sensei8

Ethics, of all types, are constantly challenged for the good as well as the bad. I suppose that this is to be expected. How we meet it head on, and strive forward for the good, helps to measure us on and off the floor. Not everyone has the same work ethics! My work ethics are not and were not the same as my Sensei...and it shouldn't have to match his. My work ethics aren't the same as Greg, our Kancho...and it shouldn't have to match his either. This is not a contest of who's work ethics are better than others because that will be seen evidently one way or another. "Worry about yourself!" said my Sensei over and over whenever someone thinks that they're above or below others.

Solid post!! Posts like this, is one of the reasons as to why you're the Member of the Month. No, we do not need styles; they separate and divide us unnecessarily. Self...the practitioner is enough, or it should be!

Congratulations on her first day on the floor; many to follow! You've every reason to be proud, and it shows in your post. Gently guide her, and don't press her to much, let the experience envelope her slowly. Let her know that I'm very proud of her, and I've got her back!! Train hard...train well!!

Thank you, Brian, for sharing this moving story, and this incredible woman!! Those of us who don't have a disability can learn quite a lot from Jessica, therefore, we've no excuses for not trying. The MA can be difficult; it's suppose to be difficult. What's hard today, with sincere practice, becomes easier. Her story motivates me!!

Alas, if I may, sometimes a curved line is just as direct and short as a straight line. To the layperson, these lines become blurred and troubled. While I may transition straight at first, opportunities permit me to transition in an angle, thusly, to the target. To me, this option was the same as a straight line.

Congrats on earning your yellow belt; feels great, huh??!! As time allows, please pop your head in and kick your feet up and converse away!

I, too, am not from your area. However, if I may suggest, the advice that chiliphil1 offers is sound! Give TKD a try, and I agree with chilliphil1 that you're flexibility will not be a tasking issue at all because your flexibility will increase in time.

Solid post!!

You should definitely check with your Sensei--generally, they go on the left side of the chest, but many instructors pick different locations for their patches. I agree!!

Solid post!! As a Senior Dan, it can be a hard pill to swallow, what Maybetrue is stating, because I feel that I'm lumped in with them, the 90 average, undeservingly so by association. Unless you've shared the floor with me, I can imagine that everyone here thinks that of me from time to time, if not all of the time because we've not shared the floor; proof is on the floor!! I believe in my heart that I'm of the 10 percent stated because of my work ethic on and off the floor! I share our Hombu inside and outside with everyone here at KF, so I suppose there's that 90 percent. However, I'm the elected Kaicho of our Hombu/SKKA, albeit, a representative at large. I speak about Dan less and less, yet, I'll post my believes and opinions, good and bad, without reservations. I don't want students that are chasing for the Dan rank; I've no time nor inclinations to do so!! I've seen with my own eyes and I've heard with my own ears, exactly what Maybetrue is speaking towards in this thread concerning Senior Dans, and it makes me sick to my stomach whenever I witness it first hand. At times, it has reared its ugly head in our Hombu/SKKA, and it has sickened me to the core, and my anger is not easily quenched whenever it happens in-house.

Pictures can be worth a thousand words! Therefore, check this out; it might help you... http://www.karatebyjesse.com/5-ways-to-get-a-fantabulous-shiko-dachi-stance-looking-beyond-static-stretching/ Good luck; hopefully this will help you! Train hard and train well!!

Please don't ever forget about "Word of Mouth" advertising! It's free; costs you nothing. Albeit, it can hurt you too if the school...students...the CI...the assistant instructors...and so on and so forth is spoken about in a negative tone! Word of mouth sits right on the line of it being good OR bad!! It's risky, but that's one of my primary means of advertising, and I was quite successful that way. This was also the most effective way of both my Soke and Dai-Soke to advertise; they refused any other avenue.

I'm of the opinion that this is a made up Bo Kata! It has elements of different Bo Kata's mixed together. I might be wrong, but for now, I'd say this is a made up Bo Kata for sport competition. I've played the part in the video where the name's mentioned over and over and over, but I've only got the word "Bo", but I don't know more than that. Driving me crazy, the name that is!!

Welcome to KF, oldgodan1994; glad that you're here!!

GO COWBOYS!! I know, the Cowboys aren't seeing much to smile about lately. There W-L isn't what they're use to. For some sunshine, not every loss has been a blowout, yet, very close games. However, a loss is a loss. Maybe next year...MAYBE!?!? GO COWBOYS!!

