sensei8

Another fantastic tutorial, Alex. Great to see a purple belt and wrestler show the double leg takedown; awesome job. From the stand-up position, I believe that one of the most prominent take down is the single/double leg takedown; it can be overused, but effectiveness can never be overused, imho. I also love to transition to the back to execute a belly to back suplex!! Being always prepared that to my offense there is a counter, and I need to be aware of it always. Gosh, Alex, I know you're already hating me for saying this all of the time, but, Tuite is where I go to fill this gap. Why? Because it's effective, and in that, Tuite has earned my respect over the many, many years. When, and if it does fail me, than wrestling will fill in the gap because I'm quite pretty good at wrestling, having done it in and out of MA my entire life.

This year, our lowest attendance in quite a long, long time, was a mere 129 testing candidates approved to attend. On an average, it's closer from 250 to 300 to test at the Hombu. Many students don't want to test unless they're at the Hombu. That's what I'm thinking...sabotage!! I agree. I too would still train with my Sensei, Dai-Soke Takahashi, no matter what. But, with the loyalty that he had toward Soke Saitou, might make that impossible because I'm sure that both of them would've returned to Okinawa, and I don't want to live in Okinawa...nice place to visit, and all of that. It would still be Shindokan WITHOUT the SKKA. Shindokan isn't the SKKA, and vise versa!! If the SKKA was dissolved, I'd still teach Shindokan, but minus a governing body. You know, I only started to consider the actual embodiment of the SKKA within the Hombu when I became Godan, and was elected to the archaic Board of Regents. Other than that, I knew the existence of the SKKA, but that was from afar; I wasn't part of the SKKA Administration until after I was elected to the old Board of Regents. Once elected as a Godan, I only became more aware of just how huge and powerful it was as a governing body!

Solid post!!

The twisting of the wrist is subjective to the type of the fist attack used in its action(s). Lunge, reverse, and the like. I'm sure it has been, one time or another. Just right before contact with the target; no sooner, certainly, not later. The hips drive the technique; no hips, no power...it is at the point when the technique becomes only a push.

IF Dim Mak and its like is real, then I submit that it's just as inconsistent as Kyusho jitsu and its like is. Parameters are what they are. The Dim Mak the videos shown, imho, wasn't inclusive to its consistency because one of the videos shown one of the students REACTING before the punch reached its target. I'm still speculative, to say the least, about Dim Mak and the like. How would Dim Mak be effective against a resistive opponent; one that's just going to stand there and be hit.

Pragmatic?! Problematic?! Up?! Down?! Left?! Right?! To do?! Not to do?! Correct?! Wrong?! Yes?! No?! The world of Shindokan can be just that; a consideration that's for some and not for others. I'm disturbed by recent events that took place at our Hombu's Annual Testing Cycle; it's not for the faint of spirit, yet more for the desirable of spirit. For the first time in the history of the SKKA, our Annual Testing Cycle, held each year on the last week of June, and finishing on the first week of July, has failed 79% of its testing candidates! To me, that's more than alarming, it's catastrophic! Why do I consider it to be catastrophic?? Sensei's don't submit, nor do they allow students to test if they believe that that student will fail a testing cycle; either the student is ready or the student isn't ready, per that Sensei. All testing candidates MUST receive the approval of the Hombu to ANY testing cycle no matter where it is being administered. In that, there's only three ways to be approved/denied to attend any testing cycle: 1) Student petitions to test. 2) Sensei petitions for said student to test. 3) Sensei petitions for himself/herself to test. The first two must be summarily signed off by the Sensei. If a petition arrives at the Hombu that's not been through the proper channels, that petition is rejected, and returned to that Sensei to be proper resubmitted to the Hombu. In the third, the Sensei is allowed to sign his/her own petition to the Hombu. Then, once received at the Hombu, said petition is sent through the proper channels to the appropriate departments for consideration. The requirement of the Sensei's signature is an affirmation that said student is qualified to test. Meaning that the Sensei believes that said student(s) is prepared and duly qualified to attend said testing cycle. Then the appropriate departments verify certain parameters, and most of these parameters are located on each students Hard Card file, which is kept ONLY at the Hombu under lock and key. No one can test unless all of the "t's" and the "i's" have been crossed and dotted...NO ONE!! If a Sensei doesn't believe that that said student(s) are qualified to attend a testing cycle, that Sensei submits the petition to the Hombu, but writes across the petition..."Student Not Allowed", then submits the petition to the Hombu, which goes in that students file permanently; therefore, a petition is submitted regardless. How can 79% of the approved testing candidates be qualified to test, yet they fail?? We're not a lenient governing body; we're the furthest thing from that. But, still, history shows that our failure ratio bears around 21% at each Annual Testing Cycle. Highest fail ratio was 36%, circa 1994. I was there. In my honest opinion, I didn't see a 79% failure ratio at all!! What I saw was the normal fail ratio being true to its history; my own score cards can attest to this fact!! Unfortunately, I can't be in attendance to each and every testing table. Because of the number of testing candidates, each testing cycle has multiple areas/rings...like one might see at any given MA tournament. Pass and Fail computations are completed, and finalized the last Friday night. No students are informed until the last Saturday morning. The only lists that are posted are those who passed. In that, if you don't see your name posted, that means that you've failed the testing cycle, and you'll have to wait one full calendar year before one can test again, no matter the rank, including Kyu rankings. I've our Legal Team conducting an investigation as to the reason such a high failure ratio; ALL score cards have been handed over to our Legal Team, and interviews will be conducted as necessary. ~ Bruce LeeHe further states... ~~Bruce LeeShindokan is a governing body, its been that way ever since 1950. I'm becoming quite disillusioned at what the SKKA has become; a stain on the fabric of the MA, but only because of the swerving politics that have tainted the ideology of Soke Saitou. I believe in tradition, but I no longer believe in the bondage of tradition. Shindokan isn't about politics, and it certainly isn't about rank, and it certainly isn't about any governing body, and it certainly isn't about who is elected to what. It's about teaching an ideology that's quite effective as a MA. Our student body deserves much more than politics and ranks; knowledge above all things is paramount!! Time for me to tear off the blinders that I've worn for nearly 51 years. Let me ask you all this, if I may... Where would YOU be if your governing body wasn't there anymore?? What would YOUR style be if the governing body wasn't supportive anymore?? I told those within the Administration of the SKKA, that I want answers and I want some NOW!! Someone or some peoples have decided on their own to derail the SKKA, and I'm not having it; not on my watch. However, if dissolving the SKKA will serve the student body better by having students remain true to their immediate dojo and their CI's and begin their own governing body and/or the like, then so be it. Sorry for the length of this OP, and forgive me for venting!!

