Shienaran

My classmate and I have been debating whether to pursue this subject with our Shotokan instructor or not. You see, when our Shotokan instructor taught us the Heian Nidan kata, we noticed that we seemed to lose alignment with our embusen somewhere in the middle of doing the form. After carefully checking with various videos on Heian Nidan, including the one by Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa, we realized the reason was because during the transition from the second opening movement from kokutsu dachi to the simultaneous ura ken and yoko geri to the rear, he had us dragging our right foot towards our left foot into a narrow neko dachi before throwing the backfist and side kick, instead of stepping with our left foot towards our right foot then backfist with side kick. We tried to perform the transition the way it was done in the video while practicing it once and he corrected us and told us to do it his way. Normally, since he's the instructor, I wouldn't question his authority, but the fact that his method makes us unable to maintain embusen bothers me. I've tried broaching the subject again once, but he was adamant about doing it his way because it made the neko dachi easier to perform and made the transition to the sidekick smoother. Btw, he has mentioned in the past that he wasn't the best at Kata during his younger days in his class. My question is, do we just let it be and do it his way?

As most of you already know, a couple of years ago, I have recently taken up Shotokan under a new instructor who also taught Jujutsu. He and most of the senior students have taken part in MMA fights and have made a name for themselves in the local MMA scene. I have initially been interested in the Shotokan training only, but because he taught it as part of our curriculum, I have also taken up ground grappling as part of his Jujutsu lessons. With my Aikido background, it was easier for me to understand the basic principles of the art and though I'm not as flexible or agile as I once was and usually get my butt handed to me by the younger athletic guys, I can explain the techniques better than most students which is why I'm the go to training partner for most new students. At our instructor's insistence, I along with my classmates have also participated in local grappling competitions representing his school for two years straight now to gain experience. But I have always considered my primary training under him to be in Shotokan Karate and not Jujitsu.

Unfortunately, our instructor has recently undergone a personal crisis which has greatly affected his family and his job(he teaches part time out of love for the art) and quite recently it has affected the school as well. So much so he decided to inform us he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from teaching until he resolves his deep personal problems and might only come in once in a while to check on us.

He left the school in the charge of our assistant instructor, someone we all respect and have no problems with, having been the pioneer MMA fighter in our city and put our school on the map nationally. But the problem is, though he is a 3rd Dan in TKD, he is not a Black belt in Shotokan. He himself took cognizance of this fact which is why he suggested the school focus on teaching Jujitsu and MMA classes only while our instructor is absent.

We the old students can of course continue our Shotokan training, we are just not accepting new students in Shotokan, only for Jujitsu and MMA classes. The next question is of course, how can we teach jujitsu without a certified instructor? Well our assistant instructor is a Blue Belt in BJJ under the Equipe Fabricio school and he suggested we get accredited by his head instructor who teaches in another city, all we need is to be tested under his BJJ instructor(after proper requisite training of course) who can visit us regularly, since the head instructor is already familiar with us and our skills through the tournaments we joined in the past. When I pointed out the problem of justifying this action to our Shotokan instructor, the assistant said our instructor has told him in the past that it was ok to cross train in another school and that this was the same thing, the other senior students all agreed. But I don't think they realize the consequences of this action, my beef with this move is that when we do get accredited, wouldn't there now technically be two head instructors in our school? While I have great respect for the BJJ instructor(I've met him a few times and know of his great reputation) my loyalty is still with my Shotokan instructor as it is his school we are carrying. Which also brings up the question of which school's name our representatives carry during future grappling tournaments from now on as well. I'd bring this up with my Shotokan instructor, but I don't want to bypass our assistant instructor either since it should be him who should talk to our instructor about this first. He still thinks there's no conflict of interest and I don't want to start any trouble between him and our instructor.

Oh by the way, the reason why I'm concerned for all this is because due to my mature age(and apparently alleged maturity ; P) I was elected president of the school's student association tasked with organizing events and tournament participation(e.g. Karate, Grappling, Kickboxing, Boxing and MMA tournaments, etc.).

I have noticed that I tend to look at the point where my hands or feet are going especially the limbs that are moving at that moment, I know that some of the arm and leg movements are not necessarily strikes and some are blocks, locks and throws, so I was wondering where you focus your eyes when performing these types of techniques in the kata. I was thinking when I perform an age uke or shuto uke for example, I find that I end up looking at my arm that's performing the block instead, when I suppose I should be looking at my imaginary opponent's vulnerable target opened up by the block movement. So now, I have another thing added to my "to do" list when training in kata.

