sensei8

Oh, that's cheating Alan...using Chess to peak up my interest...effective move!! I do see the similarities between Chess and I Ching. In Chess, controlling the 4 center squares, especially in the opening and mid-game, is key to overcoming an opponent. Put knowing the when and where to relinquish the center for the end game, is key towards Checkmate!! I'll also do the additional homework, but please don't overwhelm me with a lot of homework because I HATE HOMEWORK!!

No student is guaranteed to attend any Testing Cycle, and no student is guaranteed any type of promotion...NONE WHATSOEVER!! The SKKA/Hombu maintains each and every member of the Student Body a Hard Card on file. This Hard Card is strictly protected in a secure and locked room, whereas, only 3 of the Higher Hierarchy are permitted entrance into that room, as well as being accompanied into that room with the current Executive Secretary. This room holds every sensitive material that's of the SKKA/Hombu. Gaining access into this room is akin to gaining access into Fort Knox, or the White House, or NORAD; that room in our Hombu is equipped with some of the most very sophisticated state of the art security devices known to man...and that is no exaggeration whatsoever!! An exact copy of these sensitive materials are also kept in a Safe Deposit Box in the SKKA/Hombu Bank with, in which only the Kaicho and/or the Kancho have access to that Safe Deposit Box!! These Hard Cards are meticulously maintained to insure that the information about said student is absolutely correct as regards to their history is concerned. For example, Approved/Not Approved, Rank, Date of Testing Cycle, Pass/Fail, Age, Rank Tenure, Gender, CI's name of the student, Date their journey began, etc and etc. For proprietary reasons, I will not disclose the entire information that's recorded/stored on these Hard Cards. Just know this, no student is granted an invitation from any CI UNLESS the SKKA/Hombu approves it first. Scoring 75 points is required to earn a passing grade; the passing grade was recently upgraded from 73 to the current 75 points, as approved by the Instructor Team, which was approved by our Executive Team and our Administrative Team. Rank tenure is one of the very first things that the SKKA/Hombu looks at first whenever a CI has submitted to the SKKA/Hombu their list of Testing Cycle Candidates. A lot of cross checking to verify the Hard Card to insure the integrity is as pure as it can be!! Age is one of the other things that the SKKA/Hombu looks at, especially when a Testing Cycle Candidate is in the Kyu ranks of Sankyu to Ikkyu. The SKKA/Hombu will NOT promote any student to Shodan if that student is not at the minimum age of 18 years old; no exceptions. Rank is one of the other things that the SKKA/Hombu looks at, especially when a Testing Cycle Candidate is applying, and yes, all students MUST apply to their CI for Testing Cycle Consideration, for Godan and above. ALL students that have been approved to attend those type of Testing Cycles MUST be tested at the Hombu; no exceptions!! From time to time, the SKKA/Hombu will forward an approved list of Testing Cycle Candidates to the appropriate dojo within the SKKA network, stating those students whom are qualified to attend the Annual Testing Cycle held at the Hombu annually in June/July. Yes, that list is tiny, in that the only name on that list might be the CI her/himself!! Now, any and all student can refuse, and it does happen quite frequently from time to time, to attend their approved Testing Cycle invitation. No harm, no foul; after all, the journey is for that student alone!! Finally, the SKKA/Hombu trusts the integrity of each and ever CI, and once a Testing Cycle Candidate has been approved by the SKKA/Hombu, then and only then, can a CI invite said Testing Cycle Candidate. This is a very, very brief glimpse answer to your questions. Behind the scenes, well, that's another thing, and a very, very detailed explanation would take quite a lot to post here with all that's involved within this topic. Know this!! We, at the SKKA/Hombu take promotions of any type quite very serious, and will not tolerate any appearance of impropriety whatsoever, both directly and/or indirectly, and we will harshly discipline anyone found to have violated the sanctity of the SKKA/Hombu's integrity, up to, and including termination, as well as to expulsion, and/or prosecution to the very Nth letter of the law!!!!!!

OK! I'll do some homework!! However, when you start talking about Astrology and the like, that's when you start walking me down that dark alley because I just don't believe in Astrology and the like; never have...never will. Albeit, for the sake of fairness, I will do the homework, and see what I see.

Go ahead...I'm still interested!!

No it's not!! Whenever another human being hits another human being with the intent of doing harm unto another human being, no matter the gender; all's fair in love and war!! It's not the gender that stands before me, but it's the person that stands before me; that's whom I must deal with in a manner of total resolve, no matter the gender. I don't accommodate or deal with students who come into my dojo with this opinion. Kumite is vitally important to Shindokan. If a student refuses to Kumite for whatever the reason(s), then that student needs to find another dojo asap!! Contact is inevitable in the MA, and most especially, with Shindokan. However, our contact is measured, and we do not tolerate any student being insubordinate with the rules of my dojo. Don't want to hit a women, and I respect that mindset, but unfortunately, a male student is going to hit a woman student sooner or later; again, our contact is measured!!

Are you referring to the two-method system that uses the Condorcet winner, if one exists, but switches to a Borda count if one does not? Yes!! I'm fine with it. Both methods involved are easy enough to understand (for transparency) and easy enough to apply. I also prefer them to some of the various run-off methods, as those can sometimes harshly eject good candidates. Don't you just love a good game of politics??

