sensei8

For those of you here at KF that are instructors of the MA, and operate/own your own school... How do you divide your time to teach in your school, and receive instruction/training from your instructor?? It can be a balance act, this is for sure, especially if you have to also work/college part/full time in addition to teaching at your own school and learning from YOUR instructor. If you own/operate your own school, then you have to travel to your instructors school to learn from her/him. This is truly mindboggling when you've no other instructors at your school except for yourself. This might be possible if your own school is only open, for example, Monday...Wednesday...Friday. This allows you to travel to your instructors school to learn from her/him. But, how do you do this if your school is open 6 days a week...you work full time or carry a full college load in the day time, and you're teaching at your school at night?!?! Kyuodan Dojo was my full-time job; open 6 days a week...10am to 10pm. My school was approximately 6 miles away from the Hombu, and the Hombu was where my Sensei was. I had NO other instructors but myself at first for my first year and a half due to financial restraints. After a year and a half, the size of my student body allowed me to hire instructor, and they came from the Hombu. Until I was able to hire instructors, the Hombu would send over instructors to my school three days a week both day and night...these instructors from the Hombu were provided to me of no charge per Dai-Soke, and approved by Soke. That allowed me to teach full time and to train full time at the Hombu with Dai-Soke. And as the student body doubled, then tripled, I was able to train at the Hombu 5 days a week. This is hard, because I want to teach all of the classes, but if I teach every class, and I did at first, until Dai-Soke realized that my absence was drastically noticed, and not good for my MA betterment. After all, the Hombu had a gigantic instructor staff of all Dan Ranks; the Hombu could afford to provide Shindokan dojo's instructors to insure that dojo owners, like myself, could still have the necessary training time at the Hombu, and with Dai-Soke. Shoot, even Dai-Soke would pop in from time to time at my dojo, and instruct me to get my rear-end to the Hombu while he taught the remaining classes for me. Whenever this happened, I'd be on the floor with Soke himself, and not anyone from the instructor staff. Often times, Dai-Soke would send Dan Ranked instructor that were my Seniors from the Hombu to train me at my own dojo, teaching me whatever Dai-Soke instructed them to do. Finding time was my responsibility, but as a CI of my own school, my student body was my priority, but I knew that for my student's own MA betterment to improve, mine had to improve as well. I figured it out, and was able to create breaks in my schedule so that I could be at the Hombu as many days and hours I needed, while teaching each and every class at my dojo. So, how can you be in two places at the same time??

There's a few guys that use these in our dojo, but they have to be reminded to wash the bloody things, they get pretty rank, pretty quick if they do not. Good point. I've sent students home for not keeping themselves or their equipment or their gi clean!!

In passing, Houston Cottrell just might be able to teach me something because I don't know everything, and fresh eyes can be quite revealing. What will he be like in 10, 20, 30, or more years? He should be much better! While Houston might be able to teach me something, that, imho, doesn't qualify him to be the CI; his knowledge, for now, is quite limited across the board, and that means that what he has to offer his students is just as limited. Whatsoever the Gracie Academy decides, that shall it be. They've nothing to prove to anyone, and they surely don't need anyone's approval for any decisions they might make on the behalf of their student body, their governing body, and their art...or anything else for that fact. He's the CI...I don't agree with it, but in and through his governing body, he IS the CI of his own school. I wish him great success in all that he does. Train hard, Houston...train hard.

They do look like they'd do the job. And from the picture in the link, I believe that they'd fit fine over gi pants; appears they have Velcro that wraps around the leg, but I really couldn't tell one way or another. I will only wear guards under the gi pants because, for me, wearing them over the gi pants tends to restrict my movements one way or another; feels like the gi pants are grabbing me as well.

