sensei8

Totally awesome! Totally inspirational! Thanks for posting this!

Wow! Very interesting. I was totally unaware of that, but, it makes perfect sense to me. I've always wondered how colleges truly viewed our martial arts credentials, and, if our martial arts credentials were equal to any type of college degree based on the amount of time it takes to get to, for example, Godan.

I've got to get this game, not for the chance of a million dollars, although that would be cool too, but, I think that this particular game will be AWESOME across the board.

I'm not a Saint fan, but still...Yes....Congrats to the Saints...most well deserved. That intercepting late in the 4th quarter sealed the fate for the Colts. Good game overall!

Getting back to the topic here.... Some helpful tips: *Lift the knee of your kicking leg. If you kick with the backleg, the mae geri kekomi will be stronger and if you kick with the front leg, the kick will be faster. *Kick and push forward the hip at the same time, to make your mae geri kekomi more powerful. [Timing: You have to push forward the hip at the right moment - That's the most difficult part of the mae geri kekomi] *Bring back your foot as fast as possible. *Bring the kicking leg back to the floor *Don't lean way back *Don't stand up fully on supporting leg One helpful little drill to improve hips learning how to drive forward: *Wrap your 'karate' belt around your waist in such a way that your training partner can stand behind you while holding onto both ends of your 'karate' belt; like one would hold onto a horses reign. *Get into zenkutsu-dachi and go across the entire dojo floor, while your training partner will offer to hold you back by trying to resist your forward momentum. *After that, now add mae geri kekomi while going up and down the floor from one side to another. Remember to maintain your posture as well as your balance at all times. Hopefully this might help you.

Welcome JackDLion....welcome!!

For me. The martial arts is so addictive because I'm still seeking for that one perfect technique as well as I've not learnt everything that there is in the martial arts, therefore, my journey continues! IF there's a cure for this type of addiction, well, I don't want it.

None of my students are belt driven, otherwise they'd not be my students. They're [my students] at the wrong dojo if belts/titles/promotions and the like are their main focus for learning the martial arts. Therefore, I teach and train only with students who do not have an interest in belt promotions and the like. If a student of mine does become focused on belts/titles/promotions and the other stuff, well, I then sit that student down and have a very meaningful conversation. If after that and I see that the focus hasn't been properly redirected away from belts/titles/promotions and all of the other meaningless stuff, I'll expell them immediately with no reservations. I've no time for negative focus of this type at this magnitude. Now, having said that. Promotions are conducted both quarterly and annually, but, a student of mine must be invited to the testing cycle and in that, there have been many, many occasions that none of my students were invited; and my students know of this possibility from day one. Why have there been times when none of my students wee invited to a testing cycle? It's simple. Belt promotions and the like have always taken a back seat to the importance of pure Karate training and aquiring effective knowledge of the martial arts.

Hi Sensei8, Can I ask, is your rank the result of a physical grading, or were you awarded it? Chitsu Chitsu, Per our By-Laws, 10th Kyu to Hachidan, Shindokan Karate-Do and Shindokan Kobudo, can only be earned through physical gradings/tests. Only these particular Kodansha's, Kudan and Judan, are awarded ranks, and in that, only our Soke and Dai-Soke have had those Dan ranks awarded to them as per our By-Laws.

Check this out... http://kotaku.com/5458520/the-first-perfect-game-on-mlb-2k10-wins-1-million Watch this video about this... http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-102/1387919 Good luck!

My Dai-Soke says this about a resisting opponent... "If your opponent can resist you; your Karate is no good! If your Karate is good; opponent can't resist you!" His intent and meaning should be easy enough to understand.

