sensei8

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!!

It USE to be white, and nothing else per Soke!! Years tender ones heart, and he allowed black for Dan rank holders!! Then, shortly thereafter, Godan and above could wear a combination of white and black, but, the top had to be white!! Then, years later, he was convinced by the then Board of Regents to allow students to train, NOT TEST, in whatever color they desired!! All Testing Candidates still MUST wear only white; no exceptions. Shoot, I was one of the very first to show up at the Hombu in a completely blue gi...Soke and Dai-Soke just smiled, shrugged their shoulders, and shook their heads back and forth in dismay. Hehehehehehehehehehehe!! Kind of like the one I'm wearing here... https://www.karateforums.com/shindokan-and-tkd-get-together-vt41438.html?highlight=tkd+shindokan+meet Scroll down towards the bottom of that page.

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.

I could not agree with you anymore Sensei8 but unfortunately this is the way of the world. When you figure out how to change the mindset of 99% of the schools out there let me know. Until then I think you and all of us are stuck with it. However that does not mean you must fall into this trap nor practice it within your own Dojo. Solid post!! Changing the mindset of 99% is a far fetched desire of mine, true enough. Not impossible; yet, not practical. Therefore, change starts with one dojo, and then with another dojo, and then again with another; there must be a start, a model to follow. However, many practitioners love the pageantry that comes with any MA celebration; their 5 minutes of fame. They love that a fuss is made over them, and once that apple has been bitten, the fall occurs like an explosion. So, there's the start. Someone...some dojo has to start the change. If it's meant to be, then it's meant to be. That's why my dojo and our Hombu have taken the necessary steps to end the pageantry immediately, and not in a weening manner, but cold turkey. One, the training becomes the focus. Two, unnecessary expenses are curbed, and those expenses once used for the pageantry, are now being used for the betterment of the students; more and better training equipment, and so on and so forth. Those of us within the Shindokan circle who've been around for quite some time were mildly shocked. Why? It was new, and not expected. Depending on the event, there was more of a shock. For example, our Annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu, ONCE held a huge celebration to honor all, and not just those who had earned a new promotion. I mean, imagine the most spectacle thing you can dream of, well, that, and then some more, was what our Award Dinner was like...in the neighborhood of $9K; no stone was not turned!! A pageantry...an unnecessary expenditure on any P&L...and that was for just that event. The Hombu HAD a department that dealt strictly with pageantry stuff; annual expenditures in the neighborhood of $110K...GIVE ME A BREAK!! But that was what Soke wanted, and by God, that's what he got; the apple didn't have to fall far to Dai-Soke, who just followed suit. Not all Shindokan dojo within the SKKA network followed suit. That's fine! The Hombu doesn't interfere with internal dojo politics, and what they do is up to them. But I run the Kyuodan Dojo and the Shindokan Hombu!! I did what I felt was needed, and I did it without permission; one of my small perks of being Kaicho. I informed everyone that this is how it is, and if they didn't like it, they're free to go elsewhere. But here at the Hombu, we train!! Student gets promoted, cool!! He/she will get their new promotion at the next class without the pageantry...and before class...behind close doors in my office or in the CI's office at the Hombu with one witness. Those who receive promotions from the Annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu, and because of the amount of testing candidates, those promotions will be mailed to the respective dojo's that they attend. How those dojo's hand out promotions is up to them. Has anyone voiced a complaint to the Hombu or at my dojo?? Nope, not outwardly, just raised eyebrows. I can only control that which is mine to do so!! One dojo at a time!! I’m trying to wrap my head around this... Your honbu had a $9k ceremony every time black belts were promoted? Like a sit down dinner/buffet, DJ, etc. stuff like that? When I was promoted to shodan, my sensei tied my new belt around my waist, shook my hand, said congratulations, had a nice sentence or two to say about me, and I took my place back in line. My current dojo does the same at kyu testing. As far as I know, dan promotion is handled pretty much the same way, only the test is at honbu under Kaicho Nakamura. I guess I missed out on my party when I earned my shodan back in the day. Maybe I’ll convince my current CI to have one for me when I earn it again To the bold type above... Yes!! In the neighborhood of 9K; things aren't cheap, and not at a small scale, but at a large scale. Rental of a huge banquet hall at a 5 star Hotel are quite pricey. Soke and Dai-Soke spared no expenses!! This Annual Dinner is for ALL RANKS, passed and failed; a celebration of THEM!! Soke, many moons ago, held our Award Dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel; that was extremely expensive because a room is about $1100 per night, and a bungalow is abut $1600 per night...yeah...Soke aged on that one by just looking at the bill. Over the top? Well, that might be true, depending on whom one asks. Has anyone ever seen videos from the ATA, as far as how they recognize their promotions?? Beauty and practicality is in the eye of the beholder!!

Congrats; well deserved!!

