sensei8

Student Parent Spouse Brother/Sister Mom/Dad Grandma/Grandpa Uncle/Aunt Friend Supporter Instructor Assistant Instructor Sempai Master/Grand Master Founder/Heir/Heir Apparent Owner Assistant Manager/Manager Associate Department Head Employee Co-Employee CEO/COO Fireman/Policeman Doctor/Physician Priest/Pastor/Clergy ETC... The list goes on and on and on and on and on and... Until time ceases to exist anymore. As long as man is on this earth, labels or titles or whatever one might choose to be known by, recognition will be needed and recognition will be earned. These identifiers are well founded and for the most part, they're earned, and the which is earned is steep in culture and the like. Some assume positions that they're not qualified for, nor do they have the associated right to assume so. Having said that, no matter what your title/label might be...no matter what your nom de voyage or the name you travel under might be, there's one thing that you must know, and if nothing more than that, at least that. This is so true, and so easily forgotten within and without the MA, especially in a MA school/dojo/dojang/gym/etc, and the walls groan along with the floor, both witnesses to a many things, some cool and some not cool. Make sure that you...so, and if I may borrow a line from The Rock... KNOW YOUR ROLE!! If you're deservingly so that role, then fulfill said role with dignity and pride. And on the other hand, if you've not deservingly so earned that role, than please step away and allow those more qualified to be so. The walls of a school of MA are no different than the walls of Congress, or of your home, or of the venue that you deem both holy and sacred, and that shouldn't be trampled upon in the quest to muddy up that which you've no right or business to do so! NOT ON MY WATCH!! Just because you've earned this label/role honestly and earnestly, and it's without any ambiguity whatsoever, that doesn't give you the right to run that which you aren't allowed to run...like my dojo. That's MINE, and not yours, and when you're in my dojo, you're my guest, and in being my guest, you make darn sure that you handle yourself accordingly with decorum and respect. And if you can, I welcome you!! But if you can't, I'd appreciate it if you just say "Thank you", and leave, and be on your way. You'll not be welcomed until you can demonstrate yourself in an appropriate manner each and every time you're a guest/student, or whatever your title/label/role might be. in my dojo!! Now and forever!! Allow me to put you on notice, whomever you might be or who you think that you might be, when you come to my dojo or to my Hombu or to my home, you better... KNOW YOUR ROLE!! You better believe you me, I know my role quite well!! I've no delusions as to what my role is in my dojo or at the Hombu or in my own home. Respect begets respect!! Please, and thank you!!

WOW...double promotion...and in different styles of the MA; that's multi-tasking!! CONGRATS; well earned and well deserved!!

I've seen this quite often, that which your Sensei does for transfers. Seems that it's a good model, and can benefit all concerned in the long run. It shows that this student, while not being trained in said style before, does have experience on the floor. In time, that students knowledge before will meet up with the new knowledge, and allow more growth to surface both on and off the floor. I like our model, and I like your Sensei's model; neither are incorrect, all have the students best interest at hand!!

Solid post!!

You're more than welcome!! When that MA bug bites you, and it will, you won't hardly remember that you once thought that you were too old. I look forward to hopefully meeting you on the floor someway, somewhere, and somehow soon, and train together as brothers/sisters of the MA!! Train hard...train well!!

Thank you very much, I look forward to contributing where I can. You're welcome! I look forward to reading your contributions!!

ROFLMBO... Now...that's funny; you're killing me...Who is this Bruce Lee?? Just got to love it, and I do!!

I want to hold the stretch as prescribed. But the prescribers aren't in agreement, like that's not surprising at all. OK...so I'll hold a stretch for 30 minutes, because that's much better than 30 seconds, right?!? I know, I'm being a prune, but sheech! Yeah, HOLD is a bad choice of words, but, you know, that word is used by todays experts in their respective fields. I "HOLD" a stretch until I'm bored with the darn thing; sometimes short, sometimes long, but am rarely right with the exact prescribed time, or until I remember that I'm stretching. Stretching can be long when I'm at home because I'll do it while watching something on TV.

Thats some good stuff. Sometimes I'll even soak my gi in the stuff. Without having to google... What IS Dihydrogen Monoxide?? That's not peroxide, is it?! Just guessing....wrong....probably.

As a MAist, I've done more than my fair share of stretching; from my head to my feet and back. Stretching ones body before, during, and after performing any activity, especially those activities that in line with the MA. We warm up...moving this way and that way in order to wake our body up for what we're about to do. Then, we stretch, and then we stretch some more. All of that is good! But are we stretching properly?? Wait, was our instructors wrong about which stretch to do and how many reps and just how long to hold each stretch?!?! It's the HOW LONG TO HOLD each stretch, that I'm concerned with. We've been told to not bounce by Expert A, yet, Expert B says light bouncing is good. Hhhmmmm!! Then Expert A says, hold this stretch for 15-30 seconds, yet Expert B says to only hold this stretch for 5-10 seconds. Expert then find a loophole in the whole equation of HOW LONG by stating... "Do what you can tolerate!" Boo...BOO!! I expect more of a definitive advice and instructions than that because it seems to me that that decision, being left to me, will not provide the optimum results. I, might think that 5-10 seconds is a short-cut; a cop out way through the loophole. And, 15-30 seconds is a way to be superman like through that same loophole. "If I do more, I'll be better!", OK...OR..."If I do less, but more reps, than I too, will be better!" HA!! So, HOW LONG?? What is right?? Who is right?? All sounds good, but those who can't decide one way or another need assistance in deciding a proper course. My doctor, well, my doctor is my doctor, and physical trainer is a physical trainer; both experts in their respective fields, but, oh my gosh, CAN'T SOMEONE GIVE ME THE TRUTH TO... ...HOW LONG??

