NewEnglands_KyoSa

yes i have to agree with granite miller on this one. im the web designer for my school and that site is VERY well done. the dojo looks beautiful as well. congrats look like a fantastic place.

No personal experience with Goju Ryu, but congrats on finding that place that just fits right. Some people can't do that and regret where they are when it's too late. Congrats!

actually, as i was posting that i remembered a story, that has stuck with my for a very long time. many many years ago my school ran a 'fight night' and i think it was like monday nights or something and it was after our 7-8 class. we'd gear up and just fight all night long, it was great. and awesome work out and by the time you got out you knew how to fight. well, one night we had a green belt try it. he was the usual cocky jacked up high school kid. well as i was fighting with my partner over one side of the room, he was paired up with my master instructor. now this guy is a cop and has been in ma's for 25-30 years. so it was safe to say my instructor was kicking his butt real good. and as a cocky high school kid would...he got frusterated to the max. so he came in kind of hard and as he swung to punch my instructor stepped out of the way and planted a side kick right on his ribs. so he went stumbling about 10-12 feet behind him, and he got so mad that he charged at my instructor...all of a sudden you see my instructor drop to the floor at the last second, and log roll! and the kid went flying. it was the most hysterical and humbling moment i have ever seen. you're fighting a master instructor but you dont get taken out by his fists nor his feet, you got taken out by his log roll!!! i must say, one of THE best lessons i've ever learned from the sidelines. and ps- the kid didnt come back!

very true!

"Pain is one of THE best Instructors, but nobody wants to go to his class!" i love that one. and credit to everyone...this thread's been around since '01! woo!

I just got sick the wednesday before my surgery on the following wednesday. i have two days to get better, or they won't operate! i have a knack for getting sick at the worst times possible.

I totally agree. and I also agree that they should trade partners during lessons to avoid problems like that. I know in my dojo, during my sons class they do that. whiteowl, i absolutely agree. as an instructor of adults and kids, i've learned the fine art of choosing partners for them. over the years i know how are friends, and who aren't, who are trouble students, and who aren't. so i put the partners together myself, intentionally and carefully chosen and on top of it i switch them mid class if i have a problem.

you might be able to search the KB-11 online and you'll probably find out how much it weighs in one of the descriptions. i'd look myself but im on my way out to teach a seminar. good luck!

Well, i know this is rather obvious but look at the tags. if you've already done this, then i'd search the web for the jacket you have, once you find it, it should be in the description what weight it is. i think that would be your best bet.

yes, even kids can appreciate praise from an adult. you don't need to be an adult to enjoy praise. praise is for all ages!

Well, light weight is considered 6 oz. middleweight is anywhere from 7 to 10 oz. and heavyweight is considered 12 to 14 oz. i think this is what you're looking for?

We have done this numerous times. You have to talk to the head of rec programs, or program director, etc(they go by a million different titles) and you can express your interest in opening a class and they can tell you if the time is available and the interest is there. and if you both make a verbal agreement they talk to corporate and weeks later you'll sign paperwork. this is usually how it goes. Things to look out for: 1) once you sign up they have NO fear of how they treat you 2) they have an attitude like they owe you nothing 3)they will frown upon you 4) they will expect a little more than normal amount of money 5) when it comes down to you or their members, it's always their members 6) if anything ever happens, that's the end of your rent 7) you'll be stuck in contracts(for however long) 8 ) you don't have storage for any of your things, and as mentioned earlier...things tend to 'walk off' 9) schedueling is also and issue, you'll find class time, but if you want to throw in an advanced class, or tournament training, or what i hold most dear, is being bored on a saturday morning and taking my car keys with my dojo key on it and opening up the dojo to train on a morning by myself or calling someone to come workout. its also easier for holding testing, etc. all this and potentially more. but here's what i suggest, if i may. if you really truly want to open your own school and be an instructor i suggest you start small at a rec center, community center, or YMCA and make sure you only sign a 1-Year contract, 2 at the max. Only stay there for a little while until you build up funds to rent a small amount of space at a warehouse/building or whatever, and start your OWN place. owning your own place is the best bet around. And if you're serious about it, you'll find a way. You'll figure out tuition prices, what you can and cant sell so that you don't look like a business and you stay traditional. but that's absolutely what i recommend, for many years of miserable and good experience. good luck with whatever you choose! ps- i know this looks daunting, but you can pull it off if you want it! best of luck!

