sensei8

Techniques found within a Kata are figurative, and not literal, imho; an idea of many possibilities.

Far far away in a land beyond the clouds, our Soke was once asked this very burning question... What is the Martial Arts? His answer was... "The Martial Arts is something that will get you killed if you don't know what you are doing!!" Let that sink; he might have something there.

Anyone wanting to start a business or change their market base [aka, re-invent themselves], imho, needs to completely understand the Business 101 maxim that says... "whatever the market demands." The technical jargon/definition: "The aggregate of the demands of all potential customers (market participants) for a specific product over a specific period in a specific market." Not what the mass of MAists THINK, or their OPINION about your idea concerning your proposed market base. Sure, weigh opinions, that's a solid approach, but in the end, you make the final decision. Do what makes YOU happy!! I believe that your proposed market is viable across the board because demand is still high, generally speaking. Within 25-100 miles of your location, which KIND of self-defense is mostly the rage of the page for those communities?? Find that out, then it's the until-the-wheels-fall-off!! Careful with pricing, though. Find the happy spot, and drive it...drive it hard!! To pricey one side or the other, or not pricey enough one side or the other will very quickly choke out the ever loving breath out of any business; that, right there, is a very fine line but it had better be quite visible from deep outer space. Generally speaking, sure, you can just wing it or just do it!! However, anyone who does business with this mindset is akin to a car mechanic replacing one part after another part until the car's fixed. It's as paramount as a airplane pilot knowing how to fly; either you can or your can't...better know that before you take off.

Welcome to KF, deanduke, glad that you're here!! Contact the very school you're interested in joining and ask the CI!! The CI might still re-rank you based on YOU!! White belt is the most honorable rank of them all!! Is someone searching for rank or for knowledge/experience??

Researching the potential market base target IS part of Business 101. Having a clear understanding of said target market base is just as important as having the knowledge and experience of said MA and the many off-shoots, like self-defense. Once there's a clear understanding of the said target market base, then, setting up the Business Plan AND the Business Mission Statement can be much more concrete as to exactly where the 't's' and 'i's' need to be, and not just crossing the 't's' and dotting the 'i's'. DWx asks the pointed, and necessary questions.... "why enrollment down? Why will self defense have a higher enrollment rate?" Those answers, imho, have to be answered honestly!! Oftentimes, the answer concerning the dwindling enrollment is no further away that the nearest mirror; not all can teach, and teaching covers a wide range of parameters. Standing in front of students is just one tiny aspect of teaching, that has to be understood by the CI/Owner. There are so many avenues of self-defense that one can market, and all of those possible areas of self-defense can be lumped together, but if you lump them all together, then you lose the big picture of self-defense. Rape and Bully prevention are more than likely the revenue generators because these areas are real horrors in a very personal way. To teach just self-defense nowadays, the CI must understand the many different areas within the self-defense circle, and all can turn a profit, but some areas won't earn a dime for one reason or another. A cold and unfeeling and money hungry CI of self-defense will drastically affect enrollment, both current and prospective. Passion is necessary, but with everything, it has to be regulated one way or another. Study your Market Study your Target Make a plan Carry the plan out I can't just teach self-defense!! Teaching just self-defense would bore me to tears, and I'd burn out faster than it took me to type this very paragraph. That's because of my MA knowledge and experience base, and what I have and still can provide MA wise to current and prospective students. Quantity is meaningless next to quality, and quality takes no back seat. Have to be proactive, but sensible as well.

