sensei8

It's just a name. Valve is the parent company (like Microsoft), and Steam is the product (like Xbox). Like liger said, probably just a theme on the names. AHA...thanks liger and Danielle!! I thought I needed a machine that worked off steam...that might be kind of cool!

Looks nice, and all, but is what they're doing effective. Stick a Bo in the middle of all of that fancy smancy stuff, then the Nunchaku is void. Still, in the competitions that these are usually viewed in, their context is right there, and quite impressive; not all can do all of that tricking stuff and then some. I respect them. It takes some guile to not constantly drop anything doing all of the tricking. Copying? Might be? I was watching the mechanics and saw nothing effective except what can happen when the body meets inertia: PAIN/DISCOMFORT/OUCH!!

Good question; it's a two-folded answer. My curriculum/syllabus was the same as the Hombu. Although Kobudo isn't offered until 6th Kyu/Green Belt, most of my new students were brand new, and they had not done the MA and/or Shindokan before, therefore, they weren't 6th Kyu or above ranked. While I had transfers from the Hombu that were of 6th Kyu and above, Kobudo classes were held 3 times a week, where the Hombu held Kobudo classes many times a day, six days a week. I'm sure, but not for certain, my class times didn't match up with the Hombu's, no matter the theme of the class. And if they did, I'm sure it was by accident, and not planned. I was open 6 days a week from 10am to 10pm...so was the Hombu. First part of each Saturday was for open training...so was the Hombu. There's a pattern beginning here somewhere!! The Hombu held more seminars than I did, and that's because they had the staff, and I didn't, at first. The Hombu would lend me some of their instructors, but only if it didn't prevent them from conducting their own. The old saying..."Going to take care of houses? Great, just make sure you take care of yours first!!" I can't argue with that.

Hhhmmmm... I've always wondered...why? Why accept a grade/rank transfer?? Unless one's already established in that grade/rank in that same style...JKA to JKA, for example. If not already established, then shhhhhhhh...please put on the white belt and let's train hard!! Come to Shindokan and you're rank is established with the JKA, for example, then you're going to start at white belt and line up in the far back line, and with a big smile on your face.

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!!

Why is/are they called Steam?? I've not ever heard that terminology before.

Thanks for sharing Yes, thanks for sharing. You bring up a great point...proper push-ups!! Nothing outweighs the proper execution, no matter the discipline!!

If you don't mind me asking if your dojo was 6 miles away from the Hombu, wouldn't people just go to that one instead. I mean since it's so close. I mean no disrespect No disrespect taken!! That's exactly how it was...people wanted to train at the Hombu...I understood that, and I couldn't blame them for that. It took some time to build up my student body to a level that allowed me to acquire things that I only dreamed about...like additional instructors of my own. I choose to be that close to the Hombu, for the same reasons as other students...Hombu training...can't beat that with a stick!! Being that close also was important so that neither Soke and/or Dai-Soke didn't have to dredge through the ungodly traffic of the San Fernando Valley, which is akin to being stuck in Los Angeles traffic during the rush hours; miserable. On the same coin, I didn't have to dredge either to get to the Hombu!! Second reason to be close...I negotiated a pretty sweat lease to that building, one that I couldn't fathom a good enough reason to avoid. Nice large and well light parking lot, hardwood floors with mirrored walls, huge lobby, huge main dojo floor, great bathrooms, and there was plenty of wiggle room to any additions I wanted to add. A sweat deal!! I got lucky, and I grabbed it faster than one can blink. A room to grow into, instead of out of!! Now, both Soke and Dai-Soke approved my Kyuodan Dojo affiliation, which was of no big surprise, and when the affiliation was open, Hombu students were greatly encouraged to visit my dojo as often as they wanted to. The Hombu student body was also encouraged to join my dojo if they desired to do so...no harm and no foul, and they'd always be welcomed at the Hombu. Soke and Dai-Soke had no egos whatsoever!! Hombu students had two close dojo's to enjoy the differences of Shindokan, while keeping the core of Shindokan true to Soke's vision. There was never any competition between the Hombu and my dojo concerning students and the like. A competition that I'm sure I'd loose, but I'd fight for myself across the board. I was allowing Shindokan to be seen in a different part of the San Fernando Valley. San Fernando Valley residents are quite loyal to their city within the Valley, and that means that they live, shop, and entertain in that particular city. Only going to the other cities within the Valley because it's ONLY in that city, and nowhere else. You want to see movie stars, then go to Burbank, they're everywhere because major movie studios are in Burbank. Want to fly on Southwest Airlines, then you'll have to go to Burbank. Burbank is in the most eastern part of the Valley. Weird, and uncomfortable thing at first, is that many students came to my dojo on day one of opening Kyuodan Dojo. Dai-Soke laughed at my Grand Opening day, which both Soke and Dai-Soke were at, because he was proud of what I had, and what I had accomplished under his wing. "Good...very good!" he said at the amount of students that were in attendance, and he knew them all because they came from the Hombu on their own, and to know him, you'd jump for joy inside; it was a good thing!! Close is good, but it can also be bad. Mine was good, very good!!

