sensei8

Without having read that tournaments rule(s) concerning downed opponents, I can't reach an opinion. Having said that, and if I was the Arbitrator of that tournament, based on my experiences, I would've disqualified her for lack of control considering the venue. If the rule had stated to follow through on a downed opponent, then I'd rule to instruct said downed opponent to defend herself much better than that...after all, you're a black belt, act like it. HOWEVER, if the downed opponent rule stated to follow through BUT WITH CONTROL, I'd still disqualify her because, imho, she lacked the necessary control for such a destructive kick...especially on a downed opponent. And, no matter what the paramedics might have ruled, I wouldn't have allowed her to continue. Safety before anything!!

Both, if possible! However, I'd select taking business over PhysEd, but only if you're wanting to run a school. If not, then PhysEd would compliment the major quite well. Imho!

I'm fine; thank you for asking! How are you? While the student body might increase, the quality won't suffer at all. The quality I speak about is about the CI. If the CI lacks quality across the board, then, god forbid, so will the entire student body. The integrity I'm referring to is the selling of rank to attract and keep students. The integrity that you speak about is deplorable, unless that school is qualified to teach MMA. The marketing can be short a ton of integrity, when theunless they separate the different programs. I still get a kick when I see "Karate" on the storefront when in actuality the school is a TKD dojang, and nothing else. However, I completely understand why they market the way that they do.

John, I'm glad that you're back here at KF; missed you!! Above all things, imho, ones health is more important than anything!! Hopefully, we'll see more of you here at KF, but, when we don't, we'll know that you're taking care of your family, your business, and your health!! It's all good, John!!

To the bold type above... NO, IT WON'T!! If it does, then shut the door!! Teach quality at all times, and if one can't...then, again, it's time to shut the doors for good, or for the moment. Nothing, imho, is worth selling ones integrity for! Not for rank, not for this or for that, not for the sake of the business. Integrity or the lack of it, are entwined with ones reputation, good or bad! Imho!!

I'll just say this, for now!! I've never sold my integrity for the sake of my dojo. I don't need to be successful that bad!! I just don't!! Be better than your competition across the board!! Better instruction! Better prices! Better testing cycles! Better environment! Better marketing! Better hours! Better...well...EVERYTHING!! If that isn't enough and I have to think about giving rank away, well, it's time to close the doors for the time being or for good. The bold type above is what catches my eye, and why I posted what I did. And you're right, the dojo is ALSO a business, but the business side and the dojo side need to be separate. Otherwise, one will win, and the other will fall. But you want BOTH to succeed...I get that from you...address them separately, otherwise, you'll start second guessing yourself to please both entities, and they are not the same!! You've a dojo/dojang that IS a business; one hand washes the other. Both must be strong, but you have to make them strong, and only you can do that. Your the CI...the buck stops with you...students/parents/grandparents/relatives/friends/etc. ARE NOT THE CI...you are. Those might not like it whenever you put your foot down, but when they see that you're still in business and that your teaching quality stuff...please...they'll get behind you and fight the good fight with you and for you!! Be consistent or shut the doors!! No is no and yes is yes...cut right down the middle...no gray areas and no maybe's!! Hang in there, Lex...I got your back!!

