sensei8

UPDATE: Just received the final findings via FedEx!! "There's no conclusive, or questionable evidence to further pursue." I read this and slumped in my chair as my head dropped into my hands; I was dismayed. This is not what I had expected. "Furthermore, I find no fault in the propensity of any of the grading instructors; their score cards were without any ambiguity. In interviews that my staff and I have conducted, we're of the same mind that the grading instructors had only increased the expectations of the students." After reading that, my mouth went agape in disbelief. WHY? ALL TESTING has always been conducted in the manner as set forth by SOKE!! We've the templates created by SOKE, and we're NOT to ever stray away from them, and to do so, only UNDERMINDS the integrity of ANY TESTING CYCLE!! Personal considerations are NEVER to interfere with the integrity of the EXACTNESS, as set forth by SOKE, of ANY TESTING CYCLE. Grade on the FACTS, and the FACTS alone!! This failure ratio, in my mind, is UNACCEPTABLE!! "I've no recommendations to offer, nor do I have any other conclusions to offer, short of this: As shocking as the ratios were, and are, I believe that future Annual Testing Cycles conducted at the Hombu will be meet with this same abnormal temperature of expectations from those appointed to grade any and all students of the SKKA." Abnormal temperature of expectations??!!?? Strange way to say that something is wrong and will be wrong in future testing cycles, especially, or if only, at the Hombu. As Kaicho, the buck stops with me. As Kaicho, I'm held responsible for everything. As Kaicho, all fingers point to me. As Kaicho, the unforeseen are my responsibility, and as Kaicho, the high failure ratio is my responsibility, and the burden rests upon my shoulders. I've sent to the following to any and all concerned parties within the SKKA... "It's quite disturbing that the Hombu's 2015 Annual Testing Cycle as been frothed with a disdained fever that has raped the integrity of its proceedings of late. Therefore, until further notice, ALL testing cycles at the Hombu are terminated, albeit, this is to include any, and all Shindokan dojo's!! No Testing Cycle Petition will be approved until further notice. In short, NO TESTING CYCLES are to be conducted whatsoever!! This is my decision, and this is without any contestation whatsoever. ALL current instructors that have been selected, as of 2015, and charged with the duties and responsibilities of grading any and all of the SKKA student body, as set forth in the SKKA By-Laws, are hereby notified that their position as a Grading Officer have, as of this date, been immediately terminated indefinitely. In which, those Grading Officers do thereby retain the unchallenged right to appeal my decision directly to the SKKA/Hombu Hierarchy line, being that of the Executive, Administrative, and the Regents, yet, and only in that chain of command. Commencing immediately, the aforementioned Hierarchy line will be conducting an extensive, and what I suppose, an exhausting search for new Grading Officers, and of, and in those now vacated posts. Once, and only then, and not until then, newly appointed Grading Officers have been sworn in, will the Hombu reassume any and all Testing Cycles forthwith. I greatly apologize to any proposed inconvenience that this might cause to the SKKA's entire student body, as well as those innocent in this tragic event. Testing Cycle integrity MUST be obtained, and held without cause. Let it be known that the overall Testing Cycles will reassume in a timely manner. Meanwhile, continue to train hard and continue to train well. Thank you for everyone's time and consideration as well as everyone's understanding to my decision. Hopefully, you'll each understand as to why this had to occur, and how it had to occur in the manner of which it has been. Sincerely, Robert Mitcham; Kaicho of the SKKA. SEAL AFFIXED HEREUPON" Phone calls have been made to all Shindokan dojo's, as well as the Hombu, about my decision, and they've all been appraised of my letter, and to be expecting it via FedEx immediately, and as soon as possible. Unfavorable decision had to be made, therefore, I've made it, as painstaking as it is, to all, including myself.

At times, people will come into the dojo or the Hombu and they think that just because their customers, and yes, students are customers too, that they can speak about and/or demand how it needs to be or how it should be and so on and so forth. Sure, I'm open minded, and welcome any and all suggestions, but not with a tone of ownership or with a tone of an ultimatum or any tone conceived as to being disrespectful. This is MY dojo...this isn't YOURS!! Your not part of the administration!! In their field, they are the experts, and I don't go to their place of business speaking and demanding in disrespectful tones; that would be rude, therefore that would also be unnecessary across the board, and that would get me nowhere quick. EVEN in respectful tones, don't demand and/or give me ultimatums, not in my dojo, and not in the Hombu, and certainly, not in my home! To do so, well, you'll be escorted to the door immediately, and without any haste or ceremony. If you don't know your role, I'll remind you, I'll teach you, I'll help you understand exactly just what your role is in MY dojo and in OUR Hombu and in MY home!! How does YOUR Sensei/Instructor/GM/Hombu deal with this/these type of things that I've touched upon in this thread??

Sounds to me that we all here have shown that we have something in common...we love to teach!!

