sensei8

With us, for the most part, accordingly to the topic here, we'll address them by their last name, Mr/Mrs Smith, for example. Rank is rank!! Rank isn't any given title, earned and/or bestowed. Therefore, no one is ever addressed by the given title, i.e., Hanshi Smith, or during the days of our Hombu, no one ever addressed me as Kaicho Mitcham while on the floor; only during formal ceremonies. For us, Godan is when Sensei is given, but never expected!! In my dojo, any visiting Sensei or above is addressed accordingly by Mr/Mrs with their last name, or Sir/Ma'am. Only In-House assistant instructors are addressed by Sempai with their last name, including any of my Godan and above students. However, if said Godan and above is running said class, then Sensei is proper. I run a very informal floor in my dojo. My dojo is so informal that I prefer to be addressed by my first name, Bob. I'll speak to any visiting Godan and above in order that I can explain to them how I run my floor. Yes, they raise their eyebrows when they first here one of my students address me by my first name. I suppose they raise their eyebrows because it's not something that they're use to. I mean, shoot, whenever my Soke and/or Dai-Soke visited my dojo they were not pleased with my informality in my dojo, especially while on the floor. Nonetheless, they warmed up to it, even though they hated it, because it was my dojo, and not theirs to question how I run my dojo. My Student Body is well aware of how any visiting Godan and above, and any Seniors are to be addressed, and there's no ambiguity in the regards whatsoever.

Is that the end of the world?? Maybe. That'll depend on you, and/or your Student Body. It shouldn't be the end of the world. Worse things could happen. As instructors, we're only human beings, and in that, no matter how much your Student Body might imagine us to be, we don't know everything. Not now, and certainly not tomorrow. No matter how our Student Body might cut the cake, we don't know everything that's MA, even within our own style. So, let's say a member of your Student Body asks you a question about whatever the subject might be, especially if it's MA related, no matter the venue, in class or outside of class, or anywhere, and instead of just saying..."I'm afraid, I've no idea!!", you make up something to appease the moment, and/or change the subject very quickly. Students tend to revere their instructors for some unknown reason(s), I mean to them, because of what we possess, we're all of that and a bag of chips; we can do and know everything about the MA. God forbid, that their instructor has no idea to the asked question in any fog notion at all. It might alarm them. It might cause them to take a noted pause. It might affect them as to what they think about you. They might think who knows what. Nonetheless, imagine what your Student Body would think about you if they catch you in a lie, no matter what the topic, and no matter the reason(s) you just lied to them. To a trusting student, there's no acceptable excuse, nor is there a way back from that. If you don't know, then tell them just that...you've no idea...BUT...I'll find out the answer to your question, that way, we all can know; that's the path to knowledge. I always tell my Student Body from their first day...I have no idea about a many things found in the MA. I can't be expected to know everything about everything in the MA, and I've been on the floor for over 5 decades. That way, when they do ask me a plethora of questions, and they will, and I tell them that I've no idea, they'll not be so floored, if at all. Albeit. if you lie to your Student Body, then you've no integrity, and without any integrity, you've no credibility. If you'll lie about what you know, what else have you lied about, or are willing to lie about in the future. My Student Body respects me not just because of my MA knowledge and experience, as limited as it might be, but because of my integrity, and my being humble enough to say that I've no idea...but...I'll find out for all of us. When you say that you'll find out, you better do just that in a timely matter, and NEVER fake it until you make it with your Student Body. Honestly IS the best policy. Your Student Body will not lose faith in your MA knowledge and experience if you're honest to them everyday from their first day. They came to YOU to learn the MA, so right there, they respect your MA abilities. In short order, your Student Body will trust you because of your solid integrity. Scribble out any I've No Idea synonym you might, but never have any shame in your game. Your Game is to teach the MA to the best of your ability, and in doing that, there's no room whatsoever for any tomfoolery of any type; your integrity should be at the Nth degree, even though you might not have an idea to any given question. Not knowing the answer to any question from your Student Body is nothing to be ashamed about, but to cast away your integrity for any given reason(s) is something to be greatly ashamed about; that would be day one of starting to close the doors of your MA schools forever. In the MA, there's no such thing as a know-it-all. Those who act like they know-it-all in the MA, just don't know much, if anything, in the MA. Are you that willing to lose your MA school over a simple question(s) from your Student Body, over a lie...to afraid to admit to your Student Body..."I've no idea"?!?!? Imho!!

