sensei8

If there's no expression beyond said syllabus/curriculum, then the practitioner is quite limited, and at fault, imho. The instructor is at fault as well for not providing the necessary vehicle for that expression outside of the box, however, the student is accountable and responsible for their own MA betterment, and to ensure in its improvement. Taste, and see if it's good!!

If sparring tends to unnerve a student, that's to be understood. The way to overcome said anxieties is simple...the more one spars, the more one learns about themselves! More one learns, the more one understands. I, too, use to fear kumite, but over time, that fear was replaced with an acquired sense of confidence. I've Dai-Soke to thank for that because of the way he was able to challenge his students, no matter the rank.

Knowledge without effective application bears no fruit. Albeit, all of the knowledge in the world is meaningless, imho, if one can't apply said technique(s) effectively!! How does a MAist ensure that their MA tree bears fruit? Your thoughts, please!!

If you've, whomever you might be, never drilled the bunkai in this kata against a resistant partner, then you'll NEVER see aspects not expected before!! Btw, your "Walk the line" drill found in your blog is solid, and in that, have you drilled that with a resistant partner as well? EDIT: Added "NEVER" to make the grammar flow better.

Solid post!!

Stole that from Bruce Lee's "Lost Interview".

Not all BB can teach!! Black belts that can't?! Why can't they? Was it because they never possessed the abilities to begin with, or, is it because the abilities they once possessed aren't as sharp as they use to be? A answer that merits both a definitive and sensitive response will be required here. I won't promote said BB to the role of teaching/Sensei within my dojo. To do so isn't conducive to the air of learning; students will suffer if I do so. Technical abilities must be considered, they're important, but being able to teach a stick to be more than a stick while it's still just a stick, takes a special person. Some teaching abilities just can't be taught, they're born with that/them. Weigh them, and then go from there. Possession of rank won't guarantee being a sensei at my dojo, either. I know many solid karateka's on the floor, but in the role of sensei, no way, no how, and forget that!! Their temperance is askew; it destroys the conduciveness that provides students the abilities to learn the MA. My gut feeling won't prohibit one of my Dan rank students from opening their own dojo. Free society allows that. Free enterprise allows that. If I later decide that I was wrong, then it's my students lose as well as mine. However, I haven't been wrong thus far!! The floor is my barometer for determining if any Dan ranked student of mine is "QUALIFIED" to be called a "Sensei". Either one can or one can't!! I can't afford to get that decision wrong for all concerned. Do I demote someone from the teaching ranks if their physically incapable to execute any said technique for whatever the reason's may or may not be? NO!! If so, then I should start with myself. I'm 56 years old and getting older each year. For example, I've not been able to do the big jumping technique found in Unsu since I was a Rokudan, and almost a Nanadan. I injured my right knee when I was a JBB. The toll of the years caught up with me, and the landing portion isn't a possibility. Yes, I can do it, but the aftermath isn't a pretty sight to behold, or to live through. Outside of that, if a Sensei of mine still maintains other productive skills as a teacher of the MA, then who am I too say that their teaching days are over? I'm not that person, nor do I want to be. Technical skills are important, but over the years, their "teaching" value is still invaluable for all concerned. Their knowledge AND experience are of a teaching commodity that can't be denied and/or refused on the floor. Should've my Dai-Soke stripped me of my Kyoshi title when I started to show signs of debilitation? No! And he didn't because he still saw that there was more than mere passing value within me. A thoroughbred is still of value after their racing days are behind them when their finally put out to stud. If I'm no longer that stud on the floor, then there's value within me because of the knowledge and experience that I possess. Our Soke filled in the role of Advisor, after he retired, with distinguished honor up to the moment he passed away. Does a time come when I or one of my sensei's have to bow off the floor all together for all concerned? YES!! I love to play, but there's time when I won't be able to play on the floor anymore. Hopefully I'll have enough about me to recognize that moment when that moment is before me. In short...Those who never had it, never will!! Imho!!

Whatever ones class environment is, it should be one that's conducive to learning the MA. If not, seek more friendly skies.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Solid post, but, let's not forget "HIPS". No hips, no power, twitch or not!!

Good to know that the WKF is the WORLD GOVERNING BODY of karate, per the IOC. Whew!! Takes a load off me, I'll close up our Hombu immediately!!

Just do it over and over and over........................so that it will just flow naturally, and without any unnecessary pauses. Work the hips, and know when to utilize them properly. Snap isn't always correct because it tends to jerk, and jerking unbalances posture. Pay attention to what you're doing and stop looking at the camera continually because it makes you appear that you're not familiar with said Be one with the bo!

If these listed above are consistent behaviors, then said instructor of the MA has NO business on any floor whatsoever!! Imho!!

I've not yet meet a perfect person, yet!! Instructor's are fallible human beings. If it's not blatantly happening all of the time, let it go. Takes some nerves to question ones CI as though the student is better than the CI. Sure, ALL are accountable, including the CI, but with some things, the CI remains unapproachable. I question everything, and in that, I was the bane of existence to my Dai-Soke because I questioned EVERYTHING, and I mean everything. I've been put in my place more than I can remember, and that just goes with the territory of questioning everything. I never learned the proper etiquette for approaching him, I just winged it. Not a smart move on my part. However, I never questioned him technically because he was all that and a bag of chips in that area; unquestionable abilities that I could only imagine to possess at sometime in my life. Great topic!

You get to do all of the fun stuff!! Is this there in Hayes or somewhere else? What are you hoping it'll add to being a LEO?? Can't wait to your update afterwards. Have fun and be safe!!

That's me!! However, it's a fine line to walk, imho. For the most, I'm quite strict on the floor because the floor, to me, is holy ground. This is how our Soke and Dai-Soke treated any training floor, so, the apple didn't have to fall far for me to adopt their same approach. There's a time for seriousness and there's a time for a more relaxed atmosphere, nonetheless, the CI will dictate the mood on the floor one way or another. Great topic, btw.

People who are interested in training like this should try to approach it a bit more tactfully. If I go to another school, I'll ask if I can train with them, not ask if I can spar someone. If you trundle in and ask for some sparring, it tends to get people's attention, and not necessarily in a good way. But if you ask to train together, then there is more of mutualness about the encounter. I'd build a rapport with a school training with them for a time, and then let them lead into anything to do with sparring, or bring it up after such a time that there is a bit of a comfort level between you and the school. I think that would be a more respectful way of approaching it. You're right, though I do think it is a bit harsh to assume the challenge was hostile. Not everyone is equally good at being tactful, or understands the Martial Arts etiquette. I don't think I assumed it was hostile. Its just that the approach probably comes across more rude than anything else. Like mentioned, not eveyone has the same tact, so it might have appeared rude, but not necessarily hostile. I wholeheartedly concur!!

Speedy and powerful; that's all I have to offer to my attacker!!

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!!