sensei8

While I don't agree, I do respect his opinion!! Thank you for sharing it!! We, MAists, are so quickly clumped together as if all MAist are equal across the board. That infuriates me to no end because there's not one MAist that is the same as the other because MAists are individuals with their own ideas knowledge and experience. So, when I perceive that I'm being thrown into the general mix of MAists, I cringe somewhat because I'm not part of those MAists that are being spoken about. For example, Shindokanists train realistic as possible, and this isn't just a catch-phrase, short of actually killing each other; this a staple of ours. We teach the fundamentals of whatever, and then we throw the student out of the frying pan and right into the fire unceremoniously...make it work effectively or burn.

Thanks; but it was mentioned that I should prepare to grade for Nidan in the near future. I personally have never been bothered about grades. Not a problem with Kata & Kihon although I could do with some of the flexibility of when I just started as an 11-year old kid. To be honest with you, I'm feeling a bit too old for all the push ups & press ups, hand stands, bo jumping, ... and whatever else they throw at you and then 20+ rounds of Kumite. Osu Don't you just love it when people try to run your MA journey without your permission?? If you don't want to grade for Nidan, then don't, and if the powers that be don't understand, then they don't understand.

The MA doesn't work on the streets because the practitioner isn't prepared adequately enough. If the MA doesn't work on the streets, than there's no reason to learn the MA....any MA. The fault remains with the practitioner!! Many things to consider, to be for sure. No matter what, the success and failure lies on the practitioner across the board. Knowledge and experience should never be overlooked, nor, at the same time, should it be that which dictates ones success or failure while on the street. Making one a victim depends on knowing how to not become a victim. Walking by yourself or being in areas that are well known to harbor those that prey on those that they might make a easy victim or being down a dark alley/street or not having the mindset to make it from the elevator to your car without being accosted....so on and so forth. The MA works effectively but only if the practitioner has trained across the board within this topic....resistant training and the like, for an example. Albeit, training for the unexpected as though ones life depends upon it...and it does. No matter how much knowledge and experience one might have, two things must be considered: The individual and not appearing like a victim. The individual is responsible for everything, and this includes in executing that which is effective, and therefore, practical. Knowing the MA means squat if the practitioner can't execute effective offense and/or defense. Not appearing like a victim goes hand in hand. If you act like a victim, then those that prey on victims are like sharks that smell the blood in the water. Take any and all necessary steps to ensure that one's not appearing like a victim. And if you can't prevent from appearing like a victim, then you better have your fighting skills or at least know how to run faster than an Olympic Runner. If not, than just stay sheltered at home...with the doors locked. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and train for the unexpected effectively and practical.

I have personally and professionally known 1st Kyu's that have opened up a dojo, in which they've been very successful. After all, what a Governing Body wants is far and away from what is practical in this regards. The Sun and the Moon do not settle because the Governing Body says so, and furthermore, any Governing Body should mind their own business because they've no purview in a dojo's business whatsoever. Right now, the buck stops with you, especially if you're the designated CI, even though you're only a 1st Kyu. By the time any of your students reach 3rd Kyu, I'm sure you'll have earned your Shodan by then. If the laws of the land say you can't, then abide to UK Laws. However, if not, then run your school as YOU see fit, no matter what any Governing Body might feel. If your Governing Body pulls their charter and/or the like, then so be it; you'd be better without them sticking their nose where it's not wanted. My only concern is if you've students that are 2nd Kyu and higher because as a 1st Kyu, integrity speaks that you as a 1st Kyu, you can promote no higher than 3rd Kyu. To do so higher, you'd need an appropriate Dan rank...integrity wise. That's why most schools have a Sandan as the CI because a Sandan can promote to Shodan. How does this concern me?? Only because you might start losing students because of your limited ability to promote above 3rd Kyu. As far as insurance, well, sounds like it's time to search for an affordable insurance company of your own, and drop any insurance from the Governing Body, which a Governing Body shouldn't be insuring any school but the Hombu. Hang in there, do what you feel is best for your Student Body as well as yourself. Just know this, you've every right to open and run a dojo as a 1st Kyu...and if no one likes it, well, so what!?! Good luck!!

