sensei8

I didn't know exactly where to place this, so, I hope that Self Defense is where this topic should've been placed, Nonetheless, I want to bring the following questions to get your opinions. Scenario #1: I've grasped my opponents right wrist with my right hand! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? Scenario #2: I've grasped my opponents shirt collar with my right hand! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? Scenario #3: I've grasped both of my opponents wrists with both of my hands! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? Scenario #4: I've grasped my opponents shirt with both of my hands! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? One might think that I've got the control for that moment and for that scenario. Well, let's now switch roles with my opponent...WHO'S GOT CONTROL NOW? Many parameters reveal themselves when we play..."What If!?!?" Allow me, even if for fun, look at this from my point of view. Control of either person doesn't have to be for any extended duration; for a mere moment to until heck freezes over. I'm not caring as to the duration of the control because ANYTIME IS TOO LONG! If I grab one of your wrists with one of my hands, as in one of the aboved scenarios; you HAVE CONTROL! If you grasp one of my wrists with one of your hands; I've CONTROL! So on and so forth from scenario to scenario. Get the point thus far? So...here we go! I've just seized/grasped one of your wrists with both of my hands...YOU HAVE CONTROL! HOW? You STILL have BOTH of your HANDS FREE! I've NO FREE HANDS! I've just "grabbed" myself and you've done nothing at this moment. To defend myself from your counter-attack/escape, I'm going to have to FREE one or both of my hands...NOW YOU'VE JUST ESCAPED FROM ME! So much for me having control! Control's an illusion, temporary, at best! How one properly reacts might be as to how one looks at this. For how long depends on...whatever...the man in the moon!?! Having a mind like the moon and mind like the water favors the one who's as cool as a cucumber! Next time you grab someone or someone grabs you, ask yourself this one question... WHO'S GOT WHO?

Check out the link...(Please scan thru the link for other pics) http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dronnie%2Bcoleman%2B%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501-s%26ei%3Dutf-8%26x%3Dwrt&w=238&h=269&imgurl=www.bodybuildingpro.com%2Fronniecoleman_front.JPG&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bodybuildingpro.com%2Fronniecolemanjan2005.html&size=15.3kB&name=ronniecoleman_fr...&p=ronnie+coleman&oid=9f0413428bc855b4&no=1&tt=14797&sigr=11orklb46&sigi=11f3rsr6p&sigb=12s33m2t6 and this link... http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dronnie%2Bcoleman%2B%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501-s%26ei%3Dutf-8%26x%3Dwrt&w=250&h=261&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F28%2F57209722_15456d09ae.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F64406299%40N00%2F57209722%2F&size=26.7kB&name=bigbeachsm&p=ronnie+coleman&oid=2acf40d9599a9166&fusr=throughthewa...&no=15&tt=14797&sigr=11jt37jer&sigi=11ce9in60&sigb=12s33m2t6 Would this be beneficial/hinderence to doing the Martial Arts?

Depends! Depends on the speed of which the roundhouse kick was delivered. Sometimes the kick is way too fast to trap as shown in the OP examples. Power/angle as well as speed all combined together back the examples difficult to execute. Impossible? Nothing's impossible! Many parameters are involved in this type of a trap being successful, imho. Seeing that we're different across the board; i.e. weight, height, structure, skill, and the like, it's difficult to say without reservation that these types of trapping of a roundhouse kick is to assume that I'm superior to my opponent. Am I? Are you? Today/tomorrow? I've done more seizing than trapping, and there's a difference. Trapping is holding onto the given weapon; capturing. Seizing is denying it's continued path completion; delaying. Miss a trap to the head and you're knocked out! Missed a trap to the body and you're ribs are broken! Impossible? Nothing's impossible!

