sensei8

Solid post!!

Solid post!! What you're suggesting will be done in another project phase. But for now, Kata first, then we'll see the reaction from the student body.

Yes, by all means. It breathes newness and freshness out and away from the mundane normality infesting many schools of the MA. However, it might depend on the school/style/CI/etc because there is the old argument that why fix it if it's not broken. Why? Because the MA ISN'T from a cookie cutter mindset. No. Eclectic mindset is needed because there's different ways to skin the cat. Through trail and error, newness in effectiveness is birthed. I first used the rotating curriculum with great success when I was teaching "Karate" at the Los Angeles Valley College. It opened up quite a lot because teaching at a college, imho, isn't the same thing as teaching at my dojo. How so? The classes are designed around a semester, and not for long durations as one might find at a dojo. That being said, once I saw the impact that the rotating curriculum was having at the college level after two semesters, I immediately brought that to my dojo. It was a hit. Albeit, the rotating curriculum is a side-kick to my dojo's original curriculum. Then to that, when I was elected to Kaicho and CI of the SKKA Hombu, I initiated the rotating curriculum, and it too, was a success. Often times after my college teaching days, I would speak to my Sensei, the then current Kaicho, about this rotating curriculum. At first he was hesitant, but our Soke, his Sensei, denied it, yet in time, my Sensei found its worth. So much so that he tried to apply it against the wishes of Soke, but in time, Soke too, saw that the rotating curriculum was a valuable tool to run along with their original curriculum. Our Teaching Department has the final say in matters pof this concern at the Hombu, and them alone!!

Solid post!!

When did I NOT have an "Aha" moment?!? 51 years in the MA and I STILL have "Aha" moments. Having said that, my first "Aha" moment is as vivid as it was the day it happened. I was 10 years old! I was a 6th Kyu/Green Belt! Even though I was 6th Kyu, I've always had problems with my Tai Sabaki work, more particularly, my turns weren't locked and solid, often times, they were the bane of my MA existence. Sensei, as nurturing as he always was, I was thick headed beyond all belief. He's say turn right, and I'd turn left, and vice versa. Never once did he raise his voice or say anything negative; he defined patience to the Nth degree. Silly or dumb as this might sound, and what Sensei did eventually with me, still, brings tears in my eyes. He tried everything to help me break the barrier...to help me see day instead of night...to break free of where I was then, to where I needed to be. He called my mom, and spoke with her on the phone briefly before we headed to class for that night. Just before we headed out the front door, she told me to get into the car while she ran back into the house to retrieve something. We went to class. Sensei greeted my mom and asked her... "You bring it?" "Yes...it's right here." mom says as she's reaching into her purse. When I saw what it was, I was so embarrassed. She hands it to my Sensei, and he instructs me to line up. All of this time, I'm thinking at warp speed a billion things at about this time. What's going on?!? After warm-ups and up-and-down drills, Sensei breaks us into tiny groups having us work on this and that. Sensei has one of our Sempai's bring me over to where he was standing. He invites me to sit down with him...and this thing in his hand...and I'm wanting to become invisible...NOW!! He moves the thing in his hand here and there on the floor. I thought he lost him mind...especially at his age. Sensei's moving this thing around while he's making him points and showing me some unforeseen nuances. Nuances that I've never noticed before. Still, my face, from time to time, was buried in my hands out of shame. Fellow students couldn't help themselves, but they were all laughing at me, this added to my shame. "Yame" he barked to the room. "Stop...you pay what I doing now...no more puff" He gently commands me with an understanding tone in his voice. Then, right then as he continues to explain with this thing in his hand...I finally went...AHA...it started to click. Sensei must've saw the brightness of my stare and the big smile on my face, because, he has me stand up and and starts drilling me in my turns...the big turn, that's what I call the 270 degree turn...is quite troublesome for me. But, that thing in his hand brought his teaching to life...where I could see what I couldn't see before. Ever since that "Aha moment", I've understood, and had no problems with my turns...ever again. Just think, with the assistance of that thing in his hand, he was able to help me break free of that which was holding me back. I never looked at that thing the same way...again! So, that's my first "Aha" moment. Thanks for allowing me to share this with you all. Oh yeah, btw, that thing...you might be asking yourself, just what was it that he had in his hand...what was that thing that helped me with my very first "Aha" moment...just what was it... My most favorite of all things...A GI JOE!! Yeppers, it took a GI Joe to help me reach my very first "Aha" moment. Played with that GI Joe, but now when I did, not only did I lose my imagination in the world of playing, I had a new training partner at home...my GI Joe. And yes, I enlisted every army man and whomever else from my toy box to help me train in the many nuances of the MA. Thanks GI JOE!!

