sensei8

Solid post!! The word "Master" isn't ever used, past, present, and won't be in the future of the SKKA. Albeit, Godan is a point of training that a student is at the threshold of Mastering the Basics. Nonetheless, we don't address, nor is it in the SKKA language to address anyone of the rank Godan and up with a "Master" label. No "Master" Mitcham...No "Master Forsythe"...No "Master Saitou...No "Master" Takahashi...No "Master" surname whomsoever and whatsoever. Imho, there's only one Master, and He lives on High!!

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

For me, titles are nothing more than identifying labels, and not to be used in everyday settings. In the SKKA, we only address, and expect to be addressed by titles in formal settings as set forth by Soke!! I'm no more important than the lowest ranking student on the floor!!

Time in grade can be the albatross hung around the neck of every student that's subjected to the order of the governing body. Time in grade does have its merits, but for one to appreciate what they are, takes some understanding the ideology of that governing body. Do we instructors hold a student back because the By-Laws of the governing body demands it to be so for the governing bodies sake? Do we instructors hold a student back for the protection of the student; not wanting to rush a student before a student is ready for a testing cycle? Do we instructors hold a student back because that Sensei isn't part of any governing body and the Sensei's low rank when he/she broke away from the governing bodies umbrella, and now the student(s) can't be promoted to a rank near or equal to that of the Sensei? Do we instructors hold a student back because of unprofessional feelings; the Sensei doesn't like the student for whatever the reason(s)? These questions can be problematic for students? At times, time in grade can be a blessing, but for that to be so, the student has to exhaust the desire for rank. As ShoriKid states in his last post here, I was fortunate to have the Sensei that I had!! I was frustrated in the By-Laws concerning those of the JBB; a servitude that was as close to discrimination as one can imagine. However, as a JBB I chose to not embrace the ideology of Soke concerning his reasons surrounding the JBB. The time in grade for a JBB has its own rewards: time to learn...time to harness...time to polish...time to acquire...time to chip away at...time to appreciate...time to witness...TIME IN GRADE CAN BE TIME APPRECIATED!! If we students don't appreciate what is being done for us, then we don't deserve to be students!!

This season of MLB has been exciting and nail biting. The Houston Astros are the shocking team that just won't go away. They split with the Yankees when they played in Houston, and they've won some games that they deserved because of their heart. I'm not a Astros fan, and now that I live in Houston, TX, I can't bring myself to go to an Astros game at Minute Maid Field. Yankees are in 1st place; 5 games ahead of the Blue Jay. Astros are in 2nd place; 0 games behind the Angels...only percentages separate 1st place from 2nd place in their division. I'm hoping at the end of the regular season that the Yankees will have a better record than the Astros, but I hope both teams can play some Red October ball. I'm a Yankee fan, and I only have one thing to say.... GO YANKEES!!

Better late than never; you're post was SOLID, and well timed!!

Not only YES, but quite OFTEN. To exchange, one student to another, and style to style, there's so much to learn, thusly, so much to harness, and so little time.

I'm sorry, but no matter 5th dan or 12th dan traditional martial "arts" are just ineffective in "actual" full contact combat! Good exercise though.......... Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! I'm not a subscriber to the thought that's in bold type above because it's unfair to a many styles and their practitioners. Often times the practitioner is ineffective and not the style. As I'm typing this I'm thinking about a many legendary practitioners like, Kanazawa, Oyama, Nakayama, Parker, Nishiyama, Higaonna, Shimabukuro, and Chow...the list keeps going on and on...and this and those also have students that are to be reckoned, and not ignored. My own Sensei, Takahashi, was a karateka without resolve! I respect your opinion, through and through!!

As the Kaicho [President] of the SKKA; Shindokan's governing body, I say this to the OP... Do what YOU want to do!! You're a student, therefore, you're not the property of any entity whatsoever!! Your MA journey is YOURS, and yours alone. Yes, you're a student of a Sensei, who's affiliated with your styles governing body, and they might be compassionate about many things, none greater than another, but at times a governing body/Sensei can't see the forest because of all of those darn trees; they keep getting in the way of what they're suppose to do: TEACH!! Teach, and not preach things that interfere with a student's MA betterment. Our student body within the SKKA, is just over 10,000, and the SKKA has better things to do than to create some rules and regulations that suppress a students MA journey. Yes, the SKKA might not feel comfortable about the who, what, where, when, why, and how a student increases their MA betterment, but the SKKA knows, and endorses our students to seek that which improves their MA betterment, no matter the source. Our Soke made this clear... "As we a students ONLY Sensei? No, we are not!" Sounds pretty cut dry and clear to me. He knew that while Shindokan is an effective MA, he knew that Shindokan wasn't the only effective MA, nor is it the only effective means. Means to learning, and means to teaching, and means to receiving information; THEN, the student is FREE to choose without fearing the wrath of their Sensei and/or their governing body. Learn on!!

Dynamite Solid Post!! Thanks!!

Yeah...THIS!! Solid post!! I can't sew to save my life!!

Ooooo...I like that. You're absorbing what is useful and discarding the rest to increase your TSD/MA betterment!!

Glad to hear that things are getting better across the board. Hang in there...train hard and well!!

I'm wholeheartedly for it. Shindokan, already has included Tegumi and the like into its curriculum from its creation; our Soke was BIG on this not being just a simple involvement, but a very deep involvement because fights can happen standing and on the ground.