According to science and the like, floats around a myth, and not factual data, that humans only use 10% of our brains. Off of that hypothesis, perhaps we've not, nor will we ever, scratched beyond our MA known surface(s). I've never dreamed of MA giving me powers; just not my cup of tea. As a human being, my limits are whatever they are in whatever I do. I can only execute that which I'm limited by, whether I like it or not. Meditating and/or fasting and/or being a vegetarian and/or whatever else, might help me in my MA one way or another, but I can only improve my proper training and the like, nonetheless, my limitations are what they are, and I can lessen my limitations, but its duration also has its limitations. Circumstances can give us super powers, known as Hysterical Strength, as you can see by reading this link... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysterical_strength The release of adrenaline can give someone that needed rush, yet, it's limited in duration. I can't say that it wouldn't be pretty cool if I could achieve consistent super powers like seen in many Martial Art 'B' movies and the like; flying and leaping tall buildings seems pretty darn cool.

Yes, normally a Bo is 6 feet long. There are many toothpick Bo's in the market, and they allow for a lot of faster than normal twirls/spins with the Bo for competitions and the like. Depending on the material, a toothpick Bo could stand up to what it's designed to do, and not break up in a dozen pieces at impact.

The bold type above is pretty much why I've not ever been a proponent of this teaching model. Doesn't mean that this teaching model isn't another means, just to many hiccups for all concerned. Imho.

Master Teruyuki Okazaki, Shotokan, Judan, passed away yesterday at 88 years of age; another victim of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a sad loss to the Karate community around the world. Here's the official announcement, as well as a brief statement from ISKF Chairman & Chief Instructor, Hiroyoshi Okazaki Shihan... https://iskf.com/

Sorry HKAScottR, I've never even heard of Dreametal Kobudo, and that could be that I'm quite biased with my current suppliers. If your gut says give them a try, then go for it. Please let us know how they are across the board, if you decide to try them out.

Welcome to KF, Ryan34; glad that you're here!! It could be very difficult nowadays, even as states slowly reopen, to get together to train, or for any reasons. Not wanting to take the risk of any type of Covid19 exposure, and mainly because I've underlying conditions, and keeping the social distancing and the like might not favor your search for a training partner. I wish you luck in finding a training partner in these trying and challenging times.

You could teach classes in some fitness centre or local gymnasium at the start, so it would be easier with rent and starting of. That possibility isn't favorable much at all, especially with major chains. Teaching the MA on their floors have a untold liability for all concerned. Insurance can squash any ideas before one can say the word 'squash', but doable. Perhaps more doable with a mom and pop shop, but still, liability across the board makes it less favorable. Like they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained!! Imho!!

I'd simply say that the guidelines are determined by the practitioner if the practitioner is doing the actual producing. If, and you're not, producing for mass market, then a lot of the guidelines should be normal and acceptable guidelines of what's in the market currently. What's in the market now, can provide quite a lot of ideas; a starting point, at least. However, being a practitioner, is valuable to the market because of serious familiarity of the Bo; what a practitioner likes in a Bo is already there. Tweak here, tweak there, to not be an ordinary Bo, but a effective Bo. Material can make all of the difference in its success and effectiveness. If I was to ever make my own Bo, I'd more than like likely want the Bo to be like the Bo Bruce wielded in Enter the Dragon. It has that appearance, strength, flexibility, and fit.

Wrestling and boxing. Striking art and a grappling art. Switch accordingly to age and temperament of child/teen. Nonetheless, my child would have to have a want to do, over what I want for them to do.

