sensei8

I doubt that training in the MA shortens ones life, and in that, I believe that no day is guaranteed to anyone. Therefore, we'll die when we die and not before than; MA training or not. Imho!!

I'd do nothing different! Why? I've lived the MA my entire life, and in that, the live in the MA that I've followed has smiled upon me graciously. I'm in my 49th year, and I've been blessed with the best students, the best Soke and Dai-Soke, the best friends both in and out of the MA, and in that, the best MA journey, one that has been very fruitful beyond all I could've ever expected or hoped for. However, there seems to always be the 'however', doesn't there. It's not a sad story, but it's something that I took granted for, and I should've paid much more attention to the things that are important, like memories. I suppose that I would've taken more accountability for making sure that memories weren't wasted or tossed to the side or forgotten. But I did!! I've no pictures neatly layed back in some album or detailed files or in some tattered old box. NO! No pictures of my own about the most fullfilled life that a MAist could ever have; again, I've been blessed beyond all that I could've ever dreamed about. I can look at pictures from other Shindokanists, and they do fill a small part, but not like they possibly could if I had them for myself. That way I could look at them whenever I've the desire to replay the gambit of memories. To laugh at or to cry over or to ponder over; nonetheless, pictures of ones past shouldn't be laying on some dusty old book shelf or on a closet shelf, but I strive for that nowadays, moreso now than before. I'd change or do nothing different!! To become a better guardian of my memories is the only thing that I would change. Now is too late!! Those memories aren't lost from my mind, but only on those small canvases that I took advantages. I was more concerned about my MA betterment, and not preserving those who have meant the world to me. I take task with myself for not showing more forthright with those precious, now lost forever, memories. Don't make my same mistake. Cherish those memories forever because what use to be is only a distant memory if one doesn't have them to look back upon in that tattered old box.

For many a great reason(s), there's no such thing as a certificate police to enforce what certificate one should or shouldn't hang; it's a personal choice that's not truly open for judgement. I've been in quite a variety of professional offices in and out of the MA, and many professionals hang up quite a lot of certificates. It's not what 'we' consider important, no, it's what 'that' practitoner considers important.

Well, it's been about 3 weeks since earning Kudan, and as of yet, I've still not hung up my Kudan certificate, no, I put it inside my safe deposit box at the bank I bank with. That's where it'll stay for the time being!! I've still not worn my new Kudan obi as of yet either. It's a beautiful belt!! No, that's now sitting on a book shelf in my bedroom. Am I ashamed of them both? No! Not even close. But, it'll take me a little bit before I hang or wear either of them because, and I don't expect anybody to understand this, any promotion I've ever received had always been from my Dai-Soke. This Kudan wasn't from my Dai-Soke!! I know, I know, I know...but I need a little more time for whatever reason I might or might not have. For now, it's a personal and private choice that the Hombu is going to have to accept, not that they've been inquiring about either of them. I'm sure they're wondering about the whole darn thing themselves. I've seen the raising of an eyebrow or two. To be honest, the only ones that have asked me about either are some of the kids at either location. I might not ever wear the Kudan obi, and I might not ever hang up the Kudan cert; let me absorb the reality of the whole thing, no matter how long it might or might not take me. Yes, if Dai-Soke had awarded them himself, yes, I'd already hung them and I would've already wrapped it around my waist. Wouldn't have even let the sun set before I did either of them. Why is this different? I just don't know and I just don't want to be rushed into doing either, which, imho, is my choice and my right, not the Hombu!! My loyalty to my Dai-Soke will never lessen!! The powers that be at the Hombu did an amazing testing cycle for my Kudan. I respect and love them with all of my heart and soul. I'm now Kudan, but right now, I don't feel like a Kudan. I've only my Dai-Soke to compare with and I don't even hold a candle to him; not even close!! If not soon, I will wear it during our next annual testing cycle at the Hombu because formality requires it. Having said that, I'll see how I feel then.

