sensei8

Great interview!! I too have to thank you for your positive contributions and the like here at KF. I have enjoyed your posts across the board because you make me say..."AHA!!", and that's a good thing. Perspective studying is what make the MA so delicious, and it's not just the taste that excites my MA pallete, but it's the MA betterment that is achieved that fills me. Thank you!!

Great interview!! Thank you for the kind words; they mean everything to me!! Your MA future, imho, seems bright and right on track. Just imagine what you'll be like in 10 years...WOW...a solid BB that's got it going on!! Keep up the good work, and continue on your MA path because it has to be getting better all of the time.

Great interview!! I truly enjoy reading his posts across the board. His knowledge is quite intense and well thought out. When it came time to nominate him for MOM, I didn't hesitate, and I was glad to see that he was selected...well deserved!!

Danielle has always impressed me across the board. For being a 3rd Dan, she's quite knowledgeable about the MA in general, and not only in TKD. She's all of that and a bag of chips when it comes to the MA. Thank you for mentoring me during the good times as well as in the bad times!!

Yes!! That's been exclusively established by our Soke: One student at a time. *On an average for Kyu's: 1-3 hours, depending on ones rank tested for. *On an average for Dan's: 1-3 days, depending on ones rank tested for. *The thing to remember is that our testing cycles last for two weeks. Week one will be for the Kyu's and week two will be for the Dan's. For Kyu's, there are "sections" for testing. We'll divide the number of testing candidates by number of "sections" that we've available, usually 12. For example...If we've 200 Kyu testing candidates, then there would be about 16-17 students per "sections". In that, we've got to place them in "sections" that are rank appropriate, and if need be, we'll create a new "sections" to accommodate the number of testing Kyu candidates. In that, there will be at least one Sandan or above to administer their said testing panel. For Dan's, they too have "sections" for testing, but not as many because, for one, we've more Kyu's testing than Dan's for various reasons, as well as obvious reasons, tenure and the like. If we've only, for example, only fifty Dan candidates in totality of the testing cycle from Shodan to Hachidan, then we don't need the usual 12 "sections", like with the Kyu's, we'll have. For example, we'll only use 10"sections" with about 5 testing candidates per "sections", and of course, we'll add more "sections" are required. We'll complete the Dan testing from Shodan-Yondan in the middle of the week, but only if we've testing candidates for the Godan and above. Then comes the fun. Godan - Hachidan testing candidates will use only one "sections" because the testing panel is much larger; more eyes on the testing candidate, so to speak. We'll test them, if we have any, and quite often, we won't have any Godan and above testing candidates. This is in a nut-shell, so to speak. To your second question. YES!! We've plenty of high ranks to tend to the needs of the areas in which you've inquired about. All high ranks MUST be at the Hombu, no exceptions!!

Btw, Don't be scared as a new Nikyu. I always say this... Let the testing cycle take care of itself. Why? Because one has enough to worry about other than the testing cycle(s). What I know about you from reading your posts is that you're right spot on in your current MA betterment. You did it...you passed it...now onto Ikkyu!!

I concur!!

Best wishes to your Sensei!!

Absolute...AWESOME!! Well mix across the board!!

I hear you - it is a double edged sword. I, myself, as a child was a little snot in the dojo. Not mean, but I goofed around way too much and must have been distracting to the older and more serious students. I cringe when I think about how I used to behave. Then again, if I hadn't been enrolled or if they kicked me out, I might never have grown up to love martial arts the way I do, and Kyokushin would have never gained this student. My memory of how I used to behave, and my demeanor in the dojo now has helped me cultivate the first of my Martial Arts Maxims: "Have patience with kids in the dojo. You used to be that annoying, too". Its tough to fit kids in at times, and not all of them will fit in. I do think its important for kids to have at least a few classes that are kids only, so they can be focused on as they should be, and not with and as the adults are all the time.Your bold type above is why I believe that kids make the better student. Kids are unassuming while adults aren't.

That jump is quite the athletic feat, if I do say so myself. I'm not sure I could pull that off.In time...I know for a fact that you could...in time!! That jump is quite similar to the jump in Unsu, still, time makes this jump possible. As you know, my right knee makes this jump painfully impossible to perform in the manner of which it must be executed. I might get up, but it's that landing that I might not get up from. edit: Spelling errors

As do I!!

I, too, am humbled to have been mentioned as one who has been of some help to you; I THANK YOU!! There's not been a post of yours that hasn't touched my MA betterment in one way or another; quite inspiring across the board. THANK YOU for all that you do for KF, its members, and myself!!

I, too, have always admired you for everything that you do for KF. Your posts are enlightening across the board, this I feel without any ambiguity whatsoever. I've enjoyed reading about your history thru this KF Interview. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!

Thank you ALL!!

I, too, will go with the Cardinals!! GO CARDINALS!! PS: I, too, think that it'll go 7 games!!

My Cowboys aren't worthy of the Chiefs...an awesome year thus far, and at times, I found myself cheering for the Chiefs louder than I do for my 'Boys. Go COW...WAIT... GO CHIEFS!!

Congrats!! Well deserved!! Feels great, doesn't it?!?

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!!