sensei8

I wholeheartedly concur with what Brian and Danielle have said. Great topic Lupin1.

Extremely well said. I've face-planted more than once while learning to blitz. It's a humbling experience, to say the least, but quite tutorial, on the other hand.

Standardizing kata is a bad idea because, imho, practitioners of the MA are suppose to evolve, and so is the kata. Standards of kata(s) can only stagnate the evolution of the MA, and this is to include kata. Hence...interpretation(s) and the like of any said kata.

The blitz is suppose to be that...an alarming and overwhelming surprise, especially for someone's whose never experienced a blitz. There's not enough earth to prepare one for a well executed blitz; one can back-up/retreat all they want until they're overcame by the torrential rush. However, an unskilled practitioner executing their first blitz can find themselves off balanced and tripping over their own feet at the most improper time. Those who can handle the most prepared blitz with an uncanny ease aren't going to succumb to many things unless they're just caught totally by surprise.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone!! Brian, it's all good my friend...no harm and no foul. Now...I'm a senior citizen official...55 years old...but the best thing is...DISCOUNTS....heheheheheheeheheheheheeheheee

Will they have enough women for the long haul?

His extension is spot on. Thanks for sharing!!

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. Martial artists aren't alone in the search of perfection. Seeking perfection has become an obsession of a type. For a martial artist, that type is the perfection of their techniques. Seconds upon seconds, minutes upon minutes, hours upon hours, days upon days, months upon months and years upon years are spent in finding just that one "perfect" technique. Yet, at the very moment that one "perfect" technique has finally been discovered, it has passed even faster. Therefore, the quest for that perfection begins once again. Perfection is an illusion because man is flawed; hence, man is imperfect, and in that, what is often sought after isn't possible. That doesn't mean that we have to stop trying and trying and trying because that is what's primordial about the martial arts. I try, not because I have to, but it's because I want to, therefore, I must try over and over at all times. I will never know what's just over the horizon unless I continue in my martial arts journey... until. Until?! Then what? I don't remember who it was that said, and please forgive my paraphrasing and/or incorrect citation, the following: "Out of 10,000 kata/techniques, you might have 1 perfect kata/technique." Whoever it was who spoke those profound words, spoke to the practice of kata, but nonetheless, techniques comprise an entire kata; like notes comprise an entire sonata. Therefore, for the sake of this article, I've substituted the word "kata" with the word "technique(s)," if only to illustrate my meaning. To me, the key word in this entire quote above is the underlined word "might." That directly speaks to an unsure possibility of an unswerving determination during ones martial arts journey. Accept it, and embrace it, because the realization of never ever reaching ones goal of that 1 perfect technique surely doesn't mean one should quit practicing. Why should one practice, especially if one will never reach perfection in ones techniques? It's simple: the summation of why is the summation of because. To me, that's enough to still seek until I reach perfection. If I've not found perfection in my technique, haven't I in fact, failed? No way! "I have not failed 700 times, I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work." - Thomas Edison [1] Just because a martial artist might've repeatedly stumbled while on their journey, that doesn't mean that they've failed in their pursuit for that one consummate technique. No way! In our hopes for that one unblemished technique, we uncover the truth: not all martial artists are indistinguishable. Trying doesn't come without any difficulties. Get up, dust yourself off, and find the way that will work. I will train UNTIL. I will practice UNTIL. I will seek UNTIL. I will strive UNTIL. I will forge my body UNTIL. I will punch, kick, block, strike, bite and claw UNTIL. I will polish UNTIL. I will chip away UNTIL. I will add and/or discard UNTIL. I will discover UNTIL. I will seek UNTIL. I will continue to improve UNTIL. I will continue to focus UNTIL. I will, I will, I will, I will, I will... UNTIL I exist no more. When I finally find, and/or when I finally reach perfection in my techniques, that will pass because the journey continues still, without an end in sight. Perfection continues to play its game of illusion. Any game requires players and every game has rules. Look! "Now" is here! Wait! "Now" has passed! No! "Now" is here again! Wait some more! "Now" vanished again! "Now" is opulent through the illusion of obtaining just one perfect technique. "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." - Shunryu Suzuki [2] Even in the above quote, I sincerely believe that the word "until" should've been added. In this case, the beginning martial artist, because of their pure innocence, sees the many possibilities of each and every technique... for now... UNTIL. Until forces the beginner to cast off their innocence of said technique through the acquired maturity of more experience. Practice begets experience. Experience begets knowledge. Knowledge begets perfection. Perfection begets illusion. Illusion begets mired satisfaction. The expert martial artist isn't any better off than the beginner. The expert over analyzes their techniques until there's nothing left but utter frustration. The expert senses that any possibility of obtaining that one perfect technique might become fewer. Techniques become more scrutinized as that veil of proficiency is interrupted by an unsure feeling. Fatigue causes doubt in one's own ability to properly execute said technique flawlessly, especially while practicing that same said technique for the billionth time. Nonetheless, the expert begins to imagine the worst since they've "failed" that technique just once during that particular set. The expert must still practice over and over UNTIL. UNTIL he/she either gets the technique right, or UNTIL he/she gets the technique wrong. Who determines whether that said technique is right or wrong? Only a perfectionist can determine this. The line between right or wrong becomes blurred. Perfection demands the beginner and the expert to never accept that it's about as perfect as it will ever be UNTIL the next time. We are our worse critics, as most are, because we're never content no matter the results. Then it happens! It really happens. The martial artist, beginner or expert, finally finds that one perfect technique UNTIL... UNTIL the search resumes. Wow! Good grief! Back to square one! I'd have it no other way! References: [1] learningmatters.com. Copying with Failure. [2] Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0079-9

