sensei8

Some here call me a beast because of some of my workouts, but, Brian, you're a beast, as well!! Keep it up, my friend, keep it up!!

Those who've not trained in an Okinawa Karate style on a regular basis, I simply explain to them that the reverse hip movement is akin to snapping a wet towel, in which a windup of the hips is released, as one would whenever the very end of that wet towel is released at the target.

I believe that what's written is... International Karate Organization Kyokushin-kaikan Yes, there are many avenue's that you can explore for the purchase of a premium black belt, and/or any ranked belt, for that fact. Good luck on your search!!

I believe that you already answered your question... No! You and I, and any practitioner of Okinawa Karate, for the most part, do the reverse generated hip movements because it's so very natural for us...like tying our shoe laces. I've not seen what you posted on the social media, but, if all of the responses were from MAists, then I suppose that their style of the MA doesn't do, nor do they understand the reverse hip movements, which means they don't and can't appreciate what you and I take for granted. If the responses were from non MAists, then I suppose that by the very fact that they're non-MAists, they'd not even the slightest notion concerning the nuances of hip movements within the MA. Btw, very nice video, Noah!!

Yes...see you around; please don't be a stranger!!

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

Best of luck with the move. I hate moving. Actually, I don't mind loading and unloading the truck; it's the packing and unpacking I utterly despise. Nothing drives me crazier than seeing boxes all over the place and my home turned into an obstacle course. As for the box hunt - liquor stores. Wine can liquor case boxes are strong, and they're the perfect size to put enough stuff in, yet not too much stuff so they weigh a ton. And liquor stores are usually willing to put them aside for a short while rather than paying someone to take their dumpster. I hear you a trillion percent...obstacle course...right to the point because it's so true. Spoke with UHaul's Traffic Department; problem solved...truck and auto transport not far away and available at one location. WHEW!!

Yes, the SKKA will, and has, removed rank. Please check this link... http://www.karateforums.com/integrity-how-important-is-it-as-an-instructor-vt49928.html?highlight=misdemeanor+shindokan You, MatsuShinshii, and I, and others here, spoke about this very thing...integrity!! Soke has ZERO tolerance for even the very slightest impropriety!!

No, you're not way off; right on point!! Respect begets respect; from the lowest rank to the highest rank!! Just because we're human beings, it doesn't mean that we know how to act like human beings!!

