sensei8

Solid post!!

To the bold type above... How? What? By not ever giving up on a student...ever!! If the student decides, by their own volition, then let that be their choice, and their choice alone! To teach the student body to the best of their abilities, and then some. By then some, I simply mean that the instructor amends, adapts, redirect, supplement, and whatever else will help the student to understand, to succeed, and to be the best student that they can be. And if need be, get out a crayon and a piece of paper so that the instructor can draw out stick figures in the hopes that that'll help that student find those AHA moments. Those AHA moments are ALREADY inside of each student, and it's UP TO THE INSTRUCTOR to help them find those important, and yes, those special moments for not just one student, but for EVERY student everyday...every time...every moment...AND every student while on that floor! Would I, as a dad, ever give up on my children? No...never! Why? Because I love them, and in my eyes they can do no wrong, and for arguments sake, they depend on me to teach them the difference between right and wrong...TO TEACH THEM!! While my students aren't my children, that's of no conciliate concern because my responsibility is to teach them without any prejudice and/or reservation and/or ambiguity. To do less, imho, is an act of abandonment on my part, and this, imho, is unacceptable no matter how I might want to slice it. No...my job is to teach...and if I've a student(s) that can't find the door with their own two hands while being lead to the door while taking baby steps in a well light room without any obstructions whatsoever, then so be it! I'll teach that student until that student decides for themselves that enough is enough...no sooner. Teaching is an honor! And with that honor comes responsibilities, and I've sworn to uphold that honor as well as those responsibilities until my last breath. An instructor can't always have superstar students who are gifted beyond all expectations, and in that, instructors are dealt what they're dealt, and they can't choose who comes to the door, but they can choose who they'd like to teach. And once an instructor decides to teach a student, then by the powers that be, they've an obligation and responsibility to that student to teach to the best of their abilities. I can either teach or I can't teach! By all that's in me...I CAN TEACH, and I'll never give up on my students...EVER. No matter how thick headed a struggling student might be, I've go to find what will help that student. If I quit on a student, then I dishonor my student, my Sensei, and my entire student body...this is not in my makeup to do so!! By the stars, if I'm the Sensei, then I better know how to teach, and that includes the even most difficult and struggling student for whatever the reason(s) might or might not be. If not, then I've no business to be the CI/Sensei/etc, and that includes, gracing the dignity and integrity of the floor. The floor that I've sworn to teach with honor and dedication...no matter what might cause me any unmanageable inconveniences, no matter how often or how fewer. No...my job's to teach!! That's exactly what I'm going to do, and in that, I've no favorite student...no student gets more than any other student, especially those students who might appear to be more gifted than others. So, I MUST teach EVERY member of the student body with my every being, and that's because that's what my students expect, and that's what my students deserve each and everyday from me. Anything less, is unacceptable, and quite unfair to my students!! There is no turning back, and there's no turning my back on my students...NEVER!!

Sad to hear things like that about your instructor, but, imho, that concern pales drastically compared to what Angela is facing day in and day out. Sensei's come and go...students come and go...these things can be replaced with ease. However, children aren't replaceable. Let your instructor go his way, and you go your way; other things are much more important, imho!

To Angela...to wayneshin's daughter...and to those that suffer, or have suffered from cancer, and to their families...I want to submit these... ...

Your daughter fought that good fight, and she's in remission, once again; victories are won...one victory at a time! Shugyo is a term that speaks about "sucking it up"...toughing it out, with not ever giving up by walking through that fire...one step at a time. What your daughter, Angela, and the countless cancer patients have gone through, or are going through, is that Shugyo...that giving up is not in their vocabulary, not even close. You and your daughter still train, this is what MAists do, no matter the trials as well as the tribulations; they strive forward, in spite of what the world throws at them...one day...one hour...one second...day after day...month after month...year after year...they fight with one goal...defeat cancer!! I bow to your daughter with defined purpose, for she's travelled a road that few can understand and/or appreciate, yet they travel that road with an unyielding determination..."I will not give up...now or forever...I will fight with a determination that can't be denied!!"

The sleep emoticon is directed towards myself, and not the topic, nor any KF member...I was picking on myself for being, well, dorky me! Sorry!! Why Red? I suppose the Red choice because, if I remember, the color Red is held in high regards with the Korean culture. I notice that the Red belt is just before black belt, and I've not seen any Korean styles that have a Brown belt. Japanese/Okinawa use the Brown belt right before black belt: Sankyu to Ikkyu. Another way that the Korean styles differ from the Japanese/Okinawa styles.

