sensei8

For nothing, I fell in love with Blue gi's when they were first offered back in the late 1970's, early 1980's shortly after the PKA started selling them to the public, as long with their Star and Stripe gi's to honor those that were worn by PKA Kickboxers such as Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, and Jeff Smith.

I've THOUGHT about Blogging, but that's as far as I've gone...a thought!! My problem, I'm computer super stupid, and get overwhelmed quite quickly over many of things. I don't know what to buy or what not to buy, etc., EVEN after I've done some research or spoke with someone, I'll just stand/sit there like deer staring at some headlights. The interest within me quickly dies. Managing the darn thing must require a fair share of time to make it a grand success. From time to time, I've no time outside of my duties within the SKKA, while other times, I'm as dormant as a slug; more time on my hands than I know what to do with. Then, the biggest turn off to me is that I'm afraid that whatever I write, will not be received well, if at all. Just like writing an article or coming up with a topic here at KF; great to me...but not great to KF members/readers....I've BORED them to death, at times, more than I care to remember. Blogging, websites, podcasts, and things like that scare the nerve right out of me. I try them, then they sit on the shelf collecting more dirt than what's in the Sahara Desert. I know, the problem is ME!! I'm such a dork!! Martial Arts; I can do that quite well, thank you. After that, I'm at a great loss before I even begin!!

Solid post! Look at what that type of marketing has done for Ronda Rousey; made her the dynamic brand that it is!! She's a hot ticket, no matter the venue; movies, MMA, and so on and so forth.

Articles can fall short in many MA magazines, which happens even here at KF whereas articles or topics aren't read much, if at all for various reasons. Topic will sound great to the writer, but will pale to earn any interest from the readers; then the topic/article die before any life was even given to it, and of course, I speak about myself. I know I've written topics/articles that sounded great to me but that's where the piece went south fast! It happens!!

It took me some time, on my own, to no longer care about the turnover ratio because turnover, I finally learnt, was just a normal part of the MA, or for that fact, any other type of business. I use to track it closely on my P&L each month, but, I grew out of that in time. It's normal for new schools of the MA to track, and it's an important part because to grow, one has to understand how to grow, and to know how to grow, is to track models that underline areas that need attention; either fix it, or don't fix it!! Ours MA industry is akin to a roller coaster; up and down, this way and that way, spinning thusly here and there, and going in loops concerning the totality of ones student body. Don't fret the turnover ratios...JUST TEACH!! The turnover ratio will take care of itself if you teach. I'm not saying don't look over it, but don't dwell on it because, it'll start, trust me in what I'm about to say, interfering with you providing quality instructions one way or another. Luther unleashed...Your numbers, for having just started, are quite impressive. So I ask this of everyone...How many students do you need? Being honest with yourself will help answer my question. If you want a small student body, then act like it. If you want a medium sized student body, then act like it, and of course, if you want a large student body, then act like it. Some how and some way, I must've acted like I wanted a large student body, but I didn't do anything special, other than teach. When I sold my dojo in Tulsa, OK, I had over 300 student body, and this went up and down through the many years of trials and tribulations with the economic downturn we all experienced not long ago. Yes, I was satisfied to having a large student body, but I didn't set out to generate that size of a student body...I JUST TAUGHT...I did what came natural to me, and what I loved to do! I watched the ratio act like it was in a rushing mad storm in the middle of the ocean...rocking and rolling, until I threw up. But, finally I said to myself..."It will take care of itself...NOW TEACH, DAMN IT...TEACH!!" That's when the numbers slowly grew and grew and grew. I was amazed myself but then again, I wasn't that surprised because I CAN TEACH!! I've been blessed my entire MA career whether it was in California or in Texas or in Oklahoma, I was blessed to always generate a large student body, a respectable student body. Besides, winners never quit, and quitters never win...or something like that. Students will leave, that's natural, it's part of the business...can't be stopped, and can't be helped. JUST TEACH!! MA is difficult, and many can't deal with all that's required to be an effective MAist! Beginning student turnover is the biggest of the ratios...MA is too hard, then there's competing with sports competitions, like little league, and everything else that kids and adults become involved in during their daily lives...because...they're living and surviving and whatever else. Your dojo door swings two ways, in and out, and this revolving door of student retention will be that monster that'll eat you up and spit you out if you let it...DON'T LET IT!! If your teaching quality stuff, then students will come, and those that leave for whatever reason(s) will be replaced by new students. Cherish those that remain on the floor! Cherish those that have left the floor! Each have their own reasons as to why; respect THAT!! Now, GO TEACH YOUR HEART OUT, and one more time...the student turnover will take care of itself!!

YES IT IS!! No better time than the present. GO COWBOYS!! After last season, this season, more than before, I'm starting to think that the Cowboys might get deeper in the playoffs, than before! Was their schedule lighter than usual? No, no more than others, imho. Brain's Chiefs have potential! Patrick's Dolphin have potential! Name the team, they've the same potential!! Human errors and just crazy dumb luck, separates the greats from the not-so-great. I predict that the Cowboys will...get closer to the Super Bowl, but not in the Super Bowl until...2017. GO COWBOYS!!

