sensei8

I've just 3 tats that I got back in 2009; all MA related.

Zaine's post is solid!! Why is anything ever done or not done in any technique in any style and/or any dojo, especially when Kata is concerned? Perhaps, to understand further why Kake Wake Uke in Nijushiho might be different, one might ask what's happening before, during, and after Kake Wake Uke as it's being executed in Nijushiho. In specific, concerning to posture, stance, and space management. The overall technique depends on every element, and not just the technique of itself. Before one can go away from, it had to have been a before. This is what we understand as the set-up. Shindokan's core depends on set-ups; one technique compliments another technique. To move to just move isn't effective, therefore, I had to be at point 'A' before I moved to point 'B', before I reached finally point 'C', each point had to be effective. Before the Kake Wake Uke, look at the stance and the posture and the space management carefully, point 'A'. Then do the same for that pacific technique, Kake Wake Uke; what's being done...how's the entire body moved...how's specific body movements have occurred or about to occur, point 'B'. Then carefully look at what's just taken place once the body has moved to point 'C' Perhaps, the reason might be that this particular technique is being used as a wrist release at that very movement. Perhaps, not. For said wrist release there must be a point 'A' to 'B', then to 'C' for the overall effectiveness. Why are any body part ever where they are at that very point? Whatever's the reason(s) for the differences might be, one has to discover through discovery, and that requires to carefully studying that Kata's exploded view and nomenclature. We have to remember Bunkai is not an application of Kata but a way of studying its parts. Applications are actually Oyo. Everything found in Kata has a reason, no matter if we agree or not to that reason(s). Imho!!

Yep

It is a double-edged sword, for sure. If the CI isn't too keen with Student-of-the-Month, then I believe that the CI should just shelf the idea. Otherwise, the transparency of the whole idea will become quite so obvious and lose its credibility fast. I agree, that a Student-of-the-Month is more geared towards the kids than the adults. Having said that, let me address your questions one at a time... *Effort *Good attendance or improvement in attendance *Character through compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, optimism, and responsibility *Behavior and self-control *Attitude toward others/learning *Good citizenship *Leadership and integrity *Demonstrates responsibility No. Never. There has to be a clear choice. If not, and one's chosen randomly, that too aides to the program being transparent. Moreover, the rules and requirements must be understood by all, and not just the students. Like the Kun, I'd hand up anything of importance, and so that it would serve as a consistent reminder. Like a sign in a business that's hung up for all to see, like, No Checks, is both a reminder and a type of authority. If there's no clear-cut choice for Student-of the Month, then for that month, so be it. There's always next month but announce your decision and gently remind them how that decision is made...that too is important. Nope. What's listed above, also covers both on and off the floor. Get the parents involved by speaking to them during the decision-making phase, yet do it covertly because once parents get wind of what is actually being asked of and what for, the transparency begins, and the program losses its credibility. Don't ever award just to award because that too starts to seep into other decision-making choices, like Testing Cycles and the like. I'd say that this just might. However, I'd be willing to say that this already permeates in the dojo already. Why? It's a human frailty. Does a program like Student-of-the-Month highlight the students to compare one another? Maybe. Perhaps. I believe that really depends on the maturity of the CI, and how the CI sets the overall tone in the dojo. Imho!! I've used that program with great success in my own dojo. Done incorrectly, that ship will sink along with the dojo faster than one will ever realize. No program is more important than the Student Body.

Congrats, ashworth; well deserved...for MOM and being a member here at KF for 15 years.

According to my dad, whose 90 years old, and is very experienced in many things has told my brother and me that you can dull a knife with a sander, sandpaper, concrete, and a sharpening stone. These ways do seem to fit the bill as far as costs are concerned.

Welcome to KF, HM765; glad that you're here!! The old adage...better late than never does include the MA. Covid is no respecter of anyone, and it sounds as though that's behind you. Train hard and train well.

Yep, that's the guy; Sato's nephew. The one that refused to help during the major storm, and Sato disowned him.

Interesting to know how you approach the jump using this method. I have done basic Heian Kata backwards, but haven't ventured into doing kata like Unsu this way... Well, I don't do that jump backwards, that's for sure, so whenever I reach that point, I just turn around and assume the landing position because I'm the furthest thing from being a member of the famed Cirque du Soleil, who I'm quite sure that they can do that jump backwards with ease...I mean it took me quite some time to learn how to do it forwards.

To better help frame the most appropriate response, can you tell me what CK is (I am assuming some sort of TV show since you mention "season 2"...but you know what they say about assumptions...) and who Chozen and Dan are? Thanks. CK is Cobra Kai. Not sure who Chozen is as I haven't watched the show but Dan is the main character from the movies.Chozen was the antagonistic foe for Daniel in Karate Kid 2 movie series, and he reprised his role in Cobra Kai Season 3...just for grins and giggles.

