sensei8

To know for certain if whether your thumbs broken or not, my initial advice is that you visit your doctor asap, then follow the advice from your doctor. In meanwhile, I'd ice it, and I'd immobilize it as best as I can in order to hopefully limit any further aggravation/injury until I got to my doctor. We, whomever, tend to be our own doctor, and I believe that that might be the most frugal thing to, as well as self-diagnosing at the time, but that mindset can cause additional grieve in the long run. Hang in there, and I hope you feel better, sooner than later!!

Welcome to KF, MatsuShinshii; glad you're here!! I'm particularly excited that you're here because while we're of different styles, birthed in Okinawa, we, you and I, are kind of cut out of the same wood. Both of our governing bodies have suffered pretty much the same turbulence's of varying degrees over the years, yet, we've never ever meet face to face. Hi, I'm Bob, glad to meet you!! Glad to also see another Senior Dan rank, with a Shogo, here at KF, but for no particular reason(s); just good to see, is all. I respect all MAist of all ranks, and not just those who've earned a Senior Dan rank.

My condolences to Nakazato Shugoro Sensei's family, friends, and students; he'll be truly missed by all. While I never had a chance to meet him and/or train under him, I knew about him, but only from a distance. I've read about him over the years in many different publications, and I hold the highest respect for him across the board. He can't be replaced, only admired for his life long dedication to Shorin-Ryu, as well as his students; they've lost a legend of not only Shorin-Ryu, but of the MA world in general. Many students of the MA, no matter the style, might've been inspired somehow and someway by Nakazato Shugoro Sensei, not only by the manner of which he trained, taught, and lived both in and out of the MA, especially Shorin-Ryu...I know I was!! I deeply bow to Nakazato Shugoro Sensei, now and forever!!

Everyone here knows what I'm about to say, it's one of my catch-phrases... Not all black belts can teach; nor should they try, no matter how many years they've been on the floor!!

Sounds to me that you're quite proud of her...as you should be!! The apple of your eye, and she's no preconceived notions about the MA, she just rocks the floor!! Give her a high-five from me!!

Welcome to KF, Focused Mind; glad that you're here!!

This is how one spells LEGENDS; one and all!! They've each blazed a path that many Karateka can aspire for, yet if one would remain quite long enough, they'd learn something valuable from any of these Masters!!

My apologies Sensei8. I just saw your post pretty much explaining the same thing as I just did. Not riding your coat tails just didn't read the 2nd page. Solid post by the way and good advice. It's all good, MatsuShinshii, it's all good!! I didn't bring up much about any required protocol, but you did in the reminder of a gift, and that's very important. I once FORGOT some protocol, and Dai-Soke reminded me in such a way that I never forgot again.

No!! Students don't teach; they learn!! Students will, as part of their Sankyu to Ikkyu, will assist, not teach, in classes with an instructor that possess no less than a Sandan. Shodan's and Nidan's also assist. Assisting isn't teaching, and teaching isn't assisting. I suppose it also depends on how you define a student and instructor. Is a Sandan that lines up with class not a student themselves, when they elect not to teach but train? But anyway, I feel a black belt 4-5 years of experience in most arts is capable of teaching when needed. Yes, you're correct, absolutely, 100%!! Yet, when that Sandan is in line for class, that Sandan is a student. And when that same Sandan is at the front of the class, running that floor, that Sandan is teaching. Oftentimes, we instructors are also students, as we wear many hats!!

Lex, First off, Angela's in my thoughts and prayers, as you and your family as well. She'll fight that fight, and with God's grace, she'll beat this!! As far as your post, it was both moving and thoughtful, and I thank you for sharing it. As far as the MA things, you do as you feel, no matter what anyone thinks; Angela's your daughter, your blood, your everything!! Don't let anyone sway you from the path that you've decided upon, no matter what the MA might preach, and no matter what opinions might be...from anyone!! You've got my support 100% across the board!! Be there for her on and off the floor; anything else, can wait!!

