what about YOU?

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sunsu8
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2002 6:01 am

what about YOU?

Post by sunsu8 »

What STYLE are you from?
How long have you trained?
What rank are you?
What is the ratio of men to women in class?

Do you teach?

Is so..
How many shodan(or higher) have you promoted?

Want to learn more about the martial artists here on the forum. Please answer the ones you are willing to. Thanks ~sunsu
Tom Faigle
Posts: 130
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 6:01 am
Location: Fairfax, VA, USA

what about YOU?

Post by Tom Faigle »

What STYLE are you from? Uechi-Ryu
How long have you trained? 8 months
What rank are you? 8 Kyu
What is the ratio of men to women in class? 6 or 7:1

Do you teach? no
Is so..
How many shodan(or higher) have you promoted? N/A
Uechi-Ryu Student
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jun 26, 2002 6:01 am
Location: Bloomingdale Michigan United States

what about YOU?

Post by Uechi-Ryu Student »

My name is Ian Gackowski.
I have been in Uechi-Ryu for three years (well I started in July but its the tale end of June so I can say three years. I am a 1st degree green belt. We have like 3 women and about 3-5 guys in our class.
Ian
Stryke

what about YOU?

Post by Stryke »

Im mainly a Shotokan stylist but dabble quite a bit .

Trained for just over 10 years

Im a Shodan

Would have to say about 70/30 men women

Ive helped teach but not my own dojo , I also do informal training that requires sharing ideas more than teaching .

good thread hope more reply
2Green
Posts: 1503
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 1999 6:01 am
Location: on the path.

what about YOU?

Post by 2Green »

A: Uechi Ryu.
B:3 years,9 months.
C: Gokyu (Green Belt, level 1).
D:All male, occasional female student or Sensei.
E: Not Karate.
F: None, obviously!
Happy compiling, "strong one"! NM
Ted Dinwiddie
Posts: 537
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Charlottesville,VA,USA

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Post by Ted Dinwiddie »

Started with Shotokan, now Okinawan Kempo
Started 18 years ago, about 10 with focus
Shodan
2/2
Only within sempai/kohai and uke relationship


------------------
ted

"I learn by going where I have to go." - Theodore Roethke
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CANDANeh
Posts: 1449
Joined: Wed May 15, 2002 6:01 am
Location: Jeddore
Contact:

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Post by CANDANeh »

Studied Uechi since 1978

Never regretted a moment on the dojo floor.
Most memorable ranking was witnessing one of my former beginneers (joined at 70 for something to do) receive Shodan at age 74 completing every aspect as well as any half his age (wicked right hand)

Learning slow & still looking over the horizon with anticipation.
Women in dojo outnumbered 20 to 1

Nice thread
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Bill Glasheen
Posts: 17299
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY

what about YOU?

Post by Bill Glasheen »

Uechi (nanadan)
Shorei Kai Goju (nidan)
Tomiki Aikido (shodan)
dabbling a little here and there...

Trained for 30 years

Ratio has varied through the years, and depends on the level of the class. Classes have generally started around 55/45 or 60/40 (male/female), but the female population tends to drop off dramatically when we get to contact work. However I take great pride in having been the "papa" of a few very fine female practitioners, including two that won "best candidate" at a New England dan promotional (against males and females) and one that won the women's kata championship at George's first Uechi tournament.

I teach (since 1978).

I stopped counting dans after about 20. Wish I had all their names... Image I'm terrible at keeping records.

My proudest accomplishment was having gotten my first "great grandchild" dan a year or so ago (student of a student of a student). That lineage is in Germany.

- Bill
sunsu8
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2002 6:01 am

what about YOU?

Post by sunsu8 »

WOW! Thank you all for the replies and there is surely a W I D E band of knowledge and skill here on this forum. Here are my answers that I forgot to include and some additional questions/queries(sp?)


- What is your most memorable moment in Martial Arts personally?
- Who is the first person you looked up to and tried to resemble?
- How old were you when you began training?
- In kumite, what aspect do you feel is most important? (focus, accuracy, control, timing, skill, speed, tempo, etc?)
- What single technique would you do on the street given a probable situation?
- (for teachers) What one moment do you treasure in the journey?

