sensei8

Being honest with myself, I've only one regret...the passing of Dai-Soke! Other than that, I've no regrets!! Sure, I've failed, but I've also succeeded, these things make us the MAists that we are.

The family that trains together stays together, or says the saying. Many times we'll see a mom and a son/daughter training together, and we'll also see a dad and a daughter/son training together. My questions for discussion are... At the dojo/dojang/school that you train at right now, are any ENTIRE IMMEDIATE FAMILIES training together? If so, what ranks are they currently at? Have any entire immediate families reached the Dan level? After they've all reached the Dan levels, did they remain or did they leave? Let our discussion begin!

First of all, Welcome to KF!! You've purchased some very nice books! If you can find a reasonable priced copy of Hidetaka Nishiyama's "Karate, The Empty Hand Art"; it's, imho, one of the greatest Shotokan gems that's a must for ones bookshelf. Clubs might, and I want to emphasize might, use different terminologies. Depends on which governing body ones affiliated with. The combos that you're referring to are part of the Jiyu Ippon Sets. Jiyu Dachi is Ready Stance. Chudan is Middle/Center. Jodan is High/Upper. Mae Geri is Front Kick. Therefore, from a Ready Stance, step forward and and Front Kick to the Middle/Center and with same leg, immediately Front Kick High/Upper, return to Ready Stance. From Ready Stance, Front Kick to the Middle/Center then step forward again Front Kick Hight/Upper (Two different legs). Mae Ren Geri is Double Front Kick. So that would fit either way, but not always the same because not all dojo's share the same terminologies.

I would disagree. Great place to be a criminal however. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8771809/Father-arrested-for-murder-over-knifing-suspected-burglar.html "Police said that during the break-in Mr Cooke was threatened and that one of the intruders - named locally as Raymond Jacob - was knifed." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2223125/90-year-old-shot-face-burglary-SUED-burglar-World-War-Two-veteran-fired-back.html A 90-year-old body-building, World War Two veteran who was shot in the face during a home invasion is being sued by the alleged burglar for firing back. Former Greenbrae deputy sheriff Jay Leone is accused of 'negligently shooting' 31-year-old Samuel Cutrufelli three times and causing him 'great bodily injury' as the older man defended his own home. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1075809/No-barbed-wire--hurt-thieves-allotment-holders-told.html A gardener who fenced off his allotment with barbed wire after being targeted by thieves has been ordered to take it down – in case intruders scratch themselves. Bill Malcolm erected the 3ft fence after thieves struck three times in just four months, stealing tools worth around £300 from his shed and ransacking his vegetable patch. Laws protect both the victim as well as the criminal!! The laws for everyone, therefore, no one's above the law. Still, one must do what one must do to protect their loved ones, friends, property, and themselves. Property is replaceable, but ones life isn't! A very thin line, imho!!

Solid post!!

My post wasn't directed directly to you, it was just a general statement directed towards no one particularly. Your post was solid, and I just wanted to generally speak towards the word "hidden" because a lot of MAists STILL think, and are taught, that kata contains "hidden" applications, and that these supposed applications are secret. An awe and struck mindset can be a bad thing for any MAist.

Sold post, and wholeheartedly concur!!

Yes, solid dachi!!

I couldn't access the links in the posting area, however, I was able to get connected to the link in your signature area. You've a very nice website, blog included, and I'd like to say...your tuition price of $100 per month is quite reasonable! I like that EVERYTHING is FREE. No testing fees, no private lesson fees, and on and on; impressive.

The term "Hidden", as we teach Kata, doesn't, and shouldn't, mean that said techniques are for the higher Dan ranks, as I've heard forever and a day. As we teach Kata, the "hidden" terminology speaks about the effective applications through discovering them during Bunkai/Oyo. "Hidden" because ones not discovered said effective applications YET!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!

See, that's my crutch, I don't pick things properly all of the time, as you've suggested. Any home remedy to attack this darn running nose?!? Thanks, Brian!!

