NewEnglands_KyoSa

yes, i think ours is very similar but it is a full training manual for ranks white through masters Black Belt. It just makes life easy for us, and the students love it. we've had it around for ten or so years, we're on the fourth edition and im creating it based on the third edition which of course is based on all the others. its very helpful and i love it. we use it during class, out of class, seminars, whatever. its just great all around. we produce around 200 copies, mostly black and white, some pages are colour and it is spiral bound, with laminated cover and back. we charge 15 bucks for it, we probably make like two bucks off of each. but when it comes down to it, it's all for the student.

yes, we have a training manual thats around 70 pages long, with everything you can imagine. and it has all those things you mentioned in there as well. i think it's equally important to have on the site. especially for the students who claim they cant purchase a manual or cant afford one(they're only 15 bucks) but whatever the case may be, we're making a members section to condense all that stuff and put it in one area. i say it all the time, but a big key for us is making students more accountable. you break a rule, you cant count in korean during drills, no excuse...simply go online at your library and print it out from the site. making the students more accountable makes things run smoother and allows me to keep my voice for a few weeks instead of a day or so.

Essentially, it's not really bad per se. If it works out that your schedule works that way, then so be it, if you can flip flop them and that stills works for your schedule that's cool too. But it won't kill you or make you have five heads or anything. I use to do that all the time, and i lived and still gained muscle and lost weight.

Hahaha, yes, i forgot to mention that...that is classic me. I always have excess amounts of paperwork and general crap on me. So i'll be walking through the door with a briefcase, my uniform, a computer if im going to be working on association materials that night, it's ridiculous the stuff i have. and of course, sometimes i'll be balancing a coffee depending upon how well or not well the day is going. And of course the days that you're carrying the most is the day that everyone remembers to bow you in. ugh, its so funny though, i wish i had a recording of me walking in, busting the door open, trying to rebalance all my crap, then realize oh shoot i have to bow, do the most awkward bow to ever live. and then stumbling in rolling my eyes at the fact that i still hate getting bowed in, and then i finish it off by cursing myself for carrying so much crap....love it.

Yikes. looks like im going to have to look into some of those companies. Thanks again.

I'm just speechless. That was so sweet. Thanks for sharing!

You'll get use to it though. I had kind of the same problem with being bowed in. I had forgotten that once the announcement was made that i was added to the official teaching staff and once i started teaching full time that it seemed like i was being bowed into rooms by basis of just walking in...everywhere i went. It was as often as it sounded but it felt that way because of how odd and unecessary it was. One of my assitants bowed me in, and i found myself waving him off because i wasn't comfortable with being formally brought into a room. But after a year it's one of the things i've gotten mildly use to. Sometimes, when it's like the second or third time i feel over glorified and i tell people to knock it off, im not God. But you'll get use to it, it's uncomfortable, i know. But just imagine how the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th dans of the world feel.

Martial Arts are a huge part of my life. I love them. I've been in MAs for 10 years. And i currently practice Tang Soo Do and Chinese Kempo. Beautiful Arts, i love learning and teaching them both. I'm glad Martial Arts have found a way into your life and heart...i think everyone can take something from Martial Arts and their Philosophys.

I havent encountered these problems, but we do similar drills. You're just looking for a quick strike before your off balance technique. Just don't be tense let it come to you. A quick strike is a simple as a slap to the face, i don't suggest it but, just to speaking in simple terms. Just try to do whatever comes naturally, palm to the face, elbow to the mid section. Do whatever comes. But i suggest maybe you practice your basics alittle more just so you can become more comfortable with them, just remember stay loose, it makes you quicker...with speed comes power. good luck.

Welcome.

Yes, those absolutely work.

Patrick thank you so much. Im particularly interested in what you said last, because it may save my life. Im favoriting this post so i a can have the rest of the great information you gave me at my fingertips in case what im planning doesnt work. You see, what exactly happened to my HD was due to the fact that i recently got reconstructive surgery in may ankle so for the past week my laptops been glued to my thighs. and the computer buddy i had check it out said i fried it because the fan wasnt able to cool it enough i guess. so electrically, it's broke. he tried running tests on it and stuff, kinda jumping it i guess and he said he couldnt get it to 'spin' whatever that means. i guess thats its electric quality that gets it spinning like a CD or dvd but anyway. so do you think that SpinRite is what im looking for, because i'll pay 90 bucks, faster than you'd know. from what you said, it sounds like its what im looking for, without paying big bucks for one of those companies to try and do it. Let me know, and you've been such a great help!

