sensei8

Correct technique is important yes I disagree with you on the planks because they still place the wrists, elbows and shoulders at increased risk of injury. Especially if they have previously been injured. But the others i would agree with, although have to be applied with caution and with appropriate loading of weight. I did post... As only some suggestions; not for everyone.

Kids will be kids!!

...How Do I Look? A full-view mirror is found to be extremely useful in observing and correcting your form while practicing the various techniques. Like the floor, the mirror doesn't blink, and the mirror doesn't lie; the truth is right before you eyes. I consider it one of the most primary equipment's that I have in the dojo; so much so that mirrors adorn both primary walls opposite of each other: North and South Walls. Does your Hombu have mirrors? Does your Dojo/Dojang/Etc. have mirrors? I'm more than aware that not all schools of the MA have mirrors. They're not the most easily afforded piece of equipment to have. Trust me, I completely understand why one might not have any mirrors. If you're in a location that you share, then having mirrors...wall mirrors especially...aren't an option per signed agreement between you and the landlord. How valuable are mirrors in your training?? If you've no type of mirrors, how do you get around that, if at all??

Proper techniques will be the biggest factor in preventing injury to ones wrist. Not saying that that's your issue!! Some of the things that I've done over the years are Wrist Curls, Wrist Extensions, Up/Down Planks, Squeezing a stress ball, and Curling up a weight on a string; 3 sets of 10. Exercises like that will strengthen your wrists!

Solid post!!

Thanks, I am liking it so far. More to come. Can't wait to see the "More to come" part!!

But just how is what they're teaching not going to contradict with three things? 1> Your CI 2> Your Hombu 3> Your own summations and conclusions [After all, you're not a mindless robot]

Yes, difficult to say across the board!! In my 51 years in the MA, many fill the bill as those who've influenced me on and off the floor, and that's to also say that those who've influenced me will quite differ from anyone here at KF as well as those outside of KF. Not every MAist that has influenced me is well known, and that's been their choice, to be that unknown, to just teach one student at a time.] I can only hope that I've been of some positive influence to those directly under my watch, as well as those outside of my watch. To be honest, at all times, in and out of the MA so as to not portray an ego as well as anything negative. Not only through my techniques, knowledge, and experience, but through my humbleness towards my fellow MAist. But, I'd be wrong to not put Yoshinobu Takahashi...my Sensei...Dai-Soke...at the top of any list...however, he's unknown to the world outside of the Shindokan network, which, too, was his choice; he too, wanted to just teach one student at a time.

Very nice! Big changes that were much needed! The after has that sincere welcoming look compared to the before pictures. Has the professional look, and not the "who cares" look! Very nice!!

Overall, Karate and TKD are more similar than one cares to admit. They both have the three k's: Basics...Forms...Sparring. Imho, what separates any MA from another is METHODOLOGY and IDEOLOGY!!

It is up to the individual whether one should or shouldn't train outside publicly. While one might take more of a chance if one trains alone, as apposed to train with a partner or more; strength in numbers. I surely would never train outside alone or with others if that area is well known for it's gang activity. You will be challenged, and I doubt that it would be a fair challenge, in the case they felt that your MA skills would best them. I certainly wouldn't train outside with any MA weapons, more for what local, state, and federal laws in your state might be. Also, if you're not mindful of your MA weapon, it can fall in the wrong hands, and this includes any children. Before I'd even consider to train outside alone or with a partner(s), I better have a great reason to do so, not just to do it, for whatever the reason(s). The MA is suppose to be private across the board, and whether that belief has died over the years in general, I'd first clear that type of training with your CI. There's a lot of things that ones going have to consider, both the good as well as the bad; circumstances and consequences must be weighed maturely and quite thoughtfully. If the outside is all one has to choose from away from your MA school, choose one wisely or don't choose at all; the garage, ones backyard, etc., can be safe haven over the outside in public.

