sensei8

Solid post!! What I do know about the ATA is that the GM for ATA IS the authority of their governing body; alas, they've had, up until 2015, one GM AT A TIME, as IcemanSK has pointed out!! Whenever one GM stepped down, another would be promoted to the GM mantle. I believe that Brain, might be able to shed some light on this because he once was part of the ATA.

Since I don't walk within the circles of the ATA, I hadn't heard about this until today. My post isn't to disrespect the ATA in any shape, way, and/or form!! For me to do that, would be cheap, to say the least, and that isn't my character. The ATA now has TWO Grandmasters...not one, but two Grandmasters CURRENTLY! In Ho Lee and now, Richard Reed. I'm not talking about successions, but I'm talking about, if I may, Co-Grandmasters. Why now? Why not later? Why ever? Let someone else speak about this, better than I can... "The Officiating Grand Master, In Ho Lee, announces an addition to the 2015 Masters’ Ceremony. We are excited to announce a very special, high rank advancement. On this historic occasion, Chief Master Richard Reed will receive his 9th Degree Black Belt and the title of Grand Master. Chief Master Reed was instrumental to bringing his instructor, Eternal Grand Master HU Lee to the United States in the 1960’s. Considered the very first member of the ATA, Chief Master Reed was instrumental in the startup of the first ATA school – which was called the Nebraska Karate Association in Omaha. He was an innovator of martial arts as a business which built part of the foundation for over one thousand ATA licensed locations today." As belated as this is, I extend my congratulations to GM Richard Reed of the American Taekwondo Association. I'd say, that this can be truly said that it's not ever been tried before, imho, of Co-Grandmasters, and the like. Will they both have equal authority as Co-Grandmasters? It could be that as their announcement starts... "The Officiating Grand Master, In Ho Lee.." means that In Ho Lee maintains the mantle of authority, while Richard Reed, just holds the mantle of GM. Please, be respectful to the ATA in your responses... Would this work in YOUR governing body?? Would you want this of your governing body?? I doubt that it would work in our governing body because the upper higher hierarchy aren't capable of sharing responsibilities. They're team players, but they all want to be the boss...the head honcho, therefore, my days as Kaicho are quite numbered!! I wouldn't want this of our governing body because I believe that it can be disruptive to the core of the student body. How? Following two Kaicho's, as it would be in our governing body, is akin to following two masters, whereas, one will be loved and the other hated. Two visions running to the same conclusions doesn't seem to be quite acceptable because one will want what the other doesn't.

Welcome back, Sentoka; glad that you've returned!!

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

Happy Birthday, Noah...and many more!!

Didn't a white belt come with your gi? If so, then, for now, use that one.

Nice tutorial, Alex!! If it, whatever 'it' might be, is within reach, and it makes sense to seize it, and go from there, then I'll do such, and with such conviction!!

I saw this on FB, and commented as well. The boys have had a great season, and I still believe their continued success, however long that drive remains in them to continue to wrestle. After all, what I've seen, they've both got some serious mad skills on the mat, imho. GO KENNETH AND KENDALL!!

Marketing!! That might be needed for the new location!! Pass out more flyers and do more demonstrations...anything to get your name out there. If no one knows your there and what you offer, they'll never darken your door. Ask parents to be an advocate for the new location...word of mouth. Find a pizza joint that will allow you to put flyers on the pizza box...something...anything...trial and error. If you've not done so yet, do a Grand Opening; sign ups might be there!!

Again, Lex, looks great! You've done quite well with the space given. As your school grows, you'll have to figure out what to do with the seating space. However, it's an easy fix, or it seems to be from my point of view...add class times to accommodate growth.

Nice workable space, Lex; looking great!! Clean...bright...welcoming...AWESOME!!

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

Welcome to KF, Matchu B San; glad that you're here!!

Solid post!! I'd only add, visit these schools first, as many times as needed, to give you a more clearer picture.

Solid post!!

Very nice tutorial, stonecrusher69!! Our Soke, according to our many In-House resources, never studied WC! However, what your video here shows, and with many other videos you've submitted in the past, a lot of what we teach in Shindokan concerning close ranges, is pretty close to what WC does, if not, at time, the same thing. Keep your videos coming!!

