sensei8

The student seems to make the grading's difficult, and that's why I've always told my students before any Testing Cycle, that the Testing Cycle will take care of itself, one way or another; just do your best, and stop worrying about it or stop being overly cocky about it.

Most definitely; welcome back, The Pred!!

Thanks! Nope, that would have been my first choice, there's nothing like the real thing... By any chance, RW, did you take a look at the link I provided?? yup! I will order a "Quiet Punch Home Boxing Punching Bag" Cool. Please let us know what your impressions of it are, whether good or bad. I have that, and I mainly use it for my cardio workouts; I just have to remember to take it down when I'm done with it, or my wife kills me. I've mixed feelings on that particular apparatus mainly because I want to hit with power, and to not hit with power is so alien with me. Worse thing about it is that it sure doesn't take much for it to start sliding down, which means I have to stop, pull it make up to continue my workout; it's not all of the time, but enough to drive me crazy.

Solid OP, scohen0300!! Thoughts on this topic will vary just like the wind; here and there, to and fro. Knowledge and experience pay a great amount within the topic at hand. I believe that there are core Bunkai to be for sure, however, that core must be effective as well as understood by that practitioner. Kata without ant Bunkai is no more than a meaningless dance, but what's worse, is ineffective Bunkai which defines the difference between life and death. Beyond core Bunkai should be encouraged because there's always another way to skin a cat. One way, or being dependent to one core Bunkai, can be quite limiting in a world of uncertainties. Oyo Bunkai is that key to another door that still hasn't been discovered, nor has it been experienced, as of yet. Oyo Bunkai is the Shu Ha Ri of Kata Bunkai; experiencing the discovered effectiveness/ineffectiveness of another path. Oyo introduces a technique that's qualified from said Kata; a interpretation that doesn't always correlate to ones core Bunkai. Depending on the situation, Oyo awakens techniques that can be for any given condition. Oyo Bunkai searches for that which is effective, and Bunkai searches for that which is examined. Nonetheless, the human body twists and turns and bends and moves only so many different effective way(s), therefore, if one's not careful, that which is ineffective leads to training ineffective across the board, and not just within any Kata aspect; bad habits take roots. Embrace the core Bunkai, yet, don't allow ones core Bunkai limit ones Oyo; discard that which is ineffective. Imho!!

I believe that the 4 major Karate styles were kept in mind whenever they first created Karate Combat; a simplistic way to design brackets and the like. Possibly other Karate styles could be under one of the 4 major's umbrella's one way or another. Very interesting , but not so surprising whenever I looked over the various different percentages; quite nominal across the board. Sure, some didn't fair so well against others, but that might be by the amount of participants and/or the effectiveness of said individual practitioner; knowledge and experience, for an example. The Organizational Totals weren't that overly different, nor surprising. I can't say that one fared better than the other based by style because numbers are manipulated by just how effective the said practitioner was. I'm a staunch proponent the the style isn't the problem, nor ineffective, but it's the practitioner that's problematic in its effectiveness; today, that practitioner was effective, than tomorrow, that same practitioner isn't effective at all. Your thoughts are very solid across the board, and I'm in complete agreement with your overall deductions and considerations. Time will only tell, one way or another. How represented are different styles? Fairly...because the representation was based on the individual effectiveness. If any style wanted to be represented in a more highlighted manner, well, they should've been more effective on the floor. Imho!!

Well, the Texas Governor has extended out Stay-At-Home until June 10th. With that in mind, I've extended my dojo's closing date to be in align with that order, and will decide if that's when I'll reopen. Some of my students are getting quite itchy, and are under the impression that I'm succumbing to the pressure of unwarranted information and facts. My answer to that is this... This is my dojo, and I'll not turn anyone's concerns into a political discussion. I've underlying conditions, and in that, I'll not succumb to risking myself. Patience is an underlying effect of any MAist on and off the floor; so exercise that with some severe diligence. I'll not apologize for my decision. The dojo will be open when I say so, and not anytime sooner.