I try to imagine Shindokan without Tegumi, but, I just can't. Our core surrounds close range techniques from Tuite to Tegumi, and everything else in between. From a students first day, they are immersed into the world of close range techniques, and oftentimes, the new student realizes that they've bitten off more than they wanted. That realization comes from the plethora of drills, and within those drills, comes the resistance training. Put that all on the new students shoulders, they walk out wide eyed...but they come back wondering what will they learn today...tomorrow!!

Absolutely!! LOL!!

I could not agree with you anymore Sensei8 but unfortunately this is the way of the world. When you figure out how to change the mindset of 99% of the schools out there let me know. Until then I think you and all of us are stuck with it. However that does not mean you must fall into this trap nor practice it within your own Dojo. Solid post!! Changing the mindset of 99% is a far fetched desire of mine, true enough. Not impossible; yet, not practical. Therefore, change starts with one dojo, and then with another dojo, and then again with another; there must be a start, a model to follow. However, many practitioners love the pageantry that comes with any MA celebration; their 5 minutes of fame. They love that a fuss is made over them, and once that apple has been bitten, the fall occurs like an explosion. So, there's the start. Someone...some dojo has to start the change. If it's meant to be, then it's meant to be. That's why my dojo and our Hombu have taken the necessary steps to end the pageantry immediately, and not in a weening manner, but cold turkey. One, the training becomes the focus. Two, unnecessary expenses are curbed, and those expenses once used for the pageantry, are now being used for the betterment of the students; more and better training equipment, and so on and so forth. Those of us within the Shindokan circle who've been around for quite some time were mildly shocked. Why? It was new, and not expected. Depending on the event, there was more of a shock. For example, our Annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu, ONCE held a huge celebration to honor all, and not just those who had earned a new promotion. I mean, imagine the most spectacle thing you can dream of, well, that, and then some more, was what our Award Dinner was like...in the neighborhood of $9K; no stone was not turned!! A pageantry...an unnecessary expenditure on any P&L...and that was for just that event. The Hombu HAD a department that dealt strictly with pageantry stuff; annual expenditures in the neighborhood of $110K...GIVE ME A BREAK!! But that was what Soke wanted, and by God, that's what he got; the apple didn't have to fall far to Dai-Soke, who just followed suit. Not all Shindokan dojo within the SKKA network followed suit. That's fine! The Hombu doesn't interfere with internal dojo politics, and what they do is up to them. But I run the Kyuodan Dojo and the Shindokan Hombu!! I did what I felt was needed, and I did it without permission; one of my small perks of being Kaicho. I informed everyone that this is how it is, and if they didn't like it, they're free to go elsewhere. But here at the Hombu, we train!! Student gets promoted, cool!! He/she will get their new promotion at the next class without the pageantry...and before class...behind close doors in my office or in the CI's office at the Hombu with one witness. Those who receive promotions from the Annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu, and because of the amount of testing candidates, those promotions will be mailed to the respective dojo's that they attend. How those dojo's hand out promotions is up to them. Has anyone voiced a complaint to the Hombu or at my dojo?? Nope, not outwardly, just raised eyebrows. I can only control that which is mine to do so!! One dojo at a time!!

Welcome to KF, albertnicholas61; glad that you're here!!

I've lost faith, not in the MA, but in those who have been representatives of the MA. It's the dojo pageantry lead by those representatives!! All I want to do is learn the MA and teach the MA. They can have all of that dojo pageantry all they want because to me, the MA can do without the pageantry; the sooner the better. Imho!!

Within each of us, as practitioners and as individuals, we've the necessary abilities to not only harm, but to also heal with whomever we have contact with for whatever the reason might be. As a MAist, depending on ones knowledge and experience, we can harm another human being with such resolve, and with the harsh breath of time quite expediently. With Bruce Lee's saying..."I do not hit, 'it' hits all by itself", is both pointed as well as it is responsible. That which I possess, MA wise, can be fatal to another human being either with cause or without cause; either way, judgement should be immediate across the board. With what I possess, individually speaking, there's not much differences between me, the MAist, and me, the individual; that fine line of certainty as well as uncertainty shouldn't muddle my mutual goals as a MAist and as an individual. I don't hit to just hit, but I hit to destroy said target, not with a proportional response but in complete totality!! It's either him/her or me, and I will, with all that I possess, do all that I can to protect myself. It's that that is within me is dangerous, and is designed to harm another human being, and not to dance around in a gala celebration. The level of harm is my responsibility, and mine alone. Nevertheless, that which I possess must be both wise and resolute!! Your thoughts, please!!

She embodies the maxim that says...7 times down, 8 times up; no quit in her, none whatsoever!! That's something to smile about; thanks for the update skullspltter!!

