sensei8

I'll be 59 years old this October, and I find myself stretching just a bit more than I use to because my rubber-band gets quite tighter faster than it use to; I'm no longer that whippersnapper I use to be.

While I don't enforce any particular rules regarding the wearing of t-shirts and the like, I do enforce that it be appropriate. That just simply means, if you're female, better wear something under the gi top that's appropriate. Wandering eyes from the men, angers me because it's disrespectful and uncalled for, and won't be tolerated at all.

Great topic, JR 137!! Let me preface by saying this... I, as a Karateka, believe that the short distance between two points is a straight line. This is how we're trained. Even though, in Shindokan, we've more than just a straight punch to rely on. Whereas, if I'm to choose, and I do, I'll choose the straight over, say like, the roundhouse/hook punch. BUT... The proper target MUST HAVE the proper weapon!! Whether it be a straight line or not, that weapon must acclimate to the selected target. Those that are not trained, in whatever, don't know any better, so they might throw that haymaker as wild as one can and nothing else because, again, they don't know any better. They also, might, believe that a wild haymaker once makes contact, there'll be a lot of power behind it because of the line it took. Those don't know how to use the hips, legs, and posture to generate much more power without depending on what they might depend on. Again, they just don't know of any other way. In Shindokan, we don't only address how to properly react to a straight punch, but against every conceivable punch known to mankind. Why? Not every attacker is trained, and those that aren't trained, are quite capable of throwing just about every kind of punch, and then some.

Thank you, JR 137; and for you as well!!

Yes!! We're taught to use whatever one can if the meant weapon isn't available.

Solid post!!

Thanks Sensei, I'm not the best at it but I do a great deal of social media stuff because I enjoy putting promotional videos together and what not. Your right though, in the mix of everything I haven't done some of the things you have suggested. You got me thinking about how some businesses go to a fast food place or restaurant to make some money for a cause. For God reason I have always wanted to do something for my daughters hospital. She has to be there once a week and it's not so kid friendly. Could get out there a little and do it for a good cause. Thanks for the ideas. If I may, your daughter is in my prayers...hang in there...all of you!! And yes, do something fun for the kids at the hospital...donate your time...do a speed breaking demo or something like that, with all of the proceeds going directly to the hospital.

Solid post!!

Solid post, JR 137!! You didn't steer the topic away at all, and I always welcome opinions. The bold type above was, imho, a fantastic way to view either.

Great tutorial, Alex, as always!! Great manipulation...great press...great hip control!! As a Karateka that's well immersed in grappling as well, I especially enjoyed seeing the knee strike that we're taught, as a possibility, at time stamp 3:19; as we're always looking for those openings, which are more doable when my opponent moves their arm between my legs, as opposed to having their arm in the way of my leg, which can prevent a full knee strike to the side of the head or square in their face. And of course, you'll see that whenever ones watching a UFC match.

Technique 36 in the Gracie Combatives is the double underhook pass. This is facilitated by executing a straight strike to the face (punch, palm heel ect...) until the bad guy opens the legs. Then you gain control and pass. It's natural to you because you've trained it. But I can tell you that, in the many years I've done GJJ (14 and counting), I've put countless people in my guard and had them punch. None of them have punched straight until trained to do so. People just tend to stink at fighting...that's why the come to all of us To the bold type above... Yes, I've trained in that for quite some time. No many Karate styles teach grappling as much as we do in Shindokan, and our Soke has developed a way for our straight punch to be utilized effectively standing or while on the ground. No, I'm not saying that Shindokan is on the same plane as GJJ/BJJ, but I'm also not saying that it's greatly inferior either. After all, not only do we do Karate, but we do grappling too, and not as a passing fancy.

How does one separate the two? I believe that Doctrine is how we teach, and style is what we teach!! Soke Saitou has laid out the foundation of Shindokan through how we're to teach it according to his directions. In that, any deviation should be curbed and avoided at all times for the fact that Shindokan is his creation, and we students only interpret his teachings as accurate as we can. Shindokan is our ideology! Shindokan, the styles, is what we teach, but we're allowed, and encouraged, to make Shindokan ours in a personal way. Shindokan is our methodology!

Open your school to styles of the MA that AREN'T yours!! Invite them to use your school whenever your school is closed. Rent out the school for different occasions that aren't MA related whenever your school is closed. Of course, if you rent same said space, you might have to get permission from the landlord in writing to sub-lease, even if it's for one day/night.

Solid post!!

Thanks for sharing, Noah!!

For your enjoyment... http://kempo.4mg.com/articles/shinken.htm Hopefully this will help in your research.

Seeing that Karate came to Okinawa via China, I don't doubt the correlation between the two. After all, we'd kindred spirits; all of us, for the most part.

Beat me to it, JR 137!! Very SOLID POST!!

