sensei8

Physicality is an important element, but not everyone attacked is physically fit. So, for me, it's the effectively applied applications through acquired knowledge; hence, learning the necessary nuts and bolts of self-defense in a real world way as to rid it of fancy unrealistic methods!!

Why I say...not all BB's can or should teach!!

Interest charges don't surprise me at all because that's how contract are written...contracts are a binding agreement between individuals. Buy a car; there's interest. Borrow money; there's interest. That's how finances work, and it's legal to do so. Only way to avoid interest is to pay in full! Not many can do that!! How did that school come up with the interest rate to charge? Did they run a credit report? After all, interest rates vary per an individual's credit scores. Glad to hear that the search for a new dojo is happening! Good luck in your search!! One more thing, that dojo telling you that they teach "commitment" through the contract just frosts me. Why? IMHO, they're there to teach their style of karate in an unmitigated way so that their students aren't given a false since of securities!!

Not wanting to turn this into a kiai thread, nicely done, both kata's, considering you were doing it in sandals, and in the backyard, which can possess a hole or two, and some rocks!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

Well in all fairness, often times instructors do care for their student but they may not be well aware of the best methods to employ in order to ensure the safest and yet more efficient practice. Some instructors might think that a rough training method will "toughen up these lads" while not being aware of the trauma the muscle experience which in a long run may result in physical dysfunction like losing range of motion or various injuries that would slow down someone's athletic abilities. But back to judo, I suppose my one judo club experience has left me with an unhealthy amount of pessimism and conformation bias. However I will take your word for it because I have noticed in Kyokushin karate or different Japanese martial arts that, the teaching models are strongly structured and very organized. To the bold type above... Then those instructors shouldn't be teaching, and those students should be seeking more qualified instructors; qualified instructors do exist! From what you've said about your past experiences in Judo, I can completely understand your feelings! Hopefully, you'll find a Judo dojo that will be more to your liking!!

Back to you...Happy New Year!!

Karate isn't a sport, imho!! Having said that, tell them what you're willing to pay!! If the school barks and is unmoving, then at the end of the contract, leave. It is the easy!! Sounds to me that that school cares more about their bottom line than about their student body!! Do exactly what the contract requires when not renewing the contract! Otherwise, you're stuck with no recourse. Have you looked into other karate schools where you live?? Do they offer contracts too?? Again, contracts are the bane of the MA, imho!! I've never had contracts, and I've been teaching since 1977!!

Do instructors truly care about their students? If not, instructors won't go the extra mile to minimize injuries for their students. I don't believe Judo, through its teaching models, causes injuries in their students, and whereas, the fault is in the instructors, and NOT in Judo. Imho!!

Stay home!!

Solid post!!

Imho, avoid contract schools!! They only benefit the school in the long and the short of it all...imho!! I suppose that one can't put a price on a goal or dream or desire or safety or piece of mind. On the figures you've given, you'll be paying $125 per month, which is normal these days. No school should promise, or put a time on how long it should take to earn Nidan; things beyond your and/your daughters control might delay the projected tenure. Try not to look at the time nor the costs because that will only drive you right out of your mind, if you allow it. The costs, imho, are high, higher than I'd be comfortable with. Will she stay or will she lose interest? Things, to be rightfully concerned with because if you sign a contract, you'll be paying for the contract long after she's hung up her interest with her belt; it happens everyday in the MA, therefore, nothing's guaranteed. Things cost money, and in today's MA, these costs can be frightening. Uniforms, various training gear, traveling to tournaments, tournament entrance fees, testing cycle fees, and so on and so forth; the list can choke you into submission...if you allow it. Is this the only MA school where you live? How much have you paid thus far to purple belt? IMHO, if you have to finance for MA classes, you need to reconsider the five "why's" and the one "how" before signing on the dotted line!! Worry about costs, if you must, but only one testing cycle at a time!!

Wear it!!

Happy New Year; one and all!!

Being a new student, which by itself is cool, which of the two is your favorite??

Welcome to KF; glad you're here!!

Solid OP!! Attitudes and personalities make and break a dojo; hence, not all black belts can, or should teach, especially if their's are negative!! After all, a negative attitude and personality aren't condusive to a healthy learning environment!! And if a student remains, their own attitude and personality become alike to their instructor's; they've no positive examples to compare to, therefore, they only know what they've been exposed to!! That still doesn't excuse them!!

A very solid Kata!!

That's why when anyone starts drinking, I leave with my wife and kids, when our kids were still kids, and we leave immediately without explaining why! My job is to protect them, and I do that without asking their permission and I don't let them argue that they want to stay; they know better than that.

I certainly agree to a point, sensei. But there is a certain amount of decision making that goes into anything. My body can whip out a spider guard on command without thought, that does not mean that I should let it given a SD situation on the street. I have to understand that aspect of the equation before I let my body react. Or it might react in a manner that is less than ideal. So, while the goal is to make sure that you take in all this in an awareness phase one can't overlook it. We as martial artist often rely too much on build muscle memory without considering the decision making process against the stress of real work. Consider this example. As a cop, I rep handgun presentation, target acquisition, sight alinement and tripper press to the point of not thinking. I can do it without thought. However, plenty of time I have to present for a potential deadly force threat that DOES NOT need shot. In this case, I must process thru decision making. I have to understand the situation as well as what I can do. Just because my skill set lets me press the trigger, and even my preference might be to do so, the situation doesn't call for it. It's the same with hand to hand skill. Just because I have repped a skill to automation does not mean that it's the best tool at a given time. So, while I agree wholeheartedly that skills must be repped to an automated process, we cannot look at that in isolation for actual real word problem solving. Great points in your rebuttal, Alex!! Muscle memory isn't an easy thing to refuse, hence, the automation is natural for me. I don't choose the techniques to bring into action, my techniques come automatically without me having to choose the proper response. Again, I do not hit, it hits all by itself, but my morality is intact. I don't choose the technique, but I do choose the morality of the techniques; my moral fiber can be found in my muscle memory as well! I'm not an unthinking and uncaring robot without a moral compass!! So, if you're talking about techniques, I don't choose them at all; they're automatic. If you're talking about the morality of a technique, I choose them freely.

I'd say that every MA has a safe value built into it, including Judo. Gravity shouldn't be a factor, whereas, gravity is a constant that can't be avoided; proper technique executes the mechanism, the entire mechanism!!

Solid post!! You practiced the practicality of Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro; well done!! You didn't want to, but you did what was necessary and no more!!

Mats, of various types can and do cover a laminated floor, but only the owner of the school can decide that. Not many students buy mats for the school they train at because it's just not their place to do so.

Gi training has its advantages as well as its disadvantages, and the same can be said of no-gi training, as well! Having said that, Shindokan trains quite a lot in the various grips, which entails strengthening the hands, which in turn, strengthens the grip. Ask Brian, he can attest to my grip prowess first hand. I'm not dependent on a gi in my arsenal on and off the mat because of my gripping strength.

Great posts,'all!! Thank you, and please keep them coming!