sensei8

What makes a good Sensei? Honesty across the board; first by being honest with themselves first and foremost!! Being a published author or having produced DVD's and the like in the martial arts genre doesn't make a good Sensei. Those are nice platitudes to have for one reason or another, but that doesn't guarantee that the Sensei will be good at it; teaching that is. After all, a Sensei is someone who must have the ability to teach, and their black belt doesn't guarantee that attribute. I've never written a book. I've never published any type of DVD. I'm not a famous martial artist. I'm not well known. I've never been written about in any martial arts publication. This and that. I'm just me, and I believe that I'm a good Sensei across the board. You see, my Soke, and then my Dai-Soke didn't believe in having a website, didn't advertise...ever, other than word of mouth. They despised the tournament scene, however, they never prevented us from participating in them. Go or don't go, they didn't care one way or another UNLESS, I/we shamed ourselves and/or them and/or the Hombu. If we acted to big for our britches, they'd put us back in our places fast. None of them were ever interested in the many things that Sensei's of the past and/or the present were/are interested in. Despite all of that, I consider them both good Sensei's, and I'm not alone in this analogy. They'd always remind us that Karate-do isn't meant to be dependant on commercialism of any type. It's not their cup of tea, and in that, they'd never deny others for their tea flavor. Being honest with oneself to be a good Sensei is important, but it's not that easy! The OP and the two that follow make solid points across the board. Hopefully, I've added something of value to this discussion.

I voted "system"!! Imho... Without a system first, there would be no sensei! So, as to not overuse something I've said here many times before, but it needs to be said again, NOT ALL BLACK BELTS CAN TEACH!! However, a viable and effective system must exist first! Not a mutt system that's been thrown together like Dr. Frankenstien did for his monster; a little bit of this and a little bit of that, it won't exist for long, and it shouldn't. Limited knowledge bears no fruit! Once a black belt is wrapped around the waist of the sensei want-to-be, the system needs to mentor the yudansha through an Instructor Training course before they can officially instruct anybody. Then and only then will the new Sensei become himself/herself viable and effective under the system's umbrella of endorsements, as well as finally receiving their systems stamp of approval. That's key! Having a viable and effective system for the Sensei to hang their yudansha upon is paramount . NO SYSTEM = NO SENSEI...NO SENSEI = NO STUDENTS. In the martial arts; putting the horse before the cart simply means that going about a project in a haphazard fashion, setting up steps out of order and working in a confused manner. It's counter-productive, inefficient and disorganized. It simply doesn't work. The only result may be spinning one's own wheels, and the project goes nowhere. The system produces the sensei; not the other way around!!

This might be of some help for you... http://www.hanni-sakas.com/CombatJutsu06/Links.htm

In a nutshell... "Best", especially in the martial arts, imho, is nothing more than an illusion. Looking at the plethora of styles of the martial arts, the arts in themselves are solid across the board. Having said that, practitioners of the martial arts aren't cut out from a cookie sheet; we're different across the board. Nonetheless, I win today, but tomorrow I lose. This doesn't make my style the best/worst nor does it make the other practitioners style the best/worst either. After all, I'm not fighting the style, I'm fighting the practitioner. Practitioners CAN lose, but the style, imho, can't be defeated. Why? Interpretation defaults actions. Why? The summation of "why" is to the summation of "because". Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. There's always someone better than me/you on any given day. Not many have beaten [bLANK]. Perhaps the right person hasn't come forward yet for one reason or another. Again, even if the right person came forward and then lost, it was the practitioner who lost and not the style. Isn't that practitioner a representative of said style? And if he/she is, then the style isn't faulted. We are fallible beings, and in that, we can't win all of the time; it's unreasonable, it's wishful thinking. The question would be better served if it was worded this way: What style of the martial arts is BEST FOR ME? That can only be truly answered by the one asking the question. Advise can be given, but the advise must be sound. Can one be perfectly honest with oneself? That's not easy to answer.

The "Gi" has its merits, but, for me, I'd, sooner than later, discard the gi because it's going to be in my way and provide a "tool" to use against me.

Very nice article...I enjoyed it a lot! I've viewed Bruce's saying that you quoted in a different way, but that's the beauty of the journey. Still, a solid article across the board!!

Both have to be taught one way or another!!

Congrats to you!!

Don't waste yourself!!

Ego fuels both the arrogant as well as the ignorant; ego has no place in the martial arts!! "If I tell you I'm good, you would probably think I'm boasting, If I tell you I'm no good, You know I'm lying." ~Bruce Lee Was Bruce both; arrogant/ignorant in this saying of his? I don't think so. I think Bruce was complete in his totality.

I think that in theory, I will never catch up for the simple reason you just mentioned. Been thinking about that a lot the last few days. You might one day catch up to your Sensei's rank, but you'll never catch up to his knowledge. Besides, you're very correct when you say that you'll never 'catch up'! Why? Because your journey is YOUR journey alone! Your journey isn't to 'catch up' with anybody, but to be honest with yourself across the board each and everyday.