Am I interested? Maybe! Having a slight understanding of I Ching, and all, I'd be curious as to how it would be utilized in any way in the MA. However, be warned...I'll lose interest if it takes a turn down a dark alley some how and someway!!

For me, a great game of chess helps me with my concentration outside of the MA. Albeit, the concentration used in both the MA as well as in a game of chess, aren't far from each others efforts across the board [no pun intended]. We do quite a large amount of concentration drills in Shindokan. For example, our Tennis Ball drill dips deeply into increasing ones concentration; paying attention at all time. Paying attention in a game of chess, will have its benefits against an opponent that's attention span is lacking, in which, I can capitalize on my opponents wandering mind. Not careful, checkmate!! Drilling with a double-ended speed ball require its fair share of concentration or you'll not be able to use the darn thing well, if at all. The overly emphasis on concentration can backfire!! One can over concentrate, and when that happens, nothing is focused upon as it should be; the forest for the trees syndrome. Seems impossible to over concentrate but if you were to stare at a point of something, you'll start to get a bit stir crazy trying to focus on that one point. In short, as far as concentration is concerned... PAY ATTENTION!!

We sure did put a lot of attention on a demonstration!! To me, that's all it was, a demonstration, no matter how poor I perceived that demonstration to be, and it was poor!! Imho!!

Congrats, my fellow grandpa!! Spoil away...I have!! This is indeed AWESOME NEWS!!!!!! New student...I like how you think, MatsuShinShii!!

Are you referring to the two-method system that uses the Condorcet winner, if one exists, but switches to a Borda count if one does not? Yes!!

Are you referring to the two-method system that uses the Condorcet winner, if one exists, but switches to a Borda count if one does not? I know we all study Martial Arts but when you speak Chinese the rest of us Okinawan and Japanese practitioners can't understand. No seriously you totally lost me. You're on a roll there, MatsuShinshii, you're on a roll!!

OK...I'm trying to stop laughing...really...I am...but right now, I'm laughing quite out loud right now.

Now we're talking!! I look forward to that day!! We'll allow the floor to do its job while we train...but the floor will be very well pleased at the 3 of us, this I'm for sure!!

Psst...MatsuShinshii, I'm in Tulsa, OK TOO!! ::Hint:: ::Hint::

I wholeheartedly agree with both of you, JR 37 and MatsuShinshii across the board. I do believe that both my Soke and Dai-Soke knew perfectly what any title meant, and they both were very adamant about not awarding them to just award them for grins and giggles. Our titles have surfaced, and then said title would disappear, and then sometime later, that title might resurface; some might stay forever, and some might be shelved. All at the discretion of Soke and Dai-Soke!! Titles, like ranks, are immaterial next to knowledge and experience. Push us consider you, well, you better get really use to remaining said whatever until the end of time. "Did you come to learn or did you come for toys!!" ~ Soke Saitou

What's your opinion, if any, about Black's System??

Congrats on you being promoted to 5th geup; well deserved. Even with your testing mishaps, you still passed. This shows that no one ever needs to score a 100% in any testing cycle to pass.

Much of what I did see on the video was quite comparable to what Shindokan incorporates within its close range techniques, especially with the locks and such. Thanks for sharing the video, Alan!!

I didn't like the video because what was shown wasn't informative, but more of a strange promo of himself. Imho!!

Very interesting topics, thank you for starting it, singularity6!! The political engine needs a tune-up across the board. But how does one know what's the fairest criteria to support, and is that preferred criteria the correct one?? It's, to me, like Mechanic 'A' says this and Mechanic 'B' says that and Mechanic 'C' says another, but to whomever, they all sound good and quite plausible, even after doing some research, does one vote for in the end?? Picking straws?? Eeny, meeny, miny, moe?? Gut feelings?? Hair on the back of my neck?? Paper, Rock, Scissors?? Flip a coin?? Sad and/or funny at the same time, those methods of choosing above, are exactly how choices are made by the voters at large. Elections at the SKKA, at the Governing Body of Shindokan, where I'm the elected Kaicho, are conducted via the Roberts Rule of Order, Nominations and Elections rules. As a matter of fact our entire nuts and bolts of how the SKKA is conducted is based on Roberts Rule of Order and our By-Laws. http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/roberts_rules/chap12.html Soke and Dai-Soke created our By-Laws, which have been amended quite many times through the 60 years history that the SKKA has been functioning, but still, SKKA meetings and the like are strictly in and through Roberts Rule of Order, with no exceptions!! Elections are held once every 4 years, depending on the office, whereas some offices are elected once every 3 years, and other offices are elected once every 2 years. Within our Executive Team, Administration Team, General Affairs Team, and the Instructors Team lies the bulk of SKKA's Higher Hierarchy; each and every Director and the like are elected to their respective office. Here's a small glimpse of SKKA's structure... https://www.karateforums.com/a-glimpse-into-a-hombu-vt36501.html?highlight=glimpse Please keep in mind that some changes have been made within the SKKA and our By-Laws since I first wrote the post that's linked directly above this paragraph. For example, both Soke and Dai-Soke have passed away, the attempted destruction of the SKKA/Hombu was staved off, new By-Laws and the like at the Restructuring of its Chartership, and the passing's of 6 members of the SKKA's Higher Hierarchy, to name just a few. What type of criteria does the SKKA fall into, from the criteria that singularity6 has mapped out?? Majority Rule!! This criteria has been satisfied by our Legal Team. The other criteria mapped out by singularity6 are perfectly plausible, depending on ones particular situation(s). Our Legal Team IS NOT comprised from any entity within the SKKA whatsoever!! Our Legal Team is an outside source; a Lawyer firm that's been contracted by both parties, SKKA and the Lawyer firm. No party of the outside Lawyer firm is ever allowed to become a student of any SKKA affiliated dojo, including, and especially, the Hombu for any reason whatsoever!! This provides both parties the highest integrity clauses possible.

