sensei8

Ouch....I don't agree with this statement in its entirety, but still, OUCH! I'm above 3rd/4th Dan, but, everyone who knows me, here at KF and elsewhere, knows my philosophy of rank. Rank has its place within its context, after that, ranks meaningless! Proof is on the floor!

Visiting other dojo's while you're on a quest is solid advice, one that I subscribe to. Just understand this...while visiting other dojo's will give you a pretty good snapshot of that style, whatever that style might be, it's something to be careful about. Why? Visiting other dojo's ALSO gives one a snapshot from the lenses of THAT instructor, not of that styles Hombu. I'm pretty sure that Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura didn't do Kyokushin Karate exactly like Mas Oyama. Kaicho Nakamura, when he was with the Kyokushin, is/was a pretty good snapshot of Kyokushin.

While being eclectic in the martial arts has it's merits, just remember this old saying... "Don't over season the sauce!" Let your core style simmer/mature in you while you simmer/mature in your core style, then, be as eclectic in your martial arts as you want to be. After all, it's yours and yours alone. Maturing doesn't mean, not that it wouldn't hurt, 10 or 20 or 30 years in your core style. No! But, having a solid understanding of the basics first is vital before studying any other martial arts.

Could you possibly extrapolate a little more please!

mudansha and tonydee...very funny...ROLMBBO...I loved them!

I've placed this topic here because as an Instructor for a billion years, I felt that this topic/thread could help other instructors. It's September 1990. I'm midway through the 6th-4th Kyu class of kids between the ages of 10-12 years old. We're doing Kumite at this moment. I've got the class sitting down while two boys are up mixing it up. During their Kumite, these two boys aren't putting 100% effort in their techniques. This is when I do what is NOW known as the Big DUH! "Stop hitting like girls!" I instructed. A few minutes later...."Yame!" I shout. Class finally ends, I return to my office for a moment, then I open the office door, and I'm meet with....A CROWD OF MOMS who are waiting for me. I'm standing in my office doorway, that's as far as these moms would let me go. These mom didn't yell at me and I didn't yell at them but I knew I was in hot water with these moms, and as I found out later, I was in hot water with those girls as well. "Can I help you ladies?" I asked. "We don't appreciate what you said!" one of the moms says to me. "More specifically...what?" I asked. You would've thought that I was the boogie man or something. These moms, ALL of them, let me have it...both barrels. "What's wrong with girls?" asks another mom. "Nothing!" I said. "Do you think that girls are weak?" asks another mom. "No!" I answered "Then why would you tell the boys to not hit like a girl?" asks another mom. "I...I..." I stammered. "I...I...yeah! How do you think the girls feel after you said what you said about girls to the boys...in front of the girls?" asks another mom. "You hurt their feelings!" adds another mom. "I didn't realize the power of those words when I spoke them! I didn't think! If I had first thought, I wouldn't have said it, I promise. I promise that I'll never do that ever again, and I won't. That was wrong of me. That was stupid of me. That was insensitive of me. Please forgive me and I'll apologize to them immediately!" I said. These moms were 100% correct and I was 100% wrong! The girls, ALL of them were still there as the Adult 6th-4th Kyu's were lining up for their class. I asked those girls to stay for just a second. I bowed into the floor. I bowed in the class. I sat the class down. I asked those girls to come to the front of the class. Face me. I explained to all there what had happened at the class before. I then poured out my heart to these girls and begged them to forgive me for saying what I had said. I dropped down and I deeply bowed to them. Sometimes, we instructors say/do things that we aren't truly aware of until someone brings it to our attention. As was the case that night! This is no excuse, but, I said what I had said to motivate the boys because boys hate to be compared to girls and vice versa. It was wrong and it should've never happened, and it's never happened ever since. Moral of this story is this...Respect begets respect, no matter the age!

One of my favorites to do! Although my style doesn't teach any kicks above the stomach/waist. Brian's dead on right here!!!!

The Shindokan Hombu doesn't charge for ANY testing...KYU or DAN!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it's alot of material, but, I believe that you'll do very well! My Kobudo test for Hachidan was alot of material, but, I did fine because I knew the material very well. Besides, practice always helps! Good luck!

The National average Police response time to a 911 call = 3 minutes! Alot of bad things can happen in 3 minutes! Now, that's nationally, therefore, what is the normal response time for the Police to a 911 call in YOUR town/city? It could be 8 minutes or it could be 13 minutes or longer. That's alot...of bad things that could happen...to you...or to your friend(s)...or to your family. When does something become unavoidable? Usually this is when it's way too late because whatever it is, it's already escalated to far! When it's too late...one better get it on or get on stepping! Recognize the unavoidable before it reaches that point. How do you know what that point is? You don't! Why? Because you don't know just how the other person(s) think; calm or trigger happy! What kind of day has this person(s) had? Many things stir the pot, but, what are the ingredients in the pot? This part is unknown! You know you...and...you know when you've reached the unavoidable...but...that's as far as it goes! Anything else...you just assume...and we know what happens when one assumes...it's worse when one assumes wrongly with their life.

Going for the biggest guy is smart, but, risky. Why? If you don't take the big guy out then you'll NOW have a very mad big guy; bad combination! Go for it, but you better take care of it right then and there...or run...fast! ryanryu: I like that plan as well.

