Leaderboard

Key factors about Shindokan: 1) We never block an attack 2) We want to get behind our attackers 3) We want to be very close to our attacker 4) We don’t back up Today, I briefly want to address key factor #1: We never block an attack; we deflect said attack. Dai-Soke describes how we execute our Uke, deflection, in an interesting analysis. He says the Shindokan Deflection is similar to catching a football. A) Position Your Body Correctly!! Poor body position will greatly affect your effectiveness. Therefore, one’s focus should be towards improving your position. Your position should be facing directly towards your attacker. Why?? Shortest answer: Shortest path between two points is a straight line; anything else is unnecessary. B) Position Your Hands Correctly!! With your arms in front of you at a 45 degree angle network. Network for us means that your upper body and hands are in agreement. Whether you’re in a front facing, half-front facing, or side facing posture. In short, your position and hands should not be like you’re playing a game of Twister. C) Catch The Attack!! Hand usages are not arbitrary nor are they suggestions. Rather they’re directives towards to either accepting said deflection or seizing said attack. When deflecting, ones directing said attacking force where you want it to finish. Therefore you’re hands aide you to catch said attack. When thereafter, you seize the attack immediately either by with your hand(s) or your arm(s) or with your hand(s) and arm(s). Our strong desire is to not use our hands to seize said attack because a free hand is unlimited, while a engaged hand is limited; we hate to seize ourselves while we’re trying to seize said attacker. D) Tuck The Attack!! To control our attacker during a close range attack, we must tuck the attack like a football player would after they catch/receive the football. A football player doesn’t want that football to get away because if they do, either a incompletion or fumble will result. Well, once we deflect, we want to control, and to control we must tuck said attack into me, not away from me but making said attack a part of my body so my attacker doesn’t get away from me. All of those factors take minuscule amounts of time to execute. Our goal in any Uke for us is the setup that helps us to get behind our attacker. Shortly, I’ll briefly address key factor #2 about Shindokan: Getting Behind Our Attacker.

Here is an example of the wolf whistle. It got its name largely thanks to cartoons using the imagery of a wolf (sometimes having other cartoon animals morph into having wolf like features to do so) while whistling. I think it's less about wolf whistle being his biggest regret, and more about an acceptance of the past. I have things that are much larger and personal regrets than not knowing how to wolf whistle or roll my Rs. However, these regrets shaped me. Our regrets shape us all and it's up to us to find the positive lessons in those regrets. Regrets teach us about ourselves, they are the strongest way to understand who we are as a person. One of my biggest "regrets" was from when I was 14 years old and I became physically aggressive with my best friend's mom. The fallout of that taught me a lot about who I was, and how I wanted to shape myself going forward. If I could go back, I would change how I received that lesson, but I would not change what I learned. The situation actually brought me a lot closer to all involved parties after I got help with processing what it was that was going on with me internally. It also helped focus what I wanted out of martial arts.

I think to be a well trained martial artist of any type, you need to learn to fall- especially if you're a kicker! I started out with judo as a kid, and my first karate teacher was also a renowned Olympic Judo coach, so it's always been in my toolkit. But yeah, in TSD it wasn't covered much, either, and when I started Hapkido we did breakfalls, though with some differences.

Thank you for sharing! Kobudo is rarely looked at through a practical lens, since most people are not carrying around bo, sai, tonfa, etc. on a daily basis for self-defense (although many of the techniques for those weapons can be transferred to other, everyday items). Nunchaku are especially neglected on this front, as they typically get more exposure as tricking implements than actual weapons. While I didn't learn these particular applications for the nunchaku, my late Sensei did teach a number of grappling techniques using them, implementing them for leverage and pain compliance, similar to what you have going on in this video, in addition to their striking applications.