This might be of some help to you.... Rules for Requesting Ranks 1. Kenshi must be currently training in full bogu. This includes those requesting youth 6 kyu, youth 5 kyu, and adult 4 kyu. These groups do not participate at the shinsa purely as a time saving measure, but they should be capable of doing so. 2. 12 years and older cannot request 6 kyu 3. 14 years and older cannot request 6 kyu or 5 kyu 4. Kyu requests may include "plus" or "minus", e.g. 6+ kyu or 5- kyu 5. To request 1 dan must be 1 kyu and 14 years or older 6. To request 2 dan must be 1 dan for at least 1 year (12 months) 7. To request 3 dan must be 2 dan for at least 2 year (24 months) 8. To request 4 dan must be 3 dan for at least 3 year (36 months) Recommended Guidelines for Requesting Ranks 1. Kenshi should be actively practicing kendo (regularly attending keiko at least once or twice a week) 2. Avoid "skipping" more than one rank or at most two rank levels, (for example, avoid 0 kyu requesting 2 kyu or 1 kyu) except in extremely rare circumstances. 3. Avoid "throwing the decision to the examiners". The responsibility of the dojo's head instructor and advisors is to make a diligent assessment of the kenshi's attitude and sincerity in practicing kendo, as well as their skill level relative to other kenshi in the federation, and request a rank appropriately. 4, Although the rules state that a kenshi requesting a rank who is 14 years or older must request 4 kyu or higher, this does not mean a kenshi 14 and older must request a rank. The head instructor should determine whether the kenshi has sufficient experience to warrant a rank of 4 kyu, or whether to keep the kenshi at 0 kyu.

Lupin1 said the quote above and is absolutely correct!!!!!! Wouldn't it be great if one day your/mine Sensei said...."Line up wherever you want, just hurry up!" and then we did? You know what? As a matter of fact....I'm going to do just that tomorrow, 02/08/2010, at the Hombu at each and every class...as an experiment!

For as long as I can remember, Shindokan Karateka's stand in line WHEREVER TOLD TO STAND!!!! For protocol and the like, Shindokan Karateka's line up: Rank then time in rank then age then experience. Absolutely and YES!!!!!!!! Absolutely and YES!!!!!! I've stood at the very end of many lines whenever I was visiting another dojo, whether it was to just train or to conduct a seminar. I've done this each and everytime without being told to do so and I didn't move from the very end of the line until the Chief Instructor of said dojo told me to. Why? Respect for said dojo, the Chief Instructor, and the students of that said dojo. Yes, I'm a Hachidan and all that, but until the Chief Instructor of that said dojo says otherwise; I'm simply nobody, nothing and I'm proud of that status. I'm the lowest ranked at that said dojo...period!

Whomever charges testing fees and whomever doesn't charge testing fees; I'm fine with either way, it's just not our choice, any longer, within the Shindokan Hombu. My thought about testing fees is this. A school teacher teaches and in that: creates a curriculum/syllabus, assigns homework, grades papers, conducts Teacher/Parent conferences, attends staff/district meetings and the like. Guess what? This teacher does all of this without receiving any EXTRA pay aside their normal salary. The testing/promotion board at the Shindokan Hombu doesn't just place a stamp on a certificate. The entire Shindokan Hombu as well as the testing/promotion board puts in thousands of manhour covering a myriad of things approximately 1 month before testing/promotions and 1 month after testing/promotions which includes indepth reports and the like about each and every testing candidate. Still, we charge no testing fees anymore, and this works for us. It has to work for us because I won't allow any amendments or the like...ever! Our Hombu has other ways and means to raising/earning extra revenue; but no longer through testing fees. It's all good!

My style no longer charges for testing fees. I was thinking over the breakdown of fees and I repeatedly kept asking myself the same question over and over. WHY? For example, if the testing fees for kyu were $40, and if going from Ikkyu to Shodan was $100. Testing duration was NEVER part of the pricing equation/matrix. Again...WHY? Items [basic] needed for any/every promotion: 1) Belt 2) Certification Basically, a testing candidate that's passed gets one belt and one certificate...that's it! How come the $60 increase from Ikkyu to Shodan? It's still one belt and one certificate. Administrative duties/fees? Ok, let's look at basic admin fees real quick. 1> Sensei contacts Hombu with Testing applications 2> Hombu OK's or Denies Testing applications 3> Testing conducted 4> Sensei sends list of all testing candidates with either "Pass" or "Fail" beside their name to the Hombu 5> Hombu places all authorization stamps onto certificates 6> Name/Rank/Title & Registration numbers applied 7> Recording certificates on file 8> Signatures/stamps applied to certificates from Hombu 9> Send completed certificates to said Sensei (If testing not being done at the Hombu) 10> Sensei signs/stamps certificates [Testing and Promotions are NOT done on the same day, not even if the testing was done at the Hombu!] This process is no more involved than what it takes to pay bills. Fill out the check, place the bill and check in the envelope, seal the envelope, place a stamp on the envelope, fill out the envelope, and mail the envelope~~I don't get paid for doing this admin stuff! I'm slightly perplexed and that's one of the reasons why I've eliminated testing fees altogether!

