A poll to see where people place themselves in their development...

But, is that poll for martial arts as a whole or just certain styles in particular that whatever bvoter is training in at the time that they vote?

I still train in Go Kan Ryu(even if I haven't been to a dojo in months), but no way do I see myself as an advanced student. But, I don't see myself as a Beginner either, as I have learned the basics of Go Kan Ryu for the last 4 or so years and am now refining my technique.

Beginner

Hmmm...no category for mentally defective, uncoordinated try hard.... spose I will have to vote beginner then...

Was looking for something between complete beginner, and moderately skilled.

Oh well, I guess I'm more begginnerish, so I went for that option...

hmmm, let's see..... I am happy with my progress.......... sometimes I even dare to think I am quite good (being an old bugger an all, figjam ) but after having just finished reading the last issue of Shimboon, I have to admit that there are a lot of GKR nuts out there that put in a hell of an effort, so....... I settle for beginner.

I'll get there...........eventually

Cheers

CC

Beginner shall be where I will always stay I reckon.

I guess it all depends on your basis for comparison...


Mick

A cryptic reply, I have a feeling mick will know what I mean..

I've been a beginner for six, ones years, now.

Gee... now where have I heard that before...?

where?

On at least 3 other forums and in conversation with some of the people from them.

A clue is when you do something which looks relatively simple but you struggle with it. And then when you get it you wonder why you'd never been taught it before, and marvel at how easy it is.

Like stepping. Right, Matt? Have you got the hang of that yet? Cos I have more to build on it

Here's a quick question for everyone: Could you describe how to move quickly from any given (natural) stance? How do you begin moving? How do you propel yourself? And how do you do it in such a way as to not telegraph your intent? It is actually quite a simple answer (Shush now Matt)


Mick

Teleport????

I give up. I'm always telegraphing my moves - I only get in when I do lots of moves at once, and try to overwhelm the opponent.

Tell!!!! Tell!!!!! Tell!!!!!

Nike.

Just do it.

I have a 8th kyu inGKR and am grading to 7th kyu this week. So please dont discount my advice, by the way I have been a boxer for 6 years and prior to that in my youth I did gymnastics for 6 years.
Point is in moving bewteen stance the strength comes from the toes throghe the feet to the shins and then the thighs.
If you dont want to telegrraph your technique keep them guessing by your ability to do what you are not supposesed to do.

I won 3 place in my dojo regional championship in Australia by emplying this method this only after 2 months with gkr against some hard higher belt comp.

I believe that is indeed a fundamental part of what mick has been teaching yes .

Now see, i would have just said 'only move your legs' which wouldn't have made half as much sense as that...

And we are not fussed on anybody's grade, we listen to everybody. Welcome to our humble home, by the way! We're glad to have you.

-- K

What do you mean by do what you are not supposed to do?

I have two comments to make.. Well I have more but only two on this topic at this time.

The first is that relating knowledge from prior experience can provide alternate points of view, and offering opinions regardless of background can lead to insights and learning for all concerned.

The second is that little is gained by anyone if input is summarily discounted. Sometimes people with little relevant experience can ask the most extraordinary questions. Sometimes beginners can ask questions to which they could not possibly understand a full and complete answer at that point in time. But to cover up the lack of ability to answer such questions responses of the "shut up and train" variety are used. Although in fairness an instructor may not want to sidetrack a class by digression into answering a question, there is always time later to explore.

If an opinion is tendered from someone with no experience and whose only prior exercise routine involved running from the TV to the loo during ad breaks then they stand to learn a great deal by asking questions or offering opinions which are deconstructed and answered by those more knowledgeable. (I'd say ask Boz how many dumb questions I've put to him but I don't know if he can count that high )

An instructor may answer a question but it may not be a full answer - it may be boiled down to the level of the asker at that point in time. There are a number of training practices which were originally meant for beginners and were intended to be dropped as the student progressed, but this sort of miscommunication resulted in the practices being insisted upon for more advanced students to the point where, when a student has learnt the basics and should be working to refine their skills, the practices become counterproductive and at odds with what the student should be working towards.


Mick

When |I referred to doing the unexpected I was relating somthin I read by Bruce Lee, he said ' Fight the fight your oppenent does not want to'

If your oppenent is a 2 or 3 punch combination person follwed by a kick then you must be aggresive like them and force them to be counter attack fighters. If your oppenent is a sit and wait counter attack fighter then you must do the same and be patient and force them to attack you. Force your oppenent to make changes in their plan.
How does this work well people are creature of habit and when we do something that feels comfortable we do it again and agian till it becames habit, if you look at the other Karate Ka in your Dojo you will notice that Mr X always does a sraight punch followed by a back fist then a front kick or MRS y loves to use the short punch by observing them you will see this so you must then be adaptable BE WATER DONT BE THE CUP.
If you are a person thatt leads with yor right hand half way through the bout begin leading with your left FIght Sothpaw.
One other hint dont watch a persons hand or feet or eyes focus on their hips and shoulders as this it where the movement begins If a person wants to punch their shoulder will begin to move first then their forearm then their hand it is especailly true of people doing front kicks you can always see them wind the leg up from the hip as they do utilese a downward sweeping block swing the leg around then a striaght punch to their back 1 full point ! It never fails exect agianst very high belts
Any Q's or queries please do, by the way I train in a Dojo that the sensei happens to be a black belt so I feel lucky as he likes to take me on in sparring and always pushs me ITS like going to grading every week

Even the very simple step of standing the opposite way to how the other person is comfortable can give you a slight advantage.


