sensei8

IF you've the means to hang a hanging bag, then I'd hang a heavy bag, and beat the living tar out of it. Drawback, is it's stationary, and while you don't have to move it before and after a workout, it'll be in the way, unless it being in the way is of no concern. This link might be helpful to you... https://garagegympower.com/best-punching-bags-for-apartment/

Solid OP and question; thank you for it. Teaching on-line is one thing, but an on-line Testing Cycle, for me, is another. I've a friend who's now a Kudan, and from time to time, he's submitted video tapes, including for his Kudan, to his Sensei in Okinawa of whatever his Sensei demanded. Yes, he's been to Okinawa countless amount of times for training as well as Testing Cycles in the past; his Sensei passed away in 2013. My thought on this is that if the CI can teach, then the CI can grade as well, no matter if the Testing Cycle is In-House or Remotely. After all, the CI knows what they demand, as well as the requirements of said Rank. Therefore, the CI can see the noted improvements from said student, no matter if face-to-face or not; watching/viewing In-House or Remotely shouldn't be no different because, once again, if one can teach, then one can grade. I myself, am like you; I want all my Testing Cycles In-House; that's what I prefer. Albeit, it's the preference of the CI as to how they decide on a numerous topics, including grading. On Provisional ranks, I'd not entertain that because provisional ranks are not my cup of tea. However, I do like how you're wanting to conduct your provisional ranks once you can get your Student Body back In-House once again. We conduct Testing Cycles 4 times a year, which means, at the current rate of this pandemic, it might be as late as the last week of September before I can conduct a Testing Cycle at the Dojo.

Great question, Liam. My Godan and above Testing Cycles are scheduled to commence on Wednesday, however, depending on any unforeseen delays of the Kyu Testing Cycle, I can wait until Thursday to commence Dan Testing Cycle, irregardless, Dan Testing Cycles are concluded on Saturday. I run Segments. For example, once I've completed a particular Segment, a Segment is a particular Kyu or Dan, for example a Dan Segment 1, is for those testing for Shodan. At the conclusion of Segment 1, I'll announce, that that concludes Segment 1 for those candidates testing for Shodan, so on and so forth. This is the same way for the Kyu Testing Cycles, they too have assigned Segments. Because I run every Testing Cycle candidate through the entire curriculum/syllabus, crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i', from Jukyu to Nanadan, no matter Kyu or Dan, whenever I finish with Yondan, those Godan and above candidates remaining on the floor continue on. For example, all Dan Testing Cycle candidates report to the floor, no matter Dan Rank. As I'm running them through their entire curriculum/syllabus, from Jukyu and up, once they've completed their Testing Cycle Segments, they bow, and find a place to sit off to one of the the sides while I continue the very next Testing Cycle Segment. In short, my Testing Cycles run non-stop except for scheduled water/restroom breaks, Segment conclusion announcements/dismissals, Testing Cycle set-ups, like for Kobudo, Tamashiwari, partner(s) Segments, and any unforeseen delays like injuries/equipment failures/etc. So, by Friday, Godan and above would commence with their Segments. Rokudan and Nanadan, if any, would commence with their Segments on Saturday. Hopefully this answers your question, Liam.

If I might offer a small thought, please... While on our MA journey, it's the knowledge and experience, and not any rank, that we diligently search after. Any CI worth their salt will see that knowledge and experience no matter what's wrapped around ones waist.

If you're not graded in Chito-ryu, and while Rank is forever, you should wear a white belt. Nonetheless, speak with that Chito-ryu CI, and conform to his requirements.

