sensei8

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Super DITTO...Whew!!

Good luck with your test...relax and have fun...let the test take care of itself. Btw, Solid post!!

Congrats to your wife for passing her yellow belt test, and I bow to her for the level of composure she showed, and having that about herself, and just think...she's only a yellow belt. Imagine what she'll be like when she's a black belt...AWESOME comes to mind!!

Shindokan speaking... Attacking with either ones hands or feet repeatedly requires a re-chamber before the next attack begins. There must be a starting point as well as an ending point, and in that... First kick reaches target, AND then re-chambers...that's the end of the first kick, AND THAT re-chamber IS the beginning of the second kick, and in that, the kicking foot doesn't have to return to the ground first. My fist returning from the target is BOTH the END of the punch as well as the BEGINNING of the next and immediate te technique, and that is the re-chamber. Most Karate uses a four count to every kick...Up, Out, Back, AND Down.

For the moment, I've no words to express my feelings. Mr. Lewis will be greatly missed across the board. I've many fond memories, both personal and professional, regarding Mr. Lewis. My prayers go out to his family, friends, and students. Another empty chair sits before us all!!

Shindokan utilizes Kyusho jitsu quite a lot within its brand of Tuite. However, pressure points aren't guaranteed because the parameters involved are so different from one person to another. I'd rather put my attacker in a uncomfortable and painful position through the means of joint manipulations; those indicators are much more difficult to mask.

Well deserved...I'm so very proud of you!!

Yeah...I concur...that's so super cool!!

Not many know much about Shindokan, however, it's active student body of nearly 11,000 means that it's not hiding under some rock waiting for someone to accidently stub their toes up against it. I've several posts here at KF briefly describing why Shindokan not out in the wide open for all to see, observe, examine, and learn. Therefore, I'll re-touch a bit on it here. Shindokan Saitou-ryu was founded in 1950 by Soke Fuyuhiko Saitou. Both our Soke and Dai-Soke were both born and raised in Okinawa. They both came to the USA in 1956. Shindokan is based on Okinawa-te and Shuri-te. We're 85% hands, and we're 15% feet, and our stances are more upright, and in that, Tuite is right in the center of everything that we do. We're not dependent on Tuite; it's our preferred weapon. In our brand of Tuite, we incorporate grappling as well as Kyusho jitsu. We practice the "old ways" of Okinawan Karate-do as Soke and Dai-Soke taught us. Both Soke Saitou and Dai-Soke Takahashi have passed away, 2008 and 2010 respectively. Since then, the Hombu has gone through a lot of changes, both good and bad. Presently we're trying to bring us out of the archaic ways of our Soke and Dai-Soke, in which they both firmly believed in no advertising; word of the mouth ONLY, and that means no print/video ads, no phone book listings, no published works in any venue type, no internet exposure, no big fancy outside signage, no nothing, and no brand management whatsoever...just demonstrations and word of mouth. Change, no matter the size, takes time across the board. Will the Hombu ever come out of the yesteryear mindset and join the present? I've no idea, it is my wish and my dream, but habits are hard to die, as is change. Shindokan Lineage: Satunuku "Tode" Sakugawa (1733 - 1815) Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura (1797 - 1889) Anko Itosu (1830 - 1915) Shigekazu Ishikawa (1864 - 1959) (Shuri-te) Choshu Saitou (1865 - 1962) (Okinawa-te*) (This is the father of Soke Saitou) (*Choshu Saitou's Okinawa-te Instructor is unknown) Fuyuhiko Saitou (1917 - 2008) (Shindokan** founder; Shindokan was founded in 1950.) (**His instructors were, his father, Choshu Saitou, this is the Okinawa-te side of Shindokan, and Shigekazu Ishikawa, this is the Shuri-te side of Shindokan) Yoshinobu Takahashi (1932 - 2010) (Dai-Soke; and the first, and only student of Soke Saitou) Any questions I'll be more than happy to respond to.

Re-Chamber your kicks is not only important, but immensely important. If one doesn't re-chamber, and the kicking leg misses its proposed target... You won't be able to execute a follow-up kick!! AND You'll become vulnerable; standing on one leg, exposing yourself to an attack!! Your thoughts...

It's the lie that I won't tolerate!! I'm not asking them to practice every moment away from the dojo. No, that would be absurd of me, but I am asking them to practice whenever they can. But, I want to see some type of proof that their practicing by seeing some marked improvement of their Karate-do. Not for the sake of rank, but for the sake of them being able to defend themselves with more than a big-wish-and-a-hope that they can. Don't want to practice...DON'T!! It's up to them. It's their Karate-do. It's their MA journey. It's their MA betterment. Practice, don't practice; that's up to the student. I don't tell them how long they must practice when away from the dojo, no, that's up to them, but I can only hope that they do some tangible practicing. Practice does make perfect...or close to perfect. One can't improve if one doesn't put some type of effective effort in their Karate-do. But don't lie to me when I'm trying to help you. I'm not asking if you've practiced so that I can rain down on you some form of a punishment/judgement/condemnation and the like. NO! I'm asking because I want to help them, and them practicing away from the floor is paramount to improving ones Karate-do. I only start a dialogue of questions because I've just been lied to. As their Sensei, I've the obligation to them and therefore, I'm accountable to them as well. When I ask if a students been practicing, it's not because they're answerable to me, no, it's because they're answerable to themselves, and again...I WANT TO HELP THEM with whatever it might be that they're struggling with; it's because I can see the struggle happening before me, and I want to help them overcome it together. "No sir, I've not had the time lately." That answer is fine. It's simple manners to answer the question asked as honestly as possible. That kind of answer starts a positive dialogue between student and sensei, yes, I'm going to remind my student about the importance of practicing, and then, together, we're going to work out all of the cobwebs. If a student of mine can't be honest with me with the most simple of question, then how can a student of mine be honest with themselves about their own Karate-do. My students are at my dojo and/or at the Hombu to learn what I/we have to offer, and that's Shindokan. I'm not the character police, and in that, I don't pass that type of judgement on my student. Having said that, my students must be accountable for their Karate-do, and that includes their lack of practicing. I'm under no obligation to invite one to the next testing cycle because it's a privilege that must be earned. I've never told my students that they must disregard their commitments and/or responsibilities as a parent and/or as a husband/wife. Karate is a want and not a need, and in that, family and a job are far more important than any aspect of the MA. My wrath comes down on a student when I'm lied to...DON'T DO IT!!

