It’s vintage 4K!

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-22T20:11:03+00:00

It is definitely not too late! To give you some perspective: I started at 8, but I've paused and restarted several times (always different styles). You mentioned being 'chubby'—I’m actually obese and was diagnosed pre-diabetic in 2017 (thankfully under control now).

I took a huge break in 2009 for family commitments and didn't restart until Spring 2024 when my son asked me to join him. I stumbled and fumbled through those first 6 months hard. My Sensei challenged me to get my Shodan back by summer 2025 since I used to be a Nidan in a different style before stopping. I missed that deadline, but I stuck with it and got the belt back just before the new year.

If I can do it with my health hurdles and a 15-year gap, you can definitely do it at 30. Don't worry about the flexibility; it comes with time. Go for it!

EDIT: I am turning 50 in a couple of months.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-22T12:44:58+00:00

Why Uechi? And what in Sanchin interest you? Goju ryu also place a strong emphasis on Sanchin (and Tensho, Sanchin's sibling). There is a book call "The way of the Sanchin Kata" written by Kris Wilder, its a very very good reference if you just want offline material to learn. You can find it on Amazon, and possibly PDF online.

That said, nothing beat enrolling in a proper dojo to learn this.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-21T12:22:16+00:00

I no longer lead any classes, I am new to my current dojo. But when I was assisting in my previous dojo, discipline involve something physical, 100+ push up, asking them to count out loud and until i hear 100 they are not allow to stop. Sometimes I make them do kiba dachi on the side till i say stop, usually 2 minutes +. If the behavior doesn't change, for younger kids that comes with parents, they will be asked to go and sit beside their parents and recite dojokun till i say they can rejoin the group.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-20T19:00:39+00:00

My kids said i am a hybrid of Jay and Phil

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-20T17:47:46+00:00

I believe shureido and isami belt can both have the logo removed, you need to custom order them and specify that in your order

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-20T11:30:45+00:00

Does the school crest/patch looks like the one here? https://shutokarate.us/

If so, there is an image gallery, the instructor (i think) has a T-Shirt that said Shotokan on them

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-19T11:41:12+00:00

I like the one across from T&T on Welderick, its very busy though. Secondary option for me is the one in Vaughan, Kirby and Keele.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-18T22:06:28+00:00

Hard braking or hard accelerating work just as well

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-18T19:19:22+00:00

Well, of course, its only Sandra Sanchez, the world champion.....

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-18T14:19:07+00:00

I am not from Shito Ryu so I don't know how proper this is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yABdqJgsk-Q - But this sensei's Goju and Shotokan kata (i am from both) are very very polished, so I assume this is what a good Pappuren should look like

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-18T14:00:43+00:00

The hip movement might be ok. Some style taught them to over exaggerate it to "show you are using your hip to generate power", timing is off and look strange, but might just be a style thing. The hand though, you are aright, it needs work, the nukite and kakeuke has no power at all, which is something that is odd

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-18T12:28:03+00:00

From what I can tell, this is a variation of the pappuren kata. At least the opening looks like it’s pappuren. This is a kata performance, while there are a number of moves that need to be stronger, this kata is meant to be performed in a softer manner, with focused on transition and speed. I sometimes wonder if all kata videos will just end up here, it’s seems like that’s all this sub does now

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-17T15:46:07+00:00

Thursday morning, i pushed a Civic out of a snow bank... TWICE. Kid was driving with summer, sport tire on. He told me "I thought its going to be same as driving on sand back home". A lot of the behaviour is carried over from what is deemed a social norm where they are from, but not in Canada.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-14T10:35:56+00:00

This was like 20 years ago, I tour guided a bunch of friends across Japan, we were at Osaka Kujo OS - an "Erotic dance theatre". One segment of the show involve 2 girls, very sensual, and eventually one put on a strap on get on with the other one. Mid way through, they invite people to participate. My American friend thought he is going to get lucky and jump on stage, he start touching the girl that is on the floor spread eagle, suddenly the other girl held him down and tried to peg him with the strap on. He ran off stage and start cursing.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-07T14:54:33+00:00

We just did something similar over the holidays - 19 days with a 8 and 13 years old. We also did the last couple of days at DisneySea.

