sensei8

Excuses!! That word is just as bad as Can't!! Neither of them are ever allowed on my floor. Either one is or one isn't, whatever the situation might be. Rank is lifted up to a level that becomes much more important than effectiveness in technique/knowledge/experience. A beautiful star placed on top of the Christmas tree can steal the beautiful perception of that tree because the eye sees that, and that alone. Take that same star off said tree, then the focus returns to beautiful Christmas tree. Never put on that star, the focus never wanders. I don't need the trappings of the belt to know what a student of the MA is, or what I perceive it to be in mere seconds, with minutes as the validity to my observation(s). That practitioner who claims to be a Sandan should never feel intimidated to Kumite with a Yondan, or any Dan rank for that matter, and especially with the Dan ranking only 1 senior over the Sandan. Excuse...time for you to leave my dojo!! Excuses as well as Can't will get you a fast ticket out of my dojo because I've no inclination to consider, nor hear, any excuse, ESPECIALLY with you being a Sandan, who finds him in the inconceivable notion that allows him to offer me any excuse as to why you won't engage with a Yondan...RANK MEANS NOTHING!! Blinders are abundant with MAist whenever nothing goes their way in the dojo. Rank/belts are a form of that blinder. "I can't Kumite him/her because they out rank me!! It's not fair!!" It's not fair!? GET OFF MY FLOOR...NOW!! Fair?! What does fair have to do with anything in the MA?! Fair?! Please, fair has nothing to do with anything. Fair!?!?!? This is MY house...my dojo; I'm here to teach, not to be concerned with being fair!! Your job is to learn, and not trying to assume a position that you do not posses, now or never!! Fair?!! How dare you whine about fair, especially as a Sandan. Sandan's, of quality, have surrendered the word "fair" along, long, time ago!! Don't become a Sandan having the word "fair' pass over their lips. Everything is fair in love and war!! This speaks to the MA wholeheartedly!! Out rank you!!??!! Who outranks who?? I don't outrank anyone on the floor!! I only outrank someone on the floor whenever my authority requires it of me as the dojo's owner/operator...or, when it is regulated upon, as the Kaicho of the SKKA/Hombu where my authority is awarded to me per our By-Laws. But on the floor?! I'm the same rank as the Jukyu that stands before me, even if I'm the CI!! I run the floor, not because of my rank, but because I say so; I carry the airs of authority within myself. My actions warrant my authority across the board because I'm complete in my totality as a MAist. I'm a student always, first and foremost!! As I've said before, White belt is the most important belt ever because without it, no rank is attainable!! Belts are akin to the saying that states that the forest gets in the way of the trees or vice versa. Everyone wants to be a black belt, but, fortunately, not everyone can be a black belt!! Identifiers choke the very life out of the purpose of the floor, being that witness of everything, and most importantly, to teach EVERYONE, including the CI, and especially the CI!! We students are to learn. Nothing should interfere with that process. Albeit, the belt/rank interferes with the learning process because it [belt/rank] becomes a focus, one way or another, and that focus steals and mars the learning process. Belt/rank become the Super Star, like an famous movie star, and the MA student(s) want to be that movie star, or get its autograph, or just meet that movie star; star struck over a belt/rank is the introduction of a tainted MA journey. You're a far better person than me, MatsuShinshii, because I would've dismissed him immediately, and then, showed him where the front door is. Actions speak louder than words, however, often times, words speak much louder than actions. I wouldn't have endured him at all!!

Welcome to KF, Andy; glad that you're here!! This link might be of some use for you... http://kaizenkan.com/instructors/ Good luck in your search, and I look forward to your future posts here at KF!!

Ha Ha, you see, again, you and I are quite similar across the board because I, too, have done this very same thing once a year while visiting Shindokan dojo's in the months leading up the the Annual Testing Cycle held at the Hombu every June/July. Not many new students knew who the "new students" were, this was to our advantage. Kind of our version, I suppose, of a April Fools Day joke, but with a serious lesson attached. This experiment reveals quite a lot across the board, imho. One can't, and one shouldn't ever judge a book by its cover, and in that, perception is always the reality of that person. Years ago, the Hombu amended our By-Laws to change the identifiers of each rank. This was done to eliminate the "Look at me" type of stuff, as well as to eliminate the importance of any identifier, as well as put the emphasis away, as much as possible, from rank/belt because they mean nothing in the scope of the MA.

