sensei8

Price sure was doable, huh?!?

Well, that ends it appearing like UFC and the like.

Great start for the season. Congrats Kendall!! Care to share the pic here at KF?

The trophy that Kendall's holding in Facebook, is that from his 3rd season??

I concur!!

The knee strikes, correct me if I'm wrong, seem to only help one transition into a much better position, therefore, not to cause any noted damage to opponent. This is what we've done in Shindokan forever. Not saying that a well placed knee can't cause an opponent to lose ones breath.

Glad to see you've reached a decision. I'm glad that we were able to help you.

Once a price is decided upon, then one has to determine how many student it will take to break even. After breaking even, profit begins with the amount of students beyond the break even point.

Thank you!!

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

CredoTe, Students come and students go for various reasons. In that, I don't let it get to me because it was their decision to leave. If students want to leave, then leave, the sooner the better!! I've got more to do than worry about why a student left my dojo. I don't get mad and I don't get sad and I don't question myself. The ratio of retention is high and the ratio for those quitting is low; therefore, the problem, imho, isn't with me or my instructors or the curriculum or the tuition or anything else that I can put my finger on. If my ration was flip flopped, well, then I would worry, and in that, I'd figure out the problem(s) quick before the doors shut forever!! But the ratio's aren't backwards. I suppose that I don't worry about not having any students before because I've always had them. Again, students come and students go!! I just don't get that attached to students because of my opening statement. Some students just can't hang! Some students move! Some students have a job schedule change! Some decide that the MA isn't for them; they tried it, but they just don't like it. They thought that they would like it, but then they changed their mind. IT HAPPENS!! Sure, you hate to lose students for any reason(s). I believe that's natural to feel that way. I'm lucky that way because from as long as I can remember, I just don't worry about, nor do I care when a student leaves my dojo. I never lose any sleep over a student quitting/leaving. I've other things more important to be worried about, like the students that are still there. They deserve that from me and my dojo!! It's about the 'now' and not about the 'before' so that the 'future' is a possibility. But all of that is up to the student, and not up to me. You see, students are people, and in that, I don't own them, therefore, students come and students go. I believe that it's just that simple.

There will be some that say that you need that Japanese affiliation, while others will say that you don't need that Japanese affiliation. It's a personal choice!! It's about what you value and what you need and what you want. Are you there for rank? Are you there for the lineage? Why are you at, or why do you want to attend that dojo? Again, it's a personal choice, and it's a choice that you'll have to decide for yourself in the long run. If the dojo that you want to or are already attending can provide all of your MA needs, then your decision is quite simple...stay there and don't be concerned with Japanese affiliations. The style that I've been with for 49 years has no outside affiliations. No Japanese and no Okinawan affiliation, even though we're an Okinawan style; birthed in Okinawa. Our association is self-sufficient, and has been that way ever since day one. Our Soke founded the SKKA, and in that, he wanted nothing to do with any said affiliations because he didn't want any outside interferences and/or interruptions by telling him what he should do and what he shouldn't do. Good luck; you'll be fine!!

Congrats and well deserved!!

I suggest that you visit whichever schools you'd like to attend so that you can see for yourself what they have to offer. Not just one visit, but many, many visits for an overall impression. Good luck!!

Anything less than 10 minutes is great. I'm jealous with all of you who live so close to where they train. Makes me want to buy the house behind my dojo; that would be cool.

Nice gi, but I don't like the adidas logo that's on it. Imho, they could've put their logo on a label somewhere. Brand managing is fine, but I don't want to pay for their managing of said brand.

Question... For those who have the authority to set tuition prices...How did you come up with your tuition price(s)??