Fair enough!! As always, I've stated MY opinion about the matter. And if my examples aren't good, I believe that my point(s) still stand on their own. For example, I used the yellow belt example because it is the second rank right after while belt in quite a many styles of the MA; Shindokan, for one. Whether it took 3 months or 3 years, to me, has very little significance...BJJ's Blue Belt is the second rank right after white belt. The general overall feeling in the MA is that the second rank just isn't enough knowledge/experience to garner the CI post. His age isn't even a factor to me. A student my age, having the second rank, isn't qualified to be the CI!! 3 months isn't anything in the scope of the MA, and while 3 years is much more, time wise; 3 years isn't enough knowledge/experience to be the CI...An assistant instructor, and I dare say, or an instructor is ok with having 3 years on the floor in that MA discipline. But Chief Instructor? I'm sorry, NO!! But, as I said, it's the Gracie's decision and all, so that alone mutes my disagreements across the board. But here at KF, I believe that my objections to this Blue Belt being a CI might have some validity because of my many years in Shindokan. Again, I wish him great success...now and forever!! In that, I'm not EVEN looking at the man, I'm looking at the propensity of promoting someone with 3 years of knowledge and experience to the CI post!! Of all of the points I listed, and they were general points, as to what a CI is/does, the main, and most solidified point is that the CI is the FINAL AUTHORITY in administrative decisions as well as in the TEACHING of that style. And I stand on my decision to say...the second rank lacks the knowledge and experience to interpret accurately the methodology and the ideology concerning the syllabus/curriculum. ANY RANK under Godan should NOT be the CI of any MA school, and for surely, NOTHING under Sandan. I'm cool with exceptions because they are the birth marks of great things waiting to happen!! I've made many exceptions regarding many things that are MA, and some have bit me, while others made my decision(s) the correct one. One of the many things that I will not make any exceptions about are what we're discussing in this thread. Exceptions, in my opinion, shouldn't EVER be the granite stone that decisions are made from. In time, water will wear down that granite stone! Time, allows those exceptions to be made, just as long as they don't stain the integrity, and exceptions are rare, and not often!! I could've just said, congratulations and good luck. But that's me not being honest with myself. because he shouldn't be the CI. But, that's not my decision, but it's my belief. Some of what I was taught by Soke and Dai-Soke make me feel this way, but a lot of it comes from being in the MA for 51 years this October. I short, this Blue Belt...this student with 3 years being a CI, just rubs me the wrong way, and I know, that's my problem. But I just can't help feeling the way that I do about this. Like this Blue Belt, I too am a student. That's where many of our similarities end. I'm a CI with over 50 years of knowledge/experience! At the time I became a CI of my own dojo, Kyuodan Dojo, when I was a Sandan, and that was against the wishes of BOTH Soke and Dai-Soke [i didn't posses the knowledge...according to both of them], I had 14 years of knowledge/experience under me. If him and I were to attend a meeting of CI's from all different styles of the MA, I'd petition for him to not be an attendee of the meeting AS A CI...observant...yes...CI...no!! Why? He's not qualified in my eyes! It's quite bold to compare his knowledge with, for example, myself. What do I imagine that someone like Kanazawa or Higaonna, who are CI's in their respective styles/governing bodies, think about this Blue Belt CI with 3 years experience?? I dare to say, they'd be polite, but bear him no credibility and/or voice to his CI status, even if his mentors were standing right next to him. Of course, I'm speculating, at best because I've no idea what they would say and/or do in this situation. A prospective student should, and must, look beyond belt color! Nonetheless, many prospective students DO look at the belt color, especially if the CI isn't wearing the label of knowledge...Black Belt. After all, the CI is their avenue to learn that style. And if the CI has very limited knowledge, than the prospective student be limited by what they can learn on the floor. Yes, proof is on the floor, and the floor takes no prisoners, and any students, both prospective as well as current, might feel slighted. I've seen a JBB run a dojo as an Instructor, but not as the CI; the CI for that dojo was a Nanadan. And yes, that JBB ran the dojo, but under the close watchful eye of the Nanadan. Something wasn't right, the Nanadan, as the CI corrected it, and with authority, and the governing body had stamped that dojo approved because the CI wasn't the JBB, but the Nanadan. Danielle and Patrick, your arguments weren't placed on the back burner, and that's because I deeply respect your opinions and viewpoints; your knowledge/experience is well founded. I just wanted you two to know that!! A dojo is a business, I believe that. A business is as strong as the CEO, this too, holds to be true in a dojo, whereas the dojo is as strong as the CI. However, the business of a MA dojo MUST have undeniable credibility about that style. Nuances are missed by beginners, and a BJJ Blue Belt, imho, is a beginner, and a beginner, as a CI, has deniable credibility about the style. Why can't one of his mentors be the CI, and he an instructor, but without the CI badge??!!?? I'm still very curious as to what Alex things about this!! Hopefully, he'll post his opinions. I wish this young man great success, both on and off the floor, however, imho, he has no right or business in being a CI...yet! Time bears all things, and I believe that this young man needs to allow time to bear good fruit!! Let this young man not put his cart before the horse!! Imho!!