Sounds like everything fell into where they belong for you, especially after having a 27 year gap!! Train hard, and train well!!

Here are a few definitions... "When you're being selfless, you're thinking of other people before yourself. ... If you're selfless, you think less about your self, and more about others — you're generous and kind. Being selfless is similar to being altruistic — another word for giving to others without looking for personal gain." And... "In broadly generalized terms, a selfless act is an action predicated on a motive other than the self. This is a summary value judgement: if the personal gain, familial gain and personal health or survival of the instigator of the action is insignificant or nonexistent then the action is deemed selfless." Would someone teaching the MA for free, even though they've an overhead to meet each and every month, qualify!?!? Many years back, 1983, I knew a MAist who taught the MA for absolutely free to whomever, no matter age and/or gender. He rented space at a strip mall, therefore he had a monthly overhead that he had to meet. He just wanted to teach and never wanted money to deter anyone from learning and training in the MA. His school was opened for 26 years.

To be perfectly honest, nothing in nature inspires me MA wise because nature is nature and the MA is the MA, and I do not see them sharing a common ground. I respect anything and everything about nature, and that's where it ends with me.

Well, in Bruce's movies, you see him utilize both. In a lot of his photos and personal videos, you see him utilize both. Bruce was probably the most eclectic MA of his day, and when he spoke about using style as no style, yeah, I see the potential.

Perhaps, I've not yet been in the right place at the very right time to have witnessed any magnanimous acts with my very own aging eyes, one so profound and indubitable that one can't help but to notice it. What was the most selfless act that you've ever personally witnessed in the MA??

When rank is valued above all things, then those targeted emotions betray the MAist daily. Everything that they strive towards seem to be geared in achieving things that are more tangible than things that aren't more tangible; not their effectiveness across the board, but nevertheless status was always over knowledge and experience. Do they train for the acceptance of others, or do they train for themselves?? Is what others thing about them overrule improving their own MA betterment??

That is the unfortunate truth with any type of business; more leave than those that stay. The measure of any business is how that business handles that evil truth; 7 times down, and 8 times up!! Students come and students go, and when students go, it doesn't bother me one way or another; the door swings both ways. Their decision of leaving is their free right to do so, and I don't give one bent pin as to their reason(s) for doing so. I'm there to teach, and not there to babysit them; train...don't train, stay...don't stay. My first 6 months, it bothered me, but then one day I had an epiphany that it doesn't matter one iota one way or another if a student leaves or not because it's not that important. What was important back then, and is still important nowadays, is that my integrity remained intact, and wasn't for sale, throughout all of businesses ups and downs; integrity ended the financial bleeding.

P&L is not similar to writing up budgets and bills. P&L is the financial results of ones budget as seen through ones KPI; the two vary through how they are viewed over time parameters, in which the KPI speaks at a specific point in time, whereas the P&L Statement shows revenues and expenses during a set period of time...a businesses report card. Mission and Vision Statements are looked at through the differing microscope of how one values them, but my bank is quite strict in their insisting that one better have them if they want to conduct serious business with them. Anything I've suggested are just that...suggestions.

Congrats to The Pred; well deserved!!

