sensei8

Ok! But, I'm only speaking of the Pinan Yondan as it's done in my style, not Wado or anything else! That's all! I don't care how Kanazawa Sensei does Heian/Pinan Yondan because my style isn't his style and vice versa. Kanazawa is a great example of anything. If Kanazawa wants to keep his foot forward/backwards/twisted/hung on a nail, then...that's cool and it's his methodology. When I speak in absolutes, please don't misunderstand me, I'm speaking of my experiences and about my style, Shindokan. While I've studied many other martial arts, I can't and don't want to speak out as a voice of authority in any martial art because if I do and I'm dead wrong, then, I sound really stupid, except in Shindokan where I can and will speak out as a voice of authority! Yes it does...in Shindokan it most certainly does! My Soke and my Dai-Soke both taught/teach Kekomi as a thrust and Keage as a snap...period! I believe that they knew/know what the true actual meaning of the two words are because they were both born and raised in Okinawa. Why is Kekomi a thrust and why is a Keage a snap in Shindokan? Soke wanted the understanding of either term to be simple enough for the laymen to understand and to NOT be bogged down with definitions of a word, but, to just execute the technique, because that's what's important. Snap?! Thrust?! Rise?! Great...now just kick! It's all good!

That's very important and smart!

As far as the two kicks in the beginning of Pinan Yondan; they're front kicks! Why? The position of the supporting foot is forward and this is vital to the front kick. With my supporting foot forward during a side kick, I'll have no power and no balance. If I were to do a side kick instead, then my supporting foot MUST be turned 180 degrees in the opposite direction of the kicking foot. Now, this is how Shindokan teaches and does these two kicks in Pinan Yondan, and this is how some of our Bunkai are performed. Can a side kick be done instead of the front kick in Pinan Yondan? Sure, but, the supporting foot has to be as previously described above.

Let a Judo Black Belt get ahold of me, and where my skill might be lacking, my will to survive is akin to a tiger being trapped in a corner...I'm going to get out! Or...I'm going to die trying! I've a noted skill, yet, I'm glad I've got the will to apply the skill where it's needed! It's that die trying part that is of concern because that is an option. Is it? Hhhmmmm!

Again, differing methodologies/terminologies, imho. Shindokan uses the term and the methodology of Keage and Kekomi as SNAP or THRUST. We don't call Keage "rising" because to us, it's not rising, it's either snapping or thrusting. Shindokan stylists don't consider Yoko Geri, Mae Geri, or any Geri for that fact a stomp/stamp UNLESS the kick calls for it. For example, Fumikomi Geri, Stamping kick, yet, even in that, in Shindokan, it's still either a snap or a thrust. Yes, Age is rising, as in Age Uke, rising forearm block, and in this block, Shindokanist's snap the block.

Actually I was quoting you!

So, Nim is a similar honorific as to what the Japanese use? For example, San or Sama.... San is a title of respect similar to "Mr.", "Miss", "Mrs.", or "Ms." AND... Sama is a significantly more respectful version of san. Although, neither, to my knowledge, is used in the martial arts. In the martial arts we use Sensei or Senpai, as well as other Shogo titles, in that, these titles are spoken, following the persons name.

After all, the eyes are the window of ones soul. In that, the eyes reveal everything, imho. Everything as far as what my opponents body is doing. I was taught, and I teach my students this as well, to look at their opponents eyes and with that, the actions of my opponents are easy to follow with my peripheral vision. But, DON'T JUST STARE! In basketball, players are taught to watch the stomach because foot action and intended direction are picked up right before or as it begins. Therefore, if I'm watching my opponents eyes, I pick up on my opponents intentions and I can intercept them before the threat becomes a fact. Ok, that's my half a penny worth!

O'Hara never had a chance. So much for the "emotional content, not anger" thing, because Bruce planted his feet right in O'Hara's chest. I once heard a rumor along time ago that said that it was a stuntman and NOT Bruce Lee who preformed this backflip kick. Still, what a cool move! I'd try it but I like my head! BTW, who's Guile?

Religion in Shindokan? Nope! Even though our Soke and Dai-Soke were/are both extremely religious. Both were/are Christians! Hanging in the Hombu is our Dojo Kun. Our Hombu has the typical pictures of lineage hanging in its given place, but, there's one difference from other Dojo's that hang similar pictures. There's a picture of Jesus Christ that's right in the middle of these lineage pictures AND it's twice the size as the other pictures, AND it's been hanging there for as long as I can remember.

I've only one thing to say about this but I'll keep it to myself!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!