sensei8

Solid post....solid points!! That's why I don't fight, and I teach my assistants as well, against that because socializing is a important part of growing up both in and OUT of the dojo!! For me to fight against a positive element in their lives in counterproductive across the board! Teach, not demand!!

Thanks sensei8 it was a great experience to train with other people from other schools. It puts your training in perspective. Yes it does....the birth of the "Aha" moments!!

True. I'm not sure who originally put it up. I went away for two years to serve with AmeriCorps and when I came back, it was up. Never inquired as to its origins. Oh, ok! Thank you!

I just don't seem to be able to find the words to adequately express what you've accomplished in reaching an extraordinary, and unparalleled milestone of 25,000 posts here at KF!! You're posts are of the highest quality and with much heart! You're posts allow us to get to know you the person, the family man, and the martial artist!! You have touched the starving and empty heart, but not in only the expressed knowledge, but in and through your expressed understanding as well as in your compassion towards each and every KF member!! You've given me more than I could ever give you; thank you, my friend!! You've caused me to laugh, cry, beat my fist to the top of my desk, and smile with a knowing "Aha"!! You've challenged me in ways that you'll never truly know, and you've been there for me when I was at my lowest, as well as during my highest; you've given me your ear as well as your shoulder! You've been firm and you've been soft, but only at the right times, never did you pass judgement, but only sound advice! Thank you; I love you, Brian!! I'm proud and honored to call you friend, both on and off the floor!! I'm proud to have shared the floor with you, but not as a Senior Dan, but as an equal!! Congrats, Brian on this achievement!!

Solid post, Alex!! Your last paragraph is the key to not panicking when the attendance isn't as one would like it! Why? And you said it quite well...they come back Monday!! They've a life outside of the MA, as that might not be what some instructors want to hear and/or admit to. Glad you mentioned Saturday classes! At first, I tried to teach from 8am to 10pm, but for most of the time, I was quite by myself; a sprinkle here or there! So, I turned Saturday into a open-practice from 10am to 3pm for all ranks! The only formal class I hold on Saturday is kids of all ranks from 8am to 930am!! I was no longer lonely on Saturday. Tweaking is a good thing!!

The Walt Disney slogan speaks MAists, one and all!! I like it!! Who put it up...The wrestling school or your MA school?? I embrace what your instructor says all of the time; it speaks so true!! That's why I'm always telling my students to practice with an intentional purpose!!

Topic of discussion... Which days of the week does your class attendance noticeably shrink? What reason(s) contribute to this?? For me, Wednesday and Friday night classes experience more shrinkage than the remaining days of the week. Wednesday night is church night!! This, imho, has priority over Shindokan, and this, for me, is how I was raised; go to church without hesitation! So, for example, a normal 7pm intermediate adult group class will usually have in attendance 34 students. But not on Wednesday, I'll have 22 students in attendance. Children's 5pm intermediate group class will normally have 29 students in attendance, BUT, not on Wednesday! It'll average to be about 15 students in attendance. Friday sparks the beginning of the weekend! Movies, dinner, visiting families and friends is the usual fare, with a sprinkle of sporting events, such as bowling, miniature golf, billiards and whatever else interests them! With the same parameters as mentioned in the Wednesday night numbers above, I'll have the adults drop down to 18 students in attendance, while the children will sink to a dismal 11 students in attendance! I don't fight against it because I believe that it's a natural occurrence; it's acceptable, and I'm not going to even try to go against it in any shape, way, and form. Whether there are 10 or 20 or 30 or just 1 student in attendance, I'm going to teach that class with the same fevor and intent! Those who want to train will train no matter the day of the week! I give respect to those who want to train and to those who don't, for whatever their reason(s) might or might not be! Students don't owe me any type of an explanation; it's their business, and not mine!! I'm cool with it, either way! My students know when my dojo is and isn't open, as well as their class times! Be there....don't be there...it's their choice!!

Does the school, where you train and/or teach at have a slogan? If so, where can it be found? It's no surprise with anybody here what my dojo's slogan is...Proof Is On The Floor!! It can be found in two places...over the dojo's main training floor entrance AND dominately across the north wall where I teach from!! How about you??