Wushu!! That's the style of Kung Fu that my cousin, Ricky, has been training in for just as long as I've been training in Shindokan. He lives in Connecticut, and he works for a company who refits submarines and the like. Having cross trained with him and other Kung Fu practitioners of varying styles for quite some time, perhaps, Karate could be a much more simplified version of Kung Fu. No matter the Kung Fu style, a lot of what I've witnessed, and experienced was the appearance of an oftentimes disjointed exercise, and for that, Wushu forms can last from 1 and a half minutes for some external styles, to over 5 minutes for internal styles. I assure anyone that I'm not saying that Wushu or any other style of Kung Fu is ineffective in any shape, way, and/or form. Just the opposite, especially when applied against an attacker who's bent on hurting someone. Whenever Ricky and I have trained in the past, our styles never seemed to compliment one another; he'd go the long way around, and I'd take the straight lines, and more than often, I'd get behind him at will. Still, he was effective, and I never took him and/or Wushu for granted; I highly respected them both.

Congrats RW; well deserved!!

Great feedback! Do you think you could teach a student a new kata over video? I know this is usually a bad idea, I'd never think about it, but these COVID times are a (temporary) game changer. I am wondering whether to go for it or whether I'd just be wasting my money To the above bold type... Yes; as a LiveStream, like Skype. As long as I can see said student, and I can provide immediate feedback, and said student will make any and all suggested corrections/feedback, and so on and so forth. I believe that if the instructor CAN teach, then no matter the venue, the student can greatly benefit from any given venue. Still, I'm not a staunch proponent of this type of teaching model; face to face is my preferred choice.

While I'm not a great supporter and/or fan of LiveStream training and the like, I've warmed up to this one conclusion.... Any training is better than no training, but only if it's quality training, and not just a disjointed gathering. Danielle, has had great success with how her and her students conduct classes and the like... https://www.karateforums.com/covid-19-coronavirus-vt52948-20.html

Against my better wishes, I finally watched Season 1 and 2 on YouTube Premium; took me 2 days to watch. Better late than never, as they say. Let me say this, I thought I was going to be disappointed, however, I wasn't disappointed whatsoever. The story lines kept me on the edge of my seat, especially in how the dynamics of each character, and story lines, kept me on that emotional roller coaster. As in any great well written story line, I was tossed back and forth in cheering and booing equally through both seasons. You see the vulnerability that is inside of each and every character quite seamingless; that credit goes to the combined genius of Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald. I'm torn at deciding, and I'm a staunch fan of Games of Thrones, which finale was better...Game of Thrones Season 8 or Cobra Kai Season 2?!?!? I will be watching Cobra Kai Season 3, which has been delayed during this Covid-19 pandemic, this up and coming summer 2020. The tidbits in the Season 2 finale, have me excited for what lies to become a possible conclusion, of which I do hope that Cobra Kai lasts more than just 3 seasons. To see Ali return, with Ali saving Miguel, after all, Ale is currently a pediatric surgeon, and with the possible love triangle with her, Johnny, and Daniel; but will Elizabeth Shue reprise, is to be seen, after all, she's still an active actress.

I've trained in Sanchin, even though it's NOT part of our Kata List. I have trained in the Sanchin as taught by Morio Higaonna Sensei, albeit, I've trained in many other kata's from other MA styles because they added value to my MA betterment. No MA style contains everything, therefore, all MA styles have limitations. Therefore, while I cherish Shindokan over all MA styles, I've quite aware of Shindokan limitations, in which, the Kata's of other MA styles, do increase the value of my MA betterment. While Sanchin, as well as a number of other Kata's outside of Shindokan, aren't part of our curriculum officially, I'll still teach other Kata's to my students for the reasons I've already stated. Having said that, Kata's outside of Shindokan are NEVER part of a Testing Cycle. I'll train those outside Kata's to my students, and will give them that which has been given/taught to me so that they can use them if they see value for their MA betterment.

