Hmm, not a lot going on here.....
Feels a bit like a ghost town
Anyway, I'm pretty new to Karate - joined GKR late in 2009 after six month's solid nagging campaign by my sempai son who promptly buggered off to Vanuatu for six months of volunteering before my first grading.
Now truly madly deeply addicted.

Hi Joniere

Welcome aboard!

Yes, it's a little quiet these days, I shall have to have a dust-off of some of the older threads!
I did GKR for a few years back in the UK, got up to 5th kyu. I have to say I quite liked it, once I'd found a good instructor.
What grade are you doing now?

Any questions, please feel free to ask, we've got quite a few GKR (and Ex-GKR) Instructors here.

Tom.

Thanks Tom,
I've been 7th kiyu since mid April and am hoping to grade to 6th in August.
A stress fracture in my second metatarsal a month ago has meant I've had to cut back a bit on training but, on the bright side, it's certainly brought home the fundamental importance of a good strong stance AND has meant my crummy left kicks have been getting a double workout.

Since starting late last year, I've trawled through the different fora on the web and have read plenty of grizzles, gripes and whinges regarding GKR as well as spirited and heartfelt defence.

Not having had any other experience in martial arts, I can't compare the way GKR does things with any other BUT I like the "karate for everyone" attitude and love the fact that, most nights of the week, I can attend different classes with different instructor - all of whom offer something a little different - and all within 10 minutes drive from home. AND, if I'm interstate, I can simply walk into a local GKR class, introduce myself to the sensei and continue training, feeling pretty much at home - how good is that?

As I grow as a karate-ka, I find some classes more valuable than others, but every single one I've attended is still better than training on my own (and requires far less self-discipline - would I train for 90 min after work each nght if left to my own devices? Hah! No way.)

My attitude far surpasses my aptitude and the patience and kindness of all the senseis I've encountered (more than a dozen to date) has been outstanding.
AND the vast majority of my fellow students appear to be pretty nice people too.

So there you go, that's me and, for what it's worth, that's my take on GKR to date.

Cheers,
Julie

Hi Joniere,

A few of us got our start in that school, and I still have many friends from that time. Enjoy your training and keep an open mind... Visit other schools, talk with some people... it's amazing how much there really is to it all..