Hey, I have faith in YOU!! You strike me as someone who trains for a purpose, and not for just a season. Remember this, I'm always saying that the difficulties are not that of the style, but of the practitioner itself!! Train hard, and train well!!

Jumping jacks! What do they do? Can they harm Seniors? I believe that Jumping jacks can be a pretty good cardio exercise, especially if you do quite a lot. Alas, aging joints can put the wrench in all of the get-better-and-fitter scheme of the jumping jack thing.' Of course, proper Jumping jacks, and proper anything, outweighs a many of things concerning the body. Just thinking out loud!!

Ah, YES, indeed!!

I've always looked at throws in Karate more fluid, as to not be jerky and all. Transitioning in and out...side to side...angle to angle...and in the midst of it all, a throw is performed. While a Karate throw might not look like a polished Judo throw, the opponent is off balanced, if just for a brief second, and I can do a lot in a brief second. And for the most, sweeps, the sneaky mans throw, are more easier to perform over throws. In throws, you have to get personal and close, and not many karateka's like that; distancing, and all of that. Whereas sweeps, well, they'll get you when you least expect them...I like that!! Karate throws, imho, are just disruptions of the opponents movement(s).

Minimums?!?! Godan, but nothing lower than Sandan!! One that's NOT a beginner of said MA!! Knowledge is everything, and a beginner lacks a lot of that knowledge; while a Sandan, and for surely a Godan, meets the minimums in spades!!

Glad to see another video of yours, thank you, I was having withdrawals!! Yeah, the framing was important because I can't see your training partner except the arms, and for me, I like to see what's going on. Possibly you might re-film it so we can see both of you; the whole picture!!

Great topic; thank you for it!! All of your questions in your OP, except the last question, is what loyalty looks like to me. My Dai-Soke was like a father to me. My own father divorced my mom when I was very young, and he was a part of my life, but not a central part of my life. I've asked my mom and dad point blank...was I a mistake...not planned? They assured me that I was!! Dai-Soke is everything to me: Father, friend, mentor, advisor, trainer, educator, supporter, provider, and so much, much more. So, yes, I'm loyal to him, and if this is wrong, I don't ever want to be right!! I love you, Dai-Soke, now and forever. I miss you so, so much; you're always on my mind!! He wasn't just my Sensei...he was my everything on and off the floor. He accepted me, when no one else would, not even my mom and dad. I'm nothing...I'm nobody...and at times, I wish I had never been born; it's hard to not be loved by ones own mom and dad. I'm totally loyal to Yoshinobu Takahashi!! Thank you, Sensei...Thank you, Dai-Soke!!

