sensei8

Forgive my ignorance, but, what's Ross??

Yeah, I'm with Brian on this one. For me, it's not the same as...Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Man oh man, I'm a 1 thru and thru, even though, from time to time, I can be a 2 as well. I'm sick that way..."Go ahead, keep hitting me, but, boy oh boy, when I get a turn, it's on like donkey kong!" Besides, Shindokanists love to stand toe to toe and let the chips fall where they may; we invite and create close quarter engagements.

For me, this has been a great discussion, no matter what side of the coin one maybe on. In that, I'm in agreement with BOTH sides, but, as Brian has stated; I'm beholden to things that aren't in my sole control. Nonetheless... Yes, you're right; laws aren't always 100% right, BUT, they're still LAW! Again, you're right; laws are changing all of the time, and you're right also when you suggest that it's time for my Hombu to change its rules. Boy oh boy, I've tried to do just that for over 15 years, since I joined the Board of Regents, but, not once have the votes been on my side. Therefore, this "law"/rule is STILL what it is; unchanged! Now that I'm only a Senior Advisor and no longer the Kaicho, the remaining/new leadership will have to make the necessary changes as they see fit to do so or to not do so! Yes, because it is less. Shodan is less, Nidan is less, Sandan is less, etc; because 'it' is!! Because 'it' isn't the rank above 'it'!! By the reason I've just stated; yes JBB is a lesser rank, and for no other reason!! It is right to deny Shodan to those under 18 years old, and I thought I made this clear before, is because the Articles and the By-Laws, that were created by our Soke, say so without any ambiquity whatsoever!! It's not like saying "Sorry kid" because the testing syllabus for those under 18 years old ISN'T the same as those that are 18 years old and older...IT'S NOT THE SAME!! No! It's like saying "Congrats on your JBB"!! That's what a JBB tested for and that student under 18 years old DIDN'T take the Shodan testing syllabus, no, they took the JBB testing syllabus...as it was created by our Soke!! JBB candidates DON'T ever take the same test as a candidate for the Shodan!!

I wholeheartedly agree!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!

Very nice!!

That's a great attitude to have. But what if your integrity tells you that an under 18 truly deserves a bbelt? Then I'll present that student, who's under 18 years old, a Junior Black Belt, not, a full-fledged Yudansha until that student reaches 18 years old because I'd still be under the umbrella of the Hombu! My Hombu won't allow it, it's just that plain and it's just that simple. Oh sure, I can issue any certificate I want that's under my authority, but, I might as well've done the certificate on toilet paper because the Hombu would send it right back to me with a big INVALID stamp affixed upon the certificate, as well as a nice reminder letter. Is that true integrity then? You think the person deserves to be a fully fledged blackbelt, equal to all the other over 18s with the same ranking, but because your Hombu says you can't you won't give them the full rank but settle for the lesser(?) rank of junior blackbelt. And lets' face it, it really is a lesser rank otherwise why distinguish between the junior and senior ranking at all? Is it true integrity to know that a student deserves a rank but then deny them it because your leadership says so. Not getting at you Sensei, just throwing this out there for a bit of discussion I know you're not getting at me. So, for a bit of discussion... Yes, it is true integrity. Just as it's true integrity for one to obey the laws of the land, I, therefore, obey the laws of my Hombu. Like the laws of the land, whereas the law says what we can and/or what we can't do, and we obey them whether we like these laws or not, otherwise we find ourselves in violation of the law, and find ourselves in jail, rightfully so. In that, I obey the laws of the Hombu, just as any member of any martial arts association does, not because they agree with every rule/law, but because said law/rule exists and it's right that they do so because they're law/rule abiding individuals. JBB is a lesser rank? OK! In that, so is every other rank before the JBB and as the JBB is to the ranks that are above the JBB!! Should the terms Senpai and Kohai be viewed in the same context as the JBB? No, and neither should the JBB! They're accepted and therefore they're willingly practiced. Should the terms Sun Bae Nim and Hu Bae Nim be viewed in the same context as the JBB? No, and neither should the JBB! They're accepted and therefore they're willingly practiced as well. It's a lesser rank in only the terms of the Yudansha, but it still deserves respect unconditionally and without reservation. Who's lesser? The rank or the practitioner who wears and/or awards said JBB? Neither!! Again, it is, imho, true integrity to deny rank, no matter my opinion, because the leadership says so! Why? The act of true integrity, in this instance, is that I'm accountable to the rules and the regulations and the Articles and the By-Laws of the Hombu. Therefore, it's also an act of integrity to refuse to engage in behavior that evades responsibility. My responsibility is to my students, to my Dai-Soke, and to my Hombu; seperate but equally. My responsiblity across the board means that I willingly obey what my Hombu dictates, not just because it's expected of me, but because it's correct and just. To do otherwise, is an act of dishonesty across the board!! I've never told my students, nor have I ever implied to my students that JBB is a lesser rank and therefore they're a lessar karateka. My students understand that the JBB is lessar than that of Shodan and Nidan and Sandan and Yondan, and Godan and Rokudan and Nanadan and Hachidan and Kudan and Judan. And in that, my students understand that the JBB is greater than Jukyu and Kukyu and Hachikyu and Nanakyu and Rokyu and Gokyu and Yonkyu and Sankyu and Nikyu and Ikkyu. My students understand that the number 0 comes before the number 1 and so on and so on. My students aren't concerned with how the world views their JBB. My students are proud of their JBB and what it stands for, as well as the hard work it took for them to achieve it. Therefore, I view the JBB as nothing more than just another rank, and in that, I'm very proud of my students who've earned the JBB!! Is it right to deny a student rank if in the course of a testing cycle that student fails? Yes!! Why? Because the Articles and the By-Laws of the Hombu dictates it to be so. In that, I deny the Yudansha rank to my students and I therefore award the JBB because the Articles and the By-Laws of the Hombu dictates it to be so as well!! These are the wishes of our Soke!! It boils down to one thing; rules and regulations!!

