sensei8

Great links. Homerun there Danielle!!

After some consideration and all, I suppose Hugh has some valid points. After all, Soke and Dai-Soke haven't been present at any Hombu testing cycle since 2010. The Hombu has supervised 2-3 annual testing cycles, and in that, the Hombu's awarded said certificates that still have Soke and Dai-Soke signatures only. What the Hombu's done for legitimacy's sake has had Kaicho, Kancho, Technical Qualifications Director, and the Hombu's Executive Secretary sign the Hombu's Official Testing Cycle Results, and then placed it inside of that students file, along with a copy of said certificate(s) along with any other documentations. I don't think that's enough. I'll talk more with Greg tomorrow to find out if we need to make this an official inquire before we present it to the many Department Directors in our weekly conference call.

Knowledge is paramount! Experience is tantamount! The keys to the wisdom of the martial arts is also recognizing ones limitations and/or ones faults, then meeting that wisdom head-on no matter what it might or might not reveal; truths are facts that can’t be ignored, no matter how hard one might try. The five things that martial artists don’t know: 1) Quitting 2) Any Effective Technique Who He/She Doesn’t Love 3) Any Other Way To Betterment, But Through Effective Training 4) Any Better Time To Train Than Right Now 5) The Word “Impossible” 1) Quitting: There’s an idiom that goes like this…”Winners never quit, and quitters never win!!” This is a fact because, imho, it’s also quite true. A truism as this has never been spoken. A martial artist must adhere to this idiom as one would need air to breathe. “It’s so hard.” It’s supposed to be hard, but that’s what makes the trails and tribulations of the martial arts so special and enduring. Each and every difficult thing has a positive side to it, and that is that that thing which battles against you, also imbues your willing spirit to reach each and every goal, no matter how big or little, and that your fighting spirit lives on, and in that, you’ll be awarded with the satisfaction that you conquered that which has set out to destroy you as a martial artist. That fight to fight the good fight is within each of us as people first, and as a martial artist secondly. Just when one thinks that they can’t go on any further, they dig deeply from within to go just that one step further. A martial artist doesn’t exhaust expectations because there is always more. There’s more to whatever ‘it’ is; there’s no end, there’s just momentary pauses. Just when one thinks that it is possible to exhaust expectations, the ‘AHA’ light comes on in one’s head and that seemly unreachable rung is not surprisingly easy to grasp a firm hold of. As a martial artist, quitting is OK, but that’s only if you’ll quit all of that whining and complaining! 2) Any Effective Technique Who He/She Doesn’t Love: It’s easy to love that which is easy. A martial artist loves the things which are hard; difficult. Martial artists are trained in an encyclopedic myriad of techniques throughout their martial arts journey. Some techniques make perfect sense, while other techniques make absolutely no sense at all. No matter how much glue and gum and scotch tape is applied to some techniques; they’re still marquees announcing loudly in ones brain that that questioned technique is ineffective across the board. Each martial artist searches the wide world over the most effective techniques that they can claim possession of for their arsenal, no matter where it came from or whom it came from. Improving ones techniques is the betterment of each and every technique learnt and taught; practice shouldn’t be taken lightly, yet, practice should be done with a pitched fever. Listen to your body signals, and in that, please don’t push yourself so hard and so far that you’ll require medical attention. Effective training and practice shouldn’t require a hospital visit. Gauge yourself, drink plenty of fluids, and know when it’s time to take a break or to stop for the day/night. Searching, discovering, and perfecting that effective technique might come on purpose, or it might come by accident. Either way, once that technique becomes effective through testing it, doubting it, trying it, and then believing in it; that technique which is effective, is quite easy to love and nourish it so that it/they [techniques] become better and better through every trail and tribulation. Remember, what’s effective for me, might not be effective for someone else. Why? Knowledge, experience, and body type play important ingredients for technique(s) success, imho. I can’t love that which is ineffective, but I will, and do love that which is effective! 