sensei8

In business, I can be affable to a point, and not beyond that point, in which I can't afford blind affability; but at all times, I can be professional across the board!!

Welcome to KF, cossack; glad that you're here!! I've no information to help you with your search, sorry!! However, I'd start with the link that Alan has provided. Good luck on your search, cossack!!

Yes, most definitely!! Constantly, both on the floor and while at home; never ending!! It's very vitally important to my survival!! Without it, there's no survival!! Most assuredly so!! Yes, many times!! No!! It's an intricate part of Shindokan!! Yes, without a doubt!! No!!

Sure it is! How else are non-MAists going to be introduced to the MA properly??!!?? However, as a MAist, I've only one chance, and one chance alone, to make that first expression; it better be a good one!!

Congratulations, Danielle, on being part of the KF Staff these 10 years; an incredible milestone, to say the least. I've been fortunate enough to have shared many ups and downs with Danielle for just under 10 years as both a KF member as well as a KF Staff member. Her willingness to share in many avenues have drawn me to listen to her advice with much eagerness because not only is she an impeccable MAist, but she's an even more impeccable individual that I've learned to appreciate and trust wholeheartedly. Danielle, as Patrick pointed out, has been that consistent rock as a KF moderator. She, too, along with the many seasoned KF Staffer veterans, has been a mentor to me for the times where I faulted. Thank you for all that you do for KF and us across the board!! Without you, Danielle, we'd be that ship that's torn and battered...a ship that's without a safe harbor...a ship that's without a compass. As in everything that you face on your journey, Danielle, you meet them head-on with determination, and as tumultuous as your UCL Reconstruction Surgery has been, you'll no doubtfully conquer that as well with your usually bravado!! Congrats, Danielle, and enjoy your dinner night!!

Wait a minute...wait a minute...WAIT A MINUTE...this movie is NOT a horror movie!?!?!? If it is a horror movie, then I'll stay away from it, but if it's not a horror movie, then I feel...well...like a scared baby. Yes, I could check it out for myself, but I don't want to be scared, and if I get scared, then I'll have to watch a lot, and I mean a lot of cartoons or a lot of Abbott and Costello. I know Karate, but, things that bump in the night scare the dickens out of me to no end. Children of the Corn, that movie gives me nightmares, and my wife loves that movie, and she'll torture me with it every Halloween.

Impressive!! You had a blast, didn't you!?

Thanks for sharing her with us, Noah; I, too, was impressed with her. I think she'd fair quite well in a UFC or the like venues!! Before this, I'd not heard about her at all...again, thanks, Noah!!

Looking at a Shindokan Kata list, I would not label them flashy and/or cool because the way that we were taught, to label them flashy and/or cool is an act of dishonor across the board. So, because of that, I can't bring myself to label them as such...but to an observer, I suppose they might be just that. Often times, we of Shindokan, wear gloves with our sensitivity...much to often!!

Solid post!! Finding that balance that suits you takes time. However, that time is never wasted because the betterment sought after makes all the difference. To me, because it's a personal choice, there's no wrong choice.

Congrats, Wado Heretic; well deserved!!

Does the Menkyo Kaiden still exist within your organization? No!! Menkyo Kaiden was eradicated when the new SKKA By-Laws were amended whenever the SKKA was reorganized.

Depending upon the topic, I most assuredly share and agree with him, but not always.

Whether the kata has or hasn't effectiveness, that's most important to me. Shotokan kata's aren't taught in Shindokan, however, I'm drawn to their kata's because of the effectiveness that strikes me most curious. To me, Unsu is one of Shotokan's most complex kata's; it's neither cool and/or flashy to me, but more to the point, Unsu is alive, and how its transitional movements are displayed, breathtaking in its effectiveness from its start to its end.

