sensei8

Honesty you'd probably be best starting over but I would imagine that once you've got the different nuances in movement down you'd pick it up pretty quickly. Might even be offered the opportunity to skip or double grades. That will be up to the governing body...ask them!! If not, rank isn't that important, or it shouldn't be, imho...training hard is paramount!!

Looks, to me, like a good routine. Of course, check with your coach to get proper feedback. Your coach should be the final word!!

Great answer. DITTO!!

I'm of the opinion that your kata should reflect your rank! If you're a 4th kyu, and you do Pinan Shodan, I'm going to score you quite low off the bat, and it'll be up to you to make me score you any higher. And, God forbid, if you chose to perform Pinan Shodan as a 4th kyu and don't show marked abilities for it; I'd be forced to give you either a pass or the lowest score I can muster.

Our Hombu's ratio is... Kids: 20 to 1 Adults: 30 to 1 My Dojo ratio is... Kids: 15 to 1 Adults: 25 to 1 Spead out over many classes from 9am - 9pm [Class starting times]. However, without assistants, either ratio would have to be smaller, imho.

You've received some sound advice and encouragement from many here, and I can't add much to their excellent advice and support!! Shugyo...suck it up! Sounds uncompassionate? But, it's not. For me, it's a motivator...things DO happen, and when they do, they happen my accident. Two forces will collide, as one tries to best the other. Respect one another, and when an accident happens, quickly apologize, bow, and then continue in the training. Don't quit over this...IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!! I've tagged and bagged my share over the many years that I've been on the floor, but it was never deliberate nor was it full of malice and intent!! Our Dai-Soke would shout out, not Yame, but..."Block or move!!" And when forces collide, it's to be expected from time to time in the MA. Control is essential, and it will come in time!! Even with ultimate control, accidents will happen in the heat of the battle!! Greg and I literally try to kill each other during Kumite because that's how we train to improve our betterment. It's no exaggeration when I say that we try to kill each other. We're two Senior Dan's, and we've decided a long time ago to kumite in the manner that teaches us. Sure, our Dai-Soke, at first didn't like it because we looked like Barbarians instead of MAists striving to improve our betterment. After time, Dai-Soke saw the value in our personal sessions of kumite, and he would, at times, just grimace because we go at each other extremely hard. I WILL GET A TURN!! The respect we have for each other allows us this. I win some...and I lose some, but neither of us are doing this out of malice and evil intent. We're like two bulls in a china closet, and it's with no ambiguity and/or reservation that we kumite the way we do. I don't recommend to kumite like we do; it's for us, I suppose!! Dust off any ill feelings that you may have about this. Train hard, listen to your Sensei, respect your fellow dojo mates, and don't be so hard on yourself, especially over this.

Thank you, GojuRyu Bahrain!! Imagine how I feel, now that I just turned 57...things creek and snap whenever I move...however, the floor cries out for me to return, therefore, I do. I think the floor is a sadistic unfeeling taskmaster....hehehehehehehehe....I'd have it no other way...nor would you!!

Thank you, OleOle!! Even though your MA journey has just begun, those 50 years will fly by, and even though you'll be 92, that's still young. Recently a granny earned her Yondan in Kyukoshin at...a young...83!!

Thank you, Ken!! 1976...was a very good year...you were born and I earned my Nidan!! Life is so wonderful!! My Nidan was earned that year on July...what month were you born??

Thank you, chrissyp!! I'm glad that my advice was helpful to you. And yeah, I've been around the block a few billion times!!

Thank you, Noah!! Earned my Rokudan the same year you were born...hhhmmmm...I might need a walker or a AARP membership!! Please, let us know when you Sensei's Sensei celebrates his Golden Anniversary so that I can wish him well!!

Thank you, ShoriKid!! Nice perspective, indeed. Perspectives like this can be awarding in themselves, makes one appreciative across a broad spectrum. In time, you're time line will cause your students to marvel. I also observed, through your comparison that...well...I'm old!! I will strive to hang around for another 20 years, God willing!!

Thank you, Danielle!! It's been my joy to have shared my journey with everyone here at KF!! My students are my personal highlight...always have and always will be!! MA wise...Hanshi is my MA highlight because NO Shogo title can ever be tested for; it's bestowed upon you, and in my case, Dai-Soke bestowed upon me, Hanshi. It was totally, as with everything, a shock to receive Hanshi. It happened at the end of class one night at the Hombu. Dai-Soke was conducting class that night, when he called me to stand beside him, Soke came to sit where I had been sitting...that was very unusual for Soke to do that. I was confused. Before I knew it, I was presented with my Shogo for Hanshi...I broke down in tears...No advanced warning, nothing...sheer and utter surprise. I cherish my Hanshi over any rank, even Kudan!! Before that, my Shogo titles were bestowed upon me at the Annual Testing Cycle dinner, however, all were a surprise! Can't petition for them!!

