sensei8

I do enjoy seeing these drills. I see similarities between this drill and some of the ones seen over in the Wing Chun posts, too. We did a flow drill together, didn't we, Bob? I don't recall what it was called, though. It was kind of like a sticking hands type of drill, I think.Interestingly, you can do this same drill as a sticking hands drill, but I am not very good at it I appreciate you being humble; however, from what I've seen, and from what I saw in this threads video link, you've more than a basic understanding of said drill(s) within your grasp, pun intended. In sticky hand drills, I'll give you this little tidbit that might help you, if you're willing to try and work through your doubts/fears. Here it is... Don't be overly concerned with each and every "attack" by your training partner. When you do, you become disjointed quickly and end up at the losing end of the flow. Be aware, relax, and MEET each attack ONE AT A TIME. Don't react to what's "About" to happen because 'it' hasn't happened yet, it will, but not yet. When you free-style, if your style practices free-style, it's the same thing...be concerned with the "attack" that is at hand, and only that UNTIL, the next "attack" reveals itself to you. Bottom line...don't get ahead of yourself!! Get the rhythm, and there is a rhythm to any flow drill, and address one "attack" at a time, and not before!! You'll be fine!!

I do enjoy seeing these drills. I see similarities between this drill and some of the ones seen over in the Wing Chun posts, too. We did a flow drill together, didn't we, Bob? I don't recall what it was called, though. It was kind of like a sticking hands type of drill, I think.Yes, we did, Brian!! What you and I did was just a basic trapping and sticky hand drills known as Tegumi Renzoku-geiko, aka, hand grappling flow drills, in which, you and I also did a few Yakusoku Kumite as well; they both flow, pun intended, together in training, yet, not exclusive to the floor: they transition to the street via muscle memory.

I'd rather have my MA training suffer than having my family suffer!!

As we're all aware of, many schools don't outwardly advertise their prices in the fear that their competition will undercut them, thusly, money savings have the ability to draw in prospective students. I'm of the mindset...be directly upfront at all times. Sets up the trust between school and student; the building blocks for a long term relationship. No matter the savings and no matter the prices; if the quality of instruction isn't there for the serious minded student, that student type won't give it a second longer thought in leaving said school. Price structures will be debated as long as money is at the core of our society. I, too, am alarmed when I hear, see, or read that a school is charging $130 per month, but more alarming when I see the subpar quality of instructions being offered, and even more alarming when you see same said students' subpar MA skills learnt from same said school. But, hey, I'm just a voice in the wilderness. Prices don't always match to the quality of the instructions. Listen, not everyone can afford a rocket ship to the moon, but everyone can afford a pair of shoes to walk to the dojo of their choice. Pressure tactics will turn me off faster than the subpar quality of instructions. Why? I'd be there in the first place in order to learn the MA, I've already decided that. However, just as soon as I'm pressured to join, my interest is quickly deflated!! I don't NEED the MA, I WANT the MA; there's a difference between the two, and it's often misunderstood.

Flow drills, like Wastelander's video demonstrates, are found in quite a lot of Okinawan styles. Therefore, a critical part of any Okinawan styles' curriculum/syllabus. Our brand of Tuite greatly depends on flow drills because these drills help us reveal the many intrinsic possibilities that can be discovered.

I've quoted prices in any advertising campaign that I've ever done, for as long as I can remember!! Our Hombu's done the same!! As a matter of fact, our Hombu once had an A-Frame just outside the main entrance forever and a day noting price structures. It had in bold large print at the very bottom..."Free Trail Lesson" emblazoned at the very bottom for all to see. That A-Frame is in the hand of San Dai-Soke when he closed our first Hombu...man...I miss the darn thing...Soke made the A-Frame...which he personally updated from time to time!! To move that A-Frame, it would take two; it wasn't a modest size!!

Ditto!!

Try this... http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/02/3-awesome-apps-for-teachers-to-create.html Hopefully, this will serve your needs, or at least get the ball rolling. Good luck!!

Some great advice, already. I concur with those who stated Dentist custom made mouthpiece's are the way to go. Costly...yeah...but teeth aren't a dime a dozen...they're more like a mortgage payment...or two!! Now, what do you do when you've a student that refuses to wear one because the mouthpiece causes him/her to choke? Start trimming it down until they can tolerate it? No! Trimming isn't the answer because if you start trimming down, even a sporting good store one, you might as well not even wear that darn thing at all.

