sensei8

Happy Memorial Day to every vet, both past/present, and for those vets in the future...THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICES FOR THEY SHALL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN...EVER...OR TAKEN LIGHTLY...EVER!!!!! I love you and I thank you for you and your families will always be in my prayers!

What about lunch suggestions for an all day test? For me, I will eat a small cup of cottage cheese with 1 piece of a peach.

Nope, sorry, I've never heard about him. Which means nothing because we all live in a real big world.

Chonan IS a beginner's Kata, its a power Kata, not too many movements make up either Chonan or Chonan Shodan; it's usually taught to White, Yellow, and/or Orange Belts. Akira Kitagawa, Shorin-Ryu; Kitagawa Sensei is credited with the Chonan Kata's as he was taught the Chonan Kata series by Master Itosu. Did Master Itosu create the Chonan Kata seriers? The verdict is still out on this, depending on whom one talks to. Kitagawa Sensei had trained in Shuri-te under Master Matsumura and Master Itosu. Kitagawa Sensei's methods were considered cruel in todays Dojo's; students often trained on ice barefoot and Kitagawa Sensei's student would say that sparring/training on the ice was a battle of life and death. It was very common for Kitagawa Sensei's students to be found smashing their fists/feet/arms/shins into trees until the bark fell off the trees, still, the fallen bark wasn't a signal to stop....one would wait for the signal to stop way into the darkness. Well, this is what I know of Kitagawa Sensei as told us of the Shindokan Karate-Do by our Soke, Fuyuhiko Saitou Sensei. How did my Soke know of Kitagawa Sensei? That was never expressed by my Soke Saitou Sensei. As to its meaning...well..."First born son" is widely recognized, but, again, it depends on which Karate camp one speaks to.

As the black belt surrounds ones waist; so does the virtue of the black belt surrounds the practitioner!

I'm a firm believer in Tameshiwara, yet, this should have no bearing in ones martial arts abilities at all...ever! You said it all in your title of this topic...Gathering Drive from Disappointment! Drive leads to success! Besides, boards don't hit back...unless you do it wrong!

An acceptable time? That varies...doesn't it? Are we asking for the next rank test? Are we asking for knowing the embusen? Are we asking for knowing the steps from start to finish? Is my student handicapped in any way? 1 year...1 month...1 day...1 week...1 semester? What is an acceptable time for a student to go from, ie Heian Shodan to Heian Nidan? When the students practiced it 300...500...1000? Why is that enough or isn't enough? Is the kata being taught understood? Understood partially? Understood completely? When can someone ever completely understand anything in the martial arts, especially kata? Is the kata being performed done perfectly? Is perfect enough? Is the student a natural at kata? Is the student a kata champion? Is that enough, to be kata champion? Has the student reached a new zenith in the kata? Is the acceptable way the same for all students across the board? Or are there other parameters that need to be considered from one student to another? What does the sensei say? What does the organization say? What does the grandmaster say? Has Bunkai been considered? Has Oyo Bunkai been considered? Has knowing the history of the said Kata been considered? What does the syllabus say? Does the syllabus about the Kata matter? Nothing can be etched into stone, this is for sure! Therefore, my answer is this...Whenever I determine that my student is ready for learning the next Kata! Not my Hombu! Not my Dai-Soke! Not nobody but myself! When the time is right...that time/moment will present itself in its own time/moment...not until then. Is this vague? No...it's my way for what I've determined as to be appropriate for all of my students. My students are here to learn how to defend themselves in the most effective way possible...not to worry about when they get to learn the next kata for the next testing cycle! Never rush...this is what I tell my students...rushing can only invite failure...let time present itself when time is ready to do so! Time will take care of itself, therefore, shut up and just train...on the present and previous kata's! I'm still training in kata...day after day...and I've been doing this for over 4 decades...this journey never satisfies itself...it's never pleased with my efforts....there's always something to discover/reveal on my path...no matter! An acceptable time? What's that? Since when did time become the Sensei?

Brian, In these two video's, I didn't see when, if at all, the hips opened up for the power curve...did you? Seemed more like the power was derived from the momentum of the leg/body as well as to the weight of the leg. Other than that, I saw that the hook/spin return happened way after impact. Thanks for those videos!

Ok...I admit it...this was/is a dumb topic. Sorry! Jigoro Kano was the man in the picture. I thought it was funny because Suzuki's Dojo WASN'T a Judo Dojo. Ok....I'm going back to my corner now!!!!

Well...ok?!?!

A decent fight...I kind of enjoyed it. Machida took Evans to task!

There is no virtue to a proportional response...it is what it is. At times we only have what we have, therefore, my response will be whatever is necessary in order to deal with what was brought to me. My main goal is survival and if survival means to just run away...then I'm a track star...no...I'm Flash!