To the bold type above... Solid post!!

First, if I may, convey my sincerest thoughts and prayers for Angela, you and your family during this fight! As hard as this fight will be, the goal of remission is a fight that can be won, and I believe her fight will be short, but the remission will be long!! Angela, imho, deserves to be at the testing table; she's earned it, and it's your right as the CI to put whomever on the testing table you decide. What's Angela doing in that picture link? She's smiling!! She's beautiful!! Thanks, Luther, for sharing the picture link. All that she's enduring, she's still smiling. That, speaks in volume to me. Her courage is going to fight the good fight. When the times are right, she'll be back on the floor doing whatever needs to be done to assist you, and to continue in her training. During her fight, imho, I believe that this is the time when things need to be hassle free across the board. Being at the testing board, right beside you, is being hassle free to the Nth degree. Angela, you're a fellow MAist! Side by side, bow by bow, technique by technique...together...near or far...the fire still burns within you, and no one can extinguish it! Angela, I respect you...I honor you...I bow to you; now and forever!!

Another Million dollar question! What would I do? Who would I train under? What would I love to do if I had the opportunity? Whatever/whoever would increase my MA betterment, from time to time! I don't outwardly seek out these things; when I feel that that is right for me, then I earnestly seek it out because I believe that "it" will increase my MA betterment. Would I start a new Art? No!! That's not within me to do!

As I said, I left it deliberately ambiguous as your own interpretation of the term is part of the answer too. So, there's no right or wrong answer!?

Solid post!! I've not ever had the honor to teach a student that's an amputee. Had I, I would've went along the lines of what Nidan Melbourne posted.

I believe that kata is only lifeless if the practitioner only performs said kata, and not execute said kata with all of their heart, mind, and soul. Performances are not part of kata being the soul of Karate. Imho!

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

Thanks for sharing that video, Ken! Proves that fakes are in every industry...every industry is without any exceptions.

Well...it's Red because...that's what they selected! ok...I'll shut up now!

LOL!!

Solid post!! Welcome to KF, Sarah; glad that you're here!!

Politics are quite abundant in the MA, no matter the style!!

The one thing that they both have in an advantage over the other boys is...YOU!! You're a solid tactician across the board in everything that they will do in practice and in competition; you've been there, and again, this isn't your first rodeo. The boys can tap into your knowledge and experience, which imho, is priceless!! GO KENDALL AND KENNETH!!

Thank you for the explanations.When I used to point spar in the ATA, that flicking back fist strike was a popular one. Brian, I'm sure that it still is...popular...it can be an easy score!! One of my most favorite to execute.

Great job, Kenneth...AWESOME!! Hips starting to solidify, and btw, 3rd place is a respectful finish!! Rock and roll, Kendall and Kenneth!!

Relax!! The more you spar/kumite, the more you'll improve...OVER TIME!! But sparring once a week or less, is counter productive across the board. Things like timing, distancing, transitions, focus, and the basics will take time, but if you don't spar/kumite often, then you'll not have a minimum of an idea what to do in a real fight. Finding out what works and what doesn't takes that time on the floor with different sparring partners because every fights differently, even those from the same dojo under the same Sensei, and that's due to the fact the were different people; none are the same. Study your opponent Study yourself Make a plan Carry that play out In order to wrap your head around all that's involved in sparring will take you doing it more than you could ever imagine. Don't be afraid...don't be over confident...wait for that AHA moment! Every sparring session is a chance to learn something! Take it all in, make n otes, and if possible, have someone record you sparring. Have fun, and just relax! You're going to be hit, it can't be helped; you'll not deflect/block everything coming at you!!

Being Proficient isn't being Perfect; no one is...perfect! Just because one feels that they could've done better, doesn't mean that they're not proficient. Those who want to be perfect in everything they do, will never feel satisfied with their performance, no matter what.

Well, I think your excitement is warranted; go for it!! Good luck with it, and please share what you can whenever you can!! Btw, check this out...from IcemanSK... http://www.karateforums.com/cane-techniques-for-those-w-actual-mobility-issues-vt49236.html

Nice tutorial...as always, Alex; thanks! Let me just say this...arm bars aren't that easy to lock into with a resistive attacker. Why? They'll, my opponent, be doing anything and everything to get/stay out of it, like, fish out of water. Is what Alex teaching effective. YES!!