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I was only challenged one time, and that was by the student and not the Sensei. He came during an intermediate class and told me that I had no right to be in that area without the written permission from his Sensei, and I need to leave asap. "Really?" I added. "Yes...really!" in a sarcastic tone. As I firmly walked towards him...."Get out...and don't ever come back and more importantly, don't you ever assume a position that you don't possess." I commanded. "If y..." he started to say. "Get Out now...and I mean NOW!!" as I held the front door open for him. With that he left mumbling something, but he left! This is not that time of yesteryear!! I was befuddled at the audacity of his Sensei. For his Sensei to think that I would bow to his demands. Other than that one time, I've not experienced this for myself.

DVD's can be used, but one needs to be very careful across the board, and in that, nothing can replace a qualified instructor, nor should one try to. I think students can benefit from DVD's only as a reference and back-up at home when the instructor isn't present; to free a confused mind and a mind that's forgotten for the moment...to jar the memory free....for that AHA moment.

The internet can help and it can hurt. It can help by providing the necessary information that would draw the prospective student to visit the school. It can also hurt by filling the site with a bunch of nonsense that does nothing to attract a prospective student. Imho, a website AND the school shouldn't be a time/place for self-aggrandizement. There's a saying..."Short and sweat!" Anything else is not good for the school.

In my life.... >I've the Shindokan Hombu >Then the Kyuodan Dojo...mine >Then a TKD Dojang in Burbank, CA under GM Young Ik Suh for 1 year while I was in High School However, I too have visited a countless MA schools that were far from being a "House/Home" by the definition. Many times I've walked away from those types of MA school with both a heavy heart and a tear running down my face. Each of the dojo/dojang in my life were full of life; busting at the seams. Our Soke and Dai-Soke taught with every fiber of their hearts; we felt them...we handled them....we were their Karate-ka children, and we felt their love...and the training wasn't lacking ever. Gm Young Ik Suh was power-displayed by his gentleness. His touch was firm and solid, yet his touch was assuring in that it couldn't be denied. The only man I've ever seen execute a 1-step flying side kick, and his head would graze the ceiling each and every single time, and his seniors couldn't do a thing to counter him and/or stop him. Me, I only hope that I could be as great as these 3 men when on the floor, and if I've failed, it was of my own doing, and not theirs. A house is not a home when there's no one there to hold you tight...this too should be a school of the MA.

Imho, rank is subjective, however, the floor reveals all things!!

Truth or not, respect but be displayed at all times. In that, it's not what is being said, it's how it is being said. Truth and Rumor are the same thing if spread viciously.

While Shindokan has its own plethora of kata's; it's not the quantity of kata's one might know, but it's the quality of that one said kata that stands alone above all the rest of them.

For those who are in a martial art that utilizes a belt to indicate rank, and say that the BB means nothing. I would like you to try something...walk up to your sensei...walk up to any high Dan ranks in your style...walk up to the Head of your style...walk up to a kid who's trying very hard each and everyday as a white belt...then say to that person..."Rank means nothing to me...Black belt means nothing to me!!"

Absolutely, and I can speak to this with authority. I have been meaning to address this question, but wanted to wait until I had the time to give it some thought. Here are some of the things that black belt means to me. First and foremost, just being honest, it is vindication. I had already earned shodan in the same style, same system, same school, more than 20 years ago. When I came back 5+ years ago, I was told that I would have to start again from white, since I had been gone so long, and also because some things had changed. This seemed quite reasonable to me, though at the time I assumed (big mistake) that it might take me a couple of years at most to re-earn my black belt. I used to train fanatically, muscle memory is strong, and things came back to me quickly. Now I am glad that I did not know that it would take me a minimum of 6 years to get back the same rank I'd had before! Why is the rank important? On some level, it is not important at all! I am so happy to have rediscovered karate, and I love training. However, let's not kid ourselves. Every night it's "line up by rank", and I have had to work through some anger and frustration at times. Now that I am up to 1st kyu, and 1st kyu in kobudo as well (we have to get to shodan in kobudo before we can get shodan-ho in karate do, which was not a requirement in the old days), I am at the best place possible. Why do I say this? Because I remember in the past that the most fun I ever had in karate was in training for black belt! I love my school, but it is so extreme how long it takes to get to black belt! My peers who will also be testing this year, who are quite a bit younger, have been training between 8 and 12 years already! I mean training hard and regularly, with some minor gaps due to school and work requirements. To me, this shows an amazing level of committment! For me there is just one little fly in the ointment, though. Earlier this year I had to undergo two hip replacement surgeries. Recovery is going very well, and I think I am still on track for shodan-ho testing next March. Things are not as great as I would like, though Dr's and PT's tell me my recovery has been remarkable. Patience has never been one of my stronger virtues, but obviously this is a great chance for me to work on that. At any rate, I am optimistic that by fall I will be ready to crank it up and train as hard as will be expected. I am confident that with more time and healing and training I will be much better, in terms of flexibility and ROM, than I was before the surgery. Sorry about the long winded approach to getting to the point. Quite simply, the reason I want to have my black belt credential is that I would like to stay involved in the world of karate for some time to come, and at my age, I feel that my main contribution will be in teaching and passing on knowledge to future generations. You youn'uns might laugh and mock about an "older person" being able to be effective, but you shouldn't. I have seen some very impressive 70+ year olds performing, and I'm not nearly to that point. As many have said, there are many reasons to train, and it's not just about being able to beat people down. In my opinion, being knowledgeable and able to transmit a style to others, even if not able to demonstrate flashy kicks to the head too well (how about calling up a teenager to show it when you are in front of the class teaching!) is a legitimate reason to award bb, assuming, of course the person also has respectable skills at what they can do. At any rate... I intend to train as hard as I can for as long as I can, but I need to get at least to shodan so that I can ref in tournaments and teach independently. That's what black belt means to me! A very solid post and I thank you for it!!

