sensei8

1,000 square feet should be more than adequate 12 student. For example...4 Tatami mats for 2 students, and a usual Tatami mat is 6'X3'//3'X6'...that's 18 square feet X 4 Tatami mats = 72 square feet X 6 pairs of 2 students = 436 total square feet. That leaves room for a very small office, lobby, viewing area, and retail display, if one's lucky, and knows how to manage small spaces. Imho!!

Update: 276lbs!! That's 50 pounds lost since October 4, 2016!! 60lbs to lose by October4, 2017!! Goal...216lbs!! That means that I must average a 7.5lbs loss per month....that's less than 2lbs per week. Seems doable...seems probable....I can do this!! I've been averaging a 12.5lbs per month loss!! It's conceivable for me to get as low as 176lbs by October 4, 2017; that would be an additional 100lbs loss...40lbs more than my goal, from this post's time stamp!! So far, so good!!

I've not faced similar situations and/or concerns, and that for me, because I face the person, and not the style/methodology/ideology/etc. As far as how long it'll take you to adapt, well, that is entirely up to you!! To me, this question straddles right along with..."How long before I can earn a black belt??" Even while it's up to you as far as how long it might take to adapt, that isn't the only parameters that you've no control over. Train hard, and train well...this will go a long way to help you adapt.

Well oh well...the 51st Super Bowl is finally upon us; New England Patriots VS Atlanta Falcons inside of the NRG in Houston, TX, February 5, 2017!! Yeah, I'm as equally surprised as some of you might be because I predicted that this SB would be the Patriots VS Packers; however, that, as history would record, didn't occur. Oh well, what's one to do?! The Patriots, as well as the Falcons dominated their respective opponents. Patriots VS Steelers...36-17, as with the Falcons VS Packers...44-21; pretty much identical scores with same desires. Who's favorite to win SB51?? I've read that the Patriots are favored over the Falcons by 3 points, that's only a field goal, but to be perfectly honest, odds change as often as the weather. I've also read that the Patriots’ are -155, and the Falcons are +135 underdogs. In the next 2 weeks, one might need either a degree in Mathematics or an old Chinese Abacus to figure this one out, which isn't more impossible to figure out, as in any sporting event, than which shoe lace should I tie first...the left or the right. Falcons are entering their only 2nd trip to the SB, with no titles as of yet to their credit. But on the other hand, the Patriots are returning to the SB for their 9th time, with 4 Championship titles to their credit; SB51, imho, should be either a shootout or so boring that watching paint dry would be much more entertaining. I myself vote for the shootout. If it's a shootout, this game score might be close to 60 points for one of these gladiators of the gridiron!! Who'll win or who'll lose?? That will be determined between those two teams, and no one else!! I love to cheer on for the underdog, therefore, I'll be cheering on the Falcons this up and coming SB Sunday!! Btw, an interesting statistic is, in the history of the SB, currently, the National Football Conference (NFC) leads the league with 26 wins to 24 wins for the American Football Conference (AFC); with that in mind, the Falcons have a chance, while it's a slim one, increase that to 27 SB wins; widening the thin margin between those two Conferences. Good luck to both teams; may the best win!! GO COWBOYS [sorry, had to sign-off that way...that's my MO]

As the title reads, as well suggests,..."Respect for the Dojo", if one can't and/or won't respect the Dojo, then how can one respect the Sensei of said Dojo; they both must be, and receive the same. How can we serve one, but not serve the other?? Especially, when, imho, they are both inseparable. A student is a guest of the Sensei, as well as of the Dojo, and in that regards, ones proper manners should always be on display, and not because it's polite thing to do, but because it's the right thing to do.

