sensei8

Still, accurate and credible feedback is needed. Without the feedback, nothing of value can be truly added to one MA betterment. It's all guess work and heresay and conjecture without the feedback. In that, it's not about one saying..."Better than nothing" because without that critical feedback, nothing can be learnt that's effective. Either ones doing it correctly, thus effectively, or ones not doing it correctly, thus ineffectively. Imho!!

In addition, Your article delves quite specifically in a very needed area that must be embraced and understood: Transitions. Your drills speak to that need. Well done!!

Excellent read!! Well done!! Thank you for it!!

If a school of the MA can't teach the effectiveness of said MA without hurting their students, then the doors should be closed forever. IMHO!!

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.

I wholeheartedly concur...see a doctor now so that you can train later. Hang in there, good luck with your recovery. Don't rush it.

I will!! I love Pinan Yondan because it's got quite a lot of "meat" on its bone, and my oh my, the Bunkai/Oyo, are endless. So much so, that when I think that I've disected it throughly, I discover something new. Pinan Yondan for me please!

Are any of YOU here allowed to set the pace of any said Kata/Form during a testing cycle?

Solid post!!

For clarity sake, the story I shared was NOT part of any testing cycle. NO! These moments were during regular classes with my Dai-Soke. I'm sure that me using the word "test" in the sharing made it appear, to some, that it was a "test", but it never was an OFFICIAL test. "Test" was the word used by Dai-Soke, and not by myself. This was his way, not just for me, but for any Shindokan student.

It's the stubborn within you that drives your MA vehicle, so to speak. You won't succumb because it's not within you to do so. In that, it's that light at the end of said tunnel that drives you to break through the darkest MA days into the bright MA days in your MA horizon. Thanks for the kind words, Bob. Now, I just need to get the train moving a bit faster through the tunnel... Time; let the time take care of itself, and it will!!

YES!! Anyone with a minimum idea of what the MA is, and has to offer in the form of self-defense and the like will always have some doubt for one reason or another. In that, if what you've learnt hasn't been tested for its effectiveness, then one will never know, therefore, one will build up false securities that guide one down a dangerous road. TEST..............................................and then some until you know for sure!!

A very well written article across the board. Some very fine points for those wishing to explore that media for their MA training. While I'm not a favorable proponent of that type of MA training, it's still valuable to those who decide for themselves to engage in that. Thanks for it!!

A very well put together article, and one that I totally enjoyed. Thank you for taking the time to write it!!

On three different occasions, my Dai-Soke has tested my mettle. First time was when I was a JBB. The second time was when I was a Godan. The third time was when I had just earned my Hachidan. He drove me to unthinkable depths of my training. He was, an unmerciful taskmaster on the floor. Never once informing me as to the "why's" about the entire ordeals. And whenever I would reach my limits physically and mentally and emotionally, he'd stop it as quick as it began. However, just after I had earned my Hachidan, Dai-Soke put through the excruciating pain once again, just as he had done to me two times before. However, this time I had truly reached my limits, a person can only take so much before they're broken. I was broken! And I finally did the unthinkable. I yelled at him, on his floor! I insisted to know the "why's" about its purpose. He refused to speak about the "why's", and demanded that I continue. I refused to continue until he explained himself to me. "What's wrong??" he asks of me. "This isn't the first time that you've commited me to this type of training. WHY?" I demanded. "It's a test!" was his only simple reply. "It's a test? Well, it's an unfair test!" I retorted. "You've passed!" was his only response. "I've passed. Passed what? What test? This has always been a test? You're out of your mind!" I said. "Yes. You've passed. It had always been a test. To say that the test was unfair takes courage. Yes. It was unfair, but you never had the courage to tell me that it was unfair until now" he explained. I'm either dense in the head or I'm just willing to endure untold pain to please myself and my Dai-Soke all these many years. So... Has your MA instructor ever had you perform something that YOU felt was impossible, therefore, quite unfair?? If so, what how did you resolve it, if at all.

I've had my share of them before, and I'm sure that I'll have them again. It's part of the MA and nothing that should be taken serious because I'm not perfect, and in that, I'll make mistakes more often than I care to remember. Hang in there and push through it all!!

Dodgers!! But the Dodgers must take the Cardinals serious. Will it go 7 games??

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!

Imho... For a conditioning exercise or the like; this is not Kata, and in that, every movement and the like is there for a purpose away from nonsense. Kata has a purpose, and in that, without any purpose, Kata is for naught.

I believe that the mixture of these both MA would compliment each other quite well.

As fluid, or natural, as one walks, so should Kata be performed; effortlessly but purposefully.

Practice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And let us not forget about the concept of Shu Ha Ri. Kata shouldn't be placed upon such a signular plane because there are so many layers, even some that haven't been discovered as of yet. Training tool? Yes! But not a definitive tool, nor is it a defiant tool either! In that, I use a capital 'K' when I speak about Kata because it's not just a thing, it's everything to a Karateka and spoke about as though it was just a thing. Imho

I wholeheartedly concur with the bold type above!! Solid post!!

Great OP!!! In reference to the bolded text above, we have almost that exact phrase on the back of our school shirts. We phrase it as, "If it was easy, everyone would do it!" Meaning, you're exactly right! As for pushing through and conquering... I always keep my mind focused on the fact that I'm in MA to conquer only myself. No one else! I do it to protect myself and loved ones. I push through because I believe my MA talent is a gift not to be taken lightly or abused... To me, this again speaks loudly about Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro, and without them, nothing is possible. Self needs these concepts to survive in the MA, and provides an avenue outside of the MA as well, imho.