Read this quote just the other night... "What does it take to stop a bad guy with a gun? A good guy with a gun." ~Robert Lovingood, Vice Chair for the San Bernardino, CA, County Board of Supervisors. First, I'm not an advocate nor a supporter of Mr. Lovingood and/or the office for which he now resides. I just want us to have a friendly discussion. Therefore, what's your opinion about his quote? Let me be frank, the MA can only go so far against an attacker if a gun is involved, the MAist becomes quite limited. After all, bringing a knife to a gun fight has its limits, as well.

When I'm teaching Kata, I'll do it slow while the students are following me to count. Then I'll fine tune the Kata as much and as often as it's necessary. Placing the Kiai's in their appropriate location(s). But before I'll teach the Kata, I'll execute it for them as the Kata should be. This is what I'm leaning on for the moment...execute the Kata at normal speed, as an introduction, then slow to show the nuances. I might use an inset to said Kata's that would require a pinpointed camera view of what's exactly happening, more for clarity sake. That might help with some AHA moments. I also saw a Kata reference video, and it did the normal, then slow, then slow motion. What do you think about the slow motion? Yeah, I'll save the Bunkai for separate DVD projects, and this is mainly because we've all been taught that Oyo is absolutely personal to the practitioner, and not always in alignment with the interpretation of others.

Thank you all, I greatly appreciate everyone's posts; gives me a lot to think about. These DVD's will be provided to Shindokan students free. They're not demonstrational based!! They'll be a referencing tool. At the present time, students have their handbooks to reference. While these handbooks do contain Kata material relation to their rank, a picture, or video in this case, is worth a thousand words. One last thing, the Hombu called me this morning to inform me that after some consideration, they're authorizing my project. GREAT...WHO CARES?...SHUT UP...because of my position, I don't need authority, and I certainly don't need permission for this project. They're trying to assume a position that they don't possess. Thanks anyway!! Time to have a serious heart to heart talk with the upper hierarchy, the sooner, the better.

It's a constant on my mind!!

Solid post!!

Solid post!! To the bold type above... If I've lost respect here at KF for how I feel about that CI mentioned in my first post in this topic, I completely understand, and ask for forgiveness. Please hear me. I was not commenting, even slightly, on your post or your comments, but on the situation I posted entirely. FWIW, my thoughts on your situation: 1) You advocated for yourself in an odd situation. 2) You did even what that CI asked & spoke to his sensei. 3) His sensei was a reasonable man. 4) No one was physically hurt. I'd say it ended well. My signature says a lot about what I believe about MA training. I know too many great fighters & teachers who cannot manage to be decent human beings off the floor. Sadly, they've taken difficult childhoods or being treated badly at their job or at home & cannot manage to treat others the same way, regardless of the "Integrity" tattoo in Chinese on their bicep. If the tenets of my Art don't sink in, it doesn't matter how good my side kick is....I'm not doing it right. I respect you greatly, sir. I greatly appreciate your kind words; I don't take them lightly!! I do wish that it had never happened, and more importantly, I wish I hadn't went to visit his dojo with the intent of shutting his mouth. That was wrong of me, and that was not how I was raised in and out of the dojo. I wholeheartedly agree with what your signature says. In that, just because a person is a human being, it doesn't mean that they know how to act like a human being. I respect you greatly too, sir!!

To the bold type above... What happened?