For the amount that i see him, and just the fact that there's so many different ways one should show respect in the MAs. I don't want to cause my school any trouble by disrespecting him like he's disrespected us. I'd just rather take the high road. I am going to speak to one of the master's though. I am going to step forward and explain that it's not my place, but i can't seem to wrap my mind around how he can be allowed such a momentus accomplishment. I just don't want to cause trouble, i'd rather take the high road, i just can't stomach him. Im actually hoping he'll get his masters become complacent and leave. and then probably come back randomly and periodically everytime he's feeling low about himself so people can bow to him. Ugh, frusterating.

If I were you, I wouldn't pretend to respect the guy at all. If that is how you feel about it, then I would make sure not to play along with the politics that litter the Martial Arts. I am not saying that you need to go out and disrespect the person to everyone, but if you don't respect him, then don't pretend to. I would, but i forgot to mention on minor detail. My father has been on my town's fire department for years, he's older now, but he still loves his job as much as when i was a little kid and he first got on. I am very proud of him. This particular person testing for his masters just got on the department two years ago. They are co workers now and often go out for drinks with the rest of the crew. I don't want to ruin things for my father, i did enough of that when i was a stupid kid/teen. I don't want to make things difficult and uncomfortable for my father, family, students, or other co workers/blackbelts. Of course, my luck.

I find what Bushido-Man96 mentioned very true and very important. I have seen high ranking Black Belts with decent ability that cannot teach for their life. I firmly believe, like he said, that teaching titles should be earned, deserved and not given out. Being a good teacher is a skill and a blessing. Whether one hones in the skills on their own or is born with them is fine either way. It's like my Master Instructor for example, he's a cop, and a great one at that, he's a great Martial Artist, he's great teacher, and a great man. BUT, he's a horrible business man, and he knows it, and we joke about it...that's why i take care of a lot of the business aspect of our school.

Well if you feel bad about yourself...listen to this... I was having a hard time with my computer the other day. So i shut it off, and then upon restarting it wouldnt, and it gave me an error message. So i called my technical support company...Dell. Well of course i got someone who speaks little to no english...awesome. Well after FOUR HOURS of waiting and phone calls to even more people that don't speak english i got an answer... I FRIED MY HARD DRIVE. now, for those of you who aren't technically inclined, let me give you the short and simple of it... hard drives contain everything, it is where all your information is stored for example: all programs and everything that's within them, pictures, word documents, music...anything you can imagine. Now here's the problem with this... if this was my personal computer i'd take the hit but my entire Karate school's website is on Microsoft FrontPage, all the websites pictures, documents, everything. and on top of it, im the studio's publications expert, every flier, schedule, testing form, pretesting form, application, and rule we ever had is gone.also all video clips are gone. and on top of it, all my personal stuff is gone as well. i have a brand new hard drive and that's how im on the computer right now, but i have nothing i once had. So, in closing, this was just a rant so i could pretend like this is going to help and rant to anyone who was willing to listen, and also to make anyone else who's having a rough time feel alittle better, and most importantly, if anyone's ever had this problem, or knows anything that could help PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD LET ME KNOW. But, i doubt it.

Well first and foremost i'd invite anyone who has had a profound influence on your martial arts career. You want to make sure people are actually there, so invite your students(past and present) and put up flyers in the town, not as much for the Grand Opening part of it, but i'd mention something about an 'open house' type of atmosphere, for people who might want to come and try it. Maybe you and a few others might want to throw together a demo, i know people usually do that. But i'd definately publicize alittle bit, and push the open house atmosphere to make people who are interested more intrigued in coming. Make sure you have the proper flyers, schedules, and information for people who do want to sign up. One thing i've seen is sometimes i've gotten postcards in the mail with a big picture on the front of the Instructor of one of their Black Belts doing some sort of move and on the back it's all the detail about the grand opening. But that might get pricey, i dont know though, i havent done it. You might also want to consider the traditional "ribbon cutting ceremony" of course. And i've also seen people invite people he knows from other styles to put on demonstrations to demonstrate what different things people can expect and enjoy about martial arts. Getting others in the community involved is a biggie i'd think. Like try to get donations from the local stop and shop or something, maybe get the fire/police dept of the town involved. It all depends on how big you wanna make it, but remember you usually only get one or two grand openings in your life. GO BIG OR GO HOME! Just kidding, but you get the point. But i must say that when its all said and done the best hook for any human being is food and drink! so supply supply supply!

