sensei8

Very solid post and well said!

Hypothetical... Could someone, in your opinion, enter into an open tournament having less than one year of training in totality and then WIN four Kata Grand Championships in the Black Belt Division?

Tony, I enjoyed your post....very solid...and I thank you for it!

Outside of the dojo? No...never! Inside of the dojo? Yes...always!

I've placed this topic in the General Martial Arts section for one reason: We're products of the Martial Arts and in that, this topic concerns every Martial Artist, not one specific style and/or one particular practitioner. Each and every day, day after day in some dojo found all around the world, people train in "unequal" ways. I'm referring to the practice of techniques on one side of the body more than on the other. Have you ever stopped to think why we practice 3-step & 5-step sparring, but not any even number of steps? In Karate, practitioners don't perform any even numbered step sparring. That means that we do no 2-step sparring and no 4-step sparring and no 6-step sparring; karateka's only do odd numbered step sparring. Or, how about how we almost always start attacks with the left side forward? Even when performing basics individually, we, more often than not, seem to take an even number of steps other than odd. What we are doing is working one side of the body more than the other, for some certain techniques and strategies. This may not be an entirely bad thing. But, it may not be the right thing for everyone, all the time. But why force everyone to practice in the same way (such as left side block, right attack)? In Kata, we often have sequences of three repetitions, or attacks that use the same side for each occurrence in the Kata. By training one side repeatedly, we can possibly make that technique become a natural reaction if performed on that particular side. But, what if the chance arises in a self-defense situation to use it on the other side, and we are ill-prepared? For self-defense purposes, doesn't it make sense to practice both sides of every technique and strategy? In Shindokan, we've always been the proponents for training even-number steps more often in sparring and/or starting from the opposite side sometimes, as well as performing Kata mirror-image (starting from the right instead of the left) on a more regular basis. Practicing in such a way can be a real eye-opener. Some people who have trained for many years and look like they have totally mastered a certain technique or combination may not be able to stumble through the same technique or combination if done on the opposite side. In closing, wouldn't it benefit the practitioner of any Martial Art to equally train both sides of their body instead of just one side? Of course it would! But, more than not, many practitioners of the Martial Arts don't and they're lopsided across the board. Those that practice one side of the body over another have either a very strong left side or a very strong right side, but, not both. What side is preferred? What side is preferred when executing one certain technique and not the other side? What side is preferred so much that certain techniques aren't ever performed from that one side? So...are we, Martial Artists, Lopsided?

Shawn, Congrats and pretty soon....you won't be tired anymore....until next class. Wankan? Wankan is your first kata once you've earned Shodan? Wow! In my stye, Wankan is an advanced Kata usually reserved for Yodan; minimum Dan rank to begin to learn it. Again...CONGRATS!

It's been my experience that one doesn't have to do much to get someone in a choking position. Why? They usually end up getting themselves in that position all by themselves while they're trying to escape/reverse from some other hold and the like...and WHAM...all of a sudden...they end up in a choke. Still, you're right, getting someone in a choking position by ones own self isn't that easy because they just won't be still....how rude! LOL!

Your welcome, glad I was able to help...anytime!

Wow! Company Policy/Rules or not; I'm not going to just stand there while someone gets a beating. Finally, at the very end of the beating, one guard does appear to say something to the girl that's doing the beating.

Way to go Joe, You were very solid and right on point. Not only did you protect your kids and yourself, but, you also protected those teenagers by not allowing them to go outside. Had those teenagers gone outside; only bad might've come had these teenagers not listened to you and thus, they heeded your words. You kept your head during a very dangerous situation by the aforementioned acts, but, you also were calm enough to think while all of the commotion outside was happening by moving you and your kids away from the windows. Calm, cool, and collect! Way to be in the moment...excellent sir excellent!

