sensei8

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!!

I refer you to the General Martial Arts forum here at KF, under the thread entitled, "Karate Problems", in which I address this very issue in my last post there!! I believe that'll help you!!

Well...it is easy...but only in time!! Remember that the roundhouse kick is done, and should only be done, for the most, in 4 steps: up...out...back...down!! Maintaining balance can be challenging when training the 4 steps separately especially when the instructor is having you hold each step count until the next count is called out. Make sure that you've properly stretched before attempting any MA technique to avoid any unnecessary injury to yourself. You'll maintain balance better if you're properly stretched. When training the 4 steps individually at home, try using a chair or a pulley or something to help you train both the roundhouse kick as well as your balance. Balance is weakened when the body is allowed to swing too far; this makes it impossible to focus the kick to the intended target. Make sure that you return the kicking leg to the ready position, i.e., step 3 (Back), after kicking; this damages your posture, and you need balance AND posture at all times. Don't swing the kicking leg forward without having bent it first, hence, your legs aren't sticks, instead, your legs have joints, so don't kick stiff legged. Don't bend your body too far away from the intended target because balance is weakened; keep your body straight as possible. I'm sure your Insrructor has pointed out the many things involved in executing the roundhouse kick, so remember them! After all, his guidance trumps mine!! A lot to remember, but in time, you'll not even remember these struggles; they'll be nothing more than a distant memory!! Have fun and train hard!!

If you're near him and see him doing that-- feel free to just be like "hey!" quietly enough for him to hear you but not so loud as to disrupt the class and hopefully he'll take the hint and get back in position before the instructor has to stop class to speak to him. Regardless of ranks, you're still an adult and can help keep your younger classmates focused when needed to prevent the class from needing to get interrupted. Should you have to do that? No. But such is life and it'll end up saving instruction time in the end. That's where having a Sempai/Assistant Instructor or two in each class is helpful. And yes, if the school you're training in doesn't utilize the Sempai/Assistant teaching module, then by all means, say something to that student immediately without disrupting class.

I'm quite sure that this has been asked of KF members in the past, but, at the wild notion that it hasn't, here goes, and please forgive me if indeed, this has been asked before....so.... How many KF members live in Houston, TX??

Take him up on the offer to Skype train; it might just do the trick!!