Anything, and everything is marketable; depending on ones approach involving every aspect of a business. And yes, imho, a school of MA IS A BUSINESS, even non-profit. Marketing is a very sensitive area to manipulate. Yes, manipulate!! If one doesn't know how to reach their pacific target customers, then said business will suffer drastically and die. I've been in business as a dojo owner/CI ever since 1977, with an active Student Body [students] on an average of 375; that fluctuates depending on things both in ones control and out of ones control. That has to be expected and accepted wholeheartedly. I've owned a MA retail business ever since 1982, more like 1985, because in 1982, I sold whatever Century MA Supply had in their current catalog, and set that catalog on a counter for students and parents and visitors could look, and all they had to do if they wanted to buy something, inform me, and I'd order it for them through my wholesale account. That birthed within me the desire to open a full blown MA retail supply store in 1985. But I had to have the understanding as well as the maturity to successfully market both business; neither business can care for itself, so I had to bust my rear, and overcome the trials and tribulations of failures and successes; I fortunately had far more successes than failures. Customer Service is key, imho. Without it, the business will not survive. Customers, and yes, your Student Body IS your core customer base. Without great customer service, the marketing means absolutely nothing. Have to be able to provide consistently what you promise; say what you mean and mean what you say. Short cuts are cool...whenever they work, but whenever they don't, the customer base and the business suffer greatly, and it's just not fair to either. Made the bed, not got to lie in it; comfortable or not!! I know a lot of knowledgeable MAist who can't teach, who can't manage a business, and who don't have a minimum of an idea about Business 101. They think all they have to do is rent a building and open the doors and teach the MA. I wish it was just that simple, but it's the furthest thing from truth. Past KF Sensei, ninjanurse, wrote an article about MA Marketing, you might find it quite valuable... https://www.karateforums.com/integrity-in-martial-arts-school-marketing-vt49256.html There's also another article on Marketing written by current KF Sensei, tallgeese, that that too is quite valuable... https://www.karateforums.com/using-youtube-for-your-martial-arts-school-s-marketing-vt49183.html I wrote this article, that reflects what I'm speaking about in this thread... https://www.karateforums.com/treating-your-dojo-martial-arts-school-as-a-business-vt47192.html Another article I wrote concerning owning a MA retail store... https://www.karateforums.com/treating-your-dojo-martial-arts-school-as-a-business-vt47192.html The idea of turning a traditional MA school to a self-defense school IS doable as well as profitable...BUT...it will all depend on ones approach across a plethora of parameters. You see, the inventor of the Pet Rock, was laughed at, I'm sure, but the inventor of the Pet Rock laughed all the way to a huge bank account. APPROACH...APPROACH...APPROACH!! Location means a lot, BUT, only if the approach is marketable. Location is everything unless one doesn't have a clue about teaching and business. Is the self defense that he wants to teach, will it sell; is it what the market demands...WILL IT LAST OR JUST FADE AWAY. I wish him great success across the board.

I agree most wholeheartedly with Brian!! Now, there's the dictionary definition, then there's the MAist definition; oftentimes, they're both worlds apart!! Did not know I was giving a dictionary definition. That was from a martial artist... Me. No...I, me, myself was just making a general comment; I wasn't referring to you or anyone specifically.

Those are some very strict condition parameters. The size of the room is roughly just under 100 square feet; 10' X 10'; very doable. So... >Free Standing Punching Bag: You can set it up/down quickly, and the bottom is secured/screwed into a weighted base. When finished with your workout, unclip the top of the bag from the eye screw, and store the bag out of the way, like under a bed or in a closet or in a corner. >Punching Bag and Stand: You will stand on the platform and punch the bag, which is attached to the platform on an adjustable pole, that gives with each punch, with the bag attached to the very top of said pole. When finished with your workout, unscrew the pole from the platform, and store both the platform and the bag/pole under your bed or in a closet or in the corner. Either way, the vibration will carry to the downstairs neighbor with either choice. Some to the upstairs neighbor with the first choice. Place underneath any base, a one section of a puzzle jigsaw mat to absorb the vibration.

I pictured you with more hair. Lol...I just can't wear my hair long because whenever I try to, my hear curls upward, kind of like Bozo the Clown, really embarrassing. I've really curly hair, which the women in both sides of the family envy me...they can have it. So, I keep it short, like you see in that picture, to keep myself sane. Same very short hair...still, but with now, I've a full long beard. At least I can grow my hair long somewhere.

