sensei8

I've been training in Hojo Undo my entire MA life, it's a staple of Shindokan. Can't imagine my MA life without it.

Excellent!!

Solid post!!

To the bold type above... I agree, however, imho, I believe that it takes a lifetime to fine tune it. Otherwise, why am I still doing it as long as I've been doing it?!? I want to get better than I was yesterday.

It is essentially the same for us in Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu). Pretty much any part of the body that's a target from the stomach downwards are our prime targets for kicks. When we do practice high kicks, it's more for development of balance and body control than for practical use. ^^^This!^^^ This doesn't surprise me because the three of us are related through the styles that we're training in. edit: spelling [ I can't even spell 'me', I spelled it 'be'...dork]

Solid post!! I believe it bears repeating...Imho, it's NOT the style, but the practitioner that lacks effectiveness!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!! I bow to your MA achievements, and for earning your Shodan.

I've my share of phobia's. Spiders would be one!! If I was a spider expert, I probably wouldn't run for the hills, but seeing that I'm not a spider expert, I'll just run to the hills, with no shame and I'd be proud of myself. Besides, the run would do me good. Yes, the spider would still be in the house, but that's for someone else to deal with. "Big karate guy afraid of little spider...boo hoo" YES, there was no spider school or whatever in the dojo I grew up in. Bad Dai-Soke for not teaching me to conquer any spider at will. Eeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!

Century MA Supply!!

Yepper...the floor is always ready to judge whether one's ready for it or not!!

Absolutely... That's a great idea; I may have to borrow it... LOVE IT!!

In short, nothing directly. There will always be those who abuse their positions of authority, and cut corners for the sake of their egos (to obtain more authority). As for the governing body caring two bits, probably not because the Sandan is someone else to help spread the administration/overhead work around to. The only case I see the governing body caring is whether their reputation will be damaged by having said Sandan or Godan do what they're doing, and only if irrefutable proof can be shown. How much sacrifice are you willing to go through to obtain said proof? And, in the end, is it worth it? The way we handle these situations is to ignore those folks, and let the art prove itself. No arguing with them, no reasoning with them, just letting the art prove itself through the training/teaching. Those students that are more interested in trophies, belts, and egos will tend to go the way of the folks you mentioned above. However, those students that are in it for the training, learning, and the art, will eventually see through those guys and seek better training/learning. Solid post!!

I've seen said video; solid!! I smiled watching it because I felt for them; I've been there, many, many times myself. And yes, that's what I'm/Hombu is expecting from all ranks, and even more so in the upper Dan ranks. I've failed my share over the years; Dai-Soke was a taskmaster with no ambiguity whatsoever!! Some of my fails happened to me before the exam wasn't even close to being half way completed!! "YAME...SIT DOWN!!" Not a good feeling. My thought is as long as expectations of what "it" is, then the goal can be achieved. If it's left as a nebulous thing than no one can. While it wasn't defined in the film, the hachidan candidates seemed to know what it was they were trying to accomplish. I was under a master once who was always vague as a way of showing his dominance & control over students. I don't mind the bar being set high. In fact, I welcome it. But unless one can see the bar, it's a sad game & a power trip. I applaud & encourage your continued striving toward the mark, sir. Very solid post!! To the bold type above... I wholeheartedly agree!! That's not our Hombu and it's not me either!! The bar is the welcomed challenge. Thank you for your kind words. The mark will never be reached because I'm fallible by nature, but it's great to strive for it daily.

You're more than welcome!!

Glad that you returned to the MA. 7 years away can be considered a life time, but it's not really. However, you made the conscious decision to return, and that's what's important, imho. It's now for the old adages that says..."Get back on the horse", and, "Better late than never", and you've done just that. Feels good, huh?!