I too, hang up my current rank/title at the dojo and at the Hombu as well. The rest of my certificates and the like, I no longer display them at my home, no, I've placed them all inside of a safe deposit box at the bank I bank with for safe keeping. One can't always be to safe!!

I believe that they are. I believe that they are. I do believe that they are part of a larger issue. That issue, I believe it to be, is birthed by our society believing that the short cut to any known goal has to be much better than going through the many untold years that it truly takes. MA students have discovered this to be true. Hence the creation of many McDojo's and the like. In that, the other co-issue is money; unfortunately one begets the other intentionally. Promotions are given out just like some mutant piece of candy. It's no longer of any value to have to truly earn any promotion, and this is true when instructors and the like are handing out 100% pass ratios to their students. This breads false securities into their students and before it's too late, they're finding out the truth at a horrifying cost; someones life or serious injury. They can't defend themselves out of a wet paper sack even after a hole had been provided; they believing that what they've wrapped around their waists, are meaningless out in the streets of hard-knocks. Students who want the fast promotion deserve what they get; meaningless instructions, but what an expensive lesson to finally learn. And for those students who just go through the motions without any fruition, the same goes for them as well. For those students who don't want to hear the truth...get out of my dojo until you can be honest with yourselves first!! These type of students can be helped, but it'll take tons of patience [for the instructor] as well as discipline [for the student who WANTS the help] to free them of this type of training bondage. But, again, the student MUST want the help from an qualified AND caring instructor who's 180 degrees away from the uncaring instructor who'll say anything and do everything that would help that damaged instructors' P&L statement, and not the students betterment. For example, a bad driver can be taught how to be a great driver AND a safe driver; but it'll take time to correct the bad muscle memories that have deeply rooted and misguided. Both, the instructor and the student have to accept and allow time to properly nourish the starving wanting that's trying to escape from it's training dungeon of times past. In time, the hopeful student will begin to shake loose the chains that have been binding them for those many years that taught them ineffective MA. Once that student has finally emerged triumphant as the MAist that will partake willingly in the type of training that's not only needed, but the training that is required across the board. That "new" student will gladly pour out swimming pools full of blood, sweat, and tears to become solid in their MA training as well as in the never ending journey. They'll begin to see the true value in being totally and completely accountable for their training. That accountability will require a new learning set of skills because that needed accountability is alien to them, and in that, they'll have to be taught to accept that level of accountability across the board. It will not be an easy road for both the student as well as the instructor, but it'll be well worth everything in the long run. Besides, nothing should come easy; hard work is required for hard results!!

Double ditto!!

Birthdays will tend to do that.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Danielle, happy birthday to you...and many more!!

I once taught a college course at the Los Angeles Valley College for a few years back in the early 1980's on a very part time basis. During the initial application process of coming on board, the LAVC administration wanted every single certificate I had earned up to that point for my Dan grade. I refused them their request and presented to them my Yondan certificate, and that was it. During the panel interview, they questioned me about why I hadn't fulfilled their demands. I simply explained to them that my Yondan certificate was quite sufficient for thier needs because I couldn't have earned my Yondan without already having earned the Dan previous to that; it would be impossible!! No one goes from whatever right up to Yondan, or any other rank in the MA without first having earned said previous ranks before hand!! Beside, I explained to them, what's sitting before them is of the surface, if they wanted to see if I was qualified beyond any platitudes, well, proof is on the floor, and I'd be more than happy to explain it to them out on any given floor. No, my Yondan certificate is more than sufficient to meet any LAVC pre-requisites for the position in which I was applying for. I presented them with my proposed syllabus and the like. Left them to decide for themselves because I wasn't going to jump through all of their hoops. I was more than qualified for the position in which they were trying to fullfill. A few days later, I received a phone call at my dojo welcoming me to the next semester as part of their staff.

Than your Sensei is a good Sensei. Your Sensei is concerned about the betterment of his students in not just for the moment, but for the long haul. Bunkai/Oyo aren't just some cool sounding words, no. They have to be understood in their complete totality beyond the surface, and in that, they change as one grows, and even more so, they minimize ones efforts of application!!