Simon stopped Shaheen from singing almost immediately as he started...but...check this out from Britain's Got Talent... http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200105.htm

Ok! It's said that things come in three's. Well, I'm not exception to this rule, no matter how I might be preceived as...not playing with a full deck. It's the year 1995. I've been asked to put on a very small Tameshiwara (breaking) demo during a benefit hosted by the Sheriff's department for a teenage boy would had lost his life 3 years prior to this annually held event at the hands of a drunk driver. Main focus of this benefit was a car show because this teen had a love for all types of cars. I was honored to have been asked to do this, so I loaded up my materials and headed to Carpenteria, California to do my thing at the request of the Sheriff department. I only had 10 minutes but that was plenty, afterall, it's just breaking. I set up several stations consisting of landscaping bricks. These bricks are primarily used by, you guessed it, landscaping companies. These bricks are 2" X 4" X 16" which are commonly used in landscaping and breaking demos of the Martial Arts world. Why not? There easily availible at most, if not all, home improvement stores across the USA. By the way, this story isn't about mistakingly choosing the wrong materials. No! It's about choosing the right or the wrong assistant for this demo. Well, it's not about choosing the right assistant...it's about choosing the well intended, yet, still wrong choice of an assistant. This assistant isn't even a Martial Artist who's familiar with this type of demo. No! This assistant, chosen by myself, is the dad of one of my 12 year old students. I'll call him Terry, eventhough that's not his real name. Why Terry? Why not! Here's the key. Terry is a Sheriff! Aha! There's the key. Terry willingly volunteers my name to the Sheriff department, which is fine with me. Terry asks if he could assist me with the demo. I usually take some of my students for my demos for the main reason of my students will be familiar with every aspect of a breaking demo; set up and the like. Yet, it's the Sheriff department and Terry that are asking me to do this. Also, I thought that it would be cool to have a fully dressed out Sheriff assisting in the demo. The kid part in me still gets me into trouble! We do one stack after another stack during this demo. Some of the stacks of 10 bricks were hit with so much force, according to some of the Sheriffs officers watching this demo, that the bottom 3 bricks literally exploded when broken. All seems fair as I come to the last stack of 10. Well, it's not as fair as I thought, thanks to Terry. I had briefed and coached Terry for 2 weeks prior to the actual event. Terry a Sheriff is use to being briefed and coached in very exacting details. This last stack has a surprise for the crowd in attendance...yet, little did I know that the surprise was on me. This last stack is a fire break! Again, Terry's a Sheriff and I've briefed/coached him, I feel he's ready. Well, ready is fine but properly prepared/trained is another. I've also not allowed the excitement factor to be included in both the crowd as well as Terry; but it was evident. I forgot to inform Terry as to just how much charcoal fluid to put on the stack. An important point in detail, a far more important to leave for Terry to "guess" and one point that caught my attention immediately. A baptismal in fire...literally! WHAM! WHOSH! Well, wham is fine, but, whosh isn't. Whosh is the sound that I hear as the flame surrounds my head. This is just a split-second in duration, but, it's something I'll never forget soon. Because the flame surrounded my head so fast, it was more of a flash, and therefore, the heat wasn't enough to cause me any serious and/or any minor injuries. Superficially at best, thank God. In Terry's excitement and inexperience...oh heck...because of my stupidity...Terry had practically drowned the stack in this charcoal fluid which puddled up on the top brick. Yeah...picture starts to come more clearer, huh? Oh yeah! My eyebrows we nearly gone, both of them, the front part of my hairline was singed, and my eyelashes looked like a badly plucked chicken. I smelt burnt hair for longer than I truly cared to. Moral of this story...leave the charcoal fluid for a BBQ...and don't let anybody but you treat the material to be set on fire. Otherwise, you'll be on fire! Doesn't look good during anytime especially in a Martial Arts demo. Am I really the only Martial Artists that's that much of a dunderhead at times? I hope not! Marshmallows anyone?!?