3) Any Other Way To Betterment, But Through Effective Training: Practice, practice, and more and more practice are important in improving ones betterment within the martial arts. However, blatant disregard on how one does train is damaging to not only your physical well-being, but how to launch an effective technique(s) when necessary. Train not because you have to, but train because you want to and that you need to with that wide eyed purposeful intention, and in that, you’re intent is respectful across the board. When you strike, block/deflect, kick, punch; perform it effectively to and through the technique. Attack that training apparatus with the intent to destroy it. Meet that fear and doubt head-on with the intent to defeat that with is trying to define you. Once you feel like sitting down, push yourself to go just that much more further than you might’ve even imagined, however, you knew that that was already in you to succeed; and you will. You just had to conquer that fear, and meet it on your own terms; not its. Effective training means to seek out help from those who’ve been there. That way, you won’t feel alone in your despair, and/or amenity. Does it mean that you’re weak? No, it means that you’re being honest with yourself, and that from time to time, you’re going to need help to remain on the course that’s set before you. Be lackadaisical when you’re dead; you’ll have all the time then. Train effectively because the alternative isn’t attractive at all! 4) Any Better Time To Train Than Right Now: You could train tomorrow. You could train later. You could train when you feel like it. You could train another time. You don’t feel good. You meant to train yesterday, but something came on TV, and for that moment, that was much more important to you than your training. Besides, this martial arts stuff is easy; it’s a snap. Putting things off might have their place, somewhere and sometime, but the MA requires that you train no matter ones skill set. Survival in the streets against an attacker hell-bent on hurting your family, friends, and/or yourself needs one to train for the inevitable, and that time to train is right now!! Yes, family is without a doubt the most important thing, and spending quality time with them is paramount. There are always times to train, and whenever time makes itself available, take advantage of it. Even if it only means finding a few minutes here or there to train, because before you know it, you’ve managed to find an hour or more in your full plate of a day. There is never a better time that right now to train! 5) The Word “Impossible”: Many things are impossible. Just to name a few…I can’t fly without an airplane. I can’t run faster than a car. I can’t walk on water. I can’t cheat death. Things are meant to be impossible because we’re not all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips, no matter what illusion we tend to believe. Remember your first class? Remember just how hard everything was? Remember how frustrated it became? Remember that every muscle and aching joint hurt…and for days? Remember showing up for the next class, and the next class after that, and so on? I’m quite sure that you thought to yourself during those first three days that this martial arts stuff is for the birds, and you were wondering what in the world did you get yourself in. The only thing impossible, imho, is that which one won’t even try! When the instructor is about teaching you, he/she is constantly pushing and driving you; it’s not because your instructor hates your guts. No, because he/she believes in you and he/she knows that that is within you and he/she wants to be around when everything starts to fall into its proper place…the big AHA moment. Here's the bad news, you’re a student, I’m a student, and in that, we’re constantly learning. In that learning process of the martial arts, you’ll relive those same depressing feelings again and again whenever you’re learning something brand new. Nobody’s born with martial arts abilities. Yes, you kicked and all that stuff when you were an infant, but that wasn’t the martial arts. Believe in yourself first before others will believe in you. It might or might not take some time, but your martial arts are yours and yours alone. Don’t allow anybody to take it away from you, and don’t allow them to steal your martial arts joy. However, the martial arts, well, it’s difficult, but it’s not impossible! In closing, I sincerely believe that these five things should be emblazoned on each and every martial arts school’s wall and in each and every martial artists heart for when things get tough, and that while the road of one’s journey isn’t paved with roses, there are certainties that one must be constantly reminded about; there’s always a light at the end of one’s tunnel if one would endure through each and every aspect that is the martial arts.