Many years ago, I stopped charging testing fees, and shortly after that, the Hombu, under my leadership as Kaicho, ended charging testing fees as well. This action trickled down to every Shindokan dojo; no testing fees!! Before that revelation, Shindokan dojo's, and including the Hombu, charged only ONE testing fee. If a student didn't pass their initial testing cycle, they were never ever charged a testing fee...no matter how long it takes to finally pass.

What if they don't pass??

Congrats to Kendall!! .500 is admirable in anyone's book!! And you should be proud of him!! Express to Kendall, just how proud I am of him too!!

High Dan ranks have the unsettling, as well as the unmitigated pleasure of assumption concerning their effectiveness from others. For the most part, I believe that High Dan ranks are effective across the board, albeit, not every High Dan ranks are. Effectiveness is easily revealed once on the floor. However, whomever interprets the floor, has to be effective themselves first and foremost. Otherwise, their interpretations are vain and left void!! "But, wait, the older one gets the less effective one becomes; the curse of getting older." What I have to say about that is this... Ha, speak for yourself and not for others!! Propping up High Dan ranks on their so called...pedestals, is done by those who are easily impressed. It just happens, and for those High Dan ranks that don't put a stop to that, well, they should be ashamed of themselves to the Nth degree!! Am I effective? In what Brian here says...bears weight... Was I ever effective? Not at first; nobody is!! Things take time!! Only one person, at any given moment, can accurately express whether one's effective or not!! Who is that one person? The one that stands before at that given moment...that's who!! We are guardians of what is and what isn't effective!! But be forewarned, we/you better be right. Otherwise, we've no right to pass unsolicited judgement on any MAist, living or not.

Because that's all we know, for that moment! The style is the proponent of ourselves.

To student 'A': Shut up and train!! To student 'B': Shut up and train!! Student 'A'...just who promoted that student to a position that he/she doesn't possess?? Student 'B'...I will not force a student to test! Test...don't test...it's all good to me!! And when student 'B' is ready, I'll be here...whether it's sooner or later!! For student A, my answer is similar. They don't dictate when they test. For student B, it depends on their "why" & their rank. If they are holding back to have a chance to win tournaments, we'd be having a chat about ethics. If they just don't want to, it depends on their present rank & for how long they are there. If someone is 4th Dan. Runs their own school under me. But hasn't tested for 20 years, we'd be having a chat because at that point, that student is affecting his/her student's ability to promote, as well. Just an example. If using your example of a 4th Dan haven't graded for 20 years, why would they have not gone and attempted a grading in that time? I know many 4th and 5th Dans that haven't graded for that length of time because they are content at that rank and have no desire to be promoted to a much higher grade. What if that 4th Dan who hasn't graded has continually trained under their instructor and other instructors during that time, has the knowledge and expertise of say an 8th Dan but just hasn't been given that rank and the ranks in between? and he has graded students to 4th dan. Because IMHO rank is just a piece of clothing that keeps your pants up. And at the end of the day students acknowledge that knowledge is the main thing. I know about a Nidan that hasn't tested in close to 30 years...and this Nidan is quite content with that; I can admire and respect that. This Nidan has the knowledge and experience of a Dan rank way much higher than current rank. This Nidan has no desire to ever test! Why? A sign of respect to his Sensei who passed away shortly after this Nidan received his Nidan!! Very admirable indeed. I'm sorry you were forced against your will due to politics. To the bold type above... Is this question directed to me? Yes, didn't you say you were forced to get Kudan in due part to being Kaicho Thanks, The Pred!! Forced...that's a strong word, but, I suppose that that's an accurate statement!! I hate the things that lead up to it, and that's one of the reasons as to why I hate my Kudan with a passion!!

Solid post!!

It would be great to see you there! I'm planning to include an "open exchange" session, where we go around the room sharing techniques, so you'd even have a chance to teach us karate folks some grappling No kidding, I'm seriously considering this. I have to get ahold of a LE conference date that runs around that time that will have to take priority, but if it's a different set of dates... Awesome! I hope you can make it! HECK YEAH...I hope you can make it too, Alex!! I'd even consider on extending my availability, and postpone my SKKA obligations of touring Shindokan dojo's in preparation of our annual testing cycle, to attend your class...you've got MAD skills, Alex!!!!!!!

Solid post!!