Yeah I have heard it is difficult to get international instructors other than those from the hombu dojo to come teach. I am aware that Jesse has seminars in the US this year. Personally I don't understand why schools wouldn't allow international instructors of high regard to come teach. My sensei has always been open to having instructors come teach if they have something that would benefit our students. The main things that they required were positive history from other clubs and if they are well known (i.e. Jesse Enkamp or Iain Abernethy). Can't earn a positive history from any club and become well known if no MA school will provide that opportunity, even from a Hombu. Not to the stretch of ones imagination, but I fear this three-folded possibility of causing a MA school to be unapproachable: 1) You might "steal" their students 2) You appear to them of no-value 3) You are nobody to them So, why should a MA school give you a break/chance??

Most, if not all, MA schools, especially in the USA, won't let you teach THIER student body. So...there has to be a school somewhere that's willing to allow them individually to be allowed to teach. And if MA schools are highly apprehensive about that, then how did they/you/your instructor get that foot into ANY door? Word of mouth?!?! Sure, very effective! It's not what you know, but it's who you know!! Someone in ones network knows about what you do and how you do it and how different you do it, and they book you, it goes well, then your name spreads around your network, alas, you're filling in your calendar. It's that suspiciousness that they rest behind because they don't know you from the man in the moon? You say the right things, you do the right things, you sound knowledgeable, you wear the gi properly, you sound/act like you have spent some quality time on the floor, you didn't run into any walls and/or door frames, you don't look like a duck and you don't walk like a duck and you don't sound like a duck, BUT... They don't know you from the man on the moon!! Everyone here, thus far, have made some pretty solid posts, and I thank you all, and hopefully, I'll get some others chiming in, and those who've posted so far, will continue this discussion. I especially like what Danielle [DWx] has posted; quite solid, and then some!!

What is it/what was it that brought either of them to the forefront in the seminar MA world of their individual specialties??

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

Not all black belts can teach!! Btw, what's your current rank? I believe that this must be first understood before one walks onto any floor to teach the MA. Nonetheless, there are other ways to earn a living in the MA away from the floor. School manager, tournament promoter, supply store catering to the MA, and so many other ways. If one's the ability to teach, then seminars and the like can supply ones bottom line, this is of course, in-house seminars as well as visiting other schools. Branding and marketing are important, and shouldn't be taken lightly. That too take skills outside of one MA skills. Do either one haphazardly, the journey will be short lived and for cause. It's not easy to make a living in the MA. I know, I've been owning and operating my own dojo since 1977. However, while I've been blessed in the size of my student body, I've earned a living outside of the dojo as well in a wide variety of endeavors. I've also owned a MA supply store, which was in the front section of my dojo. But, first of all, I had to know if I can teach!! If not, then I suppose I would've tried other avenues to explore within the MA to make a living. Know this, full-time is rare, while part-time isn't. In my case, I was fortunate enough to earn a living in the MA full-time. Don't let anything I say dissuade you from what's in your heart. I wish you luck!!

A kick is just a kick, a punch is just a punch. Not always, my friend, not always. But, I do get what you're saying.