One must bear in mind that training in Japan or even Okinawa is no different than training anywhere else. It is not a matter of where but with whom. That is what makes the experience worthwhile. With that said the best course of planning, as others have mentioned is to arrange it through connections and references. These are extremely important and perhaps essential. In many instances just showing up without an internal referral is a major blunder which will give a rude impression and cause for refusal or cold reception. Many traditionally minded sensei and Japanese people in general are weary of foreigners unless they have a clear signs of good faith and respectable intentions. Expect to be closely watched and scrutinized in the dojo and outside as well. In recent years there has been much conflict, frustration and justified anger because of a few ill-behaved, uncouth and foul uncivilized behaviour from foreigners who seem to think they can abuse the kind and polite nature of Japanese society. Mistaking this for weakness always ends badly and those who behave like trash are treated like trash. The man to look up in Okinawa is Mister Miguel DaLuz. He has lived there for years, and is very well connected to all styles sensei. It is actually his job to help foreign karate students find a dojo. He also runs a great magazine covering karate, history and Okinawan culture published in French, English, Spanish and Japanese which he speaks flawlessly. A very interesting fellow to talk to. The mainland is less familiar to me, but there are quite a few reputable places in and around Tokyo.

For me, it's about trust. I start bo fairly early, but I need to know that my student is going to be responsible. Do they have awareness of their body? Are they mature enough not to joke around with a literal weapon? These are all considerations. Safety is a priority and insurance claims are not cheap. I also think we can look at the demographics of Eastern martial arts and HEMA. Systems of karate have a very low barrier to entry. All you have to do is show up and pay some dues. Most schools seem to offer a gi with the first payment of dues. Furthermore, a lot of the revenue for Karate is seated in the youth classes. If we're apprehensive about handing an adult a weapon right away, then doing so with a child would be much worse. Because it is easier to have a homogenous curriculum so that one party doesn't become angry that the other is learning more, often times the difference in the content is small. You'll notice a difference in approach between these age groups, but they are generally taught everything in the same order. This simplifies a lot of the work that a dojo/dojang owner has to do, but admittedly doesn't allow for a lot of variance in those who are more interested in different aspects of martial arts. HEMA, on the other hand, is mostly adults. The barrier to entry is much higher. Yes, clubs often have loaner equipment, but you're encouraged to purchase your own gear if you plan on coming for a prolonged period of time. You still have club due, of course, but even a cheap, good trainer (e.g. Feder) start in the $150 - $200 range, and you still have to buy the accoutrement. This means a mask, gloves, possibly a gorget, most clubs recommend a certain type of sole for your shoes, you need body protection, so at least a gambeson. The bill ads up, and while buying good quality gear will last you a long time if taken care of, you're still accepting a future in which everything needs to be replaced eventually. Few parents, who already have to deal with buying new clothes, shoes, etc. every time their child grows an inch, which is a lot, want to sign up for that kind of monetary commitment. It also works against HEMA that it is so connected to historical analysis. Often, HEMA benefits from you having some historical knowledge (which members of HEMA clubs are only too happy to teach you about) and not a small amount of picking up medieval texts and reading them, interpreting them, and then drilling them over and over again. Not a lot of kids are down for the rigors of HEMA, and that's fine, HEMA has an academic flavor to it that it really enjoys and I enjoy that aspect of training HEMA. It just comes down to trust and confidence that your students are going to remain safe. When you have a bunch of adults, it's a lot easier to impress upon them the importance of not only being aware of yourself, but of your surroundings. Kids and teenagers usually build this awareness quickly as they progress, but lack the necessary maturity to handle a weapon upon joining a dojo/dojang.

My biggest regret is not keeping up my Spanish. Being bilingual would have been of great benefit.

I have a question: What is YOUR martial arts background? Joining a martial arts school, any MA school, you are looking to learn from that instructor. Don't like him/her? Quit. Just because that instructor doesn't do what you think they should do, makes for a real shaky instructor/student relationship.

Probably due to the sport aspect. I've always had instructors that worked in some of the self-defense aspects, and we always learned how to fall, if even rudimentarily. In Aikido, we spend a lot more time on ukemi, and it's a different level of attention to detail.

Just because you don't like someone, or how someone does things, doesn't mean you can't still learn something from them. There are egos on both side of this; yours and his. If his won't flex, then perhaps yours might have to, at least for a time if you think you can gain something from his teaching. Which to me, it sounds like you probably could. The important thing to remember is that what he teaches you doesn't demean what you already know. You are just adding to your knowledge base. Take what you learn in class, and then on your own time, work it from your own training philosophy. Take notes, maybe ask some questions here and there on the side so as not to cause an issue in class. If after a time you don't feel like the training is beneficial at all, you can always move on. I'll say this, from my time in grappling class, there is nothing theoretical about rolling. That's one thing BJJ and Wrestling benefit from. A lot of instructors could benefit from that kind of exposure. Best of luck to you, and let us know what you decide.

