sensei8

Great funny stories so far. Please keep them coming. In all of the decades that I've been on the floor, I've had some great memories, both funny and not-so funny; my wife says I could write a book about all of them. What is she trying to say, I often wonder?!? Here's one that I shared here at KF many years ago. I hope you enjoy it... https://www.karateforums.com/slate-is-for-the-roof-only-vt36201.html?highlight=slate

Yes, it's been my experience as well. Within the dojo, a more effective and practical Bunkai are required within the 3 and 4 person Bunkai. Yet, as we're all aware of, those Bunkai that have that demonstration feel to them, do have the core of effective and practical Bunkai once the demo feeling is kicked to the curb.

For example... This type of drill can be best seen at any WTF or WKA Tournament. In this case, 4 persons will execute said Kata simultaneously. Thereafter, one of the 4 persons will separate themselves from the others by position him/herself in the center of the competition floor. The remaining persons will strategically position themselves around that one person. Then, the 3 persons will in turn or together or near simultaneously attack that one person with a prescribed attack, whereas, that one person will execute the prescribed techniques of said Bunkai defense(s). All of this is done crisp and smartly by all 4 persons. The timing and all that's found in said Kata remain intact from start to finish. The Bunkai should never be the same each time, however, effectiveness must also remain intact. So as to not violate any copyright laws, just go to YouTube, type in WKF or WKA Team Kata to get a better idea.

Another reason Kata is beneficial... "Through sparring practice, the practical meaning of Kata becomes apparent."~Chojun Miyagi

Kata IS Karate, Karate IS Kata!! Neither of the two can survive without each other. Effectiveness CAN be birthed by training in every aspect of Kata. Training in just one or the other are without any fruit. Is Kata beneficial?? I'll answer that question with my own question...Is air beneficial?? Without either, there is no effective body. Imagine there's no floor...without no floor, how's one going to go forward?!? Without Kata, how's one going to go forward in one's knowledge and experience?!? Kata IS a tool. A tool that trains the mind, body, and soul in various applications. With Kata, there must be serious intent. Kata helps to train breathing, balance, focus, speed, power, transitions, stances, develops proper body mechanics, and improves muscle memory. Tools have to be properly trained in before anyone can teach and/or learn how to effectively use them. The three K's are all tools, and without these tools, there's no effectiveness whatsoever. Sure, Bruce Lee labeled Kata/Forms is akin to "swimming on dry land." That's one man's opinion. That's alright to have opinions because many ancient cultures once had an opinion that the Earth was flat. Is Kata beneficial?? As beneficial as the air is. Imho!!

Thank you so very much for sharing this wonderful experience with us. Sounds like you had a great time on the floor, even though it was cut short due to your physical limitations. I understand those physical limitations just way too much myself nowadays. The mark of great MAists is when other MAists understand one's physical limitations, and they don't support one's knowledge and experience all because of true physical limitations.

It's cool. It happens. I did add some different thoughts for you to think about.