To the bold type above... Wait...wait...wait...wait...wait a minute....I'm startled by this because I've a hard time wrapping my head around how a recognized green belt can become Judan in a span of 2 years. And this is an acceptable tenure from his Student Body and his fellow peers?!?!? Creating his own organization allow him to be GRANTED a Judan?!? Yeah, I'd bear that in mind, if it was me. I can understand his son being the heir to the organization. There's nothing wrong with "passing on the family business" to your own son. And perhaps their bylaws state the head of the organization must be 10th dan. Now getting that out of the way... There's far better choices that could've been made. He could've been a business leader/CEO type without being the head instructor. He could've been the one calling the administrative shots without being the one who's calling the "on the dojo floor" shots. For example, he could've been the one who's responsible to make sure the organization is heading in the direction his father envisioned. He could've been the one who's making sure the Ashihara brand is being represented according to his father's legacy. He could've oversaw the opening of dojos, appointments of CIs, etc. all the while appointing a chief instructor of the organization as a whole and remaining a student of his green belt rank on the floor. Yes, that's all easier said than done, and yes, he'd need people he can trust. But I'm sure they were enough high ranking students that someone would've been qualified to be the instructional successor while he was the administrative successor. Probably overly simplistic and ideal. The real world always throws curveballs at you. To the bold type above... There's something very familiar about that for me!! :shudders: Being the head of the organization is one thing, but, for me, going from green belt to Judan in 2 years is another thing, imho!! He could've just been the head of their governing body without assuming a rank he's not worthy of. Yes, I did say "not worthy of" because a green belt isn't worthy of Judan in just 2 years. Be the Kaicho [President] of that governing body as a green belt, and earn up to, and including senior rank the hard and old fashioned way...blood...sweat...tears...fail...pass!! Just why, nowadays, don't students of the MA want to EARN rank anymore?? The SKKA By-Laws STILL demand that the Kaicho be a Kudan, just by the proprietary fact of being Kaicho. HOWEVER, NO ONE CAN ASSUME THAT POSITION WITHOUT HAVING ALREADY EARNED A SENIOR DAN!! I fought and fought and fought, for years against that By-Law; I felt then, and I feel that now, and I'll feel that in the future, that being promoted to Judan simply by appointment kills the integrity of rank. The more I fought against the Higher Hierarchy, the more I believed that what I was resisting was the right thing to do. Yet, they still attacked me...insisting...threatening...pleading...plotting...until my resolve finally weakened them. That's when I insisted that they had to TEST me for Kudan, and that I will never assume Kudan without being tested for it. Not just any test, but a test that would rival the seriousness of both Soke and Dai-Soke...and they did just that. Then, and only then, did I accept the rank of Kudan once I passed their test!! Albeit, I had already earned my Hachidan many years before this, and this is what I'm trying to get at...I was much closer to Kudan by being an already Hachidan than a green belt being promoted to Judan!! I'll NEVER EVER accept Judan because I'm not worthy of it, imho!! Soke and Dai-Soke, and as much as this pains me to say this, San Dai-Soke [iwao Takahashi], were worthy of Judan...but NOT ME!! Besides, the SKKA done away with the Sokeship at its reorganization many years ago!! Ok...going back to my corner, sorry for the rant!! I know there's something very familiar about that to you, as you were exactly who I had in mind when I stated that And please don't take that the wrong way; I clearly remember you stating how much you protested it and demanded to be tested for it. And you were no green belt when you passed your kudan test. If it was 2 years between green belt and judan for Ashihara's son, maybe he protested and fought against it too until he gave up and said "whatever" for the betterment of the organization? Just trying to play devil's advocate here. None of us will ever know what went on behind closed doors, nor should we, nor does it have any effect on us whatsoever. To the bold type above... That's could be the very thing, coming to thing about it. Now, having said that, I've watched a few YouTube videos about him, and I will say this...he appears to have earned some type Dan rank, but I remain slightly reserved, for now, because to know for sure, I'd have to share the floor with him, even if it were only of mere seconds. If he was compelled to accept Judan under duress, then so be it, and as you've said, I've been there, and it's one of the most disrespectful things anyone can experience. In my case, I believe that the SKKA Higher Hierarchy completely lost sight of what's truly important, and by all means, rank isn't even on the map as what's truly important. Here I was the current Kaicho, I was there immediate supervisor, their boss, they reported to me, I was the head honcho, the buck stopped with me, yet, I was subjected to their authority, depending the situation. I can empathize with his forced plight, if that's what it was.

Moving...I hate it!! So, I called UHaul today to confirm that the truck as well as the auto transport will be ready for me to pick-up this Friday late afternoon. Well, the UHaul that's 2 blocks away won't have that equipment at that location. Why? Well, UHaul will not transfer equipment where the equipment isn't necessarily needed at that location. A full lot doesn't receive equipment. OK!! That's cool!! Then where is my reserved equipment?? A whole 30 minutes away, but wait, it gets better. Only the truck MIGHT be there, but the auto transports won't be...MAYBE!! So, I have to call back Friday afternoon to make sure that both equipment will be at ONE LOCATION; not wanting to drive all over Houston, TX to pick up equipment. I will if I have to, but it's a hassle and it takes away from loading time. Time I can use for an already 10 hour drive!! This is already going to cost me about $850 to rent said equipment, plus 2 gas fill ups, toll, and food. Our daughter, Krystal is picking up the keys to the new place this Friday!! I'm not moving never ever again UNLESS I win the lottery!! Box hunting has been a joy and a half, but slowly but surely, we'll have all of the boxes we need, and then some. A moving I will go...a moving I will go...SING WITH ME...hi ho a merry ho...a moving I will go!! HA HA....oh good grief.

Thanks, JR; means everything to me!! I agree...consistency is everything!! Still get small back spasms from time t time...still keeping me from the gym...still worrying!!

Yes, AWESOME!!

That's good news!! Enjoy! Train hard...train well!!

