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If you like history, use a day to take the train to Kyoto, there's so many historic sites there. You can also spend a day in Osaka and tour Osaka Castle and visit the area around Dotonbori. Really though, there's plenty of shrines and temples to see in Kobe as well.
I have a friend who's teaching in Japan right now, she suggested a site jisho.org for anyone else interested. When I looked up "Sanchin" it brought up サンチン with the definition of a kata from southern Chinese origin. When I looked up "San chin" (with a space) it brought up 三焦 with a definition of triple heater?
There's rarely any direct contact the first few years of karate training, so I think you'd be fine. There are also chest protectors you could wear that will protect that area.
I found a kit at my local grocery store (Aldi) a few years ago, along with the ugly sweater kit I now use for Gis.
I just did a search for it on Amazon and they have the ninjabread kit along with the sweater kit
Not exactly what you’re looking for, but here’s a book that’s a biography on him. I have it on my shelf, ill look over it tonight and see how much of his writings are in it.
If you have that book "Basic Karate Katas", that would be great. Please check it out. I have his other kata book, "Karate the Complete Kata", and that has NO weapon kata in it. But according to the descriptions of this book ("Basic Karate Katas") that I read there are only 12 kata in it, so I really doubt that the very elusive Sai kata would be one of them. I am still betting that he only mentions it briefly as a variation on Heian Yondan. Below is the link to the actual book that allegedly references a Sai kata.
https://www.amazon.com/Basic-karate-katas-Hirokazu-Kanazawa/dp/B0007AWLWS
I can recommend this book for an excellent explanation as to why Takashi Miyagi was airbrushed from Goju Ryu history. It does not cover technical aspects, but gives an excellent overview of Miyagi's life, travels and teaching, along with his important students. And importantly to your question. What happened in Goju Ryu following his death.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chojun-Miyagi-Goju-Ryu-shared/dp/1795743956
I bought a pair a couple of years ago. I had the same requirements as you. Under $100, but not a cheap welded pair of crap. I wanted something quality, but I wasn't going to get a set that was hand made in Okinawa for my first learner set. I looked all over the web, but eventually, I ordered a pair that I still really like from Amazon. Unfortunately, they are no longer available. This set looks similar:
https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Claw-Octagon-Sai-18/dp/B0000C4JZ4/ref=sr\_1\_5
In fact, one of the reviews says that what they got was not exactly what was pictured. Seems that the sai itself was the same, but the wraps were different. The picture they included in that review is my exact pair. Anyway, it might be a good option for you. The thing I learned in shopping for sai was that if the wrap extends above the tines, it's usually to hide welds. Avoid those!
We didn't talk about it a lot in our ISKF dojo, but Okazaki Shihan would often remind us of it when he visited. If you're interested in the topic I can't recommend his book highly enough.
https://www.amazon.com/Perfection-Character-Guiding-Principles-Everyday/dp/0978576322
Kudo is very enjoyable to watch. But yeah, grappling and throws, highly recommended for all Karateka. Funakoshi had throws and sweeps in his original Karate Do Kyohan..
This one (translated by Harumi Suzuki) I bought after hearing two highly ranked Karate Sensei sing it's praises for its accuracy and attention to translation. Pat McCarthy and Simon Oliver, thank you for recommending, I still find nuggets of info now and again from practicing with my buddies who recently took up Jujitsu. Karate Do Kyohan: Master Text for the Way of the Empty-Hand https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1534962700/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_0707WAKEKZ360ZNZHV0H
Kris Wilder and Lawrence Kane literally wrote the book on this. 😀
I found it (and continue to find it) very helpful. Their examples are primarily from Goju-Ryu, but the principles discussed apply to any karate style.
The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B001S2RDIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4WKGV0J07SRVAC12EF2Y
I need 7 days to prepare. In seven days I will begin training my first batch of students. On that 7th day, it will be their first training with me. I bought the strongest proforce rebreakable board you can get. But it's not here yet. On that day I will take these people who have never trained a day in their life. And they will break this board before their 50th attempt.
Pro Force Rebreakable Boards https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AKT9HO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_50M0NRK863NNWWFEQMHR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
You should check out Jesse Enkamp's training programs. He comes across a little obnoxious, but he's seriously passionate and knowledgeable about karate. I don't know of anyone aside from Patrick McCarthy (who he's really good buds with) so dedicated to bridging traditional and modern training.
http://jisho.org/word/51869466d5dda7b2c6033846
Indicates it's not Kanji but katakana. i.e. it's an external word and they use the sound of the word rather than the meaning as per kanji.