Here's another true story by yours truly... The year is 2001. It was in the mid-summer, the heat and humidity was unbearable, thank God I was in a nice air-conditioned building. I had been asked by a charity, The Special Olympics, to do a Tamashiwara (breaking) demonstration for them at one of their fund-raising events. I jumped right on the opportunity to help out this fantastic organization. I set up all of the materials for my 30 minute demo. This demo of mine was in 3 stages. Stage one was the largest of the 3 in both materials as well as surface area; this was my Phantom Of The Opera demo. Lots of pyro, lots of movements, lots of drama, lots of music, lots of costumes...the whole shabang. Stage 2 was height orientated...simply meaning that the higher the stack, the better...ice blocks and fire were part of it. Stage 3 was more traditional...simply meaning that every station was more geared towards small and familar types of Tameshiwara...stacks/holds of 5 or less of boards, bricks, and roofing tiles. Stage 1 and 2 went off without any problems whatsoever. Stage 3 went off without any problems...until...the roofing tiles. Key to this is to never, and I mean never let anybody purchase any of the materials for breaking; this can lead to problems, as you'll see very soon. Trust nobody on selecting materials because one miscalculation on materials will seperate the man from the mouse...quickly! Only a fool has himself for a lawyer, therefore, only a fool has someone else select Tameshiwara material. Let me introduce you to that fool...me! Why would I have broken my own rule? Can anybody say...DUH!?! Yet, I did my own set up...1 out of 2 rules obeyed isn't too bad...WRONG! Had a relative small stack of 5 roofing tiles. I hit this stack, WHAM! Nothing! I hit this stack again, WHAM! Nothing...wrong...OUCH I said loudly to myself, fighting the grimice on my face. Only an idiot would keep hitting this stack until something breaks...and something did break...about 2 bones in my hand went...SNAP...one at a time because I hit this stack many times until FINALLY, my pea-brain went...STOP...the other side of my brain said...break this stack and break it now...what do I do?...I stomped on it with the force and penetration necessary to not only break this stack, but, to demolish this stack of roofing tiles into dust. Meanwhile, my hands quivering, I'm still not letting anybody know that I'm hurt...macho or dumb I'm not sure, but I bowed out to a thundering applause for a demo well done. Why didn't the stack of roofing tiles not break with my fist? It wasn't because of an unsteady stack, it wasn't because of improper technique, it wasn't because of lack of power, it wasn't because of improper penetration, it wasn't because of a lack of focus, it wasn't because of doubt/uncertainity, and/or it wasn't because of fatigue. It was because of what those roofing tiles were made of for certain places on the planet. What were these roofing tiles made of? SLATE!!!!!! Slate is like IRON! Iron isn't the choice of breaking by...anybody with half a brain. These roofing tiles were made of slate! This slate is part, mind you that it's an important part of these roofing tiles in order to protect roofs from breaking during a...HAIL STORM! Roofing tiles manufactured with Slate are resistant to hail and other impact damage. Come on! Who would buy roofing tiles and not ask and/or have been told by the salesperson, about these roofing tiles and its secret/important ingredient...SLATE!?!? My wife, that's who would buy roofing tiles from hell and not ask if these are ordinary roofing tiles or not. My wife doesn't even tell the salesperson that her husband, me, would be using these special roofing tiles for a Karate breaking demo using MY HAND! No, why tell the salesperson this? Only thing that this salesperson knew was that she wanted some roofing tiles, that's it, nothing more, yet, certainly less. This info would've have saved me pain, money, and a visit to the hospital. It's like my wife thought I'd look more manly and/or husbandly if I had, say, a cast on my hand. SHEECH! Moral of this story is...ask important questions about the materials that are going to be used for Tameshiwara and...BUY/SELECT the materials YOURSELF! Can anybody say...DUH! And the DUH is all ME!