To the bold type above... Wait...wait...wait...wait...wait a minute....I'm startled by this because I've a hard time wrapping my head around how a recognized green belt can become Judan in a span of 2 years. And this is an acceptable tenure from his Student Body and his fellow peers?!?!? Creating his own organization allow him to be GRANTED a Judan?!? Yeah, I'd bear that in mind, if it was me. I can understand his son being the heir to the organization. There's nothing wrong with "passing on the family business" to your own son. And perhaps their bylaws state the head of the organization must be 10th dan. Now getting that out of the way... There's far better choices that could've been made. He could've been a business leader/CEO type without being the head instructor. He could've been the one calling the administrative shots without being the one who's calling the "on the dojo floor" shots. For example, he could've been the one who's responsible to make sure the organization is heading in the direction his father envisioned. He could've been the one who's making sure the Ashihara brand is being represented according to his father's legacy. He could've oversaw the opening of dojos, appointments of CIs, etc. all the while appointing a chief instructor of the organization as a whole and remaining a student of his green belt rank on the floor. Yes, that's all easier said than done, and yes, he'd need people he can trust. But I'm sure they were enough high ranking students that someone would've been qualified to be the instructional successor while he was the administrative successor. Probably overly simplistic and ideal. The real world always throws curveballs at you. On point. If he appointed the highest ranking member at the time of his father's death, he could've at least learnt a lot under the auspices of such an individual. For all we know, maybe that is happening right now and I'm okay with that. What I'm not okay with is first appointing yourself, then learning the road. He could've appointed an interim and studied his life under such until such a time comes that he is reappointed as head of Ashihara Karate. This is the noble thing to do. For all we know, maybe this was the reason that Enshin was started. Solid post; I wholeheartedly concur!! The noble thing is the thing to do, and the only thing to do, imho.

To the bold type above... Wait...wait...wait...wait...wait a minute....I'm startled by this because I've a hard time wrapping my head around how a recognized green belt can become Judan in a span of 2 years. And this is an acceptable tenure from his Student Body and his fellow peers?!?!? Creating his own organization allow him to be GRANTED a Judan?!? Yeah, I'd bear that in mind, if it was me. I can understand his son being the heir to the organization. There's nothing wrong with "passing on the family business" to your own son. And perhaps their bylaws state the head of the organization must be 10th dan. Now getting that out of the way... There's far better choices that could've been made. He could've been a business leader/CEO type without being the head instructor. He could've been the one calling the administrative shots without being the one who's calling the "on the dojo floor" shots. For example, he could've been the one who's responsible to make sure the organization is heading in the direction his father envisioned. He could've been the one who's making sure the Ashihara brand is being represented according to his father's legacy. He could've oversaw the opening of dojos, appointments of CIs, etc. all the while appointing a chief instructor of the organization as a whole and remaining a student of his green belt rank on the floor. Yes, that's all easier said than done, and yes, he'd need people he can trust. But I'm sure they were enough high ranking students that someone would've been qualified to be the instructional successor while he was the administrative successor. Probably overly simplistic and ideal. The real world always throws curveballs at you. To the bold type above... There's something very familiar about that for me!! :shudders: Being the head of the organization is one thing, but, for me, going from green belt to Judan in 2 years is another thing, imho!! He could've just been the head of their governing body without assuming a rank he's not worthy of. Yes, I did say "not worthy of" because a green belt isn't worthy of Judan in just 2 years. Be the Kaicho [President] of that governing body as a green belt, and earn up to, and including senior rank the hard and old fashioned way...blood...sweat...tears...fail...pass!! Just why, nowadays, don't students of the MA want to EARN rank anymore?? The SKKA By-Laws STILL demand that the Kaicho be a Kudan, just by the proprietary fact of being Kaicho. HOWEVER, NO ONE CAN ASSUME THAT POSITION WITHOUT HAVING ALREADY EARNED A SENIOR DAN!! I fought and fought and fought, for years against that By-Law; I felt then, and I feel that now, and I'll feel that in the future, that being promoted to Judan simply by appointment kills the integrity of rank. The more I fought against the Higher Hierarchy, the more I believed that what I was resisting was the right thing to do. Yet, they still attacked me...insisting...threatening...pleading...plotting...until my resolve finally weakened them. That's when I insisted that they had to TEST me for Kudan, and that I will never assume Kudan without being tested for it. Not just any test, but a test that would rival the seriousness of both Soke and Dai-Soke...and they did just that. Then, and only then, did I accept the rank of Kudan once I passed their test!! Albeit, I had already earned my Hachidan many years before this, and this is what I'm trying to get at...I was much closer to Kudan by being an already Hachidan than a green belt being promoted to Judan!! I'll NEVER EVER accept Judan because I'm not worthy of it, imho!! Soke and Dai-Soke, and as much as this pains me to say this, San Dai-Soke [iwao Takahashi], were worthy of Judan...but NOT ME!! Besides, the SKKA done away with the Sokeship at its reorganization many years ago!! Ok...going back to my corner, sorry for the rant!!