...that has catapulted these two, and others like these two, to the center of all that is Karate-do?? One's from Sweden, and the other is from United Kingdom, as far away as any place from the USA can be. I'm speaking about Jesse Enkamp and Iain Abernethy. Was it charisma? Was it being in the right place at the right time, albeit, timing? Was it the circles they travel in, alas, knowing the right people for the right reason(s)? Was it that they knew something that we don't know? Was it that they were able to birth a newness into something that was becoming stale and stoic, even though it was as old as time itself? Was it branding about themselves? Was it about the word "practical" that wasn't that practical? Just was it? Luck? Star alignment? Green clovers? Lucky coin/button? Rabbit foot? It's not what you know, but who you know...or vice versa? Presence? Just what?? I will admit, as will many attest to, they both possess notable knowledge as well as notable experience. If I was to gander at either of their calendars, I'm sure they'd find little time for themselves besides the personal moments that they've made for themselves; they'd not time to ponder "what shall I do today/this week?" They're both in huge demand these days from the four corners of the earth!! No, before anyone here, if they've not already, says that it sounds like I'm jealous or envious or judgmental or infuriate or whatever word(s) might best serve the tongue, I can honestly say that I'm the furthest from those words of negativity. Yes, I'm respectful of what they've both accomplished on the worlds stage for themselves, as well as for Karate-do; they both are proponents of Karate-do, as well as commerce; either are not a bad thing at all. So, again, just what was it?? Just what was it?? With what they've both done, singularly and collectively, is without any doubt the dawn of something wonderful and something special; the floor has taken notice of these two in the most favor one can only imagine. I'm not saying that Sweden as well as United Kingdom are third-world countries, because they aren't. Nonetheless, could've they done what they've done for themselves and Karate-do, with the same intensity, in the USA?? Why do I ask? Not saying that the USA is the melting pot of Karate-do, because it's just not, and not saying that the USA is the passing grade of anything Karate-do because, again, it's not. However, the USA, in all of it's assumed innocence, can be unassuming in it's opinions about many of things, including Karate-do, in which, the USA's Karate-do practitioners are, if nothing else, suspicious about a many of things, not one over another, particularly anything and everything Karate-do from anyone, if not just everyone, from near as well as from afar!! Both Jesse and Iain are each of them, mortal and not perfect, blessed in their abilities in the world of Karate-do, and neither of them, from what I can tell, are from on-high, just what do they possess that others cause them to think so highly of them?? Practitioners of Karate-do world-wide are drawn to them like a fly is drawn to the light in the droves. So, I ask again... What was it...no...what is it??

That is, if a kick is an actual kick at all!!

Forgive my oversight... Welcome to KF, DavyKOTWF; glad that you're here!!

Welcome to KF, LLLEARNER; glad that you're here!! I pray that the MA journey will be a good one for your 4 year old daughter and you!!

Great question! Thanks, Danielle! Instructors within Shindokan are chosen by the individual dojo's, alas, by the designated CI of those individual dojo's, and this takes place at Sankyu, and no sooner. Therefore, it's all OJT!! The Hombu does have remedial classes for designated instructors! It's held twice a year, usually in the 1st and 3rd quarter. These classes are 1 month in duration, and they're administered by the CI of the SKKA, which is currently our Kancho, Greg Forsythe, who's a Hachidan as well as Hanshi. All designated instructors within the SKKA network are welcomed to attend, however, they must remain in house at the Hombu for that full month that the classes are in session. If not, they receive a "Drop" on their Hard Card, but this is more clerical than administrative; said instructor is always welcomed back without questions. I choose my instructors, and I demand that my instructors attend the remedial classes at the Hombu every two years. I hold "Pep" classes with my instructors daily, and I hold "101" classes once every quarter. Bob, sounds like a great idea to get the instructors together, if only for knowledge sharing and discussion Are these lessons instruction in how to teach or purely correction of their own technique? How to teach, nonetheless, correction of their techniques happen due to the nature of teaching; hand in hand.

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

Again, visit each school, more than once, to get a sense of what they have to offer. If you've already visited each school of interest, then you know more about the school than any of us KF members. Go with your gut!! From the links you've provided, I'd go with the second of your links due to the Shotokan, which might be the closest of what you've studied in the past. The first link, I'd not entertain because, as you've already stated, you don't want to be a ninja and this school has that written all over it. Imho, their grappling pictures illustrate a lot of incorrect techniques, and that alone, would cause me to not join that school. Pictures worth a thousand words, and several visits would solidify what I already expect, but, visits might prove me wrong. The third link, if not for your back problems, I'd certainly consider that school, and not for this reason, because of a very solid lineage. What the pictures demonstrate is a firm grasp on grappling fundamentals, which is much more than what I can say about the ninja school. Having a good understanding of BJJ will be beneficial should an altercation end up on the ground, and the chances are that that's exact where most fights end up. Visit each school as many times as it takes to answer your concerns. Good luck in your search, take your time because there's no since in rushing an important decision.