sensei8

Oh Lord..how many tests have I done? Many hundreds at least. I've said this before...I test my students each and every class, and they know it. I watch them every class..guage who is practicing, and who is not. Who is making the corrections I make, and who is not. Who is putting forth appropriate effort for their belt level, age and experience, and who isn't...etc. The test itself is really a formality. If the student has progressed to where I want them to be for that next belt and has really worked for it..they will be tested..sometimes without them knowing it. If they pass, GREAT! If they don't, they will know what exactly it is that they need to work on. Solid post!!

I like where you're going. I like the idea of a short, catchy title. ideas i liked right now are "Triumph" or "Triumph fighting championship" I also like "fighting spirit" All of the good names are gone now...like...Strikeforce. That's a one word catchy title if I've ever seen one before. On your "Triumph", I'd suggest this..."Triumphant"...it's one word, and boy oh boy, it's kind of catchy too. "Triumph fighting championship" is good too, but for me, it's a mouthful. So, maybe do like Ultimate Fighting Championship has done, and done quite well... Brand Management!! Ultimate Fighting Championship is a mouthful too, but it has branded UFC as one of the most successful branding managements that the world has ever seen. So, maybe you could brand "Triumph fighting championship" into TFC.

I'm still confused about why it's tagged for deletion! Looked fine, and complete, if complete is necessary. Everything looks above board, but what do I know when it comes to websites and the like, and to me, Wikipedia falls under that umbrella for me. The unknown styles, like Byakuren Karate, suffer at those who administer sites, like Wikipedia. Not all styles of the MA are on the front page! Not all styles of the MA can boast about its 350,000 plus student body and/or its international fame. Albeit, they're misjudged harshly by those of the MA world as well as the layperson. Just what, exactly, does Wikipedia want from anyone to warmly received? I feel for the frustration that Byakuren Karate, and its student body is experiencing. Hang in there, and fight for your rights!!

Kyokushin!! It possess the kind of "get-in-your-face" type of Karate, that few Karate styles, imho, can offer and attest to. Kyokushin can be like waltzing into a fire in the midst of a 10 car pile-up; if you're not ready, and willing, to mix it up face to face, then this style of Karate isn't for you. Depending where one lives, Kyokushin dojo's are abundant, but they can also be a cumbersome effort to locate. I believe that it might be worth your effort to visit a Kyokushin dojo. The funny thing is that, while I'm suggesting Kyokushin, I'm not a proponent of, nor am I a practitioner of it either. No. This leads me to suggest... Shindokan!! It's an Okinawan style that comprises 85% hands, and 15% feet; all kicks are waist down. It's core is Tuite! Stances are more upright! It doesn't teach blocks, it teaches deflection as well as receiving. It also offers up something that's not always found abundantly in Karate styles, and that is, Grappling. Yes, Shindokan offers the staples what other Karate styles are known for: Kihon, Kata, Kumite, Kobudo, Tameshiwara, and so on and so forth. The student body fluctuates between 9,000 - 10,000, and not the hundreds of 1,000's practitioners like Kyokushin. Dojo's are mainly found throughout California, hub being in Van Nuys, a part of the San Fernando Valley. Shindokan dojo's are there, this is for sure, but with their mindset of non-advertising of any type aside from occasional demo and the passing out of flyers, to find a Shindokan dojo, one has to practically trip over it on accident. Some Shindokan dojo's can be found outside of California, like Tulsa, Oklahoma and El Paso, Tx, if they're still operating, that is. With whatever styles of Karate you finally choose, I wish you luck in your search!!

Is there a particular reason why its the last week of June/ first week of July? Seems like most people would be on vacations during that time frame. Btw has anything come about in regards to the number of failures of the last testing cycle that you talked about before. All testing cycles are quarter based. So, the last week of June/first week of July usher in the 3rd quarter. Therefore, 2 quarters worth of testing cycles have been conducted at the respective dojo's by the time the Annual Testing Cycle begins. The only drawback is that students within the Kyu ranks CAN'T test at the Hombu if they've completed a testing cycle at their respective dojo during the 2nd quarter. Yes, in regards to your second question, I'll refer you back to this KF link... http://www.karateforums.com/pragmatic-problem-vt48510.html This might refresh your memory. Beyond that, we've authorized Testing Cycles to resume at all dojos within the SKKA network, and this is to include the Hombu. The Hombu is still trying to certify new Testing Officers, and that's a process that might take some time, however, the Hombu has about 7-8 months to complete this task, and if the task is not completed by April 2016, there will be NO ANNUAL TESTING CYCLE permitted!! Also, the Legal Team, as of a week and a half ago, has submitted an update of their investigation as to the party/parties that might've been directly involved in this matter, and they will be dealt with severely, and abruptly!!

