sensei8

Welcome to KF, mightyquinn; glad that you're here!!

Congrats on earning your Brown Belt!! As far as preparing for your BB Testing Cycle...Practice as though there's no tomorrow!! Don't fret over the Testing Cycle because it'll take care of itself, sure enough. Train hard and train well!! Besides, you've got plenty of time to prepare before you test for your BB, and that's because you just earned your Brown Belt.

Great topic, ashworth!! What I've done for as long as I can remember for my new instructors, and because I know quite a lot about them, both personal as well as professional, I will gift them with somethings that is both personal as well as professional to mark the occasion.

Welcome to KF, BushidoBags; glad that you're here!!

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

There's always something to learn; always the student, that's why I still forge forward in learning that which is effective in and out of the MA. Who am I?? A MA student!!

Be safe and have fun; train hard and train well!! Look forward in hearing about your trip when you return!!

Great topic, Danielle!! That will be a very interesting list of additional's depending on ones definition of "Fathers of Martial Arts" might be. Just stabbing in the dark, I will list, just for beginning... Bruce Lee: His founding of Jeet Kune Do took an effective look outside of the box when it comes to "Fathers of Martial Arts". Albeit, JKD is a bit of this and a bit of that out of the MA, and then with the effective flavor added generously by Bruce...“Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own”. Not all would agree with my first selection, and that is quite alright. Nonetheless, Bruce's approach to what he considered effective and what wasn't, and he held no forgiveness of his approach whatsoever, might be embraced as eye opening for most of the MA world. When someone says that one shouldn't try to fix that which isn't broken, Bruce scoffed at that notion, and did just that...fixed the broken wheel after all, and/or found a more effective way to rebuild that wheel. So, I dare to say, and without any ambiguity, that Bruce Lee is the Father of Jeet Kune Do, of which I believe that I'll not get much of an argument on that.

We/I stretch before and after class; 15 minutes at the start...5 minutes at the end... Before Class: Body Loosening Neck Twisting Arm Stretching Side Stretching Trunk Twisting Back Stretching Shoulder Shrug Leg Swinging Leg Stretching Leg Spreading Back Stretching Trunk Stretching Leg Relaxing Joint Loosing Cat Stretching Push Ups Pelvis Twisting Rabbit Hopping Leg Lifting Leg Snapping Rope Skipping After Class: Calves and Hamstrings Stretch Hip Flexors Stretch Abs Stretch Glutes Stretch Chest Stretch

Congrats on the new job!! Great news all in all about the MA journey of both you and your son!! As well as your wife being present at the testing!! You've much to be proud of!!

Spartacus Maximus makes an interesting point though, Bob. Let’s say I’m your student for 5 years. The dojo is small and I attend your classes almost exclusively. Other than rite of passage, tradition, etc., why would you need to test me for shodan? Down the road when I’ve met the requirements and you feel I’m ready for subsequent ranks, why the need to test me? What are you going to see in a test that you haven’t seen me do in class consistently? I’m just trying to learn here, not question. I’d rather be put through a test. I like tests. But that’s a different thread. The Testing Cycle is the formality of affirmation!! We test everything, no matter what, without any exceptions; white belt to 8th Dan. Small dojo or large dojo, and while I see the students day after day, and their abilities, good and/or bad, that formality must be adhered to for its integrity sake. That's why there's a panel at the Testing Cycle; integrity. So, if I only had one student, I'd still run that student through every single thing white belt and up, and however long it takes, is how long it takes. I look for the maturity in said technique, first and foremost. Many fail with me because their maturity in said technique isn't there...not yet!! I've ended Testing Cycles whenever a student(s) complain about whatever floats their boat; proof is on the floor..so get out on the floor!! The Testing Cycle will end when it ends!!