Dim Mak is the pressure points, i think they are the same, Dim Mak is the real, it hit time less then 1/4 second, this is one kind, another kind is a touch can do the dim mak. i think the western countries said the pressure points, because they didn't practise more than 5 years, so, they have to press long time on the points. In china, Dim Mak is the pressure points, but very quickly pressure points, i am confused, what's the different Dim Mak and pressure points in USA ? i though they are the same things. both work on the acupuncture points . Dim Mak need to pour Chi inside victim's body, Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! With pressure points, it's not where you strike, it's HOW you strike. But even then, it's a game of hit and miss for a wide variety of reasons. Dim Mak and Chi, imho, is a myth. I don't believe in the one touch/Chi methodology because I've found nothing to support either existences. Kyusho jitsu, pressure points, is far more credible than Dim Mak, but not consistent across the board. Yet, to try something is better than not trying anything at all when you're in a bad situation.

Sorry, I won't be attending.

Sorry, I don't have a Kataaro belt; of the two, only Eosin Panther.

Thanks, all. I'd like to meet you, all!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Solid OP!! Solid post, DWx!! Her advice is great!! Questioning Senior's is the fastest way to find yourself being called on the carpet in the CI's office. I was taught that this is a big no-no; not to be tolerated!! I've seen my Sensei sit down in the last row, and announce to them that if they think that they can do better, than by all means, show me a better way. Yet, in the same breath, I've seen Soke say..."Are you more knowledgeable than your Sensei? More than me? You came to learn Shindokan from me, and your Sensei. We didn't come to you!!" That, imho, was akin to..."Who is without sin, let him cast the first stone!" Ask question, disagree, and whatever else it might be, but do it with respect.

The Kata, within itself, IS the model for how many different ways there are to teach young and old students. My younger students love the "Yame" drill. It both challenges them, and it educates them. For each and every step, the student's going on my count, they mustn't make a mistake, no matter the size of it. If a mistake is made, the ENTIRE class starts over again. I've had very few students complete a Kata from start to finish. It's about being accountable!! Senior Dan ranked students rarely complete a "Yame" drill!! Kids love the tar out of it when a Senior Dan struggles to complete said Kata. I can be quite the taskmaster!! Heheheheheheheheheeheheheheeheheheheeheheheeheheheheehehehee...

Looks great, and fun; it challenges them. If students can't be challenged, then they'll seek out those who can effectively challenge them...kids included, and the more so!!

It's a very dangerous game to play when inadequate stretching is performed before ANY activity; it births unnecessary injuries, some minor and some serious; all injuries can be lessened and avoided by proper stretching. Imho.

The more that's added to the Olympics, the more it uninteresting it becomes to watch!! I'm slowly becoming disenchanted with the entire event. Imho.

That's very cool across the board. San Antonio, TX, huh, hhhmmmm?!

Solid post!!

Amen! Or, I mean, Osu! Whatever the origin, whatever the true meaning, it's hard to deny how uplifted a class becomes when you've got 10, 20, 30, 50+ Karateka shouting "OSU!" in unison. I find that it promotes positive spirit in the training grounds. Absolutely. One of those things that it doesn't matter how much you explain it, you can only appreciate it by being part of it. That spirit in training is very contagious. It's like jazz - if you need someone to explain it to you, you'll never get it. Not that I'm a jazz fan. Like in anything, it has to be experienced, to be appreciated!!

Solid post!!

Interesting! This brings to my mind the promotion of sensei Nakayama from 9th dan to 10th dan after his passing. I by all means believe he was deserving of the rank, but I've often wondered how he himself would have felt about such a promotion. I suppose that he wouldn't have liked it; appreciative of the honor, but not overly excited about it.

Key To The City or an Honorary Black Belt?? I'll take the Key To The City...every time!!

Our Soke was dead against Honorary BB's of any type. His opinion on this type of award was..."NO!!"

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

Interesting. I always thought the WTF and the Kukkiwon were one and the same, but upon Googling around for a min I see that you are correct. While I now get the point, I still feel like this further deteriorates the meaning of earning a high level black belt. I know some universities have granted honorary doctorates in the past (i even knew one who received an honorary doctorate) but, this person went to the university to give a talk in a specific subject and blew them away as a self taught expert on the subject. So much so that their own professors started collaborating with him to bolster their own courses. A year of this activity granted him an honorary doctorate from that college. I feel like this is the same thing without the activity of having to prove yourself. Honorary doctorates from universities is exactly the paralell here. Nearly every college & university gives that honor to every commencement speaker around the US. It doesn't mean they can call themselves "Doctor" in any real way. Putin is a genuine Judo practioner, but no one would ask his advice on Taekwondo given his honorary rank. If they did, they'd deserve the bad advice they'd receive. Solid post!!