It probably was clear! I sometimes miss little nuances like that!

I was trying to be playful. Sorry if that was unclear.

First of all welcome to the forum! Where in Japan are you looking at travelling to? As that will greatly help the other members provide you with helpful suggestions. Does your club have any affiliations in Japan? May be worth speaking to your sensei if they know any other Shito-Ryu Clubs that are members of a Japanese Organisation.

Miguel Da Luz - founder of the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau (OTKLB). Miguel has lived in Okinawa a long time…20 years or more. Miguel would be the main contact between you and any given Okinawa Master; I’d say his list of Okinawa Master is the who’s who of Okinawa Masters. If you are a black belt holder, it is recommended that you bring both black and white belts: you should wear a white belt first. If sensei urges you to wear your black belt, only then you can wear it. Good luck!! (EDIT: Auto Spell hates me)

From what i've seen, Yes it is less dangerous. The rules around tackling are strictly enforced, where it is effectively around the waist and from the front. Anything above Sternum is a High Tackle. So there are No Tackles from the Side or Rear. A few people I played with, received concussions during the course of a match. They had to immediately report for Medical Assessment, until cleared to return they aren't playing. They can do supervised training; but is more about movement and cardio. We had a few exchange students from the US, and played a match or two with us. I remember talking to them, and what shocked them was how safe the game of Rugby is in comparison to NFL. IMHO at the end of the day the Coach has the final say about who plays and who doesn't. Also they are the ones responsible for Player Safety. When I was a coach (I coached Basketball), and had players ruled out due to injury. Now a few times - I had a few parents, or even club management try to force me to get an injured player to get court time because they had organised a scout to come watch. However I strictly refused, and the scout came to me to ask what happened and why I didn't play a certain player. Now I explained to them that I do not play a player that is injured, as it is my responsibility for their safety and if I did let them play it would just be reckless. However I have heard disturbing reports from various places that coaches at the High School Level push their players to unsafe levels during extreme heat.

Well, I can say that Shito-Ryu isn't very popular on Okinawa, as it's really more of a mainland Japanese style, but there are quite a few dojo on Okinawa that are open to the public. The Karate Kaikan actually has a program to connect visitors with dojo on Okinawa, but you need to register right away, because they ask for 2 weeks' notice: https://karatekaikan.jp/en/pages/experience-program-karate Aside from that, you can try connecting with other karateka visiting Okinawa and see if they will let you tag along when they go to training. These personal connections are generally the best way to go, but can be difficult if you don't already know people on Okinawa. You can start by reaching out to James Pankiewicz, who runs the Asato Dojo and BujinTV, as he has lots of connections and knows a lot of people who might be able to help you out. Alternatively ,you can ask a taxi driver to take you to a karate dojo they know about and just show up asking respectfully to train. I don't generally recommend the "show up and ask" approach unless you have exhausted your other options.

I’m going to figure out how to do the Taxi/Wolf whistle. I have to become it’s been on my bucket list for far too long long. Btw, I love the name Wolf Whistle much more than Taxi; sounds pretty cool to me.

This situation sounds untenable, Revario. I don’t know how long you can continue in such an unhappy situation so I’d recommend doing two things – 1) Determine what you want to learn, specifically. What techniques, requirements, drills, do you think this teacher has that you need to learn? Set something specific to work towards. 2) Give yourself a period of time where you will be “The Perfect Student”. 3 months? 1 month? 15 classes? Whatever it is. Just get with the program, go to class, and do what the Sensei wants. His ideas, not yours, for a finite amount of time. Then reevaluate. You could do one or the other, possibly both at the same time, but I think it may help your mindset by having a plan like this. I had a very difficult Sensei who I clashed with in exactly the way you describe. Clones, not students. It was easier for me to move on when I set a specific goal (to learn a final kata). Another alternative - would this Sensei be willing to teach you privately? Perhaps he doesn't like the questions in his classes, but would be more open to your ideas in a private lesson? Still, if your philosophies are as different as you say, I'm not sure how long you can walk the path alongside this person.