Not much difference from teaching 5-7 year old students, then there is from teaching 4-7 year old students. I refer you back to this KF topic... https://www.karateforums.com/help-with-kids-classes-vt55249.html We all teach, and have been teaching, and are learning consistent drills of various types because that's what we do. Admittedly that drills are critical to any students betterment, no matter the age of the student. However, the younger the student the more creative one must be in order to capture their attention on order to drill or anything for that matter. If you bore them to death, then your class/dojo will shortly die thereafter. Hard thing is seeing an instructor make the drill more than what it really is. 30 minutes for a student that young, might as well be 3 hours long, and the first thing an instructor will lose is their interest and the second thing an instructor will lose is the student, oftentimes, both at the very same time. Can't emphasize this enough...BE A CHILD YOURSELF; PLAY WITH THEM!! I do that all of the time, and while I'm playing with them, they're slowly learning the MA one tidbit at a time. Teaching students that young is not a speed race to anywhere but instead it's more of a slow crawl. One of my most favorite games to PLAY with students this young is dodgeball. Yes, dodgeball!! Not adult dodgeball where we are trying to knock their heads off, but where they are learning awareness. In that awareness they are learning how do DODGE the ball or CATCH the ball. These are akin to deflection and trapping; learning how to use their body and arms and legs. The older kids and adults get to avoid tennis balls that are coming faster and harder and from all directions; I'm very accurate and deadly with my tennis ball drill. Students wear goggles!! Get to know your students. That will provide you with an endless amount of insight about each student. Then sit down and design around their likes and dislikes. If some student loves to play baseball, then use that to reach that student. If a student likes to play video games, use that to reach that student. Off those two likes, I can create a class structure and the like because I've been paying attention to my students. That's our job and responsibility. If a kid hates something, find out why, and then teach with that knowledge, therefore, turning a negative to a positive. Nothing wrong with the CI getting on the ground, and playing with their very young students. Get down to their level because it will go a very long way in a positive way. Sometimes I don't teach them any MA; I just get on the ground and play with them...catch or color or watch a cartoon or make faces at each other or have some pizza or anything else other than the MA. You know who else eats all of this up besides the very young students?? Their parents!! If a CI or instructor are social inept, then they shouldn't teach anything. Imho!!

What? That would've been so much fun. Got us again, Patrick!!

Congrats on both your Testing Cycle for 4th Kyu and in your progress across the board. Gojushiho is an exciting and challenging in both the Kata and its Bunkai. Train hard and train well, especially when you all get together; so much to learn and absorb in a short period of time but can be well worth it all.

Are you satisfied across the board?? Seems like the Testing Panel were satisfied across the board!! Therefore, no matter what others might think, you EARNED that Yondan according to that Governing Bodies By-Law!! Opinions and the like don't matter whatsoever against what transpired in order to earn your Yondan. I've a friend who lives in the USA and his Sensei lives in Okinawa. My friend has taped himself whatever was required and/or asked of him, then he sends the tape to Okinawa to his Sensei. This is how a majority of his Testing Cycles were conducted. Yes, my friend traveled many times for training in Okinawa under his Sensei. My friend didn't pass every Testing Cycle. My friend earned his Kudan via Testing Cycle video tape. His Sensei was Master Shian Toma of the Seidokan. Congratulations on earning your Yondan!! Key word here is...EARNED!!

Great new content. I'm signing up right after you, Brian!!

Welcome to KF, rehodges; glad that you're here!! Congrats on earning your 9th Kyu; many long roads ahead, but you got this.

Both target and situation dictate as to how either kick will be delivered. In short, I've no preference one way or another. All methods favor Shindokan because for the most, our kicks are set-up kicks, neither designed for particular offense or defense. Therefore, our methodology when it comes to kicks is that our kicks are executed as both an offensive AND defensive tactic.

Yeah, what everyone has said. Your class structure is right on. A tweak here and a tweak there is always a constant requirement to keep ever student on their toes, although quite consistent. Teaching is the fine act of fine tuning...always, and never being satisfied. Having more than one curriculum stuffed in the top desk drawer is a time saver when other options present themselves unexpectedly. One last thing...if you're NOT the CI, as I understand what a CI is, and you teach as part of the faculty of a school, whether it be MA or not, the powers that be, aka Administrators, might want to approve your curriculum at least once per year. Never forget your top desk drawer.

Stories are often told, as well as being embellished upon over time, whenever Kobudo is the subject. No matter how Kobudo came about, whether or not it be due to a ban and/or the ingenious creations of farmers, the one thing that can be romanticized concerning this topic is that proof of either story is that there's no historical proof, and what has been agreed upon is more leaning to the Pechin warriors' class. Many Okinawans were known to do many things in secret, including Kobudo training. Having trained in an Okinawan MA style for over 5 decades, and that includes the many different Okinawan Kobudo weapons, I'd hate to imagine how many of them were used as farm tools. Awkward, yet possible, either way, if said Okinawan weapons were once a farm tool or not, well, these farming tools pack a huge wallop. Historical proof regarding what this topic is trying to understand might not ever be etched in any marble stone, but history is important, albeit the training of it is far more important. Notable MA historians will try to shine truth upon subjects like this, but one might truly place their finger upon it with any certainty. Choose which historical yarn is the most reasonable, and then, train hard and train well.