Bear in mind that Sanchin is based on several Chinese forms which have a slightly different name - San Zhan or similar. There's a couple of different spellings... In all though they seem to mean 3 battles. Though that might just have been an abbreviation of "3 battle steps" or even 3 step sparring...
三 three in Chinese and Japanese 戦 battle in chinese and japanese. 歩 step in chinese and japanese
三戦歩
I'd be very wary of getting a tattoo based on the advice of people like me in a reddit post. :)
The two books that I used to get me to 2nd Dan was:
The Shotokan Karate Handbook: Beginner to Black Belt (I had the previous edition, or even the previous edition to that), and
Shotokan Karate Handbook: Advanced (Advanced Edition)
Hope that this helps :)
Shotokan Karate - The Definitive Guide: Beginning to Black Belt and Beyond https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1787195686/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_3TCV6D8QMWC91MKNJ9DE
This is a good go too. For more in depth
Dynamic Karate: Instruction by the Master https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/156836413X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_Q55PG9PFWWSJTVP4CBC8
Both of these were given to me back in the early 90s and have been leant to lots of beginners over the years who have bought their own copy.
If you're the organizer, I highly encourage you to look into the free and open source video conferencing software Jitsi. It doesn't sell your information, and is super easy to set up and use.
Thank you, great motivation. My injuries are quite very similar to yours, glad you're able to go to phys. therapy, hope that goes well! I think this subreddit is against people giving medical advice, but personally I've found that taking vitamins and eating cartilage off of meat has helped in rebuilding/reproducing the cartilage in my knees - they hurt less under strain like squats now. I also warm up very thoroughly with light jogging/stances back and forth around the dojo. If my knee starts hurting while just walking around, I use this knee brace to help it only move in one plane instead of possible sideways movement.
All the best to you!
Not Goju Ryu more from shorinji Ryu, but “The Classical Man” by Richard Kim is a very good read. It compiles a bunch of short historical stories in sometimes a comical way, others have a deeper meaning. Definitely recommend this.
Been a long time but I remember loving these books back in the day:
"Moving Zen" by C.W. Nicol https://www.amazon.com/Moving-Zen-C-W-Nicol/dp/0901764515/ref=tmm\_pap\_swatch\_0?\_encoding=UTF8&qid=1632361848&sr=8-1
"Zen in the Martial Arts" by Joe Hyams. https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Martial-Arts-Joe-Hyams/dp/0874771013/ref=tmm\_pap\_swatch\_0?\_encoding=UTF8&qid=1632361901&sr=8-1
I don't think anyone who has trained for some time is going to say this isn't technically true.
I guess the balking comes from: Some styles use the term, nay, suffix -Ryu and others don't. I wonder if its just marketing or does it get left off if the term is just too long to write quickly.
Here is a list of all the styles I am aware of:
Uechi-Ryu
Ryuei-Ryu
Shorin-Ryu
Shito-Ryu
Goju-Ryu
Wado-Ryu
Chito-Ryu
Isshin Ryu
Shorinji-Ryu
Matsubayashi-Ryu
Motobu-Ryu
Shindo Jinen-Ryu
Shotokan
Shukokai
Shudokan
Kyokushin
Enshin
Ashihara
Daido-Juku (or Kudo)
Seido Kaikan
Byakuren Kaikan
Shidokan
Nippon Kempo (or Nihon Kempo)
Half of them use the -Ryu suffix, the others do not. Never knew why that is or isn't though.
Now let's add fictional and a real example, for a moment.
Miyagi-Do (Yes, I know is Goju-Ryu) but its not called Goju-Ryu. Does the -Do suffix mean its a variant or familial style of a known style? I dont know.
Machida-Do / Machida Karate (Originally started as JKA Brazilian Shotokan, but has, obviously, morphed over time into something not exactly Shotokan, either)
I got my floor mats from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072MLTVS4
I like a smoother surface rather than the texturing that these mats have, so I installed them upside down. The bottoms are smooth.
Awesome book, because Karate is not only about kicks and punches
https://www.amazon.com.mx/Karate-Do-Way-Life-Gichin-Funakoshi/dp/1568364989
Round is a shape.
Seriously, though, my dojo is open in person and there are Zoom classes. That said, I've been threatening to get more into calisthenics/body weight exercises. I was training a few years back with a BJJ instructor who looked like a fitness model, and I asked if he worked out with kettle bells or something like that (they were very popular at the time). He said no, just body weight exercises. The obvious advantages are that you don't need any gear, so you can do them anywhere. There are a ton of YouTube vids, and I also recommend a book called You Are Your Own Gym.
For cardio I've used TABATA and jumping rope in the past - I might start doing either or both of those again.
Edit: Oh, duh, I just re-read your post and saw where you said you don't like bodyweight exercises. So ignore that.