Another top notch tutorial, Alex. Yes, this was a Q&A session, and not a physical tutorial. Loved it, through and through. Found myself shaking my head up and down quite a lot when you were speaking!! Excellent!! Even before I opened this thread, and even before I played the video link, and from reading the thread's title, I quickly said... SLOW HIM/HER DOWN!! Fighting...defending...at their game isn't going to have a pleasant ending for you. But, like you pointed out quickly, isolating him/her is akin to applying your cars brake in a controlled manner, versus using hard braking method, because while both will stop and/or slow down your car, one will do it in a slow manner, while the other might put you through the windshield. In the latter, things will happen way to fast to properly react. While on the other hand, a slow braking will allow the driver to think responsibly as options, lanes of opportunities, reveal themselves to that type of driver. Slow him/her down, but do it in a slow and controlled manner, and not in a hard braking and uncontrolled manner. Things, on the mat, happen way to fast, and whenever one's dealing with an aggressive and athletic opponent who's transitions and the like a akin to trying to control the wind; it's just not going to happen. However, slowing down the wind, well, that's more doable than one might imagine. Grab a leg...grab a arm...grab a sleeve...grab the gi/shorts...grab the core...grab something and slow her/him down. It's akin to sticking an object into the speeding bike's spokes; they will slow or they will stop. Either is preferred over allowing them to continue in their athletically generated aggressiveness. As in chess, and this is more for the advanced grapplers, sacrifices are made to control the center of the chess board. However, these sacrifices are calculated sacrifices and not made from ones whimsical intents. Sacrifices, for the moment, something for this athletic generated aggressive opponent, something for him/her to grasp, but not any body part! That, too, will slow him/her down. It's a risk! But, a well planned out sacrifice wins that chess encounter, thusly, offers the potentiality of winning through the checkmate!! That's all that we're initially trying to do...slow that type of opponent down so that you can begin to force your opponent to fight your fight, therefore, their fight isn't an issue no more. SLOW HER/HIM DOWN!!

I wholeheartedly concur that the BJJ practitioners greatest strengths is live training from day 1. Many other styles of the MA, imho, need to adopt the BJJ teaching models of training live from day 1 when grappling is concerned. Whereas, in Shindokan, grappling isn't introduced until 6th Kyu/Green belt. This I've argued compassionately with both Soke and Dai-Soke as to the drawbacks of waiting so long. Their reasons are understandable, "First have a basic understanding of familiarity with body mechanics as they are taught and discovered through Bunkai/Oyo from the students first day", but, as they've pointed out to me, "Isn't late, better than never?", but that still hasn't sat well with me, their reasoning's cause me to accept that in our syllabus. However, I encourage my students to "experiment" now, but only under my watchful eye. Open floor training days are where all levels can learn and train whereas the syllabus might not allow it; even though instructors aren't hamstrung by bureaucratic red-tape...teach first, coddle the hierarchy temperance later...much later. Rule 1, TEACH...Rule 2, see Rule 1!!

It appears our opinion on the subject differs, and I'm okay with that!! Her embodiment of the martial arts as a martial artist doesn't depend on, nor does it define her through our opinions. If SHE supposes that she's a martial artist, then through her own perception, she is a martial artist; one who practices a form of the martial arts. Who are we to define her, and therefore deny her? Especially when we're judging her from afar; as though we have that exclusive right to do so. I can't speak about your analogy in Paris, France, because I wasn't there, but I do believe that, while this wasn't a good thing, it was hopefully an isolated result. If possible, let us forget the proposed ideology of a martial artist is one who can effectively defend themselves, but, if at all possible, can we all agree that a martial artist is one WHO PRACTICES A FORM OF THE MARTIAL ARTS? Forgetting the effectiveness of the individual, but the intent, which, is about training said martial art to become an effective means.

Seems to me that this girl will not receive many kind words of encouragement and/or support here. Which is fine because I did ask for opinions! Her intents aren't being considered here, but only the fact that she's a child black belt. Again, I'm no fan of a child black belt, not now, not later!! Nonetheless, she is a legitimate black belt in the JKA. Imho, she's a martial artist! A martial artist is someone that studies a form of the martial arts, and the last time I checked, JKA/Shotokan fits that mold. Had the video been of an adult, she would've received a totally different response. Had this girl been a part of the Kyu rank levels, she would've received a totally different response. Watching her, my first impressions were: She's a child!! She's wearing a black belt!! She's a child black belt!! Aaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhhh!! That was my first impression, which was heightened by my opinion of child black belts! I didn't give her any credit, not at first glance! Not at the second glance, either!! It took me many, many, many glances before I started to watch her as a student of the martial arts, and not as a child black belt, therefore, as a martial artist. I've never read, nor have I ever heard that to be a martial artist you must be a certain age!! Being a martial artist isn't only for those practitioners that are adults. When I was a JBB from the age of 13 years old, I was ALREADY a martial artist because I've ALREADY been a practitioner of a martial art; Shindokan!! In my opinion, I see her as a practitioner of the martial arts. I look beyond her obi so that I can see her as a martial artist!!