Would you consider trying CrossFit training?? Having followed you in this forum, I'm quite impressed with your training, and CrossFit might be your cup of tea. I mean this as a very sincere compliment, Brian!!

Personal preference, I suppose. I more prefer hanging bags because I've, as of yet, not found a standing bag that provides me what I'm needing; standing bags are akin to a Bozo the Clown bounce-back, that, as a kid, you could punch it or whatever else, and Bozo would go backwards, and then forwards. My favorite hanging bag is a 500lb beast of a bag; provides me a lot of what I'm needing. I'm more of a to-each-his/her-own type of MAist.

Between students and teachers?? I never!! The teacher/CI, sets the tone, good or bad. In my 53 years in the MA, I've never had a student get mad at me in any shape, way, and/or form...nor have I ever gotten mad at my students!! Again, the tone must be set by the CI!! No exceptions!! How?? It takes a human being to know how to act like a human being. If the tone is bad, then my first guess is that that's how that CI/Instructor was taught...in and through anger. Respect begets respect!!

Spartacus Maximus wrote... Solid post!! Not having the ability to explain the curriculum in such a way that THAT student can grasp both the methodology and the ideology. If not, that CI runs the risk of changing even the most minute detail from effective to ineffective. Lupin 1 wrote... Sold post!! Your opening phrase speaks well about this topic!! Taking that intelligent CI to the core of the problem, which is their delivery system of the explanations of the curriculum, and helping them to find their own AHA moment so that they, as you said, might lighten it up. I do a drill once a year at our Hombu, which addresses this very topic, with any and all current, as well as future, CI's/Instructors. Title of it is..."Say What You Mean, and Mean What You Say!!" I play a 2 year old, to the Nth degree, who wants to make his very first Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. I'm on the stage center, and with me on a table sits the demise of their destruction...4 large loafs of bread...1 restaurant sized Peanut Butter and Jelly jars...1 spoon...1 butter knife...nothing more, nothing less...except a lot of imagination on their part as well as mine. Their simple task is to instruct me, start to finish, on how to make my very first PB&J sandwich!!!! Simpler said, but much more difficult than one, an experienced adult on the art of making a PB&J sandwich, might assume. These adults in this class are very accomplished individuals in and out of the MA. In all of the years, 26 years thus far, not one class has been able to properly help me, "Tommy", the 2 year old, make one, JUST ONE, PB&J sandwich!! The class is ended when I run out of bread...oh yeah...A mess of unbelievable portions is made of me, the stage, and whomever is near the stage. The funny thing...or the not so funny thing about it all, is I, as "Tommy" don't have to purposefully cause the massive complications the ensue in the difficulties of teaching "Tommy" how to make his very first PB&J sandwich; they, the CI's/Instructors, do it all by themselves. Each CI/Instructor take turns shouting instructions out to "Tommy", which the mess/disaster begins from the very first instruction...that never fells!! Shortly, multiple shouts of instruction are given to "Tommy", which everyone knows, to many chefs ruin the dish!! Yes, we have a blast at this class, but the points are driven home is such a memorable way for them to grasp, and they discover that in order to teach anything to anyone, they must always...Say What You Mean, and Mean What You Say. The difficulty wasn't "Tommy", the blame wasn't "Tommy", the fault wasn't "Tommy"...NO...the difficulty, blame, and fault laid with the CI's/Instructors!! "Tommy" didn't have the knowledge and experience on how to make a PB&J sandwich, but the CI's/Instructors...ADULTS...did have the knowledge and experience for the task at hand. The adults couldn't properly pass their knowledge and experience onto "Tommy" in a understandable tone. YES...these CI's/Instructors, with all of their accolades and all, became frustrated and often times angry at "Tommy", like it was "Tommy's" difficulty, blame, and fault that "Tommy" didn't understand the minimum of what they were trying to teach!!!!! Why make "Tommy" cry?? These adults thought they knew so much, and they do, but they lacked the most basic of teaching skills...SIMPLICITY, aka, K.I.S.S.!! The MA is only as difficult as the CI/Instructor makes it. Get the CI/Instructor out of the way, the Student Body can learn!! After all, the CI/Instructor are the water that pours into the vessel in measurable measures!!