I'm of the crowd that says that Karate and TKD are more like day and night; complete opposites, and as the saying goes...opposites attract. This might or might not be the case, but, I believe that they'll, each in their own ways, compliment one another instead of detracting one from the other. Some say that Karate is, including Isshinryu, is 50% hands and 50% kicking, and others will say that Karate is 60% hands and 40% feet, and even still more, some will say that Karate is 80% hands and 20% feet. Whereas, it's mutually agreed by TKD practitioners across the world that TKD is 80% feet and 20% hands, as it was taught to me by GM Young Ik Suh. Having said that, I offer the following to you... Trying to say Karate is so much hands versus so much feet is like saying all apples are the same. In the Okinawin styles there are huge variances. Some use more hands, some use more feet. Some use the majority of open hands, others closed. Some use thrusting kicks, others use snapping kicks. there are styles that do mainly circular blocks and others that use more linear blocks. There are hard styles and soft styles of karate. As you're more than aware of, Isshinryu is a blending of a harder and a softer style of karate. It is very realistic and self defene oriented, but no better than any of the others. What I've always found unique about Isshinryu is how they employ the vertical-fist punch; thumb on top of the fist. It's a very fast punch, imho, compared to the corkscrew style punches of many Karate styles. I've also liked how Isshinryu blocks with their muscles and not their bones. One last thing that I've liked about Isshinryu is that the kicks they employ use a snapping motion instead of the thrust and follow through of many Karate styles. Now, what I've always found unique about TKD is their many kicks; especially what I refer to a sneaky kicking. Turn around Roundhouse, Step away Roundhouse, and the Axe kick. Some of the TKD aerial kicks were the bane of my existence as well. These sneaky kicks introduced themselves to me via the way of my face, with no defense because I never ever saw these kicks until I was facing them in open tournaments in California. I mean, why not, the leg is the longest weapon, so, why not. Btw, these "sneaky" kicks haven't been my nemisis for quite along time. TKD and Isshinryu Forms/Kata are what they are, and by that I mean, both exist within each of these styles. Now, what I don't like about TKD forms is that Bunkai isn't as evident to me as Bunkai is evident to Karate. Possibly, TKD teaches their form of Bunkai to more advanced ranks, Brown/Red/Black because I only earned a green belt and I wasn't shown one Bunkai or the like in TKD. My daughter tried ATA, and I didn't see any Bunkai form taught and the forms appeared disjointed TO ME! Nonetheless, I'm not very well versed in either and by that I mean that I'm not a practitioner of either. Although I took tkd for a year when I was in high school; advancing to green belt under GM Young Ik Suh. I've no formal training in Isshinryu; I've studied it from afar as well as I've trained with many Isshinryu practitioners in an exchange environment, this [exchanging of ideas, theories, methodologies and the like] still continues as well as with TKD. Therefore, anything I impart here can be helpful, and if that is the case, I'm glad to have been of some help. If what I impart here is of no use to you at all; please accept my sincere apologies and discard it accordingly.

Congrats GeoGiant...way to go!!

Sorry to hear that, but...ROFL...and I'm still laughing. Sounds like something that I'd do! Doh!

If I'm wanting to promote a kid to BB, then I'd better start my own federation/association/etc because my Hombu won't validate a kid BB.

Very well deserved and congrats!!

I personally don't think that ones height and weight should really matter and/or be of a great concern. Why? Bruce Lee was 5'7", 165lbs...I don't think that I need to say anymore.