Welcome to KF, Pakechmenum; glad that you're here!! Can you please tell us a little about yourself and/or your Martial Arts background??

Solid post!! Many around the MA world would ask why someone would invite a student to a Testing Cycle, and then fail said student?! Why invite a student if there's a chance that a student might fail?! The grade of pass or fail is up to the student, after all, it's a test. No test comes with a guaranteed pass or fail; just a guarantee that it's a test. Just because I've invited a student to an upcoming Testing Cycle, that doesn't mean that that student will pass or fail; that's up to the student. One of the reasons I'd even invite a student to a Testing Cycle is because I believe that student has demonstrated a maturity that qualifies an opportunity. Spodo Komodo wrote: That's why whenever I was a JBB, there were a handful of us had been a JBB for 5 years. Whenever we reached 18 years of age, we petitioned our Sensei for the next Testing Cycle for Shodan. We were invited, and we passed. Then the time came around for Nidan, we petitioned, and we passed. Then the time came once again for Sandan, we petitioned, and we passed. Our Sensei invited us because we've been training for 5 years as JBB, and Sensei had no doubts that we'd pass, but that was still dependent on US; we were more than ready for each of those Testing Cycles. I'm famous of saying that the Testing Cycle will take care of itself. That's absolutely true. Don't worry about the test because if you worry about the test way too much, then you'll more than likely make too many costly mistakes. Being solid during training is totally different from being solid during a Testing Cycle, with all eyes glued on everything that you say or do. After all, the Testing Cycle can cause students to even forget their own name, don't know their right from their left, or to forget the most simplistic basics.

Solid post!!

What a solid OP, Patrick!! 19 years in anything is something to be recognized wholeheartedly; I'm sure that this can be especially true of the social media that KF has been a vital part of. With Patrick, his vision and his passion for networking and the like, there can never be such a staunch leader as himself; his internet entities, like KF, have flourished by and through his knowledge and experience of managing online communities since 2000, and that's neither an accident, nor a mistake. Thank you, Patrick, for all that you've done across the board for KF!! I know exactly where I was when I first joined KF, back in February 2008, and I've never ever once regretted that decision. KF was my outlet to escape away from the Shindokan/SKKA bubble; my life, until then was anything and everything Shindokan and the SKKA. While I made my share of serious mistakes during my very early days here at KF, and instead of showing my the door, I was accepted and mentored by Patrick, his staff, and the KF members; that I can never forget that forgiving grace, and I owe each and everyone of you far more than I can ever repay you. Thank you!! During the droughts that KF has experienced off and on, KF continues to dust themselves off, and continue to strive forward. Like the Karate Maxim speaks towards...Seven times down, Eight times up...that is the undeniable grit of KF and it's founder and members. Oftentimes, life gets in the way, and KF unfortunately has to sit on the back burner, therefore, topics and conversations tend to suffer along the way from time to time. KF is still full of life and vinegar!! Happy 19th Birthday to KF, congratulations; here's to KF's 20th birthday in 2021...I look forward to celebrating that milestone with all of you here, God willing!!

I, too, would like to extend my sincere condolences to you as well as to your family over the passing of your father, Spodo Komodo!!

Congrats to Spodo Komodo, for the 2nd time; well deserved!!

very excited about it. Thank you for sharing that video; he's one of the best across the board.

Thanks! Nope, that would have been my first choice, there's nothing like the real thing... By any chance, RW, did you take a look at the link I provided??

I tried to watch Ip Man 4 last night, but 5 minutes into it, I turned it off; reading a movie just turns me off because I miss a lot what's on the screen while I'm reading. If I wanted to read a movie, I'd download the transcript, and read it. Maybe one day they'll dub some English so I can watch that movie...maybe.

