sensei8

A very solid article Brian...very solid!

10th Kyu to 6th Kyu is quite a skip, but, obviously you've earned it! Congrats!

I'm surprised that Patrick hadn't mentioned this wonderful news before... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-redsox-yankees-rdp&prov=ap&type=lgns GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the official Shindokan Kobudo Kata's: >>Chinen Shikiyanaka no Kun >>Maezato no Nunchaku >>Maezato no Tekko >>Akamine no Nunchaku >>Sakugawa no Kun (Sho) >>Chikin Shitahaku no Sai >>Shushi no Kun (Dai) >>Chatan Yara no Sai >>Hama Higa no Tonfa >>Hama Higa no Sai >>Sakugawa no Kun (Dai) >>Shirotaro no Kun >>Tawata no Sai >>Kanegawa no Tinbe/Rochin >>Yonegawa (Yuniga) no Kun >>Kojo (Kugusuku) no Sai >>Kanegawa Ni Cho no Kama >>Choun no Kun >>Tsuken Sunakaki no Eku (Chikin Shinagaki) >>Urasoe (Urashi) no Kun I'm extremely familiar with Yaka no Sai, but, it's not part of the official kobudo kata's within Shindokan.

I don't find this to be practical advice. Nor do I think most Sensei would take you up on it. I'd say...NO! To much must be learnt before one's instructed in Kobudo, especially the sai. Sorry!

What's included/involved in your schools Free Trial Lesson? Reason for asking is this. I'm always visiting other schools within a 25 miles radius of the Hombu. I am spying on my competition. This is normal, or should be, for any business, especially in todays economy. Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, spyed on his competition all of the time. As a matter of fact, Sam would be visiting his competition and then he'd see a lower price for the same like item he carried in his store, and then he'd call his store right away and order that manager to change the price immediately to a price that is now lower than the competition. So, this practice isn't new, nor is it wrong! Therefore, in visiting a TKD school that is located 8.6 miles to the northeast of the Hombu, I enquired with the receptionist about their FREE TRIAL LESSON as advertised on their front window display. What I was told was unexpected. I was given a tour of the school by one of their black belts. This TKD school is large, it's bueatiful both inside and outside. It's well staffed and organized. The main class area is fully stocked, wall to wall mats, and one mirrored wall. Nice and inviting visiting area both in the lobby as well as in the main class area. Overall, a very nice operation/school. In this tour, I was shown 4 tiny and seperate rooms. Inside of each of these rooms were two plastic chairs, one fake plant that was placed in one of the corners, one shield, two focus pads, and one blocker. The room was carpeted and well lit. I asked if this was where private lessons were held and I was told...no! "No, this is where we do our FREE TRIAL LESSONS." I was then informed that all of their FREE TRIAL LESSONS were 10 minutes long! 10 minutes? What? After the 10 minutes, you're then escorted to one of the extra tiny offices to Q and A session and then to enroll into the school. Some of my questions were, "Why aren't FREE TRIAL LESSONS held inside of the main school area? Also, why are the FREE TRIAL LESSONS only 10 minutes?" Their answers..."The main school area would be way to distracting for new prospective students. To many things are taking place that could take away from the experience. 10 minutes is all it should take for any of our prospective students to decide if this is for them or not." I thanked them and then I left; slightly perplexed, but, I was informed and this concluded my visit to my competition. At the Shindokan Hombu, our new students are given not one (1), but, three (3) FREE FULL TRIAL CLASS LESSONS. This way the new student will have a pretty good idea if they want to continue or not with no obligations. We include a free uniform as well. Our FREE TRIAL LESSONS are held in the main Dojo and our new students are fully participating in a full class, no abbreviated 10 minute class, but, a full class. Our new students get to see and experience everything. Everything from how instructors interact with students to dojo etiquette to every full amenity available to whatever and everything. What's included/involved in your schools Free Trial Lesson?

If nothing else, at least stretch/exercise, if that's all the time available at home.

As FEES are not the same as TUITION, neither are Classes the same as Yearly Membership Fee; they're seperate. For example, I join the local YMCA. I will have to pay for the TUITION, which in this case is the Yearly Membership Fee. This fee covers administrative costs, as well as, it gives me access into the YMCA facility to use all of the included amenities. Now, if I want to take "karate" or "cardio" or any dozen or so other classes offered at the YMCA, I will have to pay an extra FEE for these extra curricular activity classes, whether it's monthly or 3 month installments above and beyond the Yearly Membership Fee. Many martial arts schools charge for a Yearly Membership Fee to be part of the organization/federation/association. This fee goes to the headquarters, not the school. What this fee covers differs from one organization/federation/association to another. I can join ABC Karate but to reap any benefits and/or to be allowed to participate, I'm going to have to pay this Yearly Membership Fee every year AND then I'll have to pay for my classes monthly or whatever plans are available. More than likely a contract will be required. I'd NEVER sign a contract because most, if not all, contracts are binding, therefore, if something happens to me, then, I'm going to have to pay for it until the contract expires. Welcome to free enterprise!

samwisekoi and skullsplitter, Thank you for your posts...extremely SOLID! Tremendous value! I bow to the both of you! Welcome to KF, the both of you!

College credit for the martial arts is normal. As pointed out by others here, the credit is usually 3 college credit units. Many states require a P.E. class until they reach 21 years of age, therefore, many college students enroll in a martial arts class held on campus for several reasons. Reasons: *1= They've always wanted to learn the martial arts *2= They think that type of class would be a walk through, therefore, an easy credit. Soon they find out the opposite. *3= Pure curiosity *4= They were late enrolling and that was the only thing left available other than...bowling...or... *5= Needed the credit units to graduate, so, why not? Do these college students remain interested in continuing martial arts training? I'd say...no! Not for any other reason other than the desire to practice their chosen degree(s).