Great topic!! That...right up there...above...in the quote box!! That's how I/we approach our much younger students...baby steps across the board, if you will!! The younger the student, the shorter their attention span will be, and in that, perhaps their memory shall be as well. Usually, 1st grade and up, is where the chunks, so to speak, will turn into full fledged Testing Cycles; the training wheels are removed. Getting the parents on-board to how this of this magnitude from day one will make those uncertain days of despair fade away. Accomplishments steer those much younger students more positively. Still, they must earn everything every time!!

Great topic...one I love because I get this question all of the time!! The short answer is... There are a lot of material to cover, depending on what Rank is being tested, and the integrity of the Testing Cycle is too far important then to just wax over it in a short cut manner. The Testing Cycle will take care of itself; it always has, and it always will. Whether the Testing Cycle takes an unruly amount of hours or days, be in the moment of the Testing Cycle by doing one's very best...whatever happens, happens....let the Testing Cycle take care of itself.

Yeah, that's quite unfortunate to hear. Sorry, Wayofaswede!! What are your plans, if any, to continue on your MA journey?? You've come quite a way, since you took your very first MA lesson; one that I am so proud of you across the board. You did what you were suppose to do, and with every issue, you upheld the maxim that says....7 times down, 8 times up!! I've enjoyed reading this thread, thoroughly, about your MA journey. Hopefully, this is just a temporary hiccup in the MA journey!! Hang in there!! Train hard, and train well, as often as possible!!

Oftentimes, transitions can be difficult to negotiate through learning that styles methodology. This can depend on how long one had been doing a style; teaching a new muscle memory a new way can be quite frustrating. I believe that it's similar to when someone becomes fluent in more than one language; which one do they dream in while asleep...or...is their that pause as the brain switches form one to another, and then back, and then to another. I've dealt with this, what you're experiencing, each time I would learn another's methodology concerning their technique(s); this can be a pit fall for any type of cross training. I've a very close friend that subs at a local dojo from time to time. His core style is TKD, but when he subs, he teaches Shorin-ryu. He found that difficult at first because he'd refer from Shorin-ryu right back to TKD right in the middle of teaching, in which he'd have to correct himself so as not to confuse the students. Keep at it!! After all, as the old saying says...Practice makes perfect.

So it will have Donny Yen?? In that case, I will check it out!! Thanks, Bulltahr for the heads-up!! Any idea when it might be released and to what venue/media?? I do enjoy Donny's movies quite a lot; I thought that Donny did an excellent job in Star Wars: Rogue One!!

Sorry, I've not seen it yet!! Without going to the internet, can you tell us about it briefly?? Thanks!!

18 years!! Happy 18th Birthday, KF!! Can someone say....20 years is just around the corner....WOW!! Thank you, Patrick for the highlighting us KF KF Staffer's!! I mean, the numbers are staggering, to say the least. I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every second being part of the Dynamic 9, and for being on Staff here at KF. Thank you, Patrick for all that you do; without your consistency, across the board, this would be just another place!! We've some AMAZING members here at KF!! Awesome comes to mind quite a lot when I think back all of those many years, and we keep finding the cream of the crop members. Happy Birthday, KarateForums.com!!!!

Congrats, scohen0300; well deserved!!

