sensei8

I've always only known our headquarters as HOMBU. That's what our Soke called it and that's what's written in our Densho, Hand Scrolls, and By-Laws. So, that's why I write it as I do; it's all I've known.

Sure, but, where and how should the line be defined? I don't like his ad no more than anybody else, but, this guy has a right to operate competitively for profit. I doubt the effectiveness of what he claims in his ad. By not buying what he's selling is how the line should be drawn to stop these type of ads; getting them right in their pocketbook, but, this guy has an already established customer base that's looking for these kind of ads. Ads that can provide them with a quick fix to their self-defense needs. Meanwhile, he has the free enterprize system on his side until he violates the free enterprize system, and that's up to lawyers to address in a court of law.

I've not had any issues with keeping brushed cotton clean. What I was saying here was, to me, as a rule, cotton is light in the most basic student uniform. Sorry for stepping on my own tongue!

2 years to reach Shodan? Especially at that age? I don't want to put down anyones achievements or anything, but I would be interested to witness the Shodan grading for that club. Are you thinking that its an abridged Shodan grading for that club? It might be!

Then there's expulsions like these.... http://judo.teamusa.org/pages/7264 I don't think that political differences should ever have any business in any decisions of expulsions. Misconduct is misconduct with no varying degree and how an organization defines it [misconduct] is up to that organization. In Shindokan, we've no "Serious" or "Minor" violations of misconduct, we've just got "Misconduct" and all misconducts are treated accordingly per our By-Laws. Our By-Laws protect both the Hombu AND the entire student body for the betterment of everyone and our art. Therefore, those in violation of our By-Laws are made an example of so that it's understood by all, and in that, all will know that the Hombu is the proponent of the By-Laws.

Illegal? There's nothing illegal about the free enterprize system. Whether what he teaches is effective or not is only up to the individual. I can't say one way or another based on an audio and some print in an ad, it'll take hands on to determine that. These type of advertisements have become a dime a dozen because you can find these ads in most every magazine. I wasn't impressed with the ad or its contents or claims because they're just that...things.

How much should a karate school cost? NOTHING! FREE!

That's a very good point to bring up!

Very good post! My blocking skills are excellent, but, I prefer to NOT block if the moment warrants it. I'd rather slip the attack and the like, then deliver my counter-attack. Or, to just do my own thing while my opponent is attacking. I don't have to block, so I don't whenever possible. My thought is that I can be doing something much more constructive than blocking; like hitting...and that's what I do at every possible moment. But sometimes I have to block and sometimes I want to block because blocking does have it's good points, like initiating Tuite.

I can't speak with undeniable authority about shotokan, but, I can speak with undeniable authority when I speak about Shindokan; no deep stances and no one strike one kill philosophy! Not all karate are the same. Imho, every martial arts style is limited in comparison. To speak about karate and/or any other style of the martial arts with such a broad stoke of the brush isn't fair because I'm a Shindokan practitioner, but, I'm first me and in that, I'm different, as we all are, therefore, my core style has expanded beyond anything that's Shindokan within me. What's described here is found in the Shindokan, a style of karate. While Machida is Shotokan by all that I've seen, he's a mixed martial artist inside of the UFC Octagon. By that I mean that while Shotokan is his core foundation within the martial arts, he's taken a little of this and a little of that to form what he considers as an effective style to compete with inside of the UFC Octagon. "Take what is useful, disgard the rest"~Bruce Lee. Don't we, as martial artists do this for ourselves? Well, from what I've seen, Machida does it as well.

From time to time someone must be expelled from some said martial arts organization and the like. It just happens, therefore, it's never planned and/or expected and/or hoped for. Sometimes practitioners resign from their said organization to avoid being expelled or for their own particular reason(s). A plethoria of reasons will surround one for being asked to resign or for being expelled. Nevertheless, when one has resigned or has been expelled, it doesn't have to be a black mark against that individual, but, that's for one to conclude themselves for whatever reason(s) one might or might not have. Expulsion of a member isn't ever a pleasant thing to experience, I know this to be true from first hand experience and/or from having viewed from afar. But, at times it's necessary for the betterment of the organization as well as to the betterment of the student body and for the betterment of the style. Over history, many noted practitioners have resigned or have been expelled for one reason or another. Hideyuki Ashihara[1], Fumio Demura[2], Hirokazu Kanazawa[3], Taiji Kase[3], Hiroshi Shirai[3], Shiro Asano[3], Taketo Okuda[3], Tetsuhiko Asai[3], Nobuyuki Nakahara[3], Keigo Abe[3], Mikio Yahara[3], Teruyuki Okazaki[3], and Shihan Takahashi[3]. Master Choki Motobu was expelled from Itosu's dojo..."Itosu sensei was not impressed by the young man’s bullying and promptly expelled him from the dojo."[4] Shindokan Karate-do, the organization that I'm the Kaicho of, expelled one of our very own in 2008. Jonathan Sommerfield, 6th Dan (not 7th Dan as he claims) was expelled for falsifying his own 7th Dan certificate. Jonathan was a member of the Shindokan Hombu and had access to many sensitive materials. His actions have made it a necessity within the Shindokan Hombu to secure any and all sensitive materials to only be accessed by the Executive Team and this team only! Our expulsion By-Laws weren't written by our Soke or by our Dai-Soke or by any member(s) of the Executive, Administrative, and Instructor Departments. No! They were written by a Lawyer who's not affiliatted with the Shindokan Hombu, then drafted into our By-Laws exactly as written by that outside Lawyer. Hopefully, this very brief look will allow us to try to understand and appreciate that expulsions are a necessary part, but at times, an unwanted part of any martial arts organization and the like. An expulsion strips away every tie with that said martial arts organization for those practitioners who've ever experienced it, but, it doesn't strip away ones knowledge and the like; that's forever! Any thoughts? Sources: (1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideyuki_Ashihara (2) http://www.karatedo.co.jp/itosu-kai/english/demura/fumio.html (3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Karate_Association (4) http://www.bohans-family.com/memory/Motobu/motobu.htm

