sensei8

Not all black belts can teach, nor should they try; either they can or they can't!! Both, teacher and student have to reach a middle ground together, and then, decide if their relationship is a fit. If not, then they must part ways. Compatibility's are strained if ones not willing to compromise enough for the betterment of the goal. That goal is LEARNING!! Who's to compromise? The student and/or the teacher?? I believe...BOTH, to some degree!! The teacher teaches the curriculum to their best abilities. The student learns the curriculum to their best abilities. That middle ground, for the learning/teaching can be reached, has to be defined somehow by someone. Just because the CI/black belt runs the curriculum and the school, that doesn't mean that the student is the property of the CI/black belt. Either the teacher or the student have to decide what's best for themselves. I've seen black belts give into the student for the sake of retention. That's the worse thing a black belt can do because the middle ground becomes quite muddled; who's the darn teacher and who's the darn student...decide now!! The student's betterment depends on an instructor who CAN TEACH!! However, the teacher's betterment depends on the student who CAN LEARN!! If a student and I are not compatible, for one reason or another, and attempts have been made to the betterment of the student, then it's time for the student to seek a wider sky somewhere else. As the teacher, I have to teach THAT student because not everything is universal on the dojo floor; learning curves vary...teaching curves vary too!! Imho!!

What one can expect, at a glance, is that outwardly identifier, until the floor starts to revealing what's not noticed by those outwardly identifiers that were noticed but at a glance.

Knowledge and experience can't hide on the floor, no matter what the outwardly identifier might be. However, that too is subjective through the observer. Imho!!

OK...you've just convinced yourself to take a day off...go see Enter The Dragon; enjoy!!

I'm not proficient at shadow boxing! Ok, then please do what TJ-Jitsu has also asked.

Belts in and of themselves mean nothing. Rank on the other hand, I would say that depends where you got the rank and what standards you had to meet in order to get it. In BJJ for instance rank is not just handed out, at least I've never known of any BJJ school that does, so if you've got a high rank in BJJ you would have to have earned it and it will show on the floor. Ranks still mean nothing; unless ones chasing after rank, instead of just training. Belts are just the outwardly identifier of rank. Imho!!

Devin, you did it....Nidan!! Congrats, Devin!!

Now you're talking; congrats LLLEARNER!!

I hate that advise. Then they can get you for tampering with a crime scene. The "old" way saved them paperwork. Now the crime scene guys would get their undies in a bunch. If deadly force was justified in the living room, it will still be justified when he bleeds out on the lawn. I agree; this is just bad advise. Was it perhaps said in a joking manner? Nope, my dad says the cop was dead serious!! My dad rejects, as do I, that cops advice. Not that this matters, but the circa was 1981.

Yes, it's slower, thanks. However, it wasn't a combo; just a straight punch. I would still like to see your feet movements.

There are just too many things within the MA that annoys the tar out of me. Above all things is the pageantry of the MA!! After that, the others annoy me differently, depending on my particular mood that day.

Flawed?? Nope!! Here's why I believe it... https://www.karateforums.com/proof-is-on-the-floor-vt36016.html https://www.karateforums.com/proof-is-on-the-floor-an-addendum-vt41784.html I don't believe in things as the "best" because it's an assumption of the observer. Your hypothetical here still speaks about him, while he's much elder nowadays, he's still an "expert" through his knowledge and experience. Besides, anyone at any age, and at any knowledge/experience and, if we must consider, rank, can dodder into any dojo and stoop over a zimmer frame, and still be an "expert" by the observers interpretation. An "expert" at anything, including the MA, can trip over who knows what. I had once been accused of not possessing any MA knowledge and experience because during a pool game, I missed a lot of shots. This persons reasoning was that all MA should have a keen hand to eye coordination, and I shouldn't miss that many shots. My argument towards that guy was... "I don't know what you know about the MA, but in all of my years in the MA, I never ever once saw a pool table in our dojo...not ever!!" 53 years later, I'm still poor at playing pool, not good at bowling, not good at horseshoes, not good at darts, not good at basketball, well, there's a lot of things that I'm not good at, well, except the MA.