Please, this topic isn't a religious one, as that isn't my intent, nor is it an implied on either. As well, let us not forget KF User Guidelines #10, and that we all will strive to steer away from that which has been asked of us all. Let me preface by the following... Merriam-Webster defines doctrine as... Merriam-Webster defines style as... Truly, are they both the same? Only separated by our own equivocal position!? Shindokan Saitou-ryu is a style of the MA? Is that it?? Nothing else?? However, isn't it also a doctrine, given to each practitioner by Soke Saitou?? Therefore, is every style a doctrine? And if the style is a doctrine, isn't a doctrine a style? If the style is a doctrine more than it is a style, than there must be a spirit attached to it?? A spirit that breaths life into that which is normally void of life, birthed by either a good spirit, or worse, a bad spirit. No technique has life until a practitioner chooses it!! Nonetheless, said chosen technique must have a noble purpose before it can be seen as it being from a good or bad spirit. Methodologies and Ideologies come from on high and trickle down to and into the student body. How the founder is, so is the student body...Yes or no?? Better way to say it, I suppose, is that the apple doesn't fall far from a tree! Self-aggrandizement, selfishness, egoistic, egomaniacal, egotistic, narcissistic, self-absorbed, self-centered, self-concerned, self-infatuated, self-interested, self-involved, egocentric, self-loving, self-obsessed, self-oriented, self-preoccupied, self-regarding, self-seeking, self-serving, solipsistic, inner-directed; complacent, conceited, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-contented, self-directed, self-glorifying, self-important, self-indulgent, self-opinionated, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, vain, and vainglorious. Those labels have no purpose in any MA because they cloud and glaze over what's important. Things like rank should mean nothing, nor should rank be sought. Position and/or hierarchy shouldn't mean anything, nor should it be sought after either. These things poison ones MA betterment to such a level that it buries that which is good, and allows the bad to reach a fever pitch. Beneficent, benevolent, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warmhearted, attentive, considerate, solicitous, thoughtful; affable, amicable, benign, companionable, comradely, cordial, friendly, genial, gentle, good, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, mild, neighborly, nice, pleasant, sweet, warm; clement, forbearing, forgiving, lenient, merciful, soft; patient, pitying, tolerant, understanding; altruistic, brotherly, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, humanitarian, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, noble, openhearted, philanthropic, selfless, unselfish, unsparing; anticruelty, and cruelty-free. Those labels speak about the goodness that should be found within the MA, no matter what!! A MAist should be seeking improvement in small volumes within ones techniques and the like. MA betterment is not a tiny corridor to shy away from, but instead, imho, it's as broad as one desires. To climb a rung one rung at a time, means one being honest with themselves first, and to accept that one's not perfect, or even close. Either of these labels are the by-product of any CI/Governing Body/Founder/Hierarchy as to the manner of which they operate their school, both on and off the floor. Turning our focus to the overall effectiveness of said Style/Doctrine are as well, affected by the aforementioned labels, but that, if I may, is just a portion of the MA pie. If what the style and/or doctrine is teaching, and it one perceives it as ineffective across the board, that's the opinion of that practitioner. One has to immerse themselves on the floor to see if the said style is a big quacking duck, or a elegant swan. One opinion is not another's opinion, for the most. If the style says that their style is effective, do we take it at its word? If the doctrine says that their doctrine is effective, do we take it at its word? Not only no, but HECK NO!! Practitioners have to taste it to see if it's good, worthy of one's palette during the taste test!! Following blindly either of the style and/or the doctrine is short of insane. But people do that because they believe that the style/doctrine can be trusted. After all, the CI is not only a black belt, but a high ranking black belt, at that, and that CI sounds credible in he/her knowledge of what's being taught, and the CI sounds like all of the 't's' and the 'i's' have been crossed and dotted. A prospective student surely doesn't know more than the CI...right? Either the doctrine's spirit is good or it's bad; I see no middle ground!! Either the style teaches effectiveness or it doesn't; I see no middle ground!! Either the bottom line is more important than the student or the student is more important than the bottom line; I see no middle ground!! The MA is just a thing. In that, things can be either important or too overly important, that's left to the practitioner to choose over the style and/or the doctrine. I suppose, Shindokan is a style that is grounded in its doctrine, but it's doctrine spirit is good. We expel that which isn't good because one bad apple does spoil the whole bunch. Does the doctrine exist? Does the style exist? Can they both be intertwined? Is, that which you're a practitioner of, a style or a doctrine or both?? Are you/we/me learning a style or a doctrine or both? And if both, how does one train in both while keeping both separate, if it's even possible to do so with a clear mind and conscious?? Your thoughts, please!! Sorry for the dissertation-like being so long.

Welcome to KF, webcrest; glad that you're here!! My first day...wow...that was almost 52 years ago...all I remember is that I was scared to death, and that I had fun, and that my Sensei was bigger than life itself, yet, he was so kind and gentle, but man oh man could he bark orders out with the best of them.

RIP Mr. Ali; you'll be missed!!

That's exactly what I did before I opened my first dojo. I thought it would help me, and it did, beyond what I learned from Soke and Dai-Soke as to the business side.

Kudan: Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do Hachidan: Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo

Sounds good!! Thanks for the info, Patrick!!

Congrats, Karate_John; well deserved!!