sensei8

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!!

It's the unnoticed movements of Belly Dancing that caught my attention. However, the initial phase of their movements might add something of value to Karate Hip Movements. However, not the entire Belly Dancing Hip Movement, as some, are quite exaggerated and ineffective to Karate Hip Movements. If Belly Dancing can provide another way of utilizing ones hip movement effectively, then I suppose that it bears to be looked into. I'm open minded enough to take a real close look at it.

I wholeheartedly agree!!

Congrats, LLLEARNER; well deserved!!

Ballet is suppose to accentuate the MA, therefore, many MAists have either learnt or are learning ballet in the hopes that their MA betterment might be increased as having been applied in their MA training/knowledge. I overheard a very recent conversation, and yes, I was being rude by eavesdropping on some students during a break at our Hombu's Annual Testing Cycle. Two of the students involved in their conversation were describing how they were taking Belly Dancing lessons, and that they believe that that has accentuated their MA betterment in the long run, especially when it come to hips and the MA. Really? How? Hhhmmmm? I slowly walked away, as discreetly as I could, so as to not being found out...I'm so ashamed of myself! Not just because of my actions of eavesdropping, but because I never ever thought, not even once, of belly dancing as to how it might and/or does accentuate the MA concerning the HIPS across the board. My male card wouldn't allow me to think along this line!! So what do I do when I get to my office? I do some quick research, and I mean quick research, about Belly Dance through the guise of the internet via Wikipedia for a general overview. Check this out, please... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belly_dance Please pay close attention to this section titled..."Movements found in belly dance" How hips are utilized in Belly Dance might, and could have a dramatic influence as to how MA movement might be made to be that direct correlation to and from what many of the "movements characteristic of belly dance can be" beneficial in the long and the short of it all. Words, for example, like "hip drops", "vertical hip rocks", "outwards hip hits", "hip lifts" and "hip twists" might be more than just words, albeit, clues as to what MAist might be overlooking with an intent, more than an avoidance, especially for the male MA student. Then there are more words, like, "horizontal or tilting hip circles", "undulations of the hips and abdomen", "Shimmies", "shivers", and "vibrations", these might be the unheard of hip movements that we MAist haven't known about and/or refused to know and/or learn about for whatever reason(s) one might or might not want to confess. In conclusion, read that section in its entirety as many times as one has to in order to capture an understanding, as if it'll be of help for you and/or your students. No, I'm not saying that one has to learn Belly Dance, I'm just saying that Belly Dance shouldn't be cast away because, and I'm referring to males here and at this moment, our ego won't allow us to at least examine how some of the Belly Dance movements might give us a edge up over our current experience concerning hip movement in an overall generalization, as well as in a structured understanding. Your thoughts, please!!

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

If this hasn't been addressed as of yet, let us not forget that the roundhouse can be delivered to other ranges other than high. In Shindakan, our range for the roundhouse is low, and never higher than the stomach. Shindokan kicks are primarily for set-ups for our hands.

These 3, as have every student of the SKKA, have had their expectations explained to them when they became students of the SKKA, and whenever necessary, they've been reminded of their expectations...including the act of bowing, as in General in the MA, as well as within the SKKA/Shindokan. These 3 have their rights, as does anyone!! Nonetheless, the SKKA/Shindokan has its rights, as well, and the act of bowing is a part of being a student of Shindokan. How these 3 students interpret their religious beliefs and understandings is their own perception, and however they might perceive, their perception is correct and true to them. Therefore, I'll not debate, nor will I entertain, an argument as to that fact. After all, I believe the fact of how they believe is none of my business. I believe what I believe, and they believe what they believe, and I'm not the one to judge whether they're right or wrong, as I can only judge and determine for myself. They owe me nothing more than what they've already said, and concretely stood behind, and that was..."The act of bowing is against our religious belief." In my opinion, our doors will always be open to them to return, if they do leave, whenever they decide to do so!! I too, believe that the SKKA is to teach Shindokan, and bowing is the least of what's necessary and/or required. We're to teach effectiveness, and whether one bows or not, is miniscule of my concerns. Sure, bowing is an intricate part of Shindokan's history, and important, but the act of bowing should match the moment. The 3 of them don't have problems with any honorific labels because they see those labels as titles that are assigned to certain individuals within the SKKA, as well as in the MA in General, and they understand why we use the Japanese names and not the English names. Yes...is Shindokan for them? That's for them to decide!! If not, than it's not!! Like Mo has said..."When in Rome.........." Therefore, our Rome, is the SKKA/Hombu, and bowing is what we do because that's what we were all taught to do by Soke and Dai-Soke. If you don't like Rome, move far away, so as to not being influenced one way or another!! According to the Hombu's CI, Greg, he's counseled them all many times, but he's not wanting to expel them because he sees the MAist in them all, and Greg doesn't want to extinguish the flame within them because they will not bow. Yes, they do show Greg and others respect, but they do that outwardly in other ways, like..."Yes Sir/Maam!!" and so on and so forth, they just refuse to bow. Greg says he's told them the reasons for bowing before and after a Kata, but, the 3 of them have said that bowing is bowing and they won't do it, nor separate one thing from another. Can someone say...Catch 22!?!?! Our rules and regulations are for ALL/EVERYONE, and bowing isn't a whim, it's our way, and no one is better than another...so...if I bow, then you better bow too. If not, what am I to do...beat you up? NO!! Yell at you? NO!! Expel you? NO!! Suspend you? NO!! Throw a fit? NO!! What good will it do to do any of that?!? Who really wins at the battle of the wills?? Sure, I don't like it that they refuse to bow, but I can't force anyone to do anything, no matter who I think I am. If the SKKA makes exceptions for one, then the SKKA should make exceptions for everyone!! I don't ever want to open that Pandora's box...ever!! Our Hombu does have a Kamiza, however, we're not required to bow to it. This act of it being mandatory, never occurred, nor was it enforced from Soke and/or Dai-Soke because they respected the beliefs of others. JR 137, you're right! I do not bow to the Kamiza due to my Christian beliefs, and I don't hang up any pictures up in any of my dojo's of Soke and/or Dai-Soke and/or of any MA Master because of my religious beliefs. I hang up only one picture, and it's of Jesus...dead center of the main wall. And yes, some students have been offended of that, and I've told them, stay or leave, I don't care one way or another, and you'll leave before I take that picture down!! Again, they are following every other piece of protocol as well as showing sincere respect to others, with the exception of bowing. ::Scratching my head on this one::

First off, I appreciate everyone's posts; well thought out, and concise. Very quick decision...DENIED!! That was the decision made by the Administrative Department, and their decision was unanimous...I recused myself!! The matter is closed!! And yes, all 3 of them were advised of the decision made by the Administrative Department behind closed doors in private session. I also sat with them all several times before the Administrative Department was seated for this matter, and I've sat with them all after the decision was made. They understand, and they respect the final decision, although, they had hoped for a more favorable outcome. I've scheduled a meeting with the 3 of them with Greg and I, as well as Hugh, of our Legal Team, to discuss whether they'll be allowed to remain as part of the student body or not at 1830 hours today. I suspect, from what I feel in my gut, that they'll excuse themselves from remaining. This saddens me to no end because everyone deserves the right to pursue their MA journey without prejudice.