The group I train with took a crack at interpreting Kobu Nunchaku and I think we came up with some good stuff. I made a video to demonstrate the beginning section. I can make videos of the other sections if people are interested. I'd love to hear any questions, comments, or even snide remarks. Thanks. Here's the whole kata performed by Nishiuchi Mikio Shihan

Truer words were never spoken.

Now that I quit drinking maybe I should change my SN to KarateHeineKen0.0

Don't get me wrong; there is more to Karate than just the Kata. And totally get that there are things in our Art that you need a partner for. If you can't get your primary instructor; you can always check in with other instructors you have a relationship with who teach your art that could always go online for. For me atm the partner work i'm missing i actually fill in with friends or others wanting to learn what I teach. And build them up to the point that they are doing the same stuff as I do. Forcing me to find a different way of doing it; including when they ask questions forcing me to think about what I do in a different way.

I was thinking the same thing. I am in a situation where I can't viably train at a dojo at the present, and I have asked various instructors (I'm a Goju-Kai Practitioner) to film stuff for me. Not just the Kata, little tid bits, but to help tide me over till i see them next. But every couple of months, i send them a video of progress and if theres anything i needed to work on then they give me the feedback. if there is something that need to work on or to add or even consider they bring it up. Even before whats going on; I did a lot of work on Zoom with students who couldn't make it into the dojo to train. Is it harder? Yes it is. But way better than the alternative - Not training!

This confuses me a little : if your own sensei is in the same style then why not get them to teach you the kata? You are obviously experienced so i am sure you can likely practice them yourself to get the techniques down (if you don't want the bunkai etc. from the new sensei then you aren't missing out on anything). Your own sensei may even let you make a personal video of them performing the kata/s so you have a reference to look at if you need to remember sequencing etc. Wouldn't this achieve your goal with a lot less hassle?

Interesting analysis?!? Peculiar analysis, was what I thought for quite some time. Those that are immature in techniques, and I once was one like that for quite some time, do have difficulty in understanding his analysis. “It’s a smidge difficult to compare to our form of football and in itself catching a ball.” Is it really?!? At first, it was difficult for me!! Not anymore!! If you’re asking me how do I teach it, the Shindokan deflection, well, it’s quite basic, which all teachings should be, imho. First of all, my usages of the word “catch” is improper. We CAPTURE, not catch said desired attack. Also, while I use the deflection for its simplicity, what we’re actually doing is RECEIVING said attack. At first, with the assistance of one of my instructors, I show my students several definitions, slow at speed, then speed up until full speed. To teach, and bring alive Soke’s analysis, I use…well…of course…a football!! It’s a crude way to teach how we deflect, however, students quickly start to have their Aha moment through visual cues. Not each and every deflection we use follows the football catch analysis. No. The only deflection that uses Soke’s analysis is when we want to bring said attack into our body so that we can either manipulate, control, or start to transition behind our attack. I might deflect over and over until said opportunity makes itself available for me to manipulate, control, and/or transition behind said attacker. Teaching that, well, here’s where the football, nerf football is safer, comes handy. I’d you’ve ever watched a wide receiver trying to catch a football that’s been thrown wide, and seeing that wide receiver with stretched out hands catch that football…what does that wide receiver do immediately once that football is in the clutch of his/her hands?? They tuck that football close into them with an almost vise like grip. That’s the ending result of any Shindokan deflection!! So yes!! We do a lot of playing catch with a football. In time, I teach that football catch but that wide stretched out hands become closer and closer to the students body until the hands are directly in front of them; ready to receive said attack. When the student decides to capture said attack is entirely up to that student. It’s quite rudimentary, imho. Yes!! Yes!! Yes!! Yes!! I’ve never stopped anything, I’ve only received/deflected said attack. Practitioner’s can label how they stop an attack anyway that their style dictates. Styles might disagree with other styles methodology and ideology, and that too is their right to do so. We don’t block; we only receive/deflect!! Many practitioners can’t receive/deflect because they’re still afraid. We only receive/deflect in a controlled manner!!

