Norimi Yamaguchi

His class is 75% lecture with you standing up in formation. The other is basic skills. I was upset that we started practicing the moves for the final physical skill test just 4 weeks before the end of the semester. Not counting holidays, it was just too much to learn. What did we do the first 8 or 10 weeks?. Then comes the WRITTEN test, OMG, I was sooo mad, wasn't hard if you know your physical examination. But, still some questions (2)were related to Physics and Geometry. I felt there was a Big Wall between the instructor and the students. He knows his Karate and is very experienced, but did not want to teach them early in class. There is no Warm-Up in this class, so be careful. He only gives good grades to experienced students. I have just a red belt in Karate(2 years practice '98)and thats how I got a "B". Of course everyone is supposed to wear a white belt in class, but at the beginning of the semester he allowed a girl to wear her green belt into class...yup, she got the highest score at the end of the semester. *Review updated Jan 3, 2003.

Good teacher. You really have to study for the two exams, kind of surprising. Overall, the class was great and as long as you don't miss too often, you'll be fine.

Yamaguchi is an incredibly interesting teacher. His family invented the type of Karate he practices, so obviously he is an expert. However, this is not a class to take if you just want an easy A and a little excercise. This is a serious thing to him and he expects you to learn not only the proper ways to move, but also the names of these moves. The final skill test is not hard if you practice a little on your own time or with other people in the class. The final written test is harder, but just pay attention in the review and you'll get all the answers.

Yamaguchi was entertaining and has a good teaching style that gets the students engaged. What bothered me wasn't the fact that you don't learn how to "kick ass," but that the final was entirely in Japanese. In the end, I was kicking myself (because by then I knew how...) for not opting for CR/NC, because the final SCREWED me and I got a B- in the class. There are 2 parts to the final: a physical demonstration of skills learned and the written final. The demo is easy if you just practice the moves at home. But unless you delve into the reader and learn which Japanese prefix goes with which move, you won't get the grade you want.

If you are interested in learning karate as a discipline and as a philosphy, then Yamaguchi is your man. His classes are fun and informative. Not only does he give explicit instructions on the moves, but also on the ideas behind the technique...i.e. the physics and biology of the technique. Be prepared to work. This isn't an easy class. Some classes can be physically challenging, though in the end it's for the best. You may not understand why your doing some strange stretching exercise, but when you see that it teaches you a mean roundhouse kick you understand. No, you aren't going to be kickin' ass after the first class. Frankly, if that is your attitude then stay away. This is my first experience with karate and I am hooked. Yamaguchi is the best.

Hmm.., I hope this is the Yamaguchi guy I had for his Karate class. Anyhow..., at first I was so excited about taking Karate, but after a while, his class got kinda boring. i dunno anything about martial Arts, but this beginning Karate class was a slow process. So don't except to start kicking someone's ass from this class. I didn't like the fact that he gives a written final, and a performance final as well. The course reader that we are suppose buy, was hardly ever used by me, because I never really use it to study with for the final. If your a student who plan's to use the Credit/or No Credit option, don't get the book, just pay attending during his review.