sensei8

Again, when you put it that way, Brain, I do see your point. I don't see dishonor in exploiting a weakness!

I'm sure. But, ugh...I'm glad Taekwondo doesn't rhyme well enough to rap about.

Solid answer to my question, Brian. I'm no LEO, therefore, my assumptions weren't from experience; having students who are LEO's cause me to speak out of turn at time. Forgive me for that!! Tasers...yeah...I'll never know enough MA to counter that!! Good to know that LEO's aren't suppose to stand there and get beat to a pulp. So, does the IAD suspend an officer immediately after a suspect accuses an officer of excessive force? And, does that cause some LEO's to do his/her job with a more kid-gloves mindset? Please forgive me, Alex, I don't mean to highjack your thread!!

I don't have an issue with it. If it was that serious of an issue, then the other person should have stopped fighting and gave up, or the corner should have thrown in the towel. If I was in a fight, and I think I broke the other guy's rib, I'd keep going after that rib until the fight was over. Competitions like this are fought to be won. As long as its within the rule set, then fight to win. Perhaps it does sound like her tactics were pretty cold, but the individuals who can step into the ring like this to fight like this aren't necessarily like the rest of us. When you put it that way, Brian, I can see your point.

The laugh will be on us all if they made a lot of money.

Many similarities in governing bodies.

Where I train, there are actually a group of blue belts whose constant training, effort and growth have thrown them deep into Karate-do. I watched during their last grading in a near state of awe, for if they removed their green belts I would have guessed they were grading from purple to brown belt. Immediately I knew, they were no longer "green". Therefore I will say that I believe the transition from beginner to dedicated, knowledgeable student is somewhere between 6kyu and 4kyu. In most cases I observe a dramatic distinction between orange and green belts for whatever reason. Perhaps at this point, they learn more about their own body mechanics, what works for them, what doesn't, and how to move around in stances with more fluidity. As well as this, perhaps that little knowledge and confidence they've gained will leave them craving more and more. Sensei Teruyuki Okazaki, 10thDan, once said something along the lines of "My one wish before I die is to execute Heian Shodan (kata#1) perfectly." It is this kind of thinking that keeps the dedicated Karate-ka going, and constantly improving. However, going back to the beginning in no way means that one has to be a beginner. After 66 years of dedicated training, It would be silly to consider Sensei Okazaki a beginner. Solid post!!

I think I see what you are asking here, Bob, but I'd like for you to elaborate on what you mean just a bit more, so I can be sure to answer properly. For obvious reasons, LEO's, if I'm correct, can't apply certain techniques, nor can they apply certain techniques to finish. Not like I can!! Sure, there are laws that regulate everything, and I can face criminal charges. However, I believe that LEO's have a greater chance at facing criminal charges, suspensions, and the like than I. Inasmuch, a LEO must be able to defend him/herself at any cost; life or death...that's then going to be up to the courts to decide. The LAPD's choke hold was so modified, and for some great reasons, imho, that it's more of a temporary restraint to allow more transitional, and accept per department policies, control restraints. Choke hold...transfer down to a double or single chicken arm hold. After all, a choke hold can cause death, whereas, an arm-bar can't! IF a LEO hurts a suspect, accidentally or intentionally, department policies dictate the level of discipline, if any. Department policies exist in addition to law. Law's the only thing that governs citizens; we've no department policies to adhere to. Whether a suspect is correct in his/her accusations towards a LEO or not, IAD will be immediately involved until the case is closed. It doesn't take much to put a LEO on the hot-seat at the word of the suspect; perception is all that's needed.

Kendall...then DO IT...throw someone!! GO KENDALL!!

Ditto!!

My opinion...logo's on a gi is fine, but in Shindokan, it's not allowed. Not my rule, but a rule I enforce, nonetheless, and it's a rule that I'm not interested in changing because it's importance is minimal, at best.

I completely agree but the problem is that referees are human too. I've seen fights stopped way too early and have seen fights allowed to go far too long. It's a fine line to walk. What's one to do?