As Hawkmoon has already suggested, don't push him into it! Let him want to do it for himself, and not for anyone else. As in anything that he's tried, and walked away from, or has remained to do that which he loves. And not just kids, but adults do the very same thing, but, an adult can decide for themselves, but for a kid, the added pressure from a parent can be quite daunting, to say the least. If I may suggest, take your son to SEVERAL/MANY different schools of the MA (Martial Arts) over a months time, and let your son see how fun and rewarding the MA can be. But, in the end, it's HIS decision alone, and if he's pushed into doing the MA against his wishes, he'll never want to darken the door of any MA school. Does your son have any friends that do any MA? If so, take him to that school and see for himself just how much fun his friend(s) are having learning the MA. Remind him anything...everything...take effort to become skillful at whatever it might be. Remind him that when he first played minecraft, he wasn't the good at it, and it frustrated him to no end, yet, in time, he was becoming much more skilled at it, and will continue to get better the more he plays minecraft!! The same principle is in the MA. At first, he won't be that good at it, yet, in time, he'll get better at it across the board. However, as in anything worth striving for, he'll have to love the MA, and that will take time, as does everything else that he does now. The MA can be a love and hate relationship for many untold reasons, albeit, if he applies a positive mindset about the MA, he'll love it much more than hate it. If he doesn't want to do the MA, or if he decides to stop learning the MA, it's all good. Why? Because he's been exposed to the MA, and no matter how little you or he might think, he'll have learnt something positive, and, if so be it, he'll remember how to defend himself, somehow and someway. While you loved the MA at the age your son is now, it's his MA journey! Worse thing I've seen is watching parents trying to live their MA journey through their children. It never works out for everyone concerned. Good luck, hang in there, and please, don't force him or rush him into the MA; let him start his MA journey on his own in his own time! If he chooses to learn the MA, please try to be at every class and every tournament to show you support him. One last thing, shall he choose to learn the MA, help him, but don't try to teach him the MA, even if you're intentions are thoughtful and/or if you've MA experience, don't teach....support him across the board. His instructor is the instructor, and not you or any other well intended person. Any teaching might only undermine what his instructor is teaching. Can't serve two...just one, and his instructor is the one...the ONLY ONE...until your son decides otherwise.

Welcome to KF, sd.bombon; glad that you're here!!

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

Imagine a class without review!?! Teach it once and that's it! Don't correct the student, if so, that would be a review...no matter how it would be labeled.

Aha...a PKA version...Kickboxing!

ROFL!!

Without going into a long post, which I easily could, I'll just say this... Quality time begets quality results!!

You're there to train, and nothing else!! So do that, and nothing else, no matter what anyone might or might not think and/or like!! You've already been accepted by the CI, so, train, and train hard. As far as the other students there that don't like this and that of the whole thing...leave that to the CI, and to the CI only!! The CI sets the tone, and not any student...if the CI is worth his/her salt!! In time, those bothered students will see your intention are noble, and all you want to do is just train, and not to steal students or whatever else they might be thinking. You'll slowly earn their trust, and in that, their friendships. IF NOT...JUST TRAIN!! Forget about them!! Concentrate on more important things!!

Ooohhhh, I don't think insurance companies would like that at all. In the 90's, there was an Olympic style TKD pro league on ESPN without hogus, headgear or gloves. You can find them on Youtube. The best fight of the fights was a 120 lb fight between Hyon LEE vs. Danny KIM. I encourage all to look it up. PRO TKD is what it was called, I believe. There were some good fights there. Here I am wondering what happened to PRO TKD? Rage of the page or insurance companies put their foot down and said..."NO MORE!!"

Remember Danielle, this is all I do...full time, either as Kaicho and/or as CI of the Kyuodan Dojo!! I don't have another job outside of Shindokan. The Hombu class sizes for the 4-5 years is quite respectable, and it helps that the Hombu isn't in a small town...instead, it's located in the San Fernando Valley...1.8 million people call it home...260 square miles...just North of Hollywood, CA. At the Kyuodan Dojo, the 3 classes per day for the 5 days per week, my 4-5 year old classes were not as full as the Hombu is, however, still respectable in the range of 6-10 students per class. In understand it's a full time occupation for you Bob but at the Hombu do you hold the classes 5 pm to 10 pm for example? Or do you have some in the morning and during the day? Most people work 9 to 5 so do you get many people attending these classes during the day? Also are these classes structured differently or are you repeating the same lesson. The Hombu's hours are 8am - 10pm; classes run throughout those operating hours. "Most people" aren't the same as "Everyone", and this permits those students that aren't obligated to a 9am - 5pm work schedule. The Hombu's hours allow a very wide berth for all types of obligations to fit the Hombu's class schedule. If you're referring to the 4-5 age group, the answer is...structured differently. How so? Everything is amended/tailored to that age group, and I mean everything!! It's a known fact that students of this age group "play to learn"!! Everything must trickle down to them so as they're not so overwhelmed, as this age group is known to do. Experts say that the age of a child is to the length of their attention span...therefore, the amended/tailored class structure. Awesome ! Do students that start at this age have more belts before they reach junior black belt or once they reach a certain rank before black. Do they have to have that before they reach the age for junior black belt? No...they do not have more belts!! Our ranking structure is the same for all students, no matter the age. Student only has to be before the age of 18 to be promoted to JBB.

