sensei8

For me, every testing cycle was like having an out of the body experience; remembering what happened before, during, and after is nothing more than a blur. However, that's when I try to remember the good things, but the bad things, like forgetting the most mundane things and forgetting the most important things, I remember most of them because Dai-Soke was intolerant with things like that, and he'd let you know immediately...and if it was bad enough...he'd stop the test and fail you right then and there.

I'm still working on my memoirs entitled, Empty Chairs, here's a tiny excerpt... Takahashi Sensei’s hands, over the many years after earning his Shodan, became eerie-like in their speed and power. Tameshiwara had become no match for Takahashi Sensei because, after some time, even the stones, rocks, and even the trees began to fear Takahashi Sensei. Saitou Sensei loves to tell the story about this one particular Tameshiwara session with Takahashi Sensei… “When Takahashi Sensei was a Yondan, I had one day decided to test his mettle in Tameshiwara. I placed before him one simple stack of two roofing tiles. I then instructed him to break these with whatever weapon of his choice, and if he breaks them, I’ll then add one roofing tile at a time, and I’ll keep doing this until he can no longer break the complete stack. If he’s unable to break the entire stack before him, he’ll have failed. Two became three, then three became four, and before I ended the session, Yoshinobu Sensei had not left one unbroken tile. When I was finally forced to stop him, he had just went through a stack of seventeen roofing tiles. Those last few stacks were completely decimated; the lower one-third of each stack had virtually exploded. I didn’t stop him because I was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to succeed with the task at hand, or that I was starting to doubt his abilities, or that he was starting to show diminished and questionable power. No! It was because I was afraid for him, and that’s why I ended it, not for me, but for him. He would’ve done whatever he felt necessary before he’d ever fail, and that word frightened him intensely. So much so that he would’ve literally killed himself before he’d ever fail me, his future students, his family, and himself. I started sensing that within him shortly before I intervened on his behalf. What I sensed was unsettling to me because just after he tore through fourteen roofing tiles, and for the first time since this particular session had started, he stared at me, but we didn't just make eye contact, his stare went right through me; his stare somewhat frightened me. Just as soon as the next stack was readied, his eyes returned to each stack with a purposeful focus like I’ve never seen from him before. Fifteen…Sixteen…Seventeen…these final stacks weren’t broken with an alarming determination; they were attacked with a terrible resolve!” ~ Soke Fuyuhiko Saitou This terrible resolve is within every MAist, and imho, it should be. However, it needs to be remain controlled until that time is required of it and when it becomes necessary in the face of danger, whether that danger is immediate or forth-coming. Train with a determination that's unmatched and unequal across the board, Train as though one is expecting that untold danger, and not as though one's waiting for the next MA tournament. My Dai-Soke was trained that way, I was trained that way, and Dai-Soke trained himself that way until the day he suffered a stroke. I hope that none of us ever have to unleash a terrible resolve upon our attacker(s), but if you do, then you'll be ready because you trained for that very moment.

I disagree with this, as far as Shindokan is concerned. Why? In Shindokan, all ranks from Jukyu to Hachidan are tested for. In that, the higher the rank, the more strict are the requirements, and this includes technical knowledge or ability; we must demonstrate without any doubt and/or ambiguity a marked improvement across the board. By Soke and Dai-Soke, at their discretion, ones betterment to Shindokan, might or might not be enough for our Shogo titles.

No matter the rank, opinions are valued and they matter...past, present, and future. I don't believe in the phrase..."Children should be seen and not heard" because we're 'here' to learn and we can't learn if we don't "open our ears and eyes, and keep our mouths closed"!!

Nothing particular, and over the years, students will argue over just about anything; runs a wide gambit. Funny thing is that I never get any arguments over Tuite, and that's because...to learn Tuite, one has to "experience" Tuite first hand and up close...this eliminates arguments dead in their tracks.

Great points Brian. Btw, the Nidan from the second example NEVER goes around saying..."Hey, I'm only a Nidan and here's why." No, he just does his thing and then people ask HIM..."What rank are you?" with a confusing tone in their voice when they ask him, and for the most, he'll ignore the questions all together until the ask'r practically begs for an answer. He shy's away from all of that look at me because he just wants to train. Btw, he wears no Dan indicator on his obi...makes me ashamed that I do.

Sensei8, I like and agree with the concept of respecting the rank, and not the individual. Makes much sense to me. But do you respect the rank of the individual in your first example? For me, Rank defines nothing more (and nothing less) than the relationship between a teacher and a student. Rank only has any real relevance within a specific dojo or ryuha. So, within my organization, I require my students to respect all Rank. Other than that, I would expect the requisite courtesy be given to rank from any other organization. It's a matter of "respect" v. "courtesy". Respect is earned. Courtesy is given until forfeit by poor behavior. Chris Yes, I respect the rank, the 7th Dan in itself, but not the wearer of that said rank...especially the 10th Dan from the first example.

