sensei8

Because the Testing Cycle does takes care of itself; learn to relax!!

Exactly, Alan; solid post!! Procrastination is the enemy of the MA, and the MAist through and through. Study your opponent Study yourself Make a plan Carry it out Yeah...carry it out...do it now...quit waiting...get on with it already...engage or get out of the way!! Yet, it doesn't mean to be foolish in your actions. Be proactive, but not overly fool-active, if you can help it. Watching Kumite, drives me crazy...I find myself always having to shout out..."WHAT THE GRAVY TRAIN ARE YOU WAITING FOR!! ENGAGE OR SIT DOWN!! YOU'RE ALL DRIVING ME ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!!" The great Ed Parker said it best, imho... "He who hesitates, meditates horizontally!!"

Well, I've been in the MA for quite some time, and I've extremely climbed up the ladder from being a goofy-two-left-footed-all-thumbs-couldn't-open-the door-properly-if-his-life-depended-on-it-couldn't-fight-his-way-out-of-a-paper-sack if his life depended on it, to the current Kaicho of the SKKA/Hombu with a membership of a quite substantial size over a 53 year MA journey. I've been a CI far much longer that any other positional type, in and out of my own dojo; ever since 1977. I too, am from an older generation, and what you're speaking about was never an issue. Being a taskmaster on and off the floor has served me quite well. No, I'm not a cruel taskmaster, but a taskmaster, nonetheless. I'm swift to work your tail off and swift to level out some discipline and swift to hug; as my wife is fond of saying..."He's nothing but a big teddy bear!!" Both in my dojo and at the Hombu, I'm not anybodies fool, and my standards are high, and my tolerance is limited, but I've learned over the many years that you can get more with honey, than with vinegar. Respect begets respect, both in and out of my dojo; EARN IT!! The student came to the dojo...the dojo didn't come to the student. One of the main responsibilities for any CI is to retain the Student Body. To me, that's the easiest thing because, well, I know for good grief that I'm one heck of a CI, and not to bad of a human being. Give a student an inch, they'll take a mile...but I'm very selfish...I don't give an inch...not a millimeter...nothing...EARN IT!!

Sensei Poage, his family, and friends, in and out of the dojo are in my daily prayers ever since you posted about this on FB. This situation is a difficult one across the board. Soon as I read about Sensei Poage, I remembered what all of us went through at the SKKA/Hombu whenever Dai-Soke had his first stroke; devastated us, but when he suffered his second stroke, not to far apart from the first stroke, he passed away; that floored us!! I've an inkling as to what all of you are experiences. Hang in there, and know that there are a lot of people, both near and far, and more than you can even imagine are praying for Sensei Poage daily.

Solid post!! Welcome to KF, Combat sambo life; glad that you're here!!

I was 7 years old when I first started taking Shindokan; I believe that's enough said!!

Congrats, Shizentai; very well deserved!!

Yes, using Chess was a good tactic.Was once invited to a chess club, while there of course played chess with this guy, that I never knew. I won the first game, he was upset, won the second game, he became even more upset, won the third game, he broke in to a fit of anger and stormed off. I thought this situation might get violent, I asked the friend that invited me there "who is that guy?" He replied "He is the club chess champion" The chess champ returned to play more chess with me, this time armed with a tournament stop clock, something I have never used. We played again using the stop clock and he won, how happy he became, as he regained his pride and honor, for me it was no big deal to win or lose. Playing chess as a martial artist was something this chess champ player hadn't had much experience with, as I learned and gained from him how to fight with the element of time. This chess lesson became very useful when sparring in the dojo, by combining not only martial art experience but also using the element of time against the opponent. Here is video especially chosen, for those that seriously hate homework. Excellent story, Alan!! Defeat and conquer...adapt or die...use whatever benefits the victory!!

Can one lay their heads down onto their pillow with a clear and concise mind at the end of the day?? All types of CI's can, no matter if it's an honest day or not!! I only teach that which I'm qualified: Shindokan Saitou-ryu!! But you know what?? What you're speaking about is called MARKETING...THE BOTTOM LINE...PAYING THE BILLS!! I don't condone it at all, in any shape, way, and/or form. However, whatever another CI does is none of my business!! Sure, I don't have to like it, and I don't, but you know what?? It's just not that important!! I've enough to worry about making a living and caring for my wife and me, than worrying about their lack of integrity and all. For the very few times that I did add other MA to my dojo, I made sure that the CI for whatever was qualified across the board. If not, sorry, can't rent that time slot to you!! "WHY?" Because, I said so!! There are all types of Marketing to fulfill ones bottom line honestly, as well as dishonestly!! That's up to that CI...up to that school of the MA...but it's NOT up to me to police their actions and activities. Again, to me, what another school of the MA does isn't important to me, and in that, I really don't care one way or another UNLESS it directly affects my family, me, my students, and/or my dojo. Sure, when I read about or hear about what your OP speaks about, it angers me, yes it does! But just as fast as it angers me, it calms me down because I remember, that I don't care one way or another. These acts of indiscretion are the acts of madmen!!

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