sensei8

I just thought of something, sorry, I need to stop doing that. How much experience, on an average, does a BJJ Blue Belt possess? How long does, on an average, it take for a White Belt to earn a Blue Belt? There stands a chance that this Blue Belt CI will be passed by his own students; not a satisfying thing for the student body to embrace. His student body, might loose interest faster than one might imagine, the future of this school is always dependent of the CI first, and the governing body second. After all, not every student passes every testing cycle, and this Blue Belt CI is no exception. Within the community that his school exists, credibility of this school might've been already affected, and by now, other MA schools in this community have already scoffed at the proposed assumption of being equal to other CI's!!

Hopefully, what I'm about to post will express my opinion on this subject much more clearly... Should a medical student in their 2nd year of residency hold the position of Chief of Medicine at a hospital?? One might say, "That's not the same!" Sure it is! How so? A hospital IS a business!! A 2nd year medical residency IS someone who has been taught something!! They're good to go! Right? If so, I'll NOT be going to that hospital any time soon, if ever!!

Well, I believe before someone's not stiff, they first MUST harness control! That requires time in both the solo and partner training. Once control is harnessed, one can be as stiff or as light as one wants to be depending on the current circumstances. That too takes time, knowing when and when not to be stiff. However, MA techniques are suppose to be stiff, yet controlled at all times. eidt: spelling

At the end of the day, is it even possible to create an entirely new style? Somebody somewhere has already done practically everything, and everything's just a new spin on what's been done before. Unless someone figures out how to hover/levitate unassisted while shooting laser beams out of their eyes, then it's all been done before. Wait, isn't there a character in the Tekken series games who does this? To the bold type above... "I do not teach, you know, Karate, because I do not believe in styles anymore. I mean, I do not believe that there is such a thing as, like, a Chinese way of fighting or a Japanese way of fighting...or whatever way of fighting, because unless a human has three arms and four legs, there can be no different forms of fighting. But, basically, we only have two hands and two feet. So styles tend to, not only separate man because they have their own doctrines and the doctrine became the gospel truth that you cannot change! But if you do not have styles, if you just say, "Here I am as a human being, how can I express myself totally and completely?"...now that way, you won't create a style because style is a crystallization. That way is a process of continuing growth." ~Bruce Lee Just thought that I'd throw this out for all to chew on. That's what I was talking about, yet Bruce Lee said it far better. Every "new style" is really just a spinoff of a previous one. Why does Brazilian jujitsu look and "act"so much different than karate? Same reason why eagles look and act so much different than humans - evolution and adaptation. Realistically speaking, there are no new techniques out there being developed; there are may be new methods of delivering them - application, curriculum, theories behind them, names, etc., but there are truly no completely new techniques out there. If I were to start my own system by incorporating boxing punches, karate open hand strikes, judo throws, wrestling takedowns, BJJ ground techniques, and the Muay Thai clinch (including MT strikes during the clinch), would it truly be anything new? The only new stuff would be the curriculum and order I taught, and the name of the "style." Maybe I'm way off base here. A kick is just a kick, a punch is just a punch, etc. Solid post!! To the bold type above... Another Bruce Lee gem... "Before I learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch and a kick was just a kick. When I studied martial arts, a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Now I understand martial arts, and a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick." ~ Bruce Lee

My bottom line in this whole discussion is that... I wish him luck, I mean that!! Imho, this Blue Belt ISN'T qualified to be the CI because he's a Blue Belt!! I don't give a bucket full of bent pins who certified him, whether he was certified by a Gracie relative of Helio and/or by some other Gracie Black Belt. Just who in their right mind qualifies a student with only the second rank of said style to be the CI?! I don't enjoy being slapped in the face, and this is a slap in my face! It belittles what I've achieved on the floor, and it belittles what qualifies me as a CI. I'm not angry; I'm befuddled beyond all measures!! Most governing bodies wouldn't authorize a CI if that CI only possessed the second rank of the style. So much so, that their charter would be denied!! Sure, that school could still operate, but not under the umbrella of the governing body. I walk into a Shindokan dojo, and I ask to speak to the CI, I'm new...I've never trained in Shindokan, and this Yellow Belt walks up to me and introduces him/herself, and I inform this Yellow Belt that I'm here to speak with the CI, and this Yellow Belts informs me that he/she IS the CI, and I retort with, "No, really, I'm here to speak with your CI", and again this Yellow Belt tells me, "No, really, I am the CI". Credibility about the ENTIRE style is washed away by this one act!! Imho!!