It's interesting that you are going to fewer belts, makes sense to me. It seems like ranks tend to trend the other way (rank drift?) either by adding on to the top end (25th degree black belts) or on the bottom end (0.125 white belt stripe). Taking the time to re-calibrate makes sense every now and again. Solid post!!

Solid post!! Unique how your JBB is done; I like it!! Our JBB is the bane of my existence. I was a JBB for LONG 5 years, 13 years old to 18 years old; no other ranking structure within JBB...no advancements of any type, whatsoever!! However, Dai-Soke continued to teach us as though we had earned our Shodan. By the time I reached 18, I was more than ready; I earned my Shodan in 1975...Nidan in 1976...Sandan in 1977. After that, all Dan ranks had to meet tenure before I could apply for any Dan Testing Cycle Candidacy.

Warning: Long post in order to address much in one post; sorry!! Great questions as well as responses; fair enough, and I respect you all wholeheartedly!! I'll address each and every question/comment, if necessary, directed to me in this one post. You will not agree with everything I post because our ways may be contrary to your ways; that's completely understandable across the board. Our By-Laws have to reflect this change; that was up to our Legal Department with the assistance from four different departments; you know, cross the 't's' and dot the 'i's'!! That was finalized two weeks before the official announcements were made network wide. Please, before I address each question, I just want to clarify this one simple thing or two. The Reorganizing of our Rank Structure will be a testament for them as to their MA maturity...Are they here for Rank or not?!?!?!? If they're here for Rank, then I bid them a friendly farewell. If they're here for knowledge and experience, then I bid them to train hard, and train well!! To the questions/comments... Nidan Melbourne wrote: We stressed over this concern the most because, rank is forever, and can't be taken away. So, for example, we didn't take the rank away, can't do that; we simply took the colored belt away. Those ranks that "got the chop" will join the most appropriate rank, whether it be Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. For example, Yellow and Orange are Beginners, and they will be merged into White, with one exception; White with one stripe will represent Yellow, and White with two stripes will represent Orange. So, on and so forth. Green already, and has always, had two stripes because Green, Shichikyu (7th Kyu) and Rokukyu (6th Kyu) are where our Intermediate levels begin, and Brown has three stripes, Sankyu to Ikkyu. Our Kyu's are Jukyu-Ikkyu (10th-1st). These reorganizing Rank Structures are immediate!! There will be no phasing out whatsoever through a Testing Cycle. All ranks are to absorbed by the new Rank Structure immediately and with no exceptions, by any and all dojo's within the SKKA network. Conformations are commencing immediately through a duly appointed representative of the Hombu via dojo visits. All dojo's within the SKKA network have been instructed to complete their Rank Structure Reorganization by March 23, 2018. If any dojo within the SKKA network fails to comply, their Shindokan Seal of Affiliation will be removed, and made void until further notice. If I understand your last question, the stock of remaining belts, which will have no value to us anymore, will be sold to interested parties. However, we'll get with our supplier to request a return; sell back the belts we no longer use for the belts we will continue to use, kind of like a trade-in....1 for 1, so to speak. Wastelander wrote: We don't view any belt discrepancies with our on-going Rank Structure Reorganization because the existing ranks will simply absorb the appropriate rank structure, depending on their current rank; a student is either a Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. There will be NO RE-TEST, whatsoever; we see no value in that!! mushybees wrote: A Purple would merge into Green, which will now have four stripes, and NOT two stripes. Both Blue and Purple will be merged into Green. JR 137 wrote: The "defunct" belts will be completely removed network wide by March 23, 2018; no exceptions will be tolerated!! Curriculum changes are a simple matter of changing the title of the document. Instead of it reading, for example...ORANGE BELT 9TH KYU CURRICULUM...it'll read...9TH KYU CURRICULUM. Yes, that means, within the White belt Rank, there will now be three Kata's, and not just one. Future Testing Cycles have NOT been, and won't be, affected by this change. Within the official announcements, as well as the detailed Testing Cycle Amendments, that were sent network wide via certified mail, concerning the Candidate Testing Cycle Request, these confusions were laid to rest. Students within White, per the up and coming Testing Cycle for their Green, will have to execute three Kata's, and not the one Kata for Orange. Testing Cycles are once every three months...Q1 = end of March...Q2 = end of June...Q4 = end of Septmember...Q4 = end of December!! That's why, March 23, 2018 is imperative that the Reorganization of Rank