sensei8

NO!! Not in a billion years!! Not today, not tomorrow!! Not a snowballs chance in an active volcano!! Customers are an important element of any business; without them, there is no business. Catering to a customer is part of Customer Service 101, and in that, a customer is entitled to be treated in a professional manner without any ambiguity. HOWEVER... Customer Service doesn't include that the customer is always right!! Once one believes in that mindset, then the business has just surrendered everything to the customer. Give them an inch, they'll take a mile. That is a two way street. At times, you want to not only give the customer that inch, but you'll also want to give the customer that well deserved mile. In business, they call that the Favor Bank. I scratch your back, and in return, you scratch my back. Still, you control every aspect!! Otherwise, you've surrendered the high road to the customer, and they, at times, will run with that until the wheels fall right off. At other times, if you give that inch, customers have a propensity of wanting to just take that mile, if they can get away with it. I run the business...it's mine!! I run the dojo...it's mine!! I run the retail side of the dojo...it's mine!! I RUN THE FLOOR...it's mine, and I share its responsibility with no one...EVER!! Customer wants rank, THEN EARN IT OR GET OUT OF MY DOJO!! PERIOD!! NO IF AND BUTS ABOUT IT!! Sure, all are expendable; no ones above that!! One wrong decision means it's all over, albeit, one right decision opens up untold opportunities. In any business, it's about these two things... 1) Communication 2) Accountability These are the cornerstones of any business, and yes, a school of the MA IS a business if it has to meet monthly/quarterly/annual overhead. Communicate clearly and concisely, and with that come being decisively. Clear communications!! With clear communications comes an understanding between the customer and you. Accountability should be shared by all. Accountability should also be owned by whomever is required to take the responsibility of any wrong doings, immediately. Discuss, and if your wrong, admit to it, apologize, and move on in a much more positive course...whomever was at fault. Deciding who's at fault is a skill set that both have to understand, even though they don't always agree, but someone was at fault in any relationship. When is the customer always right, if there is such a time?? That's when the customer becomes the business owner, and not until then!!!! Give that customer what they want all of the time...no matter what...well...start packing your bags...you've just handed over the gold ring, and the keys to your business, over to the customer. Is it a thin line? No!! It's a very defined line; one that should be painted with very wide broad strokes so that the customer knows their role at all time!!

4th kyu. I was preparing for my nidan test during my first go-round in karate about 16 years ago (wow, time flies!). Thanks, JR. Then perhaps, her knowledge and experience VS your knowledge and experience as to why she's able to do with you what she does, even with her physical difficulties. One last perhaps, if I might suggest it...you're telegraphing your intents to her!! That too, comes with the level of knowledge and experience for the both of you. Perhaps!!

Yes, congrats on starting your own school!! I'm both old school and new school, as is our Hombu. Both use ledger books that have students name, address and phone numbers, date joined, earned ranks, testing cycle dates and scores, and so on and so forth. We then transfer all of that info, and then some, onto each students Hard Card. This Hard Card bears several seals for authenticity/validation!! Then, these are all transferred onto a Microsoft Excel program, and backed-up daily. Then, all of that info is Archived, including copies of rank/titles/positions into a pdf file. All of this is under lock and key, and very few are authorized to access any of these, and nothing is ever allowed to leave the premises ever!! Anyone entering this room is never alone, and no copying is permitted without proper authorization from the proper departments. No apps are ever allowed in this/these regards because they [mobile apps] can be hacked. Seals are held in an even more secured room that only 2 of the Hombu's hierarchy, Kaicho and Kancho, are allowed access into that room, and either are accompanied into those rooms by the Hombu's Executive Secretary. Both rooms at the Hombu are alarmed at all times with camera's in and out of those rooms. Time consuming? Yeah!! But it's worth it across the board, and I'd/we'd have it no other way!!

