sensei8

It sounds like I'm going into politics the way you describe it. I don't mind saying I was pretty excited until reading this post. Something I should know about sitting on the board? From the way it has always been set up in the past 8 instructors are appointed/voted in every two years and the Kaiso (Soshi now that Sensei is retiring) and the Chairman of the board make 10 total. I am told it is very non-political and is structured towards the betterment of the association. I was also told that it takes a full unanimous vote of instructors to replace you before your two year term is up. I did not think about this as a cover myself type of situation but rather a chance to make a difference and participate in the betterment of the association for all of our schools, instructors and students. Sort of a meeting of the minds type of thing. Mix ideas and go back to the instructors and schools you represent and talk it over with them to get a common consensus and then put it to a vote. What do you know that I don't know? Should I reconcider my acceptance? I definitely do not want to get caught up into dirty politics and arguing with everyone over things that do not benifit the group as a whole, but I've been assured that everyone is in this for the common good of the whole association. I know from reading your posts you've been in the upper side of management so what can you tell me that I don't know? Well, I can, of course, only speak about what I've experienced within the Shindokan circle for well over 20 years as part of being in the hierarchy. Not every governing body has endured the drama that we've endured since Soke and Dai-Soke passed away. Hopefully, your experiences will be more tolerable than ours has been from time to time. Having said that... You're told "non- political"! There WILL be politics; hard to not have politics when fallible humans are involved because of the differences that make the individual whom they are. That's the intent, but something rears its ugly head from time to time to ruin all planned intentions. How yours is geared to the betterment of the entire student body, is commendable to say the least, and that's the one and only thing that we all see eye to eye. However, in trying to increase the betterment, sometimes the dumb shows that we can mess up the whole thing by wanting something way to much; it's a fine line to walk, but can be done, with integrity, when the student body is thought of first over the Hombu and the hierarchy!! How your board is set up is quite similar to how we use to be before San Dai-Soke kicked us all in both shins while smiling. That's why we've downsized certain key departments/boards, and they're backed up in our newly amended By-Laws, to what they are now. For example, our Board of Regents, which use to be called the Counsel of Regents, use to be 12, but now, it's 5, and all must possess nothing lower than Nanadan, when before, all had to be nothing lower than Godan. What I do know is this...cover yourself in ways that you think are going overboard, because, in my mind, you can't be to careful and trustful towards your fellow MAists and your fellow members of the hierarchy. Let your memory be MUCH better than theirs. Note down EVERYTHING, and include dates, times, etc. NO! The student body deserves your dedication and you being on their side in every single issue. Be involved right from the start, and in that, don't sit there waiting until you're called upon. Be professional, but, in the hierarchy, rank means nothing once the gavel sounds. Fight for the student body and for yourself; don't let those of the hierarchy that have been there longer bully you into silence and/or into voting a way that you don't agree with. Hopefully, your Hombu will use Roberts Rules of Order in your meetings because order has to be up front across the board. Study Roberts Rules of Order...memorize it because it will save the student body and yourself. Especially if the you know what hits the fan!! There will be no arguing if Roberts Rules of Order is taken serious, and it must be taken serious...otherwise, don't buy it or at least, throw it in the trash...then tell them that they've all lost their minds. Yeah, the buck stops with me! But, sometimes, not even I have the sole power to stop certain petitions, amendments, and the like. Read, if you have one, your By-Laws and memorize it as well...you'll be glad that you did! Listen intently and not naively for the good for the student body and yourself...PROTECT THE STUDENT BODY!! At the same time, protect the Hombu at all times; the brand can't defend itself unless members of integrity don't shallow themselves up. Having said everything that I just did, I've had more of the good than the bad, and the bad is to be expected from time to time. I know that the student body's betterment is improving and it is because we put them first, even above the Hombu/brand. Relax and enjoy the position that you've been selected, but, just don't drop your guard in the meantime!! I'm here whenever you need me!!