I'm for safety at all times. I'm aware of the sensitivity as far as striking the breast and it's medical implications. Having said that, I'm not for treating my female students different than my male students. I'm also not into giving my female students any sense of false-securities. Therefore, either learn to block or get hit. If they can't block...then it's time to buy a chest protector...or try bowling.

tallgeese, I see that we agree that we agree. Different methodologies, yet, same results. I love it!!!!!! Yes, I too, was speaking of/about footwork as routine movement because without footwork there's no stepping motion...Tai Sabaki (whole body movement) is related to Ashi Sabaki (footwork) and Te Sabaki (handwork).

Rateh, Very interesting process that you've layed out there; very succinctly. Still, I don't understand, nor will I ever, the true purpose of pre-testing. Either the student is ready or the student isn't...it's that plain and simple. If the student is ready, then the student will be invited to test. Yet, on the other hand, if the student isn't ready to be tested, then the student will not receive an invitation to test. The Sensei of that student will know without a shadow of a doubt if their students are ready or not. In life, our attacker doesn't give us a warning before attacking; he/she...just attacks. If this is what works for your organization; I don't fault it nor do I fault the instructors and/or the students because this is how your organization does their testing; I just don't understand or believe in pre-testing at any level. Still, congrats and good luck!

I've sparred/struck with success with all of the bokken's I've purchased at any of the links I've listed. Now, the first link is the linked I'd go to first because these bokken's have a very nice grip; similar to Katana grips. Price isn't all to bad, therefore, if it's not to your liking you won't be out a small fortune. Anyway, good luck finding a bokken that'll meet your expectations.

I too don't want to kill anybody! I just want to protect my family, friends, loved ones, and myself as effective as I can. Having said that, if I hit someone in the throat, and the attacker dies, then I will live with it, whether it's in prison or at home is up to a court of law. This, imho, is a sensitive topic because we all talk about effectiveness, but, the outcome of the effectiveness loans itself to the moral side of self-defense. I don't want to...but...I don't want to be killed myself by a determined attacker.

If one has to do PT as part of a Black Belt test, I think that this is...silly...overkill. Wouldn't the Sensei know by the Black Belt test if the candidate is physically fit or not? Besides, shouldn't the Black Belt test be on the three K's? Calisthenics starts with a 'C' not a 'K'! As admirable as this is...aren't these candidates blown-up by then, therefore, their test might suffer?!?! We do a normal warm up but that's it! After that...it's test time!

Congrats and good luck! I've never truly understood the purpose of pre-testing; sounds weird to me, but, what do I know....after all...I'm in Karate. Still....CONGRATS!!!!!

No...just bizarre...crazy...coo-coo...looney...off-their-rocker...

Bizarre grading requirements?!?! First of all...RUN! Run from any martial arts school that has as well as enforces any bizarre grading requirements. The martial arts wasn't founded on the bizarre, well, most weren't. Therefore, there should NEVER be any bizarre requirements to obtain rank. This is why the up-front interview session with the school is so important. Both, the sensei and the student, can see if either is above board or just looney-tune.

Here's some that I've tried in the past and I've been satisfied with their quality. http://www.ninjaonline.co.uk/gbu0-prodshow/WoodenRopedBokkenWithScabbard.html http://www.tigerstrike.com/oakbowisc.html http://www.karatekorner.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/productID/11509.htm Hopefully these might help you. I too hate buying anything on-line because I can't touch it before I buy it, but, sometimes one must do what one must do.

While you might be correct concerning the effectiveness of a cross stepping motion, I tend to think that cross stepping motion is quite effective, especially in many Karate circles based on my previous post in this thread. Also, cross stepping aides some power to ones side kick by moving the body towards the target providing the sine wave can be controlled. Cross stepping can aide to close quarters by driving forward/side/back/angular/and the like. Uncomforable with the cross stepping? Afraid to trip over ones own foot? Then I say to those...stay away from it, don't fear it, but go with ones strengths. I like to use every aspect of stepping because the more the merry...and I want to be merry!

Roundhouse Kick Preferences: >>Lead leg with top of foot/shin Why? Shindokan is 85% hands and 15% feet, all of our kicks are from the stomach down. Therefore, I've found that my lead leg roundhouse for me is a great set-up as well as an interceptor to Tuite. Other roundhouse kicks are still used alot, but, lead leg is my preference.

I suppose though, in order to answer that question, you have to define the criteria that makes a good martial artist. Or more importantly what you as an individual define as important. WNM Another point I can't argue nor will I. Having said that, you've layed out what is your/the criteria, therefore, all that's missing is your answer. If this answer is to remain private, I respect your wishes. My answer to the question is...NO! After only 19 years in the Martial Arts as a mere Yondan, I wasn't no where close to what Bruce Lee had. In a lifetime, 19 years is infancy at best. Ditto, My answer is also No. But then that doesn't make either you or me any less a martial artist than Bruce Lee - if only for the want of trying to constantly improve WNM WNM, you're absolutely correct! I've never thought any less of myself because I'm solid across the board when the martial arts is concerned. I'm no Bruce Lee, and I'm content with that because I'm me, and in that, I'm complete in my own totality.