I've almost got my camcorder up to speed with installing drives and the like. I need to get an SD memory card and a tri-pod, and after a few test records for lighting and things like that, plus trials and errors, I'll be good to start recording. So... An introduction first... It's time to bring Shindokan out of the dark ages...when it comes to things of our modern world. Having said that, as Kaicho of the SKKA/Shindokan, I'm taking it upon myself to partake of the following: A Kata DVD project in two phases: Phase one>>>Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kata [Empty-Hand] Phase two>>>Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo Kata When I say "I'm taking it upon myself", I mean that I'm not authorized by the SKKA/Shindokan to partake of this without their explicit authorization. HOGWASH...is exactly what I told them...HOGWASH. If you don't want to do it as a team, then I'll do it by myself. Time is wasting, and time, imho, is now, and not sometime in the far future...if ever. Our Soke has written that..."NOTHING OF SHINDOKAN belongs to any sole individual on the face of the Earth; Shindokan belongs to everyone." So, if Shindokan belongs to "everyone", and I'm part of everyone, then because Shindokan belongs to "everyone", I've the right to engage in this of my own free will, without fear of any reprisals, sanctions, and the like from any governing body and/or any individual. Why are they not authorizing me to do this project? Well, it wasn't their idea. Which is another HOGWASH because we've been in one meeting after meeting for many years...with no agreements in sight, nor do I see one in my lifetime. OK...enough of an introduction. Politics be damned...here's my question(s)... Should the Kata's be executed slow or should they be executed at regular speed, hence, fast?? Kanazawa Sensei, who is my Kata Video go-to authority, and in any of his video's he's shown executing said Kata slow, at different angles. I like that. A student can catch many nuances this way, whereas, if done at regular speed/fast, those nuances can be missed. Yet, I've seen just as many fast Kata as I've seen slow. Yes, preferences dictate which is more preferable, but, for me, it gets lost in the haze of which way is the best. I believe that a Video of a Kata should be slow to show the proper sequences and the like, and thereafter, the CI/Sensei can fine tune learnt/learning Kata with tempo/rhythm and the like. After all, isn't an instructional video nothing more than a reference tool outside of the dojo?? In advance, thank you for any assistance/advise/opinions!!

Solid post!! To the bold type above... If I've lost respect here at KF for how I feel about that CI mentioned in my first post in this topic, I completely understand, and ask for forgiveness.

