sensei8

Transitional movements and the like shouldn't be forced/muscled. And you're absolutely correct...muscling causes tension and tension prohibits free movements; transitions suffer. And when one moves this way and is meet with resistance, the natural instinct is to fight against said resistance, thus using the resistance for ones success. Pushing hand drills are all about "Working" with the resistance so that hidden opens are revealed. To be relaxed until tensions is required; but that tension must be controlled. Great topic Justice!!

Imho, it's a rarity. The more one on one with an instructor can't be denied; shouldn't be denied. The occasional one on one does help where corrections are vitally important in learning the most basic of techniques. Imho!!

Happy Birthday Alex!! And many more!!

Yellow belt. I vaguely remember mine. Good luck...relax...let the testing cycle take care of itself. You'll be greater than rain.

Water.

Both!! Use both the makiwara as well as the focus mitts. Both provide their uniqueness training elements that truly can't be denied. First time you don't hit the makiwara square; you'll notice it real fast. Stance and posture; pay a close attention to them. You've, thus far, received some pretty sound advise from others.

Congrats!! I can't remember the last time I ever saw nor heard of anyone scoring with a hammerfist...EXCELLENT!!

That's great! Love it!HA...I love it!!

Well said...well said!!

Thanks for sharing the videos...I loved them all. Kendall should be very proud of his results across the board. He handled it like a professional. I bow to him!! Way to go Dad!!

Yeah...I missed that announcement. Mo to retire at the end of 2013!! Yeah...I'll miss him too!! Please lord, let Mo have a GREAT year!! Go Yankees!!

Hold the presses!! Did I miss something?? Is Mo gone? Don't let it be so!!

As the title of this topic reads... How often do you practice Kata? One movement at a time; slowly and deliberate so as to analyze its applications each and everyday.

Mr. Dillman use to be considered one of the tops in the Kyusho jitsu field, but, somewhere, he took a left when he should have took a right; his spoken words are less dependable nowadays.

Home study is a difficult pie to enjoy. Why? Home study begs for the individual to be by themselves in every aspect of learning/training; especially effective feedback!! How is the home study student going to know if what they're doing is positive/effective/correct without the instructor being right there live!! Imho...

I would think most parents wouldn't have the knowledge or understanding of the martial arts to really know what their child should and shouldn't be learning. I don't think a parent has the right to tell a martial arts instructor what to teach their child. If they don't like the curriculum at a given school, they can take their child out of the school. Last thing any teacher needs is thirty parents all telling him how to do his job. That's the problem, imho, with parents when they bring their kids to learn the MA. They don't find out as much as they can about everything. Parents become idle in what their kids are a part of, in this case, the MA. The parent has NO right to tell the instructor anything MA related, but the parent(s) will decide for their children what's best for them. Parents need, imho, to be more involved with their children especially when it comes to the MA. Is that instructor the best for their children? Not, is this style of the MA best for their children? That comes only when the parent(s) research everything; being a prepared parent is needed.

Thank you First of all...Solid post!! My answer to your question above....Survival!! Of ourselves as well as our fellow man/woman!

Had been me...he would've been warned firmly once, after that, he would've been expelled immediately!! I don't tolerate this from anyone!!

Oyo Bunkai...can't live without it!! This is where "things" are discovered and re-discovered and changed and birthed and destroyed and understood and forgotten and...on and on and on. Oyo, for me Danielle, is the principle that allows us to inherent 'it' all. I believe that that's been happening for quite along time. Two different ethos can't always agree and/or get along no matter the topic. When you say "splits", are you referring to a separation of a group of practitioners and the like? If so, then...Yes! Why? Because we're unique and we adapt and change. Therefore, the splits do happen. Whether the splits are good or not, well, that's up to the practitioner, imho. Especially! Methodologies and ideologies are opinions, especially in the MA. Is 'it' better than the other? Is 'it' this and that? Practitioners either stand up for themselves or they allow a governing body to tell them which is better....circular or linear?

Solid post!! Wooden dummy training...can't live without it, imho.

Because it would be FUN! And FUN is GOOD!!

What can't be seen, in this case, can't be "grabbed". Speed is an important part of training.

Do we, the instructors, truly have the right to decide what a child should/needs to learn, martial arts wise? After all, I believe that the parent(s) have that right, and only the parent(s) If an instructor refuses to teach something for whatever reason(s), that too is the right of the instructor alone. Both sides have to be respected, imho.

Solid article Alex!! With your permission, can I put this in our upcoming Newsletter?? If not, can I put in up on our big message board??

How do we teach those students who seem to be quite undisciplined, unruly, and/or disrespectful? Many parent(s) will bring your their child(ren) to your school of the MA for learning the MA and all that it offers besides the hopeful ability to learn how to defend themselves. Often times a parent(s) has brought to your their one or two children that are more than a handful for them to discipline. In that, we, the teachers of the MA are given the task, and a difficult task to say the least, of imparting discipline and control and respect onto their child(ren). That's suppose to be the job of the parent(s) solely, imho. Yes, the MA can and does teach these things that the parent(s) are wanting from us, but we give it to them as the side affect of training in the MA; it comes with the territory. If it's an adult student that displays these characters and is set in their ways, well, I'll give it a college try but when the night meets the day, it's time to expunge said student immediately. Can you train the negative behavior out of them? If so, that's when the game of wills begins...not a fun game. Not by forcing your will upon them. That will only compound against you ten-fold. Being consistent, yet equal across the board with discipline, as well as any reward, is the key to reaching through their walls. Don't bully; be firm. You can't beat them into submission. One, it's against the law and two, that not, imho, how to reach our students. CONSISTENCY!! As with every student, make them accountable across the board. Having them take ownership of their actions within and without the school is important. That way 'its' not just a thing that you spout out from frustration. Reward them outwardly whenever they merit it. Albeit, withhold any reward when their actions are unfavorable. Never verbally attack them; attack the problem. Any discipline should be delved out privately and never in front of the student body. Public discipline can cause more damage than one could imagine. Once that occurs, trust, for you, is lost forever!! Be genuine; don't be fake. They'll see through all of the smoke, bells, and whistles!! Your main objective, imho, is to teach the MA, however, instilling some core life skills along the way is a win-win. No, you're not the parent(s), nonetheless, you're a teacher, so, teach!! What if they don't have parent(s)?! Then be that positive role model to them. Every student, adults and kids, clean the school. Give them a very specific task that they can take pride and ownership of. In that, they won't see every task as a punishment, both at the school, and more importantly at home. They'll want to perform them. Before you know it, they'll do the required task/chores without ever being instructed to do so. Find that key to the problem and you'll unlock unbelievable possibilities!!