Sensei8, Forgive my ignorance and please take no offense but I do not understand why a students instructor isn't in control of when their students test. I can understand the Hombu having a hand in the test results, as far as oversight, but to say yes or no to a student that they may not have seen and certainly do not see on a weekly basis is very confusing to me. I am in complete control of my students and when they test or do not test. However any student testing for Yudansha ranks are tested by at least three senior ranks and at least two ranks above the students rank. These tests are video taped and sent to the Hombu for verification purposes only. In the 36+ years I have studied I have only seen one student get denied rank due to the Hombu not agreeing with the instructor. All instructors are of the same mind set that we are in the business of producing the best Karateka possible and only test when we feel that they are ready. The only other time our Hombu gets involved is when we have a student that is testing for rank close to ours. I am a Rokudan and can test to Yondan without Hombu intervention. However if I feel that a student is ready to test for Godan or Rokudan they must travel to the Hombu to be tested by the board of promotions. No disrespect, and I'm sure I do not have the whole story, but it seems that your Hombu doesn't grant much trust in their instrcuctors to tell them when a student is ready to test. Not to mention that it is quite unfair to leave the responsibility of a students capability in the hands of people that may only see this student on a few occasions. In our case it may be years as I am 4 states away. No offense taken, MatsuShinshii, none at all!! As in anything, we might not like what any governing body enforces or doesn't enforce, it's' the governing bodies right to do however it wants to without permission, and that's the sovereign right of any governing body. Trust me, there's a many of things that our governing body does and doesn't do, but, I've accepted them either out of ignorance and/or loyalty, no matter how blind it might or might not be. Our Hombu, through the SKKA, and through the authority of our By-Laws, approves each and every Testing Cycle candidate without any exception, and/or ambiguity. No one, within the SKKA network are allowed to test without the explicit approval of the Hombu...NO ONE!! CI's are quite involved in their students Testing Cycle. After all, without the CI, no student can ever test without having first learned something about Shindokan. CI's have to petition the Hombu on the behalf of their students. However, the very first thing that a CI must do for any student, for any upcoming Testing Cycle, within their own dojo, is to present a list to the Hombu of every prospective candidate. That very list, is that CI's petition for their students, and in that petition, separately, and/or in whole, are either denied or approved for that said Testing Cycle. As it's said, the CI knows each of their students intimately because the CI handles their students on a daily basis. As to the reasons why? The summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because'!! While it might appear that the Hombu's quite untrustful towards each and every CI/dojo within the SKKA network, it doesn't come without any history. While I don't apologize for the SKKA/Hombu, I do agree that the SKKA/Hombu IS untrustful, but for their own reasons. According to SKKA/Hombu history, in the earliest days of the SKKA/Hombu, the given trust to the very, very few networked dojo's was quickly abdicated by them in usurping ways. These dojo's were founded to be guilty of the following: 1. Testing students on a weekly basis, and not on a quarter basis, as it's stated in the SKKA By-Laws. 2. Re-Producing their own Shindokan certificates. 3. Re-Producing their own Shindokan Inkan's The Hombu, by it's authority, is the only one that can produce a Shindokan certificate of any type, and in addition, the Hombu is the only one that can apply any and all Inkan stamps on any Shindokan certificate. In that, and this has been done ever since the Hombu opened its doors, all certificates are produced at the Hombu, on a need basis, by Soke, at first, then Dai-Soke, but only after Soke retired. Certificates are now produced in the modern way...Computer; rage of the page, I suppose. The Inkan's were also produced by Soke, and by him alone. Both the certificates, and the computer that now produces them, as well as the Inkan's are kept under a lock and key, and only the Executive Team has access to them. Trust can be a fragile thing; one not given easily, if at all!! Once that trust has been violated, as it was back then, it's almost never given again. What happened back then was a serious matter, and a serious threat, as well as a serious breach; one that can't ever be repeated. This is our way, and has been our way since 1957. Sure, I can, as Kaicho, abolish the ways and means that we manage our Testing Cycle and the like, but, I'm not inclined or obligated to, and I doubt that I ever will be.

Congrats, CTTKDKing; well deserved!!

Congrats with you passing your test!! Well done!!

WOW!! That was a great interview all around. Covered so much with the things that are done in both fields of expertise. Both fields, are so similar, yet so different, yet there's a moment where both fields overlap, especially documentation and research. Thank you, Patrick, and Alex for the interview!!

Good topic, Lex!! The great thing about any business is that there are no guarantees, as there is no one only model in which to open said business. Hopefully, the model chosen works out to be a successful one, but that primarily depends on how it's managed in every know aspect of that business. Negotiation is a key tool, and one shouldn't be afraid to negotiate anything and everything, because the opposite of "NO", is "YES", and if it's approached professionally, the "YES" will outweigh "NO".

If any CI is under the guidance of their governing body, and most are, any and all determinations as to time in rank and the like are decided by the governing body only. A CI can inquire as to any parameters surrounding time in rank, but the ultimate decision is not for the CI to interpret, but to conclude and accept that the governing body is the final word.

No!! Students don't teach; they learn!! Students will, as part of their Sankyu to Ikkyu, will assist, not teach, in classes with an instructor that possess no less than a Sandan. Shodan's and Nidan's also assist. Assisting isn't teaching, and teaching isn't assisting.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, John; and many more!!

My first black belt is Steve Barlow; currently holds a Rokudan, as well as the Shogo of Renshi. Steve came to my Kyuodan Dojo in February 1977, and 6 years later, in March of 1983. I held a party for him at the dojo, with a live band and food and sodas and a cake. I presented him with a Katana and a black Hakama. Memories!!