I'll third what Alex [tallgeese] posted. And I second what ps1 stated about trusting your techniques and not to be afraid when it fails...DON'T PANIC...work it out!! I'm a big guy, and in that, I'm very aggressive, but that doesn't mean that a smaller guy can't tame me. However, I won't be tamed for long because I am constantly countering one way or another. Sure, everything has its limits and everything won't always succeed, but it's having the instinct to work through and out of new found problems brought on by ones opponent. *Put me on my back...good! I'm at home there. *Control distance...good! Get into closed guard and then to the open...good! But, remember, I'm on top of you and I will do everything I can to crush you and minimize your movements. I'm not just going to be idle. I'm not going to move just to move because if I do, then I open myself up to harm. You move...then I move to limit or control or counter or stop your attempts; just as you are with me. We're live!! *Pay attention to the positional ladder...good! Get away from the side mount and mount...good! But, again, we're alive, and I'm not going to just let you, I will resist you. As you will with me. Me being the bigger guy means that it benefits me if I stay on top of you as long as I can or as long as I choose. Then, and you can post how ineffective it is in your opinion, I'm going to manipulate and utilize Kyusho-jitsu as often as I can. To make you miserable, as often as I can. For everyone of your attempts, I've an arsenal of off-buttons waiting for you. I'm aware, as well as you're aware, man, we're both aware...not everything works, but.... Study your opponent Study yourself Make a plan Carry it out Good luck, train hard, and let us know how things are going.

Well, it bears to be repeated, again...awesome tutorial, Alex; top notch. Great breakdown of the sequential components; nice tight and compact through and through. What I'm about to say is something that I'd be amiss if I didn't...better have options available when each sequence is countered. If not, bad things begin to happen. For example, while opponent is standing, and you try to place your foot against your opponents outside, farthest away, foot, your opponent slightly moves that foot out of range. Transitional counters attempted by your opponent are NOT the end of the world. Don't panic...work it out without giving the farm away!!

It's a good thing that Shindokan doesn't teach high kicks because my right knee hasn't been the same since I was a JBB; I accidently put a Kama deeply into it!! Ever since, my right leg kicks, high ones that is, have been a struggle. Probably good thing that my left leg's fine. As I get older, my right leg, from my knee to my toes is always numb. I hobble until I get the walking motion in gear; then, I'm fine. Those first couple steps are a struggle.

What are the opinions of companies that offer free website creations and the like?

This is a very solid post; one I can never forget!! Your points are right and effective in hitting the heart of the matter!! Thank you, cheesefrysamurai. I suppose that I felt, as well, that the vantage of having a website was to reach the world, i.e. the masses. But, I wasn't ever interested in reaching nationwide, regional, or global. I just want to reach those locally, especially those within the immediate area surrounding my dojo. Narrow minded of me? Oh, yeah!!

1 loss...6 straight wins...followed by 2 losses. Pattern is starting to scare me and it's looking quite familiar. Mommy!! Go COWBOYS!!

This is really cool. Your Sensei will smile from ear to ear!!

My wife, Linda, quit after earning her yellow belt; I was her instructor. I wasn't sad or glad or mad or anything. I treated her like I would treat any student that wants to quit...I DON'T CARE IF YOU STAY OR LEAVE; IT"S YOUR CHOICE!! I told her..."If you think because we're married that I owe you something on the floor, you're sadly mistaken; no favors!! Get off my floor, and get off it now!" That was some 20 years ago, and we're still madly in love with each other, and we're still together...still married!! I've never trained in a hobby before. In a MA?...yes, that I have been doing for some time.

Solid gift!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! It was my pleasure to share the video!!

Many MA schools have video tutorials....many here at KF do as well...but...I don't even have that. I've not written a book, either. I've no website...I've not written a book...I've no video tutorials...seems as though I've failed at reaching many opportunities, therefore, I've failed!!

Very glad to hear that you're healing well!! Nothing and nobody can ever replace ones MA family. Being together for so long, one really starts to depend on them both on and off the floor!! Your MA family sounds like a MA family that I'd love to be part of; there's that comfort that surrounds you from the time you walk in and far after you've gone home.