sensei8

We don't do it either. I also concur that it's a great way to show fellow students ones appreciation for whatever reasons. Heart felt appreciation can be delved out in so many different ways, and I believe that the applause isn't concentrated on one continent over an another. Is it culture? Or... is it just the way that one was raised and/or feels for what's just been witnessed?

I couldn't view the video because it's marked "Private".

And the importance of earning the status is...?

Sure they do...and all day and night long!! And as the video supports, it doesn't take quite a lot of power in those areas to cause enough discomfort to close the gap or get away. Thanks for sharing the video.

You're more than welcome!!

Solid post!!

lol

The above bold type answers your own question... "Why would it ever be a bad thing for a kyu to ask a dan to spar." In this hypothetical, the Kyu wasn't politely asking after the Dan refused his initial invitation to spar. The Dan refused the Kyu at first because the small group of Dan's were training among themselves. Ask once, then disappear if politely refused, which is what the Dan did at the first invitation. Then the Kyu asks again impolitely! This is why he was launched. Don't ask the question if one doesn't want the answer; the Kyu got the answer! I never refuse anyone, no matter the rank, to engage in any training. That's how we all learn, even me, no matter the rank "teaching" me. But if I politely refuse, for whatever reason(s), the invitation, don't be rude and don't ask me why.

Here's my affiliations... Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice,...and some more practice, and more practice... In addition... Exchange/cross train with MAists everywhere and from every style of the MA.

Koryu is a term used to refer to the martial traditions / schools of mainland Japan that were in existence prior to the Meiji restoration. They originated from the warrior clans and continued up until the creation of the modern military in the late 1800's. Their raison detre was somewhat different to that of Okinawan karate which developed (primarily) as a system of civilian self defence. That said, I have heard it argued that some authorities in Japan recognise Goju ryu as a koryu although that is a little contentious. Most scholars refer to koryu as schools / sytstems originating from mainland Japan and as such karate schools do not make the list. K. Well, that's probably why I never heard Soke and/or Dai-Soke ever refer to Shindokan as a koryu. Thanks for the info, but I'll still check our scrolls and the like to be for sure.

This might help you.... Inside the forum...Health, Training and Fitness, you'll see a thread titled...The Martial Artist' Training Log. Here is where other KF members post theirs.

Wecome to KF!!!!!!!!

I owe you my friend more than I can ever express!! THANK YOU!!

Yes..Congrats!!

Look, I've asked Dai-Soke if he wanted to Kumite with me...just AFTER...he's was training with our Soke...WHILE...they were just having a after class light discussion. Well.... This wasn't allowed!! He was on the floor with our Soke, being taught by our Soke, and we were ONLY allowed to observe...not interfere!! I knew what he meant when he barked at me...BAKA-SAMA...He just called me a fool, not just a fool, but a big fool. I was Hachidan! But, the floor at this time was ONLY for Soke and Dai-Soke. Remember, Soke only had ONE official student...Dai-Soke!! Their times on the floor were their's and I was on their floor at the very wrong time. I assumed I was "allowed" on the floor...but Soke hadn't released Dai-Soke from class YET!! I assumed...class was over. Even then, I should have asked permission to approach them. Rank and all don't mean a hill of beans when ones intrusive and unwanted. My bad!!

Yes! I've experienced this over the many years. I tell them..."Sorry, if you're thinking that ranks more important than learing/training/knowledge, then by all means, leave right now. Don't come back until you can honestly say that rank is secondary to training and the like. Now, leave right now!! Hold on...I'll hold the door for you. I don't want a student who thinks ranks more important than anything else. Get out and get out NOW!!" I've no patience and I've no ambiguity when it comes to students/spouses/parents/friends/relatives who think that RANK IS GUARANTEED! No! That attitude will GUARANTEE them an escort to the nearest exit door!!

You know what the huff and puff means? You're alive still...barely...but still alive!! Sometimes I need that validation. Heehehhehehee

