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I see what you are saying here, Bob, but I see what Danielle is asking, too. And after being an instructor for so long, I can understand your answer. But, I think what Danielle is asking, is when, as a Martial Artist in general, did you start to see not only that a technique was "wrong," but why it was wrong, and what said student was doing that made it wrong or inefficient or whatever. I don't think I can pinpoint when this came about for me. It was probably around the time I was earning my original black belt when I was in the ATA. I was doing more teaching, and I was learning to not only see what it was that a student was doing wrong, but also figuring out how to correct it, and how to describe this to each individual student, as each one learns differently. I'm still getting better and better at this to this day. Its kind of fun for me when a student presents a challenge in being able to ascertain where they are going wrong, and then explaining it and demonstrating it to them so they understand and register how to work on correcting it. Its one of the truly fun aspects of teaching. Thank you Brian!! I started to move past looking at the symptoms of bad technique and start understanding the causes when I was a JBB, but that was solidified within me when I was a Nidan; Dai-Soke was more than a great Sensei. Things just started to click with me in understanding things about my own karate-do, I mean, I've had many, many aha moments and I'm quite sure that during one of these many, many aha moments, some bell somewhere went off. Is this what Danielle is asking?

Kata is Karate, and without it, it's an empty shell; all three of the K's must be there or it's not karate, imho!! Kata is the heart of karate, and kata is the soul of karate...by all means...absolutely. Imho...the main part of karate is the study of kata. Do they know the kata? I mean really know the kata, not the sequence of the movements, but the heart and the core of the kata. The point of studying kata, and not just performing it, because the two are night and day, and in that, to study the kata is to learn what the applications of the techniques are, and how to use them. Learning how to apply our power, how to move, how to react, and so on and so forth. These things you can learn from studying the kata, and then kumite with a purpose, not just known movements, but movements that echo kata. The three K's [kihon, kata, and kumite] are all training methods of karate, and imho, anything removed from these training methods weakens dramatically the essence of karate. Take a three legged stool. Take away one of its legs, that stool is weakened, unbalanced, and unstable; undependable and unwanted. MAists who speak out against kata only speak that way because they've no minimum of an idea of what kata is; kata isn't a dance, and neither is it a waste of time for a karateka to pursue. I heard it once said..."If one only practiced Naihanchi Shodan [kata] for the rest of their lives, it would not be a wasted life!" Forgive me for not remembering which karate master had said this, and if I've quoted said statement incorrectly, again, forgive me, however, the intent of what this karate master is saying shouldn't be ignored; passed off as meaningless dribble. Nonetheless, I guess I could understand one excluding kata because they don't truly know kata...no...not really.

Good luck on your 2nd Dan grading...please let us know how it went!!

Yes I would use a head kick...once my attacker was on his/her knee(s) or bent over...without reservation. If my attacker was standing up...the unknown parameters would be too unfavorable; it's those unknowns. I don't consider back/side kicks as flash, and in that, I'd use them if they fit the very moment...without reservation. Now, as jump spinning crescent kick...no...I wouldn't use it. Low kicks...every moment before me...without hesitation and without reservation...quite damaging to my attacker...YES!! Low kicks are a staple for most Okinawan styles. Being confident with your kicks, no matter the height, comes with the territory when one trains effectively and honestly...when kept in its proper content. Nothing wrong with that, imho. Kick away according to ones abilities.

Yes, when should I book the flights? Do you ever do Shindokan training days like this? Our group of TKD schools get together ever 6 months or so for a couple of days and instructors take it in turns to teach sessions in their speciality area or to give their take on a subject. I think it's great for branching out from your instructor and seeing things a different way. The closest I've come to a mixed style sharing session would be the "mashups" we had been all the university clubs. We'd take it in turns for a group to lead the warmups and then break off to do whatever and learn a bit from other people or just free spar. As often as possible because there's so much untapped material to still learn from styles outside of the Shindokan circle.

Great topic and what a great question!! I don't think one ever gets past the one to move on to the other because they walk hand in hand; they both must be understood equally, tangibly, and honestly. I don't imagine that one can see the cause without noticing the bad technique, and vise versa, in the first place; totally inseparable. When I see you do something incorrect, which doesn't serve said technique, I immediately also see the cause. As a MA instructor, I can't see one without the other; that would be an oxymoron. Seeing them inseparable does them both justice across the board. To be stuck on one or the other delves them deeply into incorrect analysis across the board. I think...therefore I do...I see...therefore I saw... This is my preface...

Hypothetically speaking again... I'm running a Tuite camp...I want Danielle and Brain to run separate session on Tuite at my camp, but with the emphasis on their personal style of grappling because their personal style of grappling might add something of great value to our brand of Tuite... Would you be interested?

