sensei8

First of all, I'd like to welcome you to KF; glad you're here!! I've no formal knowledge about Kenseido, other than what I've picked up on the few links found in the Internet...sorry, I'm of not much help!!

Two new goals for 2015... 1) Video capabilities 2) New laptop Still trying to join the modern age for my dojo and/or the Hombu!! GO SANTA!! Both might require Santa to visit me on Christmas Eve....I've been a good boy!!

From what you posted in the OP as well as your other posts, I have to say that he's a fraud. Sad that this will continue world wide because there's no, and there will never be one, a central governing body that will weed out those types. The unscrupulous types are allowed because the law can't seem to ascertain how it can define legitimacy in the MA! If this fraud says he's this and that, then, by the smallest notion, he is! In the USA, all this fraud needs to exercise his continued falsehood is a letterhead; sad, but true!! To end his falsehood, it will take his students to walk away from him forever! After all, a "Master" without a student is a lonely walk!! Students feed his falsehood, and for the "beast" to die, it needs to starve...to not have his ego feed! He claims to be a Kyoshi, but he doesn't know its proper definition?? Fishy!! Did he test for Kyoshi? If he said he did...he's suspect because a Shogo title is bestowed upon, therefore, not earned thru a testing cycle!! I wish you best with him, but I'd run fast away from him! Proof is on the floor!! He didn't want to spar? That's fine! Not many heads will, especially if they've reports available to do so! I'm Kaicho...I'm also Kudan....I don't always spar during testing cycles, especially at the Hombu's annual testing cycle, however, I've enough reports available to tend to this task! I will spar with candidates that are testing for Nanadan and Hachidan!! Now, for this Sempai to refuse, no, that won't work! No excuses!! Albeit, if there's a medical reason on file, that will be the only exception, however, there should be more than enough available reports to tend to this matter!!

I agree. I ended up not enrollingin WC school. Now they are offering some kungfit programa (weight loss and fitness) that really madre me rethink about wether they are in for quality or quantity. My former shinshii went through The trouble of rescheduling clases so he can accomodate my schedule. So im resuming my toodee practice. Glad that things are working out for you! Train on!!

Self grading?!?!??

Before I add my 2 cents, I've a question! Are you saying that insurance has to be purchased by the student and if they don't, they can't test??

Thanks Archimoto and cheesefrysamurai!! Training outside with a partner isn't meant to challenge what your CI is teaching you at that moment. Exploration that leads to discoveries is not to be smothered, but embraced wholeheartedly. We're not bound by chains in our training!! We must be free to learn how to express ourselves through our techniques; Shu Ha Ri!! Still, training isn't for teaching! By that I mean, training is practicing what one's been and/or being taught with a partner so that the kinks can be eliminated over time. Training isn't teaching and vice versa!! Either one is training or one is teaching; they shouldn't be intertwined unless your training partner is your CI!!

The MA isn't concerned with physical size and strength, imho, it shouldn't be. It's not what you got, it's how you use it!!

My concern is directed towards the CI, as well as the governing body! Do they REALLY support continued training OR do they support the idea of Shodan being the immediate and far gone conclusion?? If students are speaking about Shodan as an end and not part of a continued journey, and the CI/governing body is aware, and teaches nothing in contrary of the supposed notion...then it's quite possible that the problem is lost already! From day one and until the end of time, the CI/governing body should teach that Shodan is far beyond the end of the continued beginning! Everyday and every rank is the beginning of new discoveries day after day! For those CI's/governing bodies that teach the falseness of Shodan should be ashamed of themselves!! Students will leave from time to time, this is the reality of any MA school, but to believe your last day in the dojo is Shodan is the fault of the CI/governing body!! We must not teach negative opinions that drive students away! More importantly, if rank is taught to be the end all of the MA, then students have been short sided from day one! Teaching students that rank is paramount in their MA training hurts students in the long run! Rank exists, that can't be ignored nor should it be denied, the importence of rank should be minimized from day one, therefore, rank should be put in its proper context, Train, not for rank...not for Shodan, but for the sake of improving one MA betterment!!

Great posts....great topic!

In my tournament days, 20 years ago, I went with either Unsu or Wankan! If I was at a compulsory tournament I would do whatever was on the list per round! Those were the days!

Another great tutorial, Alex!! I find quite a lot of comfort with the X-guard because there are opportunities abound to transition into and out of, depending on what my opponent decides to follow. At first, I had a problem with being this close to my opponent because I perceived that I was feeling vulnerable, yet, I felt this way when I was first learning any close range tactics; it can be unnerving. Time takes care of that! To help counter that feeling of complete inadequacies, we help our students face the feelings of utter dismay by having them face it head on; getting dirty, so to speak, because students must experience it in order to learn to accept the X-guard and other things in the grappling world!!

Ditto!!

10% increases across the board for both the Hombu and my dojo. As Kaicho, my first concerns are concentrated in the MA betterment of the ENTIRE student body!!

IMHO.... This bears to be repeated....it's not the style that's at fault, but it's the practitioner who's at fault!! Shindokan isn't just stand-up karate! Our brand of Tuite and Tegumi has methods that can fend off a charging grappler, but again, things happen that don't and won't favor me! Yet, I don't panic!! I'm not a nice and fair fighter!!

Solid post!!

Thanks for the heads up; I'll have to check it out!!

Solid post!!

First off, I want to thank you for your much needed post! I want to also wish you and your son a successful testing cycle; relax and allow the testing cycle take care of itself. If the two of you have trained hard all of these many years, than you two have nothing to worry about. It's both an honor as well as an exciting event that your son and you will continue to share, not only for the moment, but for a lifetime; your journey isn't ending but it's only continuing!! My feelings about child BB's obtaining rank is well known; I'm dead against it! That's my problem!! Therefore, I only want to support your son's testing cycle and to not rain on anyone's parade because of my very narrow opinion on the subject!! Good luck to the two of you in your upcoming testing cycle, and continued happiness in both of yours journeys!!

After all, aren't adaptations just the latter part of Shu Ha Ri??

A noted intent! Not in a passing intent, either!!

Ditto....I missed you....glad you're back!!

God forbid should any Sensei get older!! Put them out to pasture!! Change is inevitable; age isn't an exception!! I creek when I didn't before! I snap, crack, and pop when I didn't before!! Forgive me for not being the young man that I use to be! I may not move as eloquent as I use to, but, my techniques are solid, and my mind's sharp as ever, and my knowledge is undeniable! Yeah, there's snow on the roof but the fire still rages on within!!

Great topic! Thank you for it! Great OP! Many great points the far! I believe that it's important in increasing one MA betterment by training outside with fellow dojo mates whenever possible. Any type of training outside of the dojo should be encouraged by the CI. One bit of advice...the key word is "training", and that means just that!! Exchange ideas and the like but don't teach; that's your CI's job!! While intents are innocent, one needs to be careful to not teach something that is incorrect, therefore, damaging the good muscle memory.

I am in very good company! Me too!!