One of the great things in our portfolio is a one-sheet monthly page (at BB level) where a student can track how many hours one trains, teaches, assists their instructor teaching, tests, sits on a testing Board, participates in a tournament (either as judge or competitor), seminars, etc. So each month, one keeps track of their MA career. All put into a 3-ring binder. Those pages alone in my 4th Dan portfolio comprised more than 50 pages of monthly training pages. My whole 4th Dan portfolio was probably 250 page, including everything I'd put in it. One thing I've found is that, when I feel burned out, or that I'm not progressing, one look through one of those portfolio at where I've been is a huge boost of energy to return refreshed. *Note* At gup rank level, the dated tracking pages are one page per year, and aren't nearly as detailed. If one goes to 2 classes on Thursday May 12th, that student would just write a "2" in the box for that day. Still, I've seen student portfolio when testing for 1st Dan/Poom that are 200-300 pages long with photos, & other info. It's great for the student, and great for their instructors. Again, that's quite impressive...I like it a lot!! Our Hard Card File, while it's not as in-depth as yours, depending on rank, it's not just a few pages long either!

I don't blame you because there's nothing like handling a book; touching it, reading it, and learning something from it!! It's not cheap...Used are, $232.00 plus shipping. Not like it was when it first came out: It cost $50.00, a heavy price, even back then!!

At the end of the day, is it even possible to create an entirely new style? Somebody somewhere has already done practically everything, and everything's just a new spin on what's been done before. Unless someone figures out how to hover/levitate unassisted while shooting laser beams out of their eyes, then it's all been done before. Wait, isn't there a character in the Tekken series games who does this? To the bold type above... "I do not teach, you know, Karate, because I do not believe in styles anymore. I mean, I do not believe that there is such a thing as, like, a Chinese way of fighting or a Japanese way of fighting...or whatever way of fighting, because unless a human has three arms and four legs, there can be no different forms of fighting. But, basically, we only have two hands and two feet. So styles tend to, not only separate man because they have their own doctrines and the doctrine became the gospel truth that you cannot change! But if you do not have styles, if you just say, "Here I am as a human being, how can I express myself totally and completely?"...now that way, you won't create a style because style is a crystallization. That way is a process of continuing growth." ~Bruce Lee Just thought that I'd throw this out for all to chew on.