I was talking about AI the other day with someone and how music is now being created by AI. The lyrics, the signing voice, it all sounds like a professional musician recorded the song, but there is no artist, it is a computer. He said to me "I will never understand humans. I can't believe we are smart enough to create this type of technology, but stupid enough to allow it to replace us."

It's really quite simply a matter of how the sensei teaching the curriculum wants to teach it. Some are good with weapons first and only. Some are not. It could be that a sensei wants to see what kind of discipline and dedication the student is willing to put into training before putting a weapon in their hands that can become a dangerous force multiplier. For others, it could simply be because that is the way it was when they learned it and that is the way they will do it. They just follow the same method they learned. I'm fortunate in that if I wanted to, I could just learn the weapons curriculum at the Aikido school I attend. But it's only offered one day a week, unless the sensei chooses to do a weapons day during the other classes. In the end, if your options are limited, you'll just have to make do. Or don't. Your choice.

While we didn't necessarily break it down this way, my late Sensei taught very similar methodologies attached to our Shorin-Ryu. We often used the term "block" because it is what so many people are used to, but we taught that it was so much more than "blocking," and that it was generally used to deflect and control the opponent. I look forward to the rest of your breaktdown!

I have questions about this also. There's something specific you want to learn from this sensei? What is it? In my own experience, I've had people want to join my dojo just to learn KOBUDO/weapons, nothing else. most had ZERO martial arts background, training or experience in any martial arts, just wanted to learn weapons. My response has always been "Sure, you can join the class and in about 2+ years, depending on how you train and progress, I'll start teaching you weapons." So far, no takers...

On the mainland, you could also reach out to Joe Swift. His account on Facebook is Dojo TokyoMushinkan.

This is a bad idea, folks. Doesn't anyone remember the Terminator movies....?

I was going to say something very similar to this tbh. You mentioned that you wanted to learn something very specific and this person could teach you it so maybe you could separate the learning and the application: it sounds like the instructor in question is capable and can teach the curriculum you were wishing to learn so you can use the sessions to acquire the skill and then you can work on the application of the skill independently - no reason why they need to happen at the same time. It sounds like you already have an individual style that you are hoping to improve a facet of so this should still let you do that. Tbh you would likely come up with a different application anyway even if they taught more in that way. I had to make a similar mindshift when i went back to karate a few years ago as you would hear "when on the street you use this technique this way" etc. and it would be a very rigid application of a stereotypical kihon technique. I just decided that i can learn the technique as taught, benefit from this in improving my co-ordination / balance / timing etc. and then apply it how i would like to / not apply it as i saw fit if it every came down to it. My son already seems to be doing the same thing: he has 5 years of judo training already at 9yrs and same time in karate and i had to have words with him after he started footsweeping other kids in kumite (he was talking about how he had openings for 'stronger' throws). Had to sit him down and tell him that it is really good he is spotting ways to integrate his techniques but if he actually follows through with blocking a technique and launches someone with Uchimata i will ban him myself for 6mths! Additionally you may find that you notice a benefit yourself that you didn't expect: eg for myself when back at karate i went from being a bit sceptical about stances to realising that they are actually leg exercises / stretches and a way of getting more reps of this in etc. so it did lead to a new awareness for me too

Hello, Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com. We recognize one member every month as the KarateForums.com Member of the Month for their positive contributions to this community. Our honoree this time is... @Revario! I really appreciate all of the contributions that you have made to our community, Revario. Thank you for being a part of it! Patrick

Thank you Very Much!! This is quite appreciated. I am speechless

Congrats!

Congrats, Revario; well deserved!!

Way to go Revario

This is so funny because that loud taxi/wolf whistle is something that has bewildered me for years. That, and rolling my Rs.