That's no good! Get well soon!Thank you, Zaine!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

That scary feeling will not go away anytime soon, no matter the rank. The higher in rank you're testing for, the more your scary feeling will remain. Still, that scary feeling reminds you that you're alive!! Take deep breathes, and take them often. Be calm...well...as calm as possible.

I told this story here at KF back in 2009... http://www.karateforums.com/slate-is-for-the-roof-only-vt36201.html?highlight=slate I'll never forget this for as long as I live.

Kata can be an educational element as well as discouraging. Kata is a way to gain skills for drilling, and that includes Bunkai/Oyo. As you've stated...the form is never the end nor the goal", and that's how, imho, it should be viewed because kata isn't the only effective way to train. As I matured in the MA as well as in my betterment, I knew that there's no such thing as a "hidden technique(s) in any Kata. Any that's because Bunkai is set within the curriculum/syllabus, while Oyo is self-discovery, and that discovery never ends. Oyo opens the "Aha" factor! It's possible that whomever's shown you Bunkai/Oyo has tainted what many proponents of Kata love; the discovery of effective applied knowledge as the so called onion is peeled away one layer at a time, and in that the layers allowed introspection. I'd love to show you how we approach Bunkai/Oyo, I believe that you'd come away quite pleased across the board. Kata isn't just intrinsic; it's far beyond it being just a thing. No more than any other training modality! Kata without application is meaningless!! I've no ambiguity, and neither does Kata, if it's approached in a sensible and effective manner. I've no inclination to say "I told you so", it would serve no valuable purpose, and the respect that I have for you wouldn't permit me to do so! I echo SteverAUG wholeheartedly...Congratulations on discovering a new component to your practice of the MA.

Congrats, and very well deserved!!

At the intended target without my intent being discovered.

Looks cool. However, I'd get hooked on it and find myself forgetting important duties. I'm weak!

The up and coming testing cycle is nearing and nobody's heard anything from your Sensei/Instructor as of yet. No one doesn't even know if they've been invited to said testing cycle. Whenever anyone asks your Sensei/Instructor about it, any answer received is vague, at best. Finally, the governing body, and not your Sensei/Instructor, invites all approved candidates to the up and coming testing cycle. Then, a week before said testing cycle, everyone that's testing is informed that your Head of the style will be heading the testing cycle instead. As a matter of fact, your Sensei/Instructor won't be allowed to sit at the table. Of course, your Sensei/Instructor has been in private conferences with said governing body for many, many months concerning said testing cycle. Both parties agreed to suspend any invitations to said up and coming testing cycle until the very last moment for whatever reason(s), which are unknown to anyone outside of your Sensei/Instructor and the governing body. Testing cycle has been so secret, that the material isn't released at all leading up to said testing cycle. Some start second guessing themselves about everything leading up to this testing cycle. Some refuse to test for the fear that they're not even close to be as ready as they thought before. Nothing has been provided in advance to said testing cycle, so some have refused to test. Some would consider this to be an honor, to be testing in front of the Head of your style. Others wouldn't; it's unfair. How do YOU handle the testing cycle when YOU'RE testing in front of the Head of your style, and not in front of YOUR Sensei/Instructor?

Depends how much stock you put in them. I have seen 7th and 8th dans in their early 20s that I'm not certain I would give shodan grades to. I also know guys in their 50s and 60s that know more than 95% of the other martial artists I know and they are often wearing only a 5th dan grade. Absolutely!! All ranks should respect said given context; nothing less and nothing more.

Solid post!! To the first bold type above... My OP was a general overview and not style specific at all. Can't have a cookie cut that will fit any style outside of ones own and/or governing body. To the second bold type above... Very true. By Godan, that's about it. However, the style I practice must be the rare occasion that you speak about because there are "advanced" techniques for Nanadan and Hachidan. To the third bold type above... In the style I practice ALL ranks up to Hachidan ARE not politically awarded; must test for them all. Isn't the world of MA ranks...well...strange?!

To the bold type above... Absolutely!! Not all BB can teach, nor should they be.

To the bold type above... I concur wholeheartedly. My OP is more of speaking about one's basic teaching requirements AFTER said promotion has been earned.