sensei8

Thank you for your kind words, Brian!! More importantly, I thank you for your friendship, in and out of the MA. And more than ever before, now that the celebration is done, my goal for 2015 is... Sharing the floor with you once again because once, isn't ever enough!! So, hell or high water, I'll be coming to Hays, KS in 2015, God willing!! Your friend, in and out of the MA!! To the bold type above... Bummer...I messed that one up; sorry, Brian!! I'm STILL trying to work this out for us!!

If so, then he needs much better insurance!! When insurance plans try to dictate MA training, then it's time to shop for much better insurance plans, and they're there, gear for MA training. Imho!!

Solid post!! If she had anything to do with SKIF, and if the powers that be had got wind of this, someone would be called onto the carpet for some discipline faster than one can blink. You handled this excellently; way to go!!

This is appalling, to say the least!! This act negates the three K's completely, and this Okinawan Sensei should be ashamed and should close his dojo doors forever!! IMHO!!

Congrats, Ken on your being promoted to 2nd Dan! Hopefully, your pursuit for 3rd Dan won't keep you away from KF; I enjoy your inputs!!

Look for a martial arts club, go there, ask them to train, train. Solid post!!

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!!