sensei8

Engaging children can be a difficult thing to overcome, as equally difficult as maintaining, especially long term. Again, I'm a firm believer that not all black belts can teach, nor should they even try, and this is multiplied when it comes to teaching children; a art within itself!! Children's ages match up to their attention span. A 5 year old will lose interest, if not challenged, in about 5 minutes. How in the world can we teach something effective to a child in 5 minutes? Simple! Engage them in various drills and the like that will emphasis one specific goal. Be it, Kihon, Kata, or Kumite!! For example, through Kihon, I could run 25 different specific drills over the Reverse Punch!! Yet, I won't use all 25 drills, but maybe 2-3, at 5 minute intervals. Of course, we're not going to be only training the Reverse Punch during any one class. Albeit, we'll touch on about 5 different topics during any one class. MAKE IT FUN!! Children engage much better if they're having fun, therefore, they learn much more if they're having fun. I'm a big kid at heart, and I will play with them age appropriately, and when I do, the big scary Sensei isn't there anymore; they now have a big kid to play with. Engaging reaches many levels because children are different, in both mindset and maturity, as well as a matching age. That fine tuning is why classes for children are separated by age groups, and that's when the real fine tuning happens. One model isn't for other classes!! An instructor has two choices... Bore them to death!! OR Engage them!! An instructor needs to have a barometer to gauge the classes temperament, and that better be dialed in as soon as possible. Children are quite unforgiveable when it comes to many things. Don't lie to them...don't bore them...don't make up stuff...don't pretend...Kids can see through all of that and more, and that's because they are that clean canvas, an innocent preconceived notion surrounds them. Children aren't adults!! Adults aren't children!! You all know that already. But many instructors simply...well...DON'T know that!! Having said all of that, I remember one thing, no matter how engaging I might be, I can't keep them all on the floor. Karate, the MA, isn't for everyone, including children. They, at first, want to learn the MA, with the cool uniforms and patches and belts, and all of the bells and whistles, then once they're one the floor, they lose interest for various reasons. I COULD BE THE REASON...YOU COULD BE THE REASON as to why children students walk away from the MA!! Activities outside of the MA will win, for the most of the time, the interest with children. Baseball...gymnastics...and so on and so forth. I mean, during baseball season, I'd be more on any given baseball field, than on any given MA floor...I love baseball TOO!! No matter how engaging I was, I couldn't hold a candle to their outside of the MA activity desires. It's ok...that's why many MA instructors just don't teach children/kids!! It takes a special gift, imho!!

We train in Hojo Undo; Conditioning. Primary Tools we use for Hojo Undo are: Makiwara Tou Chi Ishi Tetsu Geta Ishi Sashi Jari Bako Nigiri Gami Ude Kitae Makiage Kigu Kongoken We use to use Tan, but we've decided to forgo with that in the favor of modern weight training; Barbells and the like.

We're taught that the left side is used because it's the side of the heart. Makes sense, I suppose, after all, where do we place our right hand when we say the Pledge of Allegiance, for example...over our heart!!

Excellent tutorial, Alex!! Glad to see another of your instructional video's; I was missing them a lot!!

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

Rousey LOST!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! WOW!! No one, and I mean no one can win every time!! This might've brought her down from the clouds!! I can't believe I missed this!

Here's one way to make sure that the gi/dobok doesn't get wrinkled...Don't wear it!! I didn't say it was a great idea!! OK...I'll go back to my little corner!!

If it's a requirement, then the supplier should be known by the governing body, and by the instructor, as well! Just spit-balling here!!

When teaching(or posting in this case) , i tend to speak to the the "MASSES". the masses can attain the concept of "straight line is easiest" while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept. Sort of like watching Lebron james and trying to teach everyone to do slam dunks from the free throw line, why teach it when a hand full of humans can do it out of 8,000,000,000 on earth. The concept of dunking from the free throw line is possible but i rather teach doing "layups" as everyone can accomplish it. I am sure a handful of humans on earth can catch a punch in mid full speed UNREHEARSED flight, but why teach that? Teaching unattainable concepts and techniques is honestly detrimental to anyone (IN MY OPINION). I can try and do my Lebron Free throw dunks for my entire life time and NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE to doing it. "I just wasted my life time trying to be LEBRON"..... Disclaimer: Listen to your instructor over a random person(ME) posting on the internet. I'm trying to understand what you're trying to say, but for the life of me..I'm lost! By "while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept."..are you sying that very few people can learn and use the fundamental techniques and properties of the martial arts??? In over 30 years of teaching the arts using just those concepts you mention, it's been my experiencve that the vast MAJORITY of people can learn, and use, those techniques. It just takes time, practice and effort. Yup, people can "learn and do" but can they actually be applied effectively is the real question. since you mentioned that you have 30 years of experience teaching and you started in 1975 in your profile. Really hate to do this(as you see i just put Karate and no rank on my profile) in 1975 i was a nidan and as a sandan in 1979 Kata and Kumite champion of a very large organization. In the early 1980's had coverage of big traditional Karate tournaments i have won covered by Major Martial Arts Magazines...... enough about rank and accolades..... But it seems that ones "dan/rank" is important to many here. Rank is important but not the only defining factor of ones knowledge. If one has great Karate and APPLIED it in competition,training and students success, the "dan/rank" becomes less important... i could care less about my rank, Karateka know what i did and what i do. that is enough. Does anyone know who holds what rank? I believe sensei8 is an 8th dan, and I'm assuming Nidan Melbourne is a 2nd dan, but that's all I know. Rank doesn't matter. Ability, experience, and the drive to improve are what's important. Even people here who are just starting out have valuable things to say that make me consider a different point of view. Stop being blind. i see a lot of posts that include Rank,years and ORGANIZATIONS. none of what i care to post about. You are right with one thing. I DO LIKE to read what beginners post because they are a "clean" blank canvas that has not been brainwashed by instructors that have a "chip" on their shoulders. Well, that's about as blunt as it can be; what did I do wrong here??

We've all our preference as to which one, right or left. I'm more of a lefty due to injure to my right knee when I was a teenager. Oh, it's healed fine, yet, I became a lefty. I write right handed...I throw right handed... However, as I've grown older, I've become quite an ambidextrous; not favoring one side over another; just utilizing whatever must be needed for the immediate moment.

Kime=FOCUS!! I'd say it is the cornerstone of everything in the MA. Without it, only hopelessness remains on the horizon. No matter the size of the task, focus will be needed to completion, no matter the subject!!

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!!