Summary: <p><img src="/sites/default/files/file_attach/images/0815pc_image.jpg" style="float:right;height:200px;margin:5px 12px;width:200px;">Welcome to one of the longest podcasts we’ve ever done! It’s been a while since I last turned the podcast over to listeners and asked for questions and topics; so in this one I put that right! I asked for questions via Facebook, Twitter and the newsletters and got way more than I could possibly answer! Thanks to all who contributed!</p> <p>I printed them all off and did my best to answer as many as I could in the time available. Here are just some of the topics covered:</p> <p>How many kata should we learn; individual expression and kata; how the differing versions of kata complement each other; how karate has changed and my predictions for the future; the role of stances; heel down or heal up when punching; karate for the older practitioner; kumite vs. kata; kakie exercises; throws in self-defence; my favourite kata; seminar teaching; developing a bunkai-based syllabus; kata and multiple enemies; how to validate bunkai; stretching; kyusho Jitsu and kata applications; karate in schools; kata in the Olympics; fitting training into a busy schedule; is karate still Japanese; what most people disagree with me on; and more!</p> <p>Whether you agree or disagree with my take on the various subjects covered, I hope that you find it an interesting and entertaining listen.</p> <p>To break the podcast up also I recorded some “fake sponsor announcements” which are interspaced every 15 mins or so. I could have just used some music, but this amused me more :-) Whether they amuse anyone else remains to be seen.</p> <p>I’m aware that at this time of year many listeners will be traveling for their holidays and I hope the increased length of the podcast helps pass the time on various road tips and flights.</p> <p>Many thanks for all your support of these podcasts!</p> <p>All the best,</p> <p>Iain</p> <p><strong>PLEASE NOTE: </strong>In the podcast I got little confused! This October see the start of the 10<sup>th</sup> year of the podcasts … whereas when recording I said it was the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary (which would the end of the 10<sup>th</sup> year and not the start). Still a great achievement which is entirely down to the support of listeners … but we need to keep the champagne on ice for a little longer :-)</p>
