sensei8

Don't train students in the heat dressed in full gi UNLESS ones taking the necessary steps to protect their students well being by offering a means for them to hydrate themselves, rest breaks, and the like. I'm not a mean and uncaring instructor who cares very little for my/any student. Yes, I'll push them to the edge of the unknown and beyond, but, I recognize things that are more important than the MA; life is more important!! I don't mindlessly drill any/my students to the ground, and because I don't, I push Shugyo only until Shugyo no longer warrants me to do so. Awareness!!

HOT DOGS!! YUMMY!! What's your favorite hot dog? I love the Chicago Dogs! I love the New York Dogs!

I thank each and everyone of you for your kind and supportive words!! When you look at the testing cycle for my Kudan, and you see, for example, Kihon, not only did I have to execute flawless each teachnique, I had to demonstrate every possible effective application to that said technique. It was not the fact that I knew the technique, but I also knew it's many possible applications across the board. To throw a technique without understanding it in its totality is meaningless; discovery of the unforseen is always just over the horizon. So, the three K's, the Kobudo, etc, were much more than what I posted as general requirements. NO MORE FORMAL TESTING FOR ME...EVER!!

I don't think so either because I don't think Kanazawa Sensei became Soke of SKIF so that he could join the link you've noted. No, I think that it was a progressive transition in that he is still an active part of the SKIF, and after all, he is the founder of the SKIF!!

Kensei, I already hate myself for asking this...but... Do you think that Bruce was a MAist?

Super solid post...I thank you for it!! I want the ART to evolve, but I must evole first...imho!!

The concern is that half of the students, based on their internal plumbing that they have no control over, have to do "Shugyo" every class, and the other half do not, and then the half that is doing "Shugyo" at that very moment on top of the class are compared to the people who are not at that moment engaged in a session of "Shugyo". That's like complaining that one person (who just ran two miles) looks more listless and tired than the person who got a ride in the back of a car - therefore, the person who got a ride must be a better athlete!I will weed out those students who aren't willing to embrace Shugyo in their MA training because I don't want, nor do I need, students who aren't willing and ready to lay their MA training on the line; there must be a purpose for MA training, imho, not just to join some club and say that they once trained in the MA for the heck of it.

Each of us specialize in the MA, one way or another. I believe that the true condurum is in finding that which is within the MAist to discover their mettle. The search is not in vain, no, it's complete in its totality.

As promised, here's my general Kudan testing requirements! General Requirements 1> Unquestioned moral character and maturity 2> Continued practice and involvement in Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate & Kobudo 3> Mastery of principles and philosophy of Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate & Kobudo 4> Substantial contributions to Shindokan Saitou-ryu Karate & Kobudo 5> Unanamous recommendations of both the Administration AND Executive Departments to the Testing Department Day #1 Kihon Tamashiwara Day #2 A) Kata~ Bunkai/Oyo B) Kobudo~ Bunkai/Oyo Day #3 Kumite Tuite Kyusho-jitsu 3-hour Q&A Submission of Thesis: "Define The Betterment Of Shindokan" This is the general outline of what I endured for 3 days. The requirements might not look like much at its face value, but I was on the floor just over 10 hours each day; quite in depth. To list the nomenclature of the requirements would take quite a lot to read if I was to list each and every single requirement. Hence, I've listed the requirements in general. I do believe that Dai-Soke would've commended the requirements across the board...and...he would've smiled a smile, no matter if it was just a slight smile. I don't think that any style of the MA tests thier Kudan's, however, I requested this because I wasn't going to accept that rank EVER, unless, at my suggestion, the Hombu tests me for that rank and the test better warrant a test of unbelievable porportions. I believe they succeeded at just that!! Greg, during our Kumite session was new for us. How? Greg literally tried to kill me. I ended up having a badly bruised up right foot and I received a muscle strain on my left chest. I've never seen that from Greg before, but I'm glad he was in form across the board. PAYBACK Greg...I always get a turn!!

Kanazawa Sensei is no longer the Kancho of the SKIF. No, he's now Soke!! His son, Nobuaki Kanazawa is now Kancho, and Manabu Murakami Sensei is now the Chief Instructor. Check out their letters... http://www.skifworld.com/index.php THIS, is how a transition is to be done!! My Hombu could learn a lot from how it's suppose to be done. Congrats to Soke Kanazawa, Kancho Kanazawa, and CI Murakami on their transitions.