Having the ability to have themselves understood by not only the chosen few, but by all students, all of the time!! That, to me, is essential for one to control the floor, if one can't control the floor, there's no since in unlocking the front door in the first place. I'll, for grins and giggles, call this, controlling the floor, first base; one has to get on first base before one can even attempt to reach the remaining three bases successfully. Second base is listening skills, and without listen skills, how is one too be that instructor of conveyance?? Questions are abound with any student of the MA, this is understood, albeit, congenial answers must be readily available at the drop of a hat, and in that, not just any answer; students are quizzical by nature, and adult students are even more so...any bluff will deride any credibility faster than a speeding bullet. Third base is tangible understandings, and without tangible understandings, how's one going to satisfy the necessary infrastructure of operating a successful school of the MA?!? I've not ever visited a school of the MA where 'it' can tend for itself, and in that, both the instructor and the building are quite dependent upon one another. Home plate can be the most important, yet most difficult to achieve...communication skills!! To say what you mean, and mean what you say, and to be taken serious, not just some of the time, but at all times, while being honest with oneself first, then with others. Credibility is a fragile thing, so much so that if all of ones bases aren't covered, then ones credibility is thrown out with the bath water; so easy to lose, but so difficult to maintain. Want to lose credibility faster than one can ever imagine, then lie to anyone!! Age, rank, and whatever else one might hold valuable, are quite insouciance, because if one lacks both the fortitude as well as integrity, and it's found out to be so, than that instructor doesn't deserve to cast a shadow over credibility; now or ever!!

No, we do not. Albeit, if any student fits into that category, than that's up to the CI as to how their dojo addresses such. It's an easy thing to do, and it doesn't interrupt class flow for me, for example, to give the class instructions, and to modify that specific instruction to those students that fit that category; it's just as easy as pie, to do so!! The other students, well, they're fine with that across the board.

Nothing's stopping you from speaking with your Sensei about your concerns; that's up to you. As far as saying something to any parent or whomever else about your concerns, on your own, I'd say that that responsibility belongs to your Sensei, and no one else...unless you're directed to do so by your Sensei. Know your role!! Assuming a position that you don't possess is one of the worse thing a student can do!! If all of those distractions don't bother your Sensei, then, if it was me, I'd not say a word, whatsoever!!

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

I've a Toyota Camry...it weighs 2,600lbs...if after all that is said and done, and I've done all that I could to defend myself, but to no avail, I'll could use my car...it (the car) has, at that point, all of the style that I need. WHAM!!

The Kancho of the SKKA is not the CI of the system, but only the Vice-President of the SKKA. Kancho's plate is way to full to deal with being the CI. Especially when I'm more out of house than in house. No, if I lived locally to the Hombu, nowadays, I'd not be the CI of the SKKA because, as it stands, my plate would be way to full for me to equally give both of these positions the respect and attention they both deserve. Well, the Term Limits, for now, have been tabled until a time yet to still be make in the future. This is due to the tragedy of July 2016!! This is both for respect to them, as well as their families!! Our current CI, is the Interim CI, as we've not elected a new CI, as of yet. If Iwao accepts my stipulations, he'll be elected as the CI. It is my understanding that all of the Higher Hierarchy will vote for him to be the CI of the SKKA. If Iwao refuses my stipulations, then we'll search for, and then vote for a CI of the SKKA. Our Interim CI is more than qualified to be the SKKA's CI, and feels worthy, however, our Interim CI is very busy being Vice-President of a fortune 500 company. As of now, he's being allowed to be our Interim CI on a full time basis, and we've until the end of February to find, and secure, a permanent CI. So, he feels both honored and worthy, however, had he felt unworthy to hold the CI post, we'd not stop him from abdicating, as no one is ever forced to hold any elected position of any degree.

Man oh man, I really need to incorporate that in my life; I stress way to often and way to quick.

Isn't life great? It always finds a way to get in the way!! 7 times down, 8 times up!! Any Sensei/instructor worth his/her own salt, will not ever hold these type of issues against their student because life gets in their way too!! Train hard...train well...whenever life allows it!!

Dani_001, It's absolutely fantastic that you've returned to the floor, and not everything was forgotten. I can feel the fire is still burning bright in your posts!! Welcome back to KF, and more importantly, back to the floor!! Train hard...train well!!