Please visit the school MORE THAN ONCE!! Watch how the interaction between students and instructor/CI/assistants, as well as the students themselves. And not just the adults, but the kid classes as well; varying ranks as well. For me, that's a snapshot that can't be found during an interview that one does when ones joining a school of the MA. After that, as DD said, "dive in" and let the training begin...train hard!!

Ditto!!

You don't make it about them, you say it is not working out for you! I've been an instructor for over 20 years now, and to say I've lost count of the number of students that have come and gone is an understatement. I used to take it personally - especially if I had gone out of my way to offer extra help to students, but after a while I realised that training in Martial Arts - particularly a traditional system - isn't for everyone. They might think it is at the start - but after a while, the gloss wears off and they realise that actually, it comes down to a lot of repetition and hard work. There also comes a time when students have to do more of the "mental weightlifting" for themselves - as they progress through their grades - and some folk dont like that. To each their own. K. Solid post!!

Wastelander and Archimoto, Glad that you're both back from your vacations and that you and yours all had fun...except for the flu!! My wife, at times, will put a muzzle on my vacation workouts because it's her/our time to recharge the batteries. I told her, "Honey, that's how I relax and recharge my batteries"...then...I get the look, you all know the look...then I resist with all of my fiber from working out. I can sneak on, but, it would be my head if she caught, especially after she's given that look!! Welcome back you two!!

Yes...Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Some good advice thus far. Where, in the US, do you live? Whichever school you of the MA you do choose, please visit said school as many times as you feel is necessary. The more you visit, and the more different classes you observe, as well as talking with others at the school, the more you'll be able to make your choice. Then, do a free trial lesson...A FULL CLASS not an abbreviated one either, as a suggestion. Look forward to hear how your search is going.

Me too! Possibly, if one passes all of their testing cycles, and don't have to re-test, then yes, I see how money is saved that way. But, that only works for schools that charge testing fees.

If you're watching these, then you're either a Bruce Lee fan and/or you want some sparring tips from Bruce. Either way, I don't think you'll go away without trying some of his tips. Not all of the clips concern sparring, just concentrate on the clips that are sparring appropriate... Some sparring combo's and the like that you might utilize yourself the next time you're sparring. The first lower feint, with Chuck, is my all time favorite!! Why? It's so Shindokan like!!

Only way, imho, to learn how to properly react during sparring so that you're not backing up so much is to stand your ground...Intercept your opponents attacks by learning how to transition to either side and deliver your counter FASTER/BEFORE your opponent can. Each time you find yourself backing up...stop...TRY IT AGAIN!! The more you don't back up, the more you won't; muscle memory! The only time one should backup, imho, is when it's part of your plan... Study your opponent Study yourself Make a plan CARRY IT OUT!! Backing up can suck your opponent into your trap; that's when it's advantageous for you to do so.

Absolutely!!

Congrats on being appointed to the board of instructors. You're about to enter the lions mouth by being part of the hierarchy. Be very careful, and log everything for your protection, and if the anyone wants conversations, make sure you email everything; time stamps are valuable on the "cover yourself" areas.

Solid post!!

I totally agree with you. I have trained at a dojo for a couple of weeks and they happened to have a time of all students and instructors wore pink. Due to them trying to raise as much as possible for breast cancer awareness If I remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many events with the purpose of raising money and raising awareness through October.

Your Kobudo journey will be met with mixed feelings; both good and bad. However, your journey, if one's honest with themselves, will be more rewarding. And like with any MA journey, one will be challenged at every turn in ones training, but it's those challenges that will mold and shape their betterment. Kobudo isn't like karate-do, and it's not suppose to be. Enjoy it, train hard, and embrace each weapon as an extension of your body!! Respect each weapon every time said weapon is wielded by the Kobudo practitioner.