Believe me, your question isn't the first one I've received. Greg, our Kancho, asked that very same thing you just did of me. I understand the question, and I respect the question, from you, Greg, and anyone else who's asked. Why do I need a 500 pound bag for? Fair question! I need a bag of that magnitude to challenge me, and to satisfy me across the board. Sure, I've normal bags of all types, and I train with them equally in their context as well as in their content. The one thing that I understand are needs and wants; separate elements. I don't want the bag to fill some ego fueled desire, but I do need the bag to challenge me in every possible part of my MA training. That 500 bag will eventually surrender its fight to me; just like the ones before it has!! The 500 pound bag is 6' tall and 26" wide!! The many attributes that regular bags provide, the 500 pound bag adds the exclamation point to any reason(s) that one might have. Bags satisfy the need of contact; proportional penetration must be achieved. Bags will quickly reveal incorrect technique(s); injuries of various degrees are the results of incorrect technique(s), therefore, bags will develop correct technique(s). Bags will develop power and speed; these are the bottom lines of training with any bag. Over time, I've earned the respect from those MAists both in and out of the Shindokan circles that I've had the pleasure of training with concerning my power and speed. I say what I'm about to say not to brag and/or show off...I hit like a mule...and I've some uncanny speed. I can destroy a regular bag quite quickly. I can swing the heaviest bag and stop it dead in its track. I can cause a regular bag to nearly touch the ceiling with my kicks. I can fold a regular bag at will, and a regular bag also includes Biltuff's 350 pound bag. Bottom line...regular bags no longer satisfy and/or challenge my training needs; not anymore!! This 500 pound bag, for the moment, satisfies all of my training needs. If the MAists goal is to increase ones MA betterment, and I'm no different, than this 500 pound behemoth will help me become better. Better power...better speed...better proportional penetration...better technique understanding; these are important qualities I want to take to the next level. In time, that 500 pound bag won't satisfy and/or challenge my training needs anymore, and that time will happen, and when that time comes, I'll only have one thing to do... Buy the 1,000 pound bag, and OKFighters makes them as well!! Fair enough. Though what's it filled with? Could always take a regular bag and fill it with a concrete core j/k but in all seriousness surely there's got to be a way to make a regular bag heavier and denser. LOL!! It's filled up with...WAIT...let it sink in...wait a little more...RAGS!! Yes, it's filled with ordinary rags. These rags are compressed in with some type of hydraulic press...over and over...until the desired weight is reached. The dense factor is achieved by the way they pack the darn thing. In my wildest days, I could NEVER fill a bag like they do; I'm not the Incredible Hulk...man, he could, but not me!! First time I hit this monster of a bag, and I mean I hit it with all of the gusto I could muster...I moved it, but not as much as I had hoped for. Then, it's like the bag kind of said to me..."That's what I'm talking about. Come on!!" but the bag had that evil look of, if that's the best you can do, you're in a world of hurt, and because you hit me, I'm going to hurt you, sucker!! I said...in time you will respect me. Until then, let's get it on...RIGHT NOW!! I was impressed with the density and what the future held...A PHENOMINAL BAG INDEED!!

Solid post!! I totally forgot about Andy AND Terry; I hate the rock I live under...I need to get out more often. Sorry skullsplitter, my bad.

Hey look...the trees are getting in the way of the forest...again...I hate it when that happens!! Sorry, in all seriousness, the natural fighting "stance" is still a "stance", no matter its relationship context. This natural fighting "stance" is a soft relaxed beginning of what is to come. In Shindokan, we, for the most part, start up-right and relaxed, and when the time dictates the exact moment, I move, and when that movement ends, I'm in a formal stance because that's a vital part of any given technique. We don't hover above the ground, waiting for the appropriate time to engage, while still hovering above, thusly ending the engage, and still...hovering. I suppose then, if I could hover, I won't worry too much about proper stance alignment and orientation.