Holding back anything that's Shindokan is repugnant to me across the board, and inexcusable!! Just who do we think that we are that we hold thing back as though we are the sole owners of Shindokan?!?! Soke told us all that Shindokan is for everyone, and not just for the few selected ones no matter what. Soke declared that he had only one student; Dai-Soke Takahashi, even though the entire SKKA Student Body were, in fact, students of Soke. Whereas, Soke gave his positional propriety over the SKKA Student Body over to Dai-Soke. The one thing that caused me to scratch my head over was when Soke made Dai-Soke his Menkyo Kaiden, which I've always taken to be a Japanese thing, and not an Okinawan thing. But, him being Soke, he can do whatever he wants to do without anyone's approval!! Soke writes that he's never held anything back for the sake of just holding things back because the students are the vessel that, so being it, mitigates the continuation of the essence of Shindokan, which is just nothing more than a thing. The core of Shindokan has its essence found within the proponents of Shindokan. I've been taught, in that I teach, in which they will teach Shindokan. To hold anything back from the Student Body stagnates the learning curve, in which the knowledge is stalled from the experience. Tainting what is Shindokan is selfish, and in that, Soke's desire that Shindokan is for every student, and not just the few lacks progress for the future generations of Shindokan students. To hold something back that doesn't belong to you is the measure of mistrust. To hold something back, as though ownership was approved of, in which it never was, isn't an embolden act. To hold something back as though you believe that you are looking out for the betterment of the student isn't admiral, but it's forbearing. Students come to learn, and this means that they've come to learn everything without prejudice!! Teach progressively, but do not teach restrictively as though we know what's the very best for every students MA betterment. To me, that's ego, and ego doesn't exist between Sensei and Student. In short, the Student Body isn't our property, to do so with as we desire as though we own each student; and that's the furthest thing from the truth. Teach me, don't I learn?!?! Not if things are held back. Things being held back means that teaching isn't being preformed, but instead, teaching is being the most unnatural element between Sensei and Student!! No, I haven't ever held back anything Shindokan, not before, not now, and not in the future!! If I ever should, no matter the reason(s), then I no longer deserve the trust that I've been entrusted with from my students, and to do that, dispels the honor and loyalty handed down to me from Soke and Dai-Soke. To do so, dishonors the sanctity of the floor, which is holy ground.

I don't know about anyone else here, but Miyagi, kills me; right to the truth in both the most profound and humorous, as only he can!!

Wish I could help, but, I've never had any drawstring issues myself or if I ever did, I paid it no attention!! The rope, although, to me, sounds like a great idea to try. Good luck!!

Yeah...ask the gym owner!! We might steer you the wrong way because we're not...well...them!! My days with Eric Nolan and Kathy Long were that much of what you're asking dependent on experience levels. Things were gradual, especially if they didn't know you!! Once trust and experience was established, then contact was increased. Besides, any gym worth its salt will put safety above all things, this I've seen with my own eyes. Head gear is worn pretty much all of the time. But, I've seen fighters KO'd while wearing that same head gear. Ask the gym for clarifications, not speculations!!

Maybe that might be true, but I believe they already knew sweeps from their Sensei's. However, requirements stemmed from, for example, the PKA, whose rules and regulations only permit...boot to boot sweeps, and nothing else.

As the title of this thread asks pointedly... I, of course, can't speak intelligently with any authority when it comes to the very well known MA founders found passionately through the extremely rich and long history that is of the MA. From afar, through MA history books and the like, we are blessed to receive a glimpse into what it must've been like under these well founded Masters on their floors. Yet, with authority, I can proudly speak with just that one word that capitulates what it was for me to train under the founder of Shindokan Saitou-ryu, Fuyuhiko Saitou, Soke, Judan, the MA that I've been fortunate enough to train in these past 53 years... EXHILARATING!!

Thanks for the honorable mention, Alan!! And yes, that's a great Q&A above; excellent!!

If it wasn't, by catfish, it should've been; most definitely!! Good call, there, JR!!

There's these, and in no particular order, as to importance... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickboxing http://archive.prokick.com/kickboxing/article/history-of-kickboxing/ http://www.angelfire.com/rings/kickboxing/kbhis.html http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-articles/group-fitness/boxing-kickboxing http://www.pka-kickboxing.com/pka-kickboxing-history.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Karate_Association Hopefully, there's enough here to wet your whistle, or at least guide you towards what you're searching for.

Well, risks are evident in any endeavor, bobbing and weaving is no exception. However, those who are much more aware, aka experienced, of that particular endeavor, are going to have much more success, in which, they're not going to walk into a mishap knee; they're much more aware of their immediate surroundings. That's not to say that the occasional mishaps don't ever occur; however, the risks are minimized considerably.

Body positioning is everything, especially in Shindokan. Our brand of Tuite as well as our Close Ranges, as well as in our Tegumi, greatly depends on having an optimizing body position; it's the difference in losing and winning an advantage. After 53 years in Shindokan, I believe that I've developed this area with ease and confidence across the board in sparring and the like.