I'm of the opinion that that practitioner is accountable of their own training, no matter whatever their circumstances might or might not be. In that, there are 24 hours in a day, and 7 days a week, therefore a MA student really have no reason to not train/practicing adequately. Time must be set aside in ones busy, as well as hectic, day/week to train for that noted improvement to start to be noticeable. No training...no practicing...means no improvement, anytime soon whatsoever. Take ownership and accountability of ones own training and practicing!! Either be serious or not, but if not, then do something else other than the MA. Oftentimes students will complain that they're not improving much or at all. After sitting down with that student to discuss that concern, it slowly, and painfully, becomes quite apparent that that students practicing is nearly at a standstill at home. They'll train at the dojo, and that's it, no practicing whatsoever away from the dojo. Effort is a two way street; do it or don't do it, no in between. That person you see everyday looking back at you in the mirror must take ownership and accountability of their own MA training; the fault or the blame belongs to the individual. I've no sympathy towards any of my Student Body if they're not taking ownership and accountability of their own MA training/practicing. I guarantee that I'll have my share of students that didn't do any training/practicing during this pandemic's Stay-At-Home, and that'll be their fault when they come back to the dojo; I can tell whenever a student has or hasn't trained/practiced...to me, it's quite evident...sticks out like a sore thumb. Oh yeah, whenever I ask if they've trained/practiced at home, that student will say..."Yes", but I only ask because I already know, after watching them for a few minutes, that they haven't; it's difficult for students to be honest with themselves. Imho!!

Congrats on finding a dojo that fits your MA needs, and sorry to hear that you're not able to locate a Uechi-ryu dojo in Houston, TX. It's always nice to have a Bo bestowed upon you, especially when that someone's Nishime Sensei. Train hard and train well!!

Welcome to KF; DankMeme97; glad that you're here!! Training yourself isn't the most ideal method of learning anything effectively from any MA (Martial Arts). Why?? Without the constant feedback from a qualified instructor...how can you know if you're even doing it correctly, and/or how can you know if that which you must correct has improved effectively??!!?? One can train via YouTube, for example, and/or one can purchase MA DVD's and/or one can purchase MA books of interest. The MA is quite difficult to learn for many, many reasons; timing, focus, correct usage of ones hips, posture, balance, footwork, varying the many aspects of strength, reaction-force, proper breath control, and responsing, just to mention a few. Without properly understanding these few I mentioned, MA techniques can become impossible, if not at least difficult to grasp. Knowledge and experience is drastically important to become effective in the MA, but without the qualified guidance and constant feedback, it's quite possible that the knowledge and experience is ineffective through and through. I do understand your desire to learn the MA that has become birthed within you, and that's the first most important thing; to acknowledge that desire. At at 15 years old, money can be one big bummer. After all, the money you can earn working part-time might or might not be enough to pay for MA lessons at a Dojo. There are more affordable MA classes. For example, MA classes held at a Church or a Community Center, for example, might offer much more affordable classes...like free. Once bad habits start to develop, they're difficult to correct. What feels right/correct, doesn't always mean that it is right/correct. Of course, without a qualified instructor, you won't know if any bad habits are developing. Without a qualified instructor, bad habits will start developing from day one of self-training. It'll be a rough road to travel upon without a qualified instructor, but the MA journey is yours alone, and yours to be accountable towards. I've used the word, "qualified instructor" quite often here, and the intent that I use those words is that a black belt doesn't guarantee a qualified instructor; not all black belts can teach. I wish you much success in your MA journey.

Sounds good that you've been able to find a dojo that meets your training needs. Practicing is a very important element to any students progress in their MA journey. Keep that open mind across the board and you'll be fine. JKA is a reputable Governing Body, as is Shotokan. Train hard, and train well!!

