sensei8

Wastelander's advice is solid, and it might help you in the long run, so, try it!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

Solid post!! Please understand, our way is just a way, but it's our way. We do yield, but the circumstances must favor to do so.

Isn't being up close such a rush; I LOVE IT!! I love to see the face of my opponent when I press close and stay close, they don't expect it. They expect me to react, and retreat to regroup before making another stab at them.

Hhhhmmm, interesting!! Thank you both, Spartacus Maximus and Nidan Melbourne!! Possibly, I've not lived under that rock after all, just zoned into what I was doing with my other dojo's, therefore, paying attention to other things.

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! I'm of no help here because I live in the USA, and I've only been to Australia once for vacation. I hope you find what you've looking for!!

With due respect, how much over-confidence do you deal with in respect to students? None! Why?? Over-confidence, imho, only happens whenever the CI isn't properly teaching; just baby-sitting!! I see more under-confidence from students when they first begin to learn that they're not allowed to back up. It takes much more bravado to get and stay up close at any cost, and that's what we're striving to do by constantly pursuing our attacker; receiving/deflecting their attack whilst pressing closer and closer; thereby crossing the transitional lines and managing space often!! I'm thinking bravado was perhaps a poor choice in words; I don't get that from you or your system. Rather a highly confident, controlled, initiative-based close fighting style. That said, if you step back once, execute a technique properly with correct kime & power, is that incorrect? Ouch!! You're absolutely correct, the word "bravado" was, and IS a poor choice of words. Please forgive me, Sorry! Whatever word is appropriate, it takes nerves of steel to get close and stay close at any cost; distancing is important, it's space management, however, unnerving things can happen when one wants to always be close and stay close to reach said target. Our Sensei/Dai-Soke would always add this to "Are you afraid?"... "Get in there; YOU, no go back!!" Standing right behind you to ensure that you don't back-up. To the bold above... No, it's not incorrect; it's a way, but it's just not Shindokan's way!!

Solid post!!

Danielle and John, Very interesting posts, both! Thank you, Danielle and John!! To each of you, is the concept new or has it been around for some time, and How have I been hiding under some rock in some of the biggest cities in the USA? to have never seen this until now? John, you're in Arlington, TX, about 4-5 hours north of me, and Dojo For Rent works?? When I was in Tulsa, OK, I was 5-6 hours north of you, and to save my soul, I've never heard of this concept. Not now, now ever!! When I was in Dallas, TX back in 1994, caring for my mom, I never heard of it then. And all of the years that I was in the California, I never ever heard of it there either!! I like the concept!! It's quite intriguing, and seems like a doable concept. Just have to warm up to the concept. Change might be good for me in this concept because I've always rented a bare space, and spend quite a bit to make ready for the Grand Opening Day. My dojo in Tulsa had something that my other 2 didn't have...Retail Space in the form of a MA Supply Store!! Danielle, you're across the sea's in the UK, how wide spread is this concept, if at all in the UK?. I like what the landlord decided to save him costs to suit new tenants in renovating the space; quite clever and frugal; to me, this is smart. Now I'm wondering, out of curiosity, just how global this concept is where the MA is being taught?? Tomorrow, I've more questions to each of the landlords about this concept. How many MA schools have occupied said space? How long have you been Renting Dojo space? Etc.!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! I'm not aware of how the price converts to USA dollars, but my first thought is that for per year, that's a good price. If my first thought's correct.

With due respect, how much over-confidence do you deal with in respect to students? None! Why?? Over-confidence, imho, only happens whenever the CI isn't properly teaching; just baby-sitting!! I see more under-confidence from students when they first begin to learn that they're not allowed to back up. It takes much more bravado to get and stay up close at any cost, and that's what we're striving to do by constantly pursuing our attacker; receiving/deflecting their attack whilst pressing closer and closer; thereby crossing the transitional lines and managing space often!!