"Do it this way, trust me." OR... "What are the risks if you do it that way?" OR... "Let me show you how it is done." OR... "Let me show you what you did wrong." Tone and infliction can quickly mean encouragement/support or an attack!! Imho, one of the statements above is acceptable, while the other three statements aren't. As a MA instructor, our job is to teach, but how we teach can effectively impact our students in a positive or negative way. We're no longer part of a barbaric society and/or part of a dictatorial society by choice. We're to teach!! We, MA instructors, send out messages everyday that speak as though we're perfect, when, we're the furthest thing from that. Are we students of the MA after all...all of us! Sure we are! But, we seem to forget that quite often. How we speak to our students is suppose to encourage them, and not verbally attacking them! We must carefully consider how we can send messages that encourage our students to perform up to their fullest potential!! With our words, we can cut or we can edify our students. Either can be amplified to lift or to pull them down. Accountability in any school of the MA starts with the instructor(s), and finding ways to encourage sit on the lap of the CI. Of the four opening statements, which one would you prefer...and why?? Your thoughts, please!

Yeah, that surely wasn't the thing to say. Yes, it's of the moment, but professionalism would have served better. Also, why fights continue when things like this occur, still baffles me to no end. It's a competition!! It's not life and death. Crowds drive the intensity of the whole darn thing. It's why people slow their car down to a crawl so that they can stare at any horrific accident.

Kids are very mimic orientated. By that I mean, they can copy what they're being shown/taught without any baggage. After that, guide them slowly and patiently to execute said technique, Kumite in this regards, so that it's high on the learning curve and high on the fun as well. After all, they are kids!!

The school is responsible in ensuring that the training surface is safe for all types of training for all students! Easier said than done? Sure, but a solution must be found for the safety of everyone.

You know, not many MA schools and/or governing bodies will freely admit that a lot of them, if not all of them, are positioning themselves to advice their student body to stay away from wanting to train in multiple arts because they've not the confidence of themselves as leaders and/or instructors, and in that, they're afraid to lose students, which is about losing revenue!! Imho!!

Don't exaggerate the arc. The punching arm only needs to clear the obstructive arm by mere centimeters and not by inches. Imho, the hips and the punching arm, well, the everything needs to start at the same time. Your hips are the driving source, but not the only source, to this technique. Transition to the outside and let it fly!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Hopefully, your continued MA journey will last far much longer than your first one did. And with you and your son being involved together, that new spark will brightly light up your Darkness. In time, that Darkness will fade to light, and then to the ebb tide of a bright hue that can't be denied. Welcome back to the MA, and I pray for you and your sons MA journey. Train hard, and train well!! I look forward to your future posts!!

A beginner, by its definition, in Shindokan usually averages out to be about 2 years, and that's on a table of 6 years to Shodan. Some are less and some are more; depending on testing cycle pass/fail ratios and the like. I despite putting a number on this because of the wide hairy-scary parameters that surround this type of thing. After all, to me, rank levels are subjective and unimportant to the overall improvement in ones MA betterment...imho.

Both! General level of strength and conditioning are as equally important as it is to focusing on the specificity as well. Jumping jacks and push-ups are general levels, but isometric drills that target specific areas, like forearms and legs, are specific tools that are dependent with increasing ones MA betterment. No...less!! I believe that these two separate drills work hand in hand with one another quite well because one can't be without the other. Specificity in targeting different things is how one addresses ones MA needs. Speed by itself isn't enough, and on the same hand, power by itself isn't enough either. Having them both available to and at the target are more desirable to a MAists betterment!! Imho!!

You've every right to be proud!! I wish him all of the success. Tell him...I'm in his corner!! He'll be nervous, as to be expected, remind him that his Sensei once was a 10th Kyu too...relax...and let the testing cycle take care of itself. He can mess up, it's not the end of the world, and he can still pass, even if he makes a few boo boo's!! Good luck. Oh yeah, remember to take your camera...Kodak moment if I've ever heard of one!! Please let us know how he does!!

Our Hombu retains the seals on its premises! Security to them is tight; very, very few of the hierarchy have access to the seals! Our seals were made by hand by Soke!! He would make a complete new set every 3 years. How he made them, can be found in our Densho Scrolls. He made two new sets a year before he passed away...these seals are kept in a bank lock-box!! Sets consist of 5 total seals; that's how many will sit on a certificate. All certs come from the Hombu once all testing results have been received and verified; average return time: 1 week. That's good, a few years ago, the average return time was 1 month!

To the bold type above... Slow and steady; not rushing into: Learning at all times!!

Solid post!! I've used them for as long as I can remember. Do your kicks completely...up...out...back...down, however, at the out part, hold the kick before going back. After you use them, take them off and do those same kicks; in time, you'll notice the difference.