Patrick wrote: OK...I do agree that things like this might one day be a possibility where it's widely accepted by the MA general masses. But, I might not see this in my lifetime. Patrick wrote: It would be appropriate because he's a beginner in BJJ, therefore, the general consensus is that he isn't qualified to assume that post. Yes, the Gracie's made him an instructor, and now he has a school which made him the CI. But no matter how one dresses up the label to be acceptable, his label doesn't match the normal qualifications of a CI. Can we all agree that Houston IS a beginner in BJJ?? I'm not disputing him being an instructor, there a dime a dozen, but I'm disputing Houston being the CI based on him being a beginner in BJJ!! Do you really have to ask... "who are you to decide who is and is not qualified to attend?" I've very qualified, matter of fact, I'm more than qualified!! But it's a fair question. I'd just be the petitioner, and then whomever s the arbitrator would make that decision as to the validity of my petition. As an attendee, it's my right to do so. If the arbitrator allowed him to attend as a CI, then, while I'd not agree with the decision, I'd honor the decision. And if this happened to me, well, I'd not worry about the petition because of what I bring to the table, and in that, I'm qualified across the board. I guess I'd get a kick out of the whole thing. And if I was denied by the arbitrator, well, I'd not attend, dust myself off, and go about my merry way. No harm...no foul...things happen!! Btw, I've never been to meeting of CI's outside of the Shindokan circle, and that's because I don't think CI meetings have ever meet outside of their own respective governing body. I've been to thousand of open meetings where Senior Dan ranks have meet to discuss things as well as to train with one another. In those meetings, I've never seen a beginner anywhere, well, at least not in the discussions and certainly not on the floor. Governing bodies ARE ALL DIFFERENT and they allow DIFFERENT things to occur, and that is their given right to do so. I accept that!! For now, a beginner, and Houston is a BJJ beginner, as a CI, I can't accept that. But, hey, that's not going to move Houston's governing body, their right is their right, that, I accept...I don't like it, but I accept that!! Listen, I just have to get my mind wrapped around this whole thing, and work through this because this type of thing just doesn't happen everyday, if ever, in the MA. Change is inevitable, and I wholeheartedly concur with that summation, as well as I embrace change. I WISH HOUSTON SUCCESS...I can't be much more clearer than that, and I'm willing to wish him well, this for me, is enough change, for now, complete change is going to take a little bit more.

If that indeed is true about the MA is a dying interest over in the UK; that's depressing at all levels!! How is the MA a dying interest in the UK?

By all means, good luck in your MMA fight, and I too, look forward in seeing your video. Absorb what is useful; discard the rest. As Kanku65 said.... Watching these Shotokanists just might give you an idea how well they've fit into the scheme of the octagon.

PKA coined it back in the mid 1970's, and when the PKA was resolved, a new label was created; out with the old and in with the new.

After reading the write up from your link, I'm interested in reading it. So, time for me to buy another book.

I believe that Kaicho Nakamura's son, Akira, is the heir apparent, and I can see why they travel together, and with the branch chiefs; Transitions must be seamless from one Governing Bodies Leader/Kaicho to the other. Demonstrates to the student body that there is continuity in anything and everything in Seido as Kaicho Nakamura intended it to be. Those in the Seido hierarchy must be on the same page with the vision of Kaicho Nakamura. If not, anarchy arises!! Good question about Funakoshi, and I agree, trust in your branch chiefs must be in place and without any ambiguity whatsoever. Kanazawa might be able to shed some light on this question...might be worth asking Kanazawa. Yeah, your Sensei and the other Seniors are in a good place to have the Hombu so readily convenient. Makes the world of difference!! Our Hombu is in southern California, Van Nuys to be exact, and many of our branch chiefs are just an hour or two or less away. Except one; ME!! I'm in Houston, TX, and I've a ton of flying awards, even though my travel there isn't as often as they'd like...once every quarter and once every Annual Testing Cycle, or anytime that I must be there to put out administrative/executive fires out.

Imho, one NEVER stops training under their own instructor UNTIL the instructor decides. Our Soke retired shortly before he passed away of natural causes. Our Dai-Soke was forced to retire, after his first stroke, and then passed away shortly after suffering his first stroke. No...Soke didn't continue training with his two instructors. He'd make many trips back to Okinawa to visit his father quite often. However, what he did when he visited his father is unknown because it was none of our business, and Soke was quite private when it came to matters like that. Soke's father was his Okinawa-te instructor!! Dai-Soke never spoke about those visits to us, even though he accompanied Soke often. edits: spelling errors

I've seen that in the JKA! Each Kata in the JKA syllabus has a determined time that said Kata must be performed in; not too fast and not too slow, but just exact. In Shindokan, our Soke was more concerned in the exacting entirety of each movement/technique, than he was with how long a Kata should or shouldn't take to execute from start to finish.

The Tai Chi exercises would be truly a welcomed fresh air from the way that Kata/Forms are executed!! Truly, Tai Chi could contain many AHA moments.

Has anyone ever not passed the MA schools that they drive by on the way to wherever they're going?? Just to check them out; satisfy some type of curiosity?? If so, what was your first/last impression(s)??