My expectations don't have to match up with yours. That's not reasonable, imho!! I like Chevy...you like Ford...we're not in agreement as to which one is greater than the other...the Ford or the Chevy. That's good because we've differing expectations over the word..."great", when alas, both the Chevy and the Ford will do what they were designed to do...and that is... ...looking like a car!! That can't be denied!!

For the most, if not in its entirety, the average layperson doesn't have a minimum of an idea about MA lineage, nor do they truly care. Why? Proof is on the floor, and with that being said, the layperson just wants to learn from an instructor of quality. In short, the chosen instructor will be on the floor, and not that instructors instructor and/or the styles lineage. People put a lot of faith in lineage, no matter the product, and certainly, no matter the reason(s). After all, in order to choose an instructor of quality, the search has to start somewhere. Why not with lineage? Fair enough! However, that's not a guarantee of that instructor. Sure, it helps to sell the layperson as well as the seasoned MAist. Knowing the lineage might put some questions to rest, after all, the assumed lineage will appear in favor for success under that instructor as well as under that lineage. Nonetheless, that prospective instructor has to deliver, and deliver in a big way. Why a big way? Money and reputations are at risk for all parties concerned! Just as rank has meaning within said governing body and style and dojo, outside of that circle, the lines are dim and quite uninterested; a shrug of contentment can't help itself at raising its head of doubt. I tout with pride, that proof is on the floor, with such regularity, and that's only because I deeply believe in it wholeheartedly. The lineage is that line that's drawn in the sand, and it always ponders this one question... Can you or can't you!! Can you teach...or can't you?? Can you help me...or can't you?? Can you, as my instructor, walk away from your ego...or can't you?? Can you impart knowledge...or can't you?? A short list, but it's not a complete list. I can appreciate ones lineage, especially if ones part of a lineage that has MA legends as far as the eye can see; impressive, beyond all expectations. Sure, being part of a star filled MA lineage can't be denied, but again, those MA stars have those desired qualities, BUT... Does your prospective instructor have those same qualities?? It is said that the apple doesn't fall from a tree, and in that same notion, one should expect those same qualities from that prospective instructor, as one would expect from the Master. But, who's the actual instructor? The chosen prospective instructor?? OR...the Master of that chosen prospective instructor? Want lessons from the Master, than take lessons from the Master, and not from a student of the Master!! While the prospective instructor was sired from the Master, and this same prospective instructor is all that and a bag of chips, so goes the rumor, there's no guarantee that that fallen apple won't turn into applesauce. It's a risk...taking lessons from anyone teaching the MA! Some pan out, while others don't...and that's because they can't...or they never could.

That is great news; congrats!! It's of no real surprise that the CI welcomed you back and that you're allowed to wear your BB. After all, you were a BB through them before, so why not. Oh, I'm sure you'll be under a really big microscope until their evaluation of you is completed. And yes, you'll be evaluated, trust me!! After that, you'll be allowed to wear your BB or you'll be given time to bring yourself up to their expectations. Until then, you'll not be allowed to earn rank via a testing cycle. Worse case scenario will be that after their evaluation, you'll be handed your new rank.

"Who's your instructor?" asked MAist 'A' "Joe Doe" answers MAist 'B' "Never heard of him" replies MAist 'A' "Who's your instructor?" retorts MAist 'B' "John Smith" says MAist 'A' "Never heard of him" says MAist 'B' It's a real big world out there, and not everyone is known by everyone!! No one here at KF, knows my Sensei, Yoshinobu Takahashi; he's only known by his students and those within the Shindokan circle. No one here at KF, knows my TKD instructor, Young Ik Suh; he's only known by his students and those within that TKD governing body. Both of them, were, imho, exceptional MAists; both as practitioners and instructors...TOP NOTCH!! So quickly are MAists thrown under the bus because they're instructor isn't well known and respected as those that are passing judgment. I don't give a bent pin about that Takahashi and Suh aren't well known...they both existed...and I was both their student. "It doesn't matter!!" Possibly, that'll be my answer from now on whenever I'm asked..."Who's your instructor?"