First let me say that I believe that by the time that one earns a black belt, that practitioner possesses within them the power to inflict upon another human being a great amount of suffering. After all, we martial artists are not learning how to bake, no, we’re taught to be very effective in defending family, friends, the innocents, and of course, ourselves in a timely manner. Earning a black belt should not be treated as though it’s some kind of trophy to brag about, but remaining humble through respect, reverence and honor. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely", and this is true if the earning of black belt is misunderstood and misused. Earning a black belt can get in your head, and therefore, it can begin to corrupt the practitioner. “With great power comes great responsibilities”; power is to not be used for wrong and should not be exploited at will. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked". We martial arts instructors have both the privilege as well as the responsibility towards our Student Body, of which, we shouldn’t ever take that what we’ve been entrusted with lightly. As a black belt, our moral compass demands that our responsibility is directly proportionate to our power. Where there is great power there is great responsibility, where there is less power there is less responsibility, and where there is no power there can be no responsibility. No matter the rank, responsibility exists!! Imho.

You’re more right than wrong!!

Before i respond; i might disagree with stuff you have said BUT at the end of the day what you wrote is your opinion and how i respond is mine and that is ok. It is always ok because I know full well that there is a Generational Difference between the two of us; especially when it came to how we treat one another. Also the big difference being that in my lifetime (Mind you i'm a 1992 baby) we never dealt with a National Draft, but see what has happened with the Twin Towers, Y2K, Financial Crisis, several Invasionary Wars (because of alleged Nukes being owned). In comparison to yours where violence was a by far a more commonn thing in what was going on in the world. To me it does in a way come across as an insult. Why? In this context, it makes me go if I want to go expand my knowledge and skills if I was young person beyond a 1st Kyu. But to be told that I couldn't do it because I was too young. i'd be pissed off. As I was effectively tested the same as an adult for everthing up to that point. The way I was taught; is that the belt system is a curriculum check and that you should be competent to fight people your age. Just like how in BJJ they say a White Belt should be able to hold their own against other White Belts and be challenged by a Blue Belt. and by the time they're a Brown Belt, they can start being a challenge to a Black Belt. But the difference between Karate and BJJ is that there is no distinction from the beginning for the two for age groups unless your 4 or 5 Years Old. In comparison to BJJ where the curriculum for adults start at 16, so by the time you go for your black belt your well into your 20's. If a Child believes this; then I believe that both Instructors and Parents have coddled that child into that. Every kid I teach, especially when they get to 2nd or 1st Kyu I remind them that they may have some skills and knowledge. But for their age, they need to be aware that there are people out there, who both know or dont know how to fight but either way could severely harm you. So before they can grade for the Black Belt; they have to demonstrate that they are more than capable for handling themselves against an aggressor. Not what i see in a lot of instructors where they are playing a game of tag against the kids. They need to control the fight, get me down any way possible OR get away from me. By that I tell students that when its their turn against me; that I am not taking it easy, i'm going to either try and hurt or pick them up and put them on my shoulder. They can't let that happen.

It would be ludicrous for anyone to claim that the NFL forced anyone to play football. However, I have watched the documentary Leage of Denial, and read the book by the same title, and it is reasonable to conclude that the NFL was negligent in how they handled concussions and head injuries for years, and how they likely tried to cover it up. These injuries are not just in the NFL, head trauma from playing football has shown up in college and even highs school football players. Former NFL RB Arian Foster claimed that if he could do things over again, he would never have played football. Despite all the money he made in the NFL, it is not worth what damage it does to your body. He also said he will encourage his son to not play football and go into a different line of work. It was an interesting conversation he had on the Rogan podcast years ago.

Thats a frustrating situation that you are in! I find that annoying in a lot of instructors, BUT I do find that a lot of instructors also forget that there are people who have knowledge and skills that exceed their actual rank and chose not to grade because of various reasons. For example one of my instructors, has been a Godan for a long time and is content at that grade. If you looked at his training history, and if he graded like a "normal" student he very much would have been an 8th or 9th Dan by now. But his knowledge and skills is at that level. People have said the same thing to me, I may be a classed as a 2nd Dan - but have been eligible to grade to 3rd since 2018/2019. So by Time in Grade if I did grade (and pass) when i was supposed to grade, I would have technically been a 4th Dan by now. I believe that everyone after a while develops their own vision of what Karate is, and how it is treated and practiced. For me I am at the Tai Chi stage of my Karate Training, where the fast flashy stuff isn't appealing. It has changed so much over the years for me, even when I was teaching. You can always wait for that teacher, BUT it could be a long time before that happens. OR you can train with someone that has opposite views to you, and how they understand things can be different to yours also. This is where we are able question what we learn and develop our minds even further. Yes the instructor needs to have an open mind to questions and be ready to answer them, but also be able to push you to question what you have learnt and to understand how things are taught and why. I totally understand that you focus on the WHY over the HOW! From experience, everyone is one or the ot her and less often both. When I learn (anything not just Karate) - I learn the HOW do I do it and along with the biomechanical movements. But fortunately my instructors have incorporated both the WHY and HOW. We get show shown how to do it, but then why it is done in a particular way. For instance the Jodan Uke - I learnt the HOW we do it, after a while we learnt the why, j