Congrats on your recent promotion to brown belt!! Here's the link to the JKA's [Japan Karate Association] Shodan requirements... http://www.jka.or.jp/english/karate/1dan.html As always, Shodan requirements are subjective to the governing body for which manages said rank.

I love that as well...CLASSIC and right to the point!!

Everything, including evolving of the art, is impossible; nothing's guaranteed, imho!! It's a hopeful thing, if nothing else.

Shugyo!! That means that students wear whatever the CI dictates overall. However, the CI can make any exception per the basis of each individual student. If the weather permits, then the CI can make any announcement(s) whenever its appropriate. Students don't like the dress rules...quit or suck it up.

Thank you so very much Patrick!!

Thank you so very much!! Normally a Kudan DOESN'T test per say in front of a testing cycle panel. Usually the governing body bestows Kudan and Judan for whatever reasons the governing body deems appropriate as well as the improved betterment of the individual over a long, long time. My Dai-Soke was awarded his Kudan by our Soke when our Soke promoted Dai-Soke from Chief Instructor to Kaicho. No tests, nothing!! Soke held a ceremony...awarded Dai-Soke his Kudan, as it's written in our By-Laws. I'll be posting my entire testing requirements sometime this weekend. Now, I'll never accept Judan...EVER!! Even though it's written in our By-Laws that the current Soke type MUST be promoted to Judan. Well, we've taken care of that by eliminating the Soke type all together; NO SOKE TYPES permitted, and that's been amended in our By-Laws. I was kidding with Greg just two nights ago, telling him that I think he needs to be a Kudan too. After all, Greg's our Kancho!! Greg chuckled and then threw the book he was reading at me...then told me to shut up and don't start anything!! I snickered as I went back to my office.

I had heard about it for the first time when bassaiguy mentioned it here at KF. Rest in peace Jim Kelly. An exceptional MAist; Okinawa-te under GM Gordon Doversola.

How will your instructor see this? Well, if he's solid across the board, he'll not give it any thought beyond...."Hhhmmmmm", and that's about it. No, imho, it's not a sign of disrespect, especially since we live in the year 2013 and not the yesteryears. Just train and train hard!! You'll be fine!!

Kung Fu Panda

My methodologies of my teaching structure MUST allow for all types of learners because all learn differently; learning curves vary from practitioner to practitioner. Students aren't out from some cookie cutter; none's the same. This is one of the many reasons that not all black belts can teach!! While the syllabus/curriculum is important, but it's nothing more than a guideline, however, some students get it quicker than others, for one reason or another. While the 7 ways you've listed are solid across the board, it's the 1 thing that must be born...DESIRE!!

The laymen's answer... TKD has more kicks than most Karate...a lot more.

Again, as many here have already mentioned...contact the governing body!! Hopefully, your husbands sensei filed anything and everything with the governing body because sensei's and the like pass away, but for the most, not always, governing bodies don't.

The practitioner should evolve!! But, the art evolving isn't always up to the practitioner...no...for the most part, the governing body decides its path. Imho!!

You're absolutely correct. I didn't have to but I believe that this was an acceptable option because I totally refused the promotion for many, many, many years. But the Hombu kept pushing me to accept Kudan because it's written in the By-Laws and they weren't even interested in changing the wording, and I tried many avenues to convince them across the board. By-Laws was all they knew, and it didn't matter that Dai-Soke told them to "back off" in his special way. It is what it is!! I figured that the only way to shut them up was to offer them to test me, but they took it hook line and sinker to my surprise. I figured that they'd say that Kudan and Judan are untestable ranks, but they threw me a curve ball when they quickly agreed to create a testing cycle that would honor our Dai-Soke; and it was a cruling test, to say the least...I've enough boo boos to last awhile...they tried to kill me. The matter is over and I wish that it didn't have to come to this; meanwhile, I wear the badge of Kaicho with pride, and as far as Kudan, well, that's to be seen for the moment.

I'd be more than glad to do that just as soon as I get home...it's been a long 3 weeks away from home.