sensei8

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!!

Soilid post!!

Ditto!!

Double ditto!!

Solid post. Conceptional sparring, imho, just won't work because it lacks substance.

I wholeheartedly concur!!

Solid post!!

Thx! And welcome to KF! Yes...great post. I too want to welcome you to KF!!

There you go again...You've now have had two police officers advise you...so...adhere to their advice, or at least really consider them. Don't just leave that school, but file the charges because EVERYONE is accountable, and if the only thing you do is leave that dreaded school, they won't learn a valuable lesson.

There you go!! Bushido_man96 IS in Law Enforcement, I'd listen to what he has to say here. Nobody should have to be subjected to that type of abuse. Learning the MA is suppose to be an enjoyable thing, and from what I've read, you're not enjoying anything from that school. LEAVE IT ASAP!!