Broadcast text marketing... It has long surpassed email as the best way to reach any given customer base, and it's no longer to expensive to do. Other ways to reach that age bracket is through printed flyers, free demonstrations, gift certificates, buddy day, and special events.

For discussion purposes, please put yourself in that situation. Pick a subject that YOU are extremely strong in...now... Do you think that YOU should run that session? Do you think that the most senior sensei/etc should? Do you think that the landowner, where this meeting is being held at, should? Do you think that names should be drawn from a hat? Someone has to run the thing, if only to just get the ball rolling. Once it starts, other subjects will be addressed in the physical training part; a snowball effect so to speak.

I'm not intimidating at all...I just know what I won't/don't tolerate, especially on my floor.

Free wins every time, and I'm pretty sure that schools for profit cringe at the existence of free schools. I don't cringe over free schools because not everyone can afford many tuition's, and in that, the free schools allow those less fortunate financially to experience and enjoy and learn the MA.

Solid post!! A shorter person will have to augment their fist to contact the forehead squarely...for example...Refer to time stamp 1:05 of the following link... and 4:00 of this following link...

I've used both...I use both...I like them both, and the immediate parameters dictate their usage/time of execution.

For sure my Kata experience so far is limited to judge the total aspect of it. However from what I've seen, there are quite a few inefficient, archaic techniques that just don't work in modern confrontations between Martial Artists and sometimes even against untrained people. For example: haiwan uke: square side block (Heian Nidan) kakiwake uke: floating x block (Heian Yondan) In fact almost everything that is using 2 hands to block in one specific height leaving you exposed. Not forgeting the all time Kata favorite Nukite attack targeted in the solar plexus. Seriously If i see this attack used in MMA just once, no matter the success of it, I'll shut up and never trash Traditional Karate ever again!111 I do understand the mental and physical training that Kata can give but timewise, I would choose something a lot more realistic/efficient for my MMA training. What appears to be a block/deflection is in fact not a block/deflection within kata at all; Tuite comprised of!! You've seen it in MMA more than once, but the exacting movement from said kata you haven't and won't, but nonetheless, the movements have been executed and have been witnessed by the trained eye to recognize them/that as such.

For grins and giggles as well as to fuel our discussion palates... One thing leads to another thing which leads to another thing, and before you know it, you're in the midst of one of the most informal exchanging/training sessions of your MA life. All of you are sitting and talking about just about anything and everything that's MA related. No one's leading nor conducting this informal gathering in any shape, way, and/or form. This meeting is for any and all styles of the MA! Now, all of you come to a point where it's time to get down to tax-brackets of physical training, and the overall consensus is reached on the current subject that now stands before you... Now what??... Who's going to run THAT particular physical session? I mean...really...who?? What was once the most enjoyable training/exchanging sessions, slowly and quickly at the same time, now turns into a heated discussion. Let me welcome you to POLITICS as it rears its ugly head...it was only a matter of time.

I don't think that awarding an honorary BB for whatever reason(s) is such a damaging thing. Why? Honorary BB's and those BB's earned on the floor are just that...EARNED one way or another. I wouldn't take offense to it because I do understand the context/content of that said BB. Now, if the person who had earned an honorary BB told everyone, even in jest, that they were a BB equal to a BB earned on the floor...I'd be insulted for the moment, then I'd remember the core value of my BB versus their honorary BB. Now...give a monkey a BB...that still angers me!!

Congrats on passing. Feels real good, huh?? Another one down, and another one in front of you!! AWESOME!!

A karateka can no longer separate him/herself from kata more than one can separate him/herself from karate; they are dependent upon one another across the board. Kata competitions from the sport aspect is truly unhelpful for the karateka's betterment. It's clear to anyone with a knowledge of real karate, that neither the competitors nor the judges have any idea of the purpose of kata. In sport kata, the visual show is the main goal, and in doing this they abandon classic karate concepts as far as self-defense is concerned. Karate is suppose to be valuable but the disruption of karate's heredity through the misunderstanding of kata is taken as the proposed gospel of what kata is not. Relax the rules/regulations, if only for just a moment, one might see what karate can and will effectively do in an MMA venue. Imho!!

Whenever a school of the MA denies access to their school and/or students... Is it because they're protective of their students? Or is it because that they're insecure that they might lose some students for whatever reason(s)? It can't be because styles aren't similar, that's why training EXCHANGES are sought after because not every style of the MA is all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips; something must be found other than the usual norm; limits are recognized. I/Hombu deny excess only if I/we feel that what other styles of the MA have to offer is grossly insignificant in added depth to Shindokan. In that, we've opened our doors more than we've closed them.

I've one little question... When is it time to let students go from under your wing? Once they're Sandan [3rd Dan]? Once they've opened up their own dojo/school? Let the discussion begin.

