sensei8

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!!

For me not being on the floor, that'll take some serious getting use to. I wasn't left in charge by Dai-Soke, I was elected to be the current Kaicho. Before Dai-Soke's strokes, he was large and in charge, even when I was Kaicho; his right hand man, so to speak. You're post is solid; speaks many truths that I need to seriously consider. Doesn't my favorite saying still carry weight..."Proof is on the floor!"??

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, I noticed that, as well, when I was editing the video--it's one of those things you can't see when you're doing it, but the video doesn't lie. It may have been a subconscious adjustment due to my height, or to avoid bending my bad knee, but I'll be looking out for it now! The height? Well, that requires proper adjustment to force your opponent more prone while keeping your posture proper. The bad knee? Well, that can't be avoided because you're trying to protect an injury from being aggravated unnecessarily.

Wow...great topic...great responses, thus far. I've none to tell because my Sensei never asked me why I missed a class...ever; he never asked anyone...ever!! You were either there or you weren't; your MA betterment was YOUR responsibility, and not his.

Nice drill! In the video, Noah, you're more bent over while applying than your Sensei is when he applies; your Sensei is more erect in his posture. Just pointing that out because posture is important.

Yes, what to you STILL expect from the leader of your governing body? What do you think that the student body expects from the leader of your governing body? Can the leader of your governing body be expected to reach expectations of his/her position? Can the leader of your governing body be respected if he/she is physically restricted from doing certain, if not most, or drastically, not being able to execute on the floor anymore? Many questions...I know...I apologize! Most, if not all, leaders of a governing body is the most Senior Dan Rank of the style in which the governing body directs, already or Ranked up through the directions of the By-Laws; the constitutional laws of the governing body. Time measures all things. The days and the nights, the length and duration of those times between sun-up and sun-down, the breath of the existence of life in itself, both human and nature, the length and the width of that which is connected to one point to/fro another point. Yes, much more is under the control of Time. We are born, then we die; at their given time, no sooner and no later. Things happen within ones life within the time frame that is our life, nonetheless, time announces, unceremoniously, when these are to take place, therefore, nothing can prevent it no matter how hard one tries. We, MAists, when we die, the floor dies with us. In this topic, I'm not speaking about physical death, but instead, I'm referring to the time when ones not able to return to the floor for reasons beyond their control. Dai-Soke passed away in 2010, but not until after he suffered two debilitating strokes within months of each other that year. He finally made it back to the floor, but not in the manner that he's accustom too: He was wheelchair bound, but he returned nonetheless. But not in the capacity that he once was a master of all he surveyed, yet, he came back to the Hombu...his home...when time allowed. In a short time after he had returned to the Hombu, he suffered his second stroke, and that second stroke took life from him; he passed away, but not before his eyes were able to gaze upon that which he adored: His students, his friends, his beloved Hombu, and his closest friend...the floor...HIS dojo!! Had he not been taken away from us with that second stroke, could he have returned to the daily administrative duties that that position demands for the sake of the student body, and the Hombu/SKKA?!? We'll never truly know now, will we?! His eyes were still alive, yet his spirit had been splintered because of what he had endured in the first stroke. Tears speak in volumes, and when he returned to the Hombu, his voice was broken, yet strong, but his words told us all that his time upon the floor, and at the Hombu was over; time delivered its final blow, not once, but twice. My time upon the Hombu floor, as well as its offices, might be reaching an end. I've not physically improved from the medical problems that I've been dealt earlier this year, and I've had a second bout return this past Sunday, and the prognosis doesn't seem so bright. But I'm a fighter and I will fight it and fight it and fight it. My medical problems prevent me from the floor...from teaching...I love teaching...I love my students...I love the student body...I love my friends and co-workers at the Hombu...I love those I've shared the floor with, no matter where that floor might've been...I love everyone here at KF!! Again, my medical problems are not terminal, but chronic. I don't know if I can meet expectations of my position as Kaicho of the Hombu/SKKA. Am I suppose to only administrate, and to never return to the floor to teach Shindokan?? Has time caught up to me, in which, time has won this battle?? I'll win the war, God willing!! Your thoughts, please!!

I use to quite religiously follow Sumo at one time, but I've not followed Sumo as I once did before since the days that my administrative duties increased at the Hombu/SKKA. I love the 6 second fight methodology; the theatrics, the formality, and the honor of Sumo. Thank you so very much, Danielle, for sharing the article and videos with us here at KF...thank you!!

Whew...I'm glad that I'm of the half that WAS TESTED for my Hachidan.

Sorry for that...and YES you're hired!!

If you don't, well, you'll be sorry and wish you had. EDITS: Spelling and fixing the quote box.

I've been wearing gi pants as normal clothes forever and a day; comfortable and convenient.

Century MA Supply Company out of Oklahoma City, OK offers a "Student Uniform" with an unbelievable low price...$10.00 or lower, but you have to have a Wholesale/Commercial account with them first. Sometimes, Century will have clearance sells quite often with those same price points. And no, I'm not a spokesman for Century MA Supply Company, I sound like one, but I've been a Wholesale/Commercial account customer ever since they came into the MA supply picture a long time ago.

You're in luck. Century MA Supply Company out of Oklahoma City, OK has gi pants that come with at least 1 pocket. I also believe that AWMA out of Philadelphia, PA also has gi pants that come with at least 1 pocket. In addition, Century MA Supply Company also has "gi" pants that are Jeans with about 4 pockets with a built in gusset like a normal gi has, and, Chuck Norris modeled them for Century MA Supply Company in their catalog when they first hit the market.

Yeah, I too am curious and hopefully someone here has experience with both. Got my fingers crossed!!

Thank you! How long in total?