You know, whatever the drill might be from whatever style of the MA, those drills are nothing but tools; devised to accustom a practitioner in familiarity of that styles teachings as well as its techniques. Can't walk, unless one slowly works up to that goal in mind. While Shindokan utilizes all well known Kumite drills, just as those described in this thread, however, we add something to our entire curriculum/syllabus and the like that not many styles of the MA do, and we incorporate it from day one, and that is...resistant drill training. As we're more than aware that these Kumite drills and the like, are also designed with the students safety. Therefore, our resistant drill training has to be taught, but it must be taught is such a way that not one student is intentionally injured, or worse. Students are weaned slowly into the full force of the resistant drill training, as to not putting the cart before the horse, albeit, this isn't done ever in a stalled manner. Students from day one are resisted at every turn, and in ever way; the more a student is made to feel uncertain, and taught to figure for themselves an effective way to overcome everything, because after all, ones attacker, isn't the only thing to resist and overcome. Our Kumite, especially our Jiyu, in the manner of the way our students are taught, is to cast away those things that they're not sure of. Our former Kancho, Greg Forsythe, and I were considered by our Dai-Soke, as well as the entire Student Body, to have evolved, and away from what Dai-Soke taught us...and that was whenever the two of us engaged in any form of Kumite, especially in Jiyu, we'd go at each other with a terrible resolve...no kid gloves...the gloves were off. This is how we two were, and this is what we wanted for the entire Student Body; Dai-Soke approved of our methods in this regards. No tools, no drills, well, then why in the world learn/do it, whatever it is, at all?!?! Motions are necessary; they edify!!

A patterns beginning to form much more solidly than anything, the Cowboys can't win a playoff game if their life depended on it. One day...one day!! Your Chiefs seem to have a knack of getting more into the playoffs, and this excites me even though I'm not a Chief fan. GO COWBOYS!!

I've not, as of yet, ascertained whom approached whom first...Iwao or the Higher Hierarchy, but I will, one way or another. No, he's not returned...yet...but he's trying to. Yes, he wants to return, although he's not asking to return in his past glory. He can't return as Judan and he can't return as San Dai-Soke. First off, we no longer award Judan!! We no longer use Soke types!! From me, he'll be lucky to get a glass of water!! Well, whether if he moved to Okinawa or not, is of no concern. Years ago, we sent a small team to look for him in Okinawa, but we never located him. Last we found out was that he was in Hayward, CA. This is a place where he went to college once back some time ago. As of now, he's not accepted or refused my stipulations. Just as soon as he does or doesn't, especially if he accepts, I'll have a serious conversation with him as to what his expectations from us WILL BE!! I'm not quite sure what I feel right now!! Perhaps angry at him...still...makes my blood boil!! Maybe I should just let him come back just so I can keep an eye on him...you know...keep your friends close, but keep your enemies even closer.

I've asked not to be tested a few more than I care to count, but, I must ask myself this...who's teaching who?? What gives me the right to tell my Sensei when I do or when I don't want to test?? That should be left to my Sensei...after all, he's the teacher and I'm just the student...I came to him, he didn't come to me.

Thank you for saying that! First off, Soke never wanted to follow any traditional values the same as of any Governing Body and the like in Okinawa; not then, not now, and not ever. If his ways seem strange, and not how it's normally done, than his desires have been achieved. According to our Legal Team, he gave up his total and complete ownership over the SKKA/Hombu whenever he closed those entities and vanished!! Again, he gave up his ownership over the SKKA/Hombu whenever he closed those entities and vanished!! While our steps might've been small to protect us nowadays, but they're legally binding and protected. Nope!! Not without our extensive consent and authorization!! Soke has never had a Menkyo Kaiden bestowed upon him by any of his teachers. However, Dai-Soke has had a Menkyo Kaiden bestowed upon him by his teacher...Soke!! Dai-Soke IS the only one in our history to have ever had a Menkyo Kaiden bestowed upon them. And no, you're not wearing me out at all!! Dai-Soke passed away before he had officially awarded a Menkyo Kaiden to San Dai-Soke, IF, that was Dai-Soke's intent from the very start. NO!! Soke, while he was retired from teaching, named Dai-Soke the successor!! Nothing to apologize for; it's perfectly alright.

Welcome to KF, Whisky147; glad that you're here!!