That’s sure does sound like an unfavorable situation. Sorry you have to endure that, and nobody should. I don’t envy the situation you are in. There are those who bend to the will of others. As though the statement of, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, applies to MA training…and imho, that statement does NOT apply to MA training. Short of it all, if you’re not happy, go somewhere else. Learning will be affected drastically by staying where you’re not happy. Here’s the bad news. That sensei doesn’t have to get on the same page with you across the board. As the student, you have to get on the page with that sensei across the board. You came to him, he didn’t come to you. As crazy as this sounds, it is what it is in a lot of MA schools. That school is a business, you’re the customer. If you’re not satisfied with the service that that school is providing, voice your concerns to that sensei, but no not whine. That still might be a waste of time, from what you’ve described about that sensei. No sensei is THAT good where you have to be unhappy in your training and put up with a one-sided relationship. Rank gets in the way of everything, especially for those who put rank above all things. Those who think that they’re all that and a bag of chips are a lost cause. The reality for those that put rank above all things lack a lot of important things, like self-esteem, to begin with. They lack a billion tons of humbleness across the board!! Being humble escapes them in the Nth degree. Just because someone’s a human being doesn’t mean that they know how to be a human being!! That’ll not solve anything!! Learning will still be greatly affected; not a good way to learn. Remember, you’re the student, but I hear what you’re saying. If this is where you want to be, then try your best to work it out. Grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Every MA school is going to have pros and cons, there’s no avoiding them. How you deal with these issues tells a lot about one’s character. Does the sensei in question lack integrity?!? If so, dump him fast!! If his integrity is solid and intact, then decide whether you should stay or leave his school. I’ll compromise with a student, but that has its limits. If the student is worth my effort, that student tries and is respectful, then I’ll compromise, but only to a point!! If the student isn’t worth my time, doesn’t put forth any effort and is disrespectful, I’ll kick that student to the curb in a flash. I’d NEVER EVER compromise my integrity for anyone…that’ll never ever happen!! Imho!!

I find that I am most alert and have the most energy in the early afternoon, before 3. That said, I rarely have time to work out before 8 PM.

Just found some notes I had for the last Seminar I ran; it was for the Fitness and Healthcare Industries in particular Personal Trainers, Physiotherapists, Exercise and Sports Scientists + Physiologists, Biomechanists. That day I had two assistants helping for a room of 40 people; It was a mix of people from the above professions, along with a few Medical Doctors (Surgery included) who wanted to improve their knowledge. This seminar focused on Martial Arts Movements, how things are taught and why. So basically giving them a crash course in the arts; Karate from me, Judo from one of my assistants, Weapons based from the other (who is also a Kyokushin + TKD Dual Black Belt). So this 1/2 day seminar was very insightful for each of these professionals to assist those who come through their doors. Here is how/what we taught: Appropriate Training Plan Age + Skill Appropriate Testing Age + Skill Appropriate Exercise Testing - Age + Gender Appropriate Risk of Injuries During Training and Tournaments Long Term Risk of Injury Repercussions Concussion Risks (Kumite) Video Review Knockouts - Various sources Breakfalls From various positions Mechanics of falls (Movement Pattern/Sequence, Neural Loading) Stances (Controlled Falling) Natural Progression of standing/movement Sanchin Dachi to Zenkutsu Dachi Negative Acceleration (aka Deceleration) into Shikodachi or a fall Skeletal Loading Bottom up Foot Positioning - Knees (bent/locked) - Hips (ant/post tilt, hip hitch L/R) - Spine - Head Its importance for stability Hip Rotation "Normal" Hip Rotation - "Karate" Method TKD Sine Wave Power Generation Differences between Martial Arts Throws/Takedowns Relationship to the above Physics - How is it used Basics (Reaction Speed/Forms) Heavy focus on Turns, Reaction Speed Kumite Focused Weapons Philipino Weapons Japanese Weapons