Rotating students in and out is a viable solution whenever landscape is scarce; That might work here, depending on you and the students. Students here are not of the cultural mindset like they are in Okinawa. Albeit, you're a solid instructor, and you should be able to get and keep your students interest across the board. You're still under Bethea Sensei's umbrella?? If so, him visiting you, whenever his schedule permits, will peak up your students and any prospective students, as well as yourself. People seem to gravitate where someone like Bethea Sensei and his likes gather, as their visits are the stamp of approval for your school that many students look for. If you share in paying any utilities, you should strive to negotiate the comings and goings across the board. I always renegotiate with my utilities because they can get out of hand...I use to have my trash picked up twice a week, then went to once a week...I turned off a few more lights at closing...I worked my rear off to get my light bill to be Averaged, that way the bill is the same month after month no matter how I managed them...things like that. Your P&L Statement is your best friend; learn how to read it so that you can fix any Red Flags early. The P&L Statement gives the pulse of your business, and is quite unforgiving. P&L Statements are important because many companies are required by law to complete them. P&L Statements show businesses how to understand their net income. If a business don't have Mission and Vision Statement, then that business shouldn't ever open. Many banks won't talk to a business unless they have a Mission and Vision Statement because having them, shows the bank that the business is properly focused.

This topic is going to be difficult for us to agree on because we've differing mindset towards this topic; our approaches might not be favorable. K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Student Especially when it comes to kids because the most basics doesn't need complicated whatever. The more practical, the better. For now, I'll not extrapolate any further!!

How many students can you fit in that 600 square feet of landscape?? What's involved in your "Rent"?? Nothing but "Rent" or are a share of the utilities and the like extra?? What are you allowed to and not allowed to do, considering you're sharing with the CrossFit gym?!?!? The first thing that comes to my mind is to protect your Brand across the board. That the propriety of your Brand remains with you, and that the CrossFit gym has no saying whatsoever when it comes to your Brand. That the CrossFit gym has zero say as to how you teach and what you teach, especially when your curriculum is involved. If nothing else, both businesses under the same roof should promote each other all of the time, and that both don't offer the very same thing, but they feed off of each others strength with will pump up each others bottom line!! Danielle's post is solid across the board!! Plus her having black belts as part of her Student Body in her dojang have one advantage over most start-ups, and that is, it stalls any possibility of being burnt out with having only beginners to teach. Often times. but not always, instructors want to teach a variety of levels to kill off the mundane...."Man, I wish I didn't only have beginners!!", and this is said more than one might think.\ Don't second guess yourself because what you laid out in your OP was very revealing in that you gave this a lot of serious thought. Fine tune what you've created by not over doing it, I mean there's a reason why there's only 12 eggs in a dozen, if you catch my meaning. You can over think yourself so much in business, that you find yourself going backwards, instead of forward, and that the bottom falls out before you catch it and save it. Please keep the questions coming; we got your back, Noah!!

Those are numbers to be quite proud of, especially during your first year. Whatever you're doing, keep it up!!

Congrats, Noah on you starting your own dojo!! Your logo is very solid across the board, and would make a great patch for the Gi. Many here know what it is like to start their own dojo/dojang/etc, and if you're in need of any advice, please ask away any questions!! Perhaps, you can present us some questions, and we'll help you in any way we possibly can. Your first paragraph was very solid because you have done the things you needed to do first and foremost!! Ask away, Noah!! We've both the knowledge and experience in this topic for you to tap into.

As I mentioned earlier, I don't know what kinds of drills you do as part of your system, so you may very well use "step sparring" or "formal drills" or "yakusoku kumite" to describe practical drills. I simply use them to describe unrealistic, impractical drills because that is the vast, vast majority of such drills, such as these: A drill consisting of a realistic attack, from a realistic distance, being reacted to with a realistic, practical, effective counter that works as you add resistance, can be considered a type of "yakusoku kumite" or "step sparring" drill, but is not what I'm referring to with my complaint That's Paul Walker, in the video link you provided, and his style is Shotokan, and he once trained for 3 years under Kanazawa Sensei...just for grins and giggles. We do a wide variety of drills, including all versions of yakusoku Kumite, in which we consider them to be very practical FOR THE BEGINNER student. Aside from Jiyu Kumite, the beginner student learns distance, form, posture, timing, and focus, just to mention these few points. As far as our intermediate level students and above, we do drills that forgo yakusoku Kumite all together, in which, we strongly introduce an intensive Close Range drills with severe resistant training, slowly ramping up the resistant severity to the Nth degree. After all, Shindokan is, and has always been, a in-your-face Close Range brand. I can live with MAists calling what we do as impractical drills wise within our given media here, and that's because I live by one maxim...Proof Is On The Floor...anything else is an unfounded opinion. Hopefully, I've not lost one iota of your respect!!