Welcome to KF; glad you're here!!

actually, this is a fairly new idea of ranking. When Karate first started using Dan ranks they only had five levels. I am told that the first level showed you understood Kihon or the core of the system, the Second showed you could apply it in Kumite (Back then it was more like Bunkai Kumite mind you) and the third showed you understood Kata and its dynamics. Fourth and fifth were simply teaching levels. Funakoshi, the first real instructor to adopt the Dan levels never gave out past Fifth Dan. I don't consider anything past fourth Dan as anything but political. My own instructor has never graded past sixth as he felt that it was all about politics and he said he wished he had stopped at fifth as the sixth felt like it was more about political pressure to test and the test was decided before they showed up to start with. Far to many systems, Serious systems, use testing as a form of punishment to keep people in line, like a threat that is held over someones head. And I have seen instructors "Strip" people of rank when they don't do what they want them to do or they are upset with students. If a rank can be stripped so easy then what is the point of working physically for them? perhaps they should be purely political if you can just snap your fingers and all that hard work means nothing. To me once you earn a black belt your understanding of Karate and your ability to pass it on are what counts. Politics for some, but not for others! Mine is of the latter! I've tested for each rank I've ever earned, and therefore, nothing was given to me, and none of them were politically driven!!

Friendly indeed; power displayed!! Thanks for sharing the video, stonecrusher69!!

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

This is something I wholeheartedly agree with. It has always been policy at our school (and in the ITF in general) that you get one measure and one break. No more. Most advanced students don't even bother with the measuring and just gauge distance by eye if it's a technique they are comfortable with. If you can't assess your distance by eye or need a really big wind up physically and mentally, kinda defeats the point really? The idea is to hone your skills and mind so you are ready to go, not say to your attacker "hold on I have to psych myself up before I punch you!" I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I compete in the power contest in Taekwondo competitions. The tournaments I go to are very strict about this kind of thing and you can be disqualified for any excess wind ups and behaviour. You have to walk up then you get 30 secs to compose yourself, position, and break it. No extra faffing around or adjusting position or materials. Yes!! Imho, ISKA and the like tournaments have made the MA a laughing stock!! Showmanship over everything that's effective!!

YES!! Solid post!! And yes, RIP!! His interview tactics were not to be taken lightly, and if you did, you were reminded who the master was!

Nice tutorial!! I can never see Shindokan without the Wooden Dummy; it's importantly vital to our close range techniques as well as our brand of Tuite. Please keep the videos coming!!

Can't argue with the simplicity of it!!

Ego? Possibly for some and not for others! Those who "do" tameshiwara might because their ego needs the stroking each and every time; they can't help themselves. Those who "train" in tameshiwara do it because they need the value of it. I'm of the latter!! Does Higaonna Sensei (Goju Ryu~10th Dan Hanshi) "do" or "train" in tameshiwara? I believe he "trains" in tameshiwara!! Does Higaonna Sensei train in it to stroke his ego? No, I don't think so!! "What is harder? You or the rocks? Train so that the rocks fear you!"~Takahashi Sensei (Dai-Soke) If you should strike another, who should bend? You or your opponent? Flesh meets flesh and bone meets bone!! If you become injured from striking your opponent, well, it can present a problem for you. What drives me crazy is when practitioners "wind-up" over and over and over until they execute! Or, when practitioners have to psych themselves up one way or another before they execute!! It's, imho, a waste of time because you won't have that much time on the streets!! Either you're ready or your not: I prefer to be ready! Now, tameshiwara isn't a prerequisite to defending oneself or others!!

Welcome to KF; glad you're here!!

Welcome to KF; glad you're here!!

Very solid post!!

Yes...and know that the training won't be easy!

Solid tutorial, Alex. Thank you for sharing it!!

21-26...Packers win the NFC Divisional Championship with some true grit; two TD's to rally past the Cowboys! I was left with disbelieve and a wide open mouth of discontent!! It was a see-saw game, and as much as I was optimistic about a Cowboy win, it was not to be so! Not today and not this year! Rodgers showed his mettle when must win games are at hand. Same for Romo on this particular day, but the spoils of the victory clearly favored Rodgers. Coined the Ice Bowl II, both teams stayed warm through nutrition and determination. Packers had a bit more umph than the Cowboys when the fat lady sung loud and true!! Congratulations to the Packers because on this day they thawed out a bit more than the Cowboys with the Divisional win at Lambeau Field!! Packers now travel to Seattle for the NFC Championship game. Seattle beat the Packers in the beginning of the season. Good luck to the Packers and the Seahawks; may the best team win!! GO COWBOYS!!