what do you think?

[karatekid13]

Well, I will say that there is alot of crap out there, however, there are alot of quality ones out there as well. As for the belts...well, sadly, some people do put more of a focus on getting new belts every other week, instead of putting in the time, the blood, sweat and tears. However, there are some schools that have only a handful, and you test when the inst. feels that you're ready.

AGREED. there is regular *FREE* testing for beginner levels (which are not ALL that hard/have all that many requirements), but intermediate-advanced levels test when he (instructor) feels we are ready. belts are NEVER EVER guaranteed, either. just because they TEST every 2 months does not, by any means, mean they will achieve a new rank every 2 months.

-caitlin

 

[pgsmith]

Caitlin,
The only answer that really matters is yours. Do you think you're in a good school? After all, you're the one that has to go to the training. Your responses seem pretty enthusiastic, so I would guess that you're enjoying it. That's the first requirement since if you're not enjoying it, you'll stop going. My concern is in why you felt that you should ask the question you did. Do you feel like something is missing from your training? Do some things not add up? Are you wanting more in addition to your current training? Or, did it just seem like a good topic to break the ice here.


Cheers,

 

[Tez3]

no. but we do many other self-defense drills. the kata mostly help with learning moves, i believe.

Bunkai is the whole point of kata, it gives you the moves to be able to do SD. It's actually quite fascinating, it could be something you should look into to add perhaps the missing dimension to your training.

.

 

[MJS]

To the OP: Welcome to the forum. As for your question....its really hard to say. To be honest, I can't really judge 100%, what your school is like, just on what you're telling me, but I'll give my opinion. It sounds ok. IMO, its good that you say the belts are earned, not given. THAT is the way it should be! As for the material thats taught...well, I don't really know what your art entails, so it's hard to know much. Some arts do have alot of katas, some don't. One thing that I do feel is very important, is to understand what you're doing in the katas, what each move is. If you're not learning this, then the kata is really useless, and nothing more than a series of moves.

Good luck in your training and enjoy the forum.

 

[puunui]

One thing that I do feel is very important, is to understand what you're doing in the katas, what each move is. If you're not learning this, then the kata is really useless, and nothing more than a series of moves.

I think there is still value in performing kata, even if you don't know what each move is. Older people doing tai chi in the parks may not really care about the self defense aspects, and may just want to exercise. Not everyone does the martial arts for fighting purposes, which is ok from my perspective.

 

[karatekid13]

MJS: yes, we entirely know each move of the kata and use them in combinations too. In fact, I usually remember/practice kata by saying the moves in my head

Pgsmith: I am 100% enjoying all my training! It is the best part of my week. For example, blue belts and up are only required to attend one hour of training (tuesday evenings) and most do fine with just that, but my instructor offers class friday nights too (for all ranks) so i usually go to that too... Even though we dont get as much "advanced technique" help, it has really helped me. My dream is to be a black belt some day and to teach others (hopefully ). I asked, mostly for some second opinions. Based on my thoughts as well as y'all's opinions, I'm pretty content. As a side note: I have some known problems with anxiety (especially with worrying about things that I'm really loving- e.g. Martial arts )) so I'm pretty sure that is all that this was. Thanks for all y'all's opinions though. They really reassured me.

Caitlin

 

[ETinCYQX]

To be honest it is tough for me to tak karate or Tae Kwon Do seriously. I have studied both but now I do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. TKD and Karate have like a million belts

Wrong.

but you can test and get to the next level every 2 months or so.

Wrong.

It just seems like a ploy to do lots of $50 belt tests so sucker kids and their parents out of money. You don't even need to spar and show you know how to use your skills in a realistic setting to move up.

Wrong on two counts. A lot of Taekwondo schools don't charge for testing fees and every school requires students to spar.

If you try BJJ for a month you will laugh at yourself for ever doing karate. I wish I didn't waste a year with TKD getting to a green belt.

Also wrong. For what it's worth, I have two years of Judo and jiujitsu and a first Dan in taekwondo. What you describe is not any taekwondo I've ever seen and I have a working knowledge of most Taekwondo organizations.