Hypothetically speaking... You're an owner/chief instructor of a martial arts school. One day this young man approaches you during a break between classes. You both exchange suttleties and encage in a mild convesation. At the end of your exchange, you invite this young man, who's a black belt, to tonights black belt class. He accepts! Half way through the class, you have all of the black belts line up facing you, one before the other, and you instruct them to execute some techniques right at YOU in order to guage their control! You hands are at your side and your in an very relaxed horse stance. One by one, they do as their instructed. Then, this young man assumes a stance, and then executes a change-up roundhouse kick, then it happens...BAM! This young man nails you right in your mouth. No apologies...nothing, you glimpse just an oh so slight smirk coming from this young man. What do you do??

That's a great attitude to have. But what if your integrity tells you that an under 18 truly deserves a bbelt? Then I'll present that student, who's under 18 years old, a Junior Black Belt, not, a full-fledged Yudansha until that student reaches 18 years old because I'd still be under the umbrella of the Hombu! My Hombu won't allow it, it's just that plain and it's just that simple. Oh sure, I can issue any certificate I want that's under my authority, but, I might as well've done the certificate on toilet paper because the Hombu would send it right back to me with a big INVALID stamp affixed upon the certificate, as well as a nice reminder letter.

In an earlier post, you referred to one's perception, and I feel that that is on the mark if seen psychologically. I feel that GeoGiant was on the mark. I am not referring to someone's philosophical idea of reality; I am examining a psychological perception. I am pointing out that I believe and maintained in class that this is my face, the beard as an integral part of it, while most of my students in the psychology classes thought the face and beard are actually separate. I said and say no, that this is my face, that as it is, it is complete. The discussion is of identification and recognition of myself, whether it is sound, mentally sound, that I say "This is my face," with the beard as part of the completeness of my face, or that the many students who disagreed are right that my face is beneath the beard, and the beard a kind of accessory, one that might even evoke the question "Why are you hiding your face?"--to which I'd reply that I do not hide it; this is my face. Aha, now I'm beginning to understand your meaning! I'm not a dull knife, but I'm not the sharpest knife either. In my martial arts, I'm not slow, but in other things, I'm quite the turtle in the brain department!

Absolutely! I don't either see the logic behind a double strike, but, I'm not refuting someone else's Bunkai, especially if it works for them. In that, I can't imagine myself doing a double punch/strike, but I can see myself using the mechanics of it as a pull/push for possibly a throw/sweep/etc, especially if it will aide my Tuite. I concur with these assessments!

Just for grins and giggles... I'm 52 years old, and in that, my hair is fading AND frayed AND turning gray; just as my Yudansha's have and are...sheech...can't I have one or another instead of both happening at the same time?

Stay with Wado!! To me it's just that simple. Don't live your martial arts through the eyes of others, especially those who would want you to quit. This is your decision and your decision must be respected. You don't have to live up to your last belt just because someone said so, that's not cool! The only opinion that should ever matter is your Sensei's...period! Release your emotional content, and then return to Wado! Your Sensei knows you were injured and in that, your Sensei will understand and will not expect you to be at your former level....for now. Your Sensei will know about your injury and how to ease you back into your zone so as to not cause you any grief and/or strife. Your Sensei will know how to use your injury to better serve you and your martial arts. Take it slow and take it easy. Rushing to be your former level will possibly only cause you more harm than good. Taste Wado again, and then, see that it's STILL good!

The Bunkai/Oyo can be whatever's most effective. The plethoria of possibilities are abound, and at times, quite literal. Although...When is a punch not a punch? When is a strike not a strike? When is a turn not for the turn? When is the kick not a kick? When is the block not a block? When? When one's performing Bunkai/Oyo; that's when!

Thank you for your most solid post! You spoke to my heart, and you spoke to my own journey, past, present, and future!

Imho, the only thing that's detrimental to any business is the refusal to change. Who Moved My Cheese?! The refusal to recognize that change is inivitable and necessary for any business to survive; is to change. This, to me, doesn't include my syllabus/curriculum/integrity and/or me becoming another McDojo...this I won't accept. Promotions MUST BE EARNED AT ALL TIMES! Good business includes standing up for what you believe in. However, if staying in business means, as part of change, that I HAVE TO promote ever child and/or adult to BB to stay in business...well...I'd rather be out of business! My integrity and my martial arts isn't for sale!

You're very welcome and I thank you for this post!

I've trained from time to time whenever I'd vacation to Bakersfield, CA with Eric Nolan at Eric Nolan's Xtreme Kick school. Eric, once during sparring, showed me a Muay Thai short range kick that uses the shin, and the path that this kick took was an up and down, aimed right at the very top of my thigh. There was no set-up akin to karate and/or tkd kicks, it was a very small quick movement, more like Eric was stepping on my thigh with his shin. Eric didn't tell me the name of that darn kick, if it was indeed a kick after all, but, man oh man, I grimiced, and it took all of my Shugyo to not fall down. Now, that's, to me, is the most powerful Short Range Muay Thai kick I've ever experienced! What's the most powerful SHORT RANGE Muay Thai KICK that you've ever experienced, in your opinion?