I've never met or studied under or with this young man. I'm not passing judgment; I'm stating my opinion passed on my experiences. While this young man has taught a MA before, imho, that means absolutely nothing in the scheme of things concerning ones ability to teach. NOT ALL BLACK BELTS CAN TEACH...certified or not. I've seen this much to often across the MA board. I don't assume that because he passed the Cracie Academy Instructor Certification that he can adequately teach. All I know is that he can cross his T's and dot his I's in said Academy; that's, imho, done with a very broad brush. In that, what governing body certifies the second rank to be a Certified Instructor? To me, that's like certifying a Shindokan Yellow Belt to instruct; lacking of much too many attributes to become a CI...young or old!! A Shindokan Yellow Belt, our second rank, is learnt from somewhere, and they'd have that drastically limited level of skill/knowledge. We wouldn't even have a Yellow Belt do anything but train; the inexperienced leading other inexperienced. Running a business ISN'T the same thing as BEING the CI of a MA school; two totally different entities, not on the same plane. A CI's first obligation is to the student body, and not to some P&L. I can't judge his mindset because I've not shared the floor with him, nor have I shared the administrative floor with him; suppose this and suppose this, and I still don't know the person from afar. Yet, my background and experience and knowledge in both the teaching as well as the administrative areas speak for themselves, and I believe that I'm qualified to my opinions, and these are based on solid facts. His website doesn't mean much on the floor; proof is on the floor, and not on the internet/website!! For all we know, he could still lack the effectiveness across the board...for all we know! To the bold type above...I agree, but not at the same level of a CI. Same level as Alex, who's a BJJ Black Belt, and is a CI of his Alpha school?!?! I'm dismissing this young man as a CI based NOT on age, but that his appointment to the CI post was done for a student who only possess the second rank, Blue Belt in CBJJ, and the lack of credible knowledge to assume the CI post...kind of a slap to the face of CI's in general. Helio Gracie was teaching at 16, but I doubt that he was a CI, and if he was, I'm sure he'd admit that he should only be a teacher, at the best, but not the CI. Danielle, should a student in TKD be the CI when they're promoted to the second rank of Yellow or Orange? A Black Belt in another MA isn't the same as a Black Belt in TKD. Besides, one would start at White Belt in TKD because they've not the knowledge required about TKD. I've over 50 years in Shindokan, and if I was to learn TKD, for my first time, I'd start as a White Belt, deservingly so, and when I passed the Yellow or Orange Belt testing cycle, I'd not have the knowledge to be a CI of a TKD based school, even though I'm a CI within the Shindokan circle. Well...in that context...No, it made no difference to your contributions! But, your example here, just isn't the same thing; opposites, for sure!! The context of this example isn't the same context of a CI, and in the content of being a CI as a Blue Belt, no matter what the styles is. Imho!!

What your governing body does for their students Hard Card file, is what I wish that ours did. Our Hard Card file is quite through while at the same time it can be quite anesthetic. Your Hard Card file is a walk through that students MA journey memories; outstanding!! Btw, our Hard Card file is something that contains vital pertinent information about said student. More or less, it's nothing more than a Tenure Card!!

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

"This Is Karate", by the man himself, Mas Oyama!!

Solid post!!

A baseball bat!! However, I must choose one or the other, and everyone hear already knows what I'm going to say, and some have already mentioned it... Target acquisition is dependent upon varied parameters. In short, I won't know until that very moment arrives!! I know...I can be such a smart-mouth...sorry!!

An instructor...yes, I suppose, but the CI, NO!! CI as Blue Belt...ONE rank above White Belt, 3 Belts below Black Belt...NO!! How will testing cycles be decided? Who administers the testing cycle? Who authorizes ranks earned? How does a Blue Belt CI promote a student from White Belt to Blue Belt, providing that the CI was able to rank up to Purple Belt?? How often do the Gracies visit this school or are Instructor Representatives ranked BJJ Black Belts, or are they Blue Belts too?? I've seen an adult Ikkyu [brown Belt] become the CI of a karate school However, his Sensei was a Godan, and visited the dojo quite often. The Ikkyu sat on the testing panel because he was the CI, yet, the Godan administrated all testing cycles. For this Blue Belt CI in Gracies BJJ, what type of message does this send to the laypersons as well as fellow BJJ students/instructors/CI's, and so on and so forth. The age, for me, as the CI is enough, but to have a Blue Belt, the second rank in BJJ, as the CI...well...imho...that speaks poorly of the Gracie HQ.

For the moment, I'll say this, and go more in depth in a later post... Concept VS Technique VS Principle VS Memorizing; these are not stand alones because in the grand scheme of the MA, they're dependent on each other!! Versing this against that, only minimizes the goal: Effectiveness. Imho!!

Solid post!! As in anything MA, the end makes the technique, no matter what it might be.