The year was 1992! I was at my Dojo, it was shortly after 1PM, because I was working out after having a light lunch in preparation for my 2PM Adults Green Belts and up class. I've a good size Dojo main floor area, yet, there's never been a place to hang any type of Hanging Bag due to the drop-ceiling; therefore, I've alot of different Wavemasters instead. Since I wanted the means of hanging a bag, I had to use my genius to figure out a location for my hanging bag. My first problem was I was thinking, and the other problem was where I hung the bag; something that would prove to be not one of my smartest decisions, as you're about to find out why. Solution! I found the perfect place...the only place afforded to me...southwest corner, out of the way as to not disturb anyone, just inside of the Mens washroom. The Mens washroom is adjacent to the Mens locker room entrance, seperated by a ceiling-to-floor wall. This area is also carpeted. I know, what a place to put a hanging bag...it stinks, huh? Necessity is the mother of invention...I was inventing a location for my hanging bag. This area has a bueatifully beamed ceiling, which added some touch to its decor. Yet, I never thought that these very beams would be used for anything other than holding the roof up...and my hanging bag. I'd work out with this hanging bag whenever time permitted, this bag was for my personal use. For the next 45 minutes I hit this bag like it had stolen money from me. I hit it, and I hit it, and I hit it some more. I was at the end of my solo workout when 'it' happened. I did my cool down. I stopped, I wiped my face and neck dry, took a couple of deep breathes, and only God knows why I did the dumbest thing... I jumped to do a Jump Spinning Back Kick and...WHAM! WHACK! The ceiling in the Men and Women washrooms is much lower than the ceilings in either locker room. I'm 6'1" and I can reach up and touch these ceiling beams with ease. WHAM! WHACK! I smack these ceiling beams very hard with my head, and I mean, HARD! I still have the scar! I was unconscious; lights out! I can't believe that I've knocked myself out, and by the way, there are no birds going "tweet," "tweet" and flying around your head. Lights out means just that...lights out! When I woke up, I was in my office on the couch, holding ice to my head, with some of my students standing around me. One of my students had came into the mens locker room and saw me in the corner of the washroom with blood running onto the carpet. He went and got some more students, and they helped me to my office. My head was pounding, I tried to stand up, and at first I was woozy, so I sat right back down. I rested a few minutes and then one of my students took me to the hospital to get checked out; 3 tiny stitches and alot of aspirins later I was back at the Dojo. I went back to the scene of the crime, hanging bag was nowhere to be seen, and there's a small dab of blood on my nice carpet, thank God my carpet cleaning bill wasn't as painful. Thinking back, I'm not sure if I was upset for being a complete dork or for ruining my nice carpet. I asked where the bag was and my most senior student had taken the bag to his house because, according to him, I shouldn't have a hanging bag near me. I said that it's not the bag's fault, and it's not my fault; it's the buildings fault for having a low beam ceiling in that location...actually, it was my fault for putting the bag where I put it. My students didn't seem to trust me with a hanging bag...my students can be so thoughtful...ha, ha, and ha! Trust me, all of my students had a good time with it! What could I say? Nothing! I was at fault and I deserved their ribbing. It took awhile for me to live this down! This is the time, and the only time, that I knocked myself stone cold out!! Big bad Karate man gets dropped by ceiling...news at 10. Has anybody ever done anything as...ahem..."brilliant" as this before? Or...am I the only "elevator stuck between floors" person to have done something that needs to be filed in the "Dumbest Martial Artist" category?

Politics in the Martial Arts are what they are. They're not to be ignored, but, when we hear of something political happening within the core of Martial Arts Organization/Associations/Federations; it might just cause a lifted brow or two. From your side of the fence, it's not always greener...or is it? Depending on whom one would ask the following question would depend if the above statement is true or not, to that person. Joe Smoe, not real name...duh, is the head of his own Karate Organization. By 'his' I mean Joe Smoe's founded his very own Karate Organization. Let's call his organization...ABC123 Karate-Do Organization...for fun...or because I can't think of a cool/catchy title. Joe Smoe has been in Karate for...lets say...45 years. Joe Smoe's resume is as long as the Nile. Joe Smoe's held this postion, this title, this award, this honor and he's been featured everywhere but on the moon...that's for later on in life. Before Joe Smoe founded his own Karate Organization, Joe Smoe had earned the Dan rank of Godan (5th Dan) from a noted Shotokan Master. Joe Smoe started studying Shotokan Karate in...lets say...1965. Achieved a Shodan ranking in...1972 from Super Duper Karate Union and Nidan ranking from The National Karate Okie Dokie Union in 1976. Joined United States Karate Kick-Butt Association and eventually received Godan from that organization in 1984. Joe Smoe then founds the ABC123-Do Karate Organization in 1978 and have Rokudan and Shichidan certificates from the High Dan Board. Have studied in clinics and seminars conducted by a plethoria of who's who in the Martial Arts world. Now, Joe Smoe decides that it's time to receive his Hachidan (8th Dan) from the High Dan Board. Several years later, Joe Smoe decides that it's time to receive his Kudan (9th Dan) from the High Dan Board. For some and strange reason, known only to Joe Smoe, he stops at Kudan and doesn't obtain a Judan (10th Dan). Perhaps this is pushing his luck...or...that's for when he's much, much older. I see a pattern here! Do you? Joe Smoe's Rokudan, Shichidan, Hachidan, and Kudan are all from the High Dan Board. This High Dan Board...is from the very Organization that HE FOUNDED HIMSELF!!!!! From Shodan and above, Joe Smoe's received his Dan rankings from everywhere EXCEPT Shotokan!!!!! Joe Smoe didn't promote himself, no way, that would be...wrong. But, Joe Smoe, being the founder of his very own Karate Organization, had an influence; an undeniable influence on the High Dan Board! Joe Smoe's ranks above Shodan aren't from Shotokan, therefore, is Joe Smoe a product of Organizations and the like, but, not of his instructor of Shotokan? Hhhhmmmmmmmm....something smells...fishy...very convenient to me...well...to Joe Smoe at least. What do you smell?