Anonymity can be a good thing, and when visiting other schools of the MA, wearing a white belt provides that, but only for the brief moment before said instructor acknowledges you. Even then, white belt on!!

Congrats and very well deserved!!

I've got to try the new Pretzel Hot Dog at Sonic...look and sounds quite YUMMYVILLE!! = drooling

Aggression without the proper content doesn't belong in the dojo. On the streets, well, context aggression is a good thing. Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro ring loudly!!

Solid post!!

Yes...yes...yes...again...and again...Very solid post!! Domo arigato gozaimasu sensei8-san Great topic thread, and props to your 5000+ posts! (I'm still a newbie around here...) So far, the few dozen of yours that I've read have been quite good / solid, as well. And props to your many years of experience... From what I've garnered by all the posts I've read, you have about twice as many years in your Karate / MA journey as I have... (no allusion to age, of course ) Thank you for your very kind words; they haven't fallen upon a deaf ear.

Imho... White belt is the most important belt a MAist can ever hope or desire to attain; without it [white belt], rank is nothing more than an illusion, at best!! Strap it on and rock n' roll!!

I wholeheartedly agree that we all should strive for perfection, even the intent of perfection. Our intent is fallible as well, imho. If our MA IS effective, more so than our attacker, than perhaps we're much closer to perfection than we could ever imagine or desire.

Congrats and well deserved!!

And from: In my earlier days of my journey, I was an aggressive blockhead, especially when I competed. I got my rear end handed to me nearly every time. Once I gained some humbleness, I started to become more passive and eventually became a passive blockhead. As a passive blockhead, whether in street defense kumite / partner drills or in competition kumite, I got my rear end handed to me nearly every time. (Blockhead = me not learning to change my ways and getting my rear end handed to me.) Since then, I've learned that in a street defense situation, a normal, humble joe shmoe MA like most folks and myself need to maintain a certain amount of passivity and mental calmness to a certain point. Once a situation on the street changes from verbal to physical, at that precise moment, a mental switch must flip and "HIYAAAAH!" You must be aggressive enough from that point forward to defend yourself and / or your loved ones, regardless of number of attackers. Multiple opponents means you must change your tactics from how you would take on one opponent (and must include trying to be a track star...run away!). tallgeese, remember that joe shmoe MAs don't have the benefit of military or LOE training. Military and LOE's like you are trained to be soldiers, and that you're trained from the start to be aggressive because of the situations that you will most likely be in (which I think is some of the wisdom you're trying to share). Because we don't deal with intense situations like military or LOEs on a normal basis, and because we don't have the badge of law supporting us, joe shmoes like us will have a different encounter experience and must contend with an attacker on the street a little differently. I understand that LOEs would say, that besides basic routine traffic stops, every serious encounter is unique (I have 4 students that are LOEs), but, if you would, humor me for a few For instance, if some street thug decided to get brody with me at a parking lot or whatever somewhere and threatened to close in on my or my loved one's personal space (but has not yet crossed it), I have two basic options. 1) I can remain calm and passive and move my loved one and I out of danger while informing said brody street thug that "we don't want trouble / leave us alone." Or, 2) I can flip my "HIYAAAAH" switch and go aggressive in an attempt to preempt this theoretical brody street thug. As a joe shmoe, if I choose option 2, brody street thug is not going to react the same way if you, as an LOE, would choose option 2. It's psychological: people react differently to uniformed and badged law officers than to joe shmoes (else, why would there be undercover officers?). If you choose option 2, said brody street thug knows you're armed, have access to backup, etc... He knows his options are to run (and get splatter-tackled and arrested), to attack you with fists (and get splatter-tackled and arrested), or attack you with weapon (and get maced, tasered, or shot; in case of mace or taser, followed by splatter-tackled and arrested). Because brody street thug already has a plan of aggression in mind (even if only random / spontaneous), if I choose option 2, I will most likely get my rear end handed to me or killed. However, if I choose option 1, and thus prepare for impending danger by putting myself and loved one in better position, when brody street thug crosses that line of personal space, SURPRISE! "HIYAAAH!" switch flipped, counter-aggression on, supported by my MA training. If weapons are involved, brody's wrists, elbows, and knees are subject to breakage, and his throat and groin are subject to smashing... Takedowns work in any case, but if brody has buddies with him, there's no time to turn a takedown into a tap-out. A takedown must take brody out in order to move on to his buddies. Preemptive, on-all-the-time aggression works in sport competition / MMA because contenders are in a controlled environment with rules and no fear or expectation of death (reasonably, that is; i.e, when was the last time someone was killed in an MMA bout?). In sport competition / MMA, people do train to win, and superior aggression almost ensures victory. However, in street defense, there is no winning, only survival. To quote: Self-preservation = survival... Don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to disparage you and your training methods, or the wisdom you are trying to impart. From your posts I've read around here, sounds like you're intensely well trained and experienced. I plan on researching the court case you mentioned in a previous post on this thread. While I've never won championships at competitions / tournaments, I've successfully defended myself and loved ones in street situations. And, I'm definitely no master, either. One of my personal improvement projects in my MA training is I think I've gone too far back towards being a passive blockhead. So, I'm training to be more aggressive in my defense responses... Oops... Sorry my 2 cents ballooned into a novel again... I get long-winded sometimes Solid post!! Btw, you're not long-winded imho. No, on the contrary because your posts are quite enjoyable and full of meat. Keep your posts coming!!