I don't know. It's just another thing. None what so ever!! Most Okinawan Masters despise Karate Olympics, to my understanding, because it's sport karate. I really just don't care, one way or another. Sure, being an American, I'd want the Americans to win the most. I don't believe that this event favors one country over another; all have stellar practitioners. Otherwise, they'd not be in the Olympics in the first place. If, and it's a big if, I watch the Olympics all I want are good matches, and that the matches aren't longer than necessary. I'll refer back to my answer to your first question above. No!! Not even in the slightest!! There's Traditional and then there's Sport Karate; each have their loyal following, each will be around way after I've shed my mortal coil.

I don't ever bow to the rank!! Please understand, who's to say what should be or shouldn't be done in regards to this particular situation, in this particular thread/discussion?? You?? Me?? Someone else?? Well, YES!! All of the above!! We've our preferences both personal and professional, each of us!! I was raised in the MA under the umbrella of being a JBB, and I earned mine when I was 13 years old, which only 6 years on the floor. Albeit, our Soke and Dai-Soke had very strict, and unforgivable, rules about anyone being a black belt, and kids, weren't ever allowed to earn a full blown Shodan, ever!! As told to us by Dai-Soke, Soke forbid any notion for the JBB rank; he was hardened against it, and for a long time, he'd not hear a word about it from anyone. A child was only allowed to earn Ikkyu, and nothing else, until the student reached the age of 18 years old, if even then. A child could wear that Ikkyu until the world ended as far as Soke was concerned. This of course, was the very same mindset of Dai-Soke!! This of course, is the very same mindset that I've adopted. In time, and surprise to all of us, including Dai-Soke, Soke one day authorized the creation of the JBB rank, and all that it's comprised of. When questioned about the new found JBB from Dai-Soke, Soke simply said... "I don't answer to anyone, not even you, especially you. Don't forget your manners!!" To this day, I carry their mindset about quite a lot of things when it comes to the MA. I don't apologize for it!! It is what it is!! In the regards to this 11 year old, yes, I'd only extend my manners to the DOJO, for any floor deserves that from me because, to me, it's sacred ground, and to not be taken lightly at any time. What practitioners do upon that sacred floor is there business, UNLESS, I've the direct authority over it completely. As a guest, I'm just a student!! As a guest, I extend my manners!! As a guest, I choose to decide when and when not to excuse myself and leave forthwith; the faster, the better!! If I bow in the presence of that 11 year old black belt, for whatever the reason(s), I do so because of manners!! I do so because of respect for the floor!! I do so because of respect for the DOJO, and no person that's within said dojo!! Might wonder, why would I attend an event, knowing that there would be a 11 year old black belt in attendance in different roles?? Simple!! I'm a student, and I want to learn!! What can a 11 year old black belt teach me that I've not already learned in 5 decades?? I don't know, and I won't know until I see it for myself, even if the 11 year old black belt is only assisting, and not teaching, said event. Yes, my eye brows will be lifted in complete discord; already not approving that this 11 year old is wearing a full blown black belt. I might even shake my head disapprovingly so, as well!! But what I won't do, is disrespect the DOJO or my Soke or my Dai-Soke because I'm a representative of the SKKA; MANNERS!! I won't disrespect the floor!! I'll not make a scene, and if I'm at the end of my wits, I'll just bow out, dress out, and drive away!! That 11 year old black belt deserves my manners, no matter how much I might despise what I'm witnessing. Part of teaching is to have that open mind, and I've tried, desperately I've tried, but it is what it is... I was taught, at first, that no child shall ever earn any rank above Ikkyu. I was taught secondly, that no child shall ever earn a JBB until the age of 13 years of age, and within that, no child can earn rank while being a JBB. I was taught thirdly, that no child shall ever earn Shodan until the minimum age of 18 years old. I was taught fourthly, that no child can be on the floor as an instructor without the explicit and strict guidance of the CI being on the floor supervision and approval. This is the way of Shindokan. This is the way of Soke and Dai-Soke. This is the way of the SKKA. This is our way!! Hopefully, I've not lost anyone's respect here for my ways; the ways that were taught to me, and the ways that I still value.

Even the very most seasoned practitioner of the MA is one thing above everything else...A STUDENT, first and foremost!!

Thanks, Brian!! Thinking about it, you're absolutely correct about the body composition and all....great point, one I hadn't considered. Thanks, Brian!!

Thank you, LLLEARNER!! I believe that you'd have no problem in keeping up...none at all!!

Yes, I have been to a dojo or two that require the student to earn the white belt. After all, white belt is a rank, and all ranks must be earned. Whenever I see that, I smile with an approving smile because I think that that's so cool. That mindset, imho, takes the earning of all ranks to the Nth degree!!