Sometimes a little help from my two little friends gets the attention of my attacker(s). I get by with a little help from my two little friends, and I'm not talking about a Beatles song. I'm referring to something that takes no more pressure than needed for opening an orange or a soda can. Know this, it involves getting in the very close proximity of my opponents head/neck area. This isn't as easy as it might sound, but, it's not impossible at all. You've got to get there, once you get there, latch it one quick and I mean quick. Are any of these two little friends easy to escape from? Yes/No, depending on whom the opponent is as well as what's been done to my opponent before one of my little friends begin to latch on. Ok, Ok!?!? What are these two little friends and where is the target areas? Hypoglossal Nerve: This area is hard to locate at first, but, once learnt, finding the area is easy. The hard part could be applying it because the attackers not going to just let you apply it. In this area there is a concentration of nerves. The target area is behind and up under the jawbone. Located directly under the lower jaw bone running from directly under the chin traveling towards the rear at end of the jaw bone near the ear-lobe. The Hypoglossal Nerve travels along with/near the Genio-Hyoideus muscle. Basically, one would be holding the lower jaw bone while pressing upward with the thumb just inside of the bottom of the low jaw bone. Very painful!!!!! One can apply this with one-hand and/or two-hands; useage of both hands is double trouble for the opponent. Either way, compliance is obtained. If you were to study a picture of the nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck; you'd see the Hypoglossal Nerve I'm referring to as to it's path of travel along the lower jaw bone. Check out this link to see a pic of these nerves...(Click on the picture on the left, the pic will appear clearly as well as allowing an image increase) http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dnerves%2520of%2520the%2520scalp%252C%2520face%252C%2520and%2520side%2520of%2520neck%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501&w=649&h=1122&imgurl=www.sil.si.edu%2FPAID%2Ffullsize%2Fpicturingwords%2FSIL32-028-01.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sil.si.edu%2Fexhibitions%2FPicturingWords%2FPW_enlarge.cfm%3Fid_image%3D1335&size=330.4kB&name=SIL32-028-01.jpg&p=nerves+of+the+scalp%2C+face%2C+and+side+of+neck&oid=edbaa0183ed5b5c4&no=1&tt=2&sigr=12d422tjq&sigi=11sbah1cp&sigb=14g1dt58o Digastricus/Mylo-Hyoid Muscle: This is so simple; both to explain as well as to execute then the Hypoglossal Nerve is. The target area is located directly under the point of the chin; in front of the glands. Pinching the skin in this area between ones own thumb and fore-finger will cause severe discomfort/pain. This is a compliance technique; quite effective because both the muscles and the skin are being affected! Check out this link as to where the target zone is located approximate... (not the described point and the like that's being discussed on this link) http://pressurepointkarate.com/points/mikazuki.htm Either of these will be effective attention getters. Attackers won't want to stay around much longer. Well, I know what they feel like and I know that I wouln't stay around long either. Taste them and see that they are good!