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

I do like the possibilities that you have all said, thus far, and I'm that cat...you know him...the curious one...the one that will not be satisfied until his curiosity is...just that...satisfied. C3PO's red left arm is the buzz around the internet, and I just saw a toy of C3PO and the left arm is RED too...selling for $99.99!!

Yes, it can be, and it can be..."Man, I miss THAT UFC!!"

Solid post!! Moved me, and gave me some goose-pimples because I, too, have been there, more than once, that's for sure!!

Thank you, Spartacus Maximus, for staring this thread!! All of the above. Yes, teaching was my choice, but only once the teaching bug bit me. And that took about 3-4 classes of assisting our Dai-Soke on the floor. My initiative that I was helping someone, no matter how small or large. I quickly realized that I was making a positive impact on someone's life; that was magic!! Yes, I was asked to teach, but it was under the very watchful eye of Dai-Soke. Under his watchful eye, he taught us how to teach, and then he'd allow us to discover our own teaching style. HE HATED COPYCATS..."Be your own teacher!!" Dai-Soke encouraged his Sankyu's to assist him on the floor. And as we gain confidence and all of that, he'd let us run classes for those ranks below us, but always under his watchful eye. At Rokukyu, he'd get us to assist the beginners that were brand new, to help them get acquainted to dojo life, and that included to help them with whatever they needed. HELP...BUT NEVER TEACH...that was his job if you're below a Sankyu. Of course there was; many times and quite often. I felt that I was all thumbs and carried around a dozen left feet, but no right feet; an awkward klutz. I doubted myself, and I had no business to teach anyone anything of value. Dai-Soke...that's how I dealt with it. He was very much a compassionate and nurturing Sensei. Never yelled, that's not his style; his glare was enough to make me pee myself. I learnt how to teach from the best in the business, imho, of course!! He'd counsel and always ask this..."What would you do?", and that gave us ownership...accountability...it was more valuable than all of the money could buy. I suppose the first time was when I was Rokukyu, and I was asked to help the brand new students dojo decorum and all, but when it came to show them the basics of the most basics...I was "DUH!!...which way did they go, George....which way did they go?!??". But with love and so much patience, Dai-Soke would GUIDE to loose the self-conviction, to loose the stiffness, to loose the blinders, and in that, confidence slowly floated to the top. I wanted to teach and own my own dojo at Sandan, but both Soke and Dai-Soke said that I wasn't ready, and that they'd not approve that until I had reached Godan. It was their way...and it was their rules...and it was there way or the high way. However, they softened when they came to my dojo...yes I opened it without their blessing because I'm not their property and I'm a grown man...but when they saw me on the floor in my own dojo, and with my own students, and they saw the glimmering in the eyes of my students under my watchful eye...they amended the By-Laws to Sandan, and that's because they had a soft heart inside that grizzled hard as rock exterior!! I can remember that I too said, "Me? Teach Shindokan? You've lost your minds" But I'm thankful to them both, especially Dai-Soke, for loving us enough to let us find ourselves, and our own teaching style. If not for them, I'd be just a student, and that would've been perfectly fine with me. But when I look in the eye of each and everyone of my students over these 35+ years that I've been teaching in my own dojo, then I'm so grateful that I stuck it out to learn how to teach. Nothing's more rewarding than seeing the AHA moment in a students eye...that look..."I got it!!", and they truly did get it!!

Solid post!!

Solid post!! Royce only wore his gi and belt; nothing else! Of course, early UFC had no weight divisions whatsoever...ah...those were the days!!

I wish you much success on writing your personal essay. It should be quite rewarding as you jot down the story about your MA journey. You'll laugh or cry or both at the same time as you travel back in your memories quite fondly. Enjoy the task that's before you!! Thank you for sharing!!

Solid post!!

Good explanation; its sad that money is a priority. It should be hand and feet guards, is it worth so much to people to cause so much physical injury? You can be competitive without going out to hurt someone else violently. To the bold type above... I don't think that that will work with the UFC because a KO is anything, imho, but violent. A KO possibility sells tickets.

Thanks for sharing! I can appreciate either method because they're effective IF you can stop a penetrating attack. That's why I prefer to do what we do in Shindokan, and that is to transition in angles to protect my center; just too many vitals there to take a chance of a penetrating attack to find its target. I believe that the deflection MUST at least match the force of the incoming attack so that any penetration, for whatever reason(s), won't meet me in full force. Hips, imho, are the driving engine of any power apex curve. No hips, then it's just a push/shove, and for me, that's not enough to direct away from my center line.

Fair enough! The problem is mine because I can ascertain a lot with what your video shows. It's my OCD that wants to see what your assistant is or isn't doing in totality. It's all good, sir!!

