sensei8

This one really stood out, and you are spot on with that. Customers can see this, and it says volumes about what you want to do. Thanks, Brian, glad that you enjoyed the article. You're right when you say "Customers can see this...", and the reason that I do those things without thinking about profit is because it's something that I just want to do to help them out in any way that I can. It's how I was raised by my parents, and it's just nice to do something for someone without sticking my hand out for a monetary reward. Most of the time, I'm not even thinking about getting paid or even for getting them to be a loyal customer, no, I just do it!!

I believe that all MAists might enjoy this documentary, by Oleg Larionov, and not just by those MAists who train in an Okinawan Karate-do... Please, enjoy!

I suppose what I'm asking, Do students choose to train? OR... Are students forced to train?

Imho, I'd say that these two styles are like day and night, and in that, the only similarities these two styles have in common is that they both start with the letter, 'S'. After that, their methodologies and ideologies are separated as far apart as the north pole is from the south pole. Imho! However, I respect both of these karate styles!!

Seeing that the UBBT is for all styles and the like, I've just emailed our Legal Team and Teaching Team to get the ball rolling. Could how the UBBT is conducted compliment or clash with the vision of our Soke? However, change is inevitable, and change is suppose to be a good thing.

Training allows our students the ability of discovering the unforeseen chink in their armor so that the flaw can be smoothed out, and then polished to the luster that's hiding beneath. Do we, as instructors, force our students to train? And if our students do not train often, or at all, do we punish them some how and someway for whatever reason(s)? Do we treat our students with an indifference that cuts them to the quick? Do we favor the students that train as though their very lives depended on it? Is our job to teach or to punish/reward personal choices? A great deal of questions, to be for sure. But without questions, just how can one begin to know the depth of ones own mettle in the course of ones MA journey?! Furthermore, training, to do so or not to do so, is part of a personal journey that can't be denied, nor should it be rewarded. Not in a manner that's not befitting of an ethical instructor, and not in a manner that cast a darkened shadow where light is fighting to shine through. Whether our students choose to train or not isn't because they're in accordance with any rules or standards for proper conduct. Therefore, if our students choose to train or not to train, an instructor seems to mean that one is in favor of ignoring general practices and principles because they are given to do so. I encourage my students to train their every fiber within themselves so that their mettle isn't a questionable enquire to themselves. I must be that example of training! If my students see that the manner of which I train, and that it's my own desired choice to do so, and quite often, then, my students might then choose to train of their own accord. I don't punish, nor do I reward on training ethics: do it...don't do it...I don't give a bent-pins care if my students do or do not because I don't own them, and its their MA journey, and how they choice to walk upon it, is entirely up to them. When my students fail any given testing cycle, it's not because I'm punishing them because they don't train/practice...no, that's the furthest thing from my mind, but what's evident in my eyes during any said testing cycle is that their techniques aren't up to the expectations that I've laid out, now and forever. I see what I see, and I judge how I judge, but it's never a question, to me, that my student standing before me has either trained or hasn't trained, it's more of a question if what I'm judging based on what I see, if my student's improving in his/her effectively applied knowledge across the board from when I've last seen them before. Training can't be imposed; it must be chosen. And when practitioners of the MA are given the choice, I can only hope that they choose training. It is the harder thing that I choose to do because the easier thing to do isn't a part of my make-up. Imho!! Your thoughts, please!!

This October, I'll have been in the MA, mainly, Shindokan, for 50 years. I must admit that I'm no longer the young man that I use to be; I tend to take longer to recuperate than I use to. That's to be expected as we become older, however, that doesn't mean that we have to like, just accept it.

Oh yeah...sometimes we get in our own way, and that makes training the much more difficult to stomach as we try to increase our MA betterment.

Patrick, Thanks for the opportunity, yet, I wonder...what seems disjointed and/or incomplete to me, might not be so with each reader. I will refrain for now, and see what replies and/or suggestions might be forthcoming from KF members. It's possible that anything I might add for the sake of clarification might end up muddling up even more so to the reader.

A new and exciting way stands before you, and in that, I commend your new path/journey. The UBBT seems to be something that might catch onto other styles and governing bodies, but only time will tell. MAists are always looking for ways challenge themselves against many forces, including their own mettle; hence, their MA betterment strives for that within themselves. The UBBT concept is one I'd be willing to test, and in that as well, I'd have to make it a voluntary choice, and not a required choice amongst anyone within the SKKA (Shindokan's governing body). I'm willing to have both our Legal Team as well as our Teaching Team to look much more closer to the UBBT and have them report back to the Administrative Team of their findings/discoveries to see if the UBBT might be something to consider. Is the UBBT, and forgive the question, created and designed and approved for ALL styles of the MA or for just your style?? Great article, and I thank you for it, Heidi.

