sensei8

Maybe I am just too suspicious, but are you sure you are a college student interested in martial artist's motivation? The use of slick marketing terminology and the extreme interest in our MA equipment purchasing habits (4 out of 9 questions ), which is highly unrelated to your introductory text makes me think that (in the best case) you could aim for a high-flying career in marketing, or (in the worst case) you might already be in such a job and try here to get into the KarateForum participant's commercial habits. Again, maybe its just me being paranoid.. Hhmmmm...interesting...I missed that possibility...hhhhmmmmmm.....

Excellent discovery! Distance is the most overlooked key to realistic Karate applications. Throws, chokes, strikes... I remember that our Karate (in my home-Dojo) improved dramatically at the time we discovered this truth. That was back around 1996ish... Since then the maxim has been: step in, close the distance, stay there: Muchimi! Stick to the opponent like glue. To the bold type above... Yeah...now we're talking!! A maxim after my own heart!!

So, JKD defeats Karate, hands down? The 'VS' draws that question from me; and in VS, something has to win and something has to lose. Who's the author of said win/loss? The style or the practitioner?

Solid post!!

Forget Kata/Forms; who cares about that?!? Bad form doesn't win either, if at all!! Sloppy can win, weirder things have happened before, but I'd rather not be sloppy because good form will win over sloppy. But, that depends on the practitioner. Would one rather have good forms or bad forms when one is executing said technique(s)?!? Didn't think that I need to always put "Bruce Lee" next to his quotes, especially, the quotes of his that are so well known, and in all of the time that I've been here at KF, I don't always put the author of said quotes, if I feel that the said quote is well known...besides, it's not a KF requirement to do so. And yes, I know that Bruce wasn't in favor of Kata's, "swimming on dry land", and that's his opinion about Kata's, and in that, I don't agree with his summation...I understand his summation, but I just don't agree with it.

The two elements don't have to be mutually exclusive. I just use the information to inform me of what it likely to happen. As the bout progressives and you learn more about the individual, you can keep reevaluating your assessment of them. From that point of view...I can concur!!

Still, are you, Danielle, fighting against TKD or the practitioner?!? If you're fighting against TKD, then you, imho, have already lost. If you're fighting against the practitioner, then you've a chance to win.

The student body would not necessarily see all that goes on behind the scenes or whether day to day duties are being fulfilled. Unless you hold some sort of open AGM? From time to time, we'll hold AGM's, and we do that to keep them updated...kind of like a State of the Union. After all, the student body is affected one way or another, so we owe them that because they've earned it by being part of the student body. Plus, our newsletter, One Heart, apprises the student body of a lot of behind the scenes information, not all, but quite a lot. Some things, the student body has to roll with because they've no choice but to accept.

I hear you!! I can't see the SKKA/Hombu splitting/splintering, BUT, weirder things have happened there before. The hierarchy of before, yeah, bunch of jerks, that's why they were removed from any part of the administration. Our history shows that ousting is simpler...I don't know how, but it's the history. We ousted San Dai-Soke because he lost his ever loving mind!!

Thanks for sharing that article, Brian!! Interesting? Maybe! Depends on who's being asked! It's one person's opinion! This...this right here gets me. This too, is one person's opinion. MA bashing has to stop because it's both unfair and unrealistic. Not because it's true, because it's not, but treasured methodologies and ideologies are trampled on without understanding...deep understanding. Yeah, if the door knob won't open the door when turned, than the door knob must be broken...right?!...nothing else?!...right?!

Solid post!!

To the bold type above... On the contrary, imho. Bad form will not aide any outcome, whereas, good form will. Any MA knows that good form is important...posture...stance...these must be spot on. Techniques must be spot on, and not sloppy...good form in technique aides execution, and aides in transitions as well as in proper hip usage. Good form outweighs bad form. Kata helps one train in having good form!! As far as Kata being the same thing, and why do the same thing over and over...perfection, even though it's not attainable, and the creation of positive muscle memory, which is attainable, and important. Act without acting..."I do not hit, it hits all by itself!!"

Why is anyone so concerned with styles, and not the practitioner?? Styles are just a thing...while practitioners aren't. Sure, the practitioner is the product of a style, however, the practitioner has to execute said style effectively for the style to be of any concern. This isn't easy!! Even in a tournament setting, styles, to me, mean nothing; a styles never beat me...the practitioner did! And on the streets, wow, forget about styles because people don't wear the badge of any style, and while it can be discerned as to what the style being utilized, if any at all, it's the individual in front of me that concerns me for the moment. I'm attacked...I defend!! I attack...he/she defends!! Not the style, but the individual. I've more things to be concerned about at that moment than wondering what style, if any, is being used against me.

Solid post!!

You're the Head of your governing body... The current student body is HUGE...thousands... You've been training in the MA for 5 decades...teaching for 4 decades... Everything you've ever wanted in the MA, has nearly occurred...your MA bucket-list is nearly complete... You've been approached... You've been interviewed... You've been offered an executive position with a well known, and respective, company, that's willing to pay you six-figures... You're not giving up your MA journey, and that includes training...you can still train!! What do you do?? Do you accept or do you not accept??

i used to love walleyball! I played volleyball (beach and indoor) for years before blowing my knee out in a game. I miss it greatly! I wholeheartedly agree!!

What if the student body has confidence, but the hierarchy doesn't, for whatever the reasons, anymore??!!??

Nidan Melbourne and Spartacus Maximus... Solid posts!!

