sensei8

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.

Solid post!! To the bold type above... You've given me a chance to quote my most favorite quote...Proof is on the floor!!

I understand!!

Well, you ARE still an advanced kyu; no matter how long you've been not actively learning/training. You might be rusty, but in time, that rust will not be a factor. Now, for tournament sakes, most tournaments want to know how long you've been training. Rank is a concern, but the reason for asking how long you've been training is give them a better understanding. Because, one Ikkyu isn't the same as another Ikkyu for many reasons. Therefore, tell said tournament that you're advanced AND tell them it's been X many years since you've actively trained. Then, they'll place you in a division that's appropriate as far as they're concerned. Now, for learning/training sakes. Restart as a Jukyu/Beginner, and then the CI will determine your current rank for the time being. Hang in there!! You'll be fine.

Solid post!! One watching YouTube and the like, can tell if said person on said video is an instructor or not, and if said instructor is good at teaching. Not all BB can teach. I'm not saying that all videos are made for the purposes of teaching/learning. Most videos, imho, are more of a reference to some, and some just for fun.

Possibly it's time to just be a practitioner and not an instructor until things change.

Could be hard/difficult to prove/defend those parameters of force because how one defines each will differ from person to person. Proving is convincing ones ideologies, and at times, that's just not that easy. However, at times, it can be just that easy. Depends on the courts!

First of all, Welcome to KF. Glad to have you!! Imho, that was a good 2 cents worth; solid post!!

In Shindokan, we've the typical Okinawan weapons at our disposal. Our Kobudo is in addition to our empty hands. Soke spoke about how "Karate-do is first, before Kobudo, but they're both equals in temperance."

Imho, A Sensei shouldn't demonstrate like ways of students that aren't model students. No. Counsel them in private so that said student understands all expectations and that there's no ambiguity whatsoever. Student still doesn't want to comply with said expectations, then suspend said student. Student is then allowed to return, and then still continues in a disrespectful manner, then expel, thus, ban said student. Resistant training is very important, but the training is meant to also be safe for all before it can be effective. When said student acts rogue on the floor, that's no reason to copy said students actions to show said student what it feels like. It borders on abuse from said Sensei. That to, should never be tolerated. Take the appropriate and consistent measures towards said student(s) when said student(s) try to dictate anything, and I mean anything, on the floor. The floor is for everyone, but when things like this are happening on the floor, that's when the floor becomes mine, and mine alone. I will not share my authority with any said student that's not meeting said expectations. This said student should be dealt with professionally, and no other way. For a Sensei to lower themselves to the inappropriate actions of said disrupting student(s) to teach them a lesson, and/or to show them what it feels like isn't commendable at all. Especially in todays world. How it was done yesteryear, isn't how it should be done today! Not with the laws of the land today. Legal law suits and the like are being handed out like free candy at a carnival. Discipline is one thing, but an overall disregard towards an instructors obligations and oath, no matter how silent or how loud they might be, which is to protect ALL students, no matter what. Discipline and how it should be handled is a thin line. One that mustn't be ignored at all, but understood that what stands on that said thin line, is respect. And if a student shows no regards and/or respect, the Sensei should show even more respect and/or regards to said student. We've, instructors, an obligation to our students to teach and guide them in a respectful tone at all times. Counsel, then suspend, and then ban, if need be, however, it must be consistent across the board. From day one, let said student(s) know what's expected of them and what's allowed and what's not allowed, and let there be no misunderstanding. The Sensei is always the boss both on the floor and off the floor at all times. Imho.

In my opinion, Your Hombu has no valid reason(s) to not provide you a copy of your rank certificate. To me, it's an absurd absolute because it's YOURS, and not the Hombu's. Yes, the Hombu is the governing body and it does "manage" all important documents, but the word "manage" doesn't mean "ownership" of said documents. Not at our Hombu!! Yes, there's a very small administrative fee that accompanies said request, but a rank certificate isn't the property of our Hombu. For me, it's low and cold to refuse said request. Our Legal Team would be all over this, and quick!

Hopefully you get better soon Thank you Safroot!! Worse thing about a cold is that my nose is raw from all of the blowing in a aloe soaked napkin; stupid runny nose!!

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

Now that's cool!! That's what I've been asking, thanks!! Anymore, anyone?!?

OMG, what part of the body doesn't get hurt from time to time, if at all? Groin Muscle strains Sprains Breaks Dislocations Abrasions Teeth Mouth/lips Eyes Head Ears Knees Fingers/Thumbs Jaw Well, the entire body is subjective to receiving injuries in just about any part of the body. Injuries don't have to happen while training in the MA, but they do, and one can only do there best to avoid them. At times, we cause our own injuries for many reasons, and when we're not hurting ourselves, our training partners help us out in that area. Point to any place on your body. It'll either be hurt from time to time or it won't be as often, but somehow and someway, the body gets racked from time to time at no one fault; it just happens.

And if your gi doesn't shrink, or doesn't shrink enough, well, then get out the sewing kit and make it to your specifications. OR...send it back to the company you bought it from so that you can get a properly fitting gi. Nowadays, gi's are tailored for a many body types. In the days of old, gi's were in whole sizes, 1 - 6, so they either fit well or they just didn't.

Sorry that I didn't give you a better answer to your OP question, and that's because a long dissertation might've not been warranted and that is because everyone's personal opinions about MA philosophy would've been close, but not exact from one to another. Still, solid topic; thank you for starting it!!

South Florida. But winter is nothing new for me. Grew up part of my life in Iowa where we definitely got some snow. I remember early am kendo classes outdoors in Jan before school. If we had 14 guys in the club maybe six would actually show up. It was kinda rough. Yeah, I don't think I'd show up either because I don't want to test my MA mettle with the flu. I do like your outdoor training area; solid across the board!!