sensei8

To the bold type above...I concur!!

I believe that Mo is right on the money with reply!! It's not rocket science! Still, always get with your doctor before doing anything health related, imho!!

Congrats...five boards isn't as easy as one or two. The mind usually gets in the way of the break because the mind says..."Man, five boards, that's a lot!!" Doubt tries to creep in, but once the mind is set free of any preconceived notions, the only thing that can get in the way is technique...oh yeah, and the holders can make or break you if they're not properly trained on how to hold said material. Again...CONGRATS!!

Thank you, all!!

I've placed this topic in this forum because, one way or another, not all styles of the MA speak highly favorable to "traditional" ideologies, whatever they might be. Having been a proponent of "traditional" Karate ideologies for nearly 50 years, I do, at times, get a little ruffled under the edges whenever a MAist speaks negatively about anything labeled "traditional", whether it's Kata, Kihon, Kumite, and/or anything else "traditional", especially if I've been training in it for nearly 5 decades. I'll try to make my points, as mute as they might be, but the points I try to make are not to have someone change their mind and/or join my mindset/ideology of "traditional", in my case, Okinawan Karate, namely, Shindokan Karate!! The points I try to make are to only explain as to why I've been training "traditionally" for these many years. That's what I've been taught by our Soke and Dai-Soke; it was their way, and therefore, it became our way, thus, my way. It's all I've ever truly known; "traditional" Okinawan Shindokan Saitou-ryu. For those who don't understand or don't follow or don't respect or don't believe or don't this and/or that concerning any aspect of "traditional" MA, I'd like to say this. Please accept my apology if I've ever not been humble in my responses, whether they be written and/or in verbal conversations. I was wrong!! No, I still, and will always be a staunched proponent for the "traditional" ways of the MA, especially with Shindokan. But, during this years annual testing cycle at our Hombu, I came to an understanding, as well as a new found appreciation for those who don't like anything "traditional" with the MA, especially Karate. One of the greatest books that I've ever read wasn't a book about any MA, whether it be a methodology and/or an ideology and/or the like. No! "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson. This simply written book speaks towards one vital concept...CHANGE!! This is what I've began to adopt an philosophy towards those who are no longer, as well as those who have never believed in "traditional" MA, especially where Karate might be concerned. Change is inevitable; it will happen whether one likes it or not. For those who don't recognize the signs and don't prepare for those moments, they're doomed to suffer some type of failure, whether it be in life, or on the joy or, in this case, in the MA. One mouse refused to accept change, and finally died. One the other hand, the other mouse, who understood the concept of change, survived, and did not die. Stubbornness leads down that path to destruction!! For those who've never believed in the "traditional" ways of the MA, this is understood and this is how they've known the MA to be true; I don't fault them in any shape, way, and/or form!! For those who've changed their mindset towards "traditional" ways of the MA, especially Karate, I don't fault them either in any shape, way, and/or form. I've been angered towards them for turning away from "traditional" training, especially in Karate. I speak towards Karate because that's where my many, many years have been spent training in its "traditional" ways. Here's my "Aha" moment that occurred these past few weeks while I was administrating our Hombu's annual testing cycle. For those who once trained in the "traditional" ways of the MA/Karate for some time, but then decided to no longer train in any "traditional" way, I say this... Change is inevitable, and this is what happened to them; they learned, and became a proponent of their new found mindset and methodology and ideology because that was better for them, therefore, it was better for their MA betterment. I accept that! Things of "traditional" flavor have a way to taste great for some, but bitter for others, and the MA isn't an exception. Taste and see that "traditional" MA is good, but, that's not possible to settle on ones palate with any enjoyment. It's them, that I bow to!! It's them that have understood that change, for them, was inevitable, and therefore, acceptable to improve their MA betterment across the board. I didn't savor that change, and expected those MAists to train in "traditional" MA/Karate right along with me without complaining. To eat that meat which is "traditional" that I've been eating for so long. That's selfish and ignorant of me to become dissatisfied towards my fellow MAists/Karateka. They've not slapped me in my "traditional" face, yet, I've slapped them in their new-founded mindset/methodology/ideology by making that necessary and inevitable change in their MA training; it's their journey, and not mine. I've shamed my Dai-Soke, and I've shamed myself in my narrow minded way of viewing my fellow MAists/Karatekas. Having said that, I'll still be that "traditionalist" through and through because that proponent in me probably won't ever be anything else but a "traditionalist" until the day I die. Who's right? All of us are right! Especially when it comes to ones MA journey; it's personal, and it's theirs/mine!!

Very well written article across the board, thank you for it, Jack!! The interpretations are well founded in your article, as well as throughout the MA world. I, too, look forward to reading more of your insightful articles!!

Congrats and well deserved!!

Any rank!! To be taken seriously, well, then Sandan is the preferred rank to possess when planning to open a school of the MA. In the USA, anyone of any rank can open a school of the MA, and seeing that there's no governing body to oversee things like this, then hang out the shingle at ones discretion.

Wait until your Sensei tells you! I don't completely follow you on your 2nd question, sorry!!

Solid post!!

The MA is just a thing...family is before the MA...IMHO!!

Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting by Hidetaka Nishiyama This is an excellent reference book for Shotokan; published in 1960...same year Nishiyama Sensei earned his Godan in Shotokan. Can still be found!!

Great posts,all!! How else can we end fakery and all? I'm not for Government interaction,nonetheless, only laws and regulations might be the way! After all, we're no longer in 1600 Japan and the like! Just call them to the carpet...proof is on the floor, but with Government, proof will be required beyond a catch-phrase! Having to "prove" themselves to Government regulations hopefully will begin the weeding out!