I'm not even referring to "students", but, I'm referring to black belts. Black belts that should know better, but, for some unknown reason(s) they freely choose to raise the supporting foot's heel up. In my experience, Black Belts are students too-whether they think so or not! And....knowing better and doing better are two different things....one is easy, the other takes practice! When I refer to "black belts" in the context of this thread, hopefully everyone here would know what I mean. I know "black belts" are students too...everyone....no matter rank/experience/knowledge are students forever!!!! When I see 5th degree black belts and up raise their supporting heel during any kick, no matter the degree of difficultly, I see a very sloppy lazy uneffective technique. I don't excuse it, I point it out, and then I correct it before the bad habit becomes a part of really bad muscle memory. That type of bad muscle memory is hard, not impossible, to correct for the good of the martial artist.

Interesting! For me, it would depend on their abilities with the weapon because I don't want to be standing there after my friend had his knife or nunchaku taken away from him. Now, the attacker(s) are armed to the teeth and I'm not. I'd rather he had neither because just the sight of having either might cause some difficulties for both of us as well as having the police haul us both away. If we're going out, just leave the weapons at home/dojo. Don't bring unwanted grief to our doors by brandishing a weapon that someone might see. Then the next thing I know is that we're living out the bar scene from Star Wars. Thanks, but, no thanks! I'd be uncomfortable with either because, what if I'm accidently struck/stabbed by my well meaning friend with the weapon? Many bad things can come from this and none of them look good...for me, that is!

Way to go...congrats!

Brian's right on...again! Impressive! Interesting! It validates what Brian posted here! Sheech! It's the story of my life! Behind the curve again! Late to my own funeral! Better late than never! Still, one rung at a time for my students!!!!

There use to be an organization called Young Olympians, they might still be in business. The Young Olympians was based in Orange County California. This organization taught self-defense and cheerleading to just name a few. This organization had/has a HUGE student body and the majority of the venue's are held in public school gyms. Also, this organization's flyers are passed out during school hours by the school staff inside of the class. They charged $4 per class, one class a week, 1 hour class, 12 week curriculum, and a test at the end of the 12 weeks. This organization taught from white belt to black belt. The Young Olympians paid for the use of the school's gym. Some venues/schools would have 300-400 kids each night at each school; that's alot in one night! But, they did it over and over and over! Their "model" is everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

Maybe this might help you... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seishinkai OR http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/3365/index.html If not, I apologize!

The supporting foot pivoting during a kick -- that heel has to come up for a fraction of a second, BUT, then the heel MUST come down as the kick is extending. BTW, I don't call it flat-footed when my foot is designed to support me with a solid base.

Have you observed this in tournaments, Bob? Maybe someone's going for height to score a point (and maybe a bonus point added in if it's a head shot), but it's really more of a "sport kick" than a viable martial art one. YES! In my 44 years in the martial arts, I've seen this both in and out of tournaments! I can't imagine any good reason for anybody to raise their supporting foots heel up while kicking. It befuddles me to no end. Sport kick? Any kick shouldn't allow the supporting foots heel to raise just for the sake of a point. I NEVER raise my supporting foots heel while kicking for any reason because I'd, me, myself, Shindokanist, would be wrong!

I'm not even referring to "students", but, I'm referring to black belts. Black belts that should know better, but, for some unknown reason(s) they freely choose to raise the supporting foot's heel up. The flat-footing that you're referring to is more than likely your styles methodology; yes or no? To prevent injuries/hyper-extend of the knee is based on two things: 1) Proper technique 2) Proper stretching Therefore, lifting the supporting foot's heel during any said kick causes the kicking technique to suffer drastically.

Whoa! My bad! Brian's absolutely correct! I'm only referring to the supporting foot during the kick! Please forgive me for not having of made this more clearly! My bad!

Any kick, no matter the kick, imho, that any practitioner of the martial arts, especially black belts, executes a kick with the heel up is in trouble. Balance is lost and power is robbed when one kicks with the heel up. Therefore... -->Does your style teach heel up or heel down? -->Is the heel up or the heel down part of your styles methodology? Your thoughts?!

Your instructor can do anything that he wants to do because your his student. That is the bottom line. It speaks in volumes that your instructor is considering it, and in that, I congratulate you on that. Both the JKA as well as the SKIF, to name just a few, have often performed many double gradings in the past, and they're Shotokan. As far as my students are concerned, it's one rung at a time!

Well....a very solid point Montana is making here! One that can be argued, but, one that can't be ignored.

Renting the gym, for example, from the school, more specifically and strictly done AFTER school hours, doesn't this eliminate the need for having said Teachers Certification(s)? A person who rents the school space after school hours wouldn't be an employee of the school(s). This is along the lines of what I'm trying to refer at. And the way around needing a teachers cert is to RENT the space from the school AFTER normal school hours. If one wants to teach the martial arts DURING school hours, let's not forget the very high possibility of having to submit for approval of an syllabus/curriculum to the school/school district or both!

Yes, you can be arrested and possibly charged with a felony by solely defending youself. Why? It's the police officer's responsibility to enforce the law, and in that, if the police officer recognizes from the facts presented to him/her that a crime was indeed committed, then the arrest will occur for you, your attacker, or both. At the arrest, you'll be charged for the crime, but, the DA could lessen the charge or increase or add to the charges based on facts. Proof isn't part of this equation because proof is for another time...in a court of law. That's when the judge could lessen, increase, add, or drop all/some of the charges. Yes, you can obtain this information from any state/federal penal code and/or law books for any and all of the information you're seeking. To equip yourself with this information is key for every martial artist. Why? Ignorantia juris non excusat...Ignorance of the law is no excuse!