Structure be completed by then; it's one week before Q1 commences. IF, the Reorganization of Rank Structure isn't completed network wide, there will be NO Q1 Testing Cycle. For those candidates that have already been approved to attend said Q1 Testing Cycle will have to resubmit for Q2 Testing Cycle in a timely manner per that particular deadline. MatsuShinshii wrote: Nice familiar break down, for the most. Yes, we do view beginner, intermediate, and advanced differently, but just how boring it would be if we were ALL the same. Or maybe boring is necessary for commonality...maybe. We would stress out concerns with Soke and Dai-Soke, and he/they would take our advice/concerns/questions in consideration about Rank Structure, and then he/they would make a final decision. Sometimes, he/they would tell us in no uncertain terms where to take our advice/concerns/questions...in short, we can pound sand, for all they gave a darn, AND POUND THAT SAND NOW!! They both were so sensitive at times!! LLLEARNER wrote: From having known Soke and Dai-Soke as well as I did, I can assuredly state with confidence that revenue generation wasn't the reason for leaping, and I do mean leaping, from a four Rank Structure to an 8 Rank Structure, but for the reasons I stated in my OP. Now, the striping we did in the past, Green with two, and Brown with four, were to announce the Intermediate and Advanced Kyu level within the Kyu structure. Not for revenue generation, neither is the more usages nowadays of the new striping. So, White will have to have the CI or the approved representative add three stripes, which had none in the past. Green will now have to have the CI or the approved representative add four stripes, which had two in the past. Brown, well, no change there, so the CI or the approved representative won't have to do anything extra or new in that regards. Poor hard working CI or approved representatives; bad Hombu...bad meany Hombu!! strangepair03 wrote: I was always keenly interested in the four Rank Structure for as long as I can even remember; maybe a little jealous of those who trained in that structure. Well, now, I get to train it and in it first hand; I'm excited...like a kid with a new toy. singularity6 wrote: Funny you say this, singularity6, because, when Greg, our past Kancho, and I first talked about this one weekend, and before we introduced the idea to Reorganize the Rank Structure to the other Hierarchy members, some time in the past, we two greatly liked this concept. Unfortunately, that idea was quickly tabled because of some narrow minded opinions; couldn't get the votes at all. Spartacus Maximus Solid post!! That's why SKKA manages the way it does; consistency!! Having this and that and ten other ways of doing this and that and who knows what else is beyond confusion. Shindokan dojo's within the SKKA network can do it anyway they want to, and they can teach Shindokan any way they want to, but if they go Rogue, then they can do it one their own; they've that right. But a ship without a solid port is a ship with no direction, and will flounder forever without a secured anchor. bushido_man96 wrote: Which board?? Past board or current board?? With the past board, it all started over a weekend when I was over at Greg's house, with his family and mine, enjoying some chit chat and BBQ and all. Then the following Monday, him and I introduced our ideas about eliminating the eight Rank Structure back to the original four Rank Structure, to honor Soke and Dai-Soke, to the other Hierarchy. Our conversation that weekend began over us looking at some of Greg's picture albums, and he had a picture of a large group of students standing in front of the Hombu, circa, 1982, and on the very next page, he had a picture of an old Hombu class, circa, 1959, and written on the very bottom of that page, was, Students Train Hard. It was noted about that page on those particular pictures, 1982, the students rank, and those ranks listed were part of the eight Rank Structure. and on the 1959, those ranks listed were part of the then four Rank Structure. Both Greg and I wondered out loudly to each other what it must've been like to have trained under that four Rank Structure; it's possible pro and cons. Greg, being Greg, suggested to me that we go back to that four Rank Structure, to honor Soke and Dai-Soke. That started the desire within us two, even though the rest of the Hierarchy weren't so thrilled; it was tabled. It was forgotten, however, when while returning from a trip to Mexico, tragedy struck when our SKKA's Kancho, Greg Forsythe, as well as SKKA Regents, Thomas Stillwater, Jonathan Plouge, Ben Stevenson, Giichi Tanaka, and Yoshikazu Tanaka were all killed in a head-on vehicle accident in the very early morning of July 11th, 2016. Not long ago, maybe, last late October, one of our current members of our Hierarchy came across all of those meetings in a box that was being stored in one of the unoccupied offices on the 2nd floor, marked...MEETING STUFF. Curiosity killed the cat. That rekindled the conversations once again whenever that box was brought to my attention, and I explained to them all about it. The rest is history!!