Range, is of course, an important aspect of MA training. As with anything, it'll take time to understand its every nuances. Think of this, if only for a quick second, having improper range is akin to driving on the freeway going the wrong way; hectic as all get out!! Imho, there's no such thing as any MA aspect being more important or being most important than another; they're all equal, and that means that they're equally vital to any MA practitioner. How many parts are in a car? How ever many parts there are in a car, they're all equally important, and if they weren't, they'd not be part of the car, no matter how one might believe. Is redundancy in the MA wrong? A 747 has so much dependency to their redundancy, and because there are so many in a 747, are you the passenger glad that they're all there. All equally doing their job, but only when it's required, and no sooner. To close...to far...these two things must be eliminated from your training at all costs. Otherwise, there's no since in going outside; become that shut-in, afraid of their own shadows. I'm a firm believer that the only way to understand range is through Kumite...and that means only one thing...DO IT A LOT...just as much as you breath, if not more. At first, range is that mysterious and illusive monster, and it's roaring about like it wants to kill you. And that's pretty accurate! How do you kill the monster? Show it that you're not afraid of it, and the way to no longer fear it, is to engage with it over and over and over and so on and so forth. At first, that monster will dodge and dart here and there; attacking you at will, and some of the monsters attack happened because of you. It's your fault...for the moment!! However, the more that you stare that monster directly in its face, the more that monster will lose its glare. Then, in time, and that time is up to you, that monster will lose its bite...its roar...its intimidation...its motivation. Your allied force will be your AHA moment. At that time, you'll wonder just what in the world was you thinking...or not thinking all of the time?! While that monster at first seemed so overwhelmingly large, it began to slowly shrink when you started doing Kumite much more often than anything else in the dojo. I'm not saying that Kumite should be more present than Kihon and Kate, and I do believe that the three K's should be equally trained...by all means. What I'm saying is that, if you don't Kumite A LOT, you'll never understand range...not now...not ever!! Rant over! I now return you to whatever it was that you were doing a moment or two ago.

1> How did you first become interested in martial arts? Bullied in school when I was 7 years old; since 1964. 2> What discipline did you decide to practice? Shindokan Saitou-ryu 3> Why did you choose that specific discipline over the other disciplines? Mom choose it, not I!! In short, it was close to our house, and the prices seemed quite affordable. 4> What is your skill level within your martial arts discipline? Kudan in Shindokan Karate-do Hachidan in Shindokan Kobudo 5> What other things do you like to do? (When you're not in the gym/dojo, what else do you like to do with your time? This can be physical or nonphysical pass times) Spending time with my family; this is above all things. Chess...reading...cooking...going to the gym...swimming... 6> What are the first 3 martial arts related brands that come to your mind. (FIRST, not BEST). Century Martial Arts Supply Asian World of Martial Arts Eosin Panther 7> How do you decide what martial arts gear/equipment to get? (How do you select one type or brand over another?) Safety Quality Effectiveness 8> Roughly how often to you buy new martial arts equipment? Once every 3 years, whether it needs to be or not. 9> Where do you get your equipment from? Is there a reason for this? See #6

To the bold type above... How many? The appropriate amount needed in order to accommodate the SKKA's network of its existing student body. That, however, imho, is an inconsequential concern, and therefore, bears no substance to the topic at hand. Btw, again, in case it's being construed as such, this topic isn't about myself; it's only a hypothetical to enhance a hopeful conversation.

No nothing wrong with you not being there. Do you also travel to other dojo's? Yes!! Many months prior to our Annual Testing Cycle, held at the Hombu once a year during the last week of June and the first week of July, I, and a select team from the Hombu, visit each and every dojo within the SKKA network to make ourselves available to them in any capacity they desire. I'm at the Hombu, as I post this, right now in preparation of finalizing each and every detail of my visits to be held over these next few months. These visits cover literally everything from 'A' to 'Z' and back. I'll also visit Shindokan dojos if a CI requests me for a seminar or for me to administer a Testing Cycle. I'll also do surprise visits to Shindokan dojos from time to time. A lot of these surprise visits are two folded purposes. One...to make the Hombu's presence felt; not as a control factor, but to let these dojos know that the Hombu is there for them whenever they're in need, and even when they're not in need. Two...to ensure that the curriculum is being taught properly and without any ambiguity, as it was written by our Soke. I'll also visit Shindokan dojos because I'm craving to be in that environment desperately. I'll show up unannounced, and I'll sit in the very back left, and follow the CI's class. Not as Kaicho, but as Bob...a student wanting to just train. Yeah, dojos get nervous at first, but quite soon, they forget that I'm even there. Students get a kick out of it whenever I show up to just train as one of them.

To the bold type above... You're absolutely correct. Greg Forsythe, our Kancho [Vice-President] tends to the Hombu on a daily basis; he's In-House!! As you've noted, I oversee the Hombu as its Executive Administrator, as a whole. I suppose it would be better if I was In-House. Yes, the Hombu, when all is said and done, is nothing more than a dojo. No, my duties as Kaicho have nothing to do with overseeing the administration of all dojos in the SKKA network. Soke made that perfectly clear in the original By-Laws. Shindokan dojos within the SKKA [Hombu] are owned and operated and administered by their CI, and not by the Hombu. As basic as I can put this...The Hombu's core influences over any Shindokan dojo within the SKKA network are in administering any and all Testing Cycles; no one is permitted and/or allowed to administer any type of Testing Cycle without the explicit approval from the Hombu!

Congrats, Oshishinobu; well deserved!!

YES.... It's upon us once again... IT'S OPENING DAY for MLB!! Time to get your glove and baseball hat and your tickets and hot dog and peanuts and cracker-jacks and your favorite beverage and... GO OUT TO YOUR FAVORITE... BASEBALL GAME!! GO YANKEES!!