sensei8

This post makes me giggle... I can't believe that people are that fixated on the stripes on a belt, where someone wont respect someone for it, or tell them to "get out of my life". It's not the identifiers on said belts, it's the self-promotion that's the problem. That's what I don't respect; it's the self-aggrandizement of it all. And yes, I don't want to be around those types, which is my right. Imho!!

5 years old?! At that age, they're playing the MA, so, let them play because playing is also learning/teaching. I play with my students that are 5 years old, but we play karate. Let them play!! Who's it hurting? No one!!

Just running over this point and my earlier comments - a good Karate school/dojo will teach the Kata, then teach applications, also how they can vary and then drill them with a partner - ultimately drill them with a "not so compliant" partner so they can see if it works and if it works for them. The ideal for me is to pick one or some of these drills automatically if they were ever needed. Karate will get you to the same place as any other MA - you just have to stick with it - or get a good teacher. Solid post!!

First of all, glad that you're doing better!! To the bold type above... I would take you back!! You have a valid reason as to why you dropped off the radar; physical injury. As a dojo owner, I don't take students back after they've passed the beginner level. UNLESS, the reason(s) are similar to what you've posted here. If a student of mine, who's no longer a beginner, quits just to quit, I've no tolerance to those type of students. Imho, they've wasted their time and my time as well. I take the beginner back because they don't know better. They're still learning how to walk from that crawling stage. The MA is hard, darn hard!! So, beginners earn my sympathy, but it's limited. After that, I've no tolerance. Is that wrong of me? That's for me to decide, and not for the masses to decide because it's my dojo. You're back! Train hard and train well. But don't put the MA over your physical well being. Heal! Don't rush the healing! In time, when you're physically able, that's when you and the floor greet each other like friends are suppose to...a warm embrace!!

Imho... Both effective MA; both could compliment each other. I think that the VERSUS between both MA is that one teaches kata and the other doesn't teach kata. The one that teaches kata believes in its teaching methodology as kata teaches a plethora of body mechanics. Such as, transitions, posture, proper breathing, focus, hip movements, footwork, execution of technique, stances, and applications, to name just a few. The one that doesn't teach kata believes that kata training is useless, akin to "swimming on dry land". It's believed that kata lacks the live training that one gets from sparring; to engage with another, yet, a live person and not an imaginary one. It's the choice of the practitioner, and not the choice of the style. Yes, the style dictates its methodologies and ideologies, but, it's the practitioner who must choice what is best suited for them in the long run. Either, imho, of these MA would benefit the practitioner, and even to say, mixing the two would be beneficial to their MA betterment. The VERSUS has to be forgotten because every MA shares basic core methodologies and ideologies; therefore, we're of the same brotherhood/sisterhood. Changes are noticed and they can't be ignored with either MA, but peel away the onion one layer at a time, one can see that they've more in common than they aren't. Mix them; you'll have a solid MA to be proud of. But that's the choice of the practitioner and not of the masses. Imho!!

OR... The IOC admits MMA/UFC/ETC into the Olympics, but for the fear of the blood, they don't televise any of the events, or very, very, very little and watered down. I mean, the Olympics is THEIR backyard!!

The rank system is good, for the most part, but it's the human factor in the rank system that's fallible, for the better part. Imho. Hopefully, I'm not viewed as someone who is ridged. I've beliefs of my own, and I was raised by Soke and Dai-Soke, so the mix is there. I'm strict, that I don't apologize because I value rank that's untainted. If you've self-promoted yourself in rank for whatever reason(s), then I don't and won't respect you and your newly found rank. I would've threw up if my Dai-Soke had self-promoted himself to Judan, then I would've told him to get out of my life forever. Hhhhmmmmmm...I suppose that the By-Laws make it OK. Now I'm feeling really sick right in the pit of my stomach. Splinters beget new governing bodies, and to promote yourself via the new board that you've just started, to me, is self-promoting. It disgusts me to no end. Again, I suppose, my Soke promoted himself to Judan once he created our governing body, well, it doesn't sit well with me either. How about the karateka, his name escapes me now, that's been a Nidan for over 3 decades!! When asked about why he's STILL a Nidan, his answer is..."That's the last rank my Sensei promoted me to before he passed away!" He's the shining example of integrity; a rare commodity in the MA, when rank is the topic.

