sensei8

And of course, listen to your body! If it tells you to stop or continue or slow down, then do what your body is telling you. You see, I'm 57 years old this October 18th, and this year I've not been on a pity party, but I've had to learn to be perfectly honest with myself, and in that, I'm no longer that young man that I use to be. And, I'm not anybody else who's my age or older...I'm me, and I don't want to be like everyone else. When my time on the floor is over, then my time on the floor will be over. I love the MA with all of my heart and soul; it's all I know, it's all that I'm good at. But at times, the floor robs precious time away from me spending time with my loved ones and friends; time that can't be returned to me. Our Dai-Soke didn't have a heart attack, but he had two strokes within a short time span, and the second one killed him. He tried to return to the floor, but he couldn't, and we all could tell that it was literally killing him to not be on the floor; doing what he loved and what he was the best at!! My family medical history has stroke as it's number one killer, and when my Dai-Soke suffered two, I was, and still am, beside myself across the board. Sorry for my rant. I said all of that to say this...take your time in your recovery and please, listen to your doctor(s) and when you're ready, the floor will welcome you back with open arms.

An idea...buy two gi's of the same size and color that match up to your height. Then, take them both to a tailor and have one gi made from the two. A tailor could cut one of the gi's by splitting it entirely at the side seam, and then sew panels back into the sides, and the gusset is unaffected by this method. Possibly around $100 USD. Custom tailored gi's from start to finish, might be around $160 to $330 USD, plus any other fees and shipping. Just an idea. Good luck, and please let us know how things went.

I suppose that it's the same for those who don't live in the USA...our biggest tournaments and the like wouldn't be price fixed where one could even consider it, unless, ones financially secure enough to partake.

Solid post!!

What I've noticed is that Gi sizes seem to address height and not a growing belly. If one can fit a Gi off the rack, that's great. But if not, a visit to the tailor might not be such a bad idea. At least until you're fit as a fiddle again. Good luck with your search!!

Personally, I'm old school with the simple cloth shin pads. They're hard to get off once I've been wearing them for some time; sweat tends to weld them onto my skin. I do like the Century MA foam pads with the Velcro straps; easy on and easy off, but they tend to turn while engaging on the floor, and I don't like it when my shin pad becomes a calf pad...drives be nuts. Good luck with your search for the idea shin pad!!

I don't think that you're alone in your feelings. Many factors will play into your decision(s) as to which one you prefer. If it's one or another, or if it's in both, than that's your decision to make, and for that, I respect your choice because it's a personal choice, and it's your MA journey. I love BOTH!! I've been accused of being "strange that way", and it's because while I might get "scored" upon, hehehehehe, I will get a turn!! I'm a junkie that way when it comes to ALL aspects of kumite/sparring/fighting/etc; the more intense, the more I want it!! You're fine in how you feel!! Now, go train hard!!

I like the electronic aspect of the scoring capabilities. I can see the many possibilities both for and against. However, I've not always liked events that use things other than humans to rule over decisions during live events. Call points the old fashioned way; the old fallible human!! Thank you, Danielle for the info.

What? No events for us over-the-hill competitors? Sounds like it would be fun to watch, but, I'm sure it'll cost a bundle with air, hotels, passports, food, tickets to events, and souvenirs for 3 days. Unless one can get a book on how to travel to London for less than $30 dollars a day.