My Dai-Soke passed away a few years ago, and in that, a huge hole was created in my life and in my training. Kids have a way of asking things that most adults shy away from. Last time I was at the Hombu, I was teaching a class full of our JBB's. I was talking to a few parents, and in the corner opposite of where I was standing, I noticed that a small group of our JBB's kept looking at me and then talk to each other. This happened for the next several minutes, and after I finished speaking with those parents, I instructed them to remain right where they were. "Ok boys...what's going on?" I asked. " Nothing sir" was all they said. "Really!? Why acting all secretive and all?" I asked, and then I explained to them what I observed. "Oh...that...that's nothing sir" they said back to me. "Come on boys...spit it out" I said more firmly. "Well...since Dai-Soke has passed away...who teaches you sir?" they sheepishly said. "You do!!" I said. "We understand sir...thank you" was their response. "Your welcome" and we bowed to one another. I learn from my students. I learn from EVERYONE. However, my formal days of learning more about Shindokan is over. Yes, the many things that I still don't know about Shindokan are located in our scrolls, but, understanding them is another thing. Self discovering about Shindokan will have to come to me in my aha moments as long as I have Kancho and the Board of Regents I should be able to evolve within Shindokan as my betterment increases. If your instructor has died...Who teaches you? When your instructor dies...Who will teach you?

The difference between a technique(s) being effective or not lies within its execution. No technique is ever guaranteed! Will said technique(s) work as prescribed? For example... A punch, kick, and/or strike will need power at contact. If there's no power at contact to sufficiently impact said target, as one might do is anger said opponent, therefore, wasted some precious time/energy. A beginner lacks power, an intermediate is learning power, and an advanced practitioner continually refines power. Will your technique(s) stun or stop or do absolutely nothing to your attacker? Do you hit like a truck? Will your hit debilitate? If you don't know or you're not sure...well...you better find out and fix it asap. I'm speaking primarily about seasoned BB/veterans of the MA, where I've witnessed the lack of noted power while I'm holding a shield/bag; they seem to only possess questionable power. Two of my most personal favorite drills to get the umph factor is simple... WORK THE BAG: Not just any ordinary bag but one with a lot of weight and girth to it. The harder/compacted the bag the better because a pillow dense bag offers no resistance. WORK THE POOL: Getting in the swimming pool is a great resistance tool because your overall body will be tested in many areas. The resistance is within trying to move all of the water out of your way. I once worked out with Eric Nolan, and once I saw him drop a knee on an opponent which appeared to lack power, but the reaction of his opponent made me think differently. So, I asked him to demonstrate it on me. He did! We engaged is sparring and then I allowed him to get close to me, and when he closed the distance, WHAM, his appearing weak knee drop to the top of my right thigh felt like I was hit with a sledgehammer. I spun away, but to late, I was soundly overcome by this technique...that had the umph factor!!

Two weekends ago, I conducted an Instructor's seminar covering a plethora of subjects pertaining to Tuite. During the session about "Short Range Techniques" I offered up a question for them to consider. I'll get to the question soon. Let me preface my question... It is said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Geographical that might be true, however, in the MA, especially where Tuite is concerned, that isn't always true. For example, an opponents defensive posture and/or defensive counter might present an obstruction in an otherwise clear path towards your sight-of-target. Now, where your attack was deflected before, your transitional movements/footwork created in/by/through a more clearer opportunities, i.e. a hook punch/kick/throw around. Now for the question... When is the fastest way better than the shortest way and vice versa?

However, the rules/regulations governing these venue's prohibit many techniques that would normally be used by karateka's trained in them. Karate traditionalists in the MMA? Old school types might view MMA as nothing more than sport, and in that, sport karate is below them because they view those as kuchibushi; those who teach karate with their mouths and never get their gi dirty. I think a karate infestation that karateka's might hope for is at its zenith.

I've four kids, only one should any interest, but that interest has been replaced with newer interests. All of my kids have been around the MA their entire lives, however, they were quite involved in the administrative side of my dojo's, as well at the Hombu. I've never pushed them to try the MA because they have to want to do the MA, just as I wanted to do the MA whenever I first started. I wanted to learn the MA a lot and had my parents pushed me into it, I would've walked away from it quick. I would've loved to have had my kid(s) rank out, but I'm at peace about the whole thing. I wonder if... Nobuaki Kanazawa Sensei; son of Hirokazu Kanazawa Sensei OR Nidaime A. Nakamura Sensei; son of Tadashi Nakamura Kaicho OR Gosei Norimi Yamaguchi Sensei, Goshi Hirofumi Yamaguchi Sensei, Gosen Kishio Yamaguchi Sensei, Wakako Yamaguchi Sensei, and Makiko Yamaguchi Sensei; children of Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei ...and the list could go on and on and on... Were these children of the most notables forced into MA training or did they start learning the MA because they wanted to??