sensei8

Hopefully it'll be worth the gamble in the long run. Sport MA is here to say, and I suppose that I need to accept the inevitable change whether I like it or not; change or perish!!

Good news there, Brian. Please provide us a recap whenever you can after it's all finished.

I've never been a great fan of one learning any MA on their own. Why? I believe an instructor is paramount in the learning process because of mistakes people make when they're interpreting how something should be executed. That's just me! If one can learn the MA on their own, and what they execute is effective, then I can overlook my concerns. We all learn different ways, and as the old saying goes... Necessity is the mother of all invention...being self taught can be a necessity that will require the invention of such.

For many days I've struggled within myself as to if I should or if I shouldn't post this here at KF. After some considerations, I've decided that I must. After all, and it's of no great secret, the members here at KF are the source of great importance to myself outside of the Shindokan circle. July 11, 2016. That's the date that will haunt us within the Shindokan Karate-do and Kobudo Association (SKKA) forever, and that's quite understandable, to say the least. Death comes to everyone, at some time and at some place. Not every passing is expected, as it is in our case, while some are, but even when it does occur, no matter the reason(s) that surround it, it can hit someone especially hard. When our Soke passed away from natural causes at 91, and while it saddened us, it was to be expected. When our Dai-Soke passed away after suffering two strokes at 78, and while it saddened us, it was to be expected. When the events of July 11, 2016 occurred, and while it saddened us, it wasn't expected. Killed by a drunk driver that was traveling at a "high rate of speed", were 6 members of the SKKA's Higher Hierarchy as they crested the top of a hill; a head-on collision occurred when the drunk driver was heading south on the north bound side, after spending Sunday in Mexico. Greg Forsythe and I formed the Executive Team. Thomas Stillwater, Jonathan Plouge, Ben Stevenson, Giichi Tanaka, and Yoshikazu Tanaka formed the Administrative Team. These two teams formed the Higher Hierarchy of the SKKA!! I was spared because I opted to return home to my family in Houston, TX, and to not join them, a decision that forces me to deal with the many "what if's" on a daily basis. A decision I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life. http://www.karateforums.com/tragedy-envelopes-the-skka-vt49781.html This is the introduction, or the preamble of what this topic/thread is all about!! This horrific tragedy has ultimately CLOSED the SKKA for an undetermined time!! The SKKA has only known the model of what our Soke had created. How it's SOP is conducted...how the redundancy protects both the SKKA as well as its Student Body...how every 't' is crossed and how every 'i' is dotted...how everything that's within the SKKA keeps the SKKA machine and engine operating...EVERYTHING!! Soke's model has proven itself to be solid ever since he founded it in 1950, as well as in the various improvements made over time, to what it was up to that terrible morning in July of 2016. The Legal Team and myself, as well as a few key individuals ever since then has looked into many avenues to keep the SKKA intact, and in operations, to the best of our abilities. Everything that we've looked into as to its validity to keep the SKKA viable has fallen short of our expectations. Our last opportunity fizzled out as we had hired an outside source to entertain the possibility of Restructuring the SKKA, and that included hiring a CEO to bring every department and the like under the umbrella of that CEO. A Restructuring Company would address everything in the hopes of keeping the sinking ship afloat. Every qualified member of the SKKA, with a Dan rank of Godan and above, were approached in the hopes that they'd step forward, and if elected, assume those now vacated positions within the SKKA's Higher Hierarchy, but all that have been considered has declined. Why would they decline the opportunity, if only for a short time?? In short, their schedules, both personal as well as professional, wouldn't permit them the luxury of accepting said positions within the SKKA. In short.... All classes at the Hombu, as well as all Executive and Administrative business is suspended for an undetermined time. All In-House students of the Hombu, have been shifted to nearby dojo's within the SKKA Network for an undetermined time. All Testing Cycles are suspended within the Network for an undetermined time, as well. The Hombu's daily operations have been ceased for an undetermined time. All SKKA/Hombu SOP's have been suspended for an undetermined time. Anything and everything that made the SKKA/Hombu what created and formed it has been ended for an undetermined time. For 30 days, and only 30 days, all dojo's as well as the entire Student Body within the SKKA Network can either contact the Legal Team or the Executive Secretary or myself for immediate closure as to any affairs and/or ties that they might want to pursue, as well as any questions and/or concerns that they might have. In conclusion, and it gives me no pleasure at all to officially announce that the SKKA/Hombu is dissolved for an undetermined time!! I pray that no MA school and/or no student body and/or no governing body has to ever endure what we've endured...ever!!

