sensei8

That is the exact problem I was mentioning. Aha! So what I posted was a good thing then?

Yoko geri! Now, there's a kick that's so misunderstood, especially by beginners. Please forgive me because I know that this topic is speaking about the front kick, but, somewhere on page #3 of this thread, we started talking about the side kick, and I just couldn't resist in adding my two cents on the side kick. Sorry! We, instructors, know the direction in which the yoko geri is suppose to go: out to the side. But, our students have a different idea. More often than not, they'll throw out the wonderful Mawashi Yoko Geri...otherwise known as the roundhouse side kick, which doesn't exist, at least not in Shindokan. No matter how much we and how carefully we explain, show, and teach our students where the "side" actually is, our students will still throw out the crazy roundhouse side kick. Our students try! This I'll give them! But what is in the mind of our students that causes them to throw out the frustrating roundhouse side kick. We know that our students know where their side is, or at least we hope that they do. For anyone just now learning the Yoko geri (side kick), please let me lay it out to you as easy as I can...remember this...KNEE JOINT! Don't worry about anything else, just PLEASE go to your immediate side ONLY! In Keage (snap kicks) the knee of the kicking leg is pointed at the target before the lower leg fires out. The knee joint is fixed in position acting as a pivot. The kick is smoothly and rapidly whipped out, and back, precisely along the same trajectory. In Kekomi (thrust kicks) the knee joint drives from behind the kicking foot and likewise, it recoils it back, exactly following its outward trajectory. Both of these SIDE KICKS are GOING TO THE SIDE, TO THE VERY SIDE, TO YOUR IMMEDIATE SIDE. Not at any angle, not towards your immediate front before it turns to your immediate side, and not towards your immediat rear before it turns to you immediate side...TO THE SIDE! Teaching the side kick to look like a side kick is one of the hardest basic kicks that we instructors tackle.

After I ask this question, I'm going to just hate myself for even asking, but... Rising? Don't you mean...side snap kick? Ohhhh, I'm already hating myself for even asking this, but, I just couldn't resist the temptation.

I don't think that we're going to see eye to eye on this subject. How about this? Let the boy/girl give the belt to the instructor through reasoning! BUT, no instructor, imho, should ever physically remove the belt from any student ever! "Tough love" is one thing, but, putting our hands on our students beyond the context of the curriculum is wrong!

Aren't the differing methodologies so wonderful?! One's just got to love it.

Joe, This is just me, but, this is wrong, imho! Why? She removed the boy's belt, and that's not her belt! I'm not talking about taking a belt away forever either, I'm talking about taking the belt, directly/indirectly away period!!! Instructing the boy to not wear the belt to class until he apologies is one thing, but, to physically remove the boy's belt is wrong! Father being in the audience doesn't make it ok or right. Also, that boy's not her son, and she put her hands on him to remove the belt, this is wrong, imho. Another thing is that this wasn't done in the privacy of her office with the father present and the fathers approval, but , it was done in front of everyone, this is wrong, imho. I'm not saying that because any child has a special need, that child has a different set of rules. I'm saying, no matter the infraction, we instructors are to keep our hands off them AND their property and this includes their belts! Suspend this boy for striking another student and if that doesn't work, expel him!

I stand corrected and I thank you! You're absolutely right. This is a bad example. But! Pro-wrestlers retire more than once. They return because of the excitement of the crowd; the 'pop' is quite a rush to a pro-wrestler. They just want to have one last GREAT match! OR... Bret Farve retires...again. But! I'm sure his reasons are his own. I'd only assume that it's because he just loves it, and he would love to get a super bowl ring. Plus, I'm sure the 'pop' of the crowd is a rush in the NFL as well. OK, I'll go back to my corner now.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now we're talking!

I just get a kick out of black belts who take a martial arts class at college for the credits. It's such an easy credit. Now, I don't blame them, shoot, I'd do it myself. It's the credit that I want, and, if I happen to learn something new, then cool! It's like a pro-bowler taking Bowling 1 and Bowling 2 in college for the credit. Sheech and LOL!

