sensei8

Any comments?

>I'm afraid of the punch that doesn't penetrate. >I'm afraid of the kick the doesn't cause harm. >I'm afraid of the block that doesn't deflect. >I'm afraid of the strike that doesn't break. >I'm afraid of the application that's not effective. Too often, as practitioners of the martial arts will do, we train; but I fear that many practitioners train reserved. Many are taught, for example, when they spar, to stop/arrest any said technique within a hair's-breadth of any said target for safeties sake, and then its realized and reinforced at some local weekend tournament. What happens when the technique counts and it doesn't because of practices that are honed in us? As an instructor, I'm responsible for what and how I teach my students. I'd hate to train my students for tournaments and belts only because there are limits to that type of constant training, imho. On a closing note, live training is critical, and in that, live contact should be paramount. That's why I teach my student to be that resisting Uke when training, for example, in Tuite, but only after the technique/application has been taught. I look forward to your responses...thank you.

A very SOLID post Danielle!

My Dai-Soke loved to turn the tables on us quite often... "You teach me today. Please, you show me. I want to see what you found in your Oyo training...but it must be effective! I don't care the Kata you pick, just be effective." I'm from the camp of those who believe that Bunkai is based on ones own interpretation, however, it must still be effective.

Sorry Alex, I didn't mean for the thread to make the turn(s) it made from my one question.

When you wake up one morning and you talk yourself out of training that day: this could be a sign of burnout. When you take short-cuts in your usual length of training and excuse it away: this could be another sign of burnout When you suddenly stop training because the mundane repetitive nature of training is weighing...again, all of a sudden: this could be another sign of burnout.

"Opps!!"and "AHA!!"...these are the wrong times to realize a boo-boo's been made.

Solid post!!

That might be the million dollar question with no obvious answer. I agree. I've heard people say they are "starting a new tradition" at my daughter's high school. So, I'd say that tradition isn't necessarily based on the "age" of an activity, or how long it has been around, but more likely has more to do with the frequency and consistency it has been observed, and its part in a culture, perhaps. Well, that's a pretty good answer there Brian!!

I'm in opposition of the Sine Wave and here's why. Grading in ITF without succumbing to their methodology might be nearly impossible. I too, being a karateka, don't understand the Sine Wave methodology, even though I've heard many, many explanations/reasons for it. I firmly believe that the Sine Wave methodology, especially the excessive Sine Wave, robs the practitioner of power. Why? The quickest way between point 'A' to point 'B' is a straight line. Sine Wave isn't a straight line. Sine Wave methodology acts to me like a wind-up, and MA techniques don't require a wind-up; MA techniques aren't a baseball pitch.

Good point Brian.

Ryan, First and foremost, welcome to KarateForums.com. Secondly, congratulations on earning your Shodan...an accomplishment in itself, imho. Thirdly, you shouldn't feel badly about wanting to change clubs and/or styles. Your martial arts is yours and yours alone, and no one should try to make your martial arts theirs. Having said that Ryan, you've noted reasons for pondering your MA path, and your reasons are viable, but more importantly, you have the absolute right to your reasons. Inasmuch, you're not contemplating to quit, to me, that's the most important thing to remember. You're just wanting a change, and change is inevitable and change needs to be embraced. It also sounds to me that with all of the negative things, i.e. instructor moral, numbers dropping, non-challenged training, etc, it appears that change is exactly what you need and what you want. I applaud your courage because it takes courage to recognize and respect change. Change is scary to some because of the unknown. I believe that whatever it is that you finally decide, you'll be fine. Your MA betterment requires it of you. Be true to your MA path and remember, it's YOUR path. Be proud of your path!! I don't have to approve of your decision, but I must respect it; I wholeheartedly do!! Good luck!

I truly take no marked notice about how Oyama or anybody sits and for whatever their reason(s) may or may not be. In that, I've no theory to offer as to why Oyama sat the way he did...sorry Ev!

I too have no problems at all with anything that the security officer had to do!! I asked the question about the amount of limited "powers" of a security officer because I've read about where the police have had to arrest a security officer because that security officer "...had no legal right or jurisdiction in which to administer".

Yeah, that arm bar IS pretty slick. The chaining of movements and experienced transition worked to the practitioner in white's advantage, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing it Alex!!

While it's a far fetched thing to worry about, but still possible...BURNOUT! Intensive training might lead to one to experience some type of temporary burnout for one reason or another.

Forget about feedback for a moment, while feedback is important....what about the NO APPLICATION training. If one can't engage with someone, then there will be no effectiveness across the board in this type of training venue. Imagine if Doctors were trained this way.

Any number of Shindokan students that's ever tested under me has failed. My standards are quite high and I've failed for a many number of reasons, but not for the thrill of failing. I hate to fail a student, but if it's warranted, I'll not hesitate. The key is consistency during testing cycles; past, present, and future. Then use the failing as an opportunity to build up the student(s). To be able to show compassion in the midst of judgement isn't only important, but it's a must, imho. I'm not the same person on the training floor as I am on the testing floor. By that, I've compassion on the training floor but on the testing floor I've no compassion, even more so, I'm very quick to judge and my judgement is without an equal and final. I refuse to give my students any false sense of security, and in that, when my students pass any testing cycle, they know two things. One, they earned it. Two, more importantly than the first, they are secure in knowing how to effectively apply Shindokan when it counts. Testing cycles will take care of themselves. They always have and they always will. Don't fear it, embrace it: Testing cycles and failing; they come hand in hand. Treat a failure not as a negative thing, but more as a positive thing to learn from yourself and from others who've been there.

I'm constantly reminding my students, the hierarchy of our Hombu, and the students of our Hombu that their sole job as a martial artist is tend to their own martial art betterment. Worry not about what another martial artist is doing before you set your path straight first.

Nice video Dobbersky. Even though I didn't understand what he was saying, I completely understood his meanings. Thanks for the video Dobbersky!

Well...if the day was a good day...YEAH, but if it was a bad day...NO WAY!!

2 games remaining...will the Cowboys save grace or will they end up with egg on their face. Their playoff future is in their hands; I'm remaining slightly optimistic for now because they've been here before....just short of the goal line...and then fumbled away their playoff berth. GO COWBOYS!!

I can't forget this shout out....How about them Colts...finally...one in the win column.

Patrick, You might just be right. However, as Jerry Glanville put it so poetic..."NFL, it means 'Not For Long'." No job is guaranteed in any pro sport.

That might be the million dollar question with no obvious answer.