sensei8

Say...BEACH BALLS! Now, go get some BEACH BALLS! Get, as many as you want, the more the merry. I use BEACH BALLS for these age groups and here's some of the drills we do: 1) Line up the kids and then throw the BEACH BALLS at them, kind of like dodge ball, but with BEACH BALLS. >>This drill teaches "awareness" 2) Bounce the BEACH BALL at them and have the kids execute a punch, strike, kick, or block. >>This drill teaches "focus" and "accuracy" 3) Place the BEACH BALL directly in front of you, then, have the kids execute a kick over the BEACH BALL. >>This teaches "balance" and "knee up high" 4) Place the BEACH BALL directly in front of the kids. Place the kids in any stance. Tell the kids to move the BEACH BALL forward WITHOUT kicking the BEACH BALL until they get to the wall on the other side. >>This teaches stance "transition" and "posture" 5) Have the kids line YOU up at the wall and then have them take turns throwing BEACH BALLS at you...reverse dodge ball. >>This teaches...well...who cares what it teaches....but it's FUN! Kids love it when they get a shot at you instead of you at them. Besides, BEACH BALLS don't hurt!

Whew...that's a solid statement! One's a 'student' and the other is a 'customer', and for me, which "floor" we're standing on at the time dictates whom they are. I'm Sensei, no matter what floor I'm standing on.

At the risk of being looked upon as one who resembles Brian's statement, let me say a few things. There once WAS a time in my martial arts training that rank MEANT everything to me, but, that time has passed away along, long time ago. Rank has its place and in that, rank is vital. I'm very proud of every accomplishment I've achieved within the martial arts, including rank/title. I've earned them, therefore, I'm very proud of myself, yet, as I've matured in both my personal as well as in my martial arts, I've concluded that KNOWLEDGE is more paramount than rank/title can ever be. Yes, I've very recently tested for, and passed, my Hachidan in Kobudo, and while I'm proud of this new accomplishment, it adds nothing more to me personally. It is what it is in its proper context, nothing more and nothing less. BTW, I failed my first Hachidan test in Kobudo in 2007. Rank means nothing to me if knowledge isn't first, and in that, knowledge must be paramount in my martial arts training. Knowledge means everything to me across the board! Rank means nothing to me outside of its context! I possess rank, but, rank doesn't possess me. Therefore, rank doesn't matter to me if knowledge is to be shunned by any practitioner. Achieve the knowledge first that matches the rank, and then surpass the rank with greater and more broader knowlege. I've never said that kids shouldn't be black belts. I've said that kids under the age of 13 years old shouldn't be black belts. I believe in this philosophy and I stand by it as well. I subscribe to this believe because it's what my Soke and my Dai-Soke believe in! Therefore, I believe in it! More importantly, they, ranking/title requirements and the like, are stated very clearly in the Shindokan By-Laws. Having said that, I will obey the Shindokan By-Laws as set forth without any ambiquity whatsoever! Under the age of 13 years old; Mudansha's will NOT possess a Junior Yudansha, NOR will a Junior Yudansha achieve any Dan rankings. Under 13 year old, Mudansha's will continue in the Kyu rankings, even Ikkyu, and hold that highest given Kyu rank until the age of 13 years old, and only when that Mudansha meets all testing requirements for the Junior Yudansha. Rank is reserved for adult Yudansha's ONLY! Call it a closed mind philosophy if one would like to, but, it's the philosophy of the Shindokan Hombu, and as the current Kaicho, I will not ammend the Shindokan By-Laws pertaining to ranking/title requirements, now or later. It's the Shindokan way, and I would just seek everyone's understanding, for these are our ways alone. In return, I will, from this point forward, honor and respect the By-Laws of every martial arts style concerning how they award belts and rankings for all of their practitioners, including children. I don't have to like, but, I will respect it! I thank you Patrick, for your post here was key in opening my eyes to some things that I was failing and/or refusing to see.