Imho.... This 16 year old Blue Belt isn't qualified to be the CI. Why? A fair question!! Just the title alone requires one to be the HIGHEST ranked in that SCHOOL. The CI... 1> Supervises all instructors. 2> Administrates every aspect of any/every testing cycles. 3> Manages the curriculum/syllabus. 4> Is the final authority in that school; both technical and administration, and anything that might not fall in either of the aforementioned areas. 5> Is the authorized mediator between that school and that styles Governing Body. 6> Often times, but not always, owns the school out right. 7> That schools official representative, and official spokesperson. 8> Bears the brunt of the responsibilities of the brand/banner. Just because one can teach, and teach quite well, that's not a reason to be the CI; even if the parent(s)/guardian are the legal owners of said school. Of course, my opinions mean absolutely nothing because that school can do whatever they wish to!!

Which bag are you referring to? Kind of reminded me of the Right Guard commercials in the 80s - "Anything less would be uncivilized." Sorry, I'm slow...but I don't understand the question...trust me...it's me, NOT you!! I think he's asking what brand of bag is it that have that you like so much? I was asking which one he DIDN'T like so much. I think it was Outslayer. Because of my training needs nowadays, I don't like any heavy bag, no matter whomever manufactured them, including Outslayer. Please don't misunderstand me, Outslayer and many others produce excellent heavy bags across the board, but OKFighters meets all of my current training needs with their 500 pound bag.

Which bag are you referring to? Kind of reminded me of the Right Guard commercials in the 80s - "Anything less would be uncivilized." Sorry, I'm slow...but I don't understand the question...trust me...it's me, NOT you!! I think he's asking what brand of bag is it that have that you like so much? Aha...opps...sorry....I still messed it up...in that case, OKFighters is my favorite because it meets all of my training needs at the moment, and then some...OKFighters.

Believe me, your question isn't the first one I've received. Greg, our Kancho, asked that very same thing you just did of me. I understand the question, and I respect the question, from you, Greg, and anyone else who's asked. Why do I need a 500 pound bag for? Fair question! I need a bag of that magnitude to challenge me, and to satisfy me across the board. Sure, I've normal bags of all types, and I train with them equally in their context as well as in their content. The one thing that I understand are needs and wants; separate elements. I don't want the bag to fill some ego fueled desire, but I do need the bag to challenge me in every possible part of my MA training. That 500 bag will eventually surrender its fight to me; just like the ones before it has!! The 500 pound bag is 6' tall and 26" wide!! The many attributes that regular bags provide, the 500 pound bag adds the exclamation point to any reason(s) that one might have. Bags satisfy the need of contact; proportional penetration must be achieved. Bags will quickly reveal incorrect technique(s); injuries of various degrees are the results of incorrect technique(s), therefore, bags will develop correct technique(s). Bags will develop power and speed; these are the bottom lines of training with any bag. Over time, I've earned the respect from those MAists both in and out of the Shindokan circles that I've had the pleasure of training with concerning my power and speed. I say what I'm about to say not to brag and/or show off...I hit like a mule...and I've some uncanny speed. I can destroy a regular bag quite quickly. I can swing the heaviest bag and stop it dead in its track. I can cause a regular bag to nearly touch the ceiling with my kicks. I can fold a regular bag at will, and a regular bag also includes Biltuff's 350 pound bag. Bottom line...regular bags no longer satisfy and/or challenge my training needs; not anymore!! This 500 pound bag, for the moment, satisfies all of my training needs. If the MAists goal is to increase ones MA betterment, and I'm no different, than this 500 pound behemoth will help me become better. Better power...better speed...better proportional penetration...better technique understanding; these are important qualities I want to take to the next level. In time, that 500 pound bag won't satisfy and/or challenge my training needs anymore, and that time will happen, and when that time comes, I'll only have one thing to do... Buy the 1,000 pound bag, and OKFighters makes them as well!!

Danielle, I love the brightness of the room, and of course, the wide openness as well. Your dojang seems to have all of the comforts of a very well stocked dojang. Your instructor put some serious thought as to what was needed versus what was wanted.