The fancy answer is that it represents a certain level of skill or a certain set of skills; for example, respect, strength, control, responsibility, cooperation, determination, persistence and concentration. The unfancy answer is that I achieved a goal, one of many, in my martial arts journey. No! In a room full of martial artists, I'm the most least special person. Why? The most important/special person is the White belt because without White belt, the black belt is unattainable. Confident? Yeah! Responsible? Yeah! Mental value? None that I'm aware of at this time. Black belts aren't the only ones that can focus in varying situations. I'm quite sure that Doctors, construction workers, and a more vast other people that are equal to the task of focusing when needed. There's nothing in the entire world, imho, that can make people feel like a black belt unless one IS a black belt. As I can't feel like a CEO unless I've been a CEO before. Other than having have been there before or having have done it before; it's just an assumption. I just hope that I get it right when it counts. Rare? Not as rare as they should be! Good topic!

My oldish sparring gear was fairly cheap, about $30 for the hands and feet, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is "dipped foam." But what is the naugahyde knuckle pads they are talking about??? Thanks! Check this out... See what their wearing here... http://oregonaau.org/Karate2003/Sam-Ralph.htm Those are naugahyde knuckle pads! They cost about $30.00!

I wish I could help here, but, I've never had long hair....or hair for that fact. Anyone here remember Bozo the Clown? Remember how his hair was? Well, that's what I looked like whenever I tried to grow long hair when I was a kid. Sorry, but, tallgeese....OUCH to your story....O-U-C-H! I don't blame you one single bit for shaving it right after that...I would've done the very same thing.

I'd say no. Fear and humility, imho, are incongruous; an oxymoron.

Oooo! Now that sounds interesting. Can you post what happened? Not surprising to me at all, but, NOT one student lined up whereever they wanted to, even after I had completely explained to them at the beginning and at the end of class that I wasn't kidding and that it was perfectly ok to line up anywhere for that Monday and Tuesday. They refused to move from their normal spots in line. I gave them ample amount of time to line up somewhere else. They just looked at me and one another as a calf would look like a strange gate; perplexed and confused. Each and everytime that the command was given during class..."Narande" (Line up) they lined up at their proper place...each time! Never once had I said..."Sei Retsu" ([to] line up [by rank]), they did it anyway. I even surprised them. They'd be drilling and I'd stop them to show them a fine point of the drill and then I'd yell out loud..."Narande...Ima", right in the middle of a drill, but guess what? They'd still line up at their proper place in line....again!!!!! I did this exercise/experiment on Monday and Tuesday. Monday had 8 classes and Tuesday had 7 classes; not once did any student take me on my offer. Not even in any of the children classes; that truly shocked me because I thought for sure that the kids would take me up on my offer if for no other reason but because it was different. But...no...not even the kids moved from their normal spot in line. Why? Was it because it had been drilled into them the proper protocol of lining up? Was it because they had become students of habit? Was it because we're at the Hombu? Was it because they weren't sure if they'd get into trouble or not? Was it because they truly thought I was just kidding? I don't know. I didn't ask! I'll be asking this Thursday because I'm very curious myself.

I was in constant fear of the black belts when I first started taking the martial arts; I was 7 years old. They were much bigger than me. They were much stronger than me. They were much faster than me. They obviously knew much more than me. I don't know why I was in fear of them, but, I was. I just froze in their presense when they'd address me directly. I'd shake and I'd sometimes draw back into myself and I sometimes couldn't formulate a simple sentence when I was asked a question by a black belt. Were any of the black belts mean to me? No, on the contrary, the black belts were very kind, but, with they carried themselves with a no-nonsense type of mannerism. Were any of the black belts bully's? No, they were just firm in their verbal orders and the like. Never once were the black belts physically abusvie in any shape, way, and/or form. Still, I was in fear of them. I can't place my finger on one pulse as to why it is that I felt that way, but, man, I was in constant fear of the black belts. Maybe I was in fear of making a mistake or do something or say something that was wrong and I'd be punished or something. The fear didn't start to diminish until about 6 months or so into training with these black belts. I think it was the extreme kindness of both our Soke and our Dai-Soke that lessened my fear and this kindness was a comfort. I was never afraid of my Soke or my Dai-Soke. One might think that I'd be in fear of them also, afterall, they were black belt too....but I wasn't!

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.