Thank you, Patrick!! It's been my deep honor and privilege to have been part of the KF community, more than I can ever express with mere words. As with Shindokan, KF is my family, as well!! In my Golden Anniversary, I'm in good company with those who have reached this milestone...I bow to them!!

Thank you, Harkon72!! My progression from Shodan to Sandan was quite quick, yes it was. Reason for that is that I was a JBB for just 5 years, and Dai-Soke continued to teach us, even though we were not allowed to earn any rank above JBB. So, at 18 I earned my Shodan, then the next year, I earned my Nidan, and then the very next year after that, I earned my Sandan. As Dai-Soke put it..."You were more than ready, no reason to delay!!" Many of the times, Dai-Soke would petition for you if he felt you were ready, even though you hadn't reached ranks minimal tenure as of yet. Soke, never questioned Dai-Soke when it came to testing cycles.

Thank you, AdamKralic!!

Thank you, Kusotare!! What Otsuka Sensei speaks toward is still in front of me, and by all means, there is only training and an unending journey.

Most backfist injuries occur with improper execution!! Mechanics, imho, must be paramount to any technique. This will lessen injuries from the get-go!! Hitting with only the knuckles should be backfist 101. Hitting with the soft tissue of your backhand area ISN'T proper for any backFIST, key word here is FIST. Not HAND. Train to strike with proper mechanics at all times. Imho, some hand conditioning is essential. I'm a proponent of hand conditioning, so therefore, I'm going to train my students to train their hands to absorb impact trauma because it serves no purpose to strike/hit any target if it's going to hurt you as well. First, proper mechanics, and second, hand conditioning of some sort.

Speak with your instructor about your physical limitations with your knee to see what he can do to accommodate you. Always speak to your CI!! Good luck!!

Another fantastic tutorial, Alex!! What Alex does from 2:10 in this tutorial is what I'd be concerned with if my opponent is "too fat to mount". I ride the chest more than the stomach, in this regard for the time I need.

Feel your opponent...move with him/her...make changes as they're needed...don't get behind your opponents movements...when he/she moves, you move appropriately. Behind, means that your opponent is now ahead of you and you've no longer minimum control.

Well...how did your testing cycle go Saturday?? It's not normal to be jumping ranks, although it does happen from time to time. It's more dependent on the instructor, and not as much with the governing body. Although the governing body, like mine, has it's involvement all over any testing cycle, but the instructor is given the green-light on this providing that the instructor doesn't have a record of this quite often. The philosophical matters or the principles of martial arts, again, are dependent on the instructor. What I've noticed over the years is that some students can be upset about this because it's not happening to them. Rarity should stand shoulder to shoulder when rank is concerned, imho!!

Solid post!!

I've placed this moving piece in the General Martial Arts forum because, imho, this applies to all styles of the MA. There are times when things of the physical nature CAN and WILL prevent one from training for the moment or for the long term, for those, I will never frown towards them. For those, like me, who make excuses to not train from time to time for whatever the reason(s) might be, possible this video would motivate them, as it has motivated me. Enjoy... To that gentlemen found in this video, I wholeheartedly bow to him!!