Chong Li stole that from Bruce...shame on him...shame on him!!

The MA, as in Chess, control the center of the board; moving pieces outwardly as well as stealthy as possible with blind movements and hidden attacks. That center of the board control is vital, especially, and up to the end game, for achieving a Checkmate against your opponent. Control...control...control!!

I pay no attention to what anyone might think and/or say regarding this. Simply, it's none of their business!! I'll continue to beat the crud out of the Makiwara and the like up to the very moment that I can't. It's my journey, and not theirs, and their assumptions aren't wanted nor are they needed nor are they welcomed. I can no longer stop training in any fashion I've chosen, then I can stop breathing; MA training of all types are the very fiber of my being, past, present, and future. As MAists, as individuals, we don't need anyone to approve our choices, including how we might or might not choose how we train in the MA!! Like Wastelander, I train the Makiwara, and have for well over 4 decades, and my hands aren't gnarly either, and I beat the tar out of a Makiwara, so much so that my Makiwara is a stout piece of landscaping board, and my hands aren't even close to what Higaonna Sensei's look like. Higaonna Sensei trains in the manner that he's accustom to because he wants to train that way, and he's not even worrying about what others might or might not think; he just trains!! I'm quite sure that Higaonna Sensei won't feel a darn thing whatever and whomever he hits, but what I'm pretty sure of, is that whatever, and especially whomever, will feel his hits most assuredly. That's what's on my mind...God...family...training...teaching...!! And not what others might think about me!!

Congrats, Danielle, on reaching that amazing milestone, through and through!! I've always respected you across the board!! You still mentor so many here, past and present, including me, and your knowledge across the board is invaluable!! Thank you for all that you've done, are doing, and will be doing here at KF!! It's a beautiful award, one that you rightly deserve, as did Heidi and Brain!! Thank you three for everything you've all done here!!

Once my health improves, and it will, I'll seriously entertain the option to create my own governing body, far away from the SKKA, and with that, I believe that Kaicho, and MAYBE a Kancho as well, is the best way to go. My choice for Kancho would be my highest ranking students, who's a Rokudan. Providing that the dojo I sold him is still in existence, and it was last year, the Student Body count would have a great boost because when I sold him my dojo, my Student Body count was 310. I still have a small problem, though...No matter what I do and/or don't do, politics will creep in, even if it's only just a tad. I'm just so done with politics, I just can't stand them anymore!!

Yes, the standards have, as you've said, gone out the window!! The fortunate thing about that is that NOT all schools of the MA give out rank like candy. There are certain factions that do, i.e., McDojo's and the like, for example, and these school types seem to be a dime-A-Dozen. That's why I can breath a deep sigh of gratitude that Shindokan ranks aren't handed out like candy. We fail more students, of differing ranks, than we pass!! On an average, for example, Shodan, in Shindokan takes at least 6 years to earn. Whereas, the higher the rank, the longer it takes one to earn, as it should be.

Close Ranges are one of the staples of Shindokan; we thrive in close ranges. Btw, thanks for starting this thread because you've made some great points on this subject; I know I've enjoyed this thread!!

To the bold type above... Wait...wait...wait...wait...wait a minute....I'm startled by this because I've a hard time wrapping my head around how a recognized green belt can become Judan in a span of 2 years. And this is an acceptable tenure from his Student Body and his fellow peers?!?!? Creating his own organization allow him to be GRANTED a Judan?!? Yeah, I'd bear that in mind, if it was me.

Welcome back, italian_guy; very glad you're back!!