Is it protocol or is it manners?? We don't have to like it, and again, I don't, but as a guest of a dojo, and a student is a guest of that dojo, manners should be extended to the dojo, if nothing else. If anyone chooses to not show manners towards any of our JBB's, they'll have to answer to me. Disrespect for Shindokan, for our Soke/Dai-Soke, for the dojo, for our Kun, for my floor, for that JBB, for the Student Body, and for me. Protocol or manners?? It's both!! If I'm a guest of a CI, I'll show that I've manners by following their protocol.

Impressive workouts, indeed!! Keep it up, with the changes to avoid being stagnant across the board. Always keeping techniques correct, and to not train whenever overly exhausted because that causes injuries and bad habits. Train hard and train well!!

Hey all, Just letting you all know that I'm still rocking and rolling at the gym. Change is important; the same, can become stale. Having said that... StairMaster *30 minutes with a 2 minute cool down at the end of the 30 minutes *Level 7-10 *434 calorie burn *HR 145 Treadmill *20 minutes with a 2 minute cool down at the end of the 20 minutes *Forest Walk Program *Inclines...8.0 at the 4 minute mark...15.0 at the 8 minute mark...8.0 at the 12 minutes mark...other time marks varied incline per the program *Varied speeds from 1.0 to 3.5 *HR 110 *250 calorie burn Rowing *20 minutes with no cool down *Level 10 Battle Ropes/Pull Down Ropes *30 minutes/10 minutes BOTH with 30 seconds between each exercise/set *13 different exercises (BR)/4 different exercises (PDR) Free Weights *1 hour *Various machines with various weights #It's important to know that I'm not trying to build up a lot of muscles because muscles equal more weight. Therefore, my free weight training is to balance the workout as well as to tone. Swimming *12 laps non-stop *Each lap (up and down the lane) is 60 yards...720 yards...7 football fields *Once per week, usually on Saturday This routine change was effective ever since my post about the 2 months plateau of the up and down weight loss fight. Well, I'm glad to say that this most recent change in my gym routine is starting to break that plateau. Having dropped 3lbs this week. Also, have changed my meal portions from 1 cup to a half cup, however, the protein sizes are still the same per the Portion Measuring Tool. My gym is still 6 days a week!!

Hard dedicated work does pay off in time!! Congrats on your daughter earning her yellow belt; one of many that are still to come!!

I've had my share of a plethora of injuries over the past 52 years in the MA. I suppose my worse injury occurred in 1976 when I broke my left collar bone practicing something that I had no business doing on my own without any proper supervision. Took well over 6 months before I was cleared by my doctor to return full speed on the floor.

I could be wrong but I doubt an 11 year old would be teaching adults. If anything he or she would most likely be helping out with little kids with an adult on the floor. More than likely, but one never knows for sure looking from the outside looking in; stranger things happen. As a JBB, I taught adults quite often, even more so as I grew older. However, either Soke and/or Dai-Soke was on the floor supervising at all times. We've no JBB under the age of 13 years old!!

Let me just say this, in addition... If the student has freely CHOSEN that particular dojo of your own free will, for whatever the reason(s) might or might not be, then, as the student, you had better believe you me that you had better bowed to that child instructor without reservation, no matter the age of the student! There's no room for more than one instructor, and the student is NOT the instructor!! Respect is earned, and often times, the child instructor isn't even allowed to earn that right because of its age. I'm not a fan of a child black belt, let alone a child black belt instructor, but all in all, no matter if I like it or not, that child earned that black belt and has been appointed as the instructor by whomever that might be. Protocol is protocol, and it must be obeyed by all of the Student Body at all times.

Mizu No Kokoro [Mind Like The Water] Tsuki No Kokoro [Mind Like The Moon] These principles are what I hold onto at all times; these are the tools that I choose to wield daily.