In addition to your methods of Kata training, which are solid training tools, I;ve a few to offer... 1. Backwards Kata. If I can do said Kata backwards effortlessly, then I can do it forwards. This has helped me to remember said Kata, especially the far challenged ones, like Unsu. 2. Spot Kata. By starting at any given point of said Kata, I can, in my mind, correlate what's now behind me, and what's next before me in said Kata. 3. Next Card Kata. This can be used with the Spot Kata drill. Take a deck of cards that have been shuffled, and by taking one playing card at a time, I start said Kata at that very point, and then finish that said Kata. OR...I can do just that many steps of said Kata from the start, depending on the face value of the playing card. OR...I go backwards from that exact point of said Kata. 4. Blindfold Kata. I wear a blindfold, then while wearing the blindfold, I do the entire Kata. To add to that, I do same said Kata while on the embusen. Either way, at the end, I take off the blindfold, I then can see how much I wandered here and there, off the beaten path. Know this though, these drills are both fun and effective for the purpose of learning/memorizing said Kata...nothing else.

Perhaps student misunderstandings and/or misconceptions as far as the MA concerned is one reason that a student quits. In that, the student has a mistaken belief, a wrong idea concerning the MA. Then there's when the student receives erroneous interpretations concerning the MA. Either reason can darken the students desire to continue in the MA. Trust is everything, from both the student and the CI; perception is reality to that person, and once violated, that ship has already sailed away.

Without giving a drawn-out history lesson, here's it in a nutshell. Around 1920s Gichin Funakoshi, who's Okinawan, was invited by the Japanese Ministry of Education to give a demonstration in Kyoto. Following his demonstration, he stayed in Japan and began to teach Karate to the Japanese. To me, that sounds like it wasn't appropriated. The Battle of Okinawa was in 1945, some 20 years before Gichin Funakoshi was invited to Japan. With that being said, Karate was already in Japan...by invitation. Imho!!

Thanks for the comments! Much appreciated... Just curious, is this along the lines of what you teach and use or something different? Thanks again! I don't delve too much into using Japanese terminology, so I avoid all those issues by using English in my classes. I will usually just use the terms "self-defense" or "applications" depending on what we are working on. Unfortunately, we don't delve much into forms applications in our school. We weren't "raised" with it, so to speak. I do try to work on it when I get a chance to do so.Solid post!!

People quit the MA because they've their reasons, and it's really none of our business. People don't ask for us to approve their reason(s), they do ask that we respect their decision. Sure, as an owner/operator/CI I could tweak here and tweak there on the curriculum, and I could do this and do that in hopes to increase retention, however, we need to separate ourselves from wondering why students come and go. No matter whom the CI is, students are first customers, and customers choose their comings and goings and not the CI or the Governing Body or anyone else. This is what customers do, no matter how solid one's curriculum and the like are. Can't take it personal, it's business. Think about it briefly but dwelling on it serves no sound purpose to worry on the reason(s) students quit. Why?? The students that did not quit deserve a CI that's focused, and not scatterbrained over something that can't be controlled whatsoever. I can't stop the students from quitting, nor more than I can stop the wind from blowing. I can ask why the wind blows, but all I can do is ask; I can't stop Mother Nature. I can't stop students from quitting. After asking, it's time to teach those that are there to learn.

Thank you, Patrick!! My last shot was December 8, 2021. Next shot is April 2022.

My Medical Oncologist ordered several X-Rays concentrating around where my T12 is located. Waiting for results. Mid-Back spasms are the worse. Can't laugh, God help me if I sneeze because my wife can hear my back snap and crackle from the other side of the couch, can't breathe in deeply, bending over is an exercise in itself, getting up isn't fun anymore, and sitting on the couch relaxing is a wonder when the next spasms will occur at its schedule, and not mine. Yet, I can sleep and roll over and whatever else while sleeping with NO spasms. Can't figure that out at all. Getting out of the bed for my many trips to the bathroom is another matter and laying down.

Welcome back, crash; glad that you're back in the saddle!!