Wow! I've been to MANY, MANY Yankee away games. When I lived/live in California I was/am a season ticket holder to the Los Angeles Dodgers, therefore, as a season ticket holder with the Dodgers, I've seen/will see every single game that the Dodgers host(ed) the Yankees, and only when the Yankees are in town. I've never been a Dodger fan; I've always been a Yankee fan. When I lived in Texas, I saw many Yankee games as well whenever the Rangers hosted the Yankees. Most memorible year for me was back in 1996 when the Rangers won AL West division title...Yankees only lost Game 1 in that playoff series. I've never been a Ranger fan; I've always been a Yankee fan. When I lived in Oklahoma, I only saw 3 Yankee away games whenever the Royals hosted the Yankees. I've never been Royals fan; I've always been a Yankee fan. One day I will see a Yankee home game...one day...soon hopefully!

Some of my basic business background. I've owned and operated several dojo's; California, Texas, and Oklahoma, all very highly profitable and successful dojo's with an average student base of 375 active students. Currently, I'm the Kaicho (President) of the Shindokan Hombu as well as it's Chief Instructor, in that, I don't own the Shindokan Hombu; I operate it. I'm very old school in my teachings and I'm very modern in my business plan of running my dojo's. I truly live outside of the box...always. I believe that you can have both old school teachings, and I have, as well as modern business models because change is inevitable and if one's not willing to change, well, there's no viable future. Greatest business book, imho, is "WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?", read that book and you'll be fine across the board. Some very good advice here by many other KF members thus far. Here's my penny... CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES! This is vitally important to any business and a martial arts school is no exception to any rule of business survival. Knowing what the controllables are will keep your head above water. You may negotiate the following, but you don't have total control over... RENT UTILITIES Anything else you have total control over... PRICES UTILITIES (Wait, you said I had no control over this?!) [You can't control the rates! You can control utilities by bulb choices, hours of operation, how many lights are left on when the school is closed, how big the outside trash container will be and how often it'll be dumped, temp of the HVAC, cell phone or land line controlled usages, usage of any water, and the like concerning any and all utilities.] PAYROLL SUPPLIES (Office AND School Useages) ADVERTISING TUITION BILLING (If any) You have control over these things and so much more, but first of all you have to LIST EVERYTHING that's REQUIRED, not WANTED, to run your school of martial arts successful/profitable. Then once you've listed everything you have to now determine: 1) Important and Urgent 2) Important but Not Urgent 3) Urgent but Not Important 4) Not Urgent and Not Important. Once you've done that, you have to obey it because if you can't master what's a want and what's a need, you'll be closing the door to your martial arts school faster than a blink of an eye. When you're not making any type of profit, then it's not a business; it's just a place to work out. Well, working out at home is far better and cheaper than paying rent and utilities and everything else at a commercial space. Your teaching quality is non-negotiable for that is paramount. That will seperate you from the martial arts school across the street or across the town. Don't take any short cuts when it comes to teaching your art to your students. In that, the saying "You get what you paid for!" should never be in the thought of your students or yourself. Good luck in everything you do!

It looks interesting and if the art work is any indication of what the park will look like...COOL! http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/collections/gallery/2493/harry-potter-orlando-experience/fp#photo0 Why does Florida get all the great stuff? Sheech!

Lucky! I've been to many Yankee games, away games for them, but, I've never been to Yankee Stadium, old or new.

Please check out the list of martial arts weapons found in this link... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_martial_arts_weapons From the list above, I've some questions:[pick ONLY ONE per question please] In your opinion... A) Which weapon would do the most damage to an opponent? B) Which weapon would do the less damage to an opponent? C) Which weapon would be the easiest to learn? D) Which weapon would be the hardest to learn? E) Which weapon could be made the fastest with what's lying around on the ground? F) Which weapon do you like the most? G) Which weapon do you like the least?