Well, the time is upon me to begin looking to open a new dojo; Kyuodan Dojo!! This would be the fourth Kyuodan Dojo since 1977. Excited, but I've some apprehensions especially at my age. February 2015, I moved to Houston, TX to help care for my sister who's not doing so good. As I type this, my sister's in the hospital, and has been there since Thursday night. She's in my prayers, always!! Houston, TX is the 4th largest city in the USA; over 2 million people!! I came from Owasso, OK; a suburb of Tulsa, which is the 47th largest city in the USA; over 480,000 people live there. Big switch across the board. So, the first place I looked for commercial space for lease was in Houston's biggest newspaper, the Houston Chronicles. Well, I have to say, I was shocked to see just how small the classified sections are; in comparison, I believe that the Tulsa World classified sections are larger. No luck, unless I want to rent office space, and I don't. Next, I drove in a 25 mile radius of where I live, and pursued to find commercial space for lease. Some possibilities do exist, but the pickings were slim to none. I'm saddened, but I'm quite pro-active when it comes to this. Now, I turn my attention to the internet!! For one who doesn't believe in advertising via that media for my purposes, I sure depend on the internet quite a lot. But, that's another discussion, for another time! Where do I zone in on? Craig's List!! Why not?! No luck!! Unless, I want to rent an office space, and again, I don't. Hhhhmmmm, now what to do? I type in..."Martial Arts School"...WOW...two pop up. Interesting, I think to myself. Both have pictures, and both are close to where I live. This has to be my lucky day, but I'm doubtful because...both of these commercial spaces are for lease, but... They're both...DOJO FOR RENT!! What? DOJO FOR RENT?!?! I must be seeing things. I've never heard of this...HAVE ANY OF YOU?? I jot down the address, and go to my trustworthy Google Maps via satellite view to get an idea of what it looks like overhead as well as its street view. Well, the first one I look at is on a street in the middle of nowhere, with fields as far as the eye can see...no houses...no buildings...nothing. However, when I look at the pics from Craig's List, I can see outside of one of their windows, and I see many commercial buildings, so I assume that I've not the accurate zip code; a call to the realtor will clear that mystery up quickly. The second one, via Google Maps, looks promising, except the front door DOES NOT face the street, even though there's a huge signage that can't be missed unless you sneeze, and drive by the darn thing. The overview was nice; many commercial building to be found. Both Dojo's for rent offer plenty square footage. Both have many windows. Both have nice lobby. Both have nice restrooms. Both have one or more mirrored walls. Both have nice office space. Both are fully equipped!! YES...that's what I said!! Both are FULLY EQUIPPED!! Both have mats, wall to wall!! Stretching bars!! All of the pads you can imagine lined up the walls!! Both have a wide variety of WaveMasters!! Both have a nice viewing area!! Only thing I'd have to get would be...STUDENTS!! Oh, yeah, of course I'd have to decorate it to my liking, and fill it with Kobudo weapons and Hojo Undo and the like equipment, but, I already have all of that!! So, I left a message with both realtors to express my interest. They've already contacted me, I'll be visiting them each tomorrow; one at 10am, and the other at 3pm. So, have any of you EVER heard of a DOJO FOR RENT where you live??

The bold type above is Shindokan!! Soke created Shindokan with this in mind. Both Soke and Dai-Soke considered the student that backed up at all, especially all of the time, quite immature in their karate-do, and this is also found in the Dan rankings, no matter the level. WE JUST DON'T BACK UP; we stay to our grounding while we pursue with intent!! The only time we accept one to back up, is if the attacking force was so overwhelming that that was the preferred, but re-grounding and pursuit continued BUT on different transitional lines. However, even to do that still meant that ones karate-do was STILL immature because you were so easily overwhelmed; no excuse exists, just reality!!