Is this for a striking or throwing art? I have purchased [Macho]( https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CXBB170/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) brand from Amazon and like the cut and feel when I train in Shotokan. Gi top only .
​
As for throwing in AIkido, I ordered from e-bogu based in Los Angeles. Sign up with your email and they offer discounts. Iliked them so much, I ordered a full set of Kendo gear and quality shinai.
Loved the advice! For cardio I’m currently doing a workout on Amazon prime titled Edge workout Shotokan Karate-Do . It has a bit of bullshit but instead of doing hooks I do empi. Instead of uppercuts I do age uke. And I do combinations from kata (yoko geri-empi) or sanban tsuki/gyaku sanban tsuki.
I used to practice with a dojo friend on Sundays when the dojo was open and we kind of know how to run a practice session. We just do a warmup comprised of running, running with knees up and heels up. Jumping jacks, bouncing, twisting and then stretching. After the warmup we do the belt testing kihon, Kumite and kata. It also keeps us on track for the next belt testing.
Lately I’ve been trying to mostly work on kicks. There’s a video I’ve been referring to for kicks karate by Jesse kick video the only downside is that you need a partner.
Well, this turned into a reply to an amazing suggestion and I added my own suggestions to OP.
OSS!
This thread has alternatives to using Hola, which used to be a way to watch streams from other countries.
People are saying to use Zenmate. Might want to look into that to get around the region lock.
Practical bunkai is pretty much not taught by the Japanese instructors who came from the JKA. I was with the ISKF for over 20 years. Bunkai was only ever used for demonstrations at tournaments, and then it was only the pre-arranged multiple attackers doing karate techniques thing.
That's not to say that practical bunkai oyo is entirely absent from their group. I'm sure there are some high-level critical thinkers among their ranks. The author JD Swanson is a member of the ISKF.
I haven't tried these but a person in a camp was wearing something like these and my Sensei loved the idea: https://www.amazon.com/Footful-Ballet-Metatarsal-Forefoot-Cushions/dp/B00NG8FFLC
Abso-fucking-lutely. It is a very short read and similar to "The Art of War" it is widely applicable. This one is written more specifically for martial arts (swords even more specifically) but its philosophy is used in business and life as well.
Not sure if it's exactly what you are looking for but Wado Ryu Karate, by Hironori Otsuka goes into the mentality and idea of karate at the beginning, I'm currently reading it, the translation isn't perfect as it was first of all dictated then translated.
15 minutes of practice a day (in addition to your normal classes) is more than enough. Having practiced judo, you know the drill - lots of mindful repetition until you get things right.
Here's a good, short reference book by an influential Shotokan guy: Dynamic Karate https://www.amazon.com/Dynamic-Karate-Masatoshi-Nakayama/dp/156836413X
Here's a good youtube channel: shotokankataman https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LfRT9-HMeq5d4CiozF9BQ It's exactly what it sounds like - reference videos of all the shotokan katas.
Get 7oz MMA gloves instead of 4oz, that will help with the padding. I use these gloves and they work well..
Padded enough to protect during knockdown sparring and small enough to be good when we roll or focus on takedowns.
I have had pretty good luck with Proforce Gladiator karate sparring gloves. They leave your thumb and most of your fingers free so you can grab for clinch and throws. They have big knuckle pad, much bigger than MMA style gloves. https://www.amazon.com/ProForce-Gladiator-Karate-Gloves-White/dp/B005E1C5KS/
"The Essential Karate Book" by Graeme Lund is very general, covers a broad amount of non-style-specific basic material. Blocks, strikes, stances and such. I found it pretty useful as a beginner. And doing karate with your kid(s) is great! I do it with 3 kids of various ages.
Good luck to you. Just know that the best time to do deep, static stretching is immediately following strenuous activity, when your muscles are warm. If you wake up in the morning and do those stretches cold, they won't have the same effect, so you might want to do some slow kata, or yoga sun salutations first before getting into the actual stretching. In the mornings a good mobility routine - taking your body through its normal range of motion - also called limbering, might be all you need.
I just started reading Kit Laughlin's book Stretching and Flexibility and in it he says that people who only had 1-2 proper stretching sessions a week had the same or better progress as those who were doing daily stretching routines. The reason being is that the body needs to recover even from stretching. We're talking about intense stretching routines where you're employing PNF stretching techniques like Contract-Relax that take you to beyond your previous ROM. This is good news for a busy student like yourself!
You might want to check out the /r/flexibility sub if you haven't already. Also, look up Starting Stretching, and Molding Mobility.
Also, massage is great for relieving muscle pain. If you can't get to a massage therapist regularly, then self-massage using foam rollers, and other tools is a good substitute.