sensei8

The lack of change, starts the burnout!! If I teach one rank, and only that rank, the stale of it begins to grow. Teaching black belts to long...I want to teach kyu ranks...teach kyu ranks to long...I want to teach black belts; to much of a good thing spoils the bunch. When I say too long, I'm referring to 3 months at a minimum. As the CI, I've the right to teach all ranks, and I do. Yet, I'll spend time with certain ranks because I see they need my undivided attention. Yes, it's possible that my burnouts are self induced...that's fair...but I don't go into that with that on my mind...I want to help my students improve their MA betterment.

I agree!! When it comes to building things, I've a green thumb; those skill sets are beyond me!! I have seen guys remove part of their thumbs. Count yourself lucky. Yeah...and ouch!!

I can't help you because I haven't figured out how to do this as of yet. Maybe Patrick or one of the moderators could tell you how this works. I'm what you call technologically illiterate. I can do enough to barely scrap by. That's me, too!!

Solid post!!

Tool!! We're debating MA tools!! Why?? Opinions are like shores...every island has one. If said tool helps improve the betterment of the MAist, then I've no right to criticize them, just because I don't agree with their process of said tool(s). To each their own!! For that to mean something, then I have to allow them to exercise their own freely. Even when the person is my own student.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say!! Important, and necessary!! But, for the love of something, can it be articulated while I'm still young...and able...and willing!! Nothing feels worse when the Kaicho [me] walks out of the class because they're going on and on, like some Rush song; long and with no end in sight.

The physicality is the exclamation point of the mind!! Nothing can be done...even the most basic of human needs, without the very thought; careful initiation as well as intent, author everything...the MA is not an exception. Moreover, no movement in the MA isn't birthed by happenstance, but on purpose!!

Both, Brian and Danielle, share excellent points; there's always a fine line. Too much or too little of a verbal explanation waxes effectiveness across the board. It's those novel sized verbal explanations that make me want to take a long walk on a very short pier!!

True!! Without the mind, nothing can be accomplished!! The physicality is a mere fraction of the MA. Without said knowledge and experience stored in the mind, the physicality is mute. The mind learns, then memorize's, over time, regardless, even if what it has learned/is learning is effective or not.

Just how technical do you want any verbal explanation of any technique of the MA be presented to you?? A simple verbal description might attract many others, whereas, simplicity turns off many others; to be or not to be. I detest a drawn out verbal explanation more than I detest a root canal; one kills me, while the other, is a necessity. I want the presenter to get to the point as quickly as possible because anything else beside that starts my mind to become quite numb, and as we know, a numb mind can't remember important facts.

I've suffered my share of burnouts in my 53 years in Shindokan. My first indication was the loss of desire to be on the floor; made excuses to stay away from the floor, in any capacity!!

I used to believe that true, until I thought about it, and realised it's just yet more brainwashing. Think about it's value in psychological terms. What are we teaching when we ask students to smash a stationary object that is being held still by often several of our friends? How does that help develop the self defence mindset? Then think about other aspects of training that help develop self confidence. In sparring we have a moving, resisting opponent trying to hit us. At first it's scary. Over time it becomes less so, as you learn that you can move as well as anyone, judge distance, and land strikes against resistance. Of course in sparring, unless it's full contact, we don't kick full force like we do in breaking, so we could say that breaking gives us that opportunity. But so does pad work. You could say you need to know that in a self defence situation, you need to know that you can and will kick with enough force to disable an attacker temporarily. There's 2 problems with using board breaking to help with that. One is that a pre cut breaking board or an inch of soft pine tells us nothing of our power, and secondly, if you're full of adrenaline because you're under attack for real, you won't hold back. So when we analyse the pros and cons, we find that at best, most of the time it looks good and makes a satisfying noise. At worst it teaches you to kick stationary restrained objects possibly bruising or breaking your foot just to win the approval of a panel that have only asked you to do it because that's the way it's always been done and they've never questioned it. I suppose that you're against Tameshiwara [Art of breaking] all together?!? Are you against the usages of the Makiwara?!? Either way, that's your given right, in which I wholeheartedly support!! It's a practiced art that I've been involved in for quite along, long time. I never questioned it, not because I'm an idle-minded robot, but because in time, I understood its necessity and importance through much trial and errors, as well as research. Sure, the successful trails do make a very satisfying sound, this I don't deny. But the more satisfying sound doesn't even emit from the material being broken. No. But from within having that solid technique(s). "Boards don't hit back!!"...neither does the fallen opponent. In the end, Tameshiwara is a tool. Just because a tool isn't used, for whatever the reason(s), that doesn't mean that said tool shouldn't be used, and/or believed in. If a student doesn't want to, then don't do it, and don't be forced to do it. Tameshiwara ISN'T on any Shindokan curriculum, and the student won't be forced to do it on any Testing Cycle, because, once again, it's a tool. Imho!!

