sensei8

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!

Absoulutely! I agree! When...whenever that might be...and when that is sufficient to do so, and only then, that's when one decides that it's time to ESCAPE/FLEE the situation. Only you can determine when that time is at hand, and that's usually based on your preception(s) of the threat, because preception is reality. We, martial artists, will do anything and everything within our abilities to disfuse/end the situation at hand! RECOGNITION is sometimes not that easy, but, it [recognition] must be understood and accepted.

Imho...when your very first opportunity to escape isn't taken, and you offensively continue! That's when!

In most states, an assault/battery is committed when one person tries to or does physically strike another, or acts in a threatening manner to put another in fear of immediate harm. In a self-defense situation, this could mean YOU! Many states declare that a more serious or aggravated assault/battery occurs when one tries to or does cause severe injury to another, or causes injury through use of a deadly weapon. The law treats the threat of physical injury as "assault", and the completed act of physical contact or offensive touching as battery, but many states no longer differentiate between the two. Again, in a self-defense situation, this could mean YOU! We've, us members here at KF, discussed this very thing many times. We, martial artists, have to be aware of the very possibility that might arise from one's own actions, no matter who we're defending. Proving self-defense is made ease only when one has a witness or two. No witness, it'll be your word against the attacker(s) word. Not easy when there's nothing but heresay and conjecture as your only proof. Oh yeah! I/You can sue anyone for anything! Proving the facts in a court of law are difficult because the burden of the proof is with you/me, not with the criminal(s). This happens all of the time! Just how many times has one read a report(s) of a criminal(s) suing the victim for injuries the criminal(s) sustained in the commission of a crime? Or... How about the burglar who sues the store owner because the criminal fell when trying to break-in through the roof...and wins because the store owner had failed to provide enough adequate protection? It's a catch-22 no matter...darn if we do and darn if we don't! My dad told me once, "If you shoot the attacker, make sure that you drag him/her back into the house before the police show up", and I'm sure that your dad/grandpa/uncle has told you the very same thing before. I'm not saying that that's what one should do...you do what you feel is right. The law will prevail...either on your side or on the criminals side...only a judge can determine that outcome.

Yes, as the headline of this article states..."...ends game with a noble gesture" Once you read this, I'm sure that you'll be just as moved as I was, or even more so. Here's the article... http://arkansasvarsity.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=992976

This is true, therefore, the only license that one truly needs is a business license. In that, it's not specific as to the location of the school, but, of the "home office" because, the school would just want to make sure you had the said license. You do not need a Teachers license at all. After that, just pay the hourly rental fee...oh yeah, don't forget to show the school your insurance! As far as getting the teachers involved, that probably won't happen, and this is for many reasons. Time, liability, etc..... Some schools will pass YOUR flyer out during homeroom, not many, but some. That will depend on the principal, not the administration!

You have valid points. Yes, keeping with the Okinawan tradition of things is vitally important. Also, paying honor to the Soke/Dai-Soke is equally, if not more, important.

1> Simply stated, Soke are generally considered the ultimate authority within any said style of the martial arts. 2> Soke has the final discretion and authority regarding: * promotions * curriculum * doctrine * disciplinary actions The Soke has the authority to issue a Menkyo Kaiden. This right belongs only to, under the Soke definition, the Soke of any said style of the martial arts. The issuing of the Menkyo Kaiden certification, according to my style's By-Laws, belongs only to the Soke, therefore, it's without contestation. Until very recently, I'd say, no. But, I'm not really sure at this time. I'm sure that it could. I guess the current executive team could. But, for me, it would be really weird because having a Soke/Dai-Soke is all I've ever known. Remember, both my Soke/Dai-Soke are very old school from Okinawa, and every Shindokan karateka emulates these two exceptional karateka's! Change is enivitable, in that, change can't be refused or disputed because after one doesn't embrace the change, that, whatever it is, will end. Just like the two mouse, Hem and Haw, in the book, "Who Moved My Cheese", one mouse accepted the change while the other mouse didn't, the mouse that didn't accept the change...well...that mouse died. One must be willing to move with the change, therefore, accept the change, or...well...it's not good to refuse change.

Then the headposts that remain, and the board, should begin deliberating on this matter, and decide what the best course of action would be. Yes!

I'd say that, Capoeira while it doesn't look like it's a martial art, I'd say that it is! The Drunken style of Kung-fu might not appear to be a martial arts at first, but, it reveals its effectiveness in ways that are solid. It's a martial art!