sensei8

I hope you find the video's because I really enjoy watching Kendall's progression, and he's just got that eye of a tiger. If it means anything, I'm very proud of him!!

Hhhhmmmmmm, Tai Chi, per this demo, has just, imho, loss some of its validity with me. If these two gentlemen tried what they've demonstrated in a true SD situation, they'd be at a desperate disadvantage. Drop down in a long and low stance while punching towards someone's side, as demonstrated, is going to be drove upon mercilessly. Why not just transition by slipping said attack and then, by staying close and more upright, drive said punch with the hips?! I'm not a proponent of Tai Chi, although I've cross trained in it from time to time. I do see value in the slowness of the movements, and some, and I mean some of the given techniques speed up practically can be effective in a SD situation. Shindokan is flawed, as is any MA, imho!! But we close the gap, stay in said gap, and jam the gap, and what this demonstration spoke in volumes to me was..."DON'T". Don't try what they've demonstrated against a style that lives within the space of contact when one can't manage space. Flowing and fluid, as anything in the MA, imho, has its purpose, but knowing when the time is the right time is a valuable key to defending oneself. Fancy techniques, imho, are just lucky movements against a MAist that's not easily drawn against said movements. Imho!!

Bob = Set in his ways; traditional prisoner, I suppose!! However, I do consider myself quite eclectic through and through. How so? Shindokan is a solid style of the MA, but it has its flaws. So, I've searched, and still search for that element that can add to the value of my MA betterment, no matter from which style of the MA that it may originate.

I don't visit many blogs and the like, and that's mainly because my schedule is quite limited. In that, there's maybe 1 or 2 sites that I will regularly visit. I just "surf" and if it peaks my interest, I'll look at it, but I don't always finish the article. The first paragraph must interest me; that paragraph tells the tone a lot.

The instructor who challenges his/her students day in and day out...that's the instructor I like!!

Ditto!!

As it should've been!!

If I was your Sensei, I'd advice you to not do anything that will cause your healing process to be unnecessarily delayed. Testing cycle's will always be there, and as a MAist, you must learn that if the next cycle isn't a possibility for you, then when the time is right, that cycle will be there. I'd even pull your name off the up and coming testing cycle until your doctor gave you a note saying that you're ankle is ready for MA activities. That's just me. Please, don't cause unnecessary activities until your ankle is strong enough to support your MA activities. Imho!!

Solid post as well as solid advice. This should be not a problem with your sensei. However, the sparring portion shouldn't take you into the next testing cycle. If it does, I'd hold off on your next testing cycle until the one after that. Btw, how's your ankle doing today?

Yes, please pass on my congrats to him...WELL DONE!!

Favorite: Rokudan Less favorite: Kudan

First of all...Welcome to KF!! Secondly...Solid post; thank you for it!!

You limit you!! I limit myself!! Having said that, please visit your doctor asap and get professional help. Then, follow his/her advice to the letter!! Classes can be made up!! But your health is paramount over any MA, imho. Hang in there!!

In your opinion... What drives the high tuition costs? Overhead or inflation or greed? Please, choose the one answer that defines the question.

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

Solid post!! My MA journey is mine, not those who came before me. Glad to know my lineage, but what I produce as a MAist on the floor, well, I can't expect, nor can I wait, for those before me to validate my totality as a MAist.

Solid post and DITTO!! My parents aside, Karate has opened doors that had I not found karate and Dai-Soke, many doors would've been shut for good.

Was just watching some ISKA on ESPN and I've just got to say...sport karate isn't karate. Having said that, the "trick" divisions are what's the rage of the page, and have been so for such along time now. When I watched it today, I asked myself, what does that have to do with anything karate? Then I answered myself, for what they do, I can't. It's a division of its own, and I have to be more tolerant with the modern way sport karate has evolved. Now, I did get my fix when I saw the "Traditional" divisions. SOLID!! I'm still wondering what all of the very loud and long kiai's are all about, but, showmanship in the "trick" divisions was front and center. Your thoughts?!

Yes, by all means, CONGRATS for getting back to the mat/floor!! Nothing feels like home except being where you are. AWESOME!!

Yep and in Okinawa, having a belt means not using a rope to hold up trousers lol. Get the reference? Miyagi San: Karate Kid

MA withdraws are tough to get through at times, but when all is right...it's great. But, when things are not going right, it's a long and winding road. How to get through the day when the day use to consist of total MA immersion. Training by yourself at home is fine, but we MAists, we need to be around other MAists. Otherwise, what you're feeling, only gets worse. Keep searching for a dojo home; nothing can replace it, imho. Hang in there!!

Karate is everything to me!! It's all that I've ever been good at. It changed my life from nothing to something. My parents have said that they loved me, but when I look at the things that they did to me, I don't think they truly loved me. I felt unloved and unwanted, and many times, I wish I had never been born. My Sensei, Dai-Soke Yoshinobu Takahashi, showed me genuine interest in me and he loved me as a dad should. Had it not been for his nurturing love and training, I'm certain that I would've taken my life. It's not good to not be, and/or feel that one's own parents don't love me. I'm the baby of my family, and I've always felt that my parents loved my brother and sister much more than me. I was in the way! My dad referred to me once that I was a mistake!! I learned how to emerge myself in karate 24/7 because I fell in love with karate and I felt love from Dai-Soke as well as the "family" I had at the dojo. Karate changed my life for the better, and without karate, I'm an empty vessel. Dai-Soke was the potter; I was his clay!!

Lineage is important. However, it's only important within the style and/or governing body that you're part of. Lineage I suppose, for the most, can be subjective to the reader. It's a fine line!!

Referring, directly or non-directly, that kata/forms are like "swimming on dry land" sure doesn't sound respectful to me. Bruce called kata "useless". So, I took his meaning to be disrespectful when I very first read it, and these many years later, I still take it in a disrespectful tone. It's his opinion, but when millions have adopted his mindset because it was HIS opinion, it's theirs as well.

*Sandan (3rd Dan): Once a student has earned Sandan, that student has seen and practiced the whole teaching syllaabus. In the case of Karate, for example, a Sandan should know the three K's well enough to teach them effectively to students up to Shodan (1st Dan). *Yondan (4th Dan): Often, Nidan (2nd Dan) and Sandan students are actually the best teachers in the style because they can still remember what it was like to be a beginner, and they are still diligent about teaching the syllabus unchanged. Also, if a student is expected to assume the role of the CI by Sandan, then they had better have pretty extensive practice at it prior to that time. Therefore, students should be getting progressively more teaching responsibilities starting at about Sankyu (1st Brown), and Sandans may have been teaching long enough to have Shodan students. *Godan (5th Dan): At this level, one should have been teaching long enough to have produced at least one student of Sandan level. If one wishes to train/teach/advance beyond Godan, then at such time, a Nanadan/Shichidan (7th Dan) should have at least one Godan student, and a Kudan (9th Dan) should have at least one Nanadan/Shichidan student. Is this premise politically correct, in your opinion, enough to open up a dojo/dojang/school of the MA?