Recognizing Movement! Is it a must? Or... Is it for some, while not for others? Just what are you looking at?" This is a legitimate question within the circles of sparring/Kumite. When one is set in their stance and their opponent is set in their stance; what's next? That's a loaded question because many things are just that...next! Who initiates the engagement? How's the engagement carried out? What is what and who is who? The possible parameters of what's next can be and are mind-boggling, if only at time, but, the summation of 'why' is still the summation of 'because' and in this, I believe that that can't be ignored, for the long or the short of it. Seeing that "next" is forthcoming, what one's looking at might help reach some interceptions, and I'm not referring to football; interceptions that must be addressed and/or attended to before the "next" movement might be dictated by one knowing what's about to happen just right before ones opponent does it. As in football, when the secondary can properly read the offense formation and intent; what's to take place next on the gridiron is as clear as the nose on ones own face. "What are you looking at?" Here's a small list of things that might be revealed as one's looking through their crystal ball: A) Eyes B) Nose C) Chin D) Face E) Shoulders F) Waist/Hips G) Knee/Foot Whatever your personal list might consists of; it's safe to assume that your list allows you to be more right than wrong. *Eyes: These are the windows to the soul. The eyes dart from to and fro where they want. But the eyes deceive the opponent. How? Where the opponent looks at, even if just for a split-second, is a key to where the opponents next move might be aimed toward. At times, nobody can control the eyes from looking where the brain commands, nor more than one can control where and when the wind will blow. Curse the eyes! For at times, the eyes reveal to the opponent the intent of his prey and this intent from both sides of the fence can't be ignored, at least, not for long. *Nose/Chin/Face: These are places that one can fix their stare on, including the eyes as well, so that the whole board can be seen; as one who plays chess, to be good at it, one must look at the entire board to bring to the forefront what's next, and what's next after that, looking many moves ahead. If a chess player ignores this simple stratagy, the battles already lost to ones opponent. What's next? Looking at any of these areas will allow one to see an opponents entire body. In that, the littlest of movement can be seen, thus, allowing one to be more prepared for the attack. No matter what the opponent tries to fake and/or sneak in with; it can be seen, therefore, intercepting it or avoiding it might be resolved by moving in any direction. *Shoulders: This area can't be disguised because where the shoulder moves, so does the arm/elbow/fist. It can take a straight path or a curved path if it so desires. Why? Because the shoulders allow the hidden to be seen. Celebrate the shoulders! A shoulder moves, then it would be best if one pays some attention to it because as sure as the calm is right before the storm; a fist/elbow is just after movement of the shoulders. *Waist/Hips: Basketball players are taught in Basketball 101 to look at their opponents waist. Why? For where the waist is heading, so is the body. Basketball players who adhere to this simple tactic prevent their opponent from getting around/behind them. Everyone who's played basketball before knows that one's at a disadvantage when one's chasing the opponent from behind; keep yourself between the opponent and the basket. In the Martial Arts, look at the waist and one will see a punch/strike/block/kick to follow the waist movement. Power is derived by ones kick, for example, following the waist into the intended target. Not vice-versa! *Knee/Foot: Looking at the knee or foot allows one to see what is the intended direction of travel. Posture can be independent but foot/knee cannot be independant from stance as well as intended directions. Yes, these can be changed at will, but still, there's other things besides the knee/foot to tattletale on an opponents intent. Shifting, no matter how slight, the foot/knee give itself away to possible intents. As in chess, implied intent is just the same thing as announcing movement, even if out of arrogance. Put 1 and 1 together, it should equal 2, but, the equation can be changed, if so, educate the opponent as to what is the correct answer. Nothing is etched in stone! Nothing is for sure! Nothing is absolute! Nothing is....well...you get the point. Everything is a two-way street; what works for/against for one is the same for the other. Who's better at recognizing movement before the other will determine the victor. Knowing what one can be looking at is half the battle. Knowing what to do once the signs reveal themselves is the other half of the battle. Recognize movement before it's too late. So when someone asks you..."Just what are you looking at?" You can respond..."You!"