I'm from the bye gone days, and while these type of things weren't as often as one might think or imagine, they did, from time to time, happen. For the most, these type of things were quick, and to the point. More often than not, the challenger was scoffed at with an impudent tenor. Having been born in 1957, the MA was just being born itself in the USA. This ingredient only created itself either a wonderment or a troublesome amount those that are true to the MA or true to proving themselves. The far gone conclusions that this only occurs in 'B' rated movies, is not only a costly assumption, but it's also without sound merit. It did happen! Some were more romantic than others, however, some were a cold served dish. My Soke, had a few challenges, as did our Dai-Soke, but very rarely did they experience them back in Okinawa, but as the hype of the MA began building up momentum, he'd be on the unforgiving end of many unwelcomed challenges. The venue...The Shindokan Hombu...and that...to those two...was sacred holy ground. To trod upon with such disregard and such disrespect was dealt with such unholy recourse. Instead, both Soke and Dai-Soke handled them, for the most part, with dignity and understanding. That being said...they'd ask once, and only once, for the challenger to kindly remove themselves from the Hombu, but before that ultimatum was offered, the challenger would be invited to become students, and nothing more. And if the challenger refused...to leave, and continued to violate the sanctity of the Hombu, well, it wasn't good for the challenger. In the days of my youth, I've had my share of challenges, but I too, scoffed at them as a compliment, and not as a threat. I must be a threat to said challenger, otherwise, why would they challenge me in the first place? To this very day, I've never truly understood why I was ever challenged. I'm complete in my MA totality, and therefore, challenges are beneath me, and not worthy of my time. But, for the topic at hand, most of my challenges came not from non-MAists, but from MAists, and even more so, from a dojo's CI, either on someone else behalf, or for themselves. Once, in 1987, a CI from a dojo that was just 7 miles away, came into my dojo, and he was accompanied by, I assume, 2 of his students, one evening while class was in session. I too, being a student of my Dai-Soke, consider my floor to be holy ground, and no one is to step onto it without my explicit permission. This CI, walks directly onto my floor, and me having it about myself to have an alarming sense of awareness, spin around and intercept him immediately. He spews some non-since about "Who gave you permission to open your dojo?" and "Did you ask my Sensei if you could open your dojo?" and "My Sensei's dojo is 25 miles away from you, and protocol insists that you visit my Sensei's dojo to introduce yourself as well as your intent...did you?" and "My Sensei was in this region before you; this region belongs to him...did you not know this?" My comment..."Really!?!" and "Since when do I owe anyone, let alone your Sensei, any explanation, and worse, permission to do anything?" and "Where do you think you're from....1600 Japan?" and "Last time I checked, I live in the USA. And since I live in the USA, I'm free to open my dojo anywhere I want to without anyone's permission" and "If you push the issue, I'll move my dojo right next door to your Sensei's dojo...and...put him out of business" and "Unless, you're here to become my student, then, I strongly suggest that you and your friends leave my dojo immediately. And if you don't, I'll call the police!! But before the police arrive and remove you all, I've no problem giving you guys a free karate lesson...anytime...anywhere...bring a lunch" They all left immediately once they saw that I wasn't backing down, and held my ground. I'd like to say that I never heard from that CI again, but, I unfortunately did encounter him many times...he was quite persistent, that CI. It got so bad, that I went to his dojo to end it, once and for all. But, when I started walking up the steps to his dojo, he meet me at the top of the stairs, and if had it not been for one of my students, I would've gave that free lesson happenstance. No, I'm not proud of myself of my intent, but enough is enough and I can only take so much. The true joy I received is whenever I signed up any of his ex-students to join my dojo. After the incident at the top of the stairs, I went directly to his Sensei. Introduced myself. We two had a very peaceful conversation; he was quite affable, and I believed his sincerity. His student, that CI, was there. His Sensei called him into his office, and stops abruptly when he notices me...swallows deeply...takes a very deep breath...and his Sensei chews the CI up...and spits him out. This CI and I shake hands, and I could feel the insincerity of his grasp on my own hand. No, we remain estranged to this day, and I'd love to still give him a free karate lesson because he was literally the bane of my existence, then...now...and forever. Things that he did to me, my students, my family, to my dojo, to everything that means everything to me, and then some, are forgivable, but, if I'm to be honest, it's quite hard, even though I'm trying, and yet, I'm failing. Here we here now, some almost 20 years later, and while the fever of the moment within the MA community has lowered somewhat, these challenges do still happen, from time to time. I believe that they'll continue to happen as long as human beings walk the face of the earth. Remember this, just because someone's a human being, it doesn't mean that they know how to act like a human being!! MAist's want to excel in everything that they do, and in that, they want to prove their worthiness in any manner that they feel will help them earn that. Whether it's the MA or sports or their job or what have you, it's in our nature to be the best, and at times, this jealousy rears its ugly head, and we forget about the humanistic part of us, and act animalistic without thought or concern regarding any consequence that might befall us out of our thoughtless actions. And for what? Pride!! Pride does come from the fall!! Sorry for the long rant, wasn't my intent to do so. Sorry, I'll go tape my mouth shut!!

Welcome to KF, ad4242; glad that you're here!!

I don't remember who once said this before, but... Proof is on the floor!!

Solid post!!