Liberty Brake
Isshinryu
3 years
ik-kyu
5:1
do not teach (help)
N/A

*AND NOW FOR THESE (some are tough to day the least)

-Seeing my Sensei cry and mourn when his instructor was murdered. They were close and kindred spirits
-A brown belt at the time - Jennifer (now a shodan)
- 8 years old (i dropped out for a bit)
-TRUST
-(toughie!) hammer-fist to sternum probably OR.... gouge to eyes, shuto to neck, punch to solar-plexis (GUESS IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE GIVEN SITUATION)
-N/A


Please continue to write. I enjoy learning from matial artists and believe we all seem to bond in a unique way. I am glad that I have the opportunity to hear and learn with you all! ~sunsu
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TSDguy
Posts: 1831
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2001 6:01 am

what about YOU?

Post by TSDguy »

What STYLE are you from? Tang Soo Do, Judo, and now olympic style Tae Kwon Do.

How long have you trained? 7 years I think, I can't add and subract and all that new age nonsense Image.

What rank are you? Blue belt with 2 red stripes.

What is the ratio of men to women in class?
5:4 maybe? I'ts pretty even.

Do you teach? Nope.

What is your most memorable moment in Martial Arts personally? My first tournament was fun... all these strangers earnestly cheering for me like that. I think they just wanted blood though Image.

Who is the first person you looked up to and tried to resemble? My first master. He had a defineate, relaxed badassness about him.

How old were you when you began training? 16

In kumite, what aspect do you feel is most important? (focus, accuracy, control, timing, skill, speed, tempo, etc?) Timing.

What single technique would you do on the street given a probable situation? I love my right hand palm hook.
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RA Miller
Posts: 817
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2000 6:01 am
Location: Ptld OR USA
Contact:

what about YOU?

Post by RA Miller »

My style is Sosui****su-ryu jujutsu, I've studied that for about 13 years. I started in judo in '81 so trained for a bit over 21 years.

I'm ranked Sho-mokuroku in Sosui****su.

My instructors classes usually ran about 20% female. Mine are usually 40 to 80%.

Not currently teaching- promised my wife to take a full year off like the nice physical therapist said.

Haven't issued a teaching certificate yet.

Second series of questions:

Most memorable moments:
My first big judo shiai, fighting out of my rank (gokyu vs a nikyu) caught in a jujigatami by the same competitor who had broken my friends arm in the previous match. Hearing my coach, teammates and girlfriend yelling from the sidelines for me to tap out. I decided not to and felt completely alone. I did turn out of the lock and win, but later I realized that in every moment like that I will be alone and whatever decision I make is soley mine.

OR- Getting a posterior shoulder dislocation in randori w/ my sensei. I popped it back in and came at him. He had a little smile, somewhere between "that's the tradition!" and "I've created a monster."

OR- Having my hakama start to fall off during my mokuroku demo.

Too many intense memories.

First role model was Mike Moore, my first judo sensei.

Started training at 17.

In randori, walking on to the mat like I own it and it is my home has won more for me than anything else.

Single technique for real life:
Situation: Cuffs need to go on resisting threat- I've had great success with either a hairhold takedown or a bent shoulder lock takedown to finger control and an elbow/wrist crush that just uses my knees from our kata.
Situation: completely surprised. Regardless of size, technique or weapon, a spearhead inside irimi. It takes the centerline, displaces the threat's arms, includes a potentially finishing strike, sets up a couple of devestating strikes gives you control of the threat's head and neck and disrupts his balance all in one move that requires no fine motor control. And it works.

Moments treasured in the journey- When your student improvises under stress. When you see a student teach something like they own it. Coolest and most subtle of all, when the student changes from being an enthusiastic student to a dedicated practitioner, when they are no longer there because they like it but because they can't imagine not training.

Rory
Jay Sal

what about YOU?