That's a valid and solid point!! The right tool for the right job; goes down to make that smart decision, therefore, nothing can replace solid experience/knowledge. Bruce Lee once said... "...Then, you better train your entire body." Some wisdom's there, I believe.

I don't use any supplements because, imho, nothing is better than hard work. For those who use them, I don't pass judgment either. If they help, then I'm for it, just as long it's not addictive and/or harmful. Of course, I'd encourage anyone to speak with their doctor before taking any supplements.

Its a nickname one of my fellow karateka's gave to me. I was competing once in kumite and another bo demonstration was happening at the same time; the bo flew out of one of the trainees hands and hit me in the head cutting and fracturing my skull. I didn't know it had happened until I looked down and saw my white gi was now red. I never felt a thing, so my club named me Titanium and bought me a gi with that stitched into the fabric. That's cool...not the ouchy part, but how you earned the name Titanium!! So, I suppose your fellow karateka's think that you're hard-headed, huh? Thanks for sharing that with us all! My pleasure, they sure do. It puzzles new member to the dojo, they actually think that is my name. That's funny!!

These are those who are the true masters of the perceived notions about what the MA is/for!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! It's NEVER to late...NEVER!! Besides, the MA isn't a respecter of age; it's for all ages!! 16?!?! Many great MA Legends/Masters, started at your age, or later...So, you're in good company!! Don't give it another thought...WELCOME TO THE MA!! Train hard...train well!!

Yeah, I like this answer...it's much better of an answer than mine!!

To the bold type above... *I too, don't have a ton of info on that school, other that that schools website, and you'll need much more info than what a website can provide. Having said that, visit the school often until you get the feel about the school. Speak with the CI, students, and those who are just watching class. **Have an open mind; no preconceived notions!! If you don't, the road will be quite rocky and unsatisfying, and then some. Be prepared that you'll have to train hard, possibly harder than anything that you've ever done before. Please put rank out of your mind, be that sponge for the CI, and for that style and for that governing body. Don't be a robot, but be that student that seeks and finds that which improve their MA betterment. Things take time, therefore, allow time to take time!! ***Sparring rules greatly vary from school to school, and style to style, and governing body to governing body. Some won't allow sparring until they reach the intermediate level, while other schools will allow sparring from day one with or without safety rules. That means that students will train up to Jiyu Kumite [Free Style], having to first do the perquisites of Jiyu first. I don't believe in delaying sparring training; the best time is now!! Train hard...train well!!

That's good question...great topic...gloves but no feet guards?!! Somehow I can only assume the summation of why this is true, and that is, feet guards might offer up an obstruction of some type. Maybe...they're ungodly a waste of material: Often times, they don't stay on your feet whenever you put them on...the darn things move, and the top ends up on the side, or quite near to the side. Reach down to adjust them in MMA...you're an open target, then you're toast. Again, I'm only guessing. I've really never gave the rule any thought because it seemed natural to glove the hand, and not guards on the feet. Sorry, I can't give a more plausible reason as to why one and not the other!!

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

The upper-dans in my system are worried that they may soon face a similar situation. There's a lot of material between 6th and 10th dan, and dementia, or worse, death, could mean that a lot of the system is lost. When the time arrives, the Senior Dan's in your system will have to do what we've done...and that is...comfort one another and depend on one another off and on the floor!!

Its a nickname one of my fellow karateka's gave to me. I was competing once in kumite and another bo demonstration was happening at the same time; the bo flew out of one of the trainees hands and hit me in the head cutting and fracturing my skull. I didn't know it had happened until I looked down and saw my white gi was now red. I never felt a thing, so my club named me Titanium and bought me a gi with that stitched into the fabric. That's cool...not the ouchy part, but how you earned the name Titanium!! So, I suppose your fellow karateka's think that you're hard-headed, huh? Thanks for sharing that with us all!

That's here in the USA, too. Burglar falls through the skyline window while trying to break into your house...hurts themselves...goes to jail...sues you...then wins. Good Grief, Charlie Brown!! I know, wheres self defense anymore. I think politicians and courts see us, martial artists, as violent people looking for fights - we train because we want to protect ourselves and learn the art. My question is this, "Will they ever understand?" To the bold type above... That, my friend, is the Million Dollar Question!! Wish I had the answer because I could use a Million Dollar about...right...NOW!!

The hardest thing for us who were direct students of Dai-Soke for eons and eons, was when he passed away...Who's going to teach us all of that needful stuff now?? We kind of teach each other; spending a lot of time on the floor together, but, it's not the same. Takahashi Sensei's knowledge, for us, is still untapped; there's much more to Shindokan to learn from him.

DWx wrote: Of course I'm referring to Sandan's and Godan's that CAN teach!! If you can't teach or run a school, and you're a Sandan or a Godan, then you've no business being the CI at all...ever!! WITHIN THE SAME STYLE...YES, exactly, and I agree. This is well known, and well understood, and that wasn't my argument. A BEGINNER IS A BEGINNER no matter how one dresses it up! DWx wrote: OK! However, a Shodan isn't qualified to be a CI based on the minimums that I've posted. A beginner, as in a Blue Belt, isn't the same thing as a Shodan is a beginner because a Shodan is a beginner of the advanced level; eons above the blue belt. In BJJ, I'm sure a BJJ Blue Belt isn't even CLOSE to being the same beginner as a BJJ Black Belt is!! And ok, because of no other reason(s), I'm paying no mind to the Black Belt was the original 2nd rank in Judo. Even though, eons of knowledge separated them both. DWx wrote: Got me there! I concur with you. He could be called an instructor, and be fine with that, can't he?!? Can't he become the CI...later?!? Is this another form of self-promotion?!? Please don't beat me up; it's just my opinion.

How'd you come up with the name, Titanium??