3 strikes...you're out! 3 out in an inning is an end to an inning! Maybe... Check this out... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Rare-four-out-play-helps-Dodgers-down-Diamondb?urn=mlb,155380

:::Singing:::(Hold your ears!) Forest for the trees...forest for the trees...forest for the trees... Come on...it's a easy song, sing it with me...forest for the trees...la la la la la la... Seriously, in a strict traditional tournament, I'll call it by its proper name whether it's a Tonfa (Japanese) or Tuifa (Okinawa). To offend tradition as well as judges isn't a smart move. Do it and you might see a 5.0, if ones lucky, instead of a 9.0 because of the forest for the trees. I teach my students the complete history of each Kobudo weapon within our syllabus. Complete means everything! Becoming very familiar with a weapon allows intimacy with said weapon; complete in its totality.

The way Joe Lewis does the pendulum might work for some, although it truly works for Joe Lewis, it might not work for others. Nothing ventured is nothing gained; it bears worth trying. Worse thing that will happen is that it won't work, at first, for you. Archives! Aren't they wonderful?!?!

This is true. I had class again Sat. and talked to the asst. Sensei. he has been doing a lot of bunkai applications in his classes, so he has had that on the mind. He was showing me another way to look at it, but realizes that I shouldn't be thinking too much about that yet, and should learn how the kata really is - with the block. In this, I concur again. The role of instructor at the beginning stages of Kata is to learn the techniques within the Kata properly. To learn the proper order of what goes where over why a certain thing is being done. As the student matures, then, when time is proper and correct; teach Bunkai and even then, teach Oyo Bunkai as the student matures in the Bunkai. Teach the Kata to beginning students as well as when learning a Kata for the first time, as 'it' might appear. Teach the kick as a kick! Teach the punch as a punch! Teach the block as a block! Teach the strike as a strike! Teach stance as a stance! Teach posture as posture! This is paramount to learning a Kata for its first time until the student matures in the Kata/Kihon. Naturally, an incompetent instructor leads to poor class results. In the long term, this may frustrate students for they're generally not able yet to identify and correct the errors they make.

I'd also opt with O Uchi Gari or Obi Otoshi or Ko Uchi Gari or Sukui Nage or Ushiro Goshi. Either of these I feel would be a good counter when the uke wants to sit down/drop center. I've also, which in some circles isn't cool, just let them go at the apex of their sit down/drop center; it's a hard sit down, but, effective. Besides I'm a Karateka, therefore, just dropping them on their backside works for me because I hate chasing the uke.

You're probably focusing too much on the action of your leg. That's a common mistake. Great point! I'm wondering also ps1, if their NOT driving forward to aide in the off-balance of the uke. This also could be a problem trying to execute Osoto Gari. What do you think?

Karate VS Judo! Thanks for sharing that funny and to the point video!

Guns N' Roses and Meatloaf are my favorite when training alone.

To me, everything mentioned in the OP was about Bunkai. Bunkai wasn't mentioned directly, but, it shouted Bunkai to me. You did say this, "If we are talking about the sequence at the start of the kata, they are blocks not punches." Sounds like Bunkai to me. Nonetheless, if I've erred, then I'm sorry. My bad! Again, it sure sounded like Bunkai to me. I thought for sure it was a Bunkai question. After all, he asked this, "...was wondering what other's interpretation of the double arm block is?" If I interpretated his question wrong, for that I apologize. Yeah, if Bunkai wasn't the intended question from the OP, then I boo-booed. Therefore, I concur with you. Still, Bunkai and Kata walk hand in hand. Can't have one without the other!

My bad! I didn't realize that! Sorry!

Please remember, this topic is of a hypothetical scenario. Therefore, for hypothetical sake, let's look at it from both sides of the fence. What are his Shotokan credentials? A) He's only trained in Shotokan through his own studies and exchanges of ideas and the like with other Shotokan Karateka's for many, many years. B) He's a Shodan in Shotokan and a Hachidan in Seidokan Karate. Does he actually know Shotokan? A) He's a Shodan in Shotokan, but, that's the only ranking in Shotokan through JKA. He's not a certified instructor mainly because he doesn't possess a Sandan or higher in Shotokan. B) He actually knows Shotokan, although no formal training/ranking in Shotokan, yet, he knows every Shotokan Kata, Kihon, Kumite, Kobudo, Bunkai/Oyo, methodologies/ideologies, and syllabus. After all, he's an 8th Dan in Seidokan. One can't reach that Dan ranking without being very well versed in other Japanese/Okinawan styles of the Martial Arts. ...or is Seidokan so close to Shotokan that they two can't be differentiated? No, I'd say that the two styles can be differentiated. One isn't the other nor could they be mistaken for the other. Both have Shuri and Tomari base, this is for sure. Their Kata's are different in name; Seidokan uses Pinan, while Shotokan uses Heian. Seidokan is deeply rooted in Shorin Ryu and the Royal Martial Art Motobu Ryu. For me, the only similarities of the two styles are the Shuri and Tomari background!