The creation, and the founding of any new MA always seems to bring out the worse suspicions about and for for whatever reasons. It's as though this creative juice can only be birthed by those MAists from yesterday, and those MAists of modern MA don't have the given rights to creation. If one wants to create some new MA style, then perhaps that MAist should just create no matter what anybody might or might not think...but...one better be prepared for the onslaught of contradictions that that type of storm will brew. MAists are a very suspicious bunch!!

Well, I finally broke down and watched this movie. It was, to me, a typical Quentin Tarantino movie, which isn't a bad thing because I enjoy his works quite a lot. I enjoyed this one as well. When it came to the Bruce Lee scene, I held my breath, more because both Linda and Shannon Lee disapproved of how Bruce was depicted. Having said that, I think Hollywood took their liberties with that scene, as is their right to do so. I'll leave it at that.

Well, I still haven't watched Ip Man 4 yet, but it's on Prime, and I'm too cheap to spend the $20, so I'll wait until it's free to watch. I'm as curious as a tied up cat wanting to watch it.

Interesting callback and thought. You're right. Yes, very interesting indeed. Something about necessity being the mother of invention? Or in this instance, innovation. In this regards, I don't like the idea because it can't, and shouldn't, ever replace the direct instructions. That's just me; stuck in the darn past. Remember, I still don't, and won't ever have a website for my dojo. Both ideas to me are so foreign to me...yeah, I know!! I do see the value of them both wholeheartedly, and for those who utilize either of them with success, I'm not only envious, but I'm also proud of them being able to come out of the shadows of yesteryear.

I would ask these questions: 1. What is your prior training experience? Years, rank, accomplishments, etc. 2. What is your reason for starting your "style," what is it rooted or grounded in (principles, goals, etc). Why should I, as a prospective student, give up what I do and follow you? Or, as a new student, what do you offer that is not readily available from someone who is already established in one of the already established and trusted styles? 3. What will the curriculum consist of? Forms? If so, from what style are you taking them? Or are you creating your own? If this is the case, why, and what is the reason for creating new forms? Do they have applications, or are they just a series of moves strung together for another reason? 4. Is there a self-defense base, and will it be a regular part of the training? 5. Do you have some sort of creed, manifesto, or layout of goals and objectives that are too be accomplished through the training of your style? What can I expect out of training? I'm sure I can think of some more if I mull it over for a while, but these are a good start, I think. Can you answer each of these questions in regards to creating your new style? Solid post, Brian!!

I'll be continuing it whilst we are in this situation. Its' keeping the kids especially engaged and the parents are appreciating it as it helps provide some structure to the week. Plus it keeps me focused with my own training. Definitely challenging trying to teach when you cannot physically correct or engage with a student but if anything is forcing me to become better with how I verbally explain things. It's funny because on KF over the years there have been many posts on whether online training can work, the Gracies have already done it to an extent with Gracie University, but the general consensus was that it was a horrible idea. I don't think it will ever replace direct instruction but having had to do this now I can see it having a place. You've ever reasons to be proud of what you've done in this accomplished. Nothing is more rewarding then trying and succeeding in something new and alien, especially in the business world. As to Devin's question, if it was me, I'd freeze payments because of the high possibility that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many might not be earning a paycheck for whatever that reason(s) might be. Plus, I'd not have them pay for any months that the school was closed, as a Past-Due account. I'd just squash those months, and then go from there, as far as when their first payments might be due. I'm sure their other creditors will be chewing at the bit wanting their money too, and this is just me, MA lessons are a want and not a need, like food, electricity, and the like. Yes, a MA school is still a business, and all students still must pay to play.

Train where your heart is, and without any obligations whatsoever. It's your journey as well as your money.

To tell your instructor or not is up to that practitioner. As an instructor, I really don't care one way or another. Tell me...don't tell me. Students come and go for their own personal reason(s), therefore, it's really none of my business. Would I notice whenever a student is no longer on the floor?? Yes, especially the longer a student has been with me. However, I'd lose no sleep over it. Seeing that my dojo is a business, the comings and goings of my students is just a part of any business.