This is my opinion and my opinion alone. The chief instructor in these videos is no more a black belt than my electric can opener is! Just listening to his lecture is proof enough for me. I hope they find him and he gets his in a court of law!

Well, it's up to you! I'm the wrong person to give you any advice about the ATA because I've my own personal issues with the ATA. Now, the ATA does require CONTRACTS and their binding. In that, if you decide a month or two down the road that the ATA isn't for you, well, you're still going to have to pay until the contract expires. If you want more info on the ATA, then may I suggest this to you...ask bushido_man96 who's right here at KF!!!!!!!!!!

Abari Isamu, I did provide you two links for schools in your area, but, I'm not recommending or not recommending either of them to you. I'm just making you aware of them in your area. Again, VISIT EVERY SCHOOL MANY TIMES before you decide. Also, DON'T SIGN ANY CONTRACTS!!!! This is my advice to you!

Again, Brian's absolutely correct! Values and the like are taught in the home. Therefore, parents decide what their kids watch and/or what their exposed to, not anybody else. In this forum we can have an opinion, but, it's what the parents decide is what matters! The martial arts is an extention of those good value's as to what's taught at home. If the parents don't like our values, then, the parent will stop our influences. I'm a parent, and I decide, not anybody else, including their school teachers, school administration, and/or school counselor. Again, I don't have a problem with the school allowing MMA in the school curriculum UNTIL the kids are allowed to "GET-IT-ON" and trauma is encouraged!

ROFLMBBO Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So can "If", but, what's one to do. Unfortunately, when we're in a court of law for something we did or didn't do. The only interpretation that will matter at that time, is the judge! Yes, I can appeal, but, meanwhile, I'm in jail and/or owe a fine. Both aren't fun!

Sorry, but, you're not going to like what I'm about to say because it's probably not what you're wanting to hear. It's very difficult to rate any school of the martial arts by viewing their website. Yes, I did look at the link, but, the website was very basic in information as well as in it's look. Therefore, and this is with any school of the martial arts; VISIT THE SCHOOL SEVERAL TIMES! Then, make an informed decision. Good luck and let us know.

Joe, I hear what you're saying and I respect it/you as well! I too have a special needs child, he's 15 years old and he's speech delayed and by that I mean that he's speech isn't understood. Right now we have an AT Device called the Palmtop and this helps him to be understood. His special needs is a long story and maybe some day I'll share it, but, for now I do understand what it is that you're saying. I'm compassionate with the plight to a point, but, I've seen the taking of a belt from special needs children in the past and they weren't pretty, nor were they effective. Therefore, I won't EVER take away a belt from any of my students because it's theirs and it's not mine. THE BELT'S THEIRS! Everything else involved with the martial arts is OURS to control. So, Joe, I agree with you...we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