Greg Forsythe, our late Kancho, my best friend on and off the floor, is my junior by only 6 months. Over the many untold years, him and I have been training partners through the thick of it all, both the good as well as the bad. Greg and I developed a type of Kumite training that very, very few fellow Shindokanist's can attest to. When it came to Jiyu Kumite, Greg and I literally tried to kill each other; heavy handed attacks with the intent to penetrate our target(s). That is how we trained!! Our Sensei, Dai-Soke Takahashi, allowed it because him and his Sensei, Soke Saitou trained their Jiyu Kumite in the similar fashion, and with a resolved intent. Greg and I knew each other quite very well; nothing was withheld, and nothing was foreknown either. We knew each other so well on and off the floor, that one might think that we were identical twins in the sense of familiarity. We'd know what the other was going to do before either of us did it We were those two peas in a pod!! Literally, especially on the floor!! In Shindokan, our training, ALL OF IT, is performed with resistance in mind. The only time that no resistance is offered is when a student is being taught said technique for the very first time. This type of training can, and does, lead to sour feelings towards whomever one is training with. Things like, uncontrolled attacks/defenses can cause a plethora of feelings towards ones training partner. "Ease UP!!" That is the worse thing to say, especially in the earshot of Dai-Soke. If he hears that, he'll put you on your back unceremoniously, as he's reminding you to defend yourself at all times..."Don't whine, defend yourself!!" At every turn, Greg and I had spats, and I mean we'd have some drag out arguments about a number of things. Mostly, when it came to the level of resistance. Not that we weren't resisting one another in a resolved fashion, but that we weren't resisting at a much higher level. Understand this, please. Our methods are not barbaric, not even in the most slightest...in our eyes. However, an outside observer might garner that our methods are just that, barbaric, with no hint of civility. Accidents, whenever training, happen from time to time, depending on the severity of the training, yet, tempers can hurl, in which one has to deal with them right at that very moment, however it's handled, just as long as it's handled appropriate, and hands are shook thereafter in an affable manner. Training must continue, and it's isn't conducive to do so all by oneself, so, Greg and I kissed and made up often!! Training without resistance, imho, is limited training. The more resistance, the more is discovered across the board!! In order to curb the pertinacious, especially when it peaks, and it does, is to work through it at all times; never sweep it under the rug, if it can be. If it can't be, then stay off the floor!!

I had set a goal at the outset, when I started BJJ full time, to compete at each rank. That really held true with me doing a bulk of my time during blue and purple belt, I was super active during that time. I got to a few comps at white and brown as well so I had check the box until now. So, I just wanted to make certain that I did one that counted at black belt before I couldn't hold up to a training camp anymore. It was a good card and a chance to take a good match. Solid post, all around, and I do completely understand!! How prepared are you for this, and what have you done, training wise, to prepare for this?? Will you also compete with each earned Dan rank in the future, as well?? Will you, at this up and coming tournament, be in similar Dan rank division or higher, and if higher, how much higher might your opponent be?? Great questions. I'm feeling really good actually. I went into a camp for this match 6 weeks out, which is pretty standard for me. I'd do a couple extra when it was MMA...and younger. It's been good. I started pushing the clock up and intensity incrementally from day one. In addition to rolling I broke into more positional drilling at comp pace also. The biggest thing I did was start really working my stand up. We touch take downs once each cycle thru the curriculum, like a lot of schools. It's by far my weakest link. One of our sister schools has guys that are stellar takedown guys. I got with them immediately and put together a plan and started to work it live every night for multiple rounds. Mainly controlling to the best guard pull I could, then sharpening a couple takedowns from there after watching tape of my opponent. Drilling endless series of arm drags and Russians, then executing them in rounds, has really elevated me on this front Next we focused on drilling positions he's good at, his favorites we see in video again and again. Getting a handle on intercepting the movements early to counter and breaking out of worst case situation with them. Then we put in filler rolls between those to work my strengths and get them tighter. Still at high time and intensity. Lastly, I put more mat time on the schedule in prep. I roll 4 days per week as it is. I added a fifth to get all this done in. With that, I've had to cycle intensity and focus of the camp thru the week. It's the only way I can physically keep up without breaking down. So Mon will be a hard nigh all around. Tues I'll back off and drill hard, but have fewer rolls. On Wed I'm back at a hard pace with full on comp level rolls. Thurs I don't roll. I'm off the mats altogether and focus on other conditioning. Friday is a killer night but not a lot of rolling. All drilling at a pace that makes we want to die. Saturday I go roll. That it, just roll. I drop the time on the clock to normal levels and just enjoy the day of jiu jitsu without making it like work. Out side of jits, I've stayed on the weights. My opponent is a strong dude and I don't want to come up short. I've been lucky in that I've been in the weight room a lot the last year so it's really just about keeping at it. I do so much cardio at my camp I don't do a ton of road work. One, I hate it. Second, my weight is spot on. That's a good feeling. I've usually been in a spot of cutting a few pounds, this time around I'm literally walking around at fight weight. This couldn't make me happier. For people who have had to cut weight you know that sometimes you're focusing so much on that the fight skills become almost secondary. This time I'm completely focused on the training. It's been probably the best camp of my life. That said, the guy is good. Really good. Anything can happen in high level jiu jitsu. But I'm a way better fighter now than I was 5 weeks ago. I could lose in the first 30 seconds and my jiu jitsu game would still be light years ahead of where it was. Aside from an elbow tweak and sore ribs from carrying pressure for specific rounds, I've managed to come thru healthy, which is way better than my last camp for the Pans when I trained myself into a knee brace. Next week will be all about peaking and recovering completely from the camp so I can go in fresh. My opponent is a 1 stripe black belt and has been for a bit. That means he's got about 3 years on me at BB level. That's a lot of time and, more importantly, experience at rolling at this level in competition. That said, it's a good match. He rolls much like I do. Very methodical. It's a pace I can keep up with. I have serious trouble with the wrestler types that move constantly for 10 minutes. We might not turn in the most exciting fight of the night, but it will be the most technically sound. I'm sure of that. I'm not sure about competing as I get each stripe. Right now I'm conflicted. I'm excited about competing again because of this, but I'm ready to be done with camp at the same time. We'll see Very impressive training regimen and discipline through and through leading up to Wanderlust; seems to me that you're crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i', and then some!! I believe, from what I've garnered about you through the many years we've been on KF together, that you come well prepared for whatever lies and awaits for you; not much surprises you. Your opponents rank, also doesn't surprise you either, nor does it cause you any troublesome because it is what it is; it's inconsequential. After all, you're going against the man, and not the rank, even though experience/knowledge aren't being ignored...that too is because it too, is what it is. Worry about that, then the fights already lost. I respect the fact that you're not sure if you'll continue to compete as you earn one Dan rank after another. That is in the future, and no ones future is guaranteed, neither is any rank. Train hard, train well, and have a blast; opportunities are before you, so make the best of it. As always, let the tournament take care of itself, as it always does, whether we like it or not. Are the divisions separate; men from the women??