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Nice to see another Okinawan styles' video's here, and I like that you concentrated on the elbow, a sometime forgotten tool over the open handed techniques of most Okinawan styles. I also look forward to more videos from your group.

Sorry, I've no personal experience with that brand!! Hopefully, someone here at KF will be able to help you. Good luck, neoravencroft.

Another fantastic tutorial, Alex! Thanks for sharing it! Complications? Well, learning something new will be riddled with a plethora of complications that must be addressed at its given time. Outside of that, complications diminish as one spends more time with it; a familiarity begins to grow on you in time. I don't see any complications! That's because when a complication presents itself, it can be worked out. If you see my meaning. You covered the many complications that one might encounter with this particular technique very well. And those that you pointed out in this video are the complications that I would be aware of if I was in the bottom position.

Thanks for sharing that; great points to absorb. As chance would have it, I spoke more to him about it on Saturday, as it was his son's graduation party. He trained in the late 60s to 1980, when he came here. They did the spinning and jumping kicks (not to the extreme of today's stuff) in line drills and the like, but not during sparring. He said they did them for exercise, coordination, and flexibility benefits. They weren't looked at as combative techniques at all. They didn't wear the heavy chest protectors either. They basically wore what most karate schools wear today. They kicked high at long range, and threw lower kicks, knees and hand/elbow stuff at close range. Taking TKD here around 2000-2002, he said no one in the dojang (correct Korean spelling?) threw punches because they said punches don't score points. His mentality of "I'm not here to score points" was why he left. I don't know what goes on in places other than my immediate area and places where I've lived, but this is what I've seen from every TKD school I've visited. I'm not bashing TKD as a whole, because in college, I worked out with a few TKD guys who didn't go to sport TKD schools. What they said and how they sparred are along the lines of my family's experience. Maybe it's just where I am and have been. Many Karateka's don't treat Karate as a sport, and will tell you that their type of Karate ISN'T a sport, and their quite compassionate about that fact. Shindokan isn't a sport, however, as one who's been training in Shindokan for over 50 years, I loved to compete in any open tournament that I could find. Yet, while my Sensei hated it that I and many others did attend tournaments, he accepted that that part isn't under his influence at all. He'd growl about it from time to time, but it was our choice alone.

Solid OP!! Thanks for sharing it with us!! You might've already spoken about this somewhere else here at KF, but, what's your TSD background like. Thanks!

Thanks! I've been really thinking about this topic a lot lately. There are so many different interpretations for the adage. It can mean so many different things to different people. For some, its a battle against their own inner daemons. For some, it means fighting your now fear and cowardice. For it means fighting ones own laziness and getting to class and the gym. So many aspects of this philosophy to explore, so many levels of truth for this one simple phrase. Yes!! Each practitioner has their own experiences, therefore, they've different interpretations for the adage...none less important than the other.

To your question...Yes!! Again, add what is useful; discard the rest. It might be worth the effort to research and then add and apply that which add to your MA betterment.

This was kind of my thought. When you want to maintain integrity in a certain style, you need some way to define what is that style. Whether that's a governing body or a grandmaster or some type of authority that can say "This is how it's done in this particular style." I agree with you!! We did it in the past when both Soke and Dai-Soke were alive, and we continue to do this today. Both Saitou Sensei and Takahashi Sensei were BIG about going to EACH dojo under the SKKA umbrella to make sure that Shindokan is being taught properly, and according to Soke's liking. That's one of the many reasons why ALL dojo's under the SKKA umbrella are visited throughout the year, and will continue in the years to come! ACCOUNTIBILITY across the board; no stones and rocks are left unturned.

Dim Mak should touch. check my videos, all dim mak need touch. also Dim Mak came from china. why you believe a fake western Dim Mak fake masters?　 and don't believe the origin place real Dim Mak masters ? I've checked your videos; thank you for sharing. You say that Dim Mak is touch, but what I've seen in your videos isn't a touch; it's a forceful impact, imho. I don't believe in Dim Mak in general; no matter where it's being practiced. Like Kyusho jitsu, Dim Mak is inconsistent BECAUSE THE PRACTITIONERS AREN'T PERFECT; mistakes DO occur, for one reason or another. In short, if Dim Mak is an EFFECTIVE MA, then I've yet to see evidence. I'd have to experience it for myself personally!! i mean, to touch other people's body mean hand should connect with victim's body, not non touch that kind dim mak. I only heard some very very great masters can do the dim mak using the stone or a little distance with victim's body, but i neve heard any people can do this kind dim mak. yeah , for my understanding, the large hand dim mak is hit points,it is not pressure point. and the small hand dim mak, i talked with one five hundreds money dim mak practicer, he said, that need to practise the yin force, and when touch victim'd body, use this yin force to pour chi inside victim's body. i didn't find other videos about the small hand dim mak. Only one people show his small hand dim mak. i think i should wait more masters post their videos on website. i still don't understand the small hand dim mak very well, why a slight touch can make animal die ? i still doubt it. about the hit point i can understand, because pressure points can work, to used a trained hand to hit, it should work. No,no,no, dim mak is very very stable, if you learnt and practise it hardly, then you are good at it. it will never change. maybe, if you don't practise it anymore, for example, after 5 years, maybe, you are not good at it at all. yeah, maybe the PRACTITIONERS are not good, so you should find the real and good practicers, not these guys who didn't learn and practise it hard, and are bad at it. as far as i know, Kyusho jitsu was dim mak, because it said karate came from white crane quan, but following the time, japanese practicers lost the dim mak skills, so it become Kyusho jitsu, pressure points skill. but all of these i just heard and saw their discuss on the website. i don't know what is the truth about Kyusho jitsu Sound opinions. To the bold type above... Do some meaningful research to learn about Kyusho jitsu...you might be pleasantly surprised.