How long does it take? Who establishes it? You'd love my grandma's cooking; traditional!! Or you could love my cooking from a box; modern. If I was you, I'd eat grandma's cooking WAY before I'd eat mine. Again, labels have the ability to destroy the core of the MA!!

Keiko Fukuda, while not the norm was a Judo instructor that began teaching in 1937 in Japan, so the info you gave is by far not accurate. Their were few women in the martial arts, but it was not illegal by any means. Also, Robert Trias (creater of Shuri ryu) taught ladies self defense in the 40's in the states and had a few female black belts. Again, while its not the norm...it was not illegal in Japan or the states in teh 70's. Wow, really! if I ever saw a judge pull that stuff at a tournament I would take my team and leave...and if it was a JKA tournament I would have a few words with the ref. Our organization has a high level Female competitor that was well respected and placed at the worlds. If a local judge had the yam sack to do that to her he would get the boot from the organization faster than you could rip up his Dan certificate. Again, not sure what style you are talking about but the female instructor I mentioned trained in Japan for four years and she saw TONES of females training in the club and giving as good as they got during Kumite. I think that this whole article is a bit outdated, or I just dont see it. In our club one of my house rules is that once you strap on the belt you check your gender at the door and go as hard as anyone else or pay the price. You take it easy on someone because they are a different sex than you and you spar with me....male or female...and Im of the belief that womens lib gives me the right to beat on men and women alike. Solid post!!

I'm surprised this was allowed to go on, and even more surprised that the dojo was made to split because of it. The head of that dojo really needed to take charge of that situation, but it appears he didn't. As for the passing of pamphlets, I agree with you as well. There really is no reason for it. There are other times and places for things like that. Not at the MA school. There are enough politics in the MA to worry about without trying to be politically correct. A MA school isn't big enough for all of that! Dictate and stand by it. Those students who don't or won't or can't; well, find somewhere else to train. I agree with the pamphlets; not at the MA school!! NEVER!!

How many? With all of the self-promoting that goes on...I say...NONE!! OR...1,000 belts...to start with!!

Circuit training isn't just for men. So, why not?! Go for it!!

Sounds fine to me. BUT...I'm no doctor! Ask your parents, and ask a doctor. I believe that 8 hours is the rule of thumb, but I also think that's subjective to 8 RESTFUL hours, and not tossing all night and/or visiting the bathroom a lot. Seek the advice of your parents and your doctor!!

I concur with everyone else...try it out. Let your gut lead you from there.

Especially if MMA does make it into the Olympics eventually.That just might happen because the UFC's a major brand, and it's had it's 15 minutes of fame, so to speak. The IOC is watching MMA; I'm sure of that. Oh, yes, I'm sure they are watching. And if the IOC likes ratings, and they see the ratings of the UFC and other MMA events, then I think they will eventually see the possibilities in the ratings for Olympic MMA.Would the IOC curb or end the blood letting?? One drop of blood, match over!! This was what it was like in Oklahoma for a long time. For example, whenever the WWE came into town, and if someone "geeked", the match had to stop immediately!! No exceptions!!

Solid post!! I thank you for it!!

I was asking those who had self-promoted themselves to Judan AFTER the founder of their style passed away. One minute they're a 7th Dan, as it was awarded to him/her by the founder, now, they're a 10th Dan. "People will take me more serious if I'm a 10th Dan!" Hogwash! By people, I'm assuming that they meant the layperson, not a seasoned MAist. Nothing's wrong with seeking after rank UNTIL rank becomes more important than knowledge/experience. Everything! Imho, the entire rank system has a tester, therefore an awarder, and in that, the entire rank system has a testing candidate, therefore, a receiver of said award. Self-promotion, imho, that's what we're talking about, is the bane of the rank systems existence. Imagine, for example, the green belt promoting himself/herself to brown belt on their own! If the higher belts can, then why not everyone, no matter the rank. The rank system would be of absolute no-value; it barely is now for many reasons. Thank God, there's always a floor!!