The undeniable advantage of being young; that leaves me out!! Tricking is a speciality that I've never tried, expect with weapons, because I felt that I was more geared towards the traditional genre. I tried gymnastics when I was in high school, and I about killed myself, and I never returned to it. Hats off to those who can!!

Solid OP, Danielle, solid post!! I'll give it up WHEN I DIE, and not before that. I don't walk in the acceptance of my fellow MAist, nor do I walk in their turbulence, nor do I walk in their expectations!! Not now, and not tomorrow!! I've not the time nor the inclination or the tolerance to meet anyone's expectations EXCEPT that of my Sensei, and he's passed away.However, when he was alive, his opinion was the only opinion that I sought after with a fever. The only opinions I truly value outside of the MA, are that of my wife, Linda, and our two beautiful children, Nathan and Krystal. Outside of that, I don't solicit for any opinions whenever it comes to my MA journey; as a MAist, I'm complete in my MA totality. This is MY JOURNEY, and it's not theirs, and I don't remember having to have asked for their approvals, as they've not asked for mine, nor should they have to.

My understanding as to the reason for all of the screaming is to gain the attention of the judges...you only get one chance to make an impression. For example, at the ISKA tournaments in the Freestyle divisions, the rage of the page is to scream and scream and scream and........., all for the benefits of the judges. Yes, techniques, or at least the core of the techniques aren't overlooked by the judges, however, in those Freestyle divisions, some of the "tricks" that they execute are mind boggling, at least for me because I can't do those "tricks"...no...I'd look like a big clumsy ox...and then I'd break me somehow and someway. All of the screams and all of the acrobatics aren't my cup of tea, because, I prefer to go traditional, aka, old school in which at least I don't make a total dork out of myself trying to do things that aren't within my comfort zone. It takes all of my strength to watch the Freestyle divisions, but I do because of the beauty of the core of the techniques and their amazing abilities. In short, if I can take my head out of the sand, I might learn something, and not grimace whenever I watch divisions other than the traditional one.

Be safe, Brian, and learn as much as you can. Don't forget to PRACTICE.......... Oh yeah, NO PAIN...NO GAIN....enjoy the training!!

Solid tutorial, Noah; thanks for sharing!! The one thing I'd add to what your Sensei is teaching is this... Controlling that suspect arm is paramount. In addition, and only if possible, retrieve the weapon from your attacker. Why? Worse thing is to do everything to control the attacker to only use said weapon on you while you're running to a safe haven.

Shindokan, being a Karate style birthed in Okinawa, trains extensively on the wooden dummy from day one, with the bulk of training beginning at 6th Kyu/Green belt. Shindokan is Tuite and Tuite, at least the way our founder describes it, is Shindokan; neither can be separated, and if they're separated, then value is loss. Shindokan lives within the arena of close range, and for us, the closer the better. In that, Shindokan is 85% hands...15% feet, and it's those hands, that we value the training that is received from the wooden dummy. The transition from the wooden dummy to a live and resistance training partner is quite valuable. While the wooden dummy is just a thing, that thing helps us to understand how to address proactively the intrinsic movements and the like that Shindokan teaches. Transitional movements and training with the wooden dummy provide us another type of a snapshot of how one might address that which assists our Tuite and the like at many different levels, and understandings. I don't know of many, if any, Karate styles that train with the wooden dummy, but what I do know, is that the wooden dummy is an important tool for us in Shindokan.

Solid post!!