I've had guest instructors visit my dojo, most were in the same system as I am. A few that were just MA friends and wanted to show us their "stuff". I've taught 8-10 seminars myself, mostly proper weapons/kobudo techniques as many systems I've judged have really poor weapons/kobudo technique. After we've gone thru that in the seminar, I pretty much open it up to whatever they want to see.

I have attended plenty of seminars over the years (mainly BJJ ones) and usually i find the following things important : The level of the instructor delivering the session is important (eg i went to a couple of Rickson Gracie seminars which were superb and i signed up straight away based on who was teaching without even asking what the material to be covered was). He was also extremely personable when he delivered his seminars and genuinely cared that people were learning - i have never forgotten him asking a quite new white belt if he was ok with a technique, getting the usual mumbled "yeah it's fine" response and then calling the guy out and personally drilling it with him for 5min (both performing the technique so the student could feel what it felt like and being uke) until he was comfortable that the student was getting a handle on it. In most cases (after all most people aren't Rickson etc.) then the material to be covered is by far the most important thing to me. I don't attend every seminar that our BJJ school puts on (or my judo class) as while i know that the person teaching is infinitely more skilled than me and i would no doubt learn something, if it is something i don't think would be a good fit for me or something i would be able to use then i don't attend. e.g. i am reasonably large (6'4" and 105kg) so if the seminar is something on ultra flexible inversions and LW style BJJ then i am unlikely to attend, but the second i saw we had Jon Thomas teaching a Collar & Sleeve seminar (which was great!) i signed up instantly. Also what i think i would get from it in relation to the cost factors in - for me i am pretty new to judo so anything any good teacher shows me will be an improvement, i am not probably good enough to benefit from a seminar properly so it doesnt feel like a good use of money (though as i improve i am more likely to look into it over time) If it is someone who will be teaching regular seminars then it could also be good for the potential student body at the hosting school to have an input into what is being taught - that would definitely lead to a lot of buy in i think! Credentials are important too if someone isn't a famous name - eg if there are two black belts offering seminars in De La Riva and i have heard of neither of them but one of them is a black belt under the De La Riva lineage directly then i would opt for them - similarly a seminar on fundamentals of jiu jitsu and someone is under the Roger Gracie tree etc. etc.

It's cool when you get to meet people like that and you aren't disappointed.

Thats a good plan; the only thing i'd say if you want to improve your Bloods is: - Remove unnecessary sugars (Soda*, Energy drinks and majority of the 'moderation' category) - *Soda: I don't know if you have it where you are, but Soda Water (its just fizzy water without additives - you can make it with a Soda Stream). It is great to have without all the sugars and other stuff that's in Soda (Like Coke, fanta etc). I just noticed though that you have it already as Carbonated Water! Keeping your Hba1c (3 month maker of glucose attaching to bloods) down is a big one; which doctors tend to look at along with how you go with testing your blood sugars at the time of the blood draw. So as you go without the extra sugary things (I know US foods and drinks can be notorious for it) long term; you can reduce the risk of running into Type 2 Diabetes. I admit I had to convert gallons to litres (yay metric system); 1.89L throughout the days seems like a reasonable amount to have if your not as active throughout the day. But like most of us, 1.8L may not be sufficient. When I was in the Pallet Racking World; cold days i'd have 2 Litres easily on hot days >4L. then throw in training; where i'd have a further 2L. I can understand why you are inspired to do something similar to an athlete; but you do need to remember that he is an a Professional Athlete who trains 5-6 days/week + 1 Match weekly for 20-30 weeks of the year. And you aren't in that position. One thing I have noticed when people do a "new" diet is that they do one that doesn't work for their body.