[setsu nin to]

How much do you train for self defense and how much for competitions?

[lil'sword]

Originally Posted by BLACK PANTA

What are the tests like for each rank. And if you have your shodan, what was that test like?

The tests are only about ten minutes long. The instructors look at your technique and spirit during their evaluation and base that for your results ( physical fitness does not concern them). You get judged in 3 dif areas. Kihon(basics) kata and kumite. Over all the tests arn't physically challenging but to keep perfect technique through out the whole thing is. I do not have my shodan but I have watched the tests. Master Yutaka Yaguchi does all the dan gradings personally . He is currently 8th dan and has a picky personality. It is not uncommon to fail your black belt tests under him. These tests last about 15 minutes. during the test you do free sparring or defense applications, basics and kata. If he likes what you did you pass, if not you fail. While you grade you have about four instrucors watching you and making the decision together. So you have to please them all. Thats about it for the tests though. This is based on my dojos precedings.

[8LimbsScientist]

In your personal experience:

1. What are the rules for free sparring (valid target areas, etc.). On a scale from 1-10, with 10 being knock out power and 1 being a lover's caress, how much contact do you guys use?

2. How would you compare your dojo to other shotokan dojos. More emphasis on which areas?

[lil'sword]

Rules for free sparring:
all targets except for throat and knees in case of accidents, because those accidents are less likely to be reversable. Instead of kicking the knees we kick the inner thighs. There are no alternatives for the throat. Oh and no eyes either.

Regarding the contact I would say 6. We are supposed to make contact with the gi and then pull back quickly. When sparring with the sensei it's hard enough to make you throw up if you dont tighten up your body correctly. But so far no body's ever been knocked out cold.

2. I have not been able to compare my dojo with another, but I have had a different teacher come in to teach from a different dojo. He was teachiing practical self defense in my PE class But he was good. He supposedly runs a school up at SFU somewhere.

In regards to Setsu's question. Our training more geared towards competition than self-defence which is kind of a shame actually. We do have a nationals team.

Our dojo is run under Sensei Joe Dixon. If you look him up on the internet you will probably get more about him if you like.

[lakan_sampu]

We're having our computer class now and I'm just passing by....o well, haven't been able to post pics on the FMA thread....btw, I'm a former brown belt at shotokan karate.

Our sparring rules are quite similar with that of li'l sword's. We're also more geared towards competitions. Our sensei ocassionaly teaches us aikido-based self defense techniques which are quite long, IMO and cannot be executed that easily and realistically in his way. Weird, we're a Shotokan Karate dojo yet the self defense techniques are from Aikido...Those kind of things made me realize that my training in that dojo is not quite enough so I transfered to Kombatan. Kata, Kata, kata...that's almost all EVERYDAY of every training. I have nothing against Shotokan Karate....that's just based on my experience.

Some stances and moves are technically wrong a bit if you look at it in a very scientific way. In terms of grappling on the ground, we're not that acquainted too. But some stand-up grappling is present in the katas we practice and execute. Exmas? I once vomited blood when shihan gave me a punch just below my sternum, I bumped on the pillar several feet away and threw up blood then he made me rest. that's in my sparring test before reaching 3rd kyu. I hate, but cherish, those times.

[bamboo]

Hi again lil' sword!

Great job BTW!

A follow up to my nage waza question: Would mind describing or naming one or two the throws you practice? I find this to be really interesting.

As well as a throw or two, could you give your perspective on the set up and follow through after the throw?

I very much appreciate your time on this.

Cheers,
bamboo

[lil'sword]

basically there is no technique name for a throw in shotokan that I have come across (there might be one that I havn't heard about). The throws are more like getting you opponent off balance and then helping them to fall.

I am not well versed on the throws as it might show in my answer. I have not been taught too much about them.

sorry that I cant really help you.

[bamboo]

No problem.

[BLACK PANTA]

Would there be more throws, or is it more takedowns. Like trips, getting person off balance and pushing. Or do you guys do like Judo throws/takedowns. Are the throws/takedowns more defensive than offensive? More re-actionary than take charge?

[lil'sword]

its more like take downs