I do understand the context as to why!! EGO kills the MA spirit!! The color of the belt, imho, shouldn't mean anything tangible to the MAist. You train to learn an effective means to defend yourself with, and if rank becomes the motivator, well, your journey is at risk of ending before it even started. I've seen the Pink belt before, but its context was to fight against breast cancer. Either way, I'd wear the pink with pride!!

Yes, it maybe the Sensei's job to tell you when you're ready for the next testing cycle, however, it's your journey, and not your Sensei's. If you feel that you're not ready, respectfully refuse to test UNTIL YOU FEEL that you're ready. Any instructor complete in their totality will not have a problem with your refusal to not test as suggested. I've never been forced nor have I ever forced one of my students to test if they felt that they weren't quite ready. Yes, students will refuse until they feel that they're ready, and when they're feel that they're ready, and end up failing for one reason or another. Calling out corrections is the job of the Sensei/CI, however, there's an appropriate way of dong that without demoralizing a student. One of the things that need to be consistent in calling out corrections is to not attack the student personally, instead of addressing the corrections that need to be done and how...in a professional manner! Choice which one increases your MA betterment!! Hang in there, you'll be fine!!

If I had a camera...but I don't...I guess I'll just enjoy everyone else's video's. Keep them coming in, please!!

While I'm not a BJJ practitioner through the formal training, I found your article spot on solid across the board. Covered quite a lot of information that sends a written video of what one might be wondering when and before they step onto the mat...EXCELLENT ARTICLE!! I thank you for it!!

Loved that...thanks...I needed that!!

I've very little tolerance for things like this. I'd show him the door immediately and tell him that he's no longer wanted here again, now and forever!! Disrespect me, so easily, now! What's to say that he won't do it again? Just who does he think that he is? He's assuming a position that he doesn't possess!! Fool me once, same on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!! Nope, he'd be gone faster that he could say..."But..."

I'm not a TSD practitioner, however, welcome to KF; glad that you're here!!

I believe that #2, Brian, is dead-on. That's how most karateka's learn to "walk" the stance, or it's what I learnt and what I teach.

I must FIRST learn what goes where and when and how and why and so on and so forth; solo training, the core of the kata because that's how it's presented to most students...the 'A' before the 'B' or the '1' before the '2'. Then, the supplemental training begins when I've a partner to execute live training so I can NOW see the where and when and how and why and so on and so forth. Learn the steps first! Then, supplement that knowledge with someone who can throw the monkey wrench into the entire kata.

actually Surprisingly enough you can do shiko dachi to help prevent being tackled in a fight. Which is common in some situations As it is a stable stance, and if you scoot back when you are low then you can avoid the tackle but also send them to the ground. It CAN be assumed as a possible interpretation of Shiko-dachi's application, and it's effectiveness, MIGHT be at question...maybe!

I'm not sure I agree with this. At least I think that partner work and Kata study should be one and the same. Even the bookish Funakoshi said that karate must not be a wholly intellectual pursuit. We can learn fighting without kata, but we cannot learn kata without fighting. I agree with sensei8's statement. Why? Its not about intellectual pursuits. Its that the truth of karate is hidden in the kata. Its the playbook, the map, and through training and working it over and over, its secrets unravel. You don't have to know kata or karate for that matter to know how to fight, but you cannot know karate without its kata. As sensei8 said in that quote knowing kata doesnt mean you know how to fight, thats what partner training is for. Goju ryu without its kata isn't goju ryu. As in Shindokan Saitou-ryu, its in its blood, its the the very essence. I still believe that the supplemental element of kata is important. I learn the kata, but now I want to see the kata come alive. To do that, I need a partner!! Studying the kata is the Bunkai/Oyo; therefore, without a partner to bring me that supplemental aspect alive, then I'm just learning how to swim on dry land. Imho, one needs kihon, THEN kata, THEN kumite...over and over and over and over..........until the end of time!! Live training, as the supplemental, imho, is key in ones MA journey. A two-legged chair sure doesn't stand quite well at all!!