Yes, but money well spent, imho.

Ouch!! I think that library should've made Oyama's book a reference book only, and if for no other reason, the book isn't inexpensive, by any stretch of the imagination. A reference book, can't be checked out, and never returned!! Costly mistake for that poor library!!

Solid post!!

I just thought of something, sorry, I need to stop doing that. How much experience, on an average, does a BJJ Blue Belt possess? How long does, on an average, it take for a White Belt to earn a Blue Belt? There stands a chance that this Blue Belt CI will be passed by his own students; not a satisfying thing for the student body to embrace. His student body, might loose interest faster than one might imagine, the future of this school is always dependent of the CI first, and the governing body second. After all, not every student passes every testing cycle, and this Blue Belt CI is no exception. Within the community that his school exists, credibility of this school might've been already affected, and by now, other MA schools in this community have already scoffed at the proposed assumption of being equal to other CI's!!

Hopefully, what I'm about to post will express my opinion on this subject much more clearly... Should a medical student in their 2nd year of residency hold the position of Chief of Medicine at a hospital?? One might say, "That's not the same!" Sure it is! How so? A hospital IS a business!! A 2nd year medical residency IS someone who has been taught something!! They're good to go! Right? If so, I'll NOT be going to that hospital any time soon, if ever!!

Well, I believe before someone's not stiff, they first MUST harness control! That requires time in both the solo and partner training. Once control is harnessed, one can be as stiff or as light as one wants to be depending on the current circumstances. That too takes time, knowing when and when not to be stiff. However, MA techniques are suppose to be stiff, yet controlled at all times. eidt: spelling

At the end of the day, is it even possible to create an entirely new style? Somebody somewhere has already done practically everything, and everything's just a new spin on what's been done before. Unless someone figures out how to hover/levitate unassisted while shooting laser beams out of their eyes, then it's all been done before. Wait, isn't there a character in the Tekken series games who does this? To the bold type above... "I do not teach, you know, Karate, because I do not believe in styles anymore. I mean, I do not believe that there is such a thing as, like, a Chinese way of fighting or a Japanese way of fighting...or whatever way of fighting, because unless a human has three arms and four legs, there can be no different forms of fighting. But, basically, we only have two hands and two feet. So styles tend to, not only separate man because they have their own doctrines and the doctrine became the gospel truth that you cannot change! But if you do not have styles, if you just say, "Here I am as a human being, how can I express myself totally and completely?"...now that way, you won't create a style because style is a crystallization. That way is a process of continuing growth." ~Bruce Lee Just thought that I'd throw this out for all to chew on. That's what I was talking about, yet Bruce Lee said it far better. Every "new style" is really just a spinoff of a previous one. Why does Brazilian jujitsu look and "act"so much different than karate? Same reason why eagles look and act so much different than humans - evolution and adaptation. Realistically speaking, there are no new techniques out there being developed; there are may be new methods of delivering them - application, curriculum, theories behind them, names, etc., but there are truly no completely new techniques out there. If I were to start my own system by incorporating boxing punches, karate open hand strikes, judo throws, wrestling takedowns, BJJ ground techniques, and the Muay Thai clinch (including MT strikes during the clinch), would it truly be anything new? The only new stuff would be the curriculum and order I taught, and the name of the "style." Maybe I'm way off base here. A kick is just a kick, a punch is just a punch, etc. Solid post!! To the bold type above... Another Bruce Lee gem... "Before I learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch and a kick was just a kick. When I studied martial arts, a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Now I understand martial arts, and a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick." ~ Bruce Lee