There have been many times in the past that I've NOT CHARGED a student for the Yudansha testing fee because a student couldn't afford it. Not because my testing fees are high, because there not, it's just that some students can barely afford the monthly, and again, my monthly fees aren't high. Shoot, when I took over the Shindokan Hombu, I lowered ALL of the prices because I felt it was the thing to do, especially in our current economic situation. As a matter of fact, the Hombu doesn't charge any testing fees...Kyu/Dan! What's more important to a martial artist....Knowledge or the belt? KNOWLEDGE!

I can see how this type of roundhouse could be disguised by the front kick chamber. Interesting and something to be aware of, that is for sure!

Akin: 1 : related by blood : descended from a common ancestor or prototype 2 : essentially similar, related, or compatible I'll start... >Judo is akin to water - non-resistent! >Kung Fu is akin to clouds - freely floating >Karate is akin to hide and seek - now you see it...now you don't OK...hopefully you understand. Your turn!

That's absurd! Well, there's nothing like pressure selling! Pretty presumptuous of them! Welcome to....Money is more important than anything! Sheech!

It's THEIR journey, not ours! Whether it's a kid or an adult...it's their journey alone! We're given the priviledge of witnessing their journey, therefore, we should be respectful to each and everyone. Respect begets respect! One last note, when I stated in my OP... "Oh to be a kid...just one more time!" I meant this as a sign of respect because what I saw that day and from what I've seen in the past, our kids of the martial arts are SOLID! I miss my youth because I've forgotten what a blast it was to be a kid!

Well...Just Spar...alot...over and over...until the wheels fall off...until the cows can fly...until hell freezes over...JUST SPAR...then the answer as to what you're seeking will present itself. I and/or we could give you one gem advice after another but the only gem I can give you is that...SPAR!!!!!

Listen... Slap or don't slap....block or don't block...deflect or don't deflect! JUST BLOCK THE DARN THING! Preference...that's what decides as to what technique(s) to use, not, what's effective...imho, this is a big boo-boo! If I slap block...well...then that's because I deemed it appropriate for what's coming at me!

Congrats tonydee! Well deserved. I've enjoyed many of your posts! You rock!

Aikido responses! Karate responses! BOTH are the same at their cores! Really! Truly! They both do differ when looked at with the broad stroke of the paintbrush, this is for sure. Their methodologies/doctrine are different as how one is to travel on the path, but, at the end, the same goal/place is achieved/reached. For example, Aikido has its striking properties and Karate has its striking properties, but, a strike is a strike. Angles, deflections, and the like all make up the strikes which are governed by their methodologies. isshinryu5toforever states it well... For the Karateka, this is TUITE! Within the strikes for the karateka comes those tuite movements. The Punch/Kick answer that Brian's referring to in his OP is a very narrow way to look at Karate by C.M. Shifflett. This answer was limited because C.M. Shifflett's answer only demonstrates his limited Karate experience/understanding, imho. I imagine if Shindokan was just a punch/kick art, I would've quit it along time ago because the world of the martial arts isn't that black and white. It would be wrong of me to say that Aikido is just a throwing art, therefore, C.M. Shifflett is wrong to imply, directly and/or indirectly, that Karate is just a punch/kick art. Each, Aikido and Karate, are more than that!!!! Many, not all, Aikido throws are set-up by the strike first. For example... Aikido's Yokomenuchi is very similar to Karate's Shuto, but, the angle in how the strike is delivered in Aikido differs from Karate. How? An Aikido practitioner will deliver this strike at a 45 degree angle, while a Karate practitioner will deliver this strike more horizontal. Aikido's Katadori Menuchi is a combination of two attacks: katadori and shomenuchi. The Aikidoist grabs the shoulder, and immediately follows up with a shomenuchi strike, possibly similar to the Karate Shuto downward strike to the top of the head. This combination and many other combinations in Aikido utilize katatedori because this grip as an initial and not a final attack. The former explains that the Aikido stike is essential to many Aikido techniques, but, the latter is Tuite to a Karateka! Plain and simple! I could show many other similarities between these two styles, but, again, the path that Aikido and Karate take are different, but, the goal/destination is the same; effective applications!

Backing up/away from whatever is being thrown at you is normal...at first in any martial art. Two types of Backing: 1> Luring opponent into a trap/set-up: intentionally 2> Scared/overwhelmed: unintentionally I'm sure that this list could be long, but, the MOST uses of backing up from whatever are listed above. Which one are you? You'll be scared/overwhelmed before you turn that fear into luring an opponent into your trap/set-up. Fear is erased as one trains!

It's just another thing! Nothing more special than any other aspect of the martial arts. Why? To borrow from Bruce Lee... "There is only one type of body, 2 arms, 2 legs, etc that make up the human body. Therefore, there can only be one style of fighting. If the other guy had 4 arms and 2 legs, there might have to be a different one. Forget the belief that one style is better than the other, the point of someone that does not just believe in tradition, but actually wants to know how to fight is to take what you need from every martial art and incorporate it into your own. Make it effective and very powerful, but don't worry if you are taking moves from many different arts, that is a good thing." MMA...the current rage of the page! Let's not make a mountain out of a mole-hill!

Interesting! Although, to me, it appears that the hips finish ahead of the leg, therefore, how does the kick generate power? Interesting still!

OUCH and...LOL! BTW, I was only funning with you...I understood what you meant.