tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post813999847379880794..comments2007-10-05T16:50:56.710-05:00John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-12011487662986465392007-10-05T16:50:00.000-05:002007-10-05T16:50:00.000-05:00Miss Chris:<BR/><BR/><I>I used to to katas in my head while driving until I realized I couldn't remember how I got from point A to point B.</I><BR/><BR/>That still sounds a lot safer than driving while talking on a cell phone!<BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>Perpetual Beginner:<BR/><BR/><I>My sensei is fascinated by other people's analyses, but generally doesn't offer very many of his own.</I><BR/><BR/>Very smart. A good way to get a students out of mental lethargy is to make them think for themselves. This obviously applies to intermediate and advanced levels.<BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>Black Belt Mama:<BR/><BR/><I>Seisan is coming along nicely-just working on getting the breathing right now, but from what I understand you can spend an entire lifetime on just that. ;-)</I><BR/><BR/>Isshinryu's Seisan uses some of the dynamic breathing as well. It's true that old school karateka would spend months and even years on a single kata.<BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>KFG:<BR/><BR/><I>All I can say is, so much Kung Fu, so little time! I once even had a dream where the world was about to end and all I could think of was 'I haven't learned enough Kung Fu yet!'</I><BR/><BR/>Reminds me of a story that's credited to Chosin Chibana, a 20th century Okinawan karate master. At the age of 80, he still felt that he had 'a long way to go' in his pursuit of karate perfection.John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-79952993880317702902007-10-05T06:09:00.000-05:002007-10-05T06:09:00.000-05:00It just goes to show - the Martial Arts become a way of life, not just something you 'do'. I dream Kung Fu and also find myself thinking about my forms in much the same way! Oddly, I find it really relaxing. Like a meditation in itself. And in Kung Fu, my Sifu told us that once you have reached the Advanced Level, you have finally entered the Temple - after 'standing at the gates' throughout much of the rest of your training! All I can say is, so much Kung Fu, so little time! I once even had a dream where the world was about to end and all I could think of was 'I haven't learned enough Kung Fu yet!'KFGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-75838010358276222412007-10-04T13:46:00.000-05:002007-10-04T13:46:00.000-05:00Regarding a date, I'm supposed to test in February 2008. However, testing is going to be 1200 miles away, so I either come up with a flight ticket and accomodations or I wait until July '08. I'd like to go in February since that's the date I've been focusing on for years now. <BR/><BR/>Seisan is coming along nicely-just working on getting the breathing right now, but from what I understand you can spend an entire lifetime on just that. ;-)Black Belt Mamahttp://www.blackbeltmama.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-75817764393399621952007-10-03T22:38:00.000-05:002007-10-03T22:38:00.000-05:00I'm definitely the analytical one at my dojo. My sensei is fascinated by other people's analyses, but generally doesn't offer very many of his own. I think some of the difference is simply in formal education level - I've had so much schooling, I analyze everything pretty much automatically. This is a great help in some things, and a hindrance in others - having your analytical side kick in mid-fight is a great way to freeze up and lose!<BR/><BR/>The analogy for shodan I like best, is that it's like having learned to read. You think you're done, but what's really happened is you've just gained access to a whole new world to learn.Perpetual Beginnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09625596315528064536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-24849507909702730052007-10-03T11:32:00.000-05:002007-10-03T11:32:00.000-05:00I'm with black belt mama on this one. I used to to katas in my head while driving until I realized I couldn't remember how I got from point A to point B.Miss Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11731458343222525114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-12012242839678198322007-10-03T00:33:00.000-05:002007-10-03T00:33:00.000-05:00Mat:<BR/><BR/>It wasn't weird. People change, that's all.<BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>Karrie:<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on shodan!<BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>Black Belt Mama:<BR/><BR/>Did they give you a date for your shodan test? And how's that Seisan kata coming along?<BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>Becky:<BR/><BR/><I>My sensei equates getting a black belt with the completion of kindergarten.</I><BR/><BR/>Must be a kindergarten for prodigies!<BR/><BR/><I>I've practiced mental kata many many times in various circumstances. It gets me through a boring day at work, a dentist visit...</I><BR/><BR/>Using mental imagery for kata while getting your teeth cleaned. Now that takes concentration!<BR/>----------<BR/><BR/>Windsornot:<BR/><BR/><I>My instructor, a 4th dan, often tells me that women, in particular, tend to ask more questions and "think too much".</I><BR/><BR/>Actually, I've heard that men "think" or rationalize, where as women tend to feel or be more intuitive. But I understand where you're coming from, because I've trained with female instructors and black belts who are quite cerebral when it comes to karate, undoubtedly to make up for their size and strength differences.John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-51010410322295911612007-10-02T17:49:00.000-05:002007-10-02T17:49:00.000-05:00I think you are very correct on this subject. My instructor, a 4th dan, often tells me that women, in particular, tend to ask more questions and "think too much" (and this is coming from a fellow woman, no less). It's probably because women are taught to be more thoughtful in what they do, so by the time they start learning this information, they tend to ask more questions. Heck, for me, I'm about to get my 1st dan in a few weeks, and I <I>still</I> ask a lot of questions. I'm sure I still will as time goes on. I'm the type who has to understand why you do it, because there's always a logic to why something is the way it is, and if I understand that, then I tend to do the move better. This is probably why, also, the MA schools promote the idea that children tend to do better in regular school is they take karate/TKD/whatever at their dojo. The kids' brains are challenged to think about what they are doing, and flexing those brain wrinkles must help in school as well.Windsornothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592194824090222531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-5767408518371586672007-10-02T17:43:00.000-05:002007-10-02T17:43:00.000-05:00My sensei equates getting a black belt with the completion of kindergarten. Now you know your ABCs, it's time to start learning to read. <BR/><BR/>I've practiced mental kata many many times in various circumstances. It gets me through a boring day at work, a dentist visit, and my annual mammograms, among other things.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10901212090175780900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-41137889943397449482007-10-02T12:39:00.000-05:002007-10-02T12:39:00.000-05:00I am constantly doing kata in my head, as I drift off to sleep at night, when I'm driving, when I'm watching TV even. Because Shodan testing is getting closer, I've been trying to force myself to imagine attackers and take care of some bunkai issues in my head. Hopefully that will help!Black Belt Mamahttp://www.blackbeltmama.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-5449420707359443542007-10-02T12:31:00.000-05:002007-10-02T12:31:00.000-05:00This is what is so amazing about the martial arts. Your training never ends, the knowledge you gain is also never-ending. Now that I have attained shodan I am feeling so overwhelmed about what to learn next, how to apply it to my training and also to my everyday life. I love that feeling!! Being overwhelmed and being able to breathe into that...ah, it's just food for the soul.<BR/><BR/>Karriesomaserioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352295244062084613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-86046721508142213802007-10-02T10:53:00.000-05:002007-10-02T10:53:00.000-05:00I've woken up thinking about karate.<BR/><BR/>I was definitely weird. I've stepped it down since. :)[Mat]http://www.blogger.com/profile/06914289317924626891noreply@blogger.com