My advice would be to visit your doctor to have your knee issues cleared to re-assume any style of the MA. A doctor might give you some type of a supportive/brace to protect the knee while you're on the floor. See a doctor...I would.

Trust the protection and guidance of the instructor. Most, if not all instructors worth their position would assure that nothing negative would occur that's uncomfortable across the board. As far as the floor, most, if not all instructors worth their mettle would ensure that ALL students are treated equally across the board. Floor/mat time is critically important and I don't see that being an issue because learning can only happen whenever there's no unjust temperance among students. Men that don't want to work with women and vice versa...tough kitten...you're there to train, therefore, gender of an attacker isn't guaranteed, so learn how to work with all types of students, and again, trust your instructor.

Solid post...especially the last paragraph!!

As an instructor, I've some pet-peeves that get under my skin, but nothing angers/upsets me more than when a student lies to me. I can't stand thieves and liar's; I've no place for them in my life...EVER!! Students, for whatever their reason(s) might be, think that they have to lie to me when I ask them one of the most basic questions that any instructor would ask of their own students... Have you been practicing at all? 10 out of 10 times, a student new to my dojo and/or at the Hombu, no matter the rank, will inadvertently answer..."Yes sir!", even though I already know the answer. There's only one reason why I'd even ask any student this...because the floor has revealed it to me! I can see the most obvious...and that's because I have eyes and I've been doing this longer than most of them have been alive...I'm not blind and I'm not stupid. I can tell if a student(s) hasn't been practicing because there's no marked improvement in their Karate-do over a acceptable space of time. I'll ask the student(s) a series of questions to qualify my suspicions, and I mainly do that to see how much deeper of a hole do they want to dig. How do I know my student(s) lied; what's my proof? Perception is reality, and I'm no ones fool, not even close. Maybe they've a reason(s) not to practice. That's fine. If that's the case, then tell me the truth when I ask, and then support your reason(s) for not practicing. It's that simple...don't lie to me!! What angers me is not the fact that the student(s) hasn't taken a modicum of an effort to practice, which is paramount to one improving their Karate-do, or that the student(s) show disrespect to their Karate-do. No! What angers me is that a student(s) feels in necessary to blatantly lie to me. Answering me truthfully is what I expect, and my students are held accountable for their actions and inaction's. Answering me truthfully will get you a gentle, yet encouraging as well as supportive reminder as to the importance of practicing ones Karate-do. Lie to me and/or continue to lie to me without taking ownership of their responsibilities will get you this... 1) I'll tell you to leave immediately and don't come back until you've practiced wholeheartedly. 2) Lie to me again, I'll suspend you for an undetermined time. 3) Lie to me the third time, I'll expel you for an undetermined time. Yes, I hate liars but I do have compassion for my student(s) because I love them and I want to help them in anyway that I can. Listen, no one's perfect, and people make mistakes, and in that, I'm tolerant to a point, but lie to me, I lose my compassion one lie at a time. How do/would you respond to a student lying?

I welcome any and all comments in order to have a discussion.

I was gonna say that but well said ! a world champion sumo wrestler with the heavyeight boxing champ and a 8th dan karate master all together cant beat a single gorilla ...absolutely no chance ! No...they'd be nothing more than toys for the gorilla.

The plethora of Japanese terminologies are important, but not as important as these two.. Hajime (ha-gee-may) = BEGIN Yame (yah-may) = STOP Recognize these two quickly; they can save you from a lot of unpleasant things within any dojo.

Oh yes, I know him, but not personally. We're both of the same area; San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles county.

Solid post!! Btw, Welcome to KarateForums.com

Patrick, You're my wife's brand new HERO!! She loves that show A LOT!! She says...Thank you for the tip!!

Solid post!! I believe that ALL ranks should do it with proper respect because respect begets respect.

Sparring is a MUST in Shindokan, no if's and but's, and if any Shindokan student doesn't want to spar for whatever reason(s)...then I don't want them on my floor or on any other Shindokan floor. Spar and spar and spar and spar and spar and spar and... I can understand the unknown factor and the like, but one must face ones fears head on, and in that, one can learn how to deal with it whenever it rears up its ugly head. Sparring is the most uncertain one among the three K's of Karate...Kihon, Kata, and Kumite (Basics, Forms, and Sparring). I wish you much success while on your MA journey. The more you spar, the more you'll become relaxed and focused; that leads to fruitful learning.