sensei8

An instructors class? I can't imagine any organization not having one! It's a no-brainer, imho. This, an instructors class, keeps all of the instructors on the same page as the Chief Instructor/Hombu.

Anyone that finds themself in a similar situation, then I'd suggest to this person. Approach this situation with kid gloves. While they're in a Catch-22, it's their money, thier training, and they just want all instructors to be on the same page as the Chief Instructor; that's not much to ask for! If the instructor at question just can't get on the same page as the Chief Instructor, then, it's time for that instructor to open his own school, or, it's time for that student to find a school free of baggage, just as you did.

ROFLMBBO

I see an astronaut telling NASA...."I don't think so! You first!"

Cute! Someone had nothing else to do during their day.

Thanks for these Patrick! I got a real big kick out of them. I salute the employers who allowed their employee's to do this. Very creative....very!!!!

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!!!!!