My bottom line in this whole discussion is that... I wish him luck, I mean that!! Imho, this Blue Belt ISN'T qualified to be the CI because he's a Blue Belt!! I don't give a bucket full of bent pins who certified him, whether he was certified by a Gracie relative of Helio and/or by some other Gracie Black Belt. Just who in their right mind qualifies a student with only the second rank of said style to be the CI?! I don't enjoy being slapped in the face, and this is a slap in my face! It belittles what I've achieved on the floor, and it belittles what qualifies me as a CI. I'm not angry; I'm befuddled beyond all measures!! Most governing bodies wouldn't authorize a CI if that CI only possessed the second rank of the style. So much so, that their charter would be denied!! Sure, that school could still operate, but not under the umbrella of the governing body. I walk into a Shindokan dojo, and I ask to speak to the CI, I'm new...I've never trained in Shindokan, and this Yellow Belt walks up to me and introduces him/herself, and I inform this Yellow Belt that I'm here to speak with the CI, and this Yellow Belts informs me that he/she IS the CI, and I retort with, "No, really, I'm here to speak with your CI", and again this Yellow Belt tells me, "No, really, I am the CI". Credibility about the ENTIRE style is washed away by this one act!! Imho!!

One of the great things in our portfolio is a one-sheet monthly page (at BB level) where a student can track how many hours one trains, teaches, assists their instructor teaching, tests, sits on a testing Board, participates in a tournament (either as judge or competitor), seminars, etc. So each month, one keeps track of their MA career. All put into a 3-ring binder. Those pages alone in my 4th Dan portfolio comprised more than 50 pages of monthly training pages. My whole 4th Dan portfolio was probably 250 page, including everything I'd put in it. One thing I've found is that, when I feel burned out, or that I'm not progressing, one look through one of those portfolio at where I've been is a huge boost of energy to return refreshed. *Note* At gup rank level, the dated tracking pages are one page per year, and aren't nearly as detailed. If one goes to 2 classes on Thursday May 12th, that student would just write a "2" in the box for that day. Still, I've seen student portfolio when testing for 1st Dan/Poom that are 200-300 pages long with photos, & other info. It's great for the student, and great for their instructors. Again, that's quite impressive...I like it a lot!! Our Hard Card File, while it's not as in-depth as yours, depending on rank, it's not just a few pages long either!

I don't blame you because there's nothing like handling a book; touching it, reading it, and learning something from it!! It's not cheap...Used are, $232.00 plus shipping. Not like it was when it first came out: It cost $50.00, a heavy price, even back then!!

At the end of the day, is it even possible to create an entirely new style? Somebody somewhere has already done practically everything, and everything's just a new spin on what's been done before. Unless someone figures out how to hover/levitate unassisted while shooting laser beams out of their eyes, then it's all been done before. Wait, isn't there a character in the Tekken series games who does this? To the bold type above... "I do not teach, you know, Karate, because I do not believe in styles anymore. I mean, I do not believe that there is such a thing as, like, a Chinese way of fighting or a Japanese way of fighting...or whatever way of fighting, because unless a human has three arms and four legs, there can be no different forms of fighting. But, basically, we only have two hands and two feet. So styles tend to, not only separate man because they have their own doctrines and the doctrine became the gospel truth that you cannot change! But if you do not have styles, if you just say, "Here I am as a human being, how can I express myself totally and completely?"...now that way, you won't create a style because style is a crystallization. That way is a process of continuing growth." ~Bruce Lee Just thought that I'd throw this out for all to chew on.