For the most, every martial arts style has an organization/federation/association and/or a governing body that issues some type of credence to their student body in order to validate any said rank/title in the form of a certificate. Martial arts certificates are cherished and revered by the receivers of. Hung up eagerly in either their martial arts school, or at their place of employment, or within their home, or in some other special location of their choice for the acceptance of others who might want to admire and/or to gawk at; like one would with a prized trophy. Martial arts certificates should be a rare thing, therefore, not cheapened by some impure act, imho. These platitudes of acceptance come in many sizes, shapes, and colors, along with the text body ordained in some written language. Furthermore, upon these certificates, in various specific location(s), Inkan stamps, of different meaning and importance, lends itself as a proponent of validity and authenticity to any said martial arts certificate(s) once issued by some type of an instructor, and then certified by some organization/federation/association and/or governing body, and in some cases, by only the issuing instructor. Prominently placed somewhere on these certificates, one would also find signature(s), rather, if there’s only one signature or many, they will be found somewhere, again, adding validity and authenticity to mere paper. I’m sure that whoever reads this topic/thread would agree with my following statement… Certificates and the like are important and valid and authentic and valuable to that organization/federation/association and/or governing body ONLY and possibly no other entity found on the face of the earth!! Whether other martial arts organization/federation/association and/or governing body will accept any martial arts certificates on their face value, well, that’s only up to that solicited body and not the inquiring body. That’s my opening introduction. Within the Shindokan Hombu, we’ve our share of these previously mentioned platitudes to bestow/issue from time to time to those of our student body who’ve truly and honest earned them through their blood, sweat, and tears. Looking at one of our Kyu/Dan certificates, one would find many, if not all, of the earlier aforementioned items. Our certificates have the Hombu’s watermark blazoned large and in charge in the center location. We’ve five Inkan stamps; one authenticity stamp located near the top right corner, two Hombu stamps located dead center and the other lower left near the signatures, and two personal stamps of our Soke and Dai-Soke located in the left lower side adjacent to the text body. Then we’ve our text body, right to left, in Japanese kanji. Our certificates are seventeen inches by eleven inches, similar to the size one would find from a university. It’s those ominous signature(s) that are the reason for this topic/thread. Our Legal Team’s Lead Counsel poised a question to Greg and me just the other night during our weekly conference call. ..”Why do Soke’s and Dai-Soke’s names, in the form of signatures, still remain on our certificates, after all, and with much respect, they’re both dead?” “Respect and honor!” chimed Greg and I at nearly the same time. “Why don’t we change the signature portion to accurately reflect the Hombu’s current leadership and such?” Hugh asked matter-of-factly. “Listen, Soke founded Shindokan, and our Dai-Soke taught Shindokan to the majority of the student body. Their signatures are not a bargaining chip for me to even consider whenever you speak about removing their names from any vitally important document. Not me, not today, and not tomorrow.” Greg said with a firm tone. “Do you feel the same way Bob?” asked Hugh. “You darn skippy I do! Their signatures are everything to me. I can’t even possibly imagine a good valid reason for me to erase their signatures, and the reason(s) would have to be enormous for me to agree with. Not only no, but, hell no!” I compassionately replied. “Whose signature(s) did you have in mind Hugh? And please don’t say Bob and me.” Greg reservedly asked. “That’s exactly whose signatures I have in mind. If I may, you’re both at the top of the Executive Team as Kaicho and Kancho; that’s the current leadership of the Hombu, and this fact is supported by the By-Laws.” Hugh answered quite pointedly. “By the way, Kaicho and Kancho aren’t either of you. These are titles that the two of you currently occupy, quite exceptionally, if I might say. If necessary, two other signatures could be added in order to eliminate any impropriator. However, to muck up Hombu certificates with a lot of signatures serves no concrete purposes. Furthermore, if my memory serves me, and according to our Hombu scrolls, you, Bob, were in the process of having your name added to Hombu certificates for the simple reason that you had just been named the Hombu’s new Kaicho by Soke and Dai-Soke, but that wasn’t fulfilled due to the untimely death of Soke, and then Dai-Soke’s stroke and then shortly thereafter, his death” Hugh added. The jury is out for now on this one. This matter isn’t being sought through any formal channels within the Hombu in any shape, way, and/or form. This is simply, a passing conversation between Hugh, Greg, and I. Still, questions remain by a gnawing wonderment …Is Hugh right/wrong? Are Greg and I right/wrong? I believe that the Legal Team has the Hombu’s interest and needs in mind, and that what they feel is for the betterment of our student body past, present, and future. Greg and I have never once felt a need to address, change, and/or touch what Soke and Dai-Soke has created, and in that, by even removing their names from anything, is to me, like spitting in their faces. It starts with removing their names from the certificates, what then? Before one knows it, their names are removed from everything, and then there forgotten. We can remove their names from every written piece of paper, but they’ll always be in my heart…forever! How does, with what the Legal Team is suggesting, serve to honor Soke and Dai-Soke? Imagine, if only for a moment, if your organization/federation/association and/or governing body were to remove the name(s) of the founder/co-founder of your beloved style of the martial arts…how’ would you feel? Possibly, this might have already happened in your organization/federation/association and/or governing body. I bring this to you for you to consider. I’ve asked many questions here, and I’ve bold typed them, with the hope that together, you, on the outside of the Hombu circle, can provide Greg and I with some sensibility and solid answers. Please, and thank you!! I look forward to your replies and/or questions and/or concerns.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Do you have a book store dedicated to old/rare books where you live? In Tulsa, we've Gardners Book Store, and they've over 1 million old/rare books and I've found some MA gems there from time to time. If so, call/write them and they might be able to assist you in your search. Good luck.

