sensei8

Both!! They're both equally important, imho, to me. At their own given time, whenever it's appropriate, and no time sooner. One way doesn't over shadow the other, nor should it ever. Allow the moment to reveal itself as to which one to act upon, and not until then because premature reactions doom results.

My family and I are moving back to Owasso, OK this May 26th!! Owasso, OK is part of Tulsa County, only 20 miles northwest of downtown Tulsa, OK. My sister's health is much better, and her 4 kids are going to be much more proactive in helping care for her than they were in the past!! Our daughter Krystal, has already moved from Tahlequah, OK back to Owasso, OK. She'll be finishing her university studies in Broken Arrow, OK, which is about 15 miles or so south of Owasso, OK. I use to own and operate a dojo/retail store in Tulsa, OK before we moved to Houston, TX just over 2 years ago. Don't know if it's still there, it was the last time I checked when I was last at the Hombu, but irregardless of that, I've no interest in resuming that because to me, it's not an option. Since I'm no longer the current Kaicho of the SKKA/Hombu, then I've no idea what I'm going to do financially for an income. I could become a Wal-Mart greeter! Nonetheless, I'll deal with that once I return to Owasso, OK. One fire at a time!! My Cardiologist will be referring me to Dr. Darwin Childs, Tulsa, OK for continuing care, so on and so forth. I'll be returning to Dr. David Moon, Tulsa, OK as my PCP. But until I secure either of these doctor's, I'll be a patient of the P.A.L. program out of the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa, OK. Time to start getting boxes for packing!! Have already reserved the U-Haul and Auto-Transport Trailer!!

I've not ever done any electronic fitness training because I don't believe in its value; a gimmick I can do without. It's just not my cup of tea.

Your Sensei is right...don't go fast at first because when learning, going fast only muddles the technique across the board; end up doing the technique incorrectly, and if one's not careful, those bad habits start to set in. Doing the techniques slowly and correctly help train ones muscle memory in a positive manner. There's plenty of time to work on speed, whenever it's appropriate to do so, but only then once the technique has been matured over time.

Performs?? More like mimics them; many errors...balance, to name just one. I was wondering the same thing myself. Who in their right mind taught a student forms that are above that students current rank?!?! Unless he taught himself the forms out of a book/DVD/internet. Still, his CI needs to curb him away from the forms that are above his current rank.

Welcome to KF, Chris; glad that you're here!! I wholeheartedly concur with what bushido_man96 is saying across the board. You must stay in touch with your instructor, if not, then you start to stray away into the world of bad habits. Catching the mistakes fast, by the very watchful eye of your instructor, before the bad becomes a habit will save your instructor and you tons of painstaking corrections...not fun at all!!

As long as we're still on the path seeking, whatever that might be, then none of us are wrong because we're constantly seeking our own truths, whatever they might be, as well. Imho!!

Let's not all forget that it's not about the style, but it's about the practitioner, as if that practitioner is effective or not, no matter its genre and/or its circa. Boxing...grappling...whatever else it might be, are just a tool of some sort, but without practitioner, and that practitioner making the tool effective. Imho!!

I've never drank any type of alcohol because I've seen what it can do to an individual and that individuals family and friends when alcohol takes control, both from personal accounts and professional accounts. Having said that, I don't criticize those that do drink because what they do is their own business, UNLESS their actions affect my family and me personally. My job as a husband and a father is to protect them in anyway that I feel is necessary, and in that, I don't apologize for that. I'll attend social events with my family and/or alone, but I'll leave immediately, both my family and/or I, at the very first sign of a problem occurring from someone being drunk and harmful for cause. I've lost friends because I've left their home, without telling them we're/I'm leaving, once the drinking became out of control, per my perception, and before something unpleasant happens.

Bob, lets hope you don't need a Judan to get an A*. You normally sit your GCSE's when you're 15 - 16. Don't know many teens who have that rank Well...opps...my bad...let me just repeat what I posted earlier here... With that being said, I've a Judan in stupidity on this topic....I'll go sit in the corner where I belong!! I was WAY OFF...WAY OFF!! Sorry, all!!

Welcome to KF, Trailer_Ape; glad that you're here!! I'd love to book him for a seminar; it'd be different, as it lessens the protocol of the dojo...a much needed break, much often!!

