sensei8

But Kata does help/aide ones sparring. Movements, shifting, transitions, posture, and the like. If not, then when one spars it looks like a very disjointed attempt; sloppy without focus. Imho.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry for your loss. A good Sensei is as much a part of your family as your immediate family, in many cases a father. I know you're doing right by him just by continuing on. Thank you for your very kind words...and sometimes...it's almost too much to even continue. But I do...somehow, and someway!!

No matter the practitioners style(s), believes, methodologies, ideologies, rank, title, knowledge, experience, background, and/or lineage; everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Yes, respect must be earned without any ambiguity. But way to often, we assume the roles of judge, jury, and executioner quite prematurely before all of the facts have been weighed. The totality of a MAists isn't, and shouldn't be, the same across the board because we're INDIVIDUALS born without the context of a MAist; therefore we must first learn, and the learning curve varies from MAist to MAist. Respect must be the same! What respect is shown to a 10th Dan must be also shown to a 10th Kyu. Why? We're MAists, however, we're humans first. Before a practitioner became an all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips in the MA, they were/are humans first!! Your thoughts!!

Love the tonfa, and I've quite a little collection of different types. A very effective little tool!!

kensei, I appreciate everything that you've posted; well written and well defined. Thank you!!

Solid post!!

Yes, I teach private lessons. Our Hombu offers private lessons. It's, the private lessons, the staple of most any MA schools. Our ratio is 80/20, with group lessons being 80% of our student body. If learnt over the years, most students enjoy the group setting over the private setting because they want to be with other students; camaraderie over the sensei/student setting is mostly appreciated.

Don't hate me... I've no experience with the Paleo diet, inasmuch, please, and always check with your doctor before starting any diet. Sorry...

Solid post!!

On the other hand... When you sign up, tell them at the registration table about your experience; they will then assign you your division(s). Having said that, I'd only do that if my Sensei wasn't available in both attendance as well as in advice/instructions as to what I should do.

Congrats to Zachary!! I was surprised to see parents ON THE FLOOR.

I've struggled with this topic, btw...it's a great topic. Before his stroke, which lead him to have a second stroke, which he passed away from... We use to spar EVERYDAY!! The higher the rank I earned, the more intense was the sessions. Sorry, I can't say much more right now because I MISS HIM SO MUCH!! Cherish each and every time you can spar with your Sensei/Instructor/Etc because there will come a time when you won't be able to.

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

Shindokan will return to the right side.

Joe Lewis, World Heavyweight Karate Champion, for example, earned his Shodan in less than 1 year. Does that make his Shodan, or him as a karateka, less than those who take 5-6 years?

Imagine if Kyu's had a tenure as the Dan's do? WOW!?!

What did Bruce say about JKD... "It's just a name!" Nothing more and nothing less. Call what you do anything, but it's just a name, and in that, Bruce said... "The art of expressing the human body" Be true to yourself; first and foremost.

Sure, we applaud during ceremonies and the like, but, during a class, no!!

Stretching is a prerequisite of each and every class; the lack of any stretching can lead to an injury; one that can be avoided if proper stretching is attended to before each and every class. This includes...the cool down as well.

The wide variety of sparring drills do enhance the mechanics of it, but, nothing can or will ever replace the actuality of sparring. No sparring in ones training, imho, is akin to learning how to fly without actually ever flying; the void that will remain. There's nothing like being attacked!!

Kids will be just that...kids. While I don't like it when any MAist wears their gi outside of the dojo, I tend to not get all bent out of shape whenever a kid does it. Yes, maybe it's showing off, but, I also think that kids do the craziest thing, including wearing their gi anywhere and everywhere.

I prefer striking over punching because it's much more easier to transition directly into a grasp/clinch. That's just me.

I agree!!