"GET UP!!" Both Soke and Dai-Soke barked these words to us quite often, and to be frank and honest, that has made the world of difference in my MA journey. Things happen, as they're suppose to, yet, no matter how that thing has occurred, GET UP; dust off the dust, and persevere, no matter what. The idiom that says... It's not about how many times one gets knocked down, but it's about how many times one gets back up. So, GET UP...GET UP...GET UP...

I agree that some things are unforgivable, and when it comes to Iwao, I've a hard time forgiving his actions. However, I've agreed to soften my hard stance against him for the sake of forgiveness alone...so I'm trying to do just that. As Danielle mentioned, my stipulations are quite binding, and imho, quite unforgiving across the board. That's why I've made the stipulations as impossible for him as I can, and this is because forgiveness, with me, doesn't come that easy. I hate thieves and liars, so much so, that I don't want to be near them, and Iwao has done both!! Our newly elected Higher Hierarchy officers might not have been in the room whenever all of this was happening, but they most assuredly felt the sting being part of the Student Body. My insight to those many close door sessions, both before and after, will hopefully fill in some of the blanks for them, as well of the almost 2 volumes of transcripts surrounding these events.

Nothing like going back in the future. A time when the dojo's were very similar to this hypothetical dojo...bare minimum across the board. Sprinkle of MA schools, here and there, and anything similar across the city. Size of this city offers a moderate amount of prospective students, IF, you can reel them in and keep them. Do research about that city to get a better understanding as to what your price point might be. City in similar size: Milwaukee, Wisconsin...600,155 in population. Shouldn't be too difficulty to attract prospective students...96 square miles. No matter the size of the city, you, the CI, will need to bring them in, and you, the CI will lose them; quality over quantity!!

Welcome to KF, The Pred; glad you're here!!