How many core kata's do you have? 29 Shindokan Karate-do 20 Shindokan Kubodo 49 grand total Kata's

Yoda...Bruce...same thing; both Masters!!

I've administered more testing cycles than I even care to remember. I've assisted my share, that's for sure. Albeit, I've administered thousands of testing cycles since 1977, both at my own dojo as well as at the Hombu. The Hombu's annual testing cycle is held once per year during the last week of June AND the first week of July. Because the testing cycle is held at the Hombu, it draws a lot of attention away from the individual dojo's within the SKKA network because students want to test at the Hombu more so than they do at their own respective dojo. Respective dojo's within the SKKA network conduct a testing cycle once every quarter, which is to say, once every 3 months. This way students will test at their respective dojo's up to 3 separate quarters, therefore, the dojo is the main testing cycle venue for Shindokan students. The general focus is simple...to demonstrate a noted mark of improvement over time!! In short, quality over quantity, and this increases our fail ratio. I am part of an association, SKKA, but that's where it ends. You see, our Hombu is there to administer Testing Cycles...that's IT! Our Hombu doesn't interfere in how a dojo is operated and managed; that's their business. Our Hombu oversees each and every aspect of a Testing Cycle from A to Z and back to A...up one side and down the other side, and I say what I'm about to say with respect to my Hombu, our Hombu can be quite anal, but, if at all possible, I mean this in a good way. Testing Cycle Integrity must be intact, and remain intact, and that means that the Hombu must be so strict, without ambiguity and/or reservation. That's why no Shindokan dojo within the SKKA network can conduct a testing cycle without the explicit expression of approval from the Hombu...NOT ONE DOJO CAN on their own conduct a testing cycle without Hombu approval, no matter the rank and no matter if it's Karate-do and/or Kobudo. Each dojo must submit a Petition to Test for said student(s) with the CI's signature affixed to the Hombu one month before any planned Testing Cycle...three months in advance of wanting to test at the Hombu. Once approved, the Testing Cycle can be held. Prior to a dojo submitting any Petitions to Test, the dojo's CI must submit to the Hombu a Quarterly Testing Cycle Approval form one month in advanced of submitting any Petition to Test!! I'll stop here for now, but I believe that's I've given you and others, our general SOP. Any more questions, just ask me and I'll answer them for you.

A title...hhmmm... How about..."Victory"?? I'm terribly at this!! I do believe that if you had a ONE WORD TITLE, that's easy to remember as well as catchy, it would go along way. Seems like all of the good one are gone! "Champion"...I don't like that one either. Man, this is hard!!

Yeah...each and every single one was difficult for me, one not more difficult than another. For some reason or another, I struggled to the nth degree!! I just can't put my finger on one specific Kata...I'm trying to, but I can't single out one.

The future of Karate is what you make of it; it lives within you. And if you're the only remaining on the face of the planet still practicing Karate, well, then Karate's future is still intact, and hopeful. Yeah, it's a romantic notion, but that's better than giving up on Karate's future.

Those who's MA knowledge had been garnered through studying books and the like, but have never been on the floor in any shape, way, and/or form. Harkon72's definition as well, is what I mean here.

...or Febreeze [sp?]

Welcome to KF, Hudson1984; glad that you're here!! I'd say that the size you'd need should be big enough to allow you to do all of your Kata's within your style so as to not be cramped; I'd say an extra two feet beyond the furthest point of any Kata's embusen. Within that space for Kata, you can do partner and solo work with adequate amount of space to train!!