Nice tutorial, Alex; thank you for sharing!! I saw several things and liked what I saw!! Listen, I've been rolling on the floor for 51 years this October, and I don't want to ever seem that I know everything, because I DON'T!! So, please allow me to give the floor to other KF members here because I too, get tired of my own voice.

Solid post!! A martial artist is a martial artist; no gray area exists, imho!!

Whenever I watch MMA, UFC for example, I'll mainly be watching the pureness of the techniques. The who, what, where, when, why, and how of each technique, and the techniques in combinations. I've been teaching on my own since 1977, so as an instructor, I look at the pureness of the techniques, and nothing else. Yes, I love to watch the battle between two solid practitioners just as much as everyone else. But the nuts and bolts of the whole battle rest on techniques effectiveness. Not all practitioners turn their supportive foot when executing a kick, and this DRIVES ME CRAZY. Had they turned their foot more, to open up the hips more, well, a pound weighs more than an ounce!! When I saw the pic on FB, my reply to the question asked was..."BOTH!!" I left it at that, and I'll still leave it at that.

AHA moments occur when solo training; it happens, more often than one might imagine. Inasmuch, that feedback is lost, or suspended, and that AHA moment loses its flavor and spark because that necessary feedback isn't immediate. Therefore, that found AHA moment is forgotten!! Effective practice becomes productive when one's able to improve; no matter how big or small that might be. Punching harder, going longer, compacting more, and so on and so forth; any improvement must be awarded!! A LIFETIME!! Until it's perfect, and that, takes more than a lifetime because we aren't perfect. Now, that technique is almost perfect....wait...now it's not...wait...it is perfect again...no...wait... So you see, what is now, won't last because we're seeking to improve...ALWAYS!! NO!! Mundane repetitive techniques until exhausted worsens the technique, and KATA, well kata is comprised of said techniques. Once tired...STOP...REST...then resume training. It's everything!! I can't improve my MA betterment without it, but again, feedback must be in concert. Train solo, then get with your Instructor to get that feedback. How? Go to class, and if that solo training is getting the approved nod, then you're good to go, but if you don't get that approved nod, speak to your Instructor and let him know what you've been doing during your solo training, get his/her valuable help, and return to that solo training!! All of this speaks about Shu Ha Ri...all of it, even if, and especially while training solo!! Moments will peak; that's the reward, yet, the diligent will endure daily.

Yeah, it does look like fun! I wouldn't be interested in the competitive aspect, but in the dojo...yeah, I'd do it! I'm with you, Montana!! What I love about it is that...I WILL GET A TURN TOO!! Heheheheeheheheheehhehehehee

We could ask students to donate their old gi whenever they buy a new one, for whatever that reason might be, and we could store that donated gi, by sizes, and give them to students who are unable to purchase one for themselves. However, the gi must be in good condition, and washed!!

Enjoy your new Shureido gi; quality workmanship!!

Let me just say this... Sign me up!! That would be fun!!

I've had a subscription to Black Belt for as long as I can remember. Over the 50 plus years, I've had a numerous subscriptions to the wide world of the MA; covering a plethora of different MA styles. Karate Illustrated was a must have back in the 70's because it covered current and future tournaments; it was the bible for following the MA tournament scenes. CFA, has been in my magazine subscriptions index for as long as CFA has been publishing its fine work. It's the bible of anything Okinawan...a no frills publication! TKD is covered well on the Barnes and Noble shelves with many different titles...I too, have a subscription to a few of them! UFC/MMA is also covered quite well on B&N shelves, yet, I only have a subscription to the UFC format! These are just a small few listed magazine subscriptions that I've had or still have. However, and for some time, once the economic downturn a few years ago, I cancelled them all because I felt that money could be used elsewhere.

Good thinking - I never thought of using them like that. You know...reuse, recycle and all. Why not having a hand-me-down gi?? I like the idea across the board. After all, the hand-me-down mindset has been culture of many countries for as long as they can remember.

Solid post!!

Congrats, Titanium; well deserved!!

Solid post!! If that doesn't work and all other avenues have been exhausted with said student, then I'm only left with one option...EXPELL the student immediately with cause!! Disrespect isn't ever tolerated, and not even for any second!! It's hard to change the mindset of someone who's under the duress of the parent. How the parent thinks, does, and says; is how a young student will be in ones dojo because that's all they know and what they know is correct and acceptable.

To The Pred and JR 137... Solid posts, both!!

His rationale is that black belts have earned the privilege of wearing what they want. Once they reach dan ranking, their training is their own and they can decide what to wear for it. We've got everything from the very proper, traditional Korean guy who wears a starched and pressed immaculately white gi every single class to the guy with the dingy faded black gi with the sleeves chopped off. It helps that it's a small, non-commercial program so we don't have to worry much about looking good for potential customers. I agree. While the training is the students own, his floor was HIS, and while you were an honored guest, the floor was still HIS. White gi ONLY...clean...tater free!!

Imagine to try to include in your class structure time of the warm up that Mario Higaonna Sensei does...it's 45 minutes long, but quite thorough!! Especially in todays model of classes lasting 45 minutes to an hour long!

I wholeheartedly agree with muttley, Wado Heretic, and Spartacus Maximus; solid points, all!!

Now THAT'S a testing cycle; one after my own heart. MEMORIES!! LOVE IT!!

I'm with Danielle on this, wholeheartedly!!