sensei8

Same with me!!

I hate to beat-up this topic, but, others within the Shindokan Hombu's hierarchy, have officially submitted me to a hearing to discuss my refusal of wearing my awarded Kudan by our Hombu. I told those concerned that, while I thank them all for my Kudan, I don't consider myself a Kudan; I'm Hachidan, nothing more!! I'll wear the rank only during official occasions that demand it of me per our By-Laws and the like, no other times warrant it, imho. I'm not Kudan because Dai-Soke didn't promote me to this, and I still feel unworthy of it unless it had come from him. I went through all of their red tape and through all of their hoops, but, imho, that's where it ends and that's where it needs to end. I don't depend on outwardly identifiers because Shindokan is in my heart; through and through. Politics make me sick!! So, I ask... What's wrong with me?? What's my problem?? Aaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhh!!

In a nomenclature kind of sense, it can be both. I have a black belt because I am a black belt....OR...I'm a black belt because I have a black belt. Either you are or you are not!! Walking on the floor with your black belt tells all that you're a black belt at first impressions, but, the truth is quickly discovered that while you're wearing a black belt, your level of experience doesn't match to the advertisement wrapped around your waist. However, it can also be discovered that you're wearing a black belt and your experience does match to the advertisement around your waist; in that, you are a black belt through and through. Heart can't be denied; experience truly comes from the heart. Did you pay $5 for a black belt at the local MA supply store, or did you pay for your black belt through many years of shedding your blood, sweat, and tears!! True black belts can't be denied, however, false black belts are denied.

Learning from a book is dependant on the individuals learning curve, so, yes, it's possible, but not recommended because feedback is essentially vital to the growth of that MAists betterment. I can learn math from a book, but I'd have a much clearer understanding if I had a teacher to properly guide my learning. Depends on the teaching quality of the instructor. I've seen some pretty good ATA instructors, and I've seen some pretty bad ATA instructors. So, you can gain some solid depth after any length of time, but is that quality effective across the board. If the quality is sub-par, then even after some length of time, the quality of the student will still remain sub-par and then, bad muscle memory will be quite difficult to escape from. Imho, not all McDojo's are bad in their quality, content, and context. It's just that their brand management isn't always about turning out quality MAists, no, it's the quality of their bank account. For the most part that I've seen concerning Mc Dojo's is that everyone passes no matter what and imho, that's only giving their students false security concerning their MA's ability. The streets is the wrong place to find that out after you've been in that type of sub-par learning/teaching environment for many, many years. Everyone here at KF has their own opinions, but the decision remains yours. I wish you the most success in reaching your final decision. Hang in there!!

Look in the yellow pages, Chinese MA can still be found. Chinese MA, like Kung-Fu will never be forgotten because it's so engrained in our society.

I sincerely believe that "Gongfu" or Kung-Fu will never be forgotten because it's too much engrained in our society, therefore, permanent.

No Kata equals no karate!! These things can be adjusted at any given time instantly as needed. The things that kata trains us are vital outside of the safety of any dojo because kata gave me transitional understanding outside of the prescribed movements of any said kata. These prescribed movements are the key to the door, and once the door is opened in understanding and discovering the unforeseen Bunkai/Oyo, adjustments that you speak up become effortless. True, however, kata is a training tool, and it's about time students understand that. One has to train outside of the kata, but then, one will also have to return to that kata training to chip away and clean the air of any uncertain elements that still might exist. Kata is modern and effective as a training tool. I don't do kata for trophies, no, I train in kata because it opens up many other possibilities. People speak ill about kata because they don't understand it as it is meant to be understood. Again, no kata equals no karate!!

True. However, Dan rank can be taken away. Well, it can if you're a Dan holder from Shindokan. A Godan, for example, can be reduced to a Yondan if said individual didn't successfully pass their PIP (Personal Improvement Plan) as prescribed by our Hombu, after any said practitioner was found to have violated any given rule/policies.

If the standards have been lessened by the individual by their premeditated actions, then that individual must be held accountable. Otherwise, the standards mean nothing!!