For karateka's, there are 4 postures: Front Facing, Half-Front Facing, Reverse Half-Front Facing, and Side Facing. Each and every technique that's executed must start and end in one of these postures without exceptions. Postures are determined by the attitude my shoulders assume as to the relationship where my opponent is. In that, a karateka will constantly shift into and/or out from one of said postures, however, a karateka can only be in one posture at a time while shifting/transitioning from one to another depending on which one is required to execute any said technique. Forgive my crude drawings... The 4 Postures: [Direction/Location of opponent is indicated by '^'] ^ _____ [This is Front Facing] ^ \ \ \ [This is Half-Front Facing] \ ^ / / / [This is Reverse Half-Front Facing] (Feet position unchanged) / ^ | | [This is Side Facing] | | Remember, I did say crude drawings. For example, If I place a pencil on a table directly in front of me, laying in a horizontal fashion, with either end of the pencil pointing to my immediate left and/or right. Then I move said pencil in a forward direction away from me by moving only the very end of said pencil, one end at a time, as though I'm walking the pencil forward, hence away from me. For example...[sorry, another crude drawing] ^ / \ / \ / \ / \ _____ Now attach whatever technique(s) to each of the ends of the pencil above. At each movement my HIPS come alive, hence, I drive/snap, MOVE my hips with authority in and through the target(s). What seems to happen is that MAists tend to remain in literal-tense. I can't live in literal-tense, I won't live in literal-tense, and I refuse to live in literal-tense. Training, and this includes acquiring any effective knowledge, can't be received literally. If I say the HIPS: Move them, drive with them, snap them, etc, I'm speaking not literal, but that it's a form of expression. If I remain in literal-tense then I become a prisoner of that expression, and in that, I can't learn, discover, grow, etc, because I'm chained onto what I seem to be expounding upon instead of allowing my MA betterment to improve. Again...my hips are movable because I move them, I will them, I command them, and in that, I don't move my hips until that exact moment/time, therefore, it is not I who moves them, they move all by themselves.

A very valuable 2 cents...Solid post!!

In the US Military, one salutes the rank and not the man/woman. In the US Military, one doesn’t have to like and/or respect the one being saluted to; however, soldiers must acknowledge the rank before them. Why? US Military rank is undeniable, unquestionable, and irrefutable because any and all US Military bestowed rank has the backing and support of the US Government. Martial arts ranks are not! MA ranks, at its best, is hoshposh; backed by some individual and/or authoritative governing body. At times, MA ranks aren’t worth the paper they’re written upon. The unmitigated selfish acts of self-promotions within the MA have tainted the betterment of the MA right down to its very core. So much so that, across the globe, many laypersons has little reason to believe and/or have faith any MA ranks. For example, some years ago I had read about a well known MAist, whose name is unimportant at this time, holds the 7th Dan, in a well known style, under a well know founder. Then suddenly, and unexpectedly, the well known founder passes away. The splintering begins within this well known style, and by the time the dust settles, this well known MAist is now a 10th Dan. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was shocked and I was appalled and I was angry. I have more respect for a 7th Kyu or 10th Kyu than I do for this 7th Dan who was somehow miracled all the way up to 10th Dan. What was wrong with being a 7th Dan? NOTHING!! NOT-A-THING!! Pride surly comes before the fall. Out from the darkness and back into the light, comes a story to show that there’s hope amidst the rank chaos. I know of this one Okinawan karateka who’s been studying for over 3 decades; he’s well known and well respected. His MA techniques, as well as his knowledge, are far well above his current Dan rank...he’s only a 2nd Dan. Anyone who’s ever meet him, and have had both the honor and privilege to share the floor with him for their first time ask the same resounding questions, in the same bewildered breathe…”You’re only a 2nd Dan?” and “Why haven’t you been promoted higher?” His answer is fresh, right to the point and so simple, yet very powerful…”That’s the last rank my Sensei tested me for before he retired from teaching.” In the first example above, I still disrespect this so-called MAist with every fiber of my being. It’s like a slap into the face of every MAist of every rank, and I’m still very angry. In the second example, I still feel an unbelievable amount of pride and respect for any MAist who puts everything above rank, as this Nidan has done. Ranks…titles…things of this matter must be placed in its proper context always. Imho.

Solid post!!

Cool...I will check them out...thanks a lot!!

Could you give an example of what you do (or do not) mean by referring to these "universal techniques"? Do you mean "core", "bread and butter", "always works" or what? (All three of those have different meanings.) First of all, I'm of the opinion that NOTHING always works!! Yes, I'm referring to CORE...Kihon. I've no idea what "bread and butter" indicates away from the dinner table.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome back...missed ya'!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Century MA Supply makes some nice sai's and bo's at affordable prices. But I don't know what beats anything made by Shuredio.

Relax, practice hard and a lot, and I believe in you...you'll do fine. Let us know how things go..OK? Hang in there!!

I've failed my share of testing cycles and I've lost my share of tournaments, but that's to be expected because we can't pass every test and we can't win every tournament. However, let both take care of themselves, don't worry about them, and try your best; no one will fault you for that. Train hard and enjoy the good and bad because that's to be expected on ones MA journey. Hang in there!!

Just a word of warning, steel toed boots are considered a DEADLY WEAPON in some jurisdictions. I know personally of a man who went to jail because he was involved with 2 assailants, and they were unarmed. He kicked one in the temple, and if I remember correctly, he got 8-life for manslaughter... and this was in defensive mode. PS he worked construction in addition to being in the martial arts... Be careful in using things like this, they may get you in more trouble than they are worth... Good advise and solid post...thank you!!

Awesome post...thanks for sharing it!!

Welcome to KarateForums.com I totally concur completely with Brian!!

I just said that it was nice to meet a a fellow Eastern Illinois University graduate. He asked me what years i attended, we also knew a few of the same people from Hillsboro. Thanks Clay!!