sensei8

First of all, welcome to KF!! Glad you're here!! I don't care one way or another if karate is ever selected for the Olympics because the IOC will do whatever they want to, and I doubt that the IOC will ask for opinions. I believe that TKD was chosen by the IOC years ago because of it's continuous sparring element, which is similar to boxing, which, of course, is continuous. IOC can wrap their heads around TKD's mindset. Karate, for the most part, isn't continuous, as we know, the action is halted after each suspected point. For some, that's hard to understand, and, boring as watching paint dry. The similarity that Brain brought up is an important element; why add something similar when it adds no value to the games. Brian's idea about hosting the summer games in Japan, and this time, have it as a demonstration sport, so that sport karate can be explained to the layperson. Then, and it's a big then, maybe the IOC will be steered to allow it as a regular part of the games. MAYBE!! TKD has nothing to worry about being replaced by karate, should it be allowed, because the two, TKD and Karate, are two different words. In that, they both will attract their fans base freely and unabridged.

Happy birthday Devin...and many more!!

In addition, I'm a firm believer that any kobudo grade MUSTN'T be in relationship to any karate-do grade; they're separate!! For example, my Kobudo grading was always lower than any karate-do grade, however, eventually, my kobudo grading finally caught up to my karate-do grade. In that, I held Hachidan in karate-do well before I finally earned my kobudo Hachidan. Why? Two things, one, I'm a slow learner! I've failed more than my share of testing cycles. Two, I didn't begin learning kobudo until I was 6th kyu, even then, that slow learning curve I possess, well, it's slower, for me, in the kobudo stage.

Same with us, must be Sandan to grade to Shodan.

First of all, welcome to KF!! I suppose it's what you're wanting from a style of the MA. Sankukai, from what I've seen, has solid hand techniques, and what I truly like about it is that they highly encourage pair training, and not from mid-level karateka's, but right from day one. Solid are, imho. Of course you'd expect me to say that about it, because I'm a karateka, and not a Tang Soo Do practitioner. Tang Soo Do, like most, if not all Korean arts emphasize kicking over punching, IMHO!! That's how I view the majority of Korean based styles of the MA. One of the things I don't like about Tang Soo Do, and this isn't in every dojang, is that the beginners use "blockers", similar to what Century MA Supply sells, while they're sparring. I understand the safety factor and all, but to cripple a beginner right off the bat, is detrimental to said students MA betterment. Because of the distance involved for you to visit said schools, I suggest that you go with your gut. Both, Tang Soo Do and Sankukai are solid MA. It's the preference of the individual. Good luck with your search, and please, let us know how things turn out.

Why did they make her leave, is there some kind of law preventing practice in public? As long as nobody is getting hurt, then to me there was no harm in what she was doing. Although, I would probably not practice in public. Where I live you're more likely to get hassle from the general public (mostly young neds) seeing what you were doing and try to have a go, all for the entertainment of their friends. M. In her case, the two officers advised her that the park she was practicing had a heavy gang activity, and when the officers advised her, she shrugged them off. So, the two officers, for her safety, instructed her to leave immediately because they couldn't guarantee her safety while she was practicing. One of the officers said that she was in full gi, and that that would just not work should a gang member(s) were to see her. She told me she didn't have anywhere else to practice that day. I told her...FIND A PLACE, any place other than that park, and please don't wear your gi because it invites the wrong elements.

Very nice!!

Solid post, as well!!

Solid post!!

One of my students not too long ago was practicing in the local park and the local police were patrolling the park, stopped, and questioned her as to what she was doing, then they made her leave the park immediately. She's not my first student to run across this both in Oklahoma and California.

How private are you with your MA? I don't parade my MA in public! Except for an occasional demo or two a year. Other than that, I don't practice outside!! I feel it's inappropriate to do so, but that's just me.

I'm so sorry! My condolences for her family and friends. A tragic story, indeed! Thank you for sharing her here!!