Thanks for the article Danielle...interesting. I believe that this article spoke about money and the new way to increase the WTF's bottom line! Commending because business MUST do that continuous or die. Managing own's brand is crucial across the bottom line of any business. The WTF sees the unending success of the UFC and wants to get their own piece of the pie. However, imitating isn't always flattering!! The WTF will, imho, have to quite a lot of soul searching to even get the crumbs of that business module. The WTF will have to offer something so different in order to attract the box-office type of revenue. Holding a WTF event in a octagon, imho, won't be enough because there as to be complete newness to the conceptual embrace beyond the octagon. Offering more points for punches, imho, adds nothing of substance to the whole. Changing the uniform, imho, is cool, but offers little to the core of the WTF. Again, IMHO!! Points and uniforms are an internal strife from the surface, but the underlying is still from a managing owns brand. It's the "Who Stole My Cheese" type of things that every business needs to embrace. Does the world truly need another UFC type?

I'd imagine that any LEO administration would be quite selective across the board when searching for qualified instructors, and in that, not every qualified MAist will even pass the most basic mustard. Prove yourself credible beyond any doubt, and you'll have a chance. Lineage is important, but not to any LEO administration because most LEO administrations don't understand or know about lineage. Recommendations from other LEO administrations, and/or from other LEO's themselves, that one has already trained with will surely go along way in getting the approval nod. Not 100% sure, but I'd also imagine that one had better pass some type of a background check, especially criminal and the like. Being well known already in the LEO world through instructions, books, videos and the like surely will give one the edge. Networking will, and does go a long way in getting a foot in the door. Bushido_man96 and tallgeese, as well as other KF members who are LEO's as well, will give you much better pointers than I just did because they ARE LEO's. I've been teaching LEO's for quite along time at the Hombu and at my dojo but I've never gone to instruct at an LEO academy or station. No, the LEO's I've taught have come to me seeking MA training, and I never have charged them one penny because they "protect and serve". Good luck!!

Is the style you train in perfect? Is the syllabus perfect? When you're on the floor, are you perfect? Nothing's perfect! Imperfect beings can't produce anything perfect, and in that, if our heart and passion is into that which we love, just as near perfection isn't really such a bad thing. Your chosen style of the MA doesn't have to be perfect, just effective!! Your thoughts please!

Even those evolve in some way or another because of the search for ones betterment...still!! Whenever one gets better, no matter how slight; that's evolving.