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Exposed? Yeah, I'm from those days begone, and as a kid back then, I saw such ads and wondered. Yet, while my thoughts were those of a child, my upbringing quickly dashed those wonderment's away just as fast as I was marveled, if even faster. Same was not the case with my MA, as it was in my childhood...but even faster were those unfounded thoughts dashed away. This was the case!! Even as a child we were being grounded so steadfastly by Soke and Dai-Soke that those MA idea never ever took roots...we, even as a child, knew that what we were being taught on a daily basis was solid in that it took much time to become sufficiently effective with the MA, and that there was no magic pill or shortcut to learning effectiveness in the MA. If someone had tried to tell us in the contrary of what we knew was true, we knew that we were being sold bad goods, and quickly dismissed that individual forthwith. So, I was part of the fortunate ones who never became enchanted with those MA impossibilities. I owe that to my parents, family, Soke, and Dai-Soke.

Welcome to KF, Mitlov; glad you're here!!

To the bold type above... Demographic studies are very critical, but what's more critical is knowing what the data is telling you, and then acting upon them properly. One wrong hiccup means the difference of keeping the doors open or closed. Do demographic studies often because data changes when one least expects it. I do them quarterly!!

Have you asked your Sensei about the differences between the two?? Your Sensei could be a treasure chest full of info!!

Again, I believe that many use who are the sole instructor of said MA school, use the name/initials to become important; to fill a void of some type. I didn't coin the phrase; Saitou Sensei did, as his right being the Soke of Shindokan Saitou-ryu. Under some definition, I suppose I do fit into the CI category, some how and some way.

Perhaps it's not the title, but the how and what that person does with it. After all, it's just a title...just words...to do with it as we feel fit; quality of the titles usage. Even then, it's really no ones business how a title is used, if at all!! I'm of the mind to eliminate every single title listed in our By-Laws, so that there's no chance of anyone getting a big head. And over what? A title!? Which has absolutely nothing to do with what Shindokan is about in the first place. Then again, in organizations, titles give into the existing chain of command. Imagine what the military would be like without a chain of command, for example. Anarchy, possible!! In retail, there's President, Vice-President, Zone/Group Vice-President, Regional Manager, District Manager, Area Manager, Store Manager, Assistant Managers by 3 levels, and associates; sub-Managers exist, like, Senior Human Resources Director and Senior Loss Prevention Director, in which other departments exist through the chain of command. In a dojo!? Not so much. Bob!! That's a cool title!! Why do we/I have to go to the Hombu?? Why do we/I feel obligated to use Japanese titles or the like, and not just Headquarters. Doesn't make the building and/or what's happening inside much more official/important. Everyone inside knows who's in charge and who's not. I continue to use CI and the like because that's what we were taught by Saitou Sensei and Takahashi Sensei; a habit that's stuck with us all for these many years. "Ask the CI?"..."The CI is the Chief Instructor"..."The CI enforces the curriculum"..."Sorry, the CI isn't here right now"..."Who's the CI?", so on and so forth. We get in the habits we're taught!! So, If a dojo, wait, a MA school, has only one teacher, then, out of habit, we name that sole instructor...CI...out of habit...and don't even give it one thought at all...and it's acceptable/understood/recognized. Then, on the other side of the coin, some feel inferior, so much so, that having a title makes them feel more adequately important.

Welcome to KF, Jetrail; glad that you're here!! Briefly and generally speaking... I respect the predicament that you find yourself in with there being no MA school nearby, it's a tough road to travel. I just want to encourage you to consider other alternatives in your MA training; you're accountable for your training. I sincerely wish you luck in your MA training!! It's of no secret here, or elsewhere, that I'm not a staunch proponent of acquiring MA knowledge and experience through any on-line course whatsoever. My reason(s) mainly are is there's no instructor with you to properly instruct you, guide you, correct you, feedback, and instill in you every necessary aspect along your MA journey immediately. Habits set in, and while habits are beneficial for any MA student, but it's the bad habits that creep in, and in short time, the bad habits can become difficult to break. Without immediate feedback/correction, those unruly bad habits set in, therefore, ineffectiveness becomes the norm. Immediate corrections are vitally important to any MA student because the students MA betterment is grossly affected in a negative tone. By having the instructor with you directly allows that immediate fine-tuning. How can I correct that which is apparent from a distance effectively. Move a foot here and there...knee bend here and there...posture this way and that way...hip twisting this way and that way...head this way and that way, so on and so forth, The interaction between instructor and student is paramount, and unforgivable, as the the minute corrections. In my direct and immediate feedback/correction I can separate the ineffectiveness away from that which IS effective. I can show you, teach you, correct you, help you, and motivate you most properly and immediately before any bad habit rears its ugly head if I'm standing right next to you. The instructor can't provide quality instructions through an on-line course due to the limitations that that one-dimensional analysis venue provides. The better-than-nothing, for me, is still nothing!! Imho!!

Solid post!! No one should ever be forced to do anything for any reason(s), I wholeheartedly agree. If called upon by something other than the formal title, there shouldn't ever be any disciplinary action leveled whatsoever...but fortunately it does occur more often than not. Whenever a person considers themselves more important than the core of the art, then it's time to close the doors forthwith. Self-aggrandizement is the bane of existence found in more MA than not, in which seeps into the pours of a many MA schools; just look at the pageantry exhibited throughout the MA world nowadays: despicable!!

I call everyone by their first name; I prefer it that way because it clears the air of any stuffiness. Titles always have their place, but not in any great abundances every second of the day/night; formality has to be toned as low as possible. After all, the knowledge and experience is far more important than how one should be addressed. Sensei or CI or GM or O/O, or half a dozen other labels can easily be replaced by just using first names...Bob...I like that, after all, it's my name. CI/Kaicho/Sensei are nothing more than labels. Formality can be misunderstood and stringently out of place if used to allow whomever to beat their chests in superiority over others. I have to tone down the stuffiness in my own dojo and at the Hombu by setting the tone right from the start. When formality calls for it, even then, the stuffiness has to be aired out as quick as possible. Ego has no place on and off the floor. I understand that using first names can be a sign of disrespect of some degree; but that tone too has to be set for an acceptable reason; formality can be viewed as a sign of disrespect. Titles like President or Vice-President or Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer or Commander or Lt. Commander or Private or Judge or Your Honor or Your Majesty or Sergeant, all have their place, and must be adhered to for their own reasons. First names usages might not be acceptable at any time within those disciplines whatsoever, because it's the right thing to do. The usages of MA respectful labels, however used, is the right thing to do as long as its the air of respect. If I allow first names, and someone else finds it inappropriate, then that person needs to remember that this is my dojo, and I set the tone, not anyone else and/or culture does whatsoever. CI, a lot of the time, is just used here by myself because most MAists recognize it as the one who's large and in charge that I'm referring to/about.

Great post, aurik!! Glad to hear that you do Kumite with your CI as well because the CI makes you work for it and earn it; gives you a different aspect than from those same or near experience. Congrats on passing your Kukyu Testing Cycle; the fun continues!!

Well, who created Karate/Kobudo?? From all that I've been taught, told, and read through all of these many years on this very subject, in which I don't doubt the validity of the sources, I've reached one final conclusion...I