sensei8

Are your testing cycles OPEN or CLOSED to spectators?? No answer is incorrect, imho, because each school has their preferred idea way of administering their testing cycles. Ours are OPEN for all ranks!! Thanks to Hawkmoon for suggesting this poll in the thread..."You Want It...Then EARN IT!!" in the Instructor Central forum.

While spear hand strikes/thrust are part of a many MA styles. Conditioning isn't for everyone, and therefore, not everyone is forced to condition for these techniques. Instead of executing said technique that might require a spear hand thrusts/strike, one can opt to use some other hand technique at said target. I use and train with what Noah has spoken about. However, I don't force my students to condition as I have, nor have I conditioned myself as others have, especially as Morio Higaonna Sensei has, for an example. Attacks to soft tissue, like the throat, and areas on the body like this, are my usual targets for a spear hand. Instead of harder parts of the body. Funny thing, all techniques are taught, but not all techniques are called upon, if ever!!

Label it as one might choose to!! All I can say, and all that I know, our Soke and Dai-Soke were products of Okinawa, having been born and raised there. I'd say that they both were just being themselves, and if religion was what they practiced while practicing Shindokan, therefore, they were just being themselves. As their student, I suspected that they both were quite serious about everything that they did, and this included religion as well as the MA/Shindokan. They did their things, and lead those things on the floor, but not in a forced way, and we students, just followed their lead because that's all we knew to do. However, I refused to follow some of their leads, especially when it came to one Rei practice. I've one Lord, Jesus, and the Bible says that I shall have no other Gods. I'd politely not bow at certain times while on the floor...Kamiza Ni Rei...I'd refuse to bow, staying silent and still. Other students would follow their lead in this practice, but not me, this was not to disrespect them two, but to honor my Christian beliefs. However, I'd follow the lead of Kamiza ni rei when I was a child, but as I grew older, perhaps when I was about 11 or 12, my Christian belief wouldn't allow me to partake of their ritual. Did I disrespect their beliefs? Yes! And, I've never apologized to them for that because they NEVER FORCED their beliefs on anybody. But as I understood, my loyalty was to Him, Christ, and only Him, without reservation or ambiguity. I've no problem with: Shomen ni rei [bow to Shomen/Front...this is where the Kun and assortment of flags are located] Sensei ni rei [bow to Sensei] Otagai ni rei [bow to the others] I treat the bow as a cultural thing, a harmless thing, and I've been taught that the bow is due because shaking hands is considered unclean due to the hand being soiled and therefore, dirty, hereto, the bow. We don't shake hands in the dojo, we simply bow. I've only hung up one picture of the Master at my dojo, and they weren't Him!!

Well...well...well... The Chiefs won against the Texans...BUT, the Chiefs won in such a dominating fashion...30-0. Turnovers did the Texans in; the interception in the 4th quarter was the exclamation point of the game. If it weren't for bad luck, they'd have no luck at all...says the Texans. Now, the Chiefs to face the Patriots...I suspect that this will be a game, unlike the non-game from the Texans!! GO CHIEFS!! ps...Brian, you've every right to SMILE and smile big, my friend!!

Happy Birthday, Heidi and Brian; and many, many more!!

They all cover the points that matter and should be adhered to if not the "we-con-you"/McDojo types will grow in number!! I have heard of this and even seen it once, well technically I DIDNT SEE IT because I wasn't allowed lol! I never understood it or at least cared for it. Testing being a private event I mean. I feel that part of life is failing at things, and should they fail I understand wanting to make it private BUT sometimes when you fail at things you are going to do it in public, this is what gives us character. Think Kobe Bryant taking the winning shot and missing it... His fail in public drives him harder, it's the moment that brings the best out in is. I'm a fan of laying it all on the table, win or lose! hehehe I hear you! A public display does put what I feel is correct pressure on the person being graded. I wrote once in a post in the forum something along the lines of: " ... a grading costing enough to make you think am I good enough, but not cost you a second mortgage..." That to me is easily translated to emotional cost as well! "Can I stand up in front of all these people and fail, and if I do can I recover from it?" If you cannot say yes, your not ready! A closed grading is to me normal only because I'ver never experience any other form of grading as a student, sure I watched my son but kept silent as it was his club his teacher there standard and there wants and expectations, nothing at all to do with me or mine in any way. ... but that only supports the discussion about informed and not informed persons, me being an informed Karateka and not an accountant with a degree in bean counting! Solid posts...both!!