I'm not TKD, however, both links provide a treasure of material!!

Try to look up that Pro TKD, Bob. I think you will like and appreciate what you see. Its essentially Olympic TKD without the chest protectors and pads, like IcemanSK mentioned. Really was good stuff; lots of contact, not so much of the tip-tap look. It was a full-contact venue that allowed the counter-kicking and jump-spinning kicking to be showcased, along with the power they really put forth.Cool...thanks...I'll look it up!! You're right, Brian, I do like it, more than I thought I would Thank you for the heads-up!

Reminds me of the concept... "When he contracts, I expand, and when he expands, I contract!" Nice video...has many possibilities! Thanks for sharing.

By all means...report him/them to the proper authorities immediately!! Then, as to the best of your/their abilities, stay away from him/them for the rest of your/their life's!! Good luck...be safe!!

Locks aren't easy to apply; one must work for them. One must work for any lock to be applied effectively because my opponent isn't just going to let me lock it in. No! My opponent's going to fight me for control, and here's where experience can win-out in said battle. My knowledge of how to recognize any transitional opening that presents itself to me through one guarded avenue to an unguarded avenue just might be enough for me. However, stepping away from the technical discussion for just a moment, I see how a referee might be the factor that's caused the decline; excitement and the like are what sells said tickets. Who wants to watch a boring fight? Not many! The more exciting, the more of the unknown, the more of the toe-to-toe makes the anticipation of the battle so exciting for the fans. Fan base isn't just us MAist...no...the layperson loves a good fight just as much as a MAist does. What they look for across the board might be like day and night, but the excitement factor surely can't be denied. Tallgeese and bushido_man96 make great points and they both ask/answer some vitally important questions that address the OP. In short, I do think that it's a mixture of factors that might've caused the decline of locks, and not just the practitioners.

I love the complexity of it, albeit, it's simplicity isn't overlooked. This is one aspect that must be trained with a WC Dummy, and then transition to a live partner to test and fine tune said techniques. Nice video, thank you for it!!

First of all, welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Self-defense can be taught, and is taught throughout the world, and in that, learning the basics and then some can be enough to sustain the methodologies of self-defense. Then, learning how to put all of the individual techniques to use when called upon during defending oneself, that's the experience...that's the journey of a MAist.

Who's to say said school of the MA is or isn't a McDojo and/or the like? For the sake of this discussion, a McDojo is a school of the MA that's CI isn't an legitimate Black Belt; fake! Imho, there can never be one Governing body of the MA because more often than not, the most simplistic of concerns can't be agreed between them, no matter what the topic might be. In that, to properly define as to what's legitimate or not just can't be reached by the midnight hour because of differing opinions. And this is in the world of the MA. In the political arena, well, that's certainly a whole new world. Government officials can't seem to agree on anything, and to be honestly, neither can any MA Governing Body! To regulate the MA or not in the hopes of protecting the unaware consumer/student of the MA is washed down the sink with the dirty water. For Government involvement to exist, it will require Government interaction . One of the first things that all would need to agree on is how they can establish who's fake and who's not! However, Governments say the "Martial Art knowledge lies within the practitioner/individual". All one has to do in the USA to create a "style" of the MA is a letterhead and pay all required fees, and now, you're style is "official" according to the all levels of the Government. Furthermore, all one has to do is "establish a school by having only one student". For me, I'll never see the day when there will be one Governing Body for all MA. Sure, no one wants to see the Government involved, for their own reasons, in any aspect of the MA. Those CI's who are fake and the like will continue to harm innocent students one way or another. To bring integrity back into the MA, it might be quite possible for us to rely on Government control, in the form of passing laws and regulations that will rid the MA of such fakes. Nonetheless, those said fakes will continue to infest the MA, and in that, there'll be nothing that we can do within the MA that will provide that much needed peace of MA integrity, one that we're missing quite desperately. There will be no regulations, for now, if at all. Governments as well as MA Governing Body's won't ever see eye to eye, not within themselves or within one another. We'll continue to govern ourselves, and the Government will continue to let us be to ourselves. There are laws on the books in the USA that make it a crime to fraud another, but in this subject, the Government would rather be like the monkey who's happy to...hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil. Your thoughts, thank you!!

I've been entertaining the thought to try DDP Yoga. Seems down my aisle!! Did you try DDP yet? I love it-it is great for us over 50's! No, not yet. It's my next thing to do right after this years annual testing cycle!! Btw, could DDP be incorporated into normal class warm-ups and/or cool-downs??

I thank you for your kind words! At times, I feel really, really older than I truly am; as a MAist, I've been rode hard and put away wet, I'd have it no other way. I've not trained for belts or awards or self-aggrandizement; I've trained so that I can improve my MA betterment., therefore, I'll be able to help others improve their own MA betterment. You are only as old as you feel, and in that, I suppose there's quite a lot of value to that.

One thing about the battlefield, real battlefields, is that they're not fighting for trophies! Battlefield strategies read reveal keen decisions made, some tipped the scales that lead to either sure victory or sound defeat. There were no podiums to stand upon while raising hands with trophies raised high!!

Excellent mindset...excellent! I believe that for one to respect said art, one must FIRST respect the floor; this you've done admirably across the board. Being honest with yourself, and in that, your students will respect you the more, works hand in hand, however, it starts with you!! The old saying says, something like this..."You've got one chance to make that first impression; so make it a good one". After that, it's all downhill from there if you've only made that bad impression, and no matter which one you've made, it'll be a lasting one!!