First...Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! From what I'm reading, I assume you want to continue in TKD. You've earned a Green belt; very good!! Did that Dojang offer you anything after the one-year contract expired? Like additional year(s)? If not, I find that strange. However, if they didn't, then maybe your work schedule disturbs them, it shouldn't, but stranger things are known to happen. If they did, but you just don't like that TKD school, then, OK! How did it not work out for you at the last dojang?? Personally, I don't see that being a problem, if I was your instructor. In a calendar year, you're absent from the dojang once every quarter; therefore, 4 months in total. That allows you 8 months in-house for training. I believe that your last school in uncomfortable with you not being in-house more often, and imho, that's a personal issue with that Chief Instructor, for one reason or another. For me, I'd have absolutely no problem whatsoever with your work schedule. Seeing that I test my students once every quarter, and if you missed a testing cycle due to your work schedule, I'd observe you in class to see if you've been practicing in your absence, and taking your work schedule in consideration, I'd then decide from there on, but with no guarantee to test you separately, if at all. NO RANK and NO TESTING CYCLE IS EVER GUARANTEED...EVER!! Not every legitimate school offers contracts; I don't!! Even if a school does offer a contract, that doesn't mean that that school is a McDojo!! As far as the white belt requirement, well, that's normal when a student is going from one school to another, but usually, it's representative if the student is entering a NEW style; that's usually a governing body requirement, more than a CI requirement, even though CI's have that authority, for the most part. Karate has more different styles than Carter has liver pills, and when a student goes from one style to another, starting back a white belt is normal. Why? You're not ranked in THAT style, therefore, you start over once again. I'll let TKD KF members speak towards that, but I do believe that that requirement is similar to the Karate world. There's many Korean MA, but there's not many different TKD styles, whereas, there's different TKD governing bodies, i.e., ITF, WTF, and so on and so forth. If you're switching styles...governing bodies...often, then, imho, it's not redundant at all. It's how the cookie crumbles in the MA world. It sucks, but, it is what it is. Don't want to start over as a white belt often, then find a TKD school that fits YOUR requirements, and stay there for long term!! If they never seem to listen, than don't entertain the notion of going to that dojang/school; it's your choice. You're needs must be considered by the dojang across the board; you've requirements!! How many TKD dojang's are in where you live? Make a list of YOUR requirements!! Then, visit EVERY TKD SCHOOL that fits your requirements, and sit down and discuss everything with the CI. Watch several different classes to get an idea of what you're wanting/needing, then decide from that. If there's not that many TKD schools where you live and they ALL offer contracts, then, as painful as this might be, looking at a different style of the MA other than TKD might be the way to go. Be warned, you'll start off as a white belt because it's a NEW STYLE and you'll be NEW!! Please let us know how things go. Good luck...train hard!!

"Are you afraid?"...over and over and over, are the words of our Sensei/Dai-Soke. From him, this isn't an accusation, just only a simple question. A question that only the individual can answer, but only if one is honest with oneself. In Shindokan, there's two things that are drilled into us from day one. One is that we refuse to back up; retreating while being attacked. The other is that we never block; we only receive; the attack is deflected. They're both difficult conceptions to understand, and an even more to grasp because it's mans nature to back away while an attack is advancing. Even more so, it is alien to mans nature to always be advancing while being attacked; one or another, well, yes, but at the same time, an oxymoron for the mind to accept as it being natural. If you're "blocking' you're not receiving the attack. Why? That causes some hint of a retreat being initiated in receiving the attack, thusly, fear is already set in, and now you're not advancing while being attacked. At the point of the attack, I'm already advancing while being attacked each and every time. Why? A retreating attack is an un-stabled vessel that has already accepted that it will be overwhelmed quickly. It's akin to walking backwards on the cliffs edge; unsure of where the next step will end, if at all. Most of the time, one will attack, then one will "block"; in that order!! Not simultaneously; that's not how the mind accepts the commonality of the act. Oftentimes, one will step back to "block" the attack, but only after the attack has been launched. It must be one act; not two separate acts!! Transitional shifts one way or another are difficult to conceive, but to add it into the formula of a simultaneously attack and receiving...over and over and over...is an uncertain act to accept. As I advance, I'm receiving the attack, at all times, but at the same time!! But, if you're afraid, then you can only do one at a time, and not simultaneously. Albeit, your own attack will not be forthwith, if at all. Your thoughts, please!

Solid post!! Mizu No Kokoro...Tsuki No Kokoro speak towards that. The former says...Mind Like The Water and Mind Like The Water are companions, and equally dependent on one or another; no mind.

The Niahanchi series is seen as the core Kata of Shindokan Saitou-ryu.

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

You've every right to brag over your Sensei; he's special to you across the board. Congrats to your Sensei for earning his Godan; well deserved!! Hopefully, your Sensei will tell you all the many stories while he was visiting Okinawa. To Nakazato Sensei and to your Sensei....

Yes...very popular amongst many Karateka!!

Better late, than never!! Whatever the age one started training in the MA, imho, that's the perfect age!

Appears to be a good value. Compare it to the schools that charge way over $100 per month; a practical pricing structure.

The Pink Panther!! Inspector Clouseau and Cato/Kato...It's a wonder that either of them survived each other!!

I was the same way. I knew nothing of bunkai until I heard of it hear on KF. I do like the idea behind it, though, even if it just presents a different way of looking at the same thing, which is a good way to stimulate the thought process. I haven't gotten to where I teach bunkai (or Hae Sul as a Korean concept) of entire forms, but I do present different applications of individual movements that our class does in basics from time to time. I haven't had the opportunity to break down entire forms up to this point. Once you do, your AHA moments will skyrocket, and you'll not just do that with one form.

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Very interesting tuition structure!!