sensei8

YES!!

Uniforms tend to excite said wearer. Not a thing wrong, imho, with how you're feeling. After all, a gi is the expected wear when one's on the floor. A gi completes the outward picture. Gi's are just...well...cool!! I'm excited with you!!

I suppose that the Ikkyus didn't have a problem with it, providing they're complete in their MA totality, and beside, it was honorary and not literal. Nothing wrong with flowers, but a dojo passing out flowers doesn't leave the same impact as an honorary BB does. It was that dojo's way of showing their appreciation for all her services over the past 15 years. Honorary BB's are earned off the floor! Legitimate rank is earned on the floor! Both can cause a lot of appreciation, but both can also go to ones head. Treat either of them in the content that they were awarded.

Interesting.

Oh yeah!! Hardest grading that I ever had. I failed it twice. Godan is a pinnacle test for a karateka. How so? It's the Master level. Therefore, that grading puts one through the paces even more so than any other preceding ranks. When I did pass finally, I barely passed. I was exhausted; I went through a lot of emotional changes when I failed it the first time, as well as when I finally passed it the second time around. It drained me!! Were the ranks after Godan hard? Yes, but not as grueling as Godan for some reason. However, Greg, our Kancho, said that his Nanadan testing cycle nearly killed him emotionally as well as mentally: Greg passed it the first time out!!

Company OR Organization? Like, for example, has a public/private school ever received one? Has a Fire Company ever received one? So on and so forth. Not awarded one, but received one.

I'll try the bridge tonight with my nighttime stretching. Thanks for the suggestions!!

I'm wondering if any company or organization has ever received an honorary BB, not an individual. I'm aware of individuals receiving an honorary BB.

Individuals get honorary BB and the like from time to time. Have you ever known an organization/company to receive an honorary BB? Just asking??

Glad to hear it!!

Well taking Korean Karate as an example, early Taekwondo instructors called their styles that for a couple of reasons. First of all many of these instructors did indeed learn Karate whilst in Japan and then brought it home with them. Very early TKD schools were actually just Karate. Over time they started to tweak it to make it more Korean and less Japanese so it started to change but the root and foundation was still there. Eventually it needed a new (and Korean) name so Taekwondo/Tang Soo Do etc were chosen. Over the style's evolution I think you'd struggle to pinpoint a definitive moment when the techniques stopped being Karate and became something else Also, when a lot of instructors like Jhoon Rhee went out to America, the Taekwondo name hadn't yet taken hold. What do you then tell students they are practicing? It's not Karate as in Japanese or Okinawan Karate but it's something a little bit different. It's Korean so they called it Korean Karate for simplicity. That's true, but for the sake of discussions, it might not be.

Then ask you doctor for a muscle relaxant & stronger pain killer ! Pass on the relaxant because it makes me constipated, oh how embarrassing to even type. I'll be trading one evil for another. Still, I do thank you.

Thank you.

Is rank truly forever? If not the instructor, can the governing body take rank away, therefore, demoting said student of said rank, if only for a short time or for longer or forever? If a student, no matter the rank, isn't producing quality and effective improvements, therefore, regressing, thus stale, in their technique(s). Should said student remain said rank? YES!! The student should remain said rank because RANK IS FOREVER!! A student's abilities may not be up to par per said instructor(s) and/or governing body, but there's usually a credible reason(s) for the difficulties for said student. Age. Physical disability. Mental disability. Personal issues. A plethora of possibilities that might cause temporary or permanent set-backs. No matter the reason, rank is forever. Ban them. Suspend them. Brand them. Whatever. Rank remains. Why? They earned it at said given time by some sensei(s) and/or governing body in the past. Said Sensei(s) and/or governing bodies put their stamp(s) and/or signatures on said rank certificate and recorded said award as being valid at that given time. Rank is forever!! Tangible things are just things. Experience and knowledge, well, those aren't up for being taking away or lessened by nobody no matter who they may think that they are. Quit for awhile, then return years later?! Well, their previously awarded rank is still valid, but said sensei(s) and/or governing bodies might recommend that said student wear a lesser rank belt, for the moment, until they've returned to said noted rank again. It's a probationary rank, and that's not even close to taking someone's rank away. We stripped San Dai-Soke's authority, but not his Judan. He's still recognized as a Judan as it was awarded to him accordingly as well as appropriately. Rank is forever! "Look how slow he/she is now. Feeble and unpolished. So old, and not deserving of said rank." Really? How will YOU be when you're as old or older? Rank is forever! Your thoughts?