I presented this very question and hypothetical scenario to another forum not of KF. Therefore, I present it to the members of KF for the purpose of a friendly discussion. Could an instructor who's a black belt in a style that's not of Shotokan, for example, teach Shotokan? Let's look at a hypothetical scenario... Let's say that Sensei John Doe is a Hachidan in Seidokan Karate under Shihan Toma. Yet, Sensei John Doe teaches Shotokan, as well as many other Japanese/Okinawan styles of Karate, right beside primarily teaching Seidokan. Sensei John Doe is extremely well versed in Shotokan as well as the Shotokan syllabus is concerned. Including, knowing the methodologies/ideologies and the like of Shotokan. So much so that it's comfortable/creepy that Sensei John Doe is as familiar with Shotokan as much as he is with Seidokan Karate. Sensei John Doe knows Shotokan inside/outside; every Kata, Kihon, and Kumite as well as each and every Bunkai/Oyo Bunkai including, Kobudo of Shotokan. But, Sensei John Doe isn't a certified instructor of the JKA/SKIF and/or any other Shotokan approved organization. No! Sensei John Doe's certified/approved in Seidokan Karate under Shihan Toma. When Sensei John Doe certifies his students learning Shotokan; they're certified under the umbrella of Seidokan Karate's Shihan Toma. Still, Sensei John Doe teaches Shotokan from A to Z and back, not as part of Seido Karate, but as Shotokan. Any of his past/present/future students can learn JUST Shotokan if they desire! Sensei John Doe does explain that this is a Seidokan Karate Dojo and this is what we primarily teach, but, if a student wants to learn Shotokan only, then that's fine with Sensei John Doe. What do you think?

My first test! How nervious was I? Man, I've got to think wwwwwwwaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back...I was 7 years old. I was scared out of my pants, literally, I wet myself! There I am, standing in a puddle of my own urine/shaking. My Dai-Soke allowed me to go home and I retested the next day after my mom washed my Gi. I was so embarrassed but my Dai-Soke was so understanding and so compassionate. None of the other kids made fun of me when it happened and when I came back. Possibly my Dai-Soke had alot to do with that.

Why the big concern over belt/rank? It's nothing more than something to hold ones pants up. However, it's of importance, hence the creation of this topic. Knowledge is paramount! Nothing's more important than knowledge. Rank is nothing more than a figment of someones imagination. Rank has it's purpose, after that, it's nothing of consequence or concern! Funny I should say this, huh? Especially since I'm a Hachidan, but, if you knew me, this wouldn't be a surprise to you. You'd know that this is exactly what I feel about rank! The proof is on the floor! IMHO!!!!

Teaching kids is harder than teaching adults. Both require the ability to teach, not all black belts can teach, but it takes a very special instructor to teach kids, especially 4/5 year olds. This being said, Play with them and ease up on the strictness of the Dojo. If one can't, then one shouldn't be teaching kids that young. Century Martial Arts has a fantastic line of stuff for teaching kids like your Little Ninja's. Buy them, try them, and then have fun while you're teaching the Martial Arts. Otherwise, these kids will quit and/or they won't want to go anymore because you're too strict and you don't want to play. Shoot, I play all of the time; I become a kid myself and in this I find the kids receive more as a sponge than if I barked and the like. What kid do you know that wants to "play" with a meany? I don't and I wouldn't! It's NOT hard to teach while playing; you just have to have that ability about yourself. Your kids will be more receptive to your teaching than if you cram it down their throats. Besides, they'll love you and respect you more if you can come down to their level instead of towering over them. They're afraid already and they don't need any extra pressure on them...they're just kids. Flow with the punches!