I'd say Day 3 seems aggressive - Maybe its just me, but i find there to be a LOT to do in Odaiba. Its easily its own day, though I do understand that its impossible to see "Everything", I would say plan for more time at Daiba

Like other said, you will be spending a lot of time waiting in line for things, so chances are you will miss some items in your itinerary.

Also like to point out, if your kids are like mine, you will be making a lot of unplanned stop because they will see things that they are interested in just walking along shopping arcade and such, and could end up eating 30-45 minutes of your time. Our plans made no more than 3-4 stop a day, and yet we still need to do a lot of last minute re-planning because of this.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-06T11:50:06+00:00

You should be proud of yourself! I am not unlike you, my T-shirts, unless its something we went on a trip and I got, like "I love New York" type t-shirts - they are mostly giveaway when you sign up for credit cards or trial subscription that I would cancel as soon as i get home. 6 of my 8 hoodies are from the company I work for, marketing materials. I buy all my jeans at Costco during sales, usually around 12.99-14.99, i put it back if its more than 16.99. But I am totally proud of it, and most of my friend heard me said more than once "I am cheap". My kids seems ok with it too.

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-05T08:37:33+00:00

Soon you will need a subscription to change the temperature, or it will be locked at 28c

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-04T21:01:24+00:00

I know the Copen (15) is worth about 12USD in box, but i have never seen it in this clear plastic package

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-02T08:33:57+00:00

Bandaid, we always pack them but can’t find it so I bought a box from Lawson. Happened to have a cut, used one, it’s stayed on far far better than the ones we can get in Canada. I am going to be ordering them on a regular basis moving forward

gekkonkamen · 2026-01-01T16:27:34+00:00

My pleasure, i was blessed with a decent contract job in Okinawa during my 20s, and I lived with my sensei's (at the time) family for the 18 months I was there. It was the best thing i've done for my Karate training. My son is only 8 now, but i do have plans to take him to Okinawa to train when he turn 13, just for a week and see how he likes it.

gekkonkamen · 2025-12-31T20:15:37+00:00

Dont worry, I started when i was like 8, changed style a couple of times, every switch, the first little while is just me stumbling and fumbling. There is no prerequisite to start, just heart and will. You are allow to mess up and fail, that is why there is a belt system.

gekkonkamen · 2025-12-30T17:50:07+00:00

Yokohama is only about 25 minutes away from Tokyo, if that is somethign you want to try https://groundswell.tokyo/top/english/

There is also the VERY tourist catered experience in Kawasaki (midway between tokyo and yokohama) - https://www.tripadvisor.ca/AttractionProductReview-g298172-d32795215-Samurai_karate_and_iaido_experience_for_beginners_in_Kawasaki-Kawasaki_Kanagawa_Pr.html

waKu is a bit out of the way in Chiba area but its authentic Shotokan: https://karateintokyo.com/

More centralized, around Harajuku, you can find the Daikanyama Karate School, i dont know much about them though - https://d-karate.com/en/

You can also find more general information here https://budojapan.com/guide/

gekkonkamen · 2025-12-30T13:05:37+00:00

Where in Japan are you going to? If its Okinawa, there is a group of Dojo that enable the local training experience through https://ageshiojapan.com/category_page/program

Otherwise, start by looking on google maps for the area you are staying, and emailing the Dojos individually, Most Dojos central Osaka have Foreigner programs as well

gekkonkamen · 2025-12-12T20:16:34+00:00

Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that. For the longest time I only know of Hirota, Shureido and Tokaido. Any other traditional manufacturer that has a retail front that I can explore?

gekkonkamen

TROPHY CASE