Solid post Alex...SOLID!!

I hold the Naihanchi series quite endear to me. Not only for its complexity, but because of the effectiveness born in the techniques. Also, I've always found it fascinating that this series is known as Motubu's Kata; all three done as one. Motobu stated it repeatedly..."There is only one kata necessary to develop and excel in karate, and that is Naihanchi as one." So, if Motobu Sensei is correct, then do we really need all of the other kata's within your/our syllabus? Naihanchi shows the power of Kiba-dachi; the one stance that's primarily used by every practitioner of the martial arts when engaged in kumite. I use Kiba-dachi more than any stance within the Shindokan syllabus/curriculum. My Tuite incorporates Kiba-dachi constantly within its transitional shifts and the like. Yes, other kata's use Kiba-dachi, but not to the extent of Niahanchi. In Oyo Bunkai, I've found and am still finding so many effective applications within this series. I'm ok with the "back against a wall" applications, but, many other applications stand alone and away from that well know interpretation. Will we always have our back against a wall? Therefore, I don't practice this series for the sake of a wall, but for the chance of experiencing the separation from that proverbial wall. Inasmuch, the short punching/blocking are also tightly woven in with the Tuite found in Shindokan. Our short range techniques pack one heck of a whollup, and the thanks go to the Niahanchi because of those short punches/blocks/deflections. The application possibilities of the use of ones legs in the Niahanchi series is without any comparison, imho. Is this movement for stomping, sweeping, avoidance...what else can one derive from the legs of this series? It's exciting!! To save the length of my post, and if I continue, it would be a long post, so let me just say this about the Niahanchi series....OH WHAT A RUSH!!

Yes...I was just being tongue in cheek. It's all good!!

Ok...so far, kata and black belts are the most disrespected by the masses. I don't know why, but they are. Seems to me that no matter what I do, I'll not have gained any respect across the board because I have a black belt and I believe in kata! What's one to do?!?

Drats. I'm not learning a new weapon at this time. I feel so left out!!

Isn't ones methodology something else. For me, I prefer the backfist over the jab because I'm more comfortable with it. Imho, both have many pros and cons across the board.

This is all I do; over and over and over and over and over... Majority opinion? In Kata? I don't see that happening because we're all different across the board. To many things to lose and very little to gain concerning the majority. What's effective? What's not effective? The summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because'!! I dream for the day when our collective heads can figure them out, but, imho, that day is far away.

You know, I don't think that there's a right/wrong answer to this. It's what one feels at that moment. Whether ones actions are against the law; that's for the LEO's and the DA and the judge. Again..."He who hesitates, meditates horizontally!"~Ed Parker

Welcome to KF!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!! No matter how gloomy I might feel that day, KF members brighten up my gloomiest days.

For me, "Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality.", means that I don't know everything, nor do I claim that I do, both as a martial artist as well as my life in general. One of my favorite quotes is my own..."Proof is on the floor!" Say what you want, however, the truth will be revealed on the floor.

Ditto!! Yes, we also do many different Kumite drills, 1-step/2-step etc, to sharpen other many facilities.

Funny thing about this is that I've not YET meet a new student that didn't want a black belt one time or another. Whether they learn later that the belt isn't important or not, that very thought [wanting a black belt] has ran through their mind more than once!! I started when I was 7 years old, and I know for a fact that I thought about wanting a black belt; I even drooled many, many times.

That was a long gimmick feud, but a great one!! My favorite fueds back in the day were the ones that made absolutely no since. For example Randy Savage fueding with Repo Man for repoing his multi-colored cowboy hat. Good one Groinstrike!!

With every movement and no matter the level of ones experience; there's always a chance to learn!!