I treat my students as just that...students first...customers second. "Customers" is the label that my students wear when they're off the Dojo floor. BUT, in that, I don't succumb to the customer, because a customers ISN'T always right. I run the Dojo, both floors! I've dismissed many a students/customers who thought that they were going to dictate to me just because they're the customer. That don't fly with me, then and now! I will respect my customer as long as they don't try to use the "customer" card on me. I treat my students like customers because that's just what they are when their no longer on the Dojo floor, but, they're on the sales floor. It's called...customer service and I pride myself in my customer service. When the customer starts trying to "teach" me about the martial arts while on the sales floor, that's where it stops. They're a time for things in their respective place and I adhere to it. When the Dojo floor is concerned...there are NO customers...only students! I remember a time when I was 15 years old and my mom stepped onto the Dojo floor to speak to my Dai-Soke without his permission because she wanted to discuss something immediately. My Dai-Soke yelled to my mom..."Get off the Dojo floor NOW!" She refused and this made my Dai-Soke red. He yelled..."Yame!" Walked up to her, pointed to the door and told her to get off the Dojo floor NOW! She still refused, my Dai-Soke picked her up by her biceps and walked her to the waiting area and placed her into a chair. He then told my mom to be quiet and when class in over, he will be more than happy to sit down with her to discuss the matter, but, until then, "Please be quiet and don't ever come onto the Dojo floor...EVER!" She sat there, fuming, but she sat there. My moms mentality UNTIL that moment was of the customer is always right, but, the customer might be right, but, my Dai-Soke wasn't going to be told anything by any customer in his Dojo; customer or not! Student...Customer...no matter how one looks at the duality of either...I still respect them both accordingly!

At this moment I'd just like to say that Patrick makes many solid points! Thanks Patrick, you've given me something to think about...carefully and respectfully! Will I change my mind after weighing in everything? Probably...No!

Yahoo....congrats! Feels good, doesn't it?

Yeah, that was cool! Don't feel bad Brian, I can't nail two boards together! In the dictionary under the "Don't let this person do Home Improvement!" is a picture of me. Thanks for sharing Patrick!

Our annual testing cycle is complete. I beleive that all of the candidates did very well and I'm very proud of all of them! Most did well, while some will have to re-test next year. Our Dai-Soke was pleased across the board with the entire event, especially with every testing candidate. My test is complete! I've learned along time ago, don't assume anything at testing cycles because while one might think that they did great during the tests, one can still fail! I've failed a few of them when I thought for sure I aced the tests. I'll get the results tonight at the awards banquet! At the conclusion of my test my Dai-Soke asked me how I thought I did; "Sir, fine, Sir!". This is all I said, which he replied, "We will see!"

I would argue that that would compromise the integrity of the tournament. If someone is going to judge a division then they must judge the whole division to keep it fair to the competitors. Any particular bias they have, whether they demand from the competitors perfect stances in forms or maybe they want to see a certain technique done a certain way, it will apply to all the competitors in that division. Besides which, I was at the English ITF TKD champs last weekend and looking around I think it would be near impossible to have instructors step out due to integrity, as out of the 5 judges and 2 table refs, there was always at least one person related to the competitors in some way whether it was a direct student-instructor relationship or they were friends with the student's instructor etc. Then don't judge, go as a spectator! I'm extremely adamant about judging ones own student(s) at any tournament. I've seen my share of fights at tournaments because one of the judges was a competitors instructor. I concur wholeheartedly! Still, don't judge ones own student!

I believe that this happens all of the time, it's just not for me, adding a Kata into the Shindokan syllabus. Do I practice Kata's that aren't in the Shindokan syllabus? Oh yeah! But I also know the Kata, inside/outside, including Bunkai/Oyo Bunkai of that Kata. Even then, my Oyo allows me to interpret the Kata anyway I want. As WNM states so precise... The bold type speaks soundly as to how Kata should be practiced by all who practice Kata.

You do? I disagree. My Tuite is solid, and I guarantee this, I don't have to have anyone give me their wrist(s). If I want the wrist(s) in the process of Tuite...I'm going to get one and/or both. It's what you do with the wrist(s) when you get them that counts!

Absolutely! That's all of the philosophy I have for that! Anything else would be blah, blah, and more blah!

That pretty much sums it up for me...I agree with tallgeese!

I enjoy one great mma fight as another, I'm looking forward to UFC 100, but, after awhile, imho, all of the mma fights start blending in and looking just like the other fights, with an occasional wow-factor here and there. Now, take away all of the rules...yahoo...now we're talking! I'm sick that way at times, heheheheheheehehee! This is my opinion on MMA these days!

Absolutely! Without a doubt!