Welcome to KF, Seamas; glad that you're here!! Who to train with is as just important as to where to train; it's that double edged sword. Just like when trying to figure out where to train at, nothing can ever truly replace the most simplistic way of deciding, and that's by visiting said MA school as often as necessary. While they might want a student to train everyday/every night, that's just not practical for a myriad of reasons from school to work schedules and in between. While I might suggest to my students that 3 days a week is ideal, 2 days are quite permissive. Nonetheless, the student should ALWAYS have the right to decide how often that THEY want to train; after all, the MA journey is THEIRS and not anyone else's to decide. My advantage for my Student Body is that my dojo is open 6 days a week, 6am-10pm, in which we have a plethora of opportunities to train that class times are wide open. Whereas, some dojo's are only open certain days and hours, which can also be quite problematic for that student, and school as well, across the board. Students attending any Testing Cycle should never ever pass every single Testing Cycle; that too is unrealistic. If said school's Testing Cycle's passing rate is far higher than its failing rate, that's one HUGE red flag. My Testing Cycle's failing rate is far higher than my passing rate because of my extremely high standards; knowledge and experience over rank. I'm huge on practicing, and I can tell if a student is not practicing, and that's one of my deciding factor if I'll invite said student to a Testing Cycle. I can also tell if a student hasn't practiced leading up to a Testing Cycle because that which was once solid became wishy-washy through being complacent after they've been invited to a Testing Cycle, in which the student thinks that now that they've been invited to a Testing Cycle, that they're going to pass...that's the furthest thing from the truth. Of course, the lack of practicing isn't my sole reason for ever failing a student, that too can be unrealistic, yet the whole has to meet the high standards that I've set. Good luck; depend on your gut!!

Sensei8, do you have any thoughts on stretching before VS after your training? I try to keep my warmup exercises more dynamic, and my cool down stretches more static. Stretching before and after any workout are quite beneficial; lessens injuries across the board. My pre/post-workout stretches are just as yours are. My warm-ups are 15 minutes, and by cool down is 5 minutes, or as close to those time parameters as possible; paying closer attention to any areas that seem to warrant more time.

My observations of Chito-ryu are far and away from what you've described. Anytime I've crossed trained with Chito-ryu practitioners at their dojo's, their training sessions were alive, and not dead whatsoever. Their heavy in every aspect of training, whether it be Kata, which is quite a lot of training in, as well as their Bunkai, and Kubodo; a very solid training mix. The feeling of its Okinawan roots, to all intents and purposes by its exposure of traditional Okinawan Tode; perhaps that's why I was drawn to cross train with its practitioners as often as permissible. It's stamp of intimacy with Shibori and Tai Sabaki are predominant. Remember, this is my observation, and in that, it should be possibly taken with a grain of salt; after all, my background, while it's Okinawan, it isn't Chito-ryu. Perhaps Chito-ryu practitioners here might chime in to set my observations correct. From what you say about the Karate instructor, it tends to cause me to repeat one of my signature believes... Not all black belts can teach, nor should they ever try. Perhaps that instructor has solid techniques and the like, but has zero abilities to convey what's necessary for the students as a teacher. As far as that particular Jiu Jitsu style, I've not much exposure to it, as much as I wish I had. Nonetheless, from what your OP speaks about that instructor, it appears that that instructor, that black belt, can convey what's necessary for the students as a teacher. I gather that your core is Matsubayashi, and that there's no Matsubayashi dojo's nearby. Sure, continuing training on your own is important as to not acquire any undue rust, therefore, improvement/maturity in technique might occur, but to what advanced degree, is to be seen, especially while on your own, without the proper guidance of a qualified instructor on the floor with you. Seems to me that the Jiu Jitsu class might be the top choice, and it's a shame that that Chito-ryu instructor isn't any better across the board as a teacher. That would've been my preferred choice because Matsubayashi and Chito-ryu is far more germane than with Jui Jitsu, had the Karate instructor a far better grasp of teaching. Imho.

Patrick, Thanks so much. I've been looking for awhile and that particular school is a Shidokan school. Cheers, Ryan Yes it is a Shidokan school, and I only mentioned it because it's an Okinawa style, and it might be a fit.

I've no idea, personally, if there are what you're searching for. However, I did a fast search on-line; I found this one located in Alexandria, VA... https://virginiadojo.com/ I hope you find what you're searching for, and soon.

Solid post!!