Stretching is paramount to my warm-up because I'll be 65 years old this October, and ones body gets stiff as one grows older. However, some stretches have to be modified due to some of my physical limitations. Stretching is first and foremost in any of my warm-ups; nothing happens until then. Because I can't afford any setbacks, even the tiniest, so for the most daily warm-ups, I usually do these as well... *Marching in place while swinging your arms *Jumping jacks *Walking jacks *Arm circles and shoulder shrugs *Pushing a Sled *Swinging toe touches *Leg swings (forward) *Leg swings (side to side) *Hip rotations (like stepping over a fence) *Hip circles (like you’re hula hooping) *Bodyweight squats *Push-ups *Lunges *Hip extensions My warm-ups have changed somewhat due to medical/physical reasons. But the one thing that has never changed with my warm-ups is doing all Kata's in our style, both regular speed and slow speed. That's because I value what they bring to my MA betterment as well as to my cardio. Saturday....12 laps in the Gyms swimming pool

Welcome to KF, 9StepHEN; glad you're here!!

Thank you so very much, Ken; it really means everything to me!! Please share my GoFundMe campaign wherever you feel comfortable to do so.

I wholeheartedly agree with Brian!! So proud of your MA ethics!! Thank you for your updates!!

Welcome to KF, Tyler; glad that you're here!!

Be steady, consistent, and firm. Address this concern immediately. Recognizing that stress and/or frustration are often the reason(s) for disruptive actions. Still, it [disruptive actions] mustn't be allowed. I'd have a closed-door conversation in my office, with another Instructor present, I'd only address the problem, and neither of the child and the mom, about the disruptive actions displayed on and off the floor. Disruptive actions and the ignoring of said, will not be permitted whatsoever within my dojo, on and off the floor, especially on the floor. If the disruptive actions happen once again, said student will be suspended for an undetermined amount of time. If at the time, said student is allowed to return for classes, and the disruptive actions still exist, then said student will be expelled for cause. This way I'm only addressing the problem, and not the mom and/or the child. I'm not attacking them, I'm attacking the problem, therefore, nothing personal has been addressed...just the Dojo Kun. The Kun, of which they both signed and have a copy of. Disrespect my floor!! That's the fastest way to find you on the outside looking in.

From what I've read in your OP, you've already answered your own question of what you should do. Some would say that this is a Catch-22 situation. I wholeheartedly disagree with that mindset because INTEGRITY should be the ruling order of the day...every day. As a business, they don't have to justify anything...much...if it at all. What tatsujin's post speaks about in this regard is dead on. There's no integrity when the bottom line is concerned. All there is is the profit line, and businesses will do whatever they can to generate all of the profit that they can. Oh sure, every business should have the highest integrity possible, but that's not how it is at all. Not sure if customers care about business integrity as strong as they do for the businesses pricing structure. Businesses that have kicked integrity to the curb sleep as well as those businesses who've not kicked integrity to the curb. So, I'd find somewhere else to teach without haste whatsoever. Customers make the difference with what they decide to allow or not allow. Kick that business to the curb. For cause. There's no way that I'd remain in their employment...for cause!!

Welcome back, crash and congrats on you being selected as the MOM, well deserved!!

UPDATE: Forgot to mention at my last Update that Dr. Goodman is referring me back to my Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Michael Becker, for my Intensity-Modulated Radio Therapy (IMRT); sooner than later. PS: That appointment with Dr. Becker is April 14, 2022