I echo Zaine...welcome to KF!! Time is on your side...yes it is. Rushing into stretching can lead into over stretching, and you might hurt yourself if not careful. In time, you'll be able to kick as high as you'd like. Patience. I'm sure your sensei will guide you properly with your stretching as well as every other aspect of Shotokan. Please let us know how your progress is doing.

In the bold type above, the underline seems to contradict your statement. "...the wise are knowledgeable" and if the wise ARE knowledgeable, then wisdom IS part of knowledge and knowledge IS part of wisdom. White belts with better discernment than their own teacher regarding things of their martial arts and/or their style? I'd run from that school fast and far. Tenure, imho, means everything in discernment because the longer I do something, providing I'm doing it effectively, the easier it is for me to discern that which is before me. No matter the physicality or the spiritual/intellectual how one approaches their MA, their discernment is moment appropriate for them, and if it works for them, then it's wrong for me to imply that their wrong. On the other hand, I do see that one with the physicality approach might rush in headstrong without thinking about any consequences. Whereas, one who approach it in a spiritual/intellectual will consider the possible consequences before rushing in, but to over think something can cloud up the most simple situation. Imho.

No. However, a black belts abilities are more than a kyu level for a simple reason...TENURE on the floor over that of a kyu level. No. However, a Sensei's abilities are more than of their students for a simple reason...TENURE on the floor over that of their students. No. However, a high ranking MAists abilities are more than lower Dan ranked for a simple reason...TENURE on the floor over lower Dan ranks. Yes. However, those kyu ranks won't have as much as those mentioned above for a simple reason...TENURE on the floor WITH those proven MAists. Providing that effective training was adhered to across the board on the floor! Respect is earned, and that includes TENURE on the floor. Proven tenure earns the respect of those who are reaching for those AHA moments. Your thoughts?

I can truly appreciate that you've placed the martial arts in its proper place. In my life, while I love the martial arts, it's always been... God Family Shindokan Emphasis has/is always on God and my family is always way over Shindokan. Without my family in every shape, way, and/or form, Shindokan's nothing. I too, applaud you Brian in every way. If this means that our summer training is placed on the back burner, than so be it. Your friendship is far more important to me than anything that is the MA.

Thank you all who've posted a reply!! I've enjoyed them all!!

Congrats; well deserved!!

Congrats!! Before you know it, you'll start all over again...at black belt.

How should dojos Promote students? They shouldn't!! Promotions get in the way of learning.

In self-defense, I'm totally aggressive because it's me or them.

2,607,458 hits on YouTube...well...whatever he has, he's got it. I didn't watch the entire thing because...well...I hung on as long as I could. Thanks for sharing them.

Strange that he would just vanish. Did he vanish before or after they tried to get rid of you? Yes, it was strange and it is still strange. Whatever, if anything at all, was asked of him by his father on his death bed, he obeyed it quickly and decisively. Yes, Iwao vanished way before they tried to oust me.

That's good then...huh?!

Now...HEAL Boo Boo...HEAL....

Oh don't hate me for my answer... It's not the hours, but it's the YEARS, however long they might be.

Some solid advice here for you to glean from. My 2-cents...beat the bag until it finally breaks...then buy another bag and beat it until it finally breaks...then...well...you get the point. Static effectiveness will never replace live effectiveness, imho. Combo?!? Too many to list, but, just as long as you're doing more than one technique EFFECTIVELY/CORRECTLY...create your own combos. Welcome to KarateForums.com!!

Very solid post and advice there Ev!!

A very moving article, one that I sincerely enjoyed across the board!! Thank you for sharing it with us; it was an honor.

Solid point Brian!!