sensei8

Super Congrats!! AWESOME!!

I concur...this test will make him a great MA/Sensei in the long run. His betterment will thank those who helped him to reach this greatness.

Testing cycles, IMHO, shouldn't ever mimick a group class because the testing cycle is for that one student, and while a group of students might be at the testing cycle, that doesn't mean that all of them should test together. It's not fair to the students!! Our annual testing cycle is held the last week of June into the first week of July, and it's held at the Hombu. Many apply to test at the Hombu, but not all are accepted for one reason or another. On an average, we'll get a couple of hundred to test, or all ranks, hence the reason why it'll take two weeks. It has worked for us in the past and it will continue to work out for us in the future. We test one student at a time, and I don't think we'll ever change it. Now, if testing a large group works for some other governing bodies, then I'll tip my hat to them in respect. But, in a testing cycle, for us, one at a time is appropriate. In a group, and just like in group classes, many mistakes are missed, and therefore, proper correction isn't always provided. Bad habits start sinking in and before you know it, you're spending time fixing something that shouldn't have been missed, but in a group class, it happens. Same thing for large testing cycles. Proper observation will be missed, therefore, the proper grading and its deductions are overlooked/missed, and this will give said student(s) the false security that they're alright, when in actuality, they're not alright. Who's fault is that? YOU; the instructor and the like!! We owe it to EACH of our students to evaluate them properly across the board.

Rhonda has done great for herself. I will be checking out the Expendables 3. Thank you for sharing.

I actually enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing it.

You could patent many of your DIY!! Something to think about. Bring some of them to a tournament to see what reactions you get.

I concur!!

Thanks for sharing that with us Brian; I enjoyed it!!

Ditto!!

Kusanku!!

I believe that's possible. But, not having first hand knowledge of why it was scored in the manner of which it was, and from what I saw, and considering that I might be quite familar with said Kata, I would've deducted appropriately my final score to reflect that.

That's a side to the discussion I'd not expected! This Ryu is different to that Ryu as the other Ryu is different form the Ryu over there because.....blah ...blah....I think we all get that and understand, but ..... the same Ryu in a different organization differs? Really? Kinda of surprised and confused by that! Hello, A bit of useless information for folk that may be struggling with the word “Ryū” and how it applies to martial arts schools and, in the context of this thread, why it is important to understand the application of the word. In martial arts, the most common translation for the word “Ryū” (written in Japanese as 流) means school, which although correct, ignores the full etymology of the word. More completely, the word means stream or flow. All rivers start at their source, turn in to little streams and proceed to flow through the countryside meandering and gaining in volume as they do so. When you are part of a martial arts ryū, you are part of a metaphorical stream, in that you are learning from an instructor who himself learned from another etc., etc. - eventually going all the way back to the founder of the style (the source of the stream). As you become part of that stream – you will add to it and, when you become qualified to teach, you will pass your knowledge on to the next generation of students and thus the stream continues to flow. This is a more accurate understanding of the word. As people we are all different (thank goodness) and of course times change. Whilst the Ryū may continue to flow, it is constantly added to and therefore, over time, inevitably there will be shifts. In the Japanese martial world, you will often see the suffix “ha” written when mentioning a style. E.g. Ono-ha Ittō-ryū “Ha” in this case means a group or faction, in that although the school in question is an Ittō-ryū - it is a group founded by Ono Jiroemon Tadaaki – thus "Ono-ha". His group therefore is a tributary of the main stream – however the key thing is that the core principles inherent to the main ryū. This is exactly what is happening today with gendai styles/schools. It is inevitable that as they grow, there will be divisions and thus changes will appear however, as long as the core principles reamain in tact, the ryu will continue to flow. K. Solid post!!

Can be quite damaging!! I'd suggest that great care should be taken when teaching and learning said chokes, and in that, any other technique that would cause unconsciousness. Merely to do it just to do it is irresponsible across the board. A qualified instructor should supervise to protect the students without any reservations.

Rear Naked Choke and the Triangle Choke; these are my favorites among the many other chokes taught and learnt because they're, for me, quite easy to transition into from many angles and they're both quite debilitating once locked.

Solid post!! Welcome to KF!!

Habits of said instructor might not make it possible to continue for this student, no matter what one might think and/or hope. It's a sensitive matter, one that shouldn't ever be taken lightly. Imho.

I value you across the board. Your mentorship I've depended on for quite some time, and in thatl, I'll always be grateful for everything that you do in order to increase KF's betterment. THANK YOU!!

I agree with everyone that's posted here as well. Your contributions towards KF is not forgotten, and vital to the betterment of KF. Thank you!!

I too would like to thank you for your many contributions throughout KF, and in that, keeping KF the leader within its type of venue.

I would like to join Patrick in his sentiments across the board!!

Many instructors already know quite well what I'm about to post. So, for some, this isn't new. For others, it might be new. *A beginner student shouldn't be expected to execute any said given technique at the intermediate level. *In that, an intermediate student shouldn't be expected to execute any said given technique at the advanced level. However, an intermediate student shouldn't still be executing any said given technique as a beginner. *Furthermore, an advanced student shouldn't be expected to execute any said given technique at a more advanced level than theirs. However, an advanced student shouldn't still be executing any given techniuque that's within the levels below him/her. There should always, no matter the level, be some type of noted improvement in any said given technique. Many times I've witnessed a testing cycles where said given rank wasn't improving across the board, yet, they'd still pass. Albeit, a newly awarded black belt is still no more improved than that of a beginner/intermediate student. However, I've also witnessed that beginners have been failed because said instructor thinks that a beginners given techniques should be at the level of an intermediate. To me, that's not possible, hence why a beginner is called a beginner and not an intermediate level student. Shouldn't a beginner have a intermediate level kick? No. If a 10th Kyu, for example, keeps their balance and all of that while doing the 4-count [up, out, back, and down] kick, shouldn't that be enough to consider that kick a passing score?? Imho. Your thoughts?

To be honest, I don't know much about a Rotating Curriculum, but what I do know about them, I do know that I don't want to have anything to do with it.

Thank you all so very much for your Bday well wishes. I had a great Bday with the family this weekend, and I did no training or teaching or administrative things at all over the weekend. I'm now 56 years old!!

Yes...an awesome job done very well!!

Congrats on receiving your masters!!