Only Okinawa and Japanese systems are Karate?!? If you're studying a Korean system, is that Karate? The term 'Karate' is used often in schools of the MA as liberal as air is breathed in to sustain life. This term 'Karate' is treated as though it's a universal terminology, thereby, MA styles outside of Okinawa/Japanese origin freely brand their MA school as 'Karate'. Personally, the usage of 'Karate' by other systems doesn't bother me because most layperson's relate the word 'Karate' as MA. It's a branding methodology that attracts said new prospective students through the waiting doors of their MA school. Kung-fu, TKD, TSD, Hapkido, and so on and so forth will, at times, utilize the word 'Karate' in every advertisement and marketing tool, when in reality, they're not 'Karate' at all, and they're not an Japanese or Okinawa based system. Is the usage of the word 'Karate' in their marketing/advertisements, False Advertisement? Your thoughts, please.

Thanks all!! I thought I was slowly progressing, but last night, no matter what I did, I couldn't get out of bed without sharp shooting pain to my lower back. Went to sleep on the floor, and that wasn't any better. I'm getting to the end of my rope!! I dread having to go to bed, no matter where that may be. I've had this happen to me before, but it went away on its own in less than 2 weeks. But... Going on 3 weeks is chronic and unbearable! Heat/Ice STILL?? Isn't my injury beyond all of the heat/ice? Oh well, I'll boo hoo no more!!

I'm not wanting the chiropractic approach because, imho, I believe that that type of treatment is short-term. I'm looking at physical therapy because its treatment targets long-term results. I do like what you've suggested and I will look into it. Right now, I'm almost willing to try anything....almost!! Thank you for your advice!! It is indeed short term as they don't give you anything that you can't do yourself for long term treatment (except for going back to seeing them, and spending more $$$) The types of people you should see do focus on long term treatment and you can do the exercises on a regular basis. One of my current exercises that i do (that was given to me from my physio) not only helps my back and legs but helps relax my psoas major (a muscle in the anterior portion of the leg, that also attaches to the lumbar spine) which because it becomes tight (and sore) with martial artists. I like what you're saying here. I stretched today for 15 minutes this morning, and it went fine. Meaning that I was able to get down, and move around, and then get up with nominal pain. Still, I don't think I'm quite ready to resume my teaching schedule full time as of yet. Thank you so very much!!

I'm not wanting the chiropractic approach because, imho, I believe that that type of treatment is short-term. I'm looking at physical therapy because its treatment targets long-term results. I do like what you've suggested and I will look into it. Right now, I'm almost willing to try anything....almost!! Thank you for your advice!!

Wait until your Godan! You'll wish you were a Shodan, again!! I did, wish, that is.

I completely agree with you ninjanurse! When i teach i will vary how i teach with whomever i have. The quality of techniques i find is way more important than the quantity. because when it comes to the crunch time when a person has to use it they would rather be able to use an effective technique over lots of terrible ones. Imho, that's the mark of a great instructor!! Thanks Sensei8. I won't pass any student on any test until they can show that they have shown proficiency in what they need to know even if it is under pressure. Absolutely!!

Solid post!!

I completely agree with you ninjanurse! When i teach i will vary how i teach with whomever i have. The quality of techniques i find is way more important than the quantity. because when it comes to the crunch time when a person has to use it they would rather be able to use an effective technique over lots of terrible ones. Imho, that's the mark of a great instructor!!

Doctor said that I might've strained my lower back muscles, but doubts that I pinched a nerve because my pain doesn't radiate; it's in one local area. How can I have strained my back sleeping? Isn't sleeping the most relaxed state of the day/night? What's NSAID? What are the effects of that much Ibuprofen? Thank you for the advice!!

I don't believe that I sit oddly, but I might without me knowing. I usually place my laptop on my...well...lap, as it is right now, but my back is all the way back to the upright cushion of the couch. I'll ask my wife if I sit odd! She'd know, I suppose. Boy do I see a chance for my wife to make fun of me. Thanks for the advice, and I will be more attentive to the way I sit.

I believe that his choppiness will be replaced once he's more mature in both the MA and within himself. Time is still on his side, imho. His power over fluidity will also become as one as he matures across the board.