It's been suggested to our Hombu's Executive Administration by outsiders that we'd be better served by our students if we "latched-on" to one of the well noted Okinawa governing bodies so that the Hombu "will be more credible" seeing that our Soke/Dai-Soke are no longer "part of the picture" any longer. Hhhhmmmm! Really?!? After about a very, very short meeting, the Hombu's Executive Administration decided that "we're not interested! Thank you for the consideration!" I've meet and I'm close to a many well noted Karateka's and it surprises me that while they're extraordinary Karateka's across the board, they STILL feel that they must have an affiliation with some well noted governing body from either Japan or Okinawa. I'll see it on their business cards! I'll see it on their letterheads!! I'll see it on their websites!! I'll see it on their window front!! I'll even hear it when they're engaged in a conversation referring to validity and the like. Why? I've no idea and they usually explain it to me with one word..."Credibility"! Well, the governing body might be credible but that doesn't make those practitioners of the MA credible. PROOF IS ON THE FLOOR!! If I can't stand on my own two feet, then I've no business teaching/training/practicing/conversation/administrating Shindokan ever! Not now, not back then, and not in the future. Even our own Shindokan dojo's that are affiliated with the Hombu do so because they want to, they've chosen to do so, and the Hombu never forced them to, nor did the Hombu ask them if they wanted to. The Hombu makes itself available to EVERYONE within the Shindokan family!! Even if they don't choose to be affiliated with the Hombu, the Hombu will still recognize their dojo, its CI, its students, and their rank!! The affiliation with the Hombu doesn't make that Shindokan dojo credible. NO!! They already had that because they were affiliated with Soke and Dai-Soke along time ago. By affiliated I mean, they knew them quite personally. They "handled" them; they spoke with them, they trained with them, they touched them, they learnt from them, they bleed with them, and they laughed/cried with them, they broke bread with them...face to face...eye to eye!! BUT... I'm not in the market of joining/affiliating with any governing body from anywhere for the sake of "Appearances". Want to "test" us? Want to "verify" us? Want to? Go for it!! Opinions are just that, nothing more and nothing less. In the world, we're nobody. On the floor, we're credible/verifiable/etc!!

I'd say that Shindokan Saitou-ryu is Koryu. Very "old school" across the board in both methodologies as well as ideologies. Both our Soke and Dai-Soke, born, raised, trained in Okinawa-te and Shuri-te. Our Kobudo brand utilizes very old school type Kobudo weapons/training. Yeah, I'd say we're Koryu. It's just that I've never heard either Soke/Dai-Soke refer to Shindokan as Koryu. I'll look into our scrolls and the like to see if either mention it.

I was thinking these exact things. As usual, Sensei8 says it all. Just some personal thoughts to add... I think that in general leadership is not as clear-cut as many people would like to think. Outside of the dojo, no one is given kyu or dan rank in life. We may place titles on our names like "Professor" or "Director" or "President" but even so, you can't truly say that without such a title a person cannot lead. Neither can you say that just having the title, or even being elected into the position makes you a good leader. Being a good leader has little to do with rank in my opinion (although in the dojo we strive to make them more connected). I believe that it has more to do with the desire to help others work together effectively. So what to do in a situation like that? That is your chance to step-in and be a good leader to him and everyone else in the class. You don't have to be a high rank or order people around to do that though! Just be kind and respectful to everyone and be serious and confident with your own training and who knows, maybe even that red belt will want to take a page out of your book. Very solid post!!

Hold the wagon for a moment. THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL!! Nothing more!! I apologize for not making that more clearly understood. For the sake of having a conversation!! That's why I've asked some of the questions that I did. I've visited dojo's in the past, those that are not Shindokan dojos, where a Dan can ask a Kyu but not visa versa, and if so, it was considered a sign of disrespect or looked upon as a challenge. Please don't read anything into it!!

Bingo!!

Shindokan Saitou-ryu is an independent governing body. Our Soke NEVER wanted to be affiliated with any noted governing body from Okinawa because he didn't want to follow their rules/regulations because that wouldn't allow him any flexibility. Shindokan is his and if the SKKA that he founded isn't good enough with anybody, especially Okinawa, then so be it. Shindokan wasn't founded by our Soke for a Okinawa governing body to say yea or nay.

Vastly EXPLORE that particular application and I believe that you'll find more than what you've been told by your sensei/instructor. However, it'll be hard to explore in the beginning because your mind will not release what your sensei/instructor has taught you...at first. Stay with it and you'll see other effective applications!!

Very nice topic and some great replies! Thanks for starting this topic Himokiri Karate!! Interpretation of Kata is an interesting and valid concern within itself. Are the "throws" doable/effective when "we" perform them as they "might have" been designed by the creator of said kata? It's the EFFORT of the training that might answer that, and in that, the lack of proper training effort at the analysis might fall short of the intended desires. The "throws" in kata don't work when practitioners are training with a unresistant training partner. Work with a resistant training partner one learns to "work" through the "throws" so that one can see how the body mechanics work, and even in that, adaptive changes might be needed to pull the "throw" off successfully.