I took the OP question as only practiced by your school/style; not unique in the sense that there's nothing out there like it. Not that I thought you directed that question to me. Unsu is a great kata to watch. My old organization did it at either sandan or yondan. To the best of my knowledge, Seido doesn't have it in its syllabus. I really wanted to learn it. Perhaps one day when I've mastered every kata I'm responsible for lol. Yes, I didn't direct the question to you, but to every KF member, as in "YOU", a member of KF. And yes, I too took the OP question just as you have. I was wondering how someone can view a kata within their own style as unique, thereby, I don't view any Shindokan Kata unique. Me not viewing Shindokan Kata's as unique, maybe I'm missing something in Shindokan Kata's that other see from their styles Kata list.

To YOU, what makes a Kata seem unique? Even in learning and training in Kata outside of the Shindokan circle, I don't find them unique at all, just other ways of movements. I don't think that the big jump towards the end of Unsu, which is NOT a Shindokan kata, wasn't unique, just different. However, my eyes lite up when I first saw it executed because I was awash of the many Oyo moments and possibilities that I'd discover over time.

Karate in the mid 60's to 80's tended to carry their lead hand waist high and slightly out from the body, and the other hand was kept at and on the solar plexus area. After that, they went here there and everywhere!!

When I was a kid, as both a Kyu and JBB student, I missed a lot of MA classes because of little league, and varsity baseball commitments. My two loves...the MA AND Baseball....I should've went into MLB instead because I was one heck of a third baseman and hitter. Just my additional two cents!!

Strictly from Shindokan Saitou-ryu, as founded by Fuyuhiko Saitou, Soke, Judan. I've learnt/trained in many kata's from outside of the Shindokan circle, and I'll teach those kata's as applicably necessary at my own dojo. But when I'm at the Hombu, I don't stray away from our core Kata's!!

Interesting; thanks for sharing!!

Thanks Spartacus Maximus and jaypo; I loved your answers!! Keep them coming, please!!

My guard is chin level/chest level. No pros and cons because I don't fight like you and you don't fight like me and I don't fight like this person or that person, and this person and that person don't fight like me. Sure, I can pick things apart with the best of them, but I don't see pros and cons to where the guard should or shouldn't be; it's a personal choice. Choices are learnt through trial and tribulations, and even then, ADJUSTMENTS MUST BE MADE ALL OF THE TIME!! Nothing, imho, is written in granite!! Btw, good topic; thanks for starting it!!

I believe that instructors need to take a break once in awhile, even if that means that you close the dojo for a day or for an entire week. That way, you get a fresh new batteries in the old engine from time to time. Sometimes, you just have to walk away for the moment, to gain a new and fresh look at the whole darn thing. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", and this prevents a renewal in ones motivation, both for the student, as well as for the instructor.

I've always blamed the Arbitrator of the tourney for how a tourney is conducted...good or bad or indifferent!! The Arbitrator sets the tone, and I've been an Arbitrator before, and the tone I set was totally opposite of what you've experienced...clean techniques, controlled techniques...are encouraged all around. If a technique left no doubt as to the validity of the technique, and it scored first...POINT!! Arbitrators aren't suppose to be trying to make "friends", but to be that observer who's overseeing everything in a conscience and consistent manner without ambiguity and/or reservation!!

I'm sure that you've told your Sensei what your occupation is, and in that, any Sensei worth his/her salt knows that life happens before the MA. Trust me, you're not letting your Sensei down at all. If you've not ever told your Sensei what your occupation is, and that it might interfere with your attendance from time to time, well, tell him now, so he'll be informed. It's all about communication!! Even if you never let your Sensei know why you're not attending regularly for whatever the reason(s) might or might not be, your Sensei isn't and can't be let down because your MA journey is YOURS and YOURS ALONE!! Again, LIFE HAPPENS before the MA! Your Sensei knows that! If your Sensei doesn't know that, well, he/she has no business in teaching at all, imho!! You'll be fine, hang in there, and train hard and train well. When you show up at the dojo again, don't be surprised when your Sensei says to you..."LINE UP!!", and nothing else!! Afterwards, your Sensei might shake your hand and express a sincere welcome back!! I know life happens, and I've been teaching the MA since 1977, and I've not been let down by any of my students yet. Students either show up or they don't show up...it's their choice! I'll be there 6 days a week, day and night, so I'll be there...ready to teach whomever shows up, and for those who don't show up...life happens, and I don't fret over it for one second!!