which are worthless claiming to be a 2000 year old "Karate" from China and people give them $200 a month without blinking or thinking why China would have an Okinawan Art. There are adult classes that do not practice hitting anything harder than a Muy Thai bag (if you are an adult and do not do makiwara do not call yourself a Karateka). Prearranged sparing for black belts are done slow rather than at full power, speed, and intent. "Self-defense" drills begin like a sparing match rather than from natural positions. Then there are the weapon classes which use twirling batons and call them bo. Are people that misguided? Please don't just say yes!

I carry a small blade which is only about 3 inches long that I use for opening boxes when needed. As it is attached to my keys I carry it everywhere. I have been asked what I would do in a grapple situation which I reply that I would stab whoever took me to the ground until they let me go. I do what I can to avoid any conflicts so would probably never find myself in that situation. Many people have told me that it is a cheap way out and act as if I have offended them in some way. Can someone give me a rational answer to why this is offensive? REMEMBER that I do all I can to avoid this situation.

I am moving to Okinawa to train for 6-9 months and was asked to write about it. Imagine if you were thinking of doing this, what would you want to know?

I am moving to Okinawa to train for 6-9 months and was asked to write about it. Imagine if you were thinking of doing something like this, what would you want to know?

I never thought I would be in a fight as I am 38 and usually stick to places I like. Today, I went to the beach for 4th of July. While I walked with a few friends a bum just threw a punch at me. I have no idea of how but i gues that somehow I must have seen this and by the time I realized what happened, I had done the 1st two moves from Pinan Shodan. I had blocked his punch then slammed his arm down. That happened fast but then I saw my arm punch and I stopped it before it hit his jaw. I do not practice stopping anymore so was surprised that I could. A cop handcuffed me while his partner asked around what happend. People said that the bum had swung at me and the bum said that he was just playing and did not intend any harm. what felt like a few hours later the cop did a sobriety test and told me that if he wanted to he could arrest me for being "Wet" I was not even at a legal limit of drunk (and was nowhere near my car). I am still shaking what the hell?

I came across the website below a few years ago and have tried to get every martial artist to try to part with the organization to promote the information. Sadly few Martial arts studios are interested in promoting this information and it seems that there are no TV stations that seem to be interested in getting this information out. Are there any Martial artist here who would consider trying to get as many of us as possible to spread the word or is this just something what we should ignore?

http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/sexual-assault-awareness...

While I train a lot, I have an average body (better than most people my age) which I attribute to my drinking. I usually have a $2000 credit card bill and about $1500 is beer related, I just got back from a great bender. can anyone here relate?