By application, I mean weapons handling, not disarms. I've just been wondering, since aside from strikes, there are grappling, throwing and pressure point applications in kata, I was wondering if the kata also has specific weapons techniques in them as well. I remember seeing Kobudo demos on video by Fumio Demura sensei back in the late 80s that resembled empty hand kata, only it was done while using the Sai, Tonfa, Bo and Nunchaku. And my Aikido training incorporated a lot of Sword and Jo movements into the empty hand techniques, not to mention my experience in Kali training. I'm just getting familiar with the basic Heian Kata now, but I recognize some movements with those of Jo techniques and possibly Tonfa which might explain some peculiar arm movements I see.

I've been having problems transitioning from the right Oi Tzuki to the pivoting Shuto Uke near the end of the kata. I have no problem transitioning into the second one from there, it's the first one immediately after the pivot that I have trouble with, I usually feel awkward and end up in a stance resembling neko dachi instead of kokutsu dachi. Any tips or drills that may help me nail this? Thanks in advance.

I saw this episode of a show on ANC channel a couple of weeks ago where a chiropractor demonstrated how aligning a patient's spine helps remove backaches and fixes posture. He demonstrated on this lady whose left leg was longer then her right because her spine was not aligned. I forgot the name of the Chiropractor and his clinic's name and address. I'm pretty sure there was the word "Wellness" in his clinic's name. Was wondering if anyone can give me some info, since my kumpare who has chronic back pain is going to Manila and he might benefit from a visit to a chiropractor.

Just been watching this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKheUnJiilg

And I was wondering about one thing that's been bugging me as I watched it. If you notice through out the match, the swordsman on the right keeps letting go of the bokken by flicking his right hand in the air at some point in their exchanges. My question is:

Is that hand movement part of the technique or is he doing it because the other swordsman is forcing him to do it by targeting his swordhand? Because if he's being forced to do it, then it says alot about his reflexes as well as the skill of his opponent who obviously is the Senior.

By the way, on a side note, This is also the first time I've actually seen a demo on fighting with a wakizashi as shown near the end of the video. Now if I can only find a school that actually teaches it near where I live, I'd die a happy man. Pretty shallow huh? : P

Just a bit confused. Are Shorinryu Karate and Shorinji Ryu the same style? Or are they different branches of the same ancestry? Isn't Shorinji the Japanese pronunciation of Shao Lin Si or Shaolin Temple? If so does any of it's techniques resemble the techniques in Shaolin? I also remember reading somewhere(I believe it was Miyamoto Musashi's Go Rin No Sho or Book of Five Rings) about shorinji being a mental state which was a part or a form of zen training, does this version of the term shorinji have any thing to do with the martial art of the same name?

My apologies for my ignorance, I'm not familiar with how the U.S. election process works, but here in the Philippines, it's not unusual for a popular Presidential candidate from one party being elected into office along with an equally popular Vice President from the opposing party, since the popularity vote is very much a part of Philippine politics and elections. From what I understand, the U.S. Electoral College system keeps the popularity vote in check. But my question is: Hypothetically, Could it have been possible for Palin to have beaten Biden and won alongside Obama given her seeming popularity? Or is there some sort of package vote for the party ticket to ensure this doesn't happen? If it is possible, how big a probability? A great possibility or once in a blue moon?

I'm pretty sure there are more inoffensive words that got censored in the past which escapes my memory at the moment, but it's rather annoying to type a long answer to a post, only to redo some parts again with a different character in it just because some words have disappeared from your post after clicking the preview and submit button.

I'd like to know what other good weight lifting exercises to do besides the d3adlift and the rowing exercise to strengthen my lower back. Been noticing some creaking and stiffness in my back whenever I get up from a chair. Guess I'm getting old : P

Just wondering, If the Haitian's power is supposed to negate any being's power within in his range, what would happen if Peter Petrelli stood beside him? Would Peter's power be neutralized or would he still be able to absorb the Haitian's power? Same question with Sylar standing beside the Haitian, would his brain eating power transfer work? (Eating their brains is the way he can absorb his victim's powers that I can think of) : P

Jack Dempsey is reputed to have written the definitive book on boxing and I have been reading and hearing about the Dempsey roll ever since I got interested in the sport, but I have never actually seen it in action. Other than Jack Dempsey himself, is there any other fighter today or in the recent past who has actually used it in a fight? A specific bout would help so I can try to view it on video.

I loved watching this guy ever since he started doing those HK flicks in the late 80s. I thought he might become the next Bruce Lee of the 90s but somehow he faded from the scene, but reappeared a few years later trying to get into Hollywood.

Name your top 3 favorite Donnie Yen movie and why.