sensei8

In some cases this may be difficult. However here are some blatant examples as follows; 1. They tell you that everyone tests every (fill in the blank) months. Do they all pass? If so you have found yourself a McDojo. 2. There are twice the number of belts for adults. This is pure and simple, a way to make extra money. McDojo. 3. They require you to buy video's, books, and attend a set number of seminars or you can't test. Pure McDojo. 4. White belts training with Black belts. No separation in ranks. McDojo. 5. If Kata has been changed to win tournaments. McDojo. 6. If Kata is nothing more than a passing thought and only trained for belts. McDojo. 7. If you see children running around with black belts on. McDojo. There are many more but you get the point. If the school is more interested in tournaments and how much they can squeeze out of each student, it's a McDojo. Leave and find a traditional school. The best way to see if an instructor is serious about his students and about the art is to take the class and watch how they interact with them and what they say and do. You'll get a pretty good feel for it pretty quickly. Solid post!! Number 7 above, does that apply to JBB's?? JBB is a SKKA/Hombu thing, and has been that, ever since their doors opened in 1957; I was a JBB for 5 years!!

Thank you Patrick, LLLEARNER, lowkickr, JR 137 (JR), bushido_man96 (Brian), DWx (Danielle), tallgeese (Alex), and mazzybear (Mo) for your kind and thoughtful words!!

How hard do the Mackerel fight?? I love a fighting fish!!

That's exactly my question, if you are rookie like myself & know nothing about the art, How can you figure out if your technique is wrong & the instructor is ignoring that fact for money or if you are on the right track of MA training ? One way is to contact the Hombu of said governing body. Find out where the closest dojo that's under their umbrella, and visit with that dojo's CI. But first, ask the Hombu to contact that CI for you, in order for you to have a evaluation, to see if you're on track. We do this all of the time!! If you can, go to the Hombu itself!! Cut the middle man out entirely; right from the horse's mouth!! Now, if the CI is recognized by the Hombu in a favorable way, then tread softly when you speak to them with your concerns, but still speak to them...keep it short...or you'll be shown the door quickly. If, after speaking with the Hombu, and you're lucky enough to get their attention, they will send a Senior Dan to investigate and to speak with that CI. The Hombu will not want some CI casting any bad light onto the Hombu as well as the brand/style. The Hombu will try to help your CI to see the errors of his way, and help him to reach a solution that will benefit everyone!! If the Hombu ignores you. Than quit asap!! Go somewhere else!! Your gut feelings...trust them...you believe that you're not receiving the highest quality of instructions...then be proactive and help yourself...you owe that to your MA journey!! Hang in there!!

I agree with you that both are important but for some instructors they will never correct your technique or tell you that you need improvement, they will never be harsh on you during the training in order not to leave the dojo and they lose money ! So practically you will end up with really some bad techniques that you will struggle later on in your journey to fix as long as they are getting the money ! It's hard equation for the instructor I believe ! What you're saying is absolutely true!! Those instructors that fit into what you're describing is disturbing. For me, those type of instructors should not teach anything; their priorities are all askew to the nth degree...walk away from that type of instructor before someone's MA training is tainted for life!! The sooner that student figures that out, the better for their MA journey. Many times, no one tells them that they're doing it all wrong. How can that be? Pride comes before the fall!! But the student must be told, by someone, by anybody, that's outside the circle of influences. The time to be politically correct has long passed when a bad instructor ignores the well being of their student(s). I've no tolerance for bad instructor who choose anything and everything over their student(s). I'll tell both the CI AND the students what's wrong, and why it's wrong, and how to correct it. Why? The CI means nothing to me...not over a student. I'm not in the MA to impress anyone, especially a bad CI....not now...not ever!! CI's are to TEACH above all things. The bad apples of the MA are there, and they'll be there until someone puts a stop to it. Who'll do that? Two kinds! The good CI and THE STUDENT!! The student wakes up, then walks out on the bad CI, and once all of the students of the bad CI are gone, and the word gets around, the landscape for the MA will be much brighter!!

A lifetime of 2 times a week adds up to something wonderful!! It's the quality, and not the quantity that MA, imho, need to grasp. Not everyone can go to the dojo 7 days a week/365 days a year; some are lucky to show up 1-2 times a week. After all, life has a nasty habit of getting in the way of MA training. Nonetheless, if those few days are filled with quality training/practice and the like, then, to me, it's not a waste of a MA life and/or a MA journey. Some might say..."Ah, man, if I don't go to the dojo 4-7 days a week, it'll take me forever to earn a black belt" That's true, but what's much more important than rank, is that rank is meaningless compared to the knowledge/experience one can acquire. If I go to the dojo once a week for forever, my knowledge and experience will be there, but to what degree?!?! The degree of knowing that you chased knowledge/experience over rank!! I can soundly sleep knowing that piece of mind is mine because I choose to do that!! WC or Karate? Both have their good and bad points, and in that, one isn't better than the other. However, that choice and that decision will be up to you. If you can do both, and that's what you want to do, then by all means, do them both. I must say, that that is difficult!! What will happen is one will be loved more than the other, and this ruins the training for both of them.