I do not blame you for your frusteration at all. I respect it greatly. We have a Black Belt that got relinquished of his Instructing duties because he really did the school in and lost many many students. He is not a good person. He himself does not have his attendance in, and he is testing for his masters in less than a month. It's a shame because when i get my masters rank, i will never feel the same about it again. He has put a black mark on such a great accomplishment. It is a shame, he has lost my respect...he has put me in such a bad position where i have to pretend to respect him so the students don't know who he is and what he has done. I feel your pain sir, i really truly do. If you are firm in your beliefs, which I am, i would respectfully bring something up to your chief instructor but i suggest you rehearse very carefully, as i'll be doing. I'll keep you updated on how mine goes. It's a shame, It's a shame.

First and foremost congratulations. In my Dojang there are three titles Kyo Sa Nim, which you could call the Korean Sensei, it translates to certified instructor or instructor of one's own school. Next comes Sah Bum Nim and that automatically comes with the degree of 4th dan and it means 'master'. and then there's Kwan Jang Nim, meaning Grand Master and that could come anywhere between 7th and 9th degree black belt and there's usually only one. Kyo Sa Nim and Kwan Jang Nim are the only ones that are appointed, and only given to you when ready. In fact, not every master has been give the rank of Kyo Sa Nim, in which case, they would never instruct a school. In my association(we are independant from all others) our master, and founder is a 5th dan. We will probably plan to have him promoted in four more years or so by master victoria demarco(7th) an affiliate and long time friend of ours. But to be a Certified Kyo Sa Nim, you must be atleast the rank of Cho Dan. and it's for 1st 2nd and 3rd degree Black Belts. Usually 1sts dont get it, i've seen one in my ten years of MAs and it was very well deserved and needed at the time. People get promoted on basis of need, if we don't need a Kyo Sa to teach at one of our 4 branch schools then we will not promote anyone. But once you get your Black Belt it's your choice what you make of it, for example the short story of my rise to Kyo Sa: I was promoted to Kyo Sa Nim exactly a year ago. But before that, i spear headed many of the schools endeavors, i was first and last at all the tests for set up and break down. I was assistant teaching four nights a week. I took over the website because one of our Ee Dans wasnt capable. I became the studio's publicist, making all flyers, attendance sheets, etc. Before i was considered a Kyo Sa i was considered a senior ranking member just due to my presense, my abilities, and what i had given back. a few years after i was tested and promted to Ee Dan an opening showed up in our teaching staff due to a Black Belts move to North Carolina. So after a shift of one Instructors, my master instructor approached me and said, "youre up, im asking you if you would like to be the instructor of this school, you've given back alot, take your time, think about it, and let me know." and of course my answer was yes, but i took the command, sat down and thought. and later that next week i took my title and began teaching. prior to that i had been assistant teaching and what we call ''fill in teaching'(taking a class for a busy instructor) since i was a red belt. But, i was picked out of two other Ee Dans who were my same rank but both older than me. I now i have to live with the bitterness of it, because i take a higher ranking than them due to my title, and get the few liberties that regular Black Belts don't get(not to put down those without titles at all). Which is unfortunate but, that's karate. But, that was the most important moment for me. as you can see in my display name, out of everything i have done in MAs, the people i've met, the awards i've won, nothing means more to me than my Kyo Sa title, my "license to teach" i call it. Teaching means the world to me and i'd trade any rank for it. There's only 8 of us, and i couldnt be more proud. Oh, and ps- i forgot 'the people calling you by your title part' Everyone's suppose to call me Kyo Sa, but hardly anyone does to any of the Kyo Sa's. That rule is a tradition, but its just not as common as calling someone sensei for whatever reason. Personally, i don't care, like i said i have my 'license to teach' and thats all that matters.

Our BB's do sew on little white bars to denote their dan ranking, but it isn't mandatory. One of our BB's doesn't put dan bars on his belt at all. Ed oh, just wondering because i think that's great. i have two kempo instructors, one of them is an 8th degree Black Belt in Chinese Kempo! what an accomplishment! he has a beautiful ceremonial belt from hawaii. it's a professor's belt. it's so think, and so well crafted. it's a solid red belt with black trim all the way around. on side says professor down it, the other has his rank, and it's all sewn so beautifully. you know what he wears? a cheap, blank, still Black Belt from Chinatown(Boston). and i absolutely love it. my other instructor is a 9th degree, again another amazing accomplishment. well he has the same beautiful belt except the trim is silver and it says sr.professor. it's absolutely beautiful, but he wears his original black belt it's like almost 30 years old i think. it is a gray brown and it's like falling apart. and it only has 8 stripes on it because he believe his 9th dan promotion came too soon. he recognizes it but just always wears his 8th belt. i think they are the most humble and true gentleman i've ever met. i tell this story to my students when they fight over rank. just goes to show how much i hate rank. but man, those belts are b e a u t i f u l.