I hear you. We've talked several times since last night when this all came to a head, and I think we are at a good spot. I contacted my friend and spelled out the boundaries that we need as a married couple, and she fully understood and agreed to all terms without question. Her response was supportive of my decision and she also wanted me to pass sentiment that no harm was meant toward my wife, to my wife, and that based on what I've told her, my wife sounds like a wonderful person and she'd love to try and get to know her because she doesn't have many friends around here as she's only lived here for a little over a year. I showed my wife the message thread for maximum transparency. This went a long way with my wife and her comfort level with the whole situation. As part of the agreement our contact outside the dojo will be limited to emails specifically about the curriculum I'm putting together and when I'm going to talk to my friend I'll let my wife know before hand. My wife is comfortable with all of this and my friend is fully supportive of the restrictions, so I think through all of this, everyone is going to come out happy. Thank you for all of your inputs. This was a weird situation as the title says and I was unsure exactly where to go. I've been a member on this site for a long time, and while i'm not a heavy poster like sensei8 I've always checked out karateforums for any serious discussion on real world martial arts topics. I'm glad I could come here to discuss this. While not exactly martial arts related, it does involve a certain element of my life crossing to my martial arts life and opinions from other real martial artists helped. Peace to you all. Glad to read that things are working out for all parties concerned in this difficult situation across the board! I believe that as long as all of the parameters are respected, a long, fruitful relationship can exist, not for just some time, but for all time. Speaking for myself, I'm glad that I was able to help you with some advice to ponder over for decisions sake. Imho, appeasing your wife was both tantamount as well as paramount in the decision you had to make!!

Will I, doing as your post suggests, diminish the office for which I was elected to?? Dai-Soke was on the floor and not leaving explanations with anyone to perform FOR HIM, and while I've seen what you're speaking about from other governing bodies, I'm dedicated to what I saw and learnt from Dai-Soke; he was both large and in charge WHILE still being large and in charge on the floor AT THE SAME TIME. Still, your post is solid, and to be considered!! I don't think so. If an instructor has a lot of knowledge you notice that and respect them for that even if they can't perform everything. I wholeheartedly concur!!

I've been doing that for quite sometime already.

I'd appease the wife, and direct the female student to other avenues for assistance. Why? Your wife, imho, is paramount with no ambiguity. What front do you want to help; your home life or a female student. It's a tough decision to make. But is it?!? As an instructor, we're not bound by some ethic rule that says we must help...like a doctor who's vowed to care for the patient before them. Sure, we want to help in any capacity that we can, but, an instructor is there to teach the MA and the like. Having said that, do what YOUR heart directs you, the decision you make, while difficult, will make all of the difference in someone's life. Nonetheless, there's a saying...If the wife isn't happy, nobody else will be either!! Both, your wife and this female student have solid reasons, and experiences that must be taken in consideration. I don't envy the situation that you're in! I sound cold, but I'm not.

Congrats; well done!! Feels good, huh?

I too, for you and your daughter, hope that the school stays open. The easy part of owning a school is the teaching part. The hard part about owning a school is keeping it open. Sure, low attendance can cause a school to close, especially if the school is the full time job for the owner, but the desire of the owner must be there for everything to fall in its proper place. Hang in there, and for those students still there, please let the owner/CI know just how much you all appreciate all of the hard work that he's doing; it'll make the instructor feel that much better, and that what he's trying to do isn't in vain.

If I understand your question...Kancho is In-House at the Hombu, while I'm only In-House at the Hombu once per quarter, Annual Testing Cycle, or whenever it's necessary. Greg lives where the Hombu is, and I now live in Houston, TX, and before TX, I lived in Owasso, OK; it's been that way for close to 20 years. Yet, my less In-House ratio has been like that since Dai-Soke passed away in 2010. Before his passing, I was flying back and forth quite a lot; at Dai-Soke's discretion, even when I was elected to Kaicho. Yes, that did answer my question. Now at your own dojo (if you're still running one), do you have a good amount of instructors to run your dojo classes for you? At the moment, I don't own my own dojo ever since this past February when I sold my dojo in Tulsa, OK to my highest ranking student so that I could move to Houston, TX to help care of my sister. I was close to signing a new lease here in Houston, TX but this unfortunate relapse has forced me to step away from that opportunity, at least until the doctor can figure out why the relapse in the first place.

Solid post!! Something for me to truly consider; thank you!!

Thank you, I do feel that I am getting somewhere now and hope that I can stick at this style and succeed. As for the last bit of your post, I seriously ache today, my legs and hips are screaming at me! With any luck, I will be able to get my daughter involved in the club as well, she wants to learn and I think it would do her the world of good. In time, you'll get through all of the ache and pains, but for those times when you do ache, remember this...the pain reminds you that you're still alive. I hope you can get your daughter interested and involved; so much positive comes from training together.

Neither did mine, I just felt guilty enough to feel the need to explain my absence every time I wasn't there. There is always a need to feel superior in absentia to those who are merely shirking due to hangovers, laziness or sport on the TV. Yeah, me too. But whenever I tried to, he'd either ignore me or shrug his shoulders or, my favorite..."You here now, get in line!"

I believe you're doing a great job of learning a new style; you're adapting quite well. That 1 on 1 session with your Sensei was quite valuable; priceless. How to dot the I's and cross the t's for you in the new style through that 1 on 1; THAT, that right there, that was your Aha moment. Don't, and you're not, discard what you learnt from Shotokan, unless you must. You're absorbing that which benefits YOU!! Continue to do so, respecting both styles and what they provide you. Train hard, and train well!!