sensei8

Most Karate styles TEACH the head-butt, Shindokan teaches it, and as with anything, if it's executed properly, there's little to no danger to the practitioner. The nose, being the target, isn't bone, but it's cartilage, quite easy to break. The head-butt gives the karateka one more tool to consider, and given the opportunity, I can guarantee that I'll use it with a fever of intent!!

I liked that as well....especially because Mike spoke in English.

I've Netflix, and that's where I'm trying to watch it, but there are not sub-titles, well, none that I can see.

We've also, used Sempai's to mentor the new student. While the new student can only attend the group classes, they'll have a Sempai assigned to them, side by side, for the duration of that first month. I've assigned myself to that duty when no Sempai was available, but that was rare. The more I can put a new student at rest and settle down the butterflies in their stomach, the better for the new student. Ever been the new student at a brand new school when you were in elementary school? Same terror...same reality...for a new student at the dojo/dojang/etc.

No matter what you do, once someone has God attached to anything, you're not going to change their mind. Rightfully or not, it's the way it is. As an example Sensei8, would it change your opinion of bowing to a picture of your Soke and Dai-Soke at shomen or shinzen? We start every class with the following: Shinzen ni rei Kaicho ni rei Nidaime ni rei Our shinzen has Seido Juku's kanji There's a picture of Kaicho Nakamura And a picture of his son Nidaime (second in line) Akira Nakamura I don't view any of it as worship. I view it as showing respect individually for the entire organization and what it stands for, showing respect for Kaicho and what he's done, and for Nidaime and what he's done. Neither of those two individuals are Gods nor God-like in any way, shape or form. And if you asked them, they'd confirm just that. When I've taken class in their immediate presence I've bowed to them (along with the rest of the senior black belts), and I view their pictures as nothing different than that. I'm not going to change your mind, and I don't want to; your beliefs are yours and you have them due to life experience. Those students have their beliefs, as misguided or ill informed as they may be; they are their beliefs and won't change. But in all fairness, I can't see how it would have worked out for those students in the long run. If they were informed of this protocol/ritual/practice/tradition (I hate to use words that could be twisted or misinterpreted as religious) from the beginning, they shouldn't have started in the first place. It was only a matter of time before they found something else as a conflict of religious belief and left IMO. I'm surprised they started at all. To the bold type above... My opinion of bowing DID change when I opened my own dojo. How so? I didn't put up anything anywhere in the dojo that I had to bow to, unlike how it was at the Hombu. That was their way, and I respected their way, and I LEARNED the true reasons as to why bowing in the MA exists at all. Even though I hang a picture of Jesus in my dojo, I don't bow to it because, to me, it's an outwardly act that's not necessary because my heart is looked upon by Jesus. Did I lose respect for Soke and Dai-Soke by not having their pictures hanging in my dojo? NO!! Respect is a personal choice, and I have respect for them without having to put their pictures up for all to see. "Well, most dojo's have a picture of the founder and their Sensei, if their Sensei isn't the founder, as a sign of reference and respect!!" Good for them...that's their choice, and I respect that wholeheartedly, but it doesn't mean I have to follow suit, as that's my choice, as well.

Congrats to all those who have recently been promoted!! Congrats to those in their current rank accomplishments!!

Fulcrums are important to a MAist, imho. Why? I can't execute any known manipulation from Tuite and the like without first having some practical knowledge of body mechanics/fulcrums and the like. Move this way, this DOES happen...move that way, this DOESN'T happen! Yes, the fulcrums, as the OP puts it, have to be tweaked at times for said manipulation to succeed. Why? No two attackers/attacks are the same!! Good topic, Alan!!

How can one be viewed as incorrect if they're doing it out of habit and/or respect?? Sure, on the outside of that circle, it appears one way to that person, and that is reality to THAT person, but it's assumption by THAT person is way off base. I never bowed to Soke and/or Dai-Soke outside of the dojo/Hombu all of the time, but on the occasions that I did, there was a valid reason in me to do so. I don't need another person and/or MAist to qualify my reasons because it's MY CHOICE, and my choice alone. Looking down on that or not, that too, is a choice others might make; it's their right, as it's my right as well.

Then why has a founder defined either?? What's the point of them doing that, because after all, they do that?? They might label 'it' this way and that way, but they define 'it' one way or another, and they expect others to adopt 'it' or go away. Imho!!

Be affiliated or not means very little to me because the governing body isn't the MAist!! What the MAist brings to the table is what I look for, and not who that person is affiliated with; I'm interested in the individual and not in any governing body. Sure, I might say..."That's cool", as to the affiliation, but after that has been said, I look at, and only at the individual. Lineage...same thing..."That's cool", and all of this boils down, for me, to one thing... Proof is on the floor!!

