sensei8

My bad, Sensei8. ^__^' Out of curiosity, what are the main differences between Shindokan and Seido? I recall you saying Shindokan was mainly hand strikes, but what about Seido? Fair enough. It made me think of it a bit, so I had to ask. There's Seido Karate of Tadashi Nakamura from the World Seido Karate Organization. Then, there's Seidokan Karate from Shian Toma. Two distinct and different Karate styles. The main differences between Shindokan and Seidokan is Space Management. Our Tuite and Seidokan's Toide [spelt differently] differs in the way we manage the close range space through our transitional movement in and around our opponent. We transition to spend time in the space of our opponent, and what I've noticed about Seidokan is that they change places with their opponent whilst engaging in their brand of Toide. We come into the space, and we stay in that space as we engage our brand of Tuite. Both of us utilize the mechanics of Aikijujitsu in our brand of Toide/Tuite! We use 85% of our hands, while our feet are mainly for transitioning into a superior position over our opponent; this position is good...now it's not...move...now its good, once again...but change is inevitable and constant!! With our hands; we strike, deflect, grasp, twist, pull, push, hold, punch, manipulate, and so on and so forth...hence the 85% usage of our hands. Shindokan uses Kobudo, grappling, Tuite/Toide, and so on and so forth; so does Seidokan. Not surprising seeing that we both were birthed in Okinawa!! I'd say that Seidokan can be viewed as to the 85% hand usage, as we do in Shindokan; so it appears.

Brain is right! However, Soke, being the founder, is awarded to only ONE person, alas, the founder. In Shindokan, Saitou Sensei was the founder, hence he was Soke. Then, Takahashi Sensei was awarded the Dai-Soke, hence the Second Headmaster, when Soke retired; Soke selected Takahashi Sensei to become the Dai-Soke...it wasn't up to a vote!! Then, Iwao Takahashi, Takahashi Sensei's son, was selected to become the San Dai-Soke by the Dai-Soke, his father. Notice, there was first the Soke, then the Dai-Soke, then the San Dai-Soke, this was to differ one Soke TYPE from another. Having said that, we've no Soke types in Shindokan anymore; that titles been, well, retired permanently!! A 5th Dan can be a Soke type because the Soke type is the primary exclusive representative of the governing body. In Shindokan, the Soke type WAS THE OWNER of the Hombu/SKKA; this became a problem in recent years passed, and it's not a problem anymore. Who can represent the governing body and the student body best?? That's an important question; a question that shouldn't be taken lightly. So, yes, a 18 year old CAN be a Soke type as determined by the governing body hierarchy; it's highly unlikely, but possible. Can that Soke type be a Judan? Per that governing body, and its By-Laws, it would surely be true...per the By-Laws. Why our Soke wrote the By-Laws to read just that way, baffles me, but it was his choice to write it the way he wrote it, and I doubt that he even considered the possibility that "a 18 year old son of his" could become the next Soke type.

Create a new style is easy, but the hard thing is proving it is effective; that's the hard part!!

I too, am a big guy, and I've been in the MA for over 50 years. The only thing I care about is what my Doctor says, and per my Doctor, I need to lose 15 pounds by the end of August. What other MA and what consumers like or don't like about my size doesn't concern me at all; I'm complete in my totality as a MAist!! I now want to lose the weight, not because of the MA and the like, but because it's healthy of me to do so. I'll be 58 this October; time to get real!!

Solid post!!

While the consumer decides what to and what not to purchase, the proprietor must meet the bottom line month to month, in each quarter, and in the year end P&L. If not, the risk of closing the door forever becomes tantamount. In that, the dojo owner will do whatever it is to reach every business goal in a positive manner. Those owners that use underhanded tactics to reach said goals, that's NOT cool, and that's when the power switches back to the consumer...to buy or not to buy!! Any school of the MA only has to worry about their business, and in that, any decision about that business is their right across the board. If I don't like what my competitor does, then that's my problem!! If my competitor doesn't like what I'm doing, then that's their problem. I don't require things, like those mentioned in the OP, but that school does. So, the tennis game of back and forth continues until the consumer buys or doesn't buy. Imho!!

I wholeheartedly concur with Brian!!

Ouch; how sad, all at the same time!!