In time, students begin to understand the mechanics behind every nuance in each stances. One of the important things that I've done is to constantly correct them immediately, and to explain the pros and cons of each nuance within each stance. One of the most simple drills, and it's effective, is to "walk the floor"; in this case, Zenkutsu-dachi [forward-leg stance]. Example: 1) Have students assume Zenkutsu-dachi 2) Have students place their hands on their hips 3) Ensure that their posture's are correct at all times 4) Perform, with each step, Oi-Zuki [lunge punch] Having students perform this basic drill over and over and over and over, will jar their muscle memories...in time, and under your close supervision. One of the drills I do with the kids is to play "Red Light, Green Light" game. Here's how it goes... 1) Stand at one end of the room; you're the traffic cop 2) Have your students stand at the other end of the room facing you...students will be in Zenkutsu-dachi 3) Turn away from your students; your back to them 4) When you say "green light", students try to run to the finish line, but they must stay in Zenkutsu-dachi while moving. 5) When the traffic cop, you, says "red light", you turn around and students have to stop in their tracks. 6) If the traffic cop catches a student moving, you send them back to the beginning. 7) First student to cross the finish line wins, and becomes the new traffic cop. Kids that win, and they all want to win, get a big kick out of it when they get their turn at being the traffic cop, and YOU have to join the line. While you're trying to win, you're also observing students to ensure that their stances are solid in every which way possible. As traffic cop, you're still able to ensure their stances are solid in every which way possible, too. Immediate corrections are vital. Now, as traffic cop, change up the manner of which you say "red light". Say it at your normal speaking speed. Then, say it faster or super faster or slow or v-e-r-y s-l-o-w. Change the pitch in your voice; speak like a mouse or speak in a voice that they can relate with. Bottom line, make it fun AND educational. After all, any drill and/or game you do is to teach proper mechanics and the like. One other game, and this is more for the older kids, but the youger ones love it to, is what I call the "Yame" game...Yame means 'stop". Here's how it goes...[students have to make it to the other side of the room] 1) Students stand at one end of the room, in a line because they're going to go one at a time. 2) You stand at the other end of the room 3) Have students in Zenkutsu-dachi 4) Hands on hips...postures correct 5) Have students advance towards you, one step at a time in an Oi-Zuki manner 6) Shout out..."YAME" at the slightest mistake in their stance at any interval of the stance. At "Yame", that student goes to the back of the line. Remember to address the mistake and use this opportunity to teach proper stance mechanics. First one to reach you, can PUNCH you in the stomach!! How picky you are will determine how easy it is to reach you. I've had this drill last many months before a student has ever reached me. Make it as hard or easy as you desire just as long as their "aha" lights come on often. Here, the importance of any drill(s) is to educate your students on proper techniques and mechanics, and not the game itself.

SO Solid post!!

Change is inevitable; adapt to it!! Rules changes and the like don't really surprise me because promoters, will do whatever they feel is necessary help their bottom line, and this is paramount to promoters, imho!! As far as techniques are concerned in this, same thing. What techniques don't or won't work outside of said BJJ venue, that's fine. Why? Competition techniques, imho, are designed, for the most part, especially in this instance, to only be effective within the parameters of said venue, therefore, said techniques aren't for outside of said venue.

I agree!!

My short answer...I've no issue with this at all!! If it'll increase ones MA betterment, then I'm all for it. They're my students, and in that, I don't own them; they're free to train in whatever and with whomever they choose.

Yes, quite stunning, indeed! Sorry, I've no experience in this style of the MA. Have done some very little reading about it, but that means that I might've read an article or two to wet my curiosity about it, and your link isn't one I've read before. Thank you for sharing it, Danielle. Hopefully, we've a member here that can shed light on this MA.

One of the most solid articles on this subject that I've read. Well written, which isn't a surprise, and with the addition of video's, well, if a picture is worth a thousand words, than a video must be worth ten-thousand words. Being a proponent in a style of karate that heavily incorporates joint manipulations, I feel that I must say this, and my opinion is from what my style of karate teaches as well as what I've found to be true for me as well. My primary function is to not destroy joints and break them so that they can no longer be used to attack me, but instead, my primary function is to control my opponent during said moment at hand. Can I destroy and break joints? Yes, but only as a last resort, if need be. In that, I do agree that the reliability isn't great, however, many circumstances and the practitioner will be dependent on its success. Nonetheless, imho, the biggest factor in the success ratio depends on the practitioners knowledge and the like. Having the ability to adapt to the ever changing circumstances will play the biggest part in one being able to manipulate successfully. Still, great article, Alex, thank you for it!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!!!!!!!!!

Solid post!!

Yes, thanks for the follow up and I'm glad that things worked out!!

Yes, it is SOP for all shindokan dojo's.

Great article, Danielle, excellent!! Footwork, imho, is at the heart of sparring's do's and don'ts. Without one understanding footwork, one will just basically trip over themselves.

If its possible, training will be there, meaning that the training can wait; it's not going anywhere. Obeying the doctors and the like is tantamount and getting better is paramount over training, imho, for now. Hopefully, the doctor(s) and the like, when the time is right, will give you a clean bill of health, thereby allowing you to return to the floor. If not, life will go on. It'll be not easy at first, if ever, to get use to the fact that your MA training might be over. Nonetheless, if you have to give up which you love with all of your heart and soul, you'll still be alive, and with your loved ones, family and friends!! Please don't rush it, take time to heal!! Good luck, and you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!!