That's Grandmaster Ronald Duncan in this video. Here's some info on Ronald Duncan... http://www.dojos.com/duncan/ I can only seem to agree with the rolled up magazine idea as an effective weapon from the concept of using either of the ends as striking surfaces. A tightly rolled up magazine would be akin to having a stick, similar to a yawara, therefore, if you watch the video again, you can pick out when Mr. Duncan used either of the rolled up magazine ends to strike with. Now, as far as using the tightly rolled up magazine to do slapping strikes, I don't see any effectiveness in that methodology because, imho, a rolled up magazine isn't the same as a stick when using any other part than the ends to strike with. I see the rolled up magazine used in that fashion not maintaining any of its tensile strength as it tears. Once the magazine tears enough, and it won't take long, then all you'll have is a cheaply made cheerleading pom poms. A stick doesn't tear when you do slapping strikes. Yeah, it might or might not get my attention had I been struck in that fashion, but, not to the point that I'd be incapacitated in any shape, way, and/or form. Poke me with either end of a tightly rolled up magazine in certain areas of my body and I'm sure that it'll hurt enough for me to run away or disarm him as fast as I can....if I can! Irregardless, he'd have my serious attention, not me laughing at him as I would if he slapped at me with a tightly rolled up magazine.

The following is my opinion/believe... It is true: the vast plethoria of martial arts organizations serve the needs of that organization and its practitioners...only! Everyone else are insignificant! Everyone else is false in their teachings, in their art, in their background, in their methodologies, and in their rank. If you're not part of that said organization, then your rank/backgroud/etc are meaningless, and in that, you won't be recognized! Splinter away from an organization, then you're ostracized forever, and in that, you're erased for all time and from the records of that organization. Is it right if my Hombu doesn't recognize you and/or your style; you're nothing? Or vice versa? Of course it's not, but, it happens everyday of the week within one martial arts organization after another. What does it take to be recognized by other organizations? Is it lineage? Is it ones Sensei/Instructor? Is it the size of the organization? Is it the size of the student body? Is it international or not? Is it because it has a website? This answer might only exist behind the walls of that particular Hombu/Headquarters. This is the nature of the game and to survive, one must be a master of playing the game, or the other organizations will just eat you up and then spit you out. We can create all of the organizations we want to for this reason or for that reason, but, if the organization and it's practitioners aren't recognized, then it's a mute organization; spinning its wheels while going nowhere. This can be determined by whomever for whatever reason(s) that they see fit to announce or not. New organizations will continue to spring up as often as a new thought comes to ones mind, and in that, it seems that this phenomen will slow or stop any time soon. Martial arts organizations will never reunite under one banner for the betterment of the martial arts and their practitioners, imho. Why? Mutual agreement! It's very difficult for differing methods and opinions to agree on anything concerning anything that is the martial arts. Differing values and the like are just that; they're differing. My martial arts platitudes might serve me only within the Shindokan Hombu and nowhere else. You know what? I'm pretty ok with that because I'm complete in my martial arts totality; still searching for the truth within my martial arts, and still learning from day to day, for my martial arts journey is never ending and in that, I'm ok with that too.

Not even the Yankees? OUCH!

The maxim speaks that size DOESN'T matter because knowledge DOES matter. A smaller person doesn't have to be afraid of a bigger person just because that bigger person is, well, bigger.

Yes, it's very interesting. Thanks for the article Danielle. It's like super-human strength needed to save a life, like picking up a car off of someone. It wasn't pre-planned, therefore, that needed strength was called upon when that 'moment' occured. We practice our techniques over and over and over, but, they're pre-planned...slower. Whenever we encounter something in our daily unplanned lifes and this something is an attacker bent on harming us, our responses are much faster and more focused. Still, I'll keep practices pre-planned reactions and then some because I believe that my reactions will then become automatic whenever I'm attacked, but, I'll be 21 milliseconds much more faster across the board.

Every advice I've read here thus far have been good, but, I'd caution you to first consult with your doctor for the answer that best fits you in your current condition. Ask you doctor to avoid any unnecessary injury to yourself.

I own a wide mixture of gi's including brushed cotton. I really like the look and the feel of the brushed cotton gi. I don't prefer it over other gi's I own in it's totality. The gi, for me, must meet the needs for the activity that I'm doing at that time. Cotton is light, therefore, cotton is cooler whereas a much heavier gi is hotter but the heavier is great in taking the punishment of Judo/BJJ and the like. So, to answer your question.... Yes, you should notice a cooler workout from the brushed cotton over the cotton/poly and therefore, this is a good purchase, imho. Brushed cotton is also easier to care for than any other gi on the market, imho. Still, the gi must match the needs of the planned workout, imho.

Expelled or resigned from an organization might be one possibility.

It doesn't all have to be about the money side of it. I'm sure there are a lots of reasons why group tuition is favoured over one-to-one. Toptomcat's previous point about teachers being able to teach groups but not individuals is a good point. Time constraints too might be an issue. I concur! It's not all about the money side of it. I tend to put the money side of it near the very top of any list because it can't be ignored totally. Time constraints as well as the points that Toptomcat brought up are valid, and they do can't be ignored totally.