More Karate in the UFC? For me, the bottom line is that I don't really care what the core style of the fighter is. What I want to see more of is the code of Bushido in/out of the octagon, and not the unsportsmanlike conduct that seems to permeate the UFC before/during/after a fight, and I'm glad to see the Mr. White isn't going to allow those unsportsmanlike actions to continue anymore, after all, they're martial artists, not barbarians. Yes, I'd love to see more Karate represented in the UFC because I'm a Karateka, but, the UFC doesn't determine if Karate is the effective art that it is or not, and for that fact, the UFC doesn't make/break a style of the martial arts. Why? The UFC is just a venue of its type, nothing more and nothing less. As long as their are rules, we'll never know in a styles complete totality.

Well...Week #16 for me was sweet and lots of presents, not just because it was Christmas, but because some NFL teams are for REAL!! Although I'm a die-hard Cowboy fan, and the Cowboys have struggled this year, I've found enjoyment in watching some other teams across the board. For example... I've enjoyed the Chiefs because it's good to see them back on the top as division champs. Their win over the Titans was masterful as a team. I can't, we fans can't seem to enjoy it enough when players jump up into where the fans are and celebrate a TD, no, it's not ok, according to the NFL for more than ONE player to do the Lambeau leap after a TD. Why? If it's unsportsmanlike to do this, well, then stop the other team from getting into the end zone. If you can't, then don't look. The NFL is too busy, imho, in taking a fun and exciting thing, like bonding with the fans, into something that it's not...unsportsmanlike, imho. I can't wait for the time when the ENTIRE offense does the Lambeau leap at the same time FOR THE FANS, because the Lambeau leap is FOR THE FANS AND NOT THE NFL. I've enjoyed the Jets because they've played for real, and it was good to follow them especially for me since they were in ESPN NFL Training Camp with the Jets earlier this year. I loved the raw passion of the coaches and the players. Even though the Jets lost a close one to the Bears, the Jets still clinched a playoff spot---and for me, that's awesome. I followed the Jets more this year than before because the Cowboys weren't doing anything. Oh, I'm a die-hard Cowboy fan but sometimes, I want to watch and cheer a team that's actually winning...like the Chiefs and the Jets. Both the Jets and the Chiefs will have a tough playoff schedule against some tough teams, and in that, if they [Jets/Chiefs] want to advance to the Super Bowl, well, they need to CONTINUE in being awesome, even though only one of them can advance to the Super Bowl. My Cowboys have had their ups and downs this year. They lost ANOTHER CLOSE game against the Cardinals. And that's how its been for the Cowboys this year...close loses, not many blow-outs, but close ones, and in that, a win is a win and a lose is a lose no matter how I want to rationalize the whole thing. Romo being out hurt the Cowboys' hopes, however, Kitna hasn't been a bad thing, no, imho, he's been a good thing for the Cowboys, even though he gave up 2 interceptions right away that the Cardinals capitalized on. Giving Wade his walking papers also was a good thing for the Cowboys, but, giving up 3 turnovers will hurt any team, and the Cowboys rallied back and almost won the game. Almost isn't a win! Other teams I enjoyed this year were...the Ravens, the Patriots (they've won 7 games in a row), the Dolphins (who lost to the Lions, which I thought the Dolphins had that game, but...the Lions roared), the Steelers, the Rams (who are on the cuspid of winning their division), the Eagles (even when they beat the Cowboys...aarrgghh), the Bears, the Falcons (they've won 8 games in a row), and some of you here won't like this, but, I've enjoyed the Lions (who've won 3 games in a row, which is rare for the Lions as of the years past) who've played the role of SPOILER to some dynamic teams I think that the Falcons VS the Patriots will be in this years Super Bowl in Dallas, TX. For some teams next and final week...it's for all of the marbles and for others, it's going to be their role to just take all of the marbles home for themselves! GO COWBOYS!!

Congrats!!

To everyone here at KF; have a safe Merry Christmas!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!

Congrats!!

Congrats! Feels good, huh?!

Conrats Lupin!! AWESOME! Feels good, huh?!

Yeah, because his life was in danger even more so at that time, imho.

In solo training AT your MA school, the best piece of equipment, imho, is a hanging mirror. The mirror provides instant feedback on YOU!! Like the camera, the mirror won't blink and it's awfully true and revealing. How many members here have or don't have hanging mirrors in your school, on one or more walls?

