sensei8

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.

Very similar to most karate's transitional kicks. Front kick to back kick. Front kick to side kick, and so on and so forth. Yet, making sure that the hips are properly utilized throughout each kick, and not just flopped out and dependent on mass alone.

Boring? Hardly! To ignore that which is basic is to ignore growth!! The most basic of Kata's can teach many advanced applications. But one must look for them, discover them, and appreciate them. No Taikyoku series...no Heian! No Ten No Kata...then no Taikyoku. Without the Heian series, there's no Tekki series, Without the Tekki series, there's NO advanced Kata's. No Bassai Dai/Sho, no Kanku Dai/Sho, no Hangetsu, no Gojushiho Dai/Sho, no Enpi, no Jion, no Jiin, no Jitte, no Meikyo, no Nijushiho, no Wankan, no Gankaku, no Sochin, no Chinte, and no Unsu...no nothing that's advanced!! Embrace basics, even in Kata!!

Thank you Bob! It means a lot. We do still have the videos, we just have to upload them. Will have them up as soon as I can, along with the rest of them.I look forward to more videos of Kendall!! He understands proof is on the floor!! Thank you Kendall!! I bow to you!!

Or, cross train in Wrestling, BJJ, or some other grappling style to shore up said deficiency... YES!!

Being honest with oneself goes quite a long way because change is inevitable; therefore, refusing to change stifles the growth of every MAist. Having said that, I was raised in a very strict traditional MA by two of traditionalists most staunchest Sensei's I've ever had the pleasure of learning from. But, as the many years started to change some, not all, of that traditional status quo within me, I started to see that the grass can be geener on the other side of the fence concerning Shindokan. This angered them to no end, but not to the point of banning me. They saw my opinions as my own and part of my MA journey. Was I wrong in their eyes? Not in the least because I'm my own MAist, and before that, I'm my own person. I suppose because of how I value Shindokan as my core MA, they learned to accept my ways and the like. Now, as far as Bruce is concerned, Bruce Lee, imho, was quite solid as a MAist and so on, I just don't agree with his kata opinions; never have, never will!!

Solid post!!

Who's Mark Hicks? I've never heard about him, which doesn't surprise me because we live in a very big world.

Happy Birthday to you...and many more!!

OUCH!! 2 weeks ago, I must've slept wrong. I don't know how one can sleep wrong, but I did something to my lower back. At first, I couldn't get up out of bed or up from the couch without shooting sharp pains that would literally drop me. Getting out of bed is still the worse. The sharp pain is from the center of my lower back and then radiates to my right side. So sharp, that it throws me literally back onto the bed. To get out of bed, I have to roll out and onto the floor onto my knees. That alone is debilitating, and I'm very slow to get up fully. At times, the pains so much so that I've wet myself because I just couldn't make it to the restroom on time. EMBARASSING to say the least. I'm 56 years old and I wet myself! Aaarrrggghhhh!! Teaching is to a practical dead crawl. Being intimate with my wife was a mistake. Afterward, I felt like I was back on square one in getting better. Now, my doctor prescribed to me Ibuprofen 800mg to take for pain, but no more than 4 per 24 hour period. Also, I do the heat/ice STILL every 2 hours. R.I.C.E., Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate, as much as I can. I'm staying home for the next 2 days!! I still don't know how I can elevate my lower back. I tried inversion treatments but man, that wasn't fun at all. I've thought about visiting a Chiropractor, but I just don't know. Any thoughts?? I'm miserable!!

Solid post!!

As your son matures, both physically and MA, he'll be solid across the board. He'll be much more tone in movements as he matures; crispness and effectiveness will begin to replace some of the "kid" stuff he still possesses, and that's not a bad thing because he's still maturing across the board.

I'm not of WTF or the like, but... I'm not surprised on the amount of kicks, seeing that the said style is a kicking MA. The second one had more hand techniques, and not as many kicks as the first one. Both were solid across the board!!