If I am willing, as well as not shy, in defending strangers, imagine just how much more I am willing to do anything and everything when it comes to protecting my wife and/or kids with unmitigated resolve!! Fatality outcomes are always a possibility, and that's not what I want to happen, however, when it comes to my wife and/or kids, then let it me so with cause!! A perfectly natural and understandable emotional thought there. But what about practical ideas? Just what about practical ideas?? Attack my wife and/or kids, and if necessary, I'll demonstrate practical ideas to the Nth degree. If I can defuse the situation without being physical, then I will. However, if I feel that physicality will be necessary, then so be it. Keeping my wife and/or kids separate from harm is my job. Keeping us together...staying in well light areas...not going into well known unsafe areas...ushering them away from potential situations immediately...using common sense, and not being irresponsible...paying attention to signals...etc!! My Dai-Soke taught us to escape from danger as fast as possible without haste. But if we can't, then defend ourselves/family with whatever one has to, with cause. There's no shame in running, if one can!!

Solid post!!

As life has this nasty habit of getting in ones way on a personal basis, life also, being not a respecter of persons, gets in the way on a MA basis, as well. What, if anything, has ever restored your faith in anything MA related??

If I am willing, as well as not shy, in defending strangers, imagine just how much more I am willing to do anything and everything when it comes to protecting my wife and/or kids with unmitigated resolve!! Fatality outcomes are always a possibility, and that's not what I want to happen, however, when it comes to my wife and/or kids, then let it me so with cause!!

Yes, I've answered such a question, and here's my general explanation. In reality, ones technique(s), if it's never used by oneself, is nothing more than an educated assumption, and nothing much more. Assumptions are the mother of all failures if they're never applied with cause and with an unmitigated resolve. Sparring isn't the all of all things as to if said technique(s) work or not because it's a controlled and safe environment, and isn't for cause, for the aforementioned description(s). When one trains within the world of cooperative training where resisting doesn't exist much, if at all, then again, assumptions can only be quite unclear understandings. As far as how my answer was taken, and was it understood, well, as well as a deer takes to staring at oncoming headlights, depending on their level of knowledge and experiences. Opinions are like belly-buttons; we all have one!!

Coming to the aide of a stranger HAS TO BE in that person somehow and someway. If that individual has that inside of them, then that person will intervene to the best of their abilities. Just because a MAist might have the necessary skill set to intervene, not many MAist will!! Ever seen that tv series, What Would You Do?, hosted by John Quinones?? The majority will NOT intervene, if they can avoid it for whatever their reasons might or might not be. I've seen black belt's turn away because they've not that type of knowledge and experience within themselves to intervene. They want to, but then they don't!! Wanting is one thing, but actually doing something is a worlds apart. I was raised to intervene...I was trained to intervene...I once worked as a bouncer in my early 20's at a strip club, therefore, it's within me to intervene to help those that I believe aren't able to. Self esteem, imho, and the lack of it will therefore choke the will to intervene out of a person quite immediately. Being attacked is one thing, but intervening for someone else, brings a whole bunch of concerns, mostly unnervingly to deal with at the wrong time.

Yes, I wholeheartedly concur!!

Because it's not formalised as one. It's quite literally close combat. There is no lineage of former masters that dictated what it means. It's literally just the Israeli army close combat. Every army has its way of training for the eventuality that a soldier mat fund himself unable to fire a gun to neutralise an enemy. They all call that part of training various things like unarmed combat, combatives, hand to hand combat etc. The Israelis call there's krav maga, which just means something like close combat in their language. Everything that I've every read about Krav Maga has all of the trappings of a MA style: *A belt ranking system *A plethora of techniques *A lineage that dates back to the 1930's *A founder To name just a few of a styles trappings. No, it doesn't have the formalities that many styles of the MA do have, but imho, those trappings take away its effectiveness, and therefore, concentration is not on it's effectiveness, but in the decorations that belong to a style.

How's everything going, Danielle?? Just wanted to check in on you to see how you're doing!!

Uechi ryu, huh, you mustn't like your big toes anymore!!

To the bold type above... Be careful what you ask for...and yes, I'd be careful...hehehehehehehehehe

I've mixed feeling towards Senior Dan Ranks being branded/labeled political!! To a point, I do agree, but to the other point, I don't agree. In Shindokan EVERYONE has to earn rank UP TO, AND INCLUDING, HACHIDAN without any exceptions!! The rigorousness that surrounds any Testing Cycle and the like, are quite serious and unforgivable. That's the part that I don't agree with. Our Kudan and Judan are political, and based on and through our By-Laws in the regard of how one might "earn" them. There's just one important basis of entitlement, and that is having been elected to Kaicho, for Kudan, and being elected to Soke, which has been eliminated all together, therefore, Judan is unattainable whatsoever!! That's the part that I agree with. My Kudan was earned because I forced the SKKA/Hombu to bring me before a Testing Cycle panel for the sole reason of testing me for the rank of Kudan. Not just any test, to fulfill their selfish needs, but a test that I most assuredly should fail. However, I passed, in which I earned my Kudan. I wasn't interested in the slightest of ever earning Kudan because I'm not my Sensei/Dai-Soke, and his Kudan when he was Kaicho was between him and Soke. I never ever wanted to equal my rank with him because that, to me, was a sign of disrespect to him, even though he insisted that I do so whenever his Dai-Soke and Judan was bestowed upon him by Soke!! Politics leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth, except those who seek out Senior Dan Ranks. Their's shall, in time, be the bane of themselves, and the innocent student body!!

Ranks mean something to someone somehow somewhere; being honest, especially with others and themselves, well, that means everything!!