Welcome to KF, subjectkate; glad that you're here!! I tend to agree with Nidan Melbourne...Have you asked your teacher yet?? If you're referring to General Certificate of Secondary Education, for a Nidan is, if even the slightest, subjective to the style, this being Wado. What and how a Nidan might scale to a GCSE will differ from style to style and CI to CI. CI meaning Chief Instructor. After all, we're referring to MA ranks, and this is as wide as the skies are; unimaginable, to say the least. 1 through 9, 9 being the highest, I'd possibly say... Beginner/10th kyu to 8th kyu at a 1 Intermediate/7th kyu to 4th kyu at a 2 Advanced/3rd kyu to 1st kyu a 3 Shodan and Nidan a 4 Sandan and Yondan a 5 Godan and Rokudan a 6 Nanadan and Hachidan a 7 Kudan a 8 Judan a 9 In this, I suppose that a 'A' Level would be a 9 all the way down to Level 'U' being a 1. Nidan might fit as a 'D'; having this scale... A* A B C D E F G U A* for Judan A for Kudan B for Hachidan to Rokudan C for Godan to Sandan D for Nidan and Shodan E for Ikkyu to Sankyu F for Nanakyu to Yonkyu G for Hachikyu to Jukyu U for Mukyu With a scaling up or down of each rank with a '+' or a '-', depending on the CI. Of course, my layout, is of course, an unsupported hypothesis!! By the way, if I'm way off base totally on this, please allow my death be a merciful one.

Excellence!! Perfection is an illusive endeavor because every human being is fallible by default, therefore, obtaining perfection is impossible!! Close as, is still akin to being imperfect, which all of us are!! Either one is perfect, or one isn't perfect, and of course, no one's perfect!! I seek to achieve excellence always, without ambiguity, whatsoever because to me, the closest I'll ever get to perfection is only through achieving excellence!! One is attainable, while the other is a impossible fallacy!! Imho!!

Thanks for letting me know Sensei Poage's currently a Godan, not a Rokudan, as I thought; his obi made me think that. A matter of fact, in reading the "Meet the Peaceful Warrior team" link at your dojo's webside, it does state "Renshi, 5th Dan", which I missed that bit of detail. In Shindokan, a Renshi must be a 6th Dan for consideration. The plug was my honor, as I fully honor and respect Sensei Poage, Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts, as well as his entire Student Body...especially you, Noah!! A solid post, on your part, as well, Noah. Not every rank is equal; not even the slightest at all!! Knowledge...experience are the core of each and every rank!!

I wholeheartedly agree with this!!

For the moment...NO!! That's mainly because I've not networked myself outside of the Shindokan circle; not as I should have. Who's fault and who's accountable for that?? ME, MYSELF, AND I!! Ignorance is bliss, and often times an excuse. I've no skill sets in that world of networking; I wouldn't even know how to start. The one thing that's against me in that area is that I'm an absolute NOBODY; an unknown. For me to do private lessons, and especially seminars, I need a foot in the door, and because I'm a shadow of a shadow, I'm sure that one door after another would be slammed in my face. I'll train, but for now, that's just about it. So the dojo's that you used to own who you sold to one of your students, are those dojo's part of the SKKA Dojo's?? I've only owned and operated one dojo at a time, never more than one open at the same time. As far as the dojo I sold to my most Senior student, yes, that dojo is still part of the SKKA networking. Why do you ask??

Based on what I can see through the video, and that is that he's repeating the same set of movements over and over; mimic overtones. I'd say, no, he's not a black belt...not even close!! Imho!!