My first love is to teach, and in that, my first love is my students...and not money. I'll work with any student that's experiencing some financial difficulties. I've already, years ago, and so has our Hombu, eliminated all testing fees across the board, and I/we've not looked back since then. Communication is the key. If somethings broken, and I'm not told about it, how can I try to fix it. All a student has to ever do is to speak with me behind close doors, and together, we'll work it out where all benefit. If, for whatever the reason(s) might or might not be, I'm not spoken with, and tuition isn't being paid, then suspensions are given and upheld until the communication line is opened. And if warranted, I'll expel because the student refused to open up the communication line. While my dojo is a business, and my students are more important to me than money, the business still needs to satisfy its accounts receivable and accounts payable. Otherwise, the doors must be closed!! That doesn't do anyone of us any good, if that happens!! Keep the communication lines open at all times. From that, all things are workable!!

My better half is a school teacher; her plates way too full to be completely involved in any of the dojo's I've owned. She trained with me up until our son Nathan was born; she earned a yellow belt from me, and she's not looked back ever since then. I've never pushed her to train with me or to help me in the dojo; to push her, is to risk losing her because she's my wife, and not my property; she's a strong willed woman!! Just as she's never pushed me either; we are there for each other, and then some. Do we have fights about everything?? Yeah, but we've never ever yelled at each other; we'd talk out our differences, and in the end, we're in each others arms. On the very few occasions that she was at any of my dojo's, she'd help in the office doing a wide variety of things to help. She'd work the front desk from time to time; students came to know her from that. Now that the kids are grown up, she's still that school teacher, and her plate is still full. I do not begrudge her from not being more active in my MA because I love her, and her happiness means more to me than anything. She understands how important my MA journey means to me, and she never begrudges me in any way, even though, I'm not home often. She supports me 100%, and I support her 100% of the time; we're there for each other. She never liked it when she trained under me because I'm not the man she fell in love with or the man she married, once I'm on the floor. When I'm on the floor, she was a student, and nothing else to me. When I'm on the floor, and she's helping out at the dojo, she's my employee, and nothing else to me. Sounds cold, but it's not; it's business!!

JR, if I might ask you a question, just in case I've missed it somewhere here at KF... What's your current rank??

She does know what your going to do. She is in your head dude! Also, she's been on the floor with you long enough that she does know you quite well enough; familiarity is everything.

No matter what the experts say or what anyone else might say, I do whatever stretches I want to do, ballistic or static, depending on what I'm trying to accomplish at that time. To me, ones not better or worse, or right or wrong, than the other; it's a personal preference!! Imho!!

No matter the outcome, I'm of the opinion that YOU DID IT, no matter what!! Now that the initial experience is behind you, the next time, if there's one, will be more relaxed, and not so overwhelming. I bow to you!!

Ok, let me rephrase it... You see people who seem like they're performing at a really high level. Seemingly at a level higher than everyone else. And they're doing it consistently. They're not the biggest, strongest, fastest, etc.; compared to the people they're competing against, they're usually average in physical aspects. Yet they're dominating. They look like an adult competing against kids. What is it? People I've been around who are at another level seem to see what's coming and react to it. Sometimes they see it coming before the person actually does it. Sparring with the lady I referenced above, it felt like she knew what I was going to do before I knew I was going to do it. To the bold type above... Knowledge and experience!! I see many things as if they're in slow motion. I'm capable of seeing things most differently, and in that, I can see it before it reveals itself, than I use to through the acquired knowledge and experience of 52 plus years in the MA.