Post by Jay Sal »

Hello:

What STYLE are you - Primary-Uechi Ryu
Sensei - Robert Campbell
Instructor - George Mattson
How long trained- Started Uechi 1969-(32yrs)
What rank are you - Godan
Do you teach - Yes - Selectiveley
Started teaching-1974 Mattson Academy Boston
Other Styles Studyed:
Style - Tae Kwon Do - Bill Blanks
Style - Tang son Do - Chuck Norris Dojo
Style - Isshin Ryu - Bill Hayes
Style - USMC- Marine Corp Ryu - Bill Hayes
Style - Kenpo - Nick Cerio
Style - N-Praying Mantis Kung Fu - Chin Poi
Style - Timing Hand - Bob Campbell
Style - Tri Harmoney Kung Fu- Larry Tan
Style - Kick Boxing - Bill Wallace Seminars
Style - Kick Boxing - Joe Lewis - Seminars
Style - Judo - Various teachers

How many shodan(or higher) have you promoted? - 20 somthing

Thank You - Jay Sal
Uechi-Ryu Student
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jun 26, 2002 6:01 am
Location: Bloomingdale Michigan United States

what about YOU?

Post by Uechi-Ryu Student »

Ian gackowski
Gokyu(1st degree green belt)
about 3-3 or 4-4 (M-W)Small class.
not teaching
Been in Uechi almost three years.


New set of ?'s.

My most memrobile part of my training: My first tournament. It was so much fun. I got to see other people my age doing karate and it was just so much fun.

Second, All the funny moments in class. From all the falls that werent suposed to happen to all the mishaps like putting parts of kunshu into kanshiwa (on accedent).

The person I looked up to in my class: Probably this kid who goes to my school(he's in 10th grade)He just got his black belt like 5 mounths ago. I remeber he was the one who told me that everyone has a bad first day in karate class(since it was my first day in class).

When I first began training I was ten( I will now be turning thirteen in Sept.)

In kumite what I feel is most important is focus because if you have focus than I think you have everything you need (I know it sounds weird bt it works for me).

What technique would I use on the streets. Thats hard. I could do ikeo(Sp.check)from a punch right in to a takedown, same with koltequish(Sp.check).I also like a palm heel block, use the block to open them up and then you use the same hand to do a boshiken right under their chin and push back.Theres still 20 more that I would use but thats ok.

Ian
sunsu8
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2002 6:01 am

what about YOU?

Post by sunsu8 »

Hello all!

Mr. Glasheen, this seems to be one of the neatest things that I have heard in a long time. I am sure that it brings joy to be a SENSEI of a SENSEI of a SENSEI! **(My proudest accomplishment was having gotten my first "great grandchild" dan a year or so ago (student of a student of a student). That lineage is in Germany.)** Congradulations. You are an awesome martial artists that I am priveleged to have met! thank you

RAMiller, you seem to have a lot of memories! I often wish that there was a forum where you could just share true stories like these of your own. We occasionally will stay until 2 AM st the dojo listening to our Sensei tell stories. My hat is off to any and all people who set their own shoulders and continue! Also enjoy your treasured moments.

Jay Sal, you have been through many Arts! Thank you for your comments as well!

Ian, you seem to be a very mature karate-ka! Good to see that! Thought your sparring 'focus' statement was good even though you wrote it was weird!


TO ALL OF THE KARATEKA of this forum, post some questions of your own. Add some stories or queries which you are interested in or enjoy telling. HAve any of you ever had to physically defend yourselves? What aspect of karate do you mentally use daily outside the dojo and classes?

Have fun training ~sunsu

"...possibilities are endless, choices are destined"
Uechi-Ryu Student
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jun 26, 2002 6:01 am
Location: Bloomingdale Michigan United States

what about YOU?

Post by Uechi-Ryu Student »

Thank you for the comment Sunsu8.
I have never had to defend myself physically except for when some people at school wonder how "Good" I am so they try to attck me(I just block the attack or just simply walk away).I did make the mistake once of going to far and accidently hurt someone. It wasnt that bad but now I dont show off to other people.

Outside of the dojo and inside the dojo I now have alot more self confidence. I really cant think of anything else but I know I use more things outside of the dojo.

Ian
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