Congrats, Brian for reaching another milestone! What you've achieved is only a benchmark of how you're valued by each and every KF member, KF staff, and Patrick. You've mentored me over the many years in ways that I can't begin to accurately detail, and/or express, but I've never taken your kindness, and especially your friendship, which I value above everything, lightly ever. Here's to your being a KF Staff all of these 10 wonderful years! Here's to another 10 years, and then some!!

Customer service should be of paramount importance to any MA school, imho. Without it, students, both current as well as prospective, parents/guardians, and anyone else who might darken ones door, its solid future is at stake. What I've noticed, and this situation plagues any business, and not just those businesses that aren't MA related, is that the word, "Service" is being, if it's not already the norm nowadays, forgotten. Businesses act that they need the customers, but they don't want to be saddled with providing any notions of any quality "Service". It's as though the business is being troubled to have to provide any "Service" for the customer for any reason(s). I've noticed it at a well known business, that whenever I ask for assistance in locating an item, I'm told where I might find it but I'm never taken to that location by a member of staff, even if that staff is part of the management team. No, I have to search for the location on my own with their treasure map directions, and this, as a customer, is quite frustrating, to say the least. To go to that same well known business to pay for my purchases, the cashier never greets me with a "Hello" or a smile. The cashiers at this well known business make me feel unappreciated and unwanted and uncomfortable to be there. Monotone expressions as well as vocalization speak so loud! No, "Thank you; come again"...nothing!! Good Customer Service costs the business NOTHING!! Bad Customer Service costs the business A LOT; can close a business faster than one can imagine. The word "Genuine" has to be the staple of any Customer Service, and it'll set that business separate from its competitors. However, there's that fine line, as it's there for anything business related, "Genuine" bad Customer Service will drive customers away, whereas, "Genuine" good Customer Service will retain as well as attract both current and future customers. Every business needs customers! Without customers, how can overhead be paid for and how can profits be attained?! I'm a firm believer that a dojo is a business!! It's a business if the dojo/dojang/etc has overhead!! Student CHOOSES the MA school, and the school of MA needs to demonstrate their appreciation, and it must be "Genuine". Otherwise, the student ratio to instructor will turn into a dismal negative. A school without students is a business that's, well, taking a very long and lonely walk, and that walk usually leads to the school being closed. Customer Service...good vs bad; the good should triumphant over bad hands down today and everyday and every time and without reservation. Who wants to go to the MA school if they're not valued? Who wants to go to the MA school if they're not shown good and genuine appreciation? Who wants to go to the MA school if they're treated like a dollar sign? Customer Service should matter! If it doesn't matter, than neither do I, to that business!! I learned these attributes in College, and they've stuck with me all of these years...the list isn't inclusive, but the list covers what I consider the top attributes needed to succeed...however, to this day, I've kept my college notes because they've been the backbone of my own Customer Service... *Patience *Attentiveness *Clear Communication Skills *Knowledge of the Product *Ability to use "Positive Language" *Acting skills *Time Management Skills *Ability to "Read" Customers *A Calming Presence *Goal Orientated Focus *Ability to Handle Surprises *Persuasion Skills *Tenacity *Closing Ability *Willingness to Learn *Listening Skills None of these Customer Service attributes are about sales and how to get the sale, even though, they can provide that as well. No, these attributes are all pertaining to Customer Service by remembering that "Service" is very important. Customer Service shouldn't have to sound like a bad word to the proprietor of the business. But, however, Customer Service should leave a great taste in the mouth of both the proprietor as well as the Customer, and, imho, especially to the customer!! Does your school of MA have good Customer Service? Does your governing body have good Customer Service? What type of Customer Service do you require of either of them?