I've seen this quite often, that which your Sensei does for transfers. Seems that it's a good model, and can benefit all concerned in the long run. It shows that this student, while not being trained in said style before, does have experience on the floor. In time, that students knowledge before will meet up with the new knowledge, and allow more growth to surface both on and off the floor. I like our model, and I like your Sensei's model; neither are incorrect, all have the students best interest at hand!! I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but... If one has any experience, it's immediately evident once they're on the floor. Pretty much everyone at my current dojo asked me where I previously trained when I first started. That was without me saying anything. A 4th dan swept me the other day during sparring. When we were in the locker room after class, he told me he swept me because "I don't spar with you like I'd spar with any other yellow belt." I don't need to wear a belt to prove anything. "The proof is on the floor." In my dojo, I'm not worthy of wearing my old rank. I'll earn a new black belt when it's time, and I'll surpass it afterward. I don't hold a grudge against people who insist on wearing a belt issued by a different organization, but I don't really understand why people get hung up on it. To each their own. No, you're not preaching to the choir. I respect what your post speaks towards, and that is...WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT!! And your post speaks to me that rank is the last thing, if at all, that's on your mind!! So be mindful that other SEE your experience on the floor without you even wearing a belt. Alas, that Yondan sweeping you because you're no regular yellow belt; you know that. I say this for those who might've forgotten that. I can SEE ones knowledge quite fast; less than 5 minutes, some even faster!! As long as I've been on the floor, I just SEE things that others of less experience might take for granted. It's there, you just have to look for it, and surprisingly enough, it just doesn't take that long to spot!! Especially if you know what you're looking for, and often, you don't have to even look for it. Remember, the floor is an unforgiving witness whether one likes it or not.

Yes listen to your doctor but they shouldn't be leaving the realm of practice. A Medical Doctor should not be prescribing any exercises, UNLESS they are aware of specifics that is best for treatment of a condition. BUT should NOT be prescribing general stretches or exercises for anything else unless they have further qualifications that gives them that knowledge. - Qualifications should have or take advice from: - Cert 3 or 4 in Personal Training (Lowest form) - Diploma of Personal Training - Diploma of Health Sciences (or equivalent) - Bachelor of Exercise Science and Human Movement (or Equivalent)/Bachelor of Physiotheraphy - Master of Exercise Science and Rehabilitation (or Equivalent)/Master of Physiotherapy or equivalent - PHD Exercise Science/Physiology or PHD of Physiotherapy or Equivalent The better the qualification the greater the knowledge. And Medical Doctors often overstep their boundaries I've never considered that in the past because, well, I just haven't. I, not being in any medicine field, suspected that a doctor can prescribe anything because, well, they're the doctor, and who am I?

That's a fair assessment across the board, thank you for that! In Seniors, can JJ injury hips if done long? This being in the same thought similar to the belief that shin spurs are caused by a career of jogging. when you ask "Done Long" do you mean if you do them for prolonged amounts of time or other? It can depend on the surface that you perform them on and the persons risk of injury. So it is difficult to give a straight up answer to give. Generally people should be ok doing them every now and again. Obviously to those that are prone to injury may be likely to injure themselves at any point, especially if they have a family history of osteoporosis then there is that increased risk of injury. Yes, I'm referring to duration...sorry for not being more specific, my bad!! The surface being important, is one I tend to forget because typography is everywhere; can't get away from it. So, in a dojo/gym, the surface isn't dependent as far as typography might be concerned because the surface is flat. Mats change that, as does a floating floor. But the mats, have some type of give, yet the bare floor doesn't. So with that, and me speaking about duration...what do you think?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be the next addition to the Star Wars story. Just saw the trailer at the movies, and it looks like a must watch when it's released. My question: Does anyone have any info as to why C3P0's left arm is RED??

No!! That's because I believe in our curriculum, through and through!! More or less belts wouldn't make anything better or worse.

ROFLMBO... Now...that's funny; you're killing me...Who is this Bruce Lee?? Just got to love it, and I do!! I thought you were going to laugh more about my stupid water reference. I understood the water reference, and it was funny, but the Bruce Lee comment trumped the water reference with me; I really wasn't expecting that.

I'll fourth that...please get it check out!! Better safe than sorry!! Hopefully it's nothing, and if it is something, it'll get better by RICE...oh yeah...and from whatever a doctor advices. Get better!!

That's a fair assessment across the board, thank you for that! In Seniors, can JJ injury hips if done long? This being in the same thought similar to the belief that shin spurs are caused by a career of jogging.

I'm confused!! Is the old adage..."Listen to your doctor" my only recourse at all?!? Maybe I should find that middle ground and go on with it; hoping for the best in the long run. To do this or to do that. I confused!

Thank you for sharing!! The article and the video were right on the money, through and through; no misconceptions at all!! Understand Tai Sabaki, the rest can be down hill, and in this concept, down hill is a good thing!!