I think that making the distinction between styles of Martial Arts is important, but it is moreso to those of us who have put a lot more time and energy into it than those who have not. So naturally, this kind of generalizing will strike a cord with us. I would think that by now, with the kind of exposure that the Martial Arts gets as a whole, that we would be far beyond this kind of classifiaction. There was a time when much of what came out of Korea was called Korean Karate, but as you said, much has changed since then, and even if TKD and TSD do carry Karate heritage, these styles have differentiated themselves from that. When discussing the semantics of Martial Arts, I don't take offense when someone refers to what I do as something that it is not because of some superiority complex. If someone mistakes what I do as Karate, I would not be upset because they called it Karate. I would just politely inform them what it is that I do, and perhaps what it does entail, should they inquire further. To be called Karate I don't view as an insult, just a mistake. I do think that it is tough to get too frustrated with the layperson when it comes to these things. However, as a journalist, I would expect that they might dig a little deeper into the research, so as not to cause this kind of misinformation to be presented. Why would this be important? Well, anytime you put that kind of time and effort into acquiring skill in some area, then you tend to become partial to what you do, and you like it to be recognized for what it is, and not generalized too much. Have I ever told you Brian...you're my hero! Thanks for untying my tongue and saying what I wanted to say...but more clearer.

Joe, Nopper! Although I've been called many things before, but, Freud and Eriksson!? Just kidding Joe! I thought I was complimenting ironsifu with what I said. If I didn't, my bad, it wasn't my intent at all. I concur. We reach a rung in the ladder of development, then, when appropriate, we reach the next rung above us. Yet, there's no reason why a practitioner CAN'T revisit previous rungs for one reason or another; absolutely. I agree. Perfection is impossible because we're not perfect! Mastery is an illusion that will reach up and smack you one to just remind you that you're not all that and a bag of chips like you thought you were.

A long, long, long, lo....you get the point, I was a Jr. Black Belt. I earned it when I was 13 years old and I wasn't allowed to advance in rank until I turned 18 years old. In Shindokan, one must attain the age of 13 years old minimum to earn a JBB. Having said that, the current kids today are getting black belts AND rank as young as 7 years old; I don't like that for personal and private reasons! I concur with those here who've said that it must be looked on a school to school basis as well as the school must have a solid syllabus/curriculum. Even then...7 year old black belts...what's next? A 5 year old black belt! Help! BINGO! 7, 8, 9, 10 years old black belts? Many of todays "Karate" schools are in business for one reason and one reason only...that's right, you've guessed it....MONEY! Some to the tune of 100, 200, 500 thousand annually in "sales!" What's one to do! Some school are riddled with integrity while others don't even bother with it! Why? You can't deposit integrity in your bank account! I guess I'll stay in the poor house...and love it!

I agree! But...one must prepare for the unforseen when it finally does happen.

Sure they do! Why? Because most of us have a wrist or two, and when the attacker FINALLY decides to grab it/them...I'll have some things to help me become free. Yes, some of the wrist grab escapes that I've seen have caused me to scratch my head in disbelieve as to its effectiveness. Not all techniques work because our attackers weren't cut out of some cookie dough; they're different across the board, to say the least. Also, some practitioners of the martial arts are beginners, some are intermediate, and some are advanced in thier martial arts, the lack of experience/knowledge might be another reason as to why wrist grab escapes and the like don't work. Also, some instructors of the martial arts don't have a clue as to what they're doing and these instructors are providing a false sense of security to their poor students; that's all I have to say about that. Tuite is a powerful tool...when performed properly!

Including Kata, which I believe is the focus of this thread! Kata isn't and shouldn't be written in stone, but, it is for me because I'm stubborn and I will evolve in the Bunkai/Oyo Bunkai of the Kata, not change the Kata.

Absolutely! After all, I believe that that's exactly what we're talking about. Why? Because 'it' is the overall progression of martial arts training, as well as the lifelong relationship the student will enjoy with his or her instructor.

Enjoy...

roflmbo

I love a hot dog just as much as the next guy...but...I'll pass on these! My favorites, I know nobody asked, but, is the Chicago Dog. After that, any hot dog from any street vendor in Manhattan. After that, Cupids Hot Dogs in the San Fernando Valley in California. Forthly, any hot dog at any Baseball game...Dodger Dog, for example! Ok...now I'm starving! [A drooling emoticon would go right about here]