Whenever we start to label our fellow MAists, in a good way or a bad way, we pass judgement, as though they've considered our opinions. I can look at a Painted Masterpiece, and see it totally different from the individual that's standing right next to me. Appreciation is in the eye of the beholder. Here's my thing, if I might. She's earned that Sandan!! Albeit, that she's some physicality that are prohibiting her from mobility/movement as the other Sandan's. Still, who's to say, and who's the right to say that she's, or anyone else for that fact, that she's/they're not elite?!? The term elite, to me, as it comes to MAists, puts that label smack right over their style patch, and brings unwanted pressure on the MAist. Whereas, the focus shouldn't be in the quest of searching to earn that unimportant label, which has its importance to some minuscule degree, but more importantly, the search for knowledge and experience instead. "You say that because you yourself don't warrant to be labeled an Elite MAist, so it's so easy to dodge it across the board!!" NO!! Why can't I be just a MAists, and nothing more?! Is Jordan an elite basketball player?? Is Babe Ruth an elite baseball player?? Is Troy Aikman an elite football player?? Is any professional athlete elite?? Opinion's vary!! I'm sure that there are quite many individuals that are the "elite" in their profession, but, to be honest, that's not for me to say, one way or another. Whenever we decide that this person is or isn't an elite whatever, then we place them on that pedestal, and once they're on that pedestal, they've got to meet someone's expectations constantly. Whenever that time passes, they'll reach a point in when someone's opinion will knock them right off that pedestal according to that observers opinion(s). When that elite in whatever, ages, are they still "elite"?? If not, why?? Because they're older and such?? After all, and if we're to use the word "elite", their knowledge and experience is much more "elite" than many others in same field. Was Funakoshi an elite MAist in his advanced age?? Was Ueshiba an elite MA is his advanced age?? Whom else can you think of that you're aware of that are of an advanced age, and they're still on the floor, or were on the floor up to their last days, and I ask the same thing...Was that individual an elite MAist?? Is an handicapped MAist elite?? Am I elite?? Am I a Master?? I don't know, but what I do know, is that I've the knowledge and experience, that many others in the MA don't have, and this is what I'm striving for...knowledge and experience, and I'm still learning...still learning...still learning!! Anything else, just isn't that important to me!!

There's really not much of a story to tell. The training with them all was expected and not expected, all at the same time. Strict protocol was upheld, and to each of the venues, required us to have a sponsor; we just couldn't just show up and ask to train. Each was a challenge across the board; drilled us as though we stole money from them, and yet, without any challenges, then why attend. However, nothing, in the regards of how the pace was provided, because we are use to being drilled by Soke and Dai-Soke as though we stole money from them. We trained!! At Ninomaya Sensei, we trained on Tai-Sabaki aspects, and much of it was similar to what we've been trained on in Shindokan. However, there was a very fresh newness to Enshin's outwardly methodologies and ideologies when it comes to Tai-Sabaki. We left his Hombu knowing that we had been introduced to new methods of Tai-Sabaki that Shindokan ignores. A new impression was upon us all. At Nakamura Sensei, both time, we trained in the ocean; which was new for us all. Even though we have the Santa Monica Beach of the Pacific Ocean in California, we've never trained in the ocean. First time, we worked on Kihon in the ocean, as well as Kumite in the ocean; interesting aspects can be found when the force of the ocean makes you bow to the oceans mighty forces. Second time, we worked on Bo drills in the ocean, and that, too, was interesting because one has to utilize ones core more often in the ocean than one does on dry land. Both time, inside his dojo, was a literal drill-a-thons with no rest, except for corrections. The rawness on the Kumite was what Greg and I aspired to mimic in our own training, however, we took our Kumite sessions to another level; barbaric, if I may. Both, Ninomaya Sensei and Nakamura Sensei were the consummate professionals on and off the floor; expert hosts. Both of their Hombu's were beautiful across the board!! Quite spaciously, and I saw discipline not taken lightly when one of their Dan students would not treat us with respect. Just because we were not of their respective towards us, on and/or off the floor. For the most, we were treated as valued guests for the most part, but all of the time by Ninomaya Sensei and Nakamura Sensei. Those these were many years ago, it was very much appreciated of them both to open, both their hearts and dojo's to us, especially in times when the welcome mats were not happily offered. I was star struck with them both, as well as their Hombu's, as well as their students, as well as themselves.