Solid post!! I'd only start to fret when the numbers start a downward spiral dive to the bottom...then, I'd look at ME, and ME only as the cause.

Ken, I've missed you!! No apologies are needed, my friend...NONE!! I know that you're dealing with some things physical, and I just want to say this... 1) I feel for you; you're in my prayers! 2) Your health is much more important than the MA! 3) The floor will ALWAYS be there to welcome you back with open arms. And if you can't return to the floor, well, the floor remembers its warriors...and you, my friend, are a warrior. I bow to you in respect! Take care...hang in there...do what you must do while you fight the good fight!!

MA suits and washing accidents ... what do you do? Kick yourself...hard...learn that lesson...then... BUY ANOTHER GI!! Lessons can be expensive!!

Solid OP, Spartacus Maximus!! Of what you're speaking about is on every corner, like many major brands are today. All I do when I see/witness/read/etc about things like this, I shrug my shoulders and shake my head. But not in disbelieve! Why? It's so common placed now, anything for what we've all grown up to know as the MA is quite refreshing, yet, quite surprising. How many times, in Pearland, TX, where I regretfully live at, have more "Karate" schools that the CI IS THE FOUNDER OF SAID STYLE. One, use to be a Power Ranger on TV, and he teaches what he's founded. Nothing wrong with that, except, it's riddled with what your OP spoke towards. Practically all of these schools in Pearland, TX, no matter what the new fangled style might be, its core is TKD. Why can't they be proud of that. TKD is solid as the day is long, imho!! Change is inevitable; granted! Nonetheless, change has to be needed. In my aforementioned paragraph right before this one, all of these are now...you guest it...10th Dan....GREAT....good reason for change, I suppose. Appears to me that these schools have forgotten what the MA is, or smells like, or tastes like, or looks like, if they ever knew before. Rituals are built in their school, but then, imho, they want to separate themselves, and to do that, they've created a certain way to do anything, and anything that doesn't smell of the MA. Formalities and ceremonious events are part of the MA, but when you add 3 elephants, 12 tigers, 6 clowns, 3 rings, 7 jugglers, 2 trapeze artists, and 1 MC...then...you've just turned your MA school into a circus. To each his/her own, I suppose!! Count me out of that...please!! I'll just go back to my corner...and continue to shake my head in wonderment!!

I suppose you're right!! Maybe I should've said...Adults like Disneyland TOO, or something like that, but however, your point is well taken...and funny too!

Solid post!!

Solid post!! Karate isn't just for kids, it's ALSO for kids, as well as it's for adults; equally across any demographic. For me, it's kind of like saying that McDonalds is just for kids, but adults like McDonalds TOO!!

Yeah, that's a HUGE red flag. I understand the need for uniformity in things like gis, and sparring gear and other safety equipment, but Accessories like weapons? I mean, is it cheaper in comparison to Century or something? From what I've heard from the parents, it's way more expensive! Brands cost money, yet, the brands set the price. If TR is more than Century based on the brand, then TR thinks quite a lot about themselves. Imho!!

Ooohhhhhhhh....I didn't know that!! Thanks, Brain!!