That's what I've been faced with in the past...TWICE!! My Sensei was in the San Fernando Valley, within Los Angeles County, just north of Hollywood, and I moved to Dallas, TX to care for my mother. Shortly after her death, I moved to Tulsa, OK, within Tulsa County, just 120 miles east of Oklahoma City, OK. Time elapsed here is roughly about 20 years. In those 20 years or so, I've had to travel to our Hombu many times a year for a wide variety of reasons. Whether it was to train with my Sensei or to tend to a wide variety of posts that I had been elected to within our Hombu, a.k.a, the SKKA [shindokan Karate and Kobudo Association]. Needless to say, in those ensuing years, I garnered a lot of Air Mile Rewards flying back and forth. Shindokan isn't a well known style of the MA, and this is how our Soke intended it to be. However, the word "Shindokan" is a widely used name in the MA world, in that, many styles of the MA use the name "Shindokan", and they're not all of Okinawan origin. Therefore, Shindokan Saitou-ryu, is named after our Soke, Fuyuhiko Saitou, and it's Okinawan: 85% hands...15% feet, and so on and so forth. During this time, I ran several successful dojo's in Dallas, TX, and then later, in Tulsa, OK. Each of these dojo's had a very respectfully large student bodies; 275+ and 310+ respective. I did what I do best...I TAUGHT!! While not all black belts can teach, well, not to blow my own horn, but I can teach!! Providing a quality product does have its rewards. I love to pass out flyers EVERYWHERE!! I love to do demonstrations EVERYWHERE!! Whereas, because I offered my student bodies a quality product, I was able to build up a majority of my student bodies from WORD OF MOUTH!! I did what I knew to be the best, then and now! Our Soke did quite a lot of demonstrations EVERYWHERE. On the street corner, in shopping malls, at the Drive-In, and at the local tournaments....EVERYWHERE!! And because our Soke and his student, which is my Sensei, believed in WORD OF MOUTH advertising. I share those same beliefs...Demonstrations and word of mouth, and all of that means nothing if what you have to offer, well, just sucks. Provide a high quality of a product, and prospective students darken your doors in droves. Not quality from the surface, but true die hard in the wool quality in every aspect!! McDojo's appear to have a quality product, but only on their surface. Look deeper, and that's where the quality product is tested...and oftentimes, they fail the test. Proof is on the floor, and the floor is no ones fool!! The floor observes and renders its verdict in a cold truth. A truth that McDojo's don't want to hear, nor do they want it revealed. Smoke and mirrors work well in a magic show, but they fail miserably on the dojo floor. Either one can or one can't!! Being the lone representative in your area/country is a welcomed honor; to be trusted to bring it to whomever desires to partake of. So, provide a true quality product consistently and the rest will take care of itself. Well, it has for me!!

GO SUPERMAN!! I don't care what kind of suit Batman wears, or what other "toys" he can bring to the fight. Superman is INVINCIBLE and Batman ISN'T. He can load his suit with all of the Kryptonite he wants to, but it'll still do him no good. Batman is mortal and Superman isn't!! With Superman's abilities, Batman can try, but his efforts will be quite futile. OK...Batman weakens Superman by exposing Superman to Kryptonite, for the moment. Superman flies away at super sonic speed. Then with his Supervision, he melts Batman's suite with his heat vision...from a safe distance!! Now, that Batman's without his suit, Superman flies back to Batman and nails Batman with one super punch and ends the Caped Crusader...who's now traveling to unknown parts in outer space to never ever return. Everything that Superman can do to Batman, would certainly be awful beyond ones imagination...to show it...the powers that be would have to make the movie an 'R' rating. Good luck, Batman, you're going to really need it. Of course, my wife, Linda, says Wonder Women could be THEM ALL!!

Because our body requires it in order to prevent unnecessary injuries whenever performing anything that tasks the body. Especially as one gets older!! Imho!!

I suppose it's all semantics at the end of the day. As Kiacho of the SKKA, I suppose one could view it that while I'm the "head" of the SKKA, I'm also, by default, the "head" of Shindokan Saitou-ryu as well; can't separate the two. Because our Soke has always said that Shindokan doesn't belong to anyone, even him, because it's [shindokan] for everyone, and therefore, no one is the sole owner of Shindokan. My official title is Kaicho Robert Mitcham, SKKA/Shindokan Saitou-ryu. This just simply means that the buck stops with me within the SKKA, as well as with anything regarding Shindokan Saitou-ryu. The great news about the Shindokan part is that I'm not alone in that regards when one looks at the total combined experiences that I bring with me to the table from the upper hierarchy of the SKKA; 350 years. Outside of my little rant, I will do my utmost best to attend the event!! One last thing...Patrick, I too thank you for the topic. It was cool and very nice of you to mention this event.

Congrats, IcemanSK!! Here's to thousands and thousands more!!

Congrats, Spartacus Maximus!! Here's to thousands and thousands more!!

Solid post!!