This is a very good question! I am at a very different position in this equation than you are, being that I am typically neither the most high-ranking nor the most senior member of my dojo where I train (I have trained for 18 years, but at my dojo many have trained for over 40 years). However, I encounter these kinds of self-inflated beginners often, and I say that they are all 'beginners' because if a person is trying to boost their reputation in the dojo by establishing dominance over someone as easygoing and superficially non-threatening as me, they generally are pretty bad at karate and are looking for the lowest bar they can jump . Out of respect for those who have more experience than I do, I usually try to do more listening than talking in the dojo, and am fairly polite to everyone, since I dislike the picking-on-lower-rank thing that some people do in their clubs. Some beginners misinterpret my politeness as weakness, and as such, attempt to disregard my words when I do offer advice. .... I actually kind of love it when this happens, because I feel like I get an excuse to let loose a little. -for the betterment of the kohai! You know sensei8, this has been a theme I've always enjoyed in your posts. I couldn't agree more! I'll cite an example of one beginners' class I taught at my college dojo to demonstrate how I deal with this kind of thing. I was conducting a fairly standard introductory class, nothing out of the ordinary. The big idea of the class was standing, moving, and using basic hand techniques while in back stance. One 3-week old white belt (about 6' muscular 19-year-old guy) chimes in "It makes literally NO sense to stand this way!" me: "It is hard at first, but it gets easier. Keep trying!" him: "No, I mean that you're wrong. It's so much easier if I stand like this!" me: "That's a different stance, but it doesn't work for these techniques, so we're not going to practice that right now." him: ~"Maybe it just doesn't work for you."~ me: "Okay... How about you stand your way with knifehand block, and I'll stand my way, let's see who can push the other person's arm to the side. Ready?... Go!" -he hit the floor -he stood up, put his arm back on mine, he hit the floor -he stood up, ... paused, then put his arm back on mine. He wobbled when I pushed, but didn't fall over. him: "See! It works my way too!" me: "Nope. Look at your feet." He was standing in a very good back stance the way I was trying to teach it to him. A quite solid post!!

Thanks. But this just supports what we're always told. It doesn't explain why my ex military friends can be so tough without stretching routinely, if it is so necessary. Then, I don't know why?? Ask your ex-military friends why?? Any answer we give will only be an assumption on our part. Their reasons as to why might be as wide as the sky; ask them. Some, and I use to be one, require very little or no stretching whatsoever for one reason or another. I consider myself quite tough, and I do know, if I need to defend myself, I'm not going to stretch first!!

MA training without practical serious resistance isn't effective at all. Be compliant whenever learning something new, then ramp it up, safely. There's a huge difference from resistant training and abuse; CI's must do everything in their power to avoid abuse while at the same time, providing effective training!! Effective and practical resistant training safely should be the hallmark of that MA school; that's what their getting paid for!! "How do I do that??" If that question has to be asked, then that individual shouldn't ever teach the MA. Imho!!

Solid post!! Welcome to KF, Higher Self; glad that you're here!!

I never think of fairness in relation to martial arts. I train of my own volition so ultimately I decide what I will or won't endure.I also don't compare myself to others, if the cookie crumbles in an advantageous way for someone I don't feel resentful at all. What ego I have is well in check and the way I was raised has never allowed me to feel I'm entitled to anything in life. Has something in your MA experience happened to prompt you to ask the question? To the bold type above... Nope!! My MA journey is peachy keen!! Change is inevitable; I accept that wholeheartedly. Having been in the MA, and in the capacities that I've been part of during these 53 years, one can imagine that I've seen, heard, and read from many practitioners from all forms of MA, and one of the things I see/hear/read a lot about, in and out of the Shindokan circle, is students complaining about something or another being not fair. So, I just wanted to start a conversation, here at KF!!

"You can't conceive, nor can I, the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God," says Graham Greene. He's speaking about fairness, and the lack thereof, quite pointedly, and without any ambiguity whatsoever. The trials and tribulations of the MA are economically and willingly adopted by each practitioner, one way or another, whether they like it or not. We endure endlessly without the regards of its consequences in either the short or the long of it for each practitioners own personal choice. If one can't discern from a paper clip to a roundhouse kick, then fairness is an alien process that individual. Governing Bodies, and I'm the top-dog in the SKKA, care about, for the most part, nothing beyond their own P&L Statements. "Cry me a river"...that cliche is growing more and more, than it ever has before. Many, in my position within a Governing Body, would rather sweep the concerns of their own Student Body because it's not complacent with their P&L's bottom line. Rank valuation...testing fees...testing cycles...curriculum's...rank structure...effectiveness or the lack thereof...and whatever else one can think of that's not agreed with...isn't fair whatsoever, nor was it ever. Fairness is like a juicy hamburger with everything, like it or throw it away. Either way, things must be dealt with in a proactive manner. Fairness is a commodity that's better served cold!! Since when is the MA based on fairness?? Where's the fairness in the MA?? What's fair and what's not fair?? Who's to dictate the fairness of the MA?? Who's to subscribe to the fairness doctrine of the MA?? edits: for spelling errors!!