sensei8

Great tutorial, Alex!! Loved it, especially because it involved a choke. This choke was difficult for me when I first learnt it because I kept getting tied up in my own arms...and it was like trying to figure out a boy scout knot....unnatural, to say the least. How do you address the new student who's confused with proper arm placements as you transition into the choke?

Thanks for sharing it, Noah! I use to follow Sumo quite often, but I've not followed it in over 8 years.

Solid post and solid tutorial!! Your amazing, Alex!! I respect your teaching methodology quite a lot!!

Many SWAT teams are formed to either do Kata and/or Kumite competitions, mostly in open tournaments. When Soke was alive, we had NO SWAT or anything like it; that type was quite offensive to him. And of course, Dai-Soke was the same. So, I've never tried to create those types, like SWAT, in my dojo because of how I was raised in our Hombu. I'm neither for or against them!!

Ditto!!

Nobody?! Hhhmmmm!!

LOVED IT...thanks for sharing it!!

For those who speak about their rank have little understanding!! Rank is a thing, and things can be gotten!! If your sensei isn't quite forth coming, then his understanding is considerable!! For those here who have spoken in negative tones about high ranks, those above Godan, are quite disrespectful towards the ones that possess them! Kanazawa or Higaonna or Demura or Nishiyama and on and on; are Senior Dans! So when you speak in negative tones, remember you're speaking disrespectfully about them as well!!

Some great slogans, all! Please keep them coming!!

I'm interested in how you would define good and bad as it pertains to technique. What makes something good or bad? Speed? Definition? Intent? The mechanics might be quite different between a Kyokushin Kareteka and a Shito-Ryu. Would you only examine related styles or would you consider evaluating Korean or Chinese styles? Posture....balance...movement...after 50 years, I think that I can recognize the difference between a good or a bad technique. And for those testing for Shodan, the beginnings of understanding the essential principles are required!! And for those of Sandan and above, a more solid understanding of these essential principles, i.e., breath control, utilizing reaction force, maximum strength, and concentration of strength. I want to see if there's a demonstrated presence of focus and responsing awareness! The lower the rank being graded, the lower the understanding, whereas, the higher rank being tested the higher the understanding!! Nuances will be present between the styles, the main thing is that I wouldn't have been invited a chair on their testing panel if the CI and/or the governing body didn't think I was qualified. I grade the technique, and NOT the label attached to the core. Similarly at open-tournaments. Judges are expected to render a fair and impartial ruling of the techniques before them; no matter if the practitioner is from a Chinese or Korean or Kyokushin or Shito-Ryu style. Speed...Definition...Intent don't impress me! No! What impresses me is a good technique as I've understood it to be for 5 decades, per Dai-Soke!!

It's an unlawful physical contact; not wanted nor asked for!! Diseases can be in saliva, for example, HPV, HIV and Herpes! What if the spitter's gums are bleeding, etc! Prisons do quite a lot to protect their staff from being spit on by inmates!!

The instructor sets the tone; good or bad! Not all BB can teach! Students shouldn't have to be subjected to a bad attitude and the like: WALK OUT!!

I've done this many times outside of the Shindokan circle!! It's both an honor and a privilege!! I treat these testing cycles like I treat tournaments; techniques, to me have root core, but technique is technique! In that, it's either good or bad; there's no in-between! When I grade within the Shindokan circle, I don't consider the curriculum because the curriculum is NOT being tested and the student being graded isn't being graded on how well they know the curriculum!! Technique: good or bad!! If the CI feels that he/she has to explain any nuances within their style, then I'm cordial, and I will note it!! When you test, most grading officers will grade on whether the technique is good or bad, and grade it appropriately!!

UPDATE: My doctor has had me taking, what she calls, a "steroid pack"; a bunch of pills...5 for two days, 4 for two days, and so on and so forth! I'll see her this Tuesday, and see what's next if plan 'A' doesn't help! I feel good 25% of the time since the new meds, but still in great pain the rest of the time! I'll take the 25% because I was in pain 100% of the time. One day at a time!! Again, thank you, everyone here at KF for you many supportive and heartfelt words!! I never started this topic/thread for it to morph into a pity party; many other people around the world are in a much more serious medical situation than I am! For them and their families; they'll remain in my prayers at all times!! No, I started this topic, in this forum, to possibly demonstrate some things that might help them if they ever face a similar situation, and decisions that I/we, as a governing body as well as a dojo owner, are experiencing with me having to temporarily step-down from the Hombu and from the Kyuodan Dojo. Governing bodies and dojo owners only primary concerns and duties is for the constant improvement of the student bodies betterment! Not for the elected offices or those appointed to those offices, but for the caring and supporting the ENTIRE student body! Not for just today, but for tomorrow and beyond!! Students need to be properly informed immediately, and without any undo delays, concerning any important news and information pertaining to the Hombu, and/or, as in my case, the Kyuodan Dojo, that might affect the student body as it might concern them, both as interested individuals and as a group. Trust is a sensitive and tangible commodity that shoud never be taken lightly at any time by any person(s)! One can lose that trust faster than a sneeze but it takes, if at all, quite along time to earn it back! The members of the student body trust the Hombu and me to care for them, and this is what I did when I stepped down and initiated the Transition Pact at the Hombu, and therefore made the necessary movements I made at my dojo! First, I took care of the Hombu, then I took care of my dojo! My first priority was towards the entire student body under the Hombu's umbrella, and when I was satisfied that the Transition Pact was approved, I then addressed the Kyuodan dojo's own student body! Management 101 says...Rule #1 says, One fire at a time! Rule #2 says, Extinguish said fire immediately! Rule #3 says, remember rules #1 and #2!!

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!!