Believe me, your question isn't the first one I've received. Greg, our Kancho, asked that very same thing you just did of me. I understand the question, and I respect the question, from you, Greg, and anyone else who's asked. Why do I need a 500 pound bag for? Fair question! I need a bag of that magnitude to challenge me, and to satisfy me across the board. Sure, I've normal bags of all types, and I train with them equally in their context as well as in their content. The one thing that I understand are needs and wants; separate elements. I don't want the bag to fill some ego fueled desire, but I do need the bag to challenge me in every possible part of my MA training. That 500 bag will eventually surrender its fight to me; just like the ones before it has!! The 500 pound bag is 6' tall and 26" wide!! The many attributes that regular bags provide, the 500 pound bag adds the exclamation point to any reason(s) that one might have. Bags satisfy the need of contact; proportional penetration must be achieved. Bags will quickly reveal incorrect technique(s); injuries of various degrees are the results of incorrect technique(s), therefore, bags will develop correct technique(s). Bags will develop power and speed; these are the bottom lines of training with any bag. Over time, I've earned the respect from those MAists both in and out of the Shindokan circles that I've had the pleasure of training with concerning my power and speed. I say what I'm about to say not to brag and/or show off...I hit like a mule...and I've some uncanny speed. I can destroy a regular bag quite quickly. I can swing the heaviest bag and stop it dead in its track. I can cause a regular bag to nearly touch the ceiling with my kicks. I can fold a regular bag at will, and a regular bag also includes Biltuff's 350 pound bag. Bottom line...regular bags no longer satisfy and/or challenge my training needs; not anymore!! This 500 pound bag, for the moment, satisfies all of my training needs. If the MAists goal is to increase ones MA betterment, and I'm no different, than this 500 pound behemoth will help me become better. Better power...better speed...better proportional penetration...better technique understanding; these are important qualities I want to take to the next level. In time, that 500 pound bag won't satisfy and/or challenge my training needs anymore, and that time will happen, and when that time comes, I'll only have one thing to do... Buy the 1,000 pound bag, and OKFighters makes them as well!! Fair enough. Though what's it filled with? Could always take a regular bag and fill it with a concrete core j/k but in all seriousness surely there's got to be a way to make a regular bag heavier and denser. LOL!! It's filled up with...WAIT...let it sink in...wait a little more...RAGS!! Yes, it's filled with ordinary rags. These rags are compressed in with some type of hydraulic press...over and over...until the desired weight is reached. The dense factor is achieved by the way they pack the darn thing. In my wildest days, I could NEVER fill a bag like they do; I'm not the Incredible Hulk...man, he could, but not me!! First time I hit this monster of a bag, and I mean I hit it with all of the gusto I could muster...I moved it, but not as much as I had hoped for. Then, it's like the bag kind of said to me..."That's what I'm talking about. Come on!!" but the bag had that evil look of, if that's the best you can do, you're in a world of hurt, and because you hit me, I'm going to hurt you, sucker!! I said...in time you will respect me. Until then, let's get it on...RIGHT NOW!! I was impressed with the density and what the future held...A PHENOMINAL BAG INDEED!!

Solid post!! I totally forgot about Andy AND Terry; I hate the rock I live under...I need to get out more often. Sorry skullsplitter, my bad.