Just curious, does everyone wear a blank belt then...cuz i think that's great.

ooo, do you hear that? it's my wallet crying cuz it's out of a job...

Thank you for your kind words DWx...and all this talk of constructing the website, and i didnt even give you guys a link to it! shame on me, my apologies . it is listed below because im having problems up here. and before anyone takes a peak...i have taken the members page into more than consideration and i think im doing it...i just stared at the page for like ten minutes straight and i think cleaning up the nav bar would be a good idea, it would get rid of like six buttons! so for sake of cleanliness, we're doing it. and as for the instructors, we are going to retake the pictures in about a month, all with the same background with the flag behind them, but when you scroll over them they will change to the same background, same person, but it's going to be an action picture. we're either going to do that or something else. but the pictures will be retaken, and done over. https://www.chmacdermott-tsd.org

instructor bio/pictures - The bios are there for prospective students to know who they're working with, their background, and that we are all credible with no special "honorary ranks" or "seminar ranks". it's also for current students to make them feel more comfortable and let them know alittle bit more of about ourselves. the pictures are there to match a face to the information but most importantly to show who of all the blackbelts new students/parents should be talking to when they show up for their trials. all 4 locations listed - the addresses are there so anyone can feel free to mapquest/GPS/tomtom/whatever a virtual picture tour of our studios- just like it says we have a picture page - all pictures from all events go in, unless they are a bad/redundant picture. we have nothing to hide history page - just like it says affiliations page - we choose our affiliations carefully, we would not be affiliated with someone if we didnt directly work with them and if they werent credible links page - we are linking to our affiliate clubs, because we want them to known about who we affiliate ourselves with. we don't have fear of losing clients, if a student wants to risk jumping clubs and dumping ours, they're not our kind of student. we also click to select martial arts retailers who we want our students buying equipment from students page - this is a students resources page where they can print out study guides, tests, and other forms they may need throughout their studies. ranking system page - necessary? no. but we want people to know who they're talking to when they come in. i've seen our masters belt used as a juior black belt at other places! its not dire but it gives people a feel for how traditional we are, etc FAQ page - FAQ pages are crucial, because quite frankly some people need things spelled out for them, and some questions are quite legitmate. FAQ pages are very important and i personally think that every MA website should have them. terminology page - im considering making a members section and putting it in there, but im just not too fond of the idea...we'll see a news page, for updates/events, etc - crucial, and makes students more accountable. a rules page -potential members section material but crucial so people know what they are getting into, if youre not going to abide by our rules, i dont want you as a student. and a rank requirements page. - this is a must but may be member section material, again that idea is still pending in my mind, but its a must for students who refuse to buy a manual, it's just another way to make students more accountable. accountability is key. simple- check, i dont think we have any excess crap as i've seen in other sites neat- check, i have a beautiful professional web template informative-check, any other information and i'd have to have to write it out and slap them in the face with it. The web's completely done now. The member's section thought is still pending. We are definately going to have an Instructors section but it won't be available via a button on our site, it will just be given as a link on a piece of paper and they have to go out there and get it. we don't want students seeing what we have on our instructors page(as i wouldnt put it past some of them to show up at our meetings). Im confident that minus the instructor's page and minus the members page pending that we are set in what we have, right in what we have, and finished, after a long drawn out proccess. people, trust me when i say websites are like pulling teeth...they even have a whole new rank for it...WebMaster...i wonder what my belt's gonna look like...

I have 2 of them. One has my name in Korean on one end & my style on the other in Korean. The other belt has my name & rank stripes in English on one end & style in Korean on the other. Both are excellent quality. They also have a sturdiness to them that I have not seen in most belts. I'll have these for a long time. They have 2 "types" of belts: Hard & soft. The "hard" types are a bit more stiff. The "soft" lay more naturally when tied. Mr Yi, the owner, told me that some karate styles like the hard type because the ends "stick out" when tied. The soft are often what Korean stylists choose. These belts are worth every penny. Really? That's great to know. That helped me out so much, cuz even though it's a while off, and even though i promised myself i was still skeptical and weary of paying that much. I saw the 'soft' and 'hard' thing, and was going to get the soft. Now im definately going to get the soft, i like my belts to hang, or 'flop' which is what my students say about my old raggedy Black Belt. I'm glad you like yours, congrats on your accomplishments. and thanks again, when the time comes, im definately buying it.