I do think that no matter what it is, its traditions were handed down to generations to more generations as time slowly meandered on. "Look, do it this way and not this way" says some founder of some type. When it caught on, it was deemed agreeable and effective to do it as it's meant to be done. "Yeah, that does work, as you said it would, and it doesn't work as you said that it wouldn't." Wrestling and Boxing, for example, I'm sure, as in everything else that's created, had/has a traditional means and beliefs form its beginning, and as they chipped away at it, it became what it is today. Evolution depends on traditional ways from its creation. Otherwise, how can it evolve?? It was birthed, and a means and a way of doing it was agreed upon because it was a good thing to do so. Nothing can evolve on its own. Someone's got to kick the ball or swing the bat before someone can say..."Hey, here's a better way, let's examine it and see if it has merit." Shindokan HAD its beginning; its traditional means. However, changes/evolutions were created, but not before a traditional way of doing Shindokan had been around for some time per our Soke. While the modern ways of doing Shindokan is upon us, we know that the traditional ways of our Soke are STILL THERE. Had to be, or there'd be no modern means. Imho!!

Punch Kick Block/Deflect Strike Posture Things like these, we ALL have these in mind as a core; a core that we all share. Styles?!?!?!?!? We amend the core; that's what makes our styles' methodology and ideology and the like.

I agree. Learning to close and make space when needed to work to the goal takes time and practice. Good drilling is hard to replace. That is something that forms training can't really give us. We can try guage the space required for a certain technique by looking at how we do it in the form; i.e., we can see that an angle punch in Yoo Sin is tighter to the body than a front stance lunge punch, leading us to believe that the angle punch technique is one performed when closing with an opponent. But, without having someone there to work on this with, doing it alone won't teach us much.So, the big factor in learning how to close and open space when necessary is through realistic training drills involving at least one partner, if not more. Sparring can be a great tool for training it, but its important to keep the context of the type of sparring each of us does in mind, and how it would relate in regards to actual self-defense. Solid post!! As someone who lives in other peoples spaces, whether it's through sparring and/or some other drill types, managing that space does take some time, and with more than one partner. Why? We're different, you and I, so, I must understand people in a general tense so that I can understand how space works for and against me. If I do this, what might happen or not happen. Do I use much more hip transition or do I use the same or slightly less. EXPERIENCE space first. Someone invades my space by grapping me. Or is attempting to grasp ahold of me. A shift, a slide, a directional, an advancement; these confound and unbalance my opponent but at the same time, I create and close said space as easy as I would whenever moving a pawn on a chess board.

Yes...solid post!! To manage the space, one must experience it! The space that I'm more concerned with is within the very close ranges; in our faces, so to speak. Our brand of Tuite is about the close ranges and how to manipulate that space to ones advantage. As he/she moves, I must counter-move within that space!!

Right, agree with you Each of us has his/her own gift and skills to be developed and used, regardless of the gender [/url] Solid post!!

I agree, the parent was astonished when I said that they would have to wait until they are at least 5! I think she was after a babysitting service rather than a martial arts class. To the bold type above... I believe that you've hit the nail right on its head.

Solid post!!

To the bold type above... Imho, this is basic MA 101; baby level stuff. And it should be addressed because it is some serious stuff. An assault is an unwanted evasion, therefore, the aggressor needs to be made aware that his/her advances aren't welcomed. Nice video. I think it needs to be made more simplified from a laypersons point of view. While what you're demonstrating is basic, there's a minor complexity to it that a layperson might have trouble grasping.