And then we see these sentiments: Is this not just as disrespectful to Martial Arts not of the eastern traditions? I feel it is, and it sells short the legitimacy of these styles trained in a sporting and competition venue. We basically have people setting on two sides of the fence, pointing at each other instead of talking to each other. It didn't take long in this thread to "blame MMA" for how "traditional" arts are now viewed. In my opinion, it isn't the fault of MMA. Like tallgeese pointed out, there are those out there who have evaluated what they spent a lot of years doing, and then changed things to help achieve their needs. It does speak to how one side can help the other side, and vise versa. As I've said...I don't blame MMA and/or any other style of the MA. It's the practitioner that must be held accountable whenever their verbal/written attacks are directed to me, and they have been directed to me, all because I'm a traditionalist as a MAists. That's who I point my finger at. While I'm a traditionalist in my MA, I'm also eclectic enough to search outside of the Shindokan circle. That's because I know that Shindokan isn't a complete style of the MA, and in that, neither is ANY style of the MA, imho. My OP speaks about what I've endured from any and all MAists that have no respect for the "traditional" badge that I wear proudly. I've been attacked vehemently in both the written and spoken words because I believe in the traditional values of the MA that I study. However, it's more of the "Traditional Karate" that's lampooned and lambasted, and because I say that I'm a follower of traditional karate-do, I'm not worthy to be spit upon by those who find fault in traditional karate-do.

Again, rank must be kept in its proper context. It's up to the individual to decide for themselves if they do or do not agree with said situation. Agreeing or disagreeing with the status quo of any said individual is ones own choice.

45 minutes to my dojo. Over 1500 miles to our Hombu in California. Plus any other traveling I might do during the year to visit with other Shindokan dojo''s . In addition, any other traveling I might do to conduct seminars and to visit other style's dojo's to exchange/cross training.

To me that is completely wrong. I find it difficult to accept as there wouldn't be any respect from the martial arts world for those grades as they are not really earned as so to me are invalid. Forget the world...What about the student body??

I agree with Hawkmoon. In that, I'd teach more than just the order of the steps because there's much more. If this hypothetical student said, "No, I just want to know the steps, and nothing beyond that", then my answer would be a big fat, "NO. You want me to teach YOU a kata, but without substance. I'm not a kata pimp!!" "What's beyond the steps?" this hypothetical student might ask. Well...[in no specific order] Movement within movement. Transitional complexities. Timing. Focus. Proper execution. Applications. MORE THAN ONE CAN UNDERSTAND AND/OR COMPREHEND if one only wants to learn just the order of the steps to said kata. For that, I'd say, that this person needs to find another dojo/dojang/etc. The sooner, the better.

21 year old 10th Dan...33/34 year old 10th Dan. What were their ranks before they promoted themselves?? Self-promotion speaks, to me, selfish, no matter the person and no matter the reason(s) and no matter the current rank! Whatever makes one happy is fine, except at the cost of the student bodies betterment. Imho!!

Sensei8, I have never heard of a trash bag being used either but I would assume it would be used in the same manner as a piece of rope or belt to trap, divert the opponents attack or to strangle. My best guess anyway. Interesting concept though I must admit. That's what I call thinking outside of the box or inside of the trash can. I can see what you're talking about especially when one thinks about what trash bags are made out of. They don't tear that easy!! Thanks!!

The cost of raising insurance costs, which is an unregulated entity, seems to be your only truly obstacle. Right? Look at the very few beginning pages inside of Black Belt Magazine, you'll find there's a company, name escapes me right now, advertising insurance coverage for the MA. You'll find that that might be what you're looking for. If memory serves me, that particular insurance company seems to specialize in tournament insurance. However, if they do that type, then why not insurance for your dojo?!? Worth a phone call, imho. I'm with you in your suspicious feelings toward that organization from just what you've posted. In that, they could be right as rain, but being careful will keep you from drowning in that same rain. Fees are everywhere, and they help float the boat, in this case, the organization. The lineage that they would provide you, imho, would be a broken because of the Korean interwoven. Pure lineage bears a solid mark, but lineage outside of your style can't be a good thing. As far as what your own organization is telling you is, imho, them caring more about them and not the student body, which to me, is unforgivable. Not much more can be said towards that!! Going back under your Sensei, while it's an inviting option, isn't also an enjoyable one. It's like having to move back into your mom and dad's house; you lose more than you gain. The fight you have for your student body is commendable across the board. For that, I bow to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep the good fight!!