What I speak about now, has been born in me for such a long time. So long now, that I forget about the modern world that we all live in. My ways, are my ways, but there's a lot of Soke and Dai-Soke inside of me, and this includes how I run a testing cycle. Barbaric, at times, but effective! Barbaric? How so? Well, everything is covered during any testing cycle no matter the rank, and I mean everything. Every stance, punch, block, strike, kick, posture, every nook and granny, EVERYTHING, no exceptions. I sit at the center of any given table. With some exceptions. If I'm visiting a Shindokan dojo, I'll sit just to right of the center position; yielding the center to the hosting CI. At the Hombu's annual testing cycle; Greg and I share the center by taking turns during the two week cycle. Greg's our Kancho [Vice-President] as well as the Hombu's CI, I'm the Kaicho [President]. Our table accompaniment usually consists of no less than 3, but I usually will sit 5 at the table plus myself; at my dojo, those at the table must be no lower than Sandan, at minimum. The more eyes, the more is seen. Only I can halt any testing cycle before it's completed; rare, but its happened before. Anyone testing for Godan and above must test at the Hombu, no exceptions!! Testing for Godan requires 5, at minimum, at the testing table, plus Greg and/or myself. Rokudan and Nanadan, 7, at minimum, at the testing table, plus Greg and/or myself. Both at the Hombu, as well as my own dojo, we've a sprinkle of Dan level's walking around, known as "seconds". They're job is to aide anyone on the floor with any technique and/or application requiring demonstrations or whatever else is required. Neither the Hombu or my own dojo run groups! It's one testing candidate at a time, no matter how long it takes. Time isn't an essence!! Anyone and everyone's welcomed, once their request of testing has been approved, to test at the Hombu's annual testing cycle in June/July. Rank testing up to Godan are broken-down up into as many "rings"/area's as necessary in order to cover the large amount of testing candidates; we average over 250 for the entirety of the cycle annually. However, Godan and above, are tested in one "ring"/area, and either Greg or myself must be at the center table. "Seconds" are available no matter the ranks testing; we accomplish that because we've a ton of BB in the pool to pull from. My favorite is the Tuite portions; always interesting in the Oyo rounds because I never know what I'm going to see. My least? Well, I don't really have a least. I suppose, if I'm nailed down for an answer, it might be, well, whenever I have to fail someone, at it happens at every testing cycle. That's the brutality and reality of any testing cycle!!

Politically correct schools of the MA rob the reality of training, imho. "Please the customer", "the customer is always right", so on and so forth...hogwash. Yes, to a point that might be true, and those business maxims must be obeyed, but there's a time when the CI has to teach effectively away from all of the politically correct numbing for commercial sakes for the students sakes. Imho!!

I've a mini-dojo at home! Anything I have at my dojo, I've the same at home, but it's sized down to fit said available space. I'm not allowed to train in the house; wife said so!! Some master I am!!

I see you're from New Jersey. I am a law enforcement officer in Passaic County and I as of yet have not heard of martial arts training or rank being brought up in court, not at least in this state. What you do see come up is a law enforcement officer's training especially when it comes to cases where the use of force is the focus of the case. Solid post!!

A lot of gray and fine lines to be concerned with, and who's the final say as to what line is what? The court, and the court alone!!

Do you like the SKIF mindset as you've described above? A personal preference, I suppose. Or would you prefer more sport?

Most, if not all, Okinawa karate styles do not block, however, they deflect said attack. In that, if you're to watch said scooping "block" unfold from its beginning to its conclusion, one can see that said arm movement is indeed scooping, thus deflecting said attack. To block means, to me, to stop, arrest, end said technique; as if one was to hit a wall, no more forward motion. To deflect means, to me, to change the intended path, to redirect, to guide, to manipulate said technique; as if one is leading the unwilling path where I want it to travel; away from me.

The summation of "why" is to the summation of "because"!! To me, this dictates the reason(s) as to why some styles are more preferred than others; personal opinions!! Taste it; that's how one see's if it's good or not.

My most favorite drill for kata, I call it the "Yame" drill. Each time that a mistake is made while performing said kata, I call out, YAME (Stop), no matter how small or how big the infraction is. Once Yame is call out, the student(s) have to start said kata all over again. The drill continues until ALL students can finish said kata without me calling out Yame. One makes a mistake, then ALL have to start said kata all over again, and again, and again, so on and so forth!! Purpose, in my mind, is to be that exacting with every single movement, no matter the importance ratio for said infraction(s), because for said technique(s) to be effective, the entire movement(s) must be as perfect as possible to be effective. Sure, a sloppy technique(s) might be effective! However, I'm trying to eliminate the words "might be" from the technique(s) totality. Even high ranking Dan karateka's are not able to finish the Yame drill per said kata because I'm just that exacting in my strict opinions/critique of how said kata should be executed in its most optimums to be as effective as possible. Will students grow a disdain for said kata over time because of the strictness of my gazing eye? I've not experienced that as of yet; they strive for perfection in their technique(s), even though they share my sentiment about the "Perfect technique(s)"; there's no such thing, imho.

Very nice, and I thank you for sharing them. I too, enjoyed what Thompson was speaking about in the time stamp that you've referred to; it's part of combat, as well, and effective, imho!!

I agree with you. There is NO strongest style but you can tailor any style for your good For example, just as there are soft and hard styles of said MA's, there's also a strongest style as well. Whatever label is attached to said style of the MA, it's the perceptive mindset that makes said style of the MA what it is to "THAT" practitioner. Just as there's a Yin and Yang, there are opposite forces within the MA that dictate said style of the MA per said the proponent of its methodology. Imho!!

The link you refer to appears to be fine, as far as the order is concerned; nothing "new", imho!! Having said that, different factions of the JKA that have split away from the JKA have made subtle and large changes according to their desires. Imho, that's normal and that's evolution of said kata. Remember, kata belongs to the individual, and not to the masses, imho!!

Imho, every grading is a major grading!! Good luck, and let us know how it goes. You'll be fine!!