Well first, let’s start with that hair. It’s a little too long. High and tight is the way to go. Your shirt also needs to be ironed too. It’s a T-shirt so you could just spritz some water on it and toss it in the dryer. You appear to shave on a daily basis though, and with no toilet paper your technique on point. Hope this helps.... .... .... ... .... Ok seriously now, if you’re trying to learn how to punch or get critique of it, we need to see your hips and feet. You’re moving neither nor are you moving your shoulders. Elbows should be in nice and tight for a good punch (imagine being at the top of a chin up). In all fairness I usually keep my elbows wide mostly because I’m a defensive fighter and I’m looking to clinch, but if I’m looking for power, they go low and tight... I am moving my hips and feet. Then, please show us that!! Pictures are worth a thousand words...if there's enough information provided.

Let's say you have someone who is fairly low in grade, but understands how there's no such thing as technique, just principles from which techniques can be built on the fly. That person can see a hundred different uses for a basic low block for example, and they can put all those principles together naturally as they move. But they can't seem to learn the lingo, and they struggle to remember the sequences of forms. Conversely, you have someone who can perform any form to competition standard. They can speak all the lingo. They know all the history. They can perform a jump 360 roundhouse to head height. But ask them to improvise or gods forbid, actually fight, and they have nothing. Would either of these two hypothetical extremes qualify as a martial arts expert? That answer will be dependent on the individual your asking, and in that, the term "expert" is as vague as the term "black belt". Someone can be an "expert" as a Shodan depending on the individual terming said practitioner. A Shodan is more of an expert than a Kyu ranked practitioner. However, that Shodan isn't much an expert as a Godan; depending on the dojo/style/etc. A "So called expert" tag surely is an insult across the board; doubt of credibility!! Is an "expert" a "master" in said style of the MA?? Once again, that answer will vary considerably. As far as your hypothetical goes, neither of them are "expert" for one reason or another. Ability for a jump 360 roundhouse to head height, and the like, is far from being an "expert". Knowledge is far from knowing history and lingo because a well written book can provide that and then some. No, for me, proof is on the floor!! Nothing else, for me, tells me what I need to know other than the floor; there's no ambiguity whatsoever on the floor!! I'm very well versed in the lingo and Kata in both empty and weapons and in the history and in Kumite/Grappling/Tuite/Etc and applications and so on and so forth both in and out of Shindokan; 53 years on the floor...Kudan and Hachidan...Does this make me an "expert"?? Depends on who's asking and who's interpreting of the factors. Once again, proof is on the floor!! Imho!!

Proof is on the floor!! Belt and/or rank mean absolutely nothing across the board; a symbolism that derides the practitioner without the knowledge and experience. Only the layperson views either, especially the belt, with an unaware eye. The MAist, those same things still aren't clearly understood; oh, they have their own idea as to what it might be, but even that's a mystery. These symbols are a very well known part of the MA, and those that practice said MA have accepted them for their own reasons.

A police officer once told my dad that if you shoot someone in your front/back/side yard, drag them inside the house, then call the police, not beforehand.

The rest, well, relies on for the court to decide its outcome. There's always two sides to anything.

Congrats, Wayofaswede; hard work has its rewards!! Good luck!!

Knowledge and experience through acceptable tenure. But of whoms acceptability?? Like rank, that which is acceptable 'here', isn't acceptable 'there. Everything is suspect even if it comes from a recognizable source. Imho!!

Sorry, I don't recall it, whatsoever.

With zero experience with Shindokan, and they want to learn Shindokan, and no matter their rank somewhere else, they're white belts, and I treat them accordingly!!

That, right there, that is our Soke and Dai-Soke and many other Shindokan dojo's within the SKKA network including myself!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...SING IT WITH ME EVERYONE...Happy Birthday dear Mo, Happy Birthday to you...and many more!! Have a good, safe, and fun birthday, Mo!!

Loved it...great movie...killed off many Avengers!! Can't wait for the next movie!!

I get a kick out of it when someone implies that a black belt holder should be held at a much higher standard because someone has a black belt. Why? Who says that that person is a black belt or who says that a black belt means that that person is even capable?? Laypersons who've not the minimum of an idea as to what the black belt truly is or what it truly isn't have spread that falsehood for as long as I can remember. Educating the courts as to the reality of the black belt, therefore, eliminating the mystic surrounding the black belt. Mitigating circumstances have to be rationalized!! Imho!!