sensei8

I wholeheartedly concur!! AWESOME!! Btw...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

For those styles that are proponents of kata/forms, this topic is for you. Kata/Forms that are taught without any applications can only serve one mean, imho...Belt Promotions. If one is only executing void kata/forms without knowing and discovering what the movements within any said kata/forms is, imho, the intangible kata; empty without valuable purpose. Why must be entertained. Knowing what each and every movement is and can be within any said Kata/Forms has a credible purpose/reason. To only move on the floor because it's needed for ones next belt promotion can't truly produce effective understanding of what's needed within the tangible universe. I move not because it's cool or popular or the rage of the page, no, I move because it has effective purpose in both knowledge but as well as in effectiveness. I long for the day when each of my movements are only tangible and effective each and every time, until then, I do all I can to shake away every intangible movement. Your thoughts.

Which is most preferred and/or desired by yourself? To push a target OR to penetrate a target?? Shindokan tenets/methodologies and the like expressively teaches that each technique must penetrate any said target to be effective. To push a target might have validity to some degree, however, the margin of effectiveness over penetration is infinitesimal at best. Your thoughts please.

Without the hips... Please complete and then offer a brief supportive argument...I'll begin... Without the hips... Effective techniques aren't birthed. >The apex of the power curve is destroyed before the technique finishes...hence a dismal push. Without the hips... Transitional movements are stalled. >The purpose of transitional movements are to gain and/or maintain ones advantage over any said opponent(s).

For the sake of discussions, I'd like to pose a hypothetical question(s), and please...be kind and not mean in your posts...thank you. For a moment, put yourself in those shoes... 1) Parent 2) Student 3) Administration What would you do or not do if you found out that one of the Godan instructors lived an alternate lifestyle?

Those who only teach because it's a cool gig and not to create a betterment, both in techniques as well as self within their students...these type of instructors of the MA are no better or more than an empty shirt. Your thoughts please...let the discussions begin...hopefully.

Every success in your MA journey wasn't achieved all by yourself. Don't be so shocked. Your rank, no matter the level, is yours. However, you had some help. Your tournament accomplishments, no matter how many, you had some help. Your school of the MA, no matter how many students, you had some help. Yes, it was you, but only to a small degree. You had a lot of help in your corner. Just when? Just how many? You know...don't you?! How about... 1) Your Pastor 2) Family members 3) Your friends 4) Your employer 5) Your fellow dojo/dojang/etc classmates 6) oh yeah...Your Instructor(s) 7) Your Style Headquarters No matter how small or large, your sacrifices were their's as well. They laughed with you, they cried with you, they celebrated with you, they went to the mat with you in their own ways, they supported you across the board, they encouraged you during all of your trials and tribulations, they held the bag and/or some other apparatus for you countless amount of times...each and every time they didn't ask for anything as a reward because your success in your MA journey was enough for them. When's the last time you thanked them?

Also...synchronizing katas, imho, are there for tournament competitions alone and not for improving ones karate, however, practice makes perfect and the more one does these type of katas, one's bound to be improving something along the way.

It's not any different from any other large MA organization...AND...my intent is not to ridicule them at all. I wish them much success because not many find their store front inside of a Wal-Mart Supercenter. I'm just surprised that Wal-Mart allowed the concept inside of their Supercenter because a dojo just doesn't seem to fit quite well inside the big-box system, imho, and having an understanding about the big-box system, Wal-Mart will drop them fast if it doesn't fits into the needs of Wal-Mart. Look at any Supercenter as far as what concepts are found out front beyond the registers...they're here today and then they're gone tomorrow...at the decision of Wal-Mart, and the Supercenter where I live...the retail store front space on the west-side changes on a normal basis.

Harada Sensei is absolutely correct in his statement, however, it's still alright to notice the beautiful that stands before us while we're always remembering to put karate training before everything else; it's ok to take a pause from time to time to simply watch the artistry of others. Every fabric of our movements are measures of improving our techniques, and in that, any type of kata, imho, brings one closer to the threshold of discovering and holding fast onto improving ones techniques. Doesn't the beauty of the concert bring a differing venue of practicing for the musicians and therefore honing their musical skills? If so, then while they improve and hone their musical skills I will enjoy the concert with a smile. Having said that, I'm still respectful to the viewpoints of others at all times. My way is not the only way, it's just another way.

Very nice topic and I've enjoyed the reading...thanks for starting this thread.

Acceptance is a very fragile thing...especially in the MA. It's not easy to accept that which seems new and threatening to ones own existence. To gaze into the very eyes of that which might possibly destroy their very own existence with new methodologies/ideologies and the like than their own must be quite unsettling to say the least. Tracing the MA back to the Asian cultures of China, Japan, and Okinawa, to name just a few, to where their style was birthed is comforting to those who hold those truths tightly and so dear to them. Anything else is truly foreign to them, and in that, not a true MA in their eyes. A true style of the MA must come from those aforementioned cultures for it to be accepted by the masses, both laypersons as well as those MA whose deeply trenched in the Do. Westerners are felt by those who believe wholeheartedly that the Asian way of the MA is the only true type of the MA, and in that, Westerners are often and so easily cast aside because they're not of and/or not tied directly connected to that Asian blood. Is Shindokan a true MA because its comes from Okinawa? Is Shindokan a true MA because its founder was born in Okinawa with an impressive lineage? NO!! Shindokan is a true MA because our student body, who believes in its effectiveness and complete totality, says so. Shindokan could've came from anywhere and it would still be effective, and not only because of its Okinawan roots. Bias to the creator of its creation is fine, nonetheless, the proof is on the floor...and only there. Imho that is.

There's not many of them in operations right now. This leads me to think that this concept is either very new and/or not yet fully accepted by the executives at Wal-Mart. As fast as Wal-Mart tires of dojo's inside of their box that aren't increasing their bottom line or affecting their corporate/community image...out with the dojo's and in with something else that will drive their bottom line.

I thought the London 2012 Opening Ceremony was by far the greatest thing that I've ever seen, especially the beginning with the building of the Olympic rings...I was floored over the entire spectacle. I don't think it'll ever be topped!!

Happy Birthday Danielle...and many more!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Solid across the board...and yes...this should be an Olympic event!! Thanks for sharing the video with us.

Thanks for providing the links.

I thank you for providing the links.

Solid post!!

Oh yeah...Bill Wallace developed their core program. Frank Silverman, Frank Metzger, and Cody Pepper are the owners of this concept. Are their prices guaranteed to be low just like Wal-Mart? Here's the link... http://thecentermixedmartialarts.com/