sensei8

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!!

That instructor was wrong in the manner of which he choose to address said situation(s). I would've removed the instructor from the floor and had a serious conversation, and if that instructor refused to apologise and take ownership of his inappropriate actions, well, off the floor, especially during any testing cycle other than his own. Yelling at someone out of anger, frustration, or whatever, is purely uncalled for. Address the situation and not the person(s), and do it in private at all times. We're the instructors and this instructors actions put shame on every instructor because of the manner it was addressed. Students, kids and adults alike, are not our property to address in any way that we choose. They're people that make mistakes. Can't handle the stresses of a testing cycle, well, then don't conduct one nor be on any panel nor offer any assistance during said testing cycle.

I believe that you should be able to appeal directly to any governing body, including Kukkiwon. It would be worth the effort on your part. However, the decision will be up to the Kukkiwon. Good luck!!

Well done...congrats!!

Solid post!!

Aside from the definitions found in many sorted dictionaries, I'd like to present to you, KF members, what's not found in said publications... Tradition is what YOU think that it is because your MA journey is yours alone!! Therefore, tradition is what YOU decide that it is FOR YOU Instructors, as well as styles, teach us, or try to teach us, exactly what "Tradition" is. That's fine, but I'd like to find out for myself away from what the main stream of the MA is deciding for me. Let me learn for myself, and in that, let what I learn be true for ME!! Albeit, next time you're learning/training at someone else's dojo/dojang/school/etc, remember this: Their tradition is NOW YOUR tradition as well while you're in their dojo/dojang/school/etc. Respect that, or not! It has always been up to YOU!! Thoughts?

During the 49 years that I've been in Shindokan, I've learned a lot about myself and a few things about human nature. I'll admit I may not have been a very good instructor at first, because I didn't deliver great results to my valued students. Don't get me wrong, every ninth or tenth student saw good results and reached their MA goals, but they were the students who could have done it without my faults. Perhaps that's why the average career of an instructor is 18 months. For me, reality hit that not only was I not doing such a great job as their instructor. I was getting paid by them for me to teach them Shindokan, and because I was being paid but not providing substance. I couldn't live with this, so I reeducated myself, with the help of my Dai-Soke. I learned how human beings actually make changes, sometimes monumental changes, that improve their MA betterment, and how as instructors can help guide those changes. I was surprised by what I discovered during this process. I now know the best drills, the best workout plans, the best rest and recoveries, the ultimate approach to this and that concerning the MA, and on and on and on--doesn't really matter! Initially, that is. What matters is the pace that my students and I set together. If I as my students to do all of these at once, I am certain my students can not succeed. In fact, eve choosing two things at once has a tremendous rate of failure. Instead, let's work together, student and instructor, to narrow down a single area to address. Then, your chances of success start to rise!! Conquering one goal at a time leads to confidence ad the ability to handle additional changes naturally becomes easier. Before you know it, you're headed down the path to improved MA betterment. Thoughts?

If an instructor doesn't know how to motivate their students, well, close the doors!! Keeping an upbeat attitude BY THE INSTRUCTOR sure goes along way. On the other hand, a downbeat attitude BY THE INSTRUCTOR sure destroys the atmosphere quickly. The tone is set by the INSTRUCTOR, whether it's good or bad. Hence, the INSTRUCTOR must be proactive in managing said tone!! Treat others how you'd want to be treated. This seems like a good rule. Remembering them by name means a lot to students. Greeting them by their name when they come in the front door, goes along way. Things like this motivate students. Pep speeches!! I give them all of the time. Motivating them with the spoken word of positive encouragements, goes a long way, before, during, and after classes. Keeping a smile on your face will motivate. Saying kind words of encouragement while on the floor will go a long way. What we do, the MA, is hard, and in that, we instructors need to let our students know that we've had those days to, and from time to time, we still have those days as well. Build them up at all times!!

I think I can't do 60 push-ups, so I'd try not to get into trouble. Yeah...I've a black belt myself, but it's not in doing push-ups, if you get my meaning.

I use a grappling dummy, and I squeeze it over and over while doing "sets" at different tensions and durations. Isometric tensioning drills against my inner as well.

I wholeheartedly concur!!

Chances are!! No more or less than any other MAists!! Hence, it being called chances. I understand it very well. Are chances worth it? I think that they are because I believe in myself more than I believe in Shindokan

Will your block/deflection END/STOP your attackers advances? This isn't a rhetorical question nor is it a general musing. If ones block/deflection lack stopping attributes, then there's no use, imho, to execute said block/deflection. Stopping attributes = solid mass + velocity + conflicting trajectory vs incoming attack. Yes, my blocks stop attacks. I still dont know what you're driving at. Sometimes the media in which we're a part of allows the written word to not come across clear. I'm driving at...Don't walk forward if it's not going to get one closer to where one is trying to arrive at. I give up. Don't give up! There's still hope for me My question is this... Are YOUR blocks definitive; absolute? OR Are YOUR blocks weak; inadequate? To the first question, you've said that they are!! Therefore, as I said in the OP, it's possible that this topic isn't for you. Don't block to just throw up an arm with no purpose; Ikken hisatsu speaks TO ME just that!! Each and everything that I do, I must do it with the intent that that will end said attacker. A fling and a flair just don't cut it with me. If I execute said technique without the intent, then I just might as well not even try. You attack me, be prepared to meet with my premeditated intent of stopping you, and in that, I will execute each and every technique with every fiber of my being until you're stopped, and in that, hopefully, it'll only take one, whether it's a block/deflection or a punch or a kick or a whatever else it might take.

I believe that understanding ones methodology allows one to explore beyond its core, and in that, other methodologies and ideologies can be then added to ones core of said practitioner. I like what both of you are saying!!

Then I would say... As long as one has a credible feedback source to fall upon, then engage in said training methodology.

Will your block/deflection END/STOP your attackers advances? This isn't a rhetorical question nor is it a general musing. If ones block/deflection lack stopping attributes, then there's no use, imho, to execute said block/deflection. Stopping attributes = solid mass + velocity + conflicting trajectory vs incoming attack. Yes, my blocks stop attacks. I still dont know what you're driving at. Sometimes the media in which we're a part of allows the written word to not come across clear. I'm driving at...Don't walk forward if it's not going to get one closer to where one is trying to arrive at.

So, students can do the form anyway they want, instead of the way they were taught?? Seems to me that that would not be beneficial because the said form should be performed as exactly as possible as it was taught. Now, in a form competition, go for it. Do the form anyway one feels most comfortable. But in a testing cycle, not cool, and not allowed. Paces vary from school to school, but within said school, the pace should be dead on the same. Imho!!

Approch each Kata seperately. By that I mean, treat each Kata appropriately to its sources. If one style has it being done this way, then do it this way. If the other style has it being done that way, then do it that way. Execute each as that style would have you to do, and nothing less!! It's, imho, the do it the Rome way when in Rome.

Still seems like a crappy thing to do to somebody. What was his whole point of abusing you until you got angry enough to yell at him? Dai-Soke was never abusive, and if he was, I would've left Shindokan a long time ago. Dai-Soke always CHALLENGED us, that was his way, and that was the way of our Soke as well. While it may seem like a "crappy thing to do", I never felt it that way then, nor do I feel that way now. To know him is to understand him; he was very compassionate both on and off the floor. If the way that I wrote the OP has painted a negative hue about the situation as well as my Dai-Soke, then the fault is mine, and not Dai-Soke's.