sensei8

I get my Trace pads from Wal-Mart, but not all Wal-Marts carry them. Here's their link... http://www.adamsusa.com/#! Pick any of the sports, then click on "Protective Pads", and you'll see many variations and prices. Very affordable, and durable!!

Solid post!!

IN TIME, flexibility will come, but be patient. You've just started, and you're body isn't use to what it's being demanded to do. Follow the guidance of your instructor and don't rush into anything, especially if it's against the advice of your instructor. His/her advice is above everyone's!! Make sure you do a complete stretch, don't rush and don't force and don't bounce before anything. Cold movement invites serious injuries!! Good luck, and be patient!!

You're welcome!! I was sitting here re-reading my previous post, and I realized something. In my 50 years in Shindokan, I've only reached full Time In Grade in the Dan grades the following times: Shodan to Nidan...1 full years Yondan to Godan...4 full years Rokudan to Nanadan...7 full years; one year beyond Time In Grade Hachidan to Kudan...13 full years; however, I won't count this one because I feel that I was forced my the current Hombu's hierarchy into that one. I've mentioned it several times here, at KF, that after receiving my Sandan, I was not allowed to test before tenure of Time In Grade had been reached. Well, I was wrong, dead wrong. While it surely felt as though this was true, it actually wasn't. So, speaking with the MOD at the Hombu this morning, I had her, Cheryl pull my Hard Card file, and her and I went through the Hard Card file concerning everything, including the Testing Cycle information per Testing Cycle. Please forgive me for stating inaccurate facts; facts found inside of my Hard Card file. I've submitted every Testing Cycle Petition, but only after I was instructed to do so by Kaicho/Dai-Soke, minus the Kudan. Then after I filled out the Testing Cycle Petition, Kaicho/Dai-Soke would sign his affirmation, therefore, recommending me for said Testing Cycle. Does anyone here think that 25 years, 1975 to 2000, is WAY to fast, and therefore, not in agreement with the Dan tenure's Time In Grade?? If so, then I can't do anything about it. What's done is done! Kaicho suggested, I filed, he signed, and Soke approved each and everyone of them. No one can be tested without his sole approval...NO ONE!! Let's look at how it should've been: 1975...Shodan 1976...Nidan 1978...Sandan 1981...Yondan 1985...Godan 1990...Rokudan 1996...Nanadan 2003...Hachidan That's how it should've looked in a perfect world, and I'm not perfect, not even on the floor!! That's a solid 28 years from Shodan to Hachidan, and that's with NO FAILS!! I've failed my share of testing cycles within the Dan Testing Cycles, 3 times in fact...Yondan...Rokudan...Nanadan. Yet, looking at my Hard Card file, I've Petitioned the Hombu for Testing Cycles, at the behest of Kaicho, many times before tenure was even close to being obtained. The By-Laws are crystal clear and with no ambiguity whatsoever!! That being said, and to me meager defense, I'm guilty of breaching the By-Laws by Petitioning before tenure reached. Had Kaicho not encouraged me to do so, I wouldn't have until I reached the Dan tenure's minimums. Soke can do whatever he wants; he's the Soke...the founder of Shindokan Saitou-ryu. He and Kaicho/Dai-Soke wrote the SKKA By-Laws, and then solidified them through an outside Law firm. I'm befuddled and ashamed across the board!! It would appear that I only fought hard to obey the By-Laws when it came to being pushed into my Kudan. Otherwise, I hardly put up a fight to do what was required, and not before. What do you ALL think? Please be candid and frank!! My options seem clear to me, as to what I must and should do, but, for now, I'll suspend that until I hear opinions.

Your welcome, neoravencroft!! Please let us know how the search goes.

There's no law/rule that says that one HAS to be a black belt to own/operate a school of the MA. I suppose that having a BB as the CI eases the minds of the students and parents. I knew a Ikkyu who owned and operated a school of the MA. In time, students were ready to test for Shodan, so this Ikkyu, who became a Nidan when a student was approved for a Shodan testing cycle, his Sensei came to run the testing table, while he seconded on the table. In time, students forgot that the CI wasn't a full-fledged BB; quality spoke loud!!