I do thank you for taking the time to clarify your post. Having read your clarifying points, I wholeheartedly concur and understand what your post was indicating.

Solid post!!

Wish you best luck in your search for a style and dojo to call home. Please let us know when you do settle down in your new dojo home!!

For the practitioner, that's true. However, for the instructor, his/her obligations are to teach effective applied knowledge about said style of the MA in which they are teaching. Outside of what your post intents, that's quite true; it's a personal journey, even for the instructor. Instructors are obligated to teach!! Imho.

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

How can ALL students learn, if no one ever asks any questions during class. Seems to me to be the best time to ask because if one waits until after class, then others are left out of the learning experience. Do it during class, but do it respectfully! If time is consumed in this endeavor instead of drilling, etc, then so be it. The CI still has to manage the time, but the times not a beacon of what's to be covered to the letter. What's not covered in the planned class for that day, can always be addressed at another time. If a CI can't manage time and the curriculum, then that CI shouldn't be the CI. Teaching is learning and vice versa. Imho.

sure I don't understand why some think its a very big deal to learn online!! I believe that what you find is that most MAists don't like any learning of the MA without proper feedback from a qualified instructor. No feedback! Then how can a practitioner of the MA know if what their doing is correct/effective. No proper feedback can cause incorrect muscle memory difficult to correct, if at all.

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! CI Hiroshi Nemoto is a top notch karateka; without blemish, imho!! You'd do yourself a favor to at least check it out!! Good luck on your search, I hope you fine what you're looking for, karate-do wise!! Please let us know how you're doing!!

I'm asking because (naturally) I see differences in your performance and the way I've learned it myself or have seen it in other dojos, so I'd be interested in learning more about the bunkai that you use in your dojo. I have found that even within one and the same style and org there can be minor differences in the way a kata is done, and vast differences in the way the kata is interpreted and bunkai is practiced. Do you by chance have a video contaning your bunkai? Or of any other kata that you do? OSU! The Bunkai for Suparenpei I have absolutely no clue about. Considering it is considered the last kata in the style. I don't have a video of any bunkai that my school does. don't forget to take into account i am relatively new to performing this kata. so Timing was off I'm the worse to judge kata because I take no prisoners; get it wrong, and I'll let you know IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER, and advice how it can be fixed, and how it can be better. Others have given you their advice, and I'd like to say...solid advice!! You're was fine, and as you say...you're new to this kata. Time heals all things, and in time, you'll shake out the cobwebs and polish the mettle, in and out!! You'll be just fine!!

Solid post!! After all, most MAists, especially karate, kiai at the dojo, but how many here can say that they/they'll kiai on the streets?? It's drilled in us from day one, and one would think that muscle memory would make sure that you do kiai when on the street. Kiai provides much, but to kiai on the streets, other things are going on to worry if you did or didn't!!

Solid posts, as well, from CredoTe, cheesefrysamurai, Archimoto, mal103, Nidan Melbourne, and Harkon72!! From these, you should garner something useful.

Solid post!! As I'm a Senior Dan, I don't tolerate other Seniors addressing their students and reports as though their way is the only way, and therefore, demanding total submission to their ways because their a Senior Dan. All advise from a Senior Dan should be treated like any other advice...at the discretion of the practitioner!! Yes, they've been on the floor longer, and they may have some solid advice to pass onto those who desire it, but for advice to be taken, the practitioner has to decide if what's being offered is effective and beneficial to that practitioners MA betterment. Just because they've been on the floor for such along time doesn't mean that their advice won't creak, just like the floor in which they're standing on. Be careful! Be cautious! Be mindful! Be respectful! Be attentive! However, don't be fooled or bullied into adopting their methodology/ideology just because they're a Senior Dan.

Yoda...yes...great Jedi Master...like him...I do!!

"Man up" whenever things get rough/hard. But to do that, the balancing act commences...to take others, as well as yours, feelings in consideration. To be honest with all concerned can be easy or tricky, that's dependent on the individual. Not all kids have that luxury because parents tell them how to feel, and that's usually a reflection of what the parent feels...Was the parent wronged in their past? Did the parent ever have a positive mentor? The parables, as well as the variables, will not be the same. There have been some solid posts, many that can offer quite a wide parameter of help for the OP. Hopefully, mine is in concert with them and that what I offer is solid, as well. Hang in there!!