Yes, and then some!! Kind of like when Kenneth and Kendall are wrestling each other at home, just being boys...that's Tegumi in a nutshell. Thankfully, we keep that to a minimum at home! But, not at a wrestling competition; release the beast!!

Solid post!!!!!! Black belt should be darn near impossible to earn; the rarest of rare.

They're still loving it all, right? Or has it run its full course?? Are their thoughts elsewhere?? Is their divisions tougher than expected?? Nonetheless, their tough losses, for sure. Hopefully they can keep the minds in the game. We got their backs!!

For the old structure was the time in rank for kids and adults different pre black belt? Kyu ranks, for all ages, do not have rank tenure whatsoever; only Dan ranks. The JBB has no rank tenure, just a restriction based on age. It's been that way since Shindokan was founded by Soke.

The MAist...the practitioner is responsible of every technique that's executed to assure, to the very best of ones ability, that said technique is effective. When said technique isn't, it's that practitioners fault. A technique isn't a technique unless its effective, in which, it's an educated guess, at best. Our job is to be able, and with ease, to study said opponent, in fractions of a second, and continuously, of an appending attack before its fruition. Nonetheless, most give away their intent quite easily because they don't know any better, which is to our advantage. If you know what to look for!! Tale tell things, like stances and body language, for example, are easy to pick up, and act accordingly with cause. However, methodologies and ideologies differ from style to style and practitioner to practitioner, and those delicate things are ushered onto the back burner. As Ed Parker said..."He use hesitates, meditates horizontally". He might just be right on that one!! Imho!!

Most of my students that needed any financial help didn't come to me at all. No, not at all!! I came to them!! I'll notice that said student hasn't been on the floor as of late, especially when in the past, that said student was adamant about being to every class without fail; they wanted to be at the dojo. Please let me say that again...THEY WANTED TO BE AT THE DOJO!! That raises my eyebrow. I'll go visit them at their home!! I'll go through the normal salutations and all, then I'll ask them point blank if the reason that they're no longer attending class is due to some financial stress. Some let pride answer, and some pointedly say so!! If I feel their desire is still there and they want to be at the dojo, I'll offer free tuition, and that'll continue until it no longer is warranted. Those students, which is far and few, will come into my office and ask me straight out. That's the tough one because I don't know their heart. So, I'll offer a month free to learn about their heart. After that free month, I'll let them know my decision, a lot of that will be based on them. Either way, they are not to discuss it with any student, parent, and/or whomever, and if they do, their financial assistance is ended immediately.

I just want to take this personal moment to bow to each one of you here because the words spoken on this thread are personal to each one of you, and the willingness of sharing it is admirable trait. Thank you, all!!

