sensei8

You're the Chief Instructor (CI) of the ABC Karate Dojo. It's a Saturday afternoon open workout; all ranks permitted. You're meandering around your students, closely observing them, offering assistance whenever asked, and conducting impromptu lessons from time to time. Your students are seriously engaged in their workouts, either by themselves or in small groups of 2-4, over a wide variety of techniques, and drills or involved with a training apparatus or some light kumite. Just past the half-way point of this open workout, something catches your eyes and ears. A Kyu ranked student has ceremoniously approached a tiny gathering of Dan ranked students; there's nothing unusual about that, it happens all of the time. However, it's what the Kyu student ASKS, that's a no-no. You idly watch from a short distance away as the scene unfolds. This Kyu student asks if any of the Dan ranks want to kumite. As the Dan's begin to stare at each other in wonderment at the Kyu's unbelievable lack of proper respect for the dojo rules. The Kyu asks the Dan's again. The most senior of the Dan's walks up to this Kyu and politely refuses the invitation, bows, and instructs the Kyu to re-assume whatever training the Kyu was doing before. The Kyu asks the Dan's again! The most senior Dan agrees and instructs the Kyu to don the appropriate safety gear. They bow. Your gaze is at fever pitch, then you slightly grimace because the Kyu's wide open and you already know what's about to happen. WHAM! THUD! The Kyu's prostrated on the floor about 3 feet back from where the Kyu once was before the Dan launched the Kyu with a beautiful lead-leg side snap kick. Moaning, the Kyu slowly lifts its head and is wide-eyed expression tells you everything you need to know, but more importantly it tells you the Kyu is only shook up but not hurt physically...pride...well...that's quite hurt. As the CI... 1) Now, what do you do? 2) Do you counsel the Kyu or the Dan or both? 3) Was the dojo rules broken? When do you, as the CI, enforce the kun? 4) Everytime? 5) Are you consistent in enforcing the rules? 6) Are you consistently fair while enforcing the rules? 7) In enforcing the rules, are you the bottom line or the bottom rung? Thoughts?

Oh...Hey...thanks!! With Brian (bushido_man96), Pat (SaiFightsMS), Heidi (ninjanurse), Alex (tallgeese) and Patrick, I'm in great company across the board. Many here know that I owe everything to Patrick and the Sensei's of KF because there was a time that I was almost banned/kicked off of KF, and very well deserved so. I'll never forget them for their assistance/help...ever!! It's also because KF has some AWESOME members and without them, I'd have nothing to contribute to...so...I share this recognition with every KF member!! Thanks... Now...on my way to 10,000 posts.

Very nice...I love seeing things like this. CONGRATS to all!!

If their convicted...they should NEVER teach ANYBODY for the rest of their lives ANYTHING...that's just me.

Today... One of my favorites... TUITE for all ranks.

I now use landscape posts!

I'm not TKD but if any student of mine is asking about something that's not of their current rank curriculum, my answer would be...."Please worry about what's in the present, and not what's in the future, ESPECIALLY during YOUR class." I've no problem answering their question if the question is just a thirst of knowledge but even then, I'll still end our conversation with what I've answered above. The thirst for knowledge is a good thing for a student just as long as they remain in the context of the question and within the content of their rank. Ok..I'll go back to my karate corner now.

One of the other things he used to say ALL OF THE TIME... "Who said to stop!!??!!" OR "Did I say stop!!??!!" Taskmasters really can be intimidating without really trying.

ooh...ooh...ooh I want to go too! Can I? Huh? Can I? You lucky dog you!! Congrats...soak it ALL UP and then some!! There are some that would love to tap out to Royce, just for the learning experience. The 4th Dan CAN WAIT!! Have fun Brian!!

If I was the instructor...I would've told you to worry about your training/learning/practicing because that's what's important, and not the bothersome's of another student(s). Your there to learn/train/practice!! And yes, that student wouldn't have rank until he/she learned to respect the dojo and the other students!!

I highly concur with this!! I'm some of the things on your list and I'm the farthest thing from being a McDojo. The dojo IS A BUSINESS no matter how one might think that it's not; whether it's for profit or for non-profit..."Who Moved My Cheese"!!

In addition... KF User Guidelines #2 states... "While member post count has meaning, it should not be taken too seriously." While the context of that guideline rings true, the exceptions is the quality of the posts; that is the same for Alex's posts. Again...Congrats Alex!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

I wish you luck with your grading...you'll be fine. Just relax, have fun, and let the grading take care of itself.

That's AWESOME!! Congrats to both of you and YES, well deserved!!

Life is a series of fails and successes...the MA is nothing different. It's how we respond to them that makes us whom we are in either one.

04/18/2013.... Ran 5 classes, mostly 5th kyu students, and then I was conducting my daily duties as Kaicho late into the night.

1> There's only 24 hours in a day and I have to sleep. 2> Advertising/marketing

First of all...Welcome to KF!! Treat the girls and the boys and the men and the women THE SAME...they're karatekas...nothing more and nothing less!! Delve out your discipline accordingly and consistent. Don't favor the girls over the boys concerning anything. The girls giggle...don't excuse them from doing it because they're just girls. No! If you don't want the girls, or anyone for that matter of fact, giggling and the like, inform them but do it in a professional manner. As far as the boy in your second problem, delve out consistent discipline to him as well. If the things he does aren't suppose to be done, i.e. playing with his belt or with his feet, then address it but remember to be professional. Don't shout when you're disciplining. Shouting is for cadence and the like, or for cheering one on during kumite. Shouting as a discipline tool isn't how instructors are suppose to be because we influence our students and we don't want to provide negative anything. There's a right way and a wrong way, and we instructor had better know the difference before we want to teach. Him being a different person while he's in private lessons is more than likely because you've got his undivided attention, it's just you and him, and he's no reason to "act" up.

I'm 55, and if 33 is over the hill, sheech, I've both feet in my grave already. Only thing I need now is to just lie down. I wish I was 33 again...ah, what a time that was!!

I concur with mal103, and in addition, I might take notice of how the competitors gi and belt are; but that's only to see if it's clean and wrinkle-free and to see if the gi top was put on correctly and that the belt is tied. Only get one chance to make that first impression across the board.

Congrats to you Alex!! I've always enjoyed your posts across the board. You're knowledge is well received from the KF members without any reservation. You've earned my respect, and that's for sure!!

Never assume anything, especially when it comes to rank, bring the white belt and go from there. The sensei will see within mere moments what he/she needs to see, and then, you'll find out what belt's appropriate. Good luck...hang in there!!