You're in Phoenix!! Wastelander is in Phoenix!! You're wanting to earn a black belt in another MA style, if I'm understanding you!! Then visit Wastelander's dojo, Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts & Healing Center, where he trains, and has earned a black belt under a dynamic instructor, Richard M. Poage, who's the CI, and I believe that he's a Rokudan (6th Dan), please correct me if I'm wrong about the Rokudan, Noah. This comes from their website... "He has trained martial arts since the young age of four under Okinawan Grand Masters; Taika Oyata, Naonobu Ahagon and Shugoro Nakazato. Richard currently trains in Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan karate under Shugoro Nakazato and his immediate Sensei, Kyoshi Eddie Bethea. Richard holds a fourth degree black belt in karate and a third degree in kobudo. Richard also holds varying degrees of black belts in Shuri-Ryu, Shorei-Ryu and Ryukyu Kempo." So you can see by that, that Sensei Poage has trained in different MA styles, and has earned varying Dan ranks in the process. Sounds kind of familiar...kind of like...well...what you've done and what you're wanting to do now. Check their dojo out; it doubt that you'll be disappointed, if at all!! Now, onto this... I disagree with this statement quite wholeheartedly!! Why? Well, let me ask you this, first. Is quality more valuable than quantity?? If not, then I'll just bow out of this topic/thread. However, if yes, than please allow me to say the following... It's not about the ranks, but it's all about the knowledge and experience that one's acquired during their MA journey!! Ranks, as you know, are NOT the measuring tools of effectiveness; knowledge and experience are tantamount over anything, irregardless of ranks!! If I subscribe to your quote above, than I suppose you'd be inclined to be of the mindset that 9 black belts is stronger than a 9th Dan in one!! I've earned a Kudan (9th Dan) in one MA style; Shindokan Saitou-ryu. I can appreciate the changing curriculum, as I've done so once in my High School days when I trained for 1 year in TKD, WHILE still training in Shindokan; the birth of my cross training addiction!! Follow your MA path the way that you want to, no matter what anyone might or might not say; it's your MA journey, and not theirs!! Search your heart, and follow your heart!!

For the moment...NO!! That's mainly because I've not networked myself outside of the Shindokan circle; not as I should have. Who's fault and who's accountable for that?? ME, MYSELF, AND I!! Ignorance is bliss, and often times an excuse. I've no skill sets in that world of networking; I wouldn't even know how to start. The one thing that's against me in that area is that I'm an absolute NOBODY; an unknown. For me to do private lessons, and especially seminars, I need a foot in the door, and because I'm a shadow of a shadow, I'm sure that one door after another would be slammed in my face. I'll train, but for now, that's just about it.

I don't think that anyone here at KF will approve, and/or like, what I'm about to post. Forgive me, please!! Brian, imho, the short answer...YES!! My attorney says that everything is legal, therefore, I've no legal recourse whatsoever!! To both of these statements, I'd like to say...Is it possible to be astonished, and at the same time, not surprised? The other short answer...I'M NOT EVER RETURNING TO THE SKKA, even when my medical situation is resolved, which it will be very shortly, per my Cardiologist!! I give the SKKA less than 6 months under Iwao's leadership, and I pray that I'm wrong!! The Student Body has, imho, for the very first time in the history of the SKKA has been placed on the very far back burner, whereas, the Student Body needs to remain at the very front burner because, imho, the Student Body should ALWAYS be the primary focus of the Kaicho, as well as the ENTIRE Higher Hierarchy without any ambiguity!! They want me to officially resign my Kaicho position?? FINE!! Bringing back Iwao has already sealed that fate within me!!

If it were me, I'd call the Canada authorities about these concerns before I'd cross the border!! If need be, I'd not even try even go into Canada with them; I'd find somewhere/someone I could leave them with that I could trust. Then, when I returned back into the USA, I'd then pick them up. Yes, they're just Bo's, and not Nunchaku's or some other much more alarming to said authorities, but why take a chance?! https://www.canada.ca/en/contact/contact-1-800-o-canada.html The above link might be of some help. They'll require you to leave your email address so that they can send you additional information with phone numbers/links. From that, you should be able to accurately find out the answer to your question. Good luck!!

Reason number 3 why accidents happen while training in the MA... Things happen!! Another reason might be... Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc..."after this, therefore, because of this." Either way, training injuries can't be avoided when one trains in the MA.

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday,Mo...[EVERYONE NOW]....Happy Birthday to you; and many more!!

Yes, everyone, anyone who has ever, or ever will, be elected to be part of the SKKA Hierarchy are quite privy to any and all documentations as to the COMPLETE history and the like of the SKKA; nothing is held back, nothing is hidden, as it is their right per the position into which they've been duly elected to. Until now, I thought, without any ambiguity whatsoever, that our By-Laws had been written with that iron clad assurance, both times, I'd like to add, but now, I'm not that assured anymore.

Thus far, we've all had our fair share of training related injuries, from minor to major, all in all, I believe all of us wouldn't trade in those injuries for anything. The long and the short of it all is... ...that which injures us, strengthens us the ever more!! 7 times down...8 times up!! PS: Outsiders of the MA might think of us as the most injury prone people on the planet; wondering why we do the MA at all. Because we love the MA!!