The 3rd Dan isn't a requirement, but more of advice. Reason for the 3rd Dan is so that a student can be promoted to 1st Dan without having to go to the governing body or go to another instructor holding that 3rd Dan. A 1st Dan can only promote to 2nd Kyu. That is, of course, providing what's in the charter of that governing bodies By-Laws. I've known 1st Kyu's who have opened their own dojo's and are still running a successful dojo. How so? Well, let's look at the 1st Dan example. You, being that 1st Dan, will have a student body, and over time, you'll have students that will approach their own testing cycle for 1st Dan, and that's good, it's suppose to happen that way. The good news is that by the time any of your students are standing before you for their 1st Dan testing cycle, you'll easily have reached that 3rd Dan. Break that down, and if you, as well as your student pass every testing cycle, on general terms from 10th Kyu to 1st Dan, for example, takes on an average of about 5 years, give or take a year or two on either side, and on these general terms, you'll have went from 1st Dan to 3rd Dan, and possibly to 4th Dan. Now, you can promote any of your students to 1st Dan all by yourself, and without any other instructor and/or governing body assistance of any type. I waited until I was promoted to 3rd Dan before I opened my dojo; that was my choice, as it'll be your choice to do so. I listened to the advice from our Soke (Founder) as well as my own Sensei before I decided. I decided to wait until my 3rd Dan, and while that was my choice, it doesn't have to be your choice. I also waited until I was promoted to 3rd Dan because I wanted much more teaching experience as well as business experience. I was brought up in our Hombu (Headquarter) under the wings of our Soke and our Dai-Soke (My Sensei), so not only did I learn much from them on teaching and business and so much more. I say, open the dojo/dojang/etc, at 1st Dan, if that's your conviction, and don't look back, but, however, strive forward. You'll be fine! Sure, you'll be scared and all of that, but you'll be fine!! Hang in there, and believe in yourself, as I believe in you!!

Shouting out "Fire" has proved to be an effective way to gain some help. However, let's never forget to be careful in attaining ones attention because no one's for sure if the help provided will actually help you or your attacker.

Welcome to KF, daverojo77; glad that you're here!!

Congrats Noah; well deserved!!

Do you have a sponsor? If not, it'll be difficult to train in Okinawa otherwise. One can't just walk into a dojo in Okinawa and ask to train. One, it's rude, and two, the CI doesn't know you . If you're training in Okinawa at the invitation of a Master and/or organization in Okinawa, then that takes care of the sponsor. If you're training in Okinawa with someone who has a sponsor, that MIGHT take care of the sponsor, but again, go thorough the proper channels before traveling to Okinawa for training. We were fortunate enough to travel to Okinawa with either our Soke and/or Dai-Soke; both were born and raised in Okinawa.

Thank you, John, for your thoughtful words!!

Yes, you can teach someone to teach BUT they must have that within themselves already. If they're technical solid, that's fine, but that doesn't mean that a teacher lives within that practitioner. The floor reveals this in that practitioner when that practitioner is on the floor in the role of teacher for the first time. They've been shown how to mirror and things like that over and over again, yet, that practitioner still can't grasp the vital nuances that are required to teach. That same practitioner might not be able to teach, but that practitioner has the ability to assist. This practitioner, in time, will be able to teach. However, if one can't even assist, then that same can't teach, no matter how patient I might be. And trust me, I'm very patient in this regard.

Great posts, all!! Great things to remember and great things to consider!! When the kids ready, and not anytime sooner!! That's gold advice, imho. Not the parents/guardians, but the children are oftentimes overlooked. Turns a parent/guardian into forcing a kid when the kids not ready. Key off the kids, and not off the parents/guardians!!

Sounds good to me because it makes quite a lot of sense to do so, especially if the interest in that forum has depleted considerably. As always, I'm for change across the board, and Patrick is always embracing any change that will benefit both the members at large as well as KF itself. May the new horizon soar to, and beyond our imaginations. In short, bring it on!!

Thank you, Patrick, for your thoughts and prayers!!

Well, I'll deal with each situation as it unfolds, not until then!! If I must stay, then I will. But within me, is the survival instinct that also allows me to do all I can to create an opportunity to separate myself from the situation. I'm complete in my MA totality.

Ok thank you for taking the time to answer that for me. I feel like that would not only been important for you and the organisation but for the families too As expected, the auditorium at the Hombu was filled to the max. So much so, that the Fire Marshall had to stop the flow of well wishers. We opened up the gym, that's equipped with a very large screen, and we sent a feed from the auditorium into that gym. All funerals were completed before the Memorial began, with the last funerals occurring that Saturday morning.