I have always been fascinated by kyokushin karate, especially their low kicks and consequentive punches. However, there isn't a kyokushin dojo where I'm from. It's mostly Shotokan dojos and no disrespect to my sensei or anything, he really trains us hard and generally focuses more on the kihon to make sure that we build a solid foundation for our kimute and kata.

However, I just found kyokushin's techniques to be more interesting. Is it possible to self-teach myself some of these techniques? Obviously, I won't use them in point-sparring cause that will get me disqualified and I might hurt somebody but they're more or less for personal knowledge and curiousity.

Hey Guys,

Kyokushin Karate white belt here.

How would you guys train the low kick if you don't have a bag or pads to hit at home?

Is going through motions in air enough and then apply them in sparring at training?

Also, I can do it pretty well-ish on my right leg, but I need some work with my left, how would you approach this?

Thanks so much, would love to hear what you guys do/have done :)

Thanks!

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Has anyone here practiced Shorin Ryu Shinshunkan? It is a Brazilian Shorin-ryu school founded by the Okinawan sensei Yoshihide Shinzato. My experience: 2 years, a little disappointed because they give little emphasis to self-defense and more to presentation (like in bunkai with multiple attackers). Self-defense seems generic and not derived from the katas, with some exceptions. I also found it very sporty, unlike what Shorin Ryu at Shidokan seems to be.

Hello! I have just started karate some weeks ago (it's the most fun I've had in years and I can see myself doing it for ever), and as I love sewing as a hobby, I have started making my own gi. I have gathered a rough construction pattern from observing good gi from videos, because I don't have a sports shop that sells gi to look at, and I don't know the other practitioners at the dojo well enough to ask them to have a look at their pants 😅

I started with the pants and it is going ok so far, but I am a bit stumped on the gusset (that squarish part where the legs meet) and looking for info. My prototype ended up having a good shape for the legs when standing, but too tight when moving, like pulling a lot across the thigh and buttocks when lifting the knee for a maegeri.

My assumptions is that traditional gi are made with straight pieces of fabric, minimal shaping, minimal fabric waste. So the legs would be straight rectangles, and the gusset is what allows movement.

If you have a good heavy cotton traditional gi, would you mind sharing some details?

1. What's the shape of the gusset, when you spread it open? Perfect square, diamond?
2. What are the dimensions of it?
   
3. When you have the gi on, how far down the leg does the gusset start? (mid-thigh, above, below?)
4. How far down the front and back seams does it start, like how long is the straight seam between the two legs until the gusset is inserted?