Today, October 18, 2014, marks my Golden Anniversary in Shindokan Saitou-ryu; 50 years on the floor. My flame hasn't dimmed the slightest; it burns as bright as ever, even more so!! Today's also my 57th birthday. My martial art journey over these past 50 years have had its many bumps and dips along the road, but for the most part, it's been smooth; uneventful, to say the least. I've shared the floor with many within the Shindokan circle, but my martial art journey wouldn't be complete without acknowledging wholeheartedly those martial artists that are outside of the Shindokan circle. To all, I thank you with all of my heart and soul; your bright lights have helped me over these many wonderful years in sustaining my own flame. I thank you, one and all!! 50 YEAR TIMELINE 1950|Shindokan Saitou-ryu; founded by Fuyuhiko Saitou, Soke, Judan 1956|Soke, and his student, Yoshinobu Takahashi, Godan, move to the USA from Nanjo, Okinawa 1957|Shindokan Hombu established in Canoga Park, CA *Soke forms Shindokan’s governing body; Shindokan Karate and Kobudo Association (SKKA) *Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei is selected by Soke to be Kaicho[President] of the Shindokan Hombu *I was born in October to Rita Mitcham (Russie) and Dan Mitcham in FT. Worth, TX; All Saints Hospital, I’m the youngest of three; my brother, Donald (1951), and my sister, Ruth (1954) 1958|My family moved to the San Fernando Valley in CA; Van Nuys 1964|Enrolled in Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do in Canoga Park, CA; Shindokan Hombu 1967|Began Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo training at 6th Kyu [Green Belt] 1970|Earned Junior Black Belt; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do 1971|The Weekend Warriors formed by Greg Forsythe, Ben Stevenson, Iwao Takahashi, Giichi Tanaka, Yoshikazu Tanaka, and myself, as Junior Black Belts, travelling throughout CA to compete in any and all open tournaments; we dominated the under 18 year old divisions; sponsored by our parents. 1974|Enrolled in Chang Moo Kwan/Kang Duk Won Tae Kwon Do, Burbank, CA under GM Young Ik Suh 1975|Earned Shodan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do *Left formal training in Chang Moo Kwan/Kang Duk Won Tae Kwon Do; earned 6th Gup [Green Belt] under GM Young Ik Suh *Began teaching Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do at the Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) in Valley Glen, CA 1975-1977 1976*Earned Nidan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do *Weekend Warriors ends; too many personal scheduling conflictions 1977|Earned Sandan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do *Left teaching at LAVC in order to open my dojo *Opened my first dojo; Kyuodan Dojo in Van Nuys, CA (1977) *Earned Shodan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 1978|Earned Nidan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 1980|Earned Yondan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do *Earned Sandan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 1983|Earned Yondan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 1984|Earned Godan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do 1987|Earned Godan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 1988|Earned Rokudan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do 1989|Elected into our Hombu’s Hierarchy; Counsel of Regents 1993|Earned Rokudan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 1994|Awarded Renshi (SKKA) *Retired from active competitions shortly after having garnished 4 Grand Championships, as well as a 2nd place in the Masters Division in Kumite at the Bakersfield All-Open Karate Tournament. 1995|Earned Nanadan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do 1997|Awarded Kyoshi (SKKA) 2000|Earned Hachidan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do 2002|Earned Nanadan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 2003|Awarded Hanshi (SKKA) 2007|Soke retires; elected to Kaiso [Advisor] 2008|Kaicho Takahashi Sensei is elected the new Dai-Soke of the Shindokan Hombu *Soke passes away of natural causes; he was 91 years old *I’m elected Kaicho and Chief Instructor of the Shindokan Hombu 2009|Earned Hachidan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo 2010|Dai-Soke passes away after suffering two separate strokes that year; he was 78 years old *I retire from being the Kaicho and Chief Instructor of the Shindokan Hombu; promoted to Kaiso [Advisor] *Iwao Takahashi, eldest son of Dai-Soke, is elected to San Dai-Soke, promoted to Judan *San Dai-Soke closes the Hombu and attempts to moves it to Nanjo, Okinawa *Established NEW Shindokan Hombu; new charter, proxy, and the like approved *San Dai-Soke stripped of his authority and given a lifetime expulsion via a referendum by the new Hombu 2011|Re-elected as Kaicho; stepped down from Kaiso appointment. 2012|Counsel of Regents renamed to Board of Regents; reorganized, from 12 elected officers to 5 elected officers 2013|Earned Kudan; Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate-do *Premier GM Young Ik Suh passes away in October; he was once a Korean Presidential Bodyguard 2014|I celebrate my Martial Art Golden Anniversary, 50 years, in Shindokan Saitou-ryu **Italic type denotes Shindokan events** 50 years! Although it's been a long time in the making, it seems as though it was just yesterday when I first walked onto the floor, and in retrospect, I took my first step on my martial art journey as well. Memories aren't all I have left, and while some have faded away, many a great number of them remain brightly vivid in my mind. In my life, as well as in my martial art life, I've often openly wept over the many empty chairs that stand before me; this is to be expected in ones lifetime, but that doesn't ease the grief that I oftentimes feel each and everyday of my life. One day, I too, will leave my own empty chair behind, but until then, I will remain steadfastly true on my martial arts journey. And when I leave my chair for the last time, I will fondly remember all who have made my martial arts journey complete. Yet, I will be saddened to know that there will be no more tomorrows with all of you....my friends...my martial art family...and of course, my love for you all will never die. While I'm proud, I humbly look over these past 50 years with a smile, and a gladness that while I was on the floor, I gave it my all every second without any regrets and/or reservations. I've no idea when I will shrug off this mortal coil, only God knows that, but I know that my time isn't far away, and God willing, I've another 20-30 years on the floor. Somewhere and somehow, our paths will cross; in that, we'll embrace one another not as strangers, but as family!! I love you, one and all...thank you, one and all!!