First off, Welcome to KF, pianodude1; glad that you're here!! What style of the MA are you training in? I ask because methodologies and ideologies vary like the winds. For example, a lot of Japanese styles have middle to low stances, and that includes Kiba Dachi [Horse Stance]. Whereas, a lot, if not all, of Okinawan styles have high stances, and that too, includes Kiba Dachi [Horse Stance]!! It's possible, that your situation warrants an Okinawan style over a Japanese style due to the high stances, which might lessen your plight with your ankles. Anyway, I hope you can solve this!!

Is it for the money or for the art? For me, BOTH!! I can't separate the two because both need each other. The love of the art, particularly Shindokan, came first!! Then came the desire to teach!! Then came the desire to open my Kyuodan Dojo!! Then came the realization, and desire, in that order, to make that reality a possibility, I needed to make money!! No money equals...no Kyuodan Dojo and no Kyuodan Dojo equals...no teaching Shindokan and no teaching Shindokan equals...not making a living!! Many, many, many years later, both the art and the money are equally important; none being more important than the other.

WOW!! I'm blown away!! 5 years?! Time surely does fly when you're having fun with friends, and I do consider each and everyone of you as my friends, in and out of the MA. I must admit, that as I read each of everyone's post to me, and about me, I became emotional, so much so, that I cried. To have acceptance of others is vitally important, but to have respect as well is tantamount!! Words can never express adequately just how much KarateForums.com and my friends (YOU!!) mean to me on a daily basis. I thank you, each and everyone of you for all that you done, as well as, the kind and thoughtful words you each spoke. Thank you, everyone!!

And of course, without all that Patrick's done, KF wouldn't be the best of the best forums...anywhere, imho!! Thank you, Patrick for all that you do, and all that you continue to do!!

You're more than welcome, LLLEARNER!! It speaks favorable of you because you took into consideration your Sensei's culture. Like you said, it's all new territory, and this is where you want to be as careful as possible. An unintentional insult, is still an insult to that person, and oftentimes, unforgivable.

I believe that the hanbo would be an appropriate gift for your Sensei, and that he'd greatly appreciate it because the gift came from you, and you took the time to shop for the gift, and that you thought enough about him on his birthday. As far as it being offensive, avoid that that hanbo ISN'T either purple or black in color because those colors are considered mourning colors, and that suggests death or funerals. This includes any wrapping paper and bows and the like! Expect your Sensei to open your gift just as soon as he receives it from you!!

That's great news for your Sensei, for you, and for any of his students both past, present, and future!! I wish everyone success!!

Principles, like students, like instructors, like the style, are meant to evolve, and in that, the evolution needs to left alone. That's saddens me to read that! As an instructor, that's your job; you've no choice otherwise. If an instructor shy's away from their duties and responsibilities towards their students, then they've lost before they've ever began, and they should be ashamed of themselves across the board; get off the floor immediately, and don't return until you've improved your principles!! In the MA, your principles are on display 24/7; there's nowhere to hide!! In the MA, your principles, as well as the principles of your teacher(s) are beneficial to your students. Otherwise, without your principles you and your students run awry like a ship without a port. Principles are one of those things that are most important to the CI, as well as to the students, therefore, those principles must be nurtured constantly if both the MA students and/or the instructors principles to evolve. Imho!!

Welcome to KF, Lowkickr; glad that your here!!

I love to fish, especially with family and/or friends. I don't care if I ever catch another fish, just as long as I'm with family and/or friends!! Dad took us fishing A LOT!! I learned everything about fishing from my dad, and his lessons have lived in the lessons I've given to my son, Nathan, and my daughter, Krystal. Next to chess, fish relaxes me to know end. It's the challenge of either that I crave and must have often in my life. Dad taught us a wide variety of fishing techniques, even though Trout fishing IN THE MIDST OF A STREAM top the list of the type of fishing I love to do. Next would have to be fly-fishing because they're a rhythm...a zone...the Zen of fishing comes alive in the middle of a stream. Yeah, "A River Runs Through It" is a movie that depicts that fishing zen, imho, Deep sea fishing fills that craving of a good fight. Sailfish fishing; man they can fight. I love the fight in the fish, no matter what type of fish it is. After a long battle between man and fish, and when the dust has settled, and your trophy is laying on the deck, I can't stop smiling at my victory over a well and qualified fighter...that Sailfish!! My dad has caught 3 sharks when we were deep sea fishing, and wow, they fight both in and out of the water. Yeah, I fish, and I love it!!