Our kicks are geared for no higher than the stomach, with the majority of the target being the inside/outside of the opponents legs. Having said that, we concentrate on using our shins above all others. We will use the instep for set-ups, jams, and for checks. We use the ball, as DWx has stated, for reach and/or to get under/around [however, the use of the ball for our Tuite usages is very rarely used] In tournaments, well, that's a different world. I've used them all according to the content of what my opponent is offering me, and what the rules of said tournament are. Allow face contact, I'll instep your face to death. You blitz me, I'll tap your face with my ball as I've sidestepped out and in towards you. Want to stay close with me, I'll shin your legs to a bruised pulp in order to set up the roundhouse; kick your opponent enough in the legs with purpose, opponents tend to retreat, in a haste and it's that retreat that opens a lot of possibilities. 1 year of TKD while I was a JBB in Shindokan, really opened my eyes to the wonderful world of kicking above the stomach. Over the years after that 1 year of TKD, I've become quite proficient in high kicks. Trained with some of the most fantastic TKD practitioners in the San Fernando Valley over the many years sure did help a lot. Mixing Shindokan with TKD kicking; made me a tournament champion over and over. The shin, ball, and instep ideology is a desire of preference; it's the bread and butter. I'd say that my kicking has become quite eclectic. Which is funny because Shindokan IS 85% hands, and 15% feet.

I've seen said video; solid!! I smiled watching it because I felt for them; I've been there, many, many times myself. And yes, that's what I'm/Hombu is expecting from all ranks, and even more so in the upper Dan ranks. I've failed my share over the years; Dai-Soke was a taskmaster with no ambiguity whatsoever!! Some of my fails happened to me before the exam wasn't even close to being half way completed!! "YAME...SIT DOWN!!" Not a good feeling.

If contact to the face is not allowed, said technique MUST stop just mere inches from contact. In that, said judges can determine that the technique would've been effective enough to warrant said point(s). However, if said technique isn't even close, no points will be awarded, of course.

Imho, it's NOT the style, but the practitioner that lacks effectiveness!!

I don't know, Bob. I'll take 11-5 next year, for sure. There are some tough games in there, especially with playing Denver twice (Super Bowl team), Seatle (Super Bowl champ), San Franscisco (NFC Champ appearance), and New England (AFC Champ appearance). Then there is San Diego twice, who was much improved and made the playoffs, as well. I'm ready for a challenging season. I did say "hands free", didn't I? Man I'm a dope!! I meant to say hands FULL!! Your Chiefs WILL have their hands full all year; not a schedule I'd want for the Cowboys. My 'Boys will choke in the end, as usual, history speaks that. GO COWBOYS!! Psshhh.... I'm still waiting for my Brownies to actually wake up, get outa bed, and put a uniform on...

First of all, Welcome to KF; glad you're here!! Your Taikyoku Series was excellent!! Solid!! You're an inspiration on the floor for all; an example of true karate-do!!

I certainly expect said higher ranks to show a much more marked improvement than their previous higher ranks. Otherwise, the polish is dulled, and pitted, therefore, unacceptable. I've enjoyed thus far everyone's post; solid!! Thank you, all!! As it's been spoken about here, at the higher ranks, there's nothing truly new to learn in the three K's; just a regurgitating that's more refined. Paths are shortened during Tuite, for example. What took me at Nanadan to execute, which was much cleaner than Rokudan, was much more direct and crisper and sharper. Albeit, at Hachidan, the path was even more refined and shorter to the target, than what it was at Nanadan. What will Kudan be like for me in this regard? Hard to tell because I've just earned Kudan last year, and Dai-Soke's been gone for 4 years, this year, and when he passed away, the bottom fell out of what might've been in my learning and training. Having to depend on fellow high ranks within the Shindokan circle can only take me so far without Dai-Soke's guidance. We as a group can only go so far without him on the floor; the rest might just be a guess, at the best.

I don't know, Bob. I'll take 11-5 next year, for sure. There are some tough games in there, especially with playing Denver twice (Super Bowl team), Seatle (Super Bowl champ), San Franscisco (NFC Champ appearance), and New England (AFC Champ appearance). Then there is San Diego twice, who was much improved and made the playoffs, as well. I'm ready for a challenging season. I did say "hands free", didn't I? Man I'm a dope!! I meant to say hands FULL!! Your Chiefs WILL have their hands full all year; not a schedule I'd want for the Cowboys. My 'Boys will choke in the end, as usual, history speaks that. GO COWBOYS!!

After you remind them, what's their usual response, both facial and otherwise?

A bunch of those guys were actually wearing their gi earlier in the day, but there was a no-gi division at the end of the event, so they took them off. I wasn't feeling up to going any more rounds, so I just hung out in my gi. Thanks! That's cool. You don't owe me an explanation. I was just being silly!!