I think that we can agree that the secret to power is in the hips. However, in watching the link provided in the OP, Bruce's use of hips are none existent across the board. Here's what I see. The Force of his punching power does come from his mass times his acceleration. If I'm correct in what I've learned from training/exchanging with JKD practitioners, they [JKD practitioners] don't ever chamber or retract their hands and feet. For them to chamber, it means that they've no power to start with on one or both sides. I'm not implying that JKD practitioners don't value the properties of the hips. No! The force I present comes from how fast I can strike out to my target with my soup bone for hands and feet. Bruce could generate a lot of speed in the shortest distance with his hands/feet without having to chamber and/or reposition them. Having said that, I also value the properties of a chamber and/or reposition, when they're called for. The power of the chamber and/or the reposition is evident yesterday as well as today and well be so tomorrow. I'm a proponent of both schools! I'm a karateka, but I view Oi-Zuki [Lunge Punch] as a very weak punch that lives as a telegraphed tool, although it does have some positive characteristics about it. Still, your walking and executing a punch from a chambered position. Weight transfer has merits, but to me, in its totality, it's a very weak punch because of its wasted motion and energy. Oi-Zuki is a type of punch that takes so much space and time to execute. I believe that JKD power comes from their entire body; a body that's in concert with itself. Providing that body mechanics aren't just ramblings of scientists, body mechanics have everything to do with where JKD power comes from. Therefore, it's not necessary to draw back the arm before delivery of a strike. This negates the necessity to chamber/retract the fist before delivering a punch. Without the chamber, or any preparatory retraction of the hand, it is much harder for an opponent to see a strike coming! MAists should be able to strike from wherever their tool, hands and/or feet, may happen to be without repositioning. JKD's center line theory, an unorthodox manner that seems to embody the essence of JKD power without wasted motion/energy, as well as protecting themselves; albeit, very effective and very powerful. Without turning this post into a lecture of a type, I'd be amiss to not encourage one to carefully study in depth any and all of JKD theories & principles for a more understanding of...where's the hips in JKD. Study theories/principles of JKD, for example: Water Principle, Whip Principle, Water and Whip Principle, Non-Intention, Four Corner Theory, Theory of Facing, Hammer Principle, Immovable Elbow Theory, Long Weapon to Nearest Target, and Power Side Theory. I'm not a paid spokesman for JKD, I'm a karateka that sees the value of its totality across the board, and in applying its simplicity to my betterment as a MAist. However, I don't treat JKD P&T's, or any style of the MA, as part of the MA holy grail, they're nothing more than tools to wield at my discretion, just as I would for anything that I deem valuable from the vastly differing styles of the MA. Where's the hip? It's there in JKD when one needs it, not until then.

Adrenalin!! Oh what a rush!! To be anxious is to be human. Performance anxiety that is felt just prior to walking into the octagon, or just prior to doing Kata/Kumite, or just prior to given a speech, or just prior to walking onto a stage to perform your piano recital, or just prior to your attacker throwing down on you, imho, are normal. The good news is that for most people, these fears can be overcame. Well, it can!! Have you ever been severely inhibited by your nerves? Have you had the classic dry mouth, total distraction, sweaty palms, loss of concentration, loss of fine motor control, inability to sleep or focus? In short, you were a wreck! You couldn't even remember your name, home address, home phone number, wife/husbands name, or your kids' name. You swallowed a lump in your throat that felt like it was about the size of a basketball. Can one control their anxiety? There is overwhelming evidence testifying to thousands who have learned to control anxiety. Control of this kind is not learned overnight, but like with anything, comes with practice. Our aim is not to banish nerves completely. In fact, research supports the notion that some anxiety is helpful to an artist. There is an optimum level of anxiety which enhances our performance. If we can control the amount of adrenalin pumping through our bodies to this optimal level, adrenalin becomes a wonderful servant. Under its control anxiety levels soar out of control. Performance in this state is near impossible for everyone, not just martial artists. Adrenalin is a terrible master! Anxiety is displayed in 3 responses; mental, behavioral and physiological. We must discipline ourselves to replace the self-destructive, negative text with positive ones. We can choose the way we think about our current situation. We can choose to see it as a threat. Our body translates this as danger and the fight/flight response is triggered. Emotional content mastery takes time, but is quite doable across the board. Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro are key to controlling the anxiety, and thus, the adrenalin from being a negative rush. Martial artists mustn't propel themselves into areas that they're not ready to conquer without first arming themselves with the most proper weapon of all...our calm mind. Putting on a calm behavior is an effective precursor to feeling calm. Techniques such as progressive muscular relaxation help us replace a panicky response with controlled behaviors. Our natural inclination when stressed is to surrender to hyperactivity. We tighten up unnecessary muscle groups, for example in the hands, shoulders and face, which hinders our techniques, albeit, our ability to transition from square A into square B. Deep breathing can break the escalating loop of increased heart rate, respiratory rate and rising blood pressure. Deep breathing is my key element in controlling both my adrenaline and my anxiety, no matter the situation. True threat or false threat; either one of them will trigger my perception for the moment. I use deep breathing, which I'm sure most of you do as well. However, what other ways have you found to be successful in controlling your own adrenaline rush and/or anxiety?

Solid OP across the board and your point is right on the money!!

Get back up ASAP!! Imho, the leo should have kept his weapon drawn on the suspect and then ordered the suspect to the ground. Kept his distance from the suspect, and if the suspect left the scene, radio all of the necessary info for a later arrest. However, I don't know the policies of that police department on apprehending a robber suspect by yourself until back up arrives!! Not many leo's are properly trained enough in the martial arts, other than what's taught at the academies.