Hi guys,
Randomly found the site when pottering around on the interwebz looking at various martial arts bits and pieces. Had a bit of a read and it looks like there's a load of info on here so I thought I should sign up and say hi![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Names Dave, I'm 29 from South East UK. I train in Shotokan Karate and Aikido. I am currently 1st kyu in Karate training for black and have been practicing Aikido for just a few months now.
The short story of my experience is I used to train Shotokan when I was very young. In fact by the time I was 12 I was 1st kyu training for a junior black belt. Unfortunately due to being an immature kid (getting bored of it) and an injury at a tournament where I hurt my back I gave it up. I've always been very interested in martial arts and always intended to start again but it wasn't until Last November a leaflet hit the mat advertising Shotokan Karate classes at my local school gym. In all honesty I was thinking of trying another martial art but I thought I would give it a go again hoping there was still some knowledge in my mind knocking about.
I turn up in my trackies and get pointed down the end with the low grades. We warm up and start doing some basic techniques; straight afterwards sensei tells me to move up to the higher end. Sensei said to me its obvious I still remember the techniques so he'll evaluate what level I'm at and we'll go from there. After a around 3-4 weeks I order my gi and sensei awards me 4th kyu![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
3 weeks later I grade (normally 3 months at least between gradings) and am awarded 3rd kyu!
I was complimented on my technique; the comment my sensei made was 'i was one of 2 of the group singled out as being good'
still got it!!
I have since graded every 3 months including my 1st kyu grading which I was told normally they'd recommend a 6 month wait between that grading.
I'm REALLY enjoying doing it again and really immersing myself into the art. I was invited to this years tournament in March but I didnt feel ready then, next year I think I'll take part in Kata and Kumite.
In the middle of all this one of my friends mentioned he was interested in taking up a martial art but didnt want to do karate. in his town there was an aikido class and being another Japanese art I thought it would be a good contrast for me and also help in my bunkai so I thought why not..
At this stage we are just polishing up all the main 1st form techniques and will probably taking taking our 1st grading soon. (hopefully)
Apart from that I do like to keep fit but am quite lazy (which doing martial arts again has really helped with) but I do try and get down the gym a couple of times a week along with my training so that does me pretty well.
I have a real interest in all other martial arts and perhaps in a year or so once I have my black belt I may look into sampling another but for the moment I really need to focus on my Karate training with Aikido as a sideline.
So err yeh.. that's me really as far as my interest in martial arts goes. Hope to soak up some of the info on here![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Randomly found the site when pottering around on the interwebz looking at various martial arts bits and pieces. Had a bit of a read and it looks like there's a load of info on here so I thought I should sign up and say hi
Names Dave, I'm 29 from South East UK. I train in Shotokan Karate and Aikido. I am currently 1st kyu in Karate training for black and have been practicing Aikido for just a few months now.
The short story of my experience is I used to train Shotokan when I was very young. In fact by the time I was 12 I was 1st kyu training for a junior black belt. Unfortunately due to being an immature kid (getting bored of it) and an injury at a tournament where I hurt my back I gave it up. I've always been very interested in martial arts and always intended to start again but it wasn't until Last November a leaflet hit the mat advertising Shotokan Karate classes at my local school gym. In all honesty I was thinking of trying another martial art but I thought I would give it a go again hoping there was still some knowledge in my mind knocking about.
I turn up in my trackies and get pointed down the end with the low grades. We warm up and start doing some basic techniques; straight afterwards sensei tells me to move up to the higher end. Sensei said to me its obvious I still remember the techniques so he'll evaluate what level I'm at and we'll go from there. After a around 3-4 weeks I order my gi and sensei awards me 4th kyu
3 weeks later I grade (normally 3 months at least between gradings) and am awarded 3rd kyu!
I was complimented on my technique; the comment my sensei made was 'i was one of 2 of the group singled out as being good'
I have since graded every 3 months including my 1st kyu grading which I was told normally they'd recommend a 6 month wait between that grading.
I'm REALLY enjoying doing it again and really immersing myself into the art. I was invited to this years tournament in March but I didnt feel ready then, next year I think I'll take part in Kata and Kumite.
In the middle of all this one of my friends mentioned he was interested in taking up a martial art but didnt want to do karate. in his town there was an aikido class and being another Japanese art I thought it would be a good contrast for me and also help in my bunkai so I thought why not..
At this stage we are just polishing up all the main 1st form techniques and will probably taking taking our 1st grading soon. (hopefully)
Apart from that I do like to keep fit but am quite lazy (which doing martial arts again has really helped with) but I do try and get down the gym a couple of times a week along with my training so that does me pretty well.
I have a real interest in all other martial arts and perhaps in a year or so once I have my black belt I may look into sampling another but for the moment I really need to focus on my Karate training with Aikido as a sideline.
So err yeh.. that's me really as far as my interest in martial arts goes. Hope to soak up some of the info on here