A very fair question; thank you for asking. First off, if you knew our Soke and Dai-Soke, you'd know one thing for sure...they both won't promote anyone unless they earned it, therefore, no promotion was political in nature. No one's allowed to attend a testing cycle UNLESS the Hombu had authorized the testing candidate to do so. Soke was the Hombu!! In short, if their signatures weren't affixed to the Petition For Testing by BOTH of them, when they were alive, that candidate wasn't invited/allowed to the testing cycle. This includes for anyone wanting to test at their home dojo, and especially if they wanted to test at the Hombu's Annual Testing Cycle, held once a year in June/July. Soke and Dai-Soke denied and failed many more than the opposite!! Having said that, both Soke and Dai-Soke created an iron clad tight By-Laws, and no ambiguity ever existed. Within the By-Laws, Time In Grade, per Soke, were general guidelines. Therefore, if Soke believed that a testing cycle was warranted, he'd sign them off to attend said testing cycle. He had that authority, and only he had that authority. Dai-Soke had the authority, but not until he became Dai-Soke in 2008. But, as Kaicho, he didn't possess that authority. To the core of your question... For now, I'll speak towards my Karate-do, and not my Kobudo... *1964|Enrolled in Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do in Canoga Park, CA; Shindokan Hombu *1970|Earned Junior Black Belt; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do That's 6 years to JBB; at the time I earned my JBB, I was 13 years old. Per our By-Laws and the like, no one under the age of 18 years old can earn, thereby possess a Shodan. *1975|Earned Shodan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do *1976|Earned Nidan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do That's a normal Time In Grade; 1 year, 1975 to 1976. *1977|Earned Sandan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do 1975 to 1977 is two full years after earning Shodan. Seems too fast, huh?!? Well, remember I was literally stuck in being a JBB for 5 long years. However, Dai-Soke, then Kaicho, kept teaching us/me, regardless of the fact that we/I was bounded by the charters of the By-Laws, written by Soke. Kaicho/Dai-Soke had the authority to teach us/me because we/I were his students, and he was Kaicho. When it came to my 18th birthday, I was invited by Soke to test for my Shodan in 1975. Then, in 1976, I was, again, invited by Soke to test for my Nidan; these two tests fit within the Time In Grade. Then, in 1977, I was invited to test for my Sandan by Soke, and according to Kaicho, I was more than ready to test for my Sandan. 5 years of serious training under Kaicho earned me the opportunity to do so. *1980|Earned Yondan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do That's 3 years in Time In Grade; 1 year short of what's written in our By-Laws. Yet, Soke invited me to test for my Yondan, nonetheless!! *1984|Earned Godan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do That's a full 4 years in Time In Grade. Soke invited me to test for my Godan. That's 20 years from the time that I started to train in Shindokan to my earning my Godan. *1988|Earned Rokudan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do I shouldn't be able to test until 1989, but I test for my Rokudan in 1988, 1 year short of what's written in our By-Laws; I was invited to test by Soke. *1995|Earned Nanadan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do This is 7 years; 1 year beyond the acceptable Time In Grade had passed. That was due to Soke denying my Petition To Test in 1994; no reason given, and I didn't ask. A DENIED is enough for me. *2000|Earned Hachidan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do 5 years has elapsed since I earned my Nanadan; 2 years short of the acceptable Time In Grade of 7 years required to testing cycle. Soke invited me to test for my Hachidan. *2013|Earned Kudan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do This one, now this one, imho, was political in nature. Soke and Dai-Soke had passed away, and the current Hierarchy pressed the issue more times than I care to remember...angered me to no end with their endless pestering. I've always refused numerous times to be promoted to Kudan. Per our By-Laws, the current Kaicho MUST be promoted to Kudan! This to me was hogwash, and I didn't want to have anything to do with it. My Karate-do isn't dependent on my rank, but in my knowledge and experience, and no rank/title will direct me to accept an "ego based" rank for the right to appease some By-Law. I forced the issue: TEST ME FOR IT, if not, take your offer and...well...thanks but no thanks!! They called my counter and tested me. Dai-Soke instructed me to accept Kudan per the By-Laws, but understood my reasons why I didn't want it...ever, and he even told the Hombu to "back off", before he passed away!! Every Petition To Test was signed by my Sensei/Kaicho/Dai-Soke, and then Soke signed off on them. At times, both Kaicho and myself were surprised that Soke had decided to sign them, APPROVED. No one, not even Kaicho/Dai-Soke can never tell Soke what to do, nor would Kaicho have ever dared to. Suggest, yes, demand, no way!! To Soke and to Dai-Soke, Time In Grade, for example, were only formalities that can be looked over because..."What can a rule see that I can't??" Both were staunched proponents of the By-Laws and the like, but, as important as the By-Laws and the like were, they don't govern Soke!! *EDIT: Spelling and Grammar errors

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

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

I've owned my own dojo's since 1977; it's all I've ever done!! What tallgeese and JohnASE speak about is the core of opening a school 101. One thing, read the book...Who Moved My Cheese...one of the greatest business books you might ever read, and imho, what it highlights is for any business, including the MA.