Well, our grading has changed dramatically across the board, on a network concern, ever since our Hombu/SKKA closed down permanently not so long ago. So, instead of speaking about use-to-be's, I'll speak towards what I've always done in my dojo. For me, what has caused me a pause since then were: 1) All Testing Cycle's had to be approved by the Hombu, no matter the Rank. 2) All Testing Cycle's Godan and above had to be done only at the Hombu; no exceptions. 3) Any and all students, no matter their Rank, had to petition the Hombu through their Sensei to be considered for any upcoming Testing Cycle in a timely manner before the given date. 4) Any and all Ranks, if approved by the Hombu, could attend their Testing Cycle at the Hombu instead of at their In-House Dojo during the Hombu Annual Testing Cycle. 5) I no longer have to attend/Administer the Annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu. [That I sorely miss a lot!!] At my dojo, my Student Body are still subjected to 1-3, above. 4-5 above, for obvious reasons, are Not-Applicable anymore. However, the word(s) Hombu/SKKA have been omitted, and have been replaced with my Dojo's name. No matter the Rank, students are tested on everything they've ever been taught, at each and every Testing Cycle, with no exceptions; not just Rank related curriculum's. Because of this, Testing Cycles can take up to several days to complete. The more candidates the longer the Testing Cycle. Testing Cycles for Kyu Ranks test separately from the Dan Ranks. Duration of a Testing Cycle depend on primarily the amount of approved candidates. I've cancelled Testing Cycles if I've no approved petitions, and this happens more than one might think. Just because a student thinks that they're ready to attend an upcoming Testing Cycle, doesn't mean that I agree with what their thinking. Testing Cycles for Godan and above are a minimum duration of 2 days, whereas a Nanadan Testing Cycle duration might be 3-4 days; there's a lot to cover for these type of Testing Cycles. Promotions, if I've any, take place on the following Friday night. Testing Cycles occur once every 3 months for Kyu Ranks, usually on a Monday. Dan Ranks NOW have their Testing Cycle on the last week of June, annually, starting at the conclusion of the Kyu Testing Cycles, usually on a Wednesday...Kyu Ranks are on that Monday and Tuesday. Testing Cycle week has NO CLASSES, not until the following Monday. I've been blessed by having a very large Student Body, which fluxuates throughout the year every year. Having said that, just because I've a huge Student Body, that doesn't mean that they all petition for any upcoming Testing Cycle, nor does it mean that all petitions will be approved to attend any upcoming Testing Cycle. All candidates must sign-in 1-2 hours prior to any upcoming Testing Cycle, with that in mind, if any candidate signs in 55 minutes prior to any given upcoming Testing Cycle, that student(s) are denied to attend that given Testing Cycle with no exceptions...To be early is to be on time, and to be on time is to be late!!

I agree. Shu Ha Ri principle is everything, and always evolving throughout one MA journey.

Welcome to KF, champ8309; glad that you're here!! I don't practice any of those styles listed in your poll, sorry.

I enjoy the series; it's sad that Season 7 will be the end. Titus Welliver is one of my favorite actors, he was great in Son's of Anarchy, my wife's most favorite series, even though his character only lasted through seasons 2-3.

I'd love to see your finished product, Bulltahr. I'd like to make me a Bo of my own, but I've not the necessary skills whatsoever; I can't nail two pieces of wood together where it'll look like something recognizable.

The Niahanchi series is seen as the core Kata of Shindokan Saitou-ryu.

Thank you for sharing the video. The video content resembled more of a plethora of drills, than a Kata, or a series of Kata, to me. Drills are commonplace in practically every MA, and they're pretty much one of the cornerstones of any MA; we drill endlessly.

Yes, the toothpick Bo was designed for competition mainly. Yet, I have seen many Kobudo practitioners disregard the normal Bo for the impressive spinning/twirling abilities of the toothpick Bo because it's better to show off to students than teach the normal size/weight Bo.

Solid post!!

I wholeheartedly agree with you, 333kenshin. For to be sure; the Covid-19 pandemic has forced quite a lot of inevitable changes for any business, including, and not excluding, the MA school industry. How will these inevitable changes affect the MA school industry is still to be seen. Nonetheless, how a MA school address these inevitable changes will decide as to if they can or can't satisfy their bottom-line. Without a Student Body on the floor, MA schools might need to find other effective and quality ways of teaching. This has to be decided by each and every MA school owner and operator individually, and not by the masses. However, the masses can generate a ton of effective and quality ideas for the individual to seriously consider. While I'm not a proponent of teaching remotely through the many possible on-line venues like Skype or Zoom or to the plethora different videoconferencing tools that we could flock towards as the means, as a owner and operator of a MA school, I must seriously consider that alternative, whether I like that arena or not. I've a responsibility towards my entire Student Body, and that is to teach them one way or another. Perhaps remote teaching might be my newest thing, if I must. If I must teach remotely, then so be it, but that will have to be the very last option. I'd rather teach face to face, and I will have setup a means to teach remotely if and when we ever experience another resurge of this pandemic. Necessity is the mother of all inventions, so I'll have invented an alternative to face to face teaching at my dojo already in place; that's what I'm currently working on and developing as we speak. Tomorrow, our Texas Governor will set in motion a plan that will allow some businesses, like retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls to reopen, but only at 25% capacity. Second phase will allow other businesses, like barbershops, hair salons, bars and gyms could go into effect as early as May 18th, as long as the state sees "two weeks of data to confirm no flare-up of COVID-19". 25% capacity of my current Student Body is roughly 68 students at one time. While my Student Body is quite large, I doubt that I've ever had 68 people in my dojo at one time during any one class.