Let me just say this once again...our governing bodies are quite similar in many ways...gives me goose pimples!! Your proposals have weighed heavy on my heart and mind; you've given me quite a lot to consider, and much to present to our Legal Team as well as those within the SKKA. I've already taken the necessary steps to convene a Testing Cycle panel with the appropriate number of certified examiners within the SKKA, and it's network. Following letters will be mailed out tomorrow morning to each, and every qualified candidate: 1. Petition of Testing Cycle 2. Approval of Testing Cycle 3. Invitation of Testing Cycle 4. Date of Testing Cycle 5. Letter from the Desk of Kaicho as to the reason(s) and/or explanations of such measure(s) 6. Letters of Positional Invitations to those who are already qualified to hold vacant positions within both the Executive and Administrative Teams 7. Letters to each dojo within the SKKA Network, explaining and providing an update with an State of SKKA address Date of Testing Cycle: August 29 - September 3 2016 Phone calls will also be placed and made accordingly to those Testing Cycle candidates tomorrow, as well; this will be a video conference call. Those I've touched with so far, have all agreed to move forward in the direction that I've decided upon. No, I'm not trying to rush to conclusions, not at all. Nor do I feel that I'm acting like a desperate and irrational wild man; a man with no touch of reality. Nor do I feel like it's too soon to make these necessary steps. Nor do I want to elevate myself to a position in the hopes that I can stroke my ego. Nor do I want what's best for me, and not for the Student Body. NO!! And if need be, for the sake of the Student Body, I'll step down without delay in order for the SKKA, and it's networked student body to have that renewed sense of security and the like. After the dust settles down, the SKKA will have either a brand new landscape with a redesigned Higher Hierarchy model, or the same SKKA/Hombu model, but with new officers. Either way, as far as the SKKA is concerned, it'll be business as usual, or as usual as it can be considering what we've all experienced these past recent weeks.

Welcome to KF, Struggling_Mudansha; glad that you're here!!

There is no such belt on Okinawa. Most traditional Okinawan schools wear the black belt. If they have received their Renshi teaching license they put 1 gold tag on their belt. Kyoshi 2 gold tags and Hanshi 3 gold tags. The Kyoshi obi or what you refer to the candy strip belt and Hanshi obi is used but if the organization chooses to utilize this there is no special belt for Renshi. This is a American/Modern belt that holds no place on Okinawa. Solid post, MatsuShinshii!! Reason why we've abolished all rank identifiers, and in that, all Dan ranks are without rank identifiers. We only have, as you've noted, Shogo identifiers. Of course, the layperson, whenever they see me on the floor, no matter where the floor is, they assume I'm a Sandan, and not Hanshi. Yeah, I get these same assumptions from open tournaments as well, and the kicker for me to chuckle at is their incorrect assumptions wonder, outwardly, how can a Sandan be the Arbitrator, which is two funny chuckles because a Sandan can be an Arbitrator too. Anyone can be the Arbitrator of the tournament; that decision lies with the tournament director and the like.

To my knowledge, no!! Last I heard, our San Dai-Soke, was trying to found a new governing body, but not a new style. Which, we're fine with, just as long as he doesn't use the Shindokan Shield; it's protected, and as long as he doesn't use things that are proprietary exclusively to the SKKA.

Funny, or depressing, I've never ever gained any new students from the Olympics. Nor, have I ever used the Olympics as a marketing tool to attract any new students. I think that Judo and TKD schools might fair far better than any Karate school during the Olympics because, for now, Judo and TKD are the only MA's in the Olympics. Watch Judo...Judo becomes their immediate interest and desire to learn Judo. Same thing with TKD!! Might benefit Karate when it joins the Olympics!! I suppose that TKD might peak interests in Karate from the Olympics because of their close comparisons of one another, especially to the layperson. Btw, great topic, Danielle!!

Anyone who has ever opened up their own MA school has had to do whatever it took to remain opening. Anything can be quite alarming, but necessary steps, otherwise, the unforgiving doors of your MA school would be closed, even before it ever had a chance. I've been quite fortunate in the size of my immediate student body, in which, I averaged, with having opened 3 dojo's, 300 active students, however, that took time to amass, and it didn't occur overnight. As with anything worth any value, I fought and scrapped and tolled and sweated and clawed and them some from here to the ends of the earth and back. Here's my question.... What sacrifices have you endured to keep your doors open when first opened?? What sacrifices have you heard about from your own instructor whenever they first opened their school?? Some of the things I had to do with my very first dojo are... 1. Lived in the dojo. 2. Eat 1 small cottage cheese and a green onion, every other day. 3. Bathed behind the dojo with a garden hose. 4. Washed and air dried clothes behind the dojo. No, under the city ordinances of Van Nuys, CA, Los Angeles County, I suppose that I wasn't allowed to do #1, #3, and #4, above, because my dojo was zoned as a commercial business and not as a resident or a type that's zoned as both. That first year was a scary one, to say the least; fist time owner has its problems. Btw, #3 above wasn't done in the wide open; I had a oriental screen hung in such a way that it looked as some dojo decoration, but provided adequate covering, and I opted to do that after midnight. Trust me, I'm not recommending that any MA school owner should ever consider to do what I did back then. I, in no way, condone my actions, nor do I want to hide under the pretense that I had to do whatever I had to do to remain opened.