Hey look...the trees are getting in the way of the forest...again...I hate it when that happens!! Sorry, in all seriousness, the natural fighting "stance" is still a "stance", no matter its relationship context. This natural fighting "stance" is a soft relaxed beginning of what is to come. In Shindokan, we, for the most part, start up-right and relaxed, and when the time dictates the exact moment, I move, and when that movement ends, I'm in a formal stance because that's a vital part of any given technique. We don't hover above the ground, waiting for the appropriate time to engage, while still hovering above, thusly ending the engage, and still...hovering. I suppose then, if I could hover, I won't worry too much about proper stance alignment and orientation.

I've never met or studied under or with this young man. I'm not passing judgment; I'm stating my opinion passed on my experiences. While this young man has taught a MA before, imho, that means absolutely nothing in the scheme of things concerning ones ability to teach. NOT ALL BLACK BELTS CAN TEACH...certified or not. I've seen this much to often across the MA board. I don't assume that because he passed the Cracie Academy Instructor Certification that he can adequately teach. All I know is that he can cross his T's and dot his I's in said Academy; that's, imho, done with a very broad brush. In that, what governing body certifies the second rank to be a Certified Instructor? To me, that's like certifying a Shindokan Yellow Belt to instruct; lacking of much too many attributes to become a CI...young or old!! A Shindokan Yellow Belt, our second rank, is learnt from somewhere, and they'd have that drastically limited level of skill/knowledge. We wouldn't even have a Yellow Belt do anything but train; the inexperienced leading other inexperienced. Running a business ISN'T the same thing as BEING the CI of a MA school; two totally different entities, not on the same plane. A CI's first obligation is to the student body, and not to some P&L. I can't judge his mindset because I've not shared the floor with him, nor have I shared the administrative floor with him; suppose this and suppose this, and I still don't know the person from afar. Yet, my background and experience and knowledge in both the teaching as well as the administrative areas speak for themselves, and I believe that I'm qualified to my opinions, and these are based on solid facts. His website doesn't mean much on the floor; proof is on the floor, and not on the internet/website!! For all we know, he could still lack the effectiveness across the board...for all we know! To the bold type above...I agree, but not at the same level of a CI. Same level as Alex, who's a BJJ Black Belt, and is a CI of his Alpha school?!?! I'm dismissing this young man as a CI based NOT on age, but that his appointment to the CI post was done for a student who only possess the second rank, Blue Belt in CBJJ, and the lack of credible knowledge to assume the CI post...kind of a slap to the face of CI's in general. Helio Gracie was teaching at 16, but I doubt that he was a CI, and if he was, I'm sure he'd admit that he should only be a teacher, at the best, but not the CI. Danielle, should a student in TKD be the CI when they're promoted to the second rank of Yellow or Orange? A Black Belt in another MA isn't the same as a Black Belt in TKD. Besides, one would start at White Belt in TKD because they've not the knowledge required about TKD. I've over 50 years in Shindokan, and if I was to learn TKD, for my first time, I'd start as a White Belt, deservingly so, and when I passed the Yellow or Orange Belt testing cycle, I'd not have the knowledge to be a CI of a TKD based school, even though I'm a CI within the Shindokan circle. Well...in that context...No, it made no difference to your contributions! But, your example here, just isn't the same thing; opposites, for sure!! The context of this example isn't the same context of a CI, and in the content of being a CI as a Blue Belt, no matter what the styles is. Imho!!

What your governing body does for their students Hard Card file, is what I wish that ours did. Our Hard Card file is quite through while at the same time it can be quite anesthetic. Your Hard Card file is a walk through that students MA journey memories; outstanding!! Btw, our Hard Card file is something that contains vital pertinent information about said student. More or less, it's nothing more than a Tenure Card!!

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

"This Is Karate", by the man himself, Mas Oyama!!

Solid post!!

A baseball bat!! However, I must choose one or the other, and everyone hear already knows what I'm going to say, and some have already mentioned it... Target acquisition is dependent upon varied parameters. In short, I won't know until that very moment arrives!! I know...I can be such a smart-mouth...sorry!!