The Hombu, like any other Shindokan dojo, students can test once every testing cycle, with is held once every 3 months. Testing candidates, students have to fill out a simple form titled, "Request For Testing Cycle". Then, said CI will affix their signature to said form, and then the CI will forward said form onto the Hombu for final approval/denied signatures and stamp(s). There are NO grace periods; all deadlines MUST be adhered to. Miss a deadline, you're going to have to reissue said form again, and in a timely manner...No Exceptions!! All Godan's and above MUST test at the Hombu; NO EXCEPTIONS!! Rarely exceptions have been made, but the circumstances must warrant the exceptions. When this happens, the approved testing candidate is usually tested by a board of examiners of the Hombu's discretion, usually the full compliment of 7 examiners from the Hombu, along with their seconds/assistants, with the center chair being a Nanadan/Hachidan. Some have called the way that we manage our testing cycles is akin to micro-management. And this, imho, is possibly a correct way to perceive it. It's how our Soke designed the process to be, and it's still being done that way. The aforementioned form, "Request For Testing Cycle" does all three. In that, it's the student who is asking the CI, and it's the CI who is asking the Hombu; therefore, both are asking all concerned parties. The Hombu NEVER EVER sends out reminders and/or letters of tenures achieved. That's the responsibility of the students to be accountable and responsible for themselves. After all, it is THEIR MA path, and in that, they must manage certain aspects of it. However, that aforementioned form MUST be submitted to their CI. If not, then they CAN NOT attend ANY testing cycle; whether it be at their dojo or at the Hombu. The process is an on-going process, in that, the CI describes the process to the student, and/or the parents, if need be, when they join said dojo. After that, they're reminded verbally quite often, plus, there's several signs that are placed in strategic locations throughout said dojo. The Hombu is a dojo, however, it's also the headquarters for the SKKA!! In that, the Hombu has 4 testing cycles per year. Every quarter, the Hombu conducts a testing cycle for all IN-HOUSE ranks!!. However, the Hombu's ANNUAL testing cycle ALLOWS ALL STUDENTS to test at the Hombu; therefore, the Annual Testing Cycle is open for the entire student body is they wish to. Still, their request must be to the Hombu before any deadline is reached!! In that, the Hombu averages approximately over 300 approved testing cycle candidates, so deadlines must be strictly adhered to, and this is because of the numbers as well as to the number of departments that a request has to be signed off on before a student/testing candidate is approved/denied!! The minimum time is 3 months!! This is because of the time between quarters/testing cycles, in that, any student can submit a request form, nothings stopping them. A student can send a request form on their first day on the floor, but they'll be denied because they've not meet the minimum tenure time of 3 months from the day they joined said dojo. Dan ranked candidates have to wait one full year before they can submit a request form, no matter if they want to test at the Hombu or if they MUST test at the Hombu. This includes missing deadline(s) or failing said testing cycle for one reason or another. In short, because the Hombu's Annual testing cycle is held the last week of June and the first week of July, ALL "Request For Testing Cycle" forms must be into the Hombu no later than March 31st each year. This allows the Hombu adequate time to approve/deny said request. In-House testing cycles at individual Shindokan dojo's must have their requests sent into the Hombu no later than 1 months before the closure of the current quarter. For example, this testing cycle quarter is the 1st month of the 3rd quarter [July, August, September]. Therefore, all requests must be postmarked no later than Friday, August 29th...NO EXCEPTIONS!! Those students who call the Hombu their home dojo, well, they've got it made in the shade with cool lemonade. Still, even those students miss deadlines and the like. For them, there's one very large box attached to the eastern wall dear the entrance of the main dojo...just drop said form into this box, and presto, they've just submitted said form...no stamps...no licking a stamp and/or envelope...no addressing said envelope...just as easy as 1-2-3.

That pretty much sums up Shindokan, in which, that includes my personal style. Tuite is at the core of everything that we do. By that I mean, nothing is executed without Tuite being the end of the means; an In-Your-Face style/mindset, and in that, Mechanics, Strategy, and Tactics are just that. Study your opponent Study yourself Make a plan Carry said plan out This is regurgitated over and over until the end of the means is achieved!!

First of all, welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Secondly...Solid post!!