It's belated, but it's better than never...Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals World Series victory!! I'm sure Brian smiled about this.

You should be very proud of these numbers!! You're showing increases more than you're showing decreases; which of course, is normal to expect...but you're student body is growing. Do you have a number in mind that you'd like to reach??

Thank you, Noah, for sharing the video; nice application!!

I'm not from that area, but this might help you... http://www.shorinryuyorkcounty.com/ Good luck in your search for a new dojo home! Btw, welcome to KF, Luan Bueno; glad that you're here! Please visit the "Introduction" forum so that you might say "hi", and tell us a little bit about yourself.

Solid post!!

I think it's a good idea, what you're wanting to do. It's YOUR MA training, train as see fit!! More importantly, breaking up the training/practicing routine is not only a way to get fresh eyes on the matter but it's also necessary in ones MA growth; betterment improved. However, I'd be quite attentive to ineffectiveness so that it doesn't change positive muscle memory. If it doesn't feel right, then more than likely, it's not right. Find out why before discarding it! If there's more than one way to skin a cat, then, by that logic, there's more than one way to train. Listen to the advice of your Sensei! The ultimate person that will make that final decision is...YOU!! No matter the advice of your Sensei, what you do behind close doors is your business. However, your Sensei will notice, both the good as well as the bad in your technique. Most Sensei's don't have any proper bedside manners, and they will tell their student the blunt truth. I'd never get in the way of a student and their ways to increase their MA betterment. Albeit, if what they're doing is counterproductive to effectiveness, then I'd counsel them. While my counsel is above all other counsel, the decision is theirs to make. You've got my support!! Train hard...train well!!

I'm sure they mean well!! HOWEVER, it's YOUR journey, and it's not theirs. They don't have a minimum of an idea about what it takes to become effective in the MA. Thank them! That's the least you can do. You might not be able to explain anything MA related to them; they see with their eyes FROM OUTSIDE of the MA circle. They can't see with your eyes FROM INSIDE of the MA circle. It's your MA journey!! Not theirs!! They can only see what they see and know what they know; it's not their fault. Imagine me, going up to their job and asking them the same question, or voicing my concerns with the same validity that they display. They'd try to explain it to me, and so on and so forth, but in the end, I still might express my dismay as to the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the whole thing. No one has the right to dissuade your path because it's YOUR PATH, and not theirs!! In short, rant aside...I'd thank them politely! If that's not sufficient enough for them, then I'd politely tell them... Mind your own business, when it comes to my MA journey!! My wife knows better than to express those types of concerns with me because her concerns, while she means well, when it comes to my MA journey are unfounded, unwarranted, and unwelcomed. This also goes with relatives, friends, my pastor, my mailman, my neighbor, my grocer, my landscaper, my cat, my dog, my landlord...whomever else. I've known the MA way much longer than any of them. Train less! Practice less! That's against all that I am; now and forever. Asking me to be less effective...I don't think so!! Might as well tear my heart out and kick it down the street. I can no longer train and practice less than I can breathe less. Like the air I breathe, the MA sustains me!! Accept me for who I am, including the manner of which I choose to train and practice the MA. If not, then as cruel as this might seem, I'll go my way and they can go their way. Either way, I'll practice and train the MA as I see fit. If nothing else, whenever they voice their concerns, change the subject as subtle as you can... "Isn't the weather breathtaking today?!?"

Great tips by all! For nothing, I'd suggest that you spar and spar and spar and spar and... until the wheels fall off, then, continue to spar and spar and spar and spar and... It's not a futile thing to do so, imho. Can't train enough! The more, the better, and this allows your Sensei time to make necessary adjustments across the board. Angle forward so that you can attack from 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, ...as well as 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 o'clock; limiting 12 and 6 o'clock because those are expected and trained against. Throw in angle attacks consistently, yet mixed with the direct attacks of 6 and 12 o'clock. Angle when your opponent isn't, and attack direct on, when your opponent is. Close the distance abruptly, well, as abruptly as one can. This way, your opponent can't complete their technique(s). Work on speed, as already suggested, because if one can't see it, how can they react to it properly, if at all?!?!?!?!? Good luck, train hard, and train well!!

Solid post!!

I sure do deeply appreciate the OP, especially the videos; thank you, Noah for sharing it. I particularly enjoyed Nakazato Minoru Sensei's kata, but even more, I enjoyed the respect that was shown to him, and I noted the respect shown to him by those on the stage.