LOL!! I think we all have our share of politics. However, I'd say ours, at times, like now, are without sane reason(s). I'll try to clear away the fuzzy facts to the best of my abilities, but without a lot of long details, if I can. By any chance, did you read the links found in my OP?? Irregardless of that, Iwao Takahashi is the son of our Dai-Soke, Yoshinobu Takahashi. Iwao was promoted to San Dai-Soke by his father, just before he passed away, just after suffering his second stoke. Therefore, Iwao's promotion to San Dai-Soke was from his father, and Dai-Soke, Yoshinobu Takahashi. No, Iwao DID NOT receive a Menkyo Kaiden from his father!! There has only been one Menkyo Kaiden in our history, and that was Dai-Soke, as it was bestowed upon him by our Soke, shortly after Soke retired. Iwao's Judan was granted from our By-Laws, which state, that whomever is to become a Soke type, that individual is automatically awarded Judan!! This is similar as to how it us to be, whenever someone was elected to be Kaicho, that individual was automatically awarded Kudan, per the By-Laws. I didn't write the original By-Laws, as you can imagine; Soke and Dai-Soke wrote it. Once he became the San Dai-Soke, his Judan paperwork was immediately completed. However, that's not how things work in the SKKA. Yes, per our By-Laws, in the past, any individual who obtains a Soke entitlement is automatically promoted to Judan. Nonetheless, Shogo titles, like Hanshi, are never bestowed upon any individual through any designs within our By-Laws. No, they, Shogo titles, must be bestowed to an individual, and this can only be done by the Soke type. In short, Dai-Soke had passed away before he could bestow Iwao his Hanshi on him. Albeit, no Soke type can bestow any Shogo title upon themselves!! Nowadays, those Shogo titles have to be bestowed upon said individual by Kaicho, Kancho, and the Regents, and their nominations, as well as their votes, must be unanimous. Otherwise, no Shogo title...NO Hanshi for him!! His actions expelled him!! He closes the SKKA/Hombu shortly after his father passes away...he disappears for a long time...he lies to us as to the relocation plans and why...he takes everything out of the Hombu...we Amend our By-Laws, and start anew...without him. Good riddance!! I can't answer this completely because no one knows the true reasons why Iwao closed the SKKA/Hombu and/or why he did what he did leading up to his disappearing act; we just know that one day we were here, and the next day, we weren't by his authority. No one knows what was said between him and his father shortly before his father passed away; their conversation was a private one. So as to the who, what, where, when, why, and how remain unknown to us. All we know is that it happened. Originally, he told us, at the instructions of his father, his must close the US Hombu, and open a brand new Hombu in Nanjo, Okinawa. That's the city that both Soke and Dai-Soke were born in. Here's what we think, yet, we've no facts to back up our assumptions...we think that Dai-Soke instructed him to move his body BACK TO OKINAWA after he passes away...he wanted to return to Nanjo, and not to be buried anywhere else. Both Soke and Dai-Soke are buried in Nanjo, Okinawa!! So, in our opinion, he used what his father instructed him...twisted it around so that he could do unspeakable things to the SKKA/Hombu and its Student Body!! Of course, this is only hearsay and conjecture on our part. According to Iwao, there were not going to be any USA Hombu, but only a Okinawa Hombu. In the USA, there were to only be dojo's, and no Hombu. All Testing Cycles would be conducted at the individual dojo's, and as far as Godan and above Testing Cycles, those were going to be held at a central dojo, to be named later. This never occurred because he closed shop and took all of his toys home with him to not be seen again. We even sent a team to Okinawa to locate him, but to no avail, we didn't find him anywhere!! Before, now, he was living in Hayward, CA...that's where he went to college back in the 1980's or 1990's. Many of the things that you spoke about in these two noted paragraphs, are of the norm. However, Iwao's actions weren't of norm, imho!! Sure, as a Soke type, he can do whatever he wants to, whenever he wants to, and he owns everything in the Hombu...EVERYTHING!! Sick and twisted, that describes him to the letter, imho!! This is why we've eliminated both Soke types as well as the attainment of Judan...that was then, this is now!! The SKKA and/or the Hombu were not your normal governing body. It was Soke's desire to not be controlled by the powers that be in Okinawa. He wanted to be his own individual, and to not bow to the Karate powers that be in Okinawa. That's why he and Dai-Soke moved to the USA. Shindokan Saitou-ryu is his...his By-Laws are his...his comings and goings are his...and he didn't want to be like them, and he didn't want to be associated with them, and he didn't want to answer to them. WE REMOVED THEM...BOTH!! In our opinions, after what he did to us, we could've cared less, because we were going to survive through this together, but without him. Our then Legal Team, which is lead by an outside agency, and not affiliated to the SKKA/Hombu, is now our Legal Team; they're a crack team...a no taking of prisoners. Soke hired them a long time ago, and he never looked back. We stripped him of Judan!! We stripped him of Soke entitlement!! He can walk around claiming and believing all he wants, however, we will not recognize him in either of them...NO JUDAN...NO SOKE ENTITLEMENT!! That's OUR right, and we do not apologize for it. He wanted to ruin us, we vented our revenge in an exacting manner within the laws of the USA. He tried to hurt us, we hurt him back tenfold!! We didn't take anything away from him!! He took the SKKA/Hombu away from us!! We rebuilt!! We survived!! He can open his own governing body and Hombu anytime he wants. After all, he stripped the SKKA/Hombu of both its essence as well as its monetary effect, and that was his right, I suppose, he was a Soke type. New world, new rules; play by our rules or go away and start your own place. Just leave us alone to our own bidding's. There are NO/ZERO Shindokan instructors and/or students in Okinawa!! The entire Student Body of the SKKA is here in the USA!! Soke didn't have a Hombu in Okinawa, nor did he desire to ever have one there!! He had no public dojo in Okinawa; his one and only student was Dai-Soke!! And as I've mentioned here earlier, we believe that Dai-Soke only wanted his family to bury him in Okinawa, and no where else. I hope that I've cleared away some, if not all, cobwebs. If not, ask away, I've nothing to hide, well, only those things that are proprietary in nature. Thanks, I don't envy my position either, but I've big shoulders. You and I, again, have so many similarities, even though ours might be more muddled in its politics, than we'd like to. Yes...oh the good old days, and how I miss them!!