Interesting that your fists are solid in any of the activities you described in your OP, but go "limp" in real life situations, which is the worse time for that to happen. So, a punch is relaxed just before impact, at which time, it is not!! As is how it technically should be. But in your case, your punch remains in a relaxed state irregardless. But why?? Is it fear of an assumed fear of pain/injury?? After all, it can hurt quite a lot to punch someone in the face. However, you engage in many activities, especially the Makiwara, and one can't train in that with "limp" fist, or as a matter of fact, neither of the activities you've described. To do so would result in injury of varying degrees. There's a mental block there, but why?? Fear?? Self esteem?? Knowledge?? Experience?? Maturity?? Future Events Appearing Real Fear is a real concern because fear can handcuff ones abilities in such a debilitating way. You can obviously punch, you have the know how, but not the will power to execute a punch mechanically in real life. Fear is not a joke!! Self-Esteem drives the vehicle, no matter what the vehicle might be. In this case, your punch AT IMPACT, and the lack, thereof. Since you go "limp" at impact with your punching, and this has happened before, your self-esteem continues to increase. However, what was the level of your self-esteem at the very first real life situation?? If your self-esteem was affected before that exact moment somehow and/or someway, then perhaps, somewhere in your past, your self-esteem was exasperated through some unknown act or the lack of some action. Knowledge and experience are vitally important tools to have. Knowledge, you seem to have, but the amount of knowledge you do possess, is that enough to correct your concern?!? The more knowledge, the better!! Same thing with experience, I mean, do you have enough experience to tackle this concern and correct it. Because you keep going :limp: with your punches, muscle memory of that will be difficult, but not impossible to correct. No one can ever have enough of knowledge and experience!! Many of my black belt students that have the ability to execute said technique, but they're still hampered by their maturity, in which, their maturity hasn't caught up with the said technique. For example, they struggle with Uke, the art of receiving an attack without being injured, and being in a good position to deliver an effective counter attack. They struggle with it because of the unknown!! The unknown alters a many things, especially one maturity of said technique, in this case!! Fear, self-esteem, knowledge, and experience are all starving for maturity of self and of techniques!! Something is causing you to relax AT impact, and there's, from what you say in your OP, no reason for this to be happening on the surface. Some underlying force is preventing you from properly executing a proper and effective punch in real life. What that is, is not going to be that easy to determine, especially through the media that we're faced with here!! Assumptions on anyone here are just that...assumptions, and not hard facts that might be helpful to you. Maybe a visit to a Sports Psychiatrists, or a Psychiatrist period, might help with this!! A Sports Psychiatrists can enhance help with ones performance anxieties. Various mental strategies, such as visualization, self-talk and relaxation techniques, can help one to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential. Have you spoken with your Sensei about this?? It might be the thing to do!! Imho!!

Welcome to KF, DoubleOhDave; glad that you're here!!

First thing is that one must realize, and respect, that the Jodo is NOT a Bo, and not even close. Sure, there are similarities between the two, however, they're different. It's not a baseball bat, so it doesn't need to be swung!! Students tend to mistake the characteristics of the Jodo with its cousin, the Bo. How it MIGHT move, and forget really quick, how it DOESN'T move. It's both offense and defense, much of its movements come from the Yari and Naginata. It's effective against many MA weapons, especially the sword, imho. However, if one doesn't like getting up and close and personal with a sword, then the Bo or Naginata, might be best suited. Bo's are typically 6 feet long, and a tad over 1 inch thick. Whereas a Jodo is typically 3-4 feet, and the thickness of a broom. If memory serves me, practitioners of Jodo earn no ranks because there are no ranks. There are 12 basic movements, these movements are combined to create 64 techniques, which like anything in the MA, takes time...3-5 years, and perhaps more. Kill points are taught, in which, the Jodo can be an effective means of protection. However, learning the kill points is never the intended focus, nor should it ever be. Punches and strikes are used, albeit, the focus is on the Jodo primarily. What I've always loved about the Jodo is that it can be that irritating fly that just bugs the tar out of one opponent unceasingly. It can reach targets that the Bo and/or Naginata can't as easily. A fantastic companion of the Bo/Naginata, but one best enjoy getting close to the target which shouldn't be so difficult because the Sai, Tonfa, Kama, and Nunchaku, and other similar Kobudo's require close proximity of said target. Taste and see that the Jodo is pretty good!! That's what I love about Jodo...it's not fixed....it's spirited!! I'm sorry, I just love the darn thing!!!! Imho!!

Solid post!!

It's in the smaller training floor in our dojo--the same room we filmed our Waza Wednesdays in That space is a nice addition to your main training floor!! Thanks, Noah!!