Century MA Supply has a nice selections to choose from. Trace has some nice pads as well too; I used them for over 12 years when I was reaching the end of my tournament day. Yet, I still use Trace, even today when I'm on the floor!! Good luck in your search!!

Solid post!! Try it; you might just like it!! Good luck in your search!!

Adults...children...if they don't want to put forward any effort, that's fine; it's their choice. It's my choice to never ever invite them into a testing cycle!! Don't misunderstand me, I will constantly encourage them to put effort into their training, but there's a time when encouragement is frowned upon by the student. I'll never give up on any of my students...EVER!! That doesn't mean that I will invite them into a testing cycle because they've been there for some time.

Solid post!!

Solid post!! For the time, I've nothing to add!! Sorry!!

A lot of good ideas here!! To the bold type above... Paul A. Walker did just that! Then, over some time, he kept an intense diary. Then turned those notes into a best-selling book: Lessons With The Master: 279 Shotokan Karate Lessons with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa A quite valuable asset, and not just for Shotokan practitioners, but for all MA. Speak about wanting to be that fly on the wall!!

On paper via the web, yes, it appears to be so. Other than that, you'll not know until you visit the school many times. Watching all types of classes to get a general personal consensus about it. This includes talking with the CI!! Proof will be on the floor, from an observers point of view! Good luck!

I was glad to see the bold type above because what your OP speaks about CAN also be found in ADULTS too. I always get a smile on my face when someone doesn't want to teach kids for whatever the reason(s) might be, and this is because, all of us were once kids too. It takes a special type of a MA instructor to teach kids, more so than adults. I find it very enjoyable in teaching kids. Yes, motivations and work ethics vary in kids, but this is also true of adults.

Congrats; well done and well deserved!!

Well, this might be why our Soke, who was born and raised and trained in Okinawa, said... "Yes, I was born in Okinawa, but I not live there now. Shindokan not belong to Okinawa; it belong to me!!" What's a student body suppose to do? Accept or quit!! Well, most of you here already know what I did.

I think there is a difference between being visible to the newer students and being classmates with them. There is as much to learn from working with the lower kyus as they learn from crossing fists with the dan grades. To me this is the difference between the military and the academic models. The military model emphasises the need for detachment in order to command, the higher grades work with each other and ranks tend to stick together throughout their dojo life. The academic model emphasises the need for experience to be shared as widely as possible so the higher ranks are encouraged to work alongside the lower ranks in order to gain humility and perspective as much as to pass on their insights. With the military model cliques are inevitable, the whole system is set up so that they form naturally. With the academic model their formation can be problematic, and they have to be broken up as much as possible. Training together is great for breaking up cliques as you prove. I agree; that's why the open floor. ALL ranks HELP and TRAIN and EXCHANGE one another without the worries of any rank formalities interfering with learning. Individual groups can deride the open floor. I won't allow BB's to ignore ranks below them, and this means that anyone can approach anyone for help and the like; FORMALITIES aren't allowed in any of my open floors.

Solid post!! I'd say, from looking at both links, this school's core style IS Kyokushin. Their BJJ instructor IS a purple belt with an impressive lineage. The CI's lineage is impressive also; Hanshi Arneil, was Oyama's first student to complete the 100 man Kumite. what does CI mean?Sorry, CI means...Chief Instructor!!

To the bold type above... How so, Noah??

Good stuff! Just reminders to block/defend for next time... ...and don't forget to DUCK!!

I think the punishment is warranted. Brand management also means brand protection; all at the same time. Consumers can be, and are often, judgmental, and this effects the bottom line. If UFC was to ignore the situation, they then would've sent out a negative message that those type of actions are approved by the Brand(s); and consumers don't like that, and that isn't conducive with a profitable P&L Statement.