Mick

But what if your opponent tries that on you? Mimmicks your style, etc?

That would mean you could make them do whatever you wanted, so they'd fall into whatever trap. You'd change stance, they'd copy you, and then WHAM, you knock 'em down.

If your opponent tries to mimic your style then aren't they playing the game the way you like it?


Mick

Arghh!!, Too complicated! You're hurting my fragile little mind!

Arghh!!, Too complicated! You're hurting my fragile little mind!

Thanks guys for welcoming me. I am glad my comments were understood be you as when I wrote them it was REALLY late and I had a few cold ones.
Just had my 7 th KYU garding yesterday, did well , but the tempeture was 33 degrees and thunder storms rolled over head as we graded.

SO take 50 karatka in a school hall with no airconditoining, 33 degrees celcious in 80 percent humidity and place them infront of 6 black belts 6 sempais and the regional manager flog their bodies for one and a half hours .!!

Result: pass your grading.

I really felt I earnt this one the grading was ok but the heat and the sweat!. I weighed myself before I left home and then when I got home. I lost 2 kg!!!

One hint dont grade in summer unless you love pain. Which leads me too a question anyone else have any stories on grading?

Man, I hate training in summer or whenever it's too hot. I've never graded when it's really hot, which I'm very greatful for. I'd probably die or something.

I don't really have any stories on gradings though. Though, I remember when I went for my orange tip I had to perform Taikyoku Nidan in front of the class. I did Taikyoku Shodan until the last two moves, where I finally caught on. Surprisngly, I still graded... >.>

oh Suuuuuuuusan!!!!!

what???????????????

i have no stories to tell about gradings.

maybe if i'd completed one standing i would

Grading? What's that? I haven't graded since 1997.......

You know, you really should discuss that with your instructor

A Shodan that feels like a beginner at every training

Miss Kitty!

I was being a little silly, wanderer, seeing as I have returned a couple of months ago from a five year break.

However, when I say I spent seven or eight years between gradings, people can think I am a go-dan (not a go-kyu)!

Given some of the people who have answered 'beginner' to such polls, I feel perhaps I should have included a level akin to 'primordial soup' in the options.


Mick

A catagorey especially for me? Your so kind mick

He was going to be kind to someone eventually. It had to happen. =P

Damn I didn't think of that! I'd need a level lower than that for Rancer...

Perhaps we should just make him an honorary Taswegian?


Mick

I hope thats nothing like a Glasweigen. If it is.. ill glass ya!

LOL!!!

You never told us that you had 3 heads and 15 toes, Rancer

(think right about now I should run for cover)

The muties don't live to close to populated towns here in Tassie. They like to stick to the roads and bushlands, where they can attack people who wander off the path.

EEEEKKKKK!!!! Remind me never to go to rural tasmania then

Well, that doesn't leave a lot of Tasmania left to explore.

Hmm... Well, before I make travel plans, what part of tasmania are you from?

Bustling city, or rural mutants ville ?

Did you have to start karate to figh them off?

I'm not from any part of Tasmania; I was born in Victoria. But anyway, I live in Hobart and Launceston, depending on the time of the year. So that would be bustling city.

I've never seen actual mutie, so that's not why I began in Karate. Muties are as rare as drop bears, when you actually go looking for them.

Oh well, never met a drop bear, so all that stuff about tasmanians must be a fallacy.

Now, back on topic...

*Gets the heavy chains out to drag this back on-topic*

Another way to perhaps look at it is the class structure employed by some clubs of beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.

The beginner classes (up to around 7th kyu) almost exclusively revolve around the fundamentals of the system.
Intermediate classes (~6th to 4th kyu) build on that and mostly assume that the students are competent or at least familiar with the material covered in the beginner classes.
Advanced classes (3rd kyu+) will assume competence in the fundamentals of the system and at least familiarity with the material covered in the intermediate classes.

So if the system included throws and takedowns (and therefore hopefully breakfalls), the breakfalling might normally be expected in the beginner classes and if you go to an advanced class they will simply assume you are competent to land safely, and if you are not then you shouldn't have gone to that class.

Before anyone shouts at me that karate is only punching and kicking then you might be taught correct technique for punching in the beginner classes, and be introduced to concepts of timing and distance in intermediate classes and employ the techniques in sparring and with focus mitts and bag work. The intermediate level students get the multiple-technique combinations and in the advanced classes the combinations become "simpler".

All of this maybe contrives to take you to BB where although you are doing advanced classes you realise that you have only just reached the beginning and now it perhaps is time to take your knowledge of how to punch and kick as you start learning karate.


Mick

That post looks hellish familiar mick..