As with any MA, including JKD, the art is only as effective as that one practitioner performing it. Some practitioners are excellent vehicles of the art in which they represent, while others aren't. We've only one chance to make that lasting impression of any said art, and JKD isn't an exception. From what I've studied and from what I've learned about JKD from some very well versed practitioners of JKD is this. Bruce's methodology as well as his ideology isn't birthed from his syllabus, but from the individual practitioner. Bruce created a vehicle for its practitioners to explore the many possibilities for THAT practitioner, and that practitioner alone. "Absorb what is useful, discard the rest!" This directs the JKD practitioner to discover things that work for them, and the things of JKD that don't work for that practitioner, well, they're not forced to assimilate each and every crossed 't' or every dotted 'i'. Does that lessen JKD? No! Again, any MA is only as effective as the [next] practitioner.

I believe that any said technique can't survive on its own merits. By that I mean, any said technique must have something to aide it. For example, a punch by the use of only the arm lacks quality. A punch will need to depend on ones legs, hips, posture, alignment, and so on and so forth to complete said punch. Your thoughts, please,

But you want to go to your MA school, right? Well, they both teach something of great value...so...learning and training are quite the same thing. You have to find the good of it among all of the bad, and you might see that there's more good than bad. Hang in there!!

Solid post!!

Imho... Mass is nothing without properly executed techniques.

Why do you think that a Dan rank wouldn't want to spar with a Kyu rank?

I don't think mass will make a difference because the technique must be performed properly first!!

Every MAist has a core style of the MA!! It's what we do effectively after that determines ones journey!! Do what you feel works for you!! Don't be absorbed in what pleases others because it's your journey!!

I'm never surprised, but rather, I'm educated!! Just as soon as I was able to wrap around my brain that Bunkai/Oyo is forever extremely open to effective applications. I eagerly await for my next Bunkai education!!

Very, very interesting, to say the least; I enjoyed them both. Thank you for posting the links!!

Within the history of Shindokan, and it's Hombu, rank HAS been taken away; demotion. For example, my most senior student was demoted several years ago by our Hombu for lying on the application for a upcoming testing cycle. Without going into a great deal of information, our Hombu has demoted 6 of varying Dan ranks for various serious infractions, and the first one was done in 1966. Rank isn't forever, however, the knowledge is forever!! Mess up serious enough to warrant said actions, our Hombu will demote rank.

...To ask this question, imho, only demonstrates just how little a practitoner understands the basis of kata. If a student is asking this question because they truly want to understand kata, this is an expected question. However, if a student is asking this question because they don't believe in kata, this is an expected question because they don't want to understand the importance of kata. What's more arlarming to me is when a karateka asks this type of question. Imho!!

This is for adults as well, imho!!

Gripping strength is paramount to any Shindokan practitioner and I can't ever imagine it without it. We train in Hojo Undo, and to be more exacting, Nigiri Game is where we train our grip. Our brand of Tuite depends on our grip being almost unbreakable. I want to control my attacker!!

Thanks! (can't think were I've seen this one before!) 1. Get a board. 2. Mount it about 'chudan' height. 3. Put a candle on it. 4. Punch, DO NOT touch the candle. 5. Try to put the candle out! Your focus (ki) & speed will be so SO much better when you can do this on demand! There's a picture of Oyama doing just that in his book, "This is Karate"

Wherever your attacker feels the most comfortable, that's where you and your attacker will most likely end up at, and quite quickly. If your attacker feels better standing, then that's where your attacker will try to keep the fight at. If your attacker feels better being on the ground, then that's where your attacker will try to keep the fight at. I did say "try", and you've quite a lot to say about where the fight will end as well; it's a chess game. Train on the ground. If it's in your syllabus, great. If not, find a school that will give you the necessary tools to operate while on the ground. The ground isn't the end, so don't panic when you end up on the ground. The ground is nothing more than a transition, and transitions are the MA. Hang in there and train hard!!