Absolutely!!

I think that's great that you got to continue learning requirements through the rank of sandan.My question is, what the difference between knowing those requirements as a junior, and knowing them when you came of age to hold the rank? To me, it seems a formality of age, and not of passing on knowledge. Unless I'm missing something that I would understand better being a Shindokan stylist, not knowing the intricacies of what you learned when you did. The difference is night and day. However, the knowledge was passed on, BUT the By-Laws are the By-Laws, and in that, age tenure is a formality that Soke was unforgiving with. My Dai-Soke could've just emphasized the three K's to an extraordinary level instead, but he allowed us to also learn the requirements. Remember, I hated it, but there was nothing I could do against the By-Laws, which were created by Soke and Dai-Soke. Oh yeah...I've the ability to initiate change within the By-Laws as Kaicho, but I won't because I do see the value in the decision(s)of Soke and Dai-Soke, and in that, I do understand and respect them across the board.

I remember you showing me Wankan, Bob. Good fun. I think I still remember Naifanchi, too. When my arm gets better, I'll be reviewing and practicing it with more zeal once again. Yes...good fun. I'm quite sure that you remember Naifanchi and that you'll rock and roll it with a lot of umph.

This tends to make me repeat my original post.

To the bold type above...Recognition for your student's rank by an organization, whether it be small/medium/large, will be hard to come by. Why? Politics won't allow it or will make it practically impossible. Your rank is valuable only within your current organization, whereas in another organization, your rank is far less than one might think.

To the first bold type above...Imho, and what my Dai-Soke taught us was that the "do" is an important element to Karate, thus the word Karate-do. To the second bold type...I agree, the "do" isn't necessary to every MA/MAist, unless one's involved in karate, thus, karate-do.

My question and concern with any forms training, is can you learn the things proposed to be learned in the forms, without the forms? If you learn the applications through the forms, then why not focus more on the applications, and less on the forms. Because it appears that if the applications are what is important, especially for self-defense, then why not do what is important for that aspect of the training? This is why I wonder about forms sometimes. I think they can be a good tool. But I don't think they are always the most important tool, or the most necessary tool. To the first bold type above...Yes you can learn the things proposed to be learned in the forms, without the forms. And to the second bold type above...the kata is important for that aspect of the training. WHY? You answered it yourself...where? In the third bold type above...it's a tool for most karateka's, and in that, kata is a important tool and it's a necessary tool BUT it's not the most important/necessary tool within a karateka's three K's.

I'm not sure of the translation of those other two techniques, but I'm guessing side kick is one of them.I thought the round kick was considerably easier to learn than the side kick, and teaching a side kick is hampered by the knowledge of how to do a round kick by the student in the early phase; the new students will usually cheat and do a half round, half side kick as opposed to a really good, true side kick. So, I think there is some truth to the statement. But one should still learn and practice the round kick. Brian, Mae geri is front kick and Yoko geri keage is side snap kick.

Sure they can...absolutely!! I don't see any reason(s) why it couldn't, after all, those are all of the ingredients in any given situation.

I think this is the question that bothers me here. I can get that Karate may not be Karate without kata. Why do we say "just kickboxing" concerning an art with no kata? What's wrong with kickboxing? What's wrong with wrestling? Or fencing? Or Aikido? Not a thing wrong with them at all; they are what they are and so is their methodologies. So often the question of karate with no kata turns into an indirect bashing of all things non-karate. So basically, with no kata, it should just be called by another name? Again...Solid post!!

Shindokan is no McDojo, however, we utilize the JBB. I was a JBB for just over 5 years, and in that, I couldn't rank up, per our By-Laws. I earned my Shodan when I was 18 years old...waited 16 months for my Nidan...then waited another 16 months for my Sandan. Waiting in the JBB ranks for just over 5 years allowed me to learn requirements for Shodan thru Sandan.

Wankan

I think this is the question that bothers me here. I can get that Karate may not be Karate without kata. Why do we say "just kickboxing" concerning an art with no kata? What's wrong with kickboxing? What's wrong with wrestling? Or fencing? Or Aikido? Not a thing wrong with them at all; they are what they are and so is their methodologies.

Good luck on your orange belt test this December...please let us know how it went.

Solid post...I concur!!