I looked on the KNX Boston webpage, and in the comments section someone asked if they can attend without hotel fees. Jesse told that person to email him or PM him via Facebook. Maybe you can too? http://www.karatebyjesse.com/knx2017/ Why not just answer the question directly, and not via an email or a PM?? Other prospective attendees might want to know the very same thing.

I think that pretty everything that we're part of, whether it be sports, business, and what-have-you, has a way of it to beget those second families. We're at home or we're at work or we're involved in what-have-you, in which we're more with one or the other more often than we care to be. I spent time at home, yet, I spent, at times, more at the dojo or at the baseball field or what-have-you. Whatever struck me, that's where I'd be, and at times, I was drawn to the people than the event. During my baseball days, those I played with or against, were my second family; there's no where on the face of earth that I'd rather be, than there, with them by just enjoying the nearness of them all. The smells, the sounds, the familiarity, and so on and so forth. At the dojo, there was the smells, the sounds, the familiarity of it all, and so on and so forth. My fellow MAists who endured the very same things I endured as far as the tangible things within the dojo. Things within the dojo drew me to it for a countless sense of security. The dojo welcomed me, and I welcomed it, as well.

What would you like to know?? There's really not much to tell, imho. I've trained with two living legends, in Enshin's Ninomiya, once, and Seido's Nakamura...twice.

Congrats on your daughter earning her second stripe!! She's on her way on her MA journey!!

Nope!! I've never been to one, and I don't ever plan to!!

Whether they be close or distant in relationship, family they are, nonetheless. Both valued...both important. Neither is more important than the other, even though, immediate families, such as my wife and our children, are my most important family. The MA begets others to become a family; the camaraderie, at times, can't be denied, nor can it be rushed. As in anything, time reveals everything, and as in anything of value, it must be nourished before it can take roots. I've my immediate family! I've my distant and close family! I've my second family! Fellow MAists are my second family, and without them, I'm nothing, yet with them, I'm everything in and out of the MA. As in any family, there is still the hierarchy within it, and where one sits, imho, doesn't matter much because the fact that that family exists, is what's important to me.

Proof is on the floor!! Oftentimes, it takes only mere seconds for the floor to reveal both the ability and/or quality of any given MA. Therefore, I only have to consider the floor, at all times. The floor reveals all things, whether it's good or bad! And in that, the floor is the most biased at revealing that which is of ability and/or quality. The floor has no friends, at the same time, it has no enemies; just honest evaluation. The eye of the beholder!! That's a limited opinion!! For varied reasons within the scope of ascertaining anything of the MA doesn't require that the observer be of a high Dan rank as to it, whatever it is, ability and/or quality. If, while observing a MA demonstration, one doesn't have to be concerned with being in concert in other MAist for that which is being observed as it being of ability and/or quality. Different view points are our given rights, and this needs to be respected. Flashy moves within the MA are just that....MOVEMENTS, nonetheless! These said movements of a wide variety stimulate many things from an observer. Without intent, said observer has its emotions thrust into an emotional battle, whether it be good or bad. Entertainment aspects, as well as effectiveness aspects, are within the eye of the beholder. Under what guise am I observing?? Entertainment or effectiveness?? I choose, therefore, it is of my choice, either way. Albeit, the MAist that's within me, will, from time to time, observes as that strict MA teacher; picking it to death at my own discretion. There are those positive feelings felt whilst taking in that which is being observed: Love Appreciation Happiness Hope Enthusiasm Vitality Confidence Gratitude Patient Trust Vulnerable Optimistic Appreciation Joyful Fascinated And with anything positive, there is always the negative side. Such as: Anger Guilt Depression Pride Jealousy Self-pity Anxiety Resentment Envy Frustration Shame Denial Offended Negative Regret Resentful Sad Worried Grief Who's to say either of these emotional contents are wrong or right, at that very moment?? No, just give me the floor anytime!!