What, exactly, is "useful" or "functional" about rolling from your knees that outweighs full-contact striking sparring? This attitude drives me crazy and it's always brand new white belts who watch too much UFC with this mentality. None of the good high level grapplers I know are this misled.

Also for the record if you do not see the value in performing Kata it shows a lack of understanding of martial arts.

 

[MJS]

I think there is still value in performing kata, even if you don't know what each move is. Older people doing tai chi in the parks may not really care about the self defense aspects, and may just want to exercise. Not everyone does the martial arts for fighting purposes, which is ok from my perspective.

That is correct. I just figured that if someone was going to take the time to do something, they'd want as complete a package as possible. I mean, it'd be like someone taking a cooking class, but not being interested in the proper setting of the oven.

 

[karatekid13]

Wrong.



Wrong.



Wrong on two counts. A lot of Taekwondo schools don't charge for testing fees and every school requires students to spar.



Also wrong. For what it's worth, I have two years of Judo and jiujitsu and a first Dan in taekwondo. What you describe is not any taekwondo I've ever seen and I have a working knowledge of most Taekwondo organizations.

What, exactly, is "useful" or "functional" about rolling from your knees that outweighs full-contact striking sparring? This attitude drives me crazy and it's always brand new white belts who watch too much UFC with this mentality. None of the good high level grapplers I know are this misled.

Also for the record if you do not see the value in performing Kata it shows a lack of understanding of martial arts.

Agreed. I think some people are biased against karate and TKD because of all the mcdojos out there... But tht like racism. Just because some peoPle of x nationality did something wrong, well, now they're all bad. JMO.

 

[K-man]

You might be in a school where you are enjoying the training but if there are no advanced kata I, personally, would be looking around for a new home.

I, and many of my friends, spent decades thinking kata was a waste of time. Now almost all our time is taken up with the study of kata and its use as a fighting system. By that I mean the whole kata and not the individual components.

Do a little reading. I would suggest for starters "The Way of Kata" (Kane & Wilder) and "Bunkai Jutsu" (Iain Abernethy). If after reading those you still want to train in a school that does not specialise in kata, then you have made an informed choice.

 

[karatekid13]

There are advanced kata, but they aren't required. And the teacher does not put down kata at all, it's just that we can't learn EVERYthing.

 

[K-man]

There are advanced kata, but they aren't required. And the teacher does not put down kata at all, it's just that we can't learn EVERYthing.

I would argue that kata IS everything!

 

[karatekid13]

I happen to disagree, but I don't want to start a fight here... To each his own, right? MMA fighters are very successful/well trained in self-defense but some may have never done a kata in their life.

 

[puunui]

That is correct. I just figured that if someone was going to take the time to do something, they'd want as complete a package as possible. I mean, it'd be like someone taking a cooking class, but not being interested in the proper setting of the oven.

A better analogy would be that someone taking a cooking class, learning how to cook healthy meals, isn't necessarily interested in learning how to use a kitchen knife for self defense. But I can understand your perspective. There was a time when I felt all my martial arts training had to have some practical application. Now I can appreciate the other reasons for training, which do not include always concentrating on the self defense situation that never materializes.

 

[puunui]

I would argue that kata IS everything!

Depends on what you consider kata.

 

[karatekid13]

I think that kata are great, but won't necessarily help you out a TON in a self defense situation... It depends on your level of proficiency, what kind of attack, etc. just my thoughts. Anyone else agree?

 

[ETinCYQX]

If you're only doing ONE thing, there is a pretty strong argument to be made for that one thing to be kata/poomsae. I am confident I could have a student with a reasonable understanding of taekwondo if i taught that person nothing but poomsae (Bunkai included obviously). I am not so confident in the same thing if I only showed that person sparring movements.

 

[MJS]

There's already a ton of pro vs. con kata threads on here, but IMO, while I'm not a huge kata fan, compared to others, I do feel there is some value in them. Of course, this is why I say that its important to know what the moves are. No, we're certainly not going to fight like we do in kata, and yes, I do feel that when it comes to fighting, I can think of other ways to work those skills, however, there are small parts that you should be able to pull out, that would be workable SD techs.

 

[karatekid13]

I agree with MJS and no, I've already said that we do more that just kata and more than just self defense.

 

[ballen0351]

Just curious Does your style have a name?