Reasons to learn the MA is as varied as their are people. Students' initial expectations of what to expect don't always meet up to the truth, which is found out quite quickly. Any quality instructor of the MA lays it all out for the student so as there's no surprises, including the expectations of the CI/School for the entire student body. New students from their first day on the floor can picture themselves wearing a black belt, and some, if not all, imagine that it won't be all that hard to earn. Then the reality introduces themselves to the student in a quite rude way. One drill after another, forms, stances, basics, repetitive punches and blocking and kicking and striking, and then theirs the mundane of corrections, as if, no beginning student can walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone together without being corrected. With the beginning student, the initial excitement wears thin, and that's quickly drawn into the unshakeable feeling that any type of mastery is unattainable, if ever. This, causes many new students to quickly decide to quit not only from your school but from the MA in its entirety; to never wear a gi or shadow the door of any MA school ever again. The MA requires dedication and hard work. To a new student, hard work isn't fun at all, and they want nothing to do with that. Here's what I've done, and remember, the apple doesn't fall from the tree, after all, I am my Sensei's student. Before allowing new students to enter any group class, have new students take private lessons first. That way, the new student isn't so overwhelmed in front of established students of the same and/or near rank. Week one: *Stances *Turns *Learning how to move in those first few stances in the four compass points...forwards, backwards, left, and right. Week two: *Blocks *Punches *Kicks *Strikes Week three: * One-Steps Week four: *Kata Of course, corrections are going to be there, as they should be for obvious reasons. Also, while posture, and things like that, aren't listed above, it doesn't mean that they're not taught. So if you see something that I've not listed above, believe you me, that that methodology/ideology is covered these 4 weeks. I don't charge for these classes at the private lesson rate, because they're not private, as a private lesson might be. These 4 weeks are more like an Introductory class to help them hit the group class with their feet running, and they'll not be playing super major catch-up to their peers. That shyness or whatever one might call it, can cause a new student to avoid any classes right from the start. New students assume everything that isn't actually true because they don't know any better. So, I'll do a Private lesson, aka, Introductory class before they enter any group class for the sake of the student, and truth be known, drop-out ratios lessen even more so. All because I took the month to ease a lot of their anxiety and frustrations by showing them a thing or two beforehand.

I'm of the mindset, and have been this way for quite a long time...well...forever, that a dojo/dojang/etc IS A BUSINESS!! Treating the business less than what it really is does the student and the school a terrible injustice. Why? The building can't pay its bills by itself. The building can't manage the tangible costs by itself. The building can't clean up after itself by itself. The building can't negotiate for itself. The building can't update any equipment for itself. The building can't advertise for itself. The building can't pick the price structure for itself. The building can't manage the Labor Matrix for itself. The building can't manage the staff for itself. In short, the building can't do anything for itself, and the building houses the business, no matter how the label might be addressed by the owner...school or dojo or dojang or whatever...it's a business IF THERE ARE OVERHEADS!! If there are no overheads, then one can call it whatever the owner decides!! I've been in business for a very, very long time, ever since the mid 1970's, and that means that all of my dojo's have been a business. And a business has to be cared for day in and day out, without neglect, and without exceptions.

Welcome to KF; catlike; glad that you're here!!

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

Welcome to KF, sole_killer123; glad that you're here!!

While I'm no great fan of contracts, that doesn't mean that one shouldn't consider it for their particular situation. If the contract covers the gaps for when a student is not on the floor, and gaps must be covered for the bottom line of your P&L, then the viability of your school must be also considered in ones decision to have or not have a contract. It's, the contract, a fine line but one to be considered across the board so that your surplus funds are covered.

If you're asking when should you begin to learn weapons/Kobudo, I'd say, whenever your instructor says so, and not anytime sooner. If you're asking when does weapon/Kobudo training begin in "your" style, I'd say that our Kobudo training begins in 6th Kyu/Green Belt.

I've tried to watch this movie quite a lot, however, I don't speak whatever language they are speaking in the movie. Has anyone any link where I can find this movie with sub-titles in English??

Sorry, Danielle, I've never tried to do that because it's just not my cup of tea!! I've been an Arbitrator, judge of all positions, score keeper, time keeper, and competitor, but never the host.

Well, it's official...all 3 of them quit!! Citing that the SKKA doesn't respect their beliefs, so why should they respect ours. Fair enough!!

Both you and your daughter should be very proud!! Congrats!!

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

As always, excellent tutorial, Alex; thanks for sharing it!!

My opinion is that whatever the methodology is being taught, one, especially beginners, should adhere to that, and nothing else. The problem is often see, especially in tournament fighting, is that the side snap kick isn't thrown correctly, therefore, ineffective. Said kick at tournaments aren't properly aligning as they should, but instead, a quick flick out and pray for the best; more like a slap being used more as one would shew a fly away, and with it being all over the place. No, the methodology should be adhered to at the beginning, except if you believe that if it's not broken, then why try to fix it!?! Sure, there are always better ways to make said technique becoming more effective, but then, if one's trying to deliver differently, just for that, I'd say stick with ones taught methodology. Methodologies vary so much, that the trees seem to get in the way of the forest!!

Great responses by all!! I've truly enjoyed reading each and everyone's story!!