Our Testing Cycles are formally held, in that, our promotions are also formally held; once every quarter, as well as the Hombu's Annual Testing Cycle. Our Soke was big on formality, and even bigger on ceremony!! Ceremonially, to him, Soke, this was him personally recognizing each students accomplishments. All of the bells and whistles with all of the pomp and circumstances, and then some!! Testing Cycles were literally, for us students, HELL ON EARTH!! Soke was the devil incarnate when it came to him being that taskmaster...tolerance, he had none. The apple didn't fall from the tree...Dai-Soke was even more intolerant, and an equal taskmaster. Kind of like they were competing to see who can be more intolerant and more the taskmaster than the other, and we're the product of that...I'd have it no other way.

This is awesome! YES...it is awesome!

They all cover the points that matter and should be adhered to if not the "we-con-you"/McDojo types will grow in number!! I have heard of this and even seen it once, well technically I DIDNT SEE IT because I wasn't allowed lol! I never understood it or at least cared for it. Testing being a private event I mean. I feel that part of life is failing at things, and should they fail I understand wanting to make it private BUT sometimes when you fail at things you are going to do it in public, this is what gives us character. Think Kobe Bryant taking the winning shot and missing it... His fail in public drives him harder, it's the moment that brings the best out in is. I'm a fan of laying it all on the table, win or lose! Solid post!!

LOL!! Knowing my parents, I think that they'd be, well, lousy students because, them being my parents, they'd want to still be, well, my parents!! Remember, my mom was once physically sat down by my Sensei when she ran her mouth while she stepped on the floor without permission. I was livid and wanted to crawl under the dojo, and never come out.

I think that you've hit a home run in 12 months...SOLID! How so? Well, in your 12th month you did what? Your numbers didn't grow, which speaks about stability, AND, you didn't shrink at all either, which speaks about, again, stability. Have you yet figured out what would be an acceptable decrease on EACH quarter, that wouldn't affect your bottom line? I ask that, because, as you know, life can get in the way of the dojo/dojang, as it's expected. Baseball/football, school activities, vacations, etc affect the bottom line. With 34 students, for the moment, if it was me, I'd be within tolerances with 5 students at a time, per month, that weren't on the floor. However, and I'm dead against this, contract students must pay whether they're on the floor or not. Those 5 off the floor are about a 15% decrease, and anything above that would affect my bottom line. Nonetheless, those moments when life gets in the way, the other months overshadow those "slow" months, and therefore, responsibilities are still being meet. That's when I'd plan seminars and the like in the hopes of recouping finances during those months when the dojo/dojang are the last place in their plans.

Solid post!!

Sounds to me that their on an upswing of things, and this is a good thing, whether they win or lose, they're keeping it real!! And of course, I look forward to VIDEOS!!

Solid post; spoke in volumes!!

Like MMA? No, but an open format where all(most) styles are welcome to attend. These will include a wide range of styles. I'm not sure where in TX you are, but here are some I know of.... Houston - http://www.jamallnationals.com/#!home/c14q Grapevine, TX - TForce Elite Internationals 8/13/16 San Antonio - http://www.yellowrosenationals.com/ Austin - Lonestar Open normally in October Also check the NBL site - http://www.nblskil.com/pages/tournamentlisting.html And these sites too - http://theaok.org/Tournaments.aspx, http://www.texaskarate.com/tournaments.htm, http://tklonline.com/tournaments.html And finally, if you use Facebook follow 'Buckeye Karate Tournaments, Seminars, & More'. Folks post a lot of tournaments there. Now, that's a solid post!!

Both Bulltahr and JR 137 have offered solid advice in their posts!! I'd only add, and this is what I was told by my Sensei and this is what I tell my students... The testing cycle will take care of itself!! You've done the training...you've bleed the tears and the sweat and all that encompasses in MA training. So, just take a deep breath, relax, and do your best. If you pass, then you pass...if you fail, you fail; worse things can happen to you! If you mess up, and you will, big deal, ALLOW THE TEST TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. Whatever you THINK you've messed up, you can't, for that moment, do anything about it. Remember, as in any test, and this includes tests that aren't from the MA world, you can miss so many questions, and STILL pass the test. Passing, for most, is 70%, and in time, that percentage will increase. Relax; it's all good!!