Yes! Thank you! You're very welcome!!

You get better by the day; experiencing some things that only few experience!! You took the advanced class in stride, especially it being your first time in the advanced class. Well done!!

First off...Congrats for celebrating your 1 year anniversary. Speaks volumes because that first year is the most trying for any MA school for many reasons!! So, you deserve a big.... Typical?? Imho, there's nothing typical about student attrition. My rate is somewhere around 10%-15%, on an average. Of course, that number bumps up to around 20% rate, depending on the time of the year...vacations and summer events seem to be my momentary bump up for that 20% rate. However, I've been around far more than 1 year, therefore, my numbers are going to be much lower than a MA school that has only had their doors open for 1 year. My first year was fueled by the continued surge of interest in the MA with the public from the early and mid 1970's. However, I also had Dai-Soke at my dojo quite a lot during my first year, and on the floor with me; he was my "Assistant Instructor", of which he brought with him several of his Sempai's as well. Even with all of that, the learning pains were harsh that first year because my churn rate was churning at a monster rate of 55% for my 1st and 2nd Quarter, and didn't start to show a sign of slowing down itself until the end of the 3rd Quarter, and by the end of the 4th Quarter, my churning rate had a comfortable 35%...and it gradually became lower and lower, even with the annual summer events bumps. May I ask...What was the highest number of students you reached?? How many students do you have right now?? If you can average between 35% - 40%, you are doing well. Of course, the lower the churning the better. What I do is that I take all the students I had at this time last year, and then add all the new students who enrolled in the following 12 months. Compare that sum to the current number of enrolled students. If I then end up with less than 35%, I'm doing well, in which I maybe lost 1-3 students.

MEIJIN: Their Gis have the Ventilated Underarm Gussets in all of their uniforms. I've a few of their various Gis; high quality, imho!! Here's their link... https://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Products/Pages/Meijin.htm

Yes, in my youth!! My right knee went one way and I went the other way. All I did, and it drove me stir crazy, was rest, and physical therapy when the time was ordered...was quite a long while before doctor gave me the ok to return to the floor. I took no short cuts, and when the doctor said I could go full time on the floor, I was mindful of what the doctor advised....BE CAREFUL!!

It's a good question. Maybe there isn't any?.... What are the benefit(s) if there aren't any formalized drills?? Perhaps uncertainty of any continuity of some degree for either the student and/or the instructor. Possible chaos on the floor...should I learn this first....or that first...or at the same time...oh never mind... The benefits that I see in formalized drills is that there must be a learning starting point somewhere and somehow. Then perhaps, once a learning starting point is understood and established, the non-formalized learning point begins. In learning/teaching anything, a starting point must be understood and established. Baby steps at every turn of learning/teaching, whatever those baby steps are. I'm not sure I follow. Why would one need formalized, impractical drills to ensure continuity, when we have kata? Why would one need formalized, impractical drills to maintain order and prevent chaos on the floor, when we have an instructor leading the class? I would also argue that starting with realistic drills would provide a "learning starting point" that is much more practical than the formalized drills. We don't even start having our students work the formal yakusoku kumite drills until 7th kyu prepping for 6th, and by that point we have taken them through quite a few practical self defense drills against realistic attacks. It hasn't caused a problem, and I'm honestly You seem to misunderstand me, which is my fault!! I don't ever condone anything impractical anywhere. No one needs impractical anything whatsoever, and what we teach isn't impractical, whether it be formal or not!! Anything that either the CI and/or the Hombu have deemed as necessary training, is formal!! However, I despise anything I believe to be impractical, and anything impractical is ineffective.