I'd say..."Are you of a style that's not Japanese/Okinawa?" I'd just walk away while I'm shaking my head in disbelief while I'd be muttering to myself...."Oh my word!" I'd think that I need to report him/her to his Hombu. I'd politely inform him that I too was at that dojo during those specific times and I don't remember him/her at all. I'd ask him/her to leave my dojo immediately. I wouldn't say or do anything, other than I'd try to console him, after all, he's a kid, now isn't the time to make any damaging comments. I'd simply remind him/her that, imho, there's no such thing as "so superior to all others" in the martial arts; superior/best is an illusion. I'd say to this guy...."You should be proud of your beginner rank! Right on!" I wouldn't give this another thought because when I come back by his dojo next month or so...he'll be closed anyway. What can one say? I'd invite him to some free lessons at my dojo. Besides, movies are a good escape from....whatever....I like to watch a good movie from time to time...even martial arts movies. I wouldn't do/say anything. I'd just keep my opinions to myself. I wouldn't do/say anything. I'd just keep my opinions to myself. With no one main governing body to regulate and the like, it's really not surprising!....is it?

"Are all white belts the same?" Here's my short answer... NO! Why? Everyone is different across the board!

I didn't learn the martial arts to become a "fighter", nor do I want to be in multiple fights. In addition, I didn't learn the martial arts for rank/title and the like. No, my primary focus for learning the martial arts is to win in a street fight. In that street fight, my goal is to not go to the ground, but, if I do, I'm very capable and very comfortable to do so. In that, I'm complete in my totality! My style trains/practices all of the time at near 100% resistance~best way to know, short of an actual street fight, if what you've been taught and/or what you're teaching works or not!

I hear what you're saying, but, you being in the field of psychology, you're more than aware that humans are fallible as to their possible tendencies. We humans are more than capable of worrying about the smallest thing(s) that are truly unimportant. Repeating what you've said... Place all of the "stuff" in their proper context and let them be. They'll [the Stuff] be around for way after we've shed off our mortal coil. "Stuff" can only get in the way, imho, if one allows/permits the "stuff" of the martial arts to get in the way, therefore, don't let 'it' get in the way. The "stuff" serves a purpose whether we agree with them or not, therefore, just do as your sensei/Hombu/etc ask of you because this, right now/today, is the style that you've chosen and the "stuff" is the rage of the page. Besides, to my knowledge, "stuff" hasn't ever truly hurt anybody, so, just place all of the "stuff" in their proper context. You're doing just fine....just have fun while your training seriously! If one day your Sensei walks out wearing all of the trappings of the "stuff"; just be respectful and give it no second thought!

BTW, I think that the OP was IN a real fight. BUT, I'm only suggesting that as a way to lessen the fear factor of fighting, if/when it happens again, is to SPAR!!!!!!! It's not a guarantee because fear is siimply FUTURE EVENTS APPEARING REAL.

Being afraid isn't unusual. Learning how to overcome being afraid is or isn't that easy; it depends on the person. One way...SPAR! Spar everyday!

Put belt rankings, promotions, titles, ettiquette, heirarchy and the like in their proper context; a martial artist will be fine after that. After all, their nothing more than just outer dressing! Once the above mentioned are placed in their proper context, one will be able to perform as a martial artist is suppose to; TRAIN!!!! Becoming a proponent of positive training, and in that, not being so overwhelmed and/or concerned with the outer dressings because these outer dressings are nothing more than just...stuff.

The use of the elbow as depicted in this video appears an exceptional block/guard. But the cat scratch stuff is exactly that...stuff...ineffective. I concur with the palm heel strike because that technique should be enough to allow one to escape, but, not the cat scratching stuff. Not every defender will have fingernails long enough to do any damage. Sure, other things can be done, for example, eye poke/gouge or hair grab or some other strike to the face area.

If my memory serves me correct, Royce DID use the Gi lapel to do a rear naked choke in UFC 1. Remember, we're depending on my memory, which would scare anybody!