Great advice so far!! Interesting how this thread is titled...Donation-based. Meaning not free; a fee is leveled at whatever the student can afford, and/or a set fee for some worth donations for classes, akin to perhaps a seminar. I'd not allow any student, short/long term, take their shoes off and get on my floor, wherever that floor might or might not be at, without the appropriate insurance no matter where the venue was being held. To many things can go right, but way too many things can go wrong. Protect oneself first, protect the venue second, protect the student thirdly, and then protect the unknown whatever that might or might not be. Something to chew on, for whatever it's worth. For donation-based classes, the teacher pays to rent a space and those who show up to take a class will give however much they want or are able to afford at the time. The instructor usually promotes a specific cause or charity and donates any proceeds. In the end, the amount people give is subtracted from rental space costs. Another tidbit to consider, possible receipts might be necessary for donation-based classes. For donations worth less than $250, a simple dated receipt with a description of the donation is enough. If the value is between $250 and $500, you'll need written documentation from the organization. If the donation-based classes are free, meaning that the teacher is donating their time, I refer back to the 2nd paragraph above, nonetheless. Like Brian mentioned about Royce Gracie, no matter what the intent, there's never a guarantee that anyone would show up. I too, offered classes for free to all LEO's, and not many ever showed up no matter how sincere my offer was. As far as the logo on anything for anything of any type can swallow up practically any and all available funds. While it sounds good at first, that glee will slide off of one's face once the bill arrives. I never created a logo for my dojo, and I was in business forever and a day; I used the patch that the SKKA, our Governing Body, offered at a very nominal price. Oh yeah, I'd stay far away from the Cobra Kai as far away as the East is from the West. Nothing can come good from opening up that can of worms. Hang in there!!

Welcome to KF, Grapplezilla; glad that you're here!! I look forward to your contributions here at KF, and not just in the grappling forum/threads.

Welcome to KF, Grapplezilla; glad that you're here!! Shotokan and Kyokoshinkai are effective styles, and either would complement your background. Of the two, I'd choose Kyokoshinkai due to its nature of contact; one has to experience before one can apply effectively.

taken the price into consideration it doesn’t look like a beginners gi. Why wouldn’t it match a non-beginner? Just curious.No such thing as a beginner gi. There might be gi preferences for beginners, but to be honest, a beginner can wear a medium/heavy/iron gi, but after one class in a medium/heavy/iron gi, the beginner will be diving into a lightweight gi faster than one can blink. Onyx oxygen gi is pricey, that's for sure, but not overpriced. With this gi being lightweight, it's idea for both beginners and non-beginners alike. Clear with your CI before you parade onto the floor. Many dojo's only allow students to wear plain gi's with no advertisements whatsoever.

Welcome to KF, Gamemistress Jessica; glad that you're here!! I've no experience with the onyx oxygen gi from Arawaza. Due to it being lightweight, it'd be an excellent gi for a beginner because a medium/heavy gi will overly task a beginner on the floor. As far as the "see through" aspect, wear an appropriate shirt underneath the gi. To know for sure, once the gi arrives, dunk it under some water, then put it on to see for yourself.

This trainer spoke to me that he's been shot...died twice...while in the military overseas. I of course thanked him for his service. He's a retired nurse, just recently. Spoke how he can't stand trainers that will be on their cell phone when they're with a client. That he'll never yell and/or cuss at a client...that'd be a really smart thing for him because I told him I'd just stuff him in a trash can if he ever did. I found out this about this trainer... CERTIFICATIONS: ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutritionist, Strength and Conditioning YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 7 Years Specialties: STABILITY AND BALANCE FUNCTIONAL FITNESS WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN FITNESS NUTRITION STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING CORE TRAINING COMPETITION TRAINING BODYBUILDING POWERLIFTING PHYSIQUE BUILDER GROUP TRAINING AND PARTNER TRAINING HIIT TRAINING I may never know his intent as to why he trained me as he did. My back right now on the pain scale of 0-10 right now is at 8; I might have to sleep on my recliner for a bit. I did inform this trainer that my cancer has metastatic into my L4 as well as my T12 of my spine.

My answer might be so darn boring. Nevertheless, here goes... IT'S HARD!! Not everyone can do the MA, knowing what's so involved in learning and training. Countless hours of drills and such, yet necessary. Takes many years to be really darn good at it, no matter what 'IT' might be. Many students don't want to put forward the necessary efforts required to improve across the board. I agree that the MA can be as boring as toast. Yet, that boring toast is boring because no effort was ever put forward to make that toast exciting. I have never really cared one way or another if a student quits. I'll open the door for them as they exit stage who-really-cares. I'll put in the Nth degree effort as their Sensei, and I'll never give up on them.... UNTIL...they give up on themselves. They'll get no sympathy from me because whenever it comes to the MA; I've no patience for the bleeding-heart students that want to and/or have quit because the remaining students deserve that from me.... that magnanimous effort. Whatever their reason(s) might be or might not be for quitting the MA is theirs, and I hold no ill will towards them, and they're not asking me to support their reason(s) to quit the MA, but they are asking me to respect their reason(s)...and I do. Oftentimes the floor will eat them up and merciless spit them out!! Quit. Don't quit. I can care less. I don't spend any sleepless nights wondering why a student quits; I sleep just fine.