sensei8

Sure; it's another way to train the nomenclature of each movement found in any said Kata. That too, is Oyo Bunkai by tearing down the Kata to even its most basic fundamentalism, and then reconstruct it. But, not in just one way, but in as many possible way through its many discoveries. Albeit, Oyo, is best practiced with partners, however, it can be practiced alone...by oneself. Oyo, like Bunkai, have levels within them that are found to be in constant construction and discoveries. Oyo can be simple from uncomplicated execution of application(s), to applying convoluted ideologies of Kata, not necessarily related to particular moves within Kata. Oyo utilizes relevance, while Bunkai's desire is in its analysis. So, the methodology that you're importing in your solo training is fine. Why? Because, for you, it works.

As in so many other posts it comes down to Modern vs. Old School (pre-japanization which is why I did not say traditional as they use this word a lot to describe Karate). Most modern Karateka do not understand that Toudi and Buki'gwa were practiced hand in hand with each other and that each complemented the other. Today Tegumi, Tuidi (Tuite, Torite) and Chibudi (Kyusho) are taught as a separate class. You even have a few that have made arts and curriculum out of one or two of these as if they are a stand alone art. Dillman and his Tuite/Kyusho Jutsu comes to mind. Why would you expect that Buki'gwa (Kobudo) would be any different? Modern vs. Old School. Whatever did not fit into the ideal curriculum was caste aside and discarded. To the bold type above... Well, being birthed in the MA in the old school, I can only dream and hope!!

Absolutely!! Ask question of your Sensei, but in this situation, one needs to choose their words carefully, as MastuShinshii has pointed it out. The idiom that speaks... "There's no such thing as a dumb question" is true. Albeit, there's no reason to be rude when asking, tether your emotions when asking. The Sensei's job is to teach, and part of teaching is answering a student's question(s) respectfully and professionally and clearly!! Another idiom... "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."

Solid OP Alan; thanks for starting this thread!! Oh, yeah, the differences from a quick kick to a slow guided kick to said target are, imho, day and night. Sure, both types of these kicks require one to properly stretch beforehand in order to prevent any unnecessary injuries. But that slow guided kick require so much more from the practitioner because the kick isn't that quick and fast as lighting kick, whereas all of the body uncoils and extends and this and that at one immediate moment. Takes more of balancing! Takes more time! Takes more of aligning! Man oh man, it just takes time, but the time spent to do a well guided kick is worth it all. Flaws are highlighted much more than biff bam...I'm done. The visual for this, for me, is the scene from Enter the Dragon where Bruce is "working out" in his room, and O'Hara opens the door to Bruce's room to announce the Daily Ritual, and that Bruce must be in uniform. All the while Bruce is doing a slow guided side kick, and HOLDS IT the whole time that O'Hara is speaking, and then is still holding the side kick while ordering O'Hara to close the door, in which, O'Hara does as he's been instructed to do, and then Bruce slowly returns his kicking foot to the ground...in perfect form. The slow guided kick should be mindlessly performed, but this, as in anything, takes some time. Not mindlessly as though one's not paying attention to detail, but mindlessly as though one's done it as much as one has tied his shoe laces; effortlessly.

Solid OP, Alan; thanks for starting this thread!! As in anything, there's the right way and the wrong way, as well as there's to much and not enough; both share and share alike. Knowing how to execute each and every stretch and the like is vital to the health and well being of the individual. Rushing through stretches and/or short cutting the stretches creates bad stretching habits, and as in MA techniques, bad habits are difficult to break. A lot of time, people don't listen to what their own body is trying to tell them, and that leads to make unnecessary injuries, which can be quite debilitating and irreversible. The key, as your title suggests, is finding that optimal potential, and not just occasionally, but always.

Solid OP, Alan; you make many great points!! At the cuspid of turning 60 years old, ::shudders::, I make sure that I at least stretch morning, afternoon, and evening...and anytime I go to the gym...and before I do anything strenuous. Of course, when I owned my own dojo, I'd stretch along with the students while I was leading the class. That could be as many as 12 classes a day, 6 days a week. Also, whenever I was at the Hombu, I'd lead the class, but not until we all stretched before hand, and that could be as many as 17 classes a day. Stretching is vital to my MA betterment.

Their both equal in the amount of time I spent with either of them because to spend more time with one or the other will unbalance everything. Without listing every single thing that I do with either of them, just let me say that there's a wide plethora of things that I do with either of them. From resisting bands to swimming pool training, from isometrics to lifting, from Tuite to jiyu Kumite; the list goes on and on and on. Many things I do I learned from my Soke and Dai-Soke, as well as from the countless MAists that I've crossed trained with, to things that I've learned on my own through my own researches.

Every MAist IS a student, no matter the rank!! Your Shihan, your Sensei, you, me, my Dai-Soke, and whomever steps on the floor, are all students; now and forever!! I've been on the floor as a student in my own dojo whenever Dai-Soke visited my dojo to run any class!! The only ones that should say anything to your Sensei are your Shihan or any Dan rank within your style that's your Sensei's senior. That leaves you out of the equation, no matter how well intended you might be, and no matter how much it might be driving you crazy to watch your Sensei execute Unsu incorrectly, and no matter how embarrassed you might feel. Train hard...train well!! That's your sole role as a student of the MA. The only ones that you can suggest anything are students that are your junior, and them alone.

First off, welcome to KF, Kent valdez; glad that you're here!! Unsu!! One of the most dynamic kata's known and practiced, as well as it's compulsory use at many MA tournaments around the world. While my base is Okinawa, of which, we don't train and/or teach Unsu, I've crossed trained in a plethora of MA styles that do train and/or teach Unsu on a more regular basis; Unsu is one of my most favorite Kata's!! On that note, you're correct when you say... Your sensei's Unsu, in the manner that he's executing it, is incorrect. As you've pointed out...the right leg/hand is the correct way to begin Unsu. I'll leave it at that. To me, the issue isn't if your Sensei is executing Unsu incorrectly, but moreover, should you be the one to point that out to your Sensei?? NO!! You should not!! If you do, then you're assuming a position that you've no right to assume at all. That's not your right. Protocol dictates that the CI is the one to correct any student, no matter rank and/or affiliation. If your Sensei IS the CI, then, and HE'S incorrectly executing Unsu, then you, my friend, have found yourself to be in a very awkward position. Either way, if one Sensei or the other are incorrect, and you're the student, then you best know your role on the floor quite fast. I've no idea as to why your Sensei is executing Unsu incorrectly, but nonetheless, you're the student, and your NOT the Sensei/CI. Having said that, if your Sensei has that open door policy, then by all means, go to him, behind close doors, then simply share what you've observed. BUT BE POLITE, and in not an accusation tone. His errors are just that...HIS, and not yours, no matter the venue!! I never ever once would correct and/or suggest anything along these lines to my Sensei while he was alive, and I'm of a Senior Dan rank. He would've eat me up and spat me out unmercifully with cause. Just who did I think that I was...his senior?!?! Wrong is wrong and incorrect is incorrect; these actions should be made accountable. However, the one to point these flaws of/and to your Sensei/CI is NOT the student. That's for someone who's earned THAT right to do so!! If that someone isn't you, then know your role, and mind your own business. I wish you best in this situation.

Are we suggesting that the commonality of kobudo, whether it be of a norm or of a specialty, is starting to, if it hasn't already, die away for whatever the reason(s) might be or might not be??!!?? I shudder at the implication of such a thing.

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.