If he hasn't bought into these things for the past 30+ years, then I seriously doubt that he'll buy into them anytime soon, if ever at all. I speak from experience. For as long as I can remember, our Founder has rejected any and all suggestions to boost new student enrollments and the like for the entire 46 years that I trained with him and my Sensei, before they both passed away. No matter just how promising the idea's might've appeared to be, they'd turn them down as though the idea's were a plague or something. Both of them were made of the same cloth in this regards; I too, am made from that very same cloth in this regards. Before I joined our Hombu back in 1964, our Founder and my Sensei were operating our Hombu for 7 years already with the very same marketing mindset, and their Student Body was nothing to be ashamed of...it was always steadily climbing. Yes, they suffered what ever dojo faces day in and day out, such as dealing with every known sports program in their community during the year...vacations...public school programs, as well as this and that...name it, they faced it. No matter what, it never fazed them, and neither did they ever change their marketing ways. Both, our Founder and my Sensei, were very firm believers in how they marketed our Hombu, as well as Shindokan. They hung up a simple shingle...they conducted demonstrations wherever they could...they blanketed a 25 mile radius from our Hombu with simple flyers...that was it. The rest, and this was their primary marketing tool, was to always teach effective and quality MA with an iron fist integrity; with that, students will find you. Finding them, they did...finding me, they have. No website...no huge marketing budget...no auto payments...no this and no that; as old fashion as one can ever imagine...a rudimentary knowledge of marketing as one can ever get. It worked for them...it works for me. I've been practicing their marketing ideas ever since I first opened my dojo in 1977, and I've never succumbed to any gadgets and/or gimmicks; I've followed their marketing methods, and it's served me extremely well ever since day one. I'm a firm believer in that change is inevitable, however, like our Founder and my Sensei, I've not came across any marketing idea that has peaked my marketing interest. For the most, our Founder would strike down any and all ideas that we presented him. We tried and tried, and we were all part of our Hombu's Hierarchy, and have been with him/them for quite a long time, but his/their minds were made up, and that was that. We could only push so far before he'd push back. Even after they both passed away, and I was elected as our Hombu's Kaicho, I carried on their marketing ideas, even against the wishes of the Hierarchy. Sure, we'd discuss many marketing idea's, but in the end, we'd either table it or kill it, which of course was due to we couldn't receive majority votes or unanimous votes. We couldn't agree what color to paint the darn bathroom doors, let alone more serious matters. If your Sensei is set in his ways in his marketing mindset like our Founder and my Sensei...and myself, then I seriously doubt that you'll be able to convince him any otherwise. As the old idiom goes..."Each to his/her/their own"

You're welcome, HKAScottR, and thank you. I do hope you find what you're searching for soon.

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

In Shindokan, we train and teach a wide variety of Kobudo, and Jo is one of them. We don't teach Jo until 4th Kyu because students most have a better control of the Bo, which is first taught at 6th Kyu. Jo is also the introduction at 2nd Kyu for the Rattan Sticks, which are about 28 inches long, whereas the Jo is about 4 feet long. We've several Kata's for the Jo and the Rattan Sticks, aka, Escrima Sticks. I'm sure the YouTube has many Jo training and kata for the Jo; might find what you're looking for. Here are two good books on the Jo, and they also contains a few Jo Kata and drills... Jo: The Japanese Short Staff by Don Zier and Tom Lang AND... Essential Jo: Comprehensive techniques and 2-person drills for the Japanese 4-foot staff by Dan Djurdjevic Hope you find what you're looking for.

Great posts, Nidan Melbourne and Bulltahr; very solid!! Once I find out the answer to said question(s), I'll share it with my Student Body immediately, and oftentimes, more question(s) arise from the provided answer, oftentimes a class plan changes as we discuss that given answer in more detail. Along those same lines, I'll let my Student Body know that I've no experience or not enough to effectively teach them whatever 'IT' might be. This allows me to remind my Student Body the great importance of cross-training. That reminder doesn't surprise my Student Body because from their day one, I tell them that not one MA contains anything and everything they might need. If there's enough interest in any given topic that has been asked, and after we've all discussed it in much more detail, I'll invite a credible instructor to either my dojo, or we go to that instructors school, to teach us a class or two or a seminar. Never do I ever try to teach something that I'm not credible in because that only gives birth to the blind-teaching-the-blind, which is the very same thing as lying.

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.