Shugyo!! This isn't for everyone, and often times, it for no one in particular. Fortitude is needed in anything MA, especially when conditioning, of any type, is being considered as well as being currently trained in it. Pain no gain!! Well, I don't always subscribe to that mindset, especially if ones well being isn't seriously concerned with in the short and long of it all. I'll suck it up!! I've no problem with that within myself; I've been sucking it up for 52 years, and I will continue to do so because it's my choice to do so, and it's my choice to no longer do so. However, I will not purposefully injure myself, because that, to me, isn't the MA, nor is its existence dependent on my hurting myself in the scope of learning anything that is of the MA. Not yesterday...not today...not tomorrow; it serves no true purpose(s)!! I don't want my body to appear overly taxed, nor do I want my body to BE overly taxed literally!! Balance, as in anything, must be present through and through, no matter the goal and/or the way that goal is to be achieved. Research the conditioning that you're about to partake in, and don't come at it in a haphazardly manner!! What's for one, is for others, and therefore, not for everyone!! Condition your way, and not the way of others!!

I had set a goal at the outset, when I started BJJ full time, to compete at each rank. That really held true with me doing a bulk of my time during blue and purple belt, I was super active during that time. I got to a few comps at white and brown as well so I had check the box until now. So, I just wanted to make certain that I did one that counted at black belt before I couldn't hold up to a training camp anymore. It was a good card and a chance to take a good match. Solid post, all around, and I do completely understand!! How prepared are you for this, and what have you done, training wise, to prepare for this?? Will you also compete with each earned Dan rank in the future, as well?? Will you, at this up and coming tournament, be in similar Dan rank division or higher, and if higher, how much higher might your opponent be??

Good luck, Alex!! What made you to come out of retirement??

Happy Birthday, Noah; have a great birthday!! EVERYONE... Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Noah, Happy Birthday to you; and many more!!

All rank is earned; nothing is given away, and in that, ONLY the CI decides that, and in that, proof is on the floor!! I've a list, trust me, however, this, what I've written above, is at the very top of my list!!

At times, not often, but just at times, our Hombu's Governing Body is a band of dysfunctional misfits. They meant well, but not often!! Whenever they would scratch their own heads in the wonderment of trying to figure out where it all went wrong. My favorite reply to them when I was the Kaicho was... "The answer to your question is looking at you every time you look into a mirror. The faster YOU get out of the way, the faster the problem will fade away." The Student Body deserves that, not just whenever it's convenient to do so, but all of the time. The Governing Body is suppose to be that compass of understanding as well as the compass of reasoning. Not for the Governing Body, but for the Student Body, If the Student Body can't depend on their Governing Body during any time, whether the time be bad or good, then what good is the Governing Body. The Student Body looks to the Governing Body for guidance, and in that guidance, comes security. That should NEVER be a question, nor should it EVER be second; it should be the answer as well as being first!!