Remember Danielle, this is all I do...full time, either as Kaicho and/or as CI of the Kyuodan Dojo!! I don't have another job outside of Shindokan. The Hombu class sizes for the 4-5 years is quite respectable, and it helps that the Hombu isn't in a small town...instead, it's located in the San Fernando Valley...1.8 million people call it home...260 square miles...just North of Hollywood, CA. At the Kyuodan Dojo, the 3 classes per day for the 5 days per week, my 4-5 year old classes were not as full as the Hombu is, however, still respectable in the range of 6-10 students per class. In understand it's a full time occupation for you Bob but at the Hombu do you hold the classes 5 pm to 10 pm for example? Or do you have some in the morning and during the day? Most people work 9 to 5 so do you get many people attending these classes during the day? Also are these classes structured differently or are you repeating the same lesson. The Hombu's hours are 8am - 10pm; classes run throughout those operating hours. "Most people" aren't the same as "Everyone", and this permits those students that aren't obligated to a 9am - 5pm work schedule. The Hombu's hours allow a very wide berth for all types of obligations to fit the Hombu's class schedule. If you're referring to the 4-5 age group, the answer is...structured differently. How so? Everything is amended/tailored to that age group, and I mean everything!! It's a known fact that students of this age group "play to learn"!! Everything must trickle down to them so as they're not so overwhelmed, as this age group is known to do. Experts say that the age of a child is to the length of their attention span...therefore, the amended/tailored class structure.

IMO, a 30 min class is a waste of time. You hardly get a chance to warm up, and it's over. Naw, a MINIMUM of 1.5 hours..2 is better. No...a 30 minute class with very young students, 4-5 years old/kindergarten ages, is ideal...or at least, it's been that way for me ever since 1977. Agreed 30 mins is plenty of time for 4-5 year olds. Now how many of these 30 min classes do you guys have? Or do the little kids just get dismissed earlier during normal class time? Well, our Hombu runs said classes 5 times a day...6 days a week, whereas, in my last dojo, I ran said classes 3 times a day...5 days a week. 5 times a day? What kind of hours are you operating? If you have day time classes (9 to 5), so you get many students attending those? Remember Danielle, this is all I do...full time, either as Kaicho and/or as CI of the Kyuodan Dojo!! I don't have another job outside of Shindokan. The Hombu class sizes for the 4-5 years is quite respectable, and it helps that the Hombu isn't in a small town...instead, it's located in the San Fernando Valley...1.8 million people call it home...260 square miles...just North of Hollywood, CA. At the Kyuodan Dojo, the 3 classes per day for the 5 days per week, my 4-5 year old classes were not as full as the Hombu is, however, still respectable in the range of 6-10 students per class.

Solid post!! While lineage might provide something positive, it's what the student does with that lineage that might make a difference. If my lineage came from Kanazawa Sensei, as an example, then that might mean something, but it's what I do within that lineage that makes the difference...either I can or I can't.

IMO, a 30 min class is a waste of time. You hardly get a chance to warm up, and it's over. Naw, a MINIMUM of 1.5 hours..2 is better. No...a 30 minute class with very young students, 4-5 years old/kindergarten ages, is ideal...or at least, it's been that way for me ever since 1977. Agreed 30 mins is plenty of time for 4-5 year olds. Now how many of these 30 min classes do you guys have? Or do the little kids just get dismissed earlier during normal class time? Well, our Hombu runs said classes 5 times a day...6 days a week, whereas, in my last dojo, I ran said classes 3 times a day...5 days a week.

Thank you, I know nothing about being a handyman and fixing stuff up so I'm happy that I got through by the skin of my teeth haha thank you, I know nothing about being a handyman and fixing stuff up so I'm happy that I got through by the skin of my teeth! Opening day is April 4Th. Lol on the handy man stuff...I too lack in that department greatly...did try to replace a pea-trap on my sink, however, later on, I hired a plumber. Good date for the Grand Opening because it's the beginning of Q2: 2nd Quarter business wise. Mid-quarter openings are ok, but, lack the flavor of getting a hand on expenditures within the quarter. GO LEX!! Do your thing!! Thanks lol! I'm trying No...no, you're not...you're SUCCEEDING!!