To be or not to be; that is the question. Using both the English and Japanese terms has become the rage of the page. Kihon...basics...Kata...forms...Kumite...sparring!! In the nutshell, it's becoming the can't see the trees because of the forest. Train hard and train well!! The instructor must set the tone, and be consistent in it. Like in anything, there's basics, intermediate, and advanced; without the basics, the later two can't be reached. Imho!!

I've seen this happen before, and as an instructor, its important to really monitor this. If you get two guys or gals that just like to bang, something like this can escalate out of control in no time. In my time coming up the ranks, I never had an issue matching levels with someone, but it almost never ended up being a productive learning session.Solid post!! The one thing Greg and I do at the end of our "banging" sessions, we high five and hug in a sincere manner!! Do we ever, or have we ever escalated to an unprofessional level? No; it's not in our make-up to do so. We've a gentleman's agreement that's long standing.

I can see that happening; with you and his coach, he'll do fine in the long run!! Good to see that it's not because of it not being a tournament because if it was the reason, then, imho, he's getting a bit overconfident; it happens. Pst...any new videos to share with us?!?

Nice tutorial; thank for sharing it!!

I fell for that hook, line, and sinker when I was a kid. I heard it from OUTSIDE of the Hombu, and not from Soke and/or Dai-Soke. One of my Sempai's finally heard me speak that to another student, and set me straight. Back then, I was as clueless as the day was long!!

I can appreciate what you're saying! After all, we all put on our pants one leg at a time, for the most part!!

Congrats; well deserved!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! You're the consumer; you decide!! Not the school!!

The ultimate aim is a personal issue! And what Funakoshi speaks about is just as important as, Karate has no first attack, along with the other 18 percepts. Are these modern or not? That's for the individual to determine. It's a choice to accept them and adopt them, as it is to reject it, and shun away from it. I respect them all, the percepts, but the individual will have to decide their validity across the board, and no one can force ones beliefs. Imho!!

You shouldn't have any concerns if you belong to a governing body. If you don't...square one again...for a little bit; knowledge and the like will surface quickly once you step on the floor!

Another fantastic tutorial, Alex!! Always good to see Mike and you on the mat!! I use the guillotine cautiously because the parameters aren't always there, and if ones not careful, the choke can be "turned-off" by a few simple movements. Yet, the opponent can't keep that profile for long because it invites other elements that won't favor my opponent: Patience, as in anything, needs to be meted out. Yes, we use the option that Mike shown; another of my favorite, and that's because it, for us, is in the manner of Tuite.

How the MAist ACTS as a "Master"/"Grandmaster"/ETC, speaks in volumes; volumes to hard to ignore, good or bad. I believe, that those who have "Titles", no matter what they might be, and for those who aren't swelled in their heads because they have a "Title", that they deserve our respect because of what it took for them to reach/achieve said "Title", i.e., time on the floor, and things like that. Grandmaster Young Ik Suh comes to my mind; an awesome TKD practitioner, that I've ever seen. Humble on and off the floor, but certainly, deadly if need be!! I only spent one high school year on his floor, and it was an honor to have done so; it was my loss, that I left his dojang!! Imho, he deserves my respect, and I'd have no problem addressing him as Grandmaster, because, he was. Imagine that...a Shindokan Karateka praising an TKDist...but again, it's easy to imagine if you knew him. My own Sensei, and our Soke, had tremendous respect for GM Suh!! Those that demand respect because they've a "Title", can hold their breath until we do...at least then, they'll have the record for one holding their breath!!

Way to go Kendall; awesome! Thank you, Brian for that update. But wait...NO VIDEO... Why do you think he was passive? Maybe it was just a camp and not a competition?! GO KENDALL...GO KENNETH!!

YES...The Army aspect you mention, in that, all of the Armed Services, for that fact.

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

Why would some call, Secrets of the systems?? I don't believe in "Secrets" of any MA. Why? Students need to be informed, and in the information, ways to protect oneself shouldn't be kept "Secrets" from the student body. Or are the Secrets to keep ones opponent unaware...uninformed??!! Chinese martial arts traditionally have been plagued with secrets ever since the Chinese brought their Kung Fu to the west. It is s sort of play on words. Not to be taken so seriously..What I show is more of the inner working on how I teach.. I thought so, but the affirmation in what you say, speaks in volumes. What was true yesteryear, shouldn't be true today. Secrets were just that, and these secrets were well guarded by those who swore to protect them. Nowadays, that's not so strong, because in todays world, instructors have decided to make their students as aware as they can.