I agree, that's really upsetting, You can immigrate to Australia then , here we have one of the best Medicare / Health system models I have ever seen ! I am so happy to hear that you are doing well with your exercising & HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LINDA I hope you got her a nice present, otherwise you will end up on the couch anyway Thanks, Safroot!! I'd love to live in Australia; beautiful country!! To avoid the couch, I took Linda to Red Robin for dinner; it's a gourmet hamburger restaurant chain...got her a $100 Amazon Gift Card...Roses...a birthday card...a Star Wars cake [she's a die-hard fan]!! Nathan, our son, got her a nice birthday card and a very cool Wonder Woman coffee cup [she's also a die-hard fan]. Our daughter, Krystal, sent a nice birthday card [she's a University Student, with very little extra money] from Oklahoma, and I was surprised that the card arrived ON Linda's birthday...US Post Office still surprises me, to this day. All in all, Linda had a nice birthday. Good news...I avoided the couch!!

I've never blocked a day/night in my life...never!! We're taught to receive the attack or to deflect the attack; an actual block would be alien to me/us.

I just need to learn that things like this are for ENTERTAINMENT, and not to be taken so serious....and I need to learn this as soon as I can. I still hate myself for being the way I am when it comes to shows/movies with a MA plot. Come on, Bob, get your head out of the clouds, and enjoy the entertainment aspect....gee whiz!!

LAST DAY OF THIS WEEK: Sunday, April 2, 2017...[i took one day off of training at the gym because it was my wife's, Linda, birthday. Put things before my wife's birthday, well, my couch isn't the most comfortable piece of furniture to sleep on.] Overall averages after 6 days at the gym: StairMaster *1hr 22 min *246 floors *1,006 calorie burn *Avg HR 137 *Levels 7-10 with a 2 minute cool down every 20 minutes *note: I DID burn 1,000 calorie's plus, each day of the week* Treadmill *32 minutes *236 calorie burn *Avg HR 103 *Inclines from 1-15; at machines discretion per the Forest Walk program. Incline #8 for 6 minutes...then #15 for 6 minutes...then back to #8 for 6 minutes] *5.1 Laps Rowing Machine *22 minutes *225 calorie burn *Level 10 Battle Ropes/Pull Down Ropes *14 different exercises [battle Ropes], 3 sets *2 different exercises [Pull Down Ropes], 3 sets *?? Calorie Burn [i've got to figure out the calorie burn] Free Weights 1 hour. Each exercise will be 3 sets, with nominal weight; reps over weight. The one thing I want to emphasis is that I'm not trying to build up much more muscles because muscles equal more weight. Can't, and don't want to only do cardio; there has to be a balance. Swimming *Each Saturday I'll do 12 laps; each length is 30 yards for a lap total of 60 yards *I'll do different swimming techniques from free style to back stroke and in between. The key, for me, is to pace myself while NOT stopping until I complete those 12 laps. I'll weigh myself next Sunday, then once again at the end of April Had to cancel my appointment with my Primary Care Provider/PCP (General Doctor] for April 4th because of insurance difficulties that have not been worked out, as of yet. This is upsetting because it's, for now, left me without my Cardiologist and my PCP, and might not be until May. Money before care!! Yes, I know that that's not fair of me to say because doctors and the like deserve to be paid for services rendered. With the available network for them both, they need to work a bit harder, as they said they would, to find me either a sponsor, like the PAL program, or the like, so that I can have the care that I'm needing.

I believe that they're here to stay, and that they're not a gimmick. Yes, I do train with them because of their resistance properties. A great isometric tool, and great when training all alone. Greg, our past Kancho, loathed them to no end. He never understood their usage, and he was a die hard practitioner of Hojo Undo, and had no interest with "modern technology" at all. If it'll help me, I will give it a try, and if I decide it will help me, I will utilize it!!

You might be able to waterproof your bag with a waterproof solvent sold at hardware stores. One of my senior students has applied RainX solvent that he bought at a auto part store, and he's tickled pink. Either wrap a huge thick plastic around it...or...take it inside whereas the rain won't harm it.