Whew...I just checked, just to make sure...I'm not a Turkey, thank the Lord! Happy Thanksgiving; have great moments with family and be safe in your travels!!

But without the appropriate tools, than that individual is quite incomplete; tools are a necessity of the art, whatever that art might me. Imho!

In Shindokan, we DON'T treat the block as a block or a strike, but only as a receiver of a technique directed at us. In that, we're deflecting whilst receiving any said technique, and when we receive said technique we're absorbing the energy of said technique. Sensei8, That is the first time in a long time that I have heard the proper description for Uke outside of my style in a long while. The term block is commonly used but this is not entirely correct. To Receive is the proper terminology for Uke. It can be a block, a sweep, a deflection, a re-direction, or a strike. However it is the action of receiving the opponents attack that gives you the edge. By accepting the attack you have the opportunity to choose one of the aforementioned solutions. I love that you used this terminology Bob. Thanks for the correction. You're welcome, MatsuShinshii!! Within myself, I'll shake my head in surprise when I still hear CI's refer to the "block" as a "block", and if I'm asked by that CI of my opinion, well, my opinion usually turns into a 2 hour class on how the "block" isn't a "block"!! By the end of that class, and for the most part, those CI's no longer say a "block" is a "block", especially as in their terminology. I go even further and teach them that it's not acceptable to use that incorrect terminology just for the sake of the student because that student needs to know and understand the correct terminology, as well, as the receivership of that technique. Be correct in technique AND in its terminology, as well!! When I teach receivership, I'll use the term, "block" ONLY ONCE for the beginner, and within that very same breath, they'll learn that that which I'm teaching them is the furthest thing from a "block".

Don't sell yourself short. From what I know about you/seen from you, you would have been successful in just about anything you put your heart and mind to. It just happened to be MA (in a good way). If you had the same passion for, say, architecture, you'd have been a very good architect. Or anything else. For the most part, I think we all say we do what we do because we understand it and relate to it well. I genuinely think we'd come to that feeling in just about anything if we had the same passion for it. Granted, not everyone can be a neurosurgeon, no matter how determined and passionate they are about it, but you get my drift. For your very kind words, JR, I thank you!! Hhmmm...neurosurgeon...yeah...oh wait...I've the weakest constitution when it comes to blood...not a good combination...not at all!! Thanks, JR!!

Well said, and very true!! Thanks for sharing that, Brian!!

Congrats, Tempest; well deserved!!

Would you agree that, from what you've posted here, that WC is your core per the time spent training in it, as well as it being more fresh within your muscle memory. Whereas, goju wouldn't be your core, but more of an addendum; with that having only trained shorter than WC, and it also being 4 years since you've trained in goju! If you are wanting to do both, then by all means, do it as you desire. And you're absolutely correct when you say "that both arts have benefits", and in that, imho, no one has the right to correct that which it is that you believe. At times, both WC and Goju will show up AT THE VERY SAME TIME in order to defend you, your family, and/or you're friends. As Bruce Lee beautifully said... "I do not hit, 'it' hits by itself"!! As muscle memories are defined as well as it is perfected, as perfect as one could hope for, within you, WC and Goju AND whatever else might be within you, you won't consciously decide as to which you'll use because 'it' hits all by itself. Years of dedicated training helps one to achieve this milestone, but it's within you right now...you just have to bring it out...that takes time!!

You're correct...self defense is not enough...at least by itself. One must be proactive across the board when one's expecting to excel in self defense. Otherwise, nothing of any good will come out from it!! Experts have determined through research that most people ignore "Help", but will investigate the whereabouts when someone calls out, "Fire"' because we, humans, are a curious bunch. Like in anything that is the MA, if one's not proactive about it, then it will be of little use to them at all levels.

First, I'd like to welcome you, brennan the rabbit, to KF; glad that you're here!! Ok...you've trained in both goju and WC, and now you're wanting to return to goju. Why not? How much experience in each? Irregardless, you should do what it is that you want to do, no matter what anyone might think/say; it's your MA journey, and yours alone!! I asked about your experience in either because I was wondering which base/core is the strongest. If they're equal, than you can utilize them at will, however, one will be the core and the other will not be the core. One you'll depend on more while the other not so much. However, if they're not equal, one will be your core style, and it'll be that one which will show itself first, and often. I've crossed trained ever since I was a JBB in Shindokan, and in that, Shindokan is my core, and the other styles that I've learned, are there for me to use at my discretion, albeit, Shindokan will lead the party. Multiple arts depends, imho, on the maturity of the practitioner as both a MAist and as an individual!!