This topic, Martial Arts and the Law, will be debated by laymen forever. Even though laws concerning the martial arts vary from state to state, the advise of experts in the field of Law and/or Law Enforcement and the like mustn't be ignored for obvious reasons. I, myself, am NOT an expert in Law and/or Law Enforcement and the like, therefore, while I'm aware of many laws concerning the martial arts, this by no means should be taken as I'm an expert in Law and/or Law Enforcement. Therefore, here are some links that might or might not answer some question(s) still on debate here at KF and/or anywhere else for that matter of fact... **This first link is authored by Ivan Mendez, is a police detective in the state of New Jersey with 11 years of law enforcement experience. He also holds a 4th degree Black belt in American Karate with 21 years of martial arts experience. http://www.martialartcentral.com/M.a.c/Articles/11.htm **This next one is David Kaufman who combines doctorates in law and economics with 40 years experience in the martial arts. Mr. Kaufman, in addition to being an Adjunct Professor of Law at George Mason University School of Law, is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Mu Duk Kwon Tang Soo Do, holds 5th Degree Black Belts in Kendo and Iaido, and is a Kodokan-trained Judoka. He operated his own Dojo for 10 years. http://www.karatelaw.com/ **This next one is an essay written by Geoffrey Sasso, Shodan Cultural Essay, 3/3/04, Titled: A Martial Artist's Role in the Legal System. http://www.loyola.edu/maru/Martial%20Art%20Law.html **These last two are on the funny side, depending how one views them, but, they shouldn't be ignored all together, imho. >>This first one is about Martial Arts Laws that are still on the books. This is titled: Martial Art Laws: The Strange and Unusual http://www.loyola.edu/maru/laws.html >>This second one is entitled: Murphy's martial arts laws http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-martial-arts.html However we martial artists might or might not view our art when it comes to our relationship with the Law and/or Law Enforcement, one must repect that the USA has laws, as well as those that have been sworn to enforce the laws of our land, therefore, one has a choice. Obey the Law and/or those who are sworn to enforce it, or, find oneself in jail and/or court. In that, we martial artists aren't the Law, just proponents of the Law and/or Law Enforcement, and in that, we must make ourselves absolutely aware of and knowledgeable of the Laws of the United States of America, including your city, local, state, and/or federal Laws within your city, town, region, and/or state and the like. Leave no stone unturned! It's our choice, but, boy oh boy, I don't want to think I know, I want to know, without any shadow of any doubt, that I know for absolutely sure. Don't you?

Not for profit! EXCELLENT! Do the kids pay anything? If so, then this money is more than likely being used for the conducting of and the continuation of your program because materials and the like aren't cheap. Again, I still bow to you and I respect you!

I agree. It's their belt, NOBODY else's, including their Hombu/Sensei. They've earned it no matter what the infraction/violation. Basically, I believe that if I took someones belt from them, I'd be in trouble for stealing. And if I ordered them to give me their belt, then I'd be in trouble for coercion. I can suspend, expel, or ban, but, I can't possess their belt in any shape, way, and/or form. Bottom line, it's not mine, so hands-off!

Nice little work out that you've got...way to train! Personally, I've lately been doing alot of Kata's while at home and alot of swimming. That's 26 Kata's done one after another with focus, speed, and power. I'm still seeking for that one perfect Kata, but, I've not found it yet. This makes for one little workout!

What? Nothing for us over 50 people? Well...I never!

Irregardless if it's little kids or high schoolers, MMA shouldn't be taught as we see it in the UFC and the like with all of the trauma. MMA properly taught in the high school is nothing more than schoolastic wrestling with extra ingredients, imho. Yes, there's more to MMA than schoolastic wrestling because of the mixed martial arts that might be taught: judo, bjj, and the like. If these high schoolers are allowed to "get-it-on" like they do in the UFC, for example, then I draw the line there and I say...NO WAY!!!! Save that for adulthood! Besides, I don't think that any school district administrators are going to allow that, and hopefully I'm not wrong in my assumption there.

Dallas is now 3-2 with a win over the Chief, sorry Brian, but it went to OT and it was a nail biter from start to finish for me. I would've thought, dumb of me, that the Cowboys would've had no problem with the Chiefs, who only won 2 games last year, but, they did. I was expecting there for a time or two that the Chiefs were going to win the game outright, but the Cowboys prevailed. Only if OT would allow the OT quarter to expire through the clock and not through the first to score because if OT had expired through the clock, then the Chiefs might've won instead of the Cowboys. Of course, Romo threw another interception...AGAIN! Maybe Romo's trying to set a record for having the most interception this year. I don't know, but it's frustrating especially when Romo throws the pig. Cowboys have the Falcons next week and I'm sure that this will be another close game, but, hopefully the 'Boys will get the 'W'! Go............Dallas!!!!!!!!!!

Nope! I've not seen it! The movie I'm waiting for is 2010, which comes out in November.