You said it...NOT A DAY WITHOUT KATA...these are the words of a dedicated MAist; honed to the continuing of ones MA betterment. I bow to you and your unselfish dedication to the process of being that MAist!! Wherever one trains at, THAT...right there, THAT is the dojo, and you've not missed a day!! Train hard, and train well!!

This is just me, so forgive me if I should speak with any unclear thoughts, but, I never ever once understood the overall importance of the gi, any gi, it escapes me totally. I vaguely understand that the gi, or whatever else it might be in the MA styles of the world, is a uniform of our trade. I get that. What I don't get is the strictness of which the gi/uniform is affably honed as a formality, and heads will roll if the gi/uniform protocol isn't adhered to. Isn't the wearing of a gi/uniform secondary, if not thirdly, if not at the end of the most concerned lists to teaching the MA effectively?? After all, one can train and teach and learn the MA in just about anything that's comfortable and not binding; sweats and a t-shirt come to my mind. But hey, it's their [CI/Governing Body] house, and we're guests, and IF we want to be in their house, then we had better follow their rules, or we'll face most assuredly summary judgement. I get that, too.

For us, it's a rank structure, no big deal, really. After months of meetings, we've, the SKKA have decided to trim the fat away from our ranking structure. Why? A rainbow looks only good in the sky, and not on our students. This is us, and we hold no judgement to those who do have a lot of different belts. Our Rank Structure use to be: White [beginner] Yellow [beginner] Orange [beginner] Green [intermediate] Blue [intermediate] Purple [intermediate] Brown [Advanced] Black/Junior Black [Advanced] 8 different ranks...8 different colors!! Soke, once he and Dai-Soke, moved to the USA, they cooperatively decided through some painstaking research and good old trial and errors, they went to the 8 ranking structure, from their original 4 ranking structure because they both believed that students in the USA needed recognition of their achievements, no matter how minute or unnecessary it might appear. They both really hated the 8 ranking structure because it went against what they had done in the past, but they felt that change was good, no matter how much it went against their all the believed. In time, they warmed up to it, and they never looked back. They never showed outwardly that this deeply troubled to anyone; they wore a brave face. So, we, the SKKA, are going back to what they originally wanted... White [beginner] Green [intermediate] Brown [Advanced] Black/Junior Black [Advanced] It is said, the best way between two points is a straight line. Well, I believe that we've straightened out our line. Announcements to the Student Body across the SKKA network is being made while I type this post.

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...SING IT WITH ME...Happy Birthday dear Alex, Happy Birthday to you.....and many more!! Happy Birthday, Alex!!

Just because ones a human being, it doesn't mean one knows how to act like a human being!! If a student of mine is facing financial difficulties, then I'll do all that I can to help them, including providing them free lessons, for as long as they warrant it. I don't do it to get a pat on my back. I do it because it's the right thing to do.

At one time, it [black belt] meant everything to me; it was the exclamation of my MA journey!! It demonstrated that all of my hard work; the blood, sweat, and tears was worth it all...AT ONE TIME. When I was a child, I did childish things, and when I became a man, I cast away all childish things!! I stopped searching for rank when I earned my Sandan; the meaning of rank dissipated at that moment. Sure, I was proud of my accomplishment, except one!! My Dan rankings were important to me because I earned them under Dai-Soke, and for me, to not be proud of having earned any rank, not just black belt, meant a sign of disrespect to my Dai-Soke. I'm not proud of my Kudan because I didn't earn it, really, imho, and moreover, I didn't earn it under Dai-Soke!! What surrounds my Kudan Testing Cycle, and all that proceeded that day, makes me believe that I would've passed no matter what. Again, I'm proud of every rank, and while I'm a Senior Dan, I'm mostly proud of my Shogo titles!! I can't earn a Shogo title because they're bestowed!! Each and everyone of them were bestowed upon me by Soke and Dai-Soke, and Shogo titles are not tested for. An exclamation point of my MA maturity, which far exceeds any Dan rank I earned. My Hanshi means more to me than my double Hachidan, and even more so than my Kudan!!