Well first and foremost...Welcome! That's very interesting Sensei. We plan on giving our manual to all of our students becasue firstly it's a way to make money so we can lower tuition prices for all students, and it's a way to hold all the students more accountable. Of course, by including the rules that makes studetns hugely accountable because they will be in the manual and on our website, and exemplified daily. So it's an easier way to sort of, clean the school up so to speak. But, i do like your ideas. It just happens that selling to to everyone works to our(the instructors) and they(the students) advantage. Good Luck and welcome. We are +1 more knowledgeable member!

That's great, congratulations. I will check it out too.

Well firstly Welcome and secondly, i hope everything works out with whatever you end up being able to do!

a) completely agree, except i hope my spouse doesnt read this article, then i will never be fighting again for sure! b) i didn't even notice that, good attention to detail, that's terrible though...just goes to show, in this day and age...media rules all. it's a shame[/u]

ugh, good luck im on the school's 4th edition now and i'll tell you it's a painful and hard process. good luck. to help you out i'll gladly post my table of contents if you think that would help you out?

Welcome!

That's great. I have a few friends who do kung fu, particularly Hung Gar and they love it. They are of the older demographic too, and said that the soreness slowly but surely goes away and it gets you in great shape. So good luck, and im sure you'll be getting low, and flowing with the best of them!

So if any of you were to have on or remember your old ones what would you put in there? From an instructor point of view what do you find yourself catching people most on?

Actually, the kids love the stickers. Have you ever met a 4 year old that doesnt love stickers. Little things make them very happy and they try hard for us. Those who try are rewarded. Very rarely do we ever have to not give a reward for trying hard. If it happens, the kid gets bummed out that he/she didn't get a sticker while the others did. (it is actually a stripe that goes around their belt.) You are right, an "atta girl" from my instructor means everything, but I am 35 and a black belt. Those things come far and few between for his black belt students. I am an adult and self motivated to train. I don't need that constant positive reinforcement to train. Small children do however. Telling them to do push ups is not going to make them want to participate. It is going to make them not want to come in at all. Push ups for poor behavior is left to students who can understand why they are doing them. Not for toddlers. Well in that case 'toddlers' as we call them should not be doing martial arts. And telling them to do push ups is an effective teaching aid, and as far as the not wanting to come at all thing, i have tons of students and a very low drop out rate so push ups are working out fine for me. Another great thing, is leaving the 'fun' things until the end so they have good behavior throughout. And i know(through years of psychology courses) that children are apt to look up to all older/adult figures in their lives(unless theyve gone through a traumatic expereince, etc) so 'atta girls' for children actually works too, if not better because as you get older you narrow down who you look up to, kids dont so naturally they look up to adults in their lives, so that approach could work as well, the kids don't have to be self motivated, and i would not expect them to be, they're kids.

wow that's a tough break.

everything that's been said here has been great! take it all in and try the drill, and give it more than a night, try like a week, and let me know how it goes!

It's odd, but you have to 'condition' yourself so to speak. Just like you have to condition your body to break boards and other miscellaneous things you have to condition your mind to ignore all those things that distract you. Now, that sounds vague but, think of it in terms of a drill you'd use to condition with. Think about being a quite place where you can meditate and have a timer, or an alarm on your cell phone set. Set it first for one minute, simple and easy. Challenge yourself to concentrate on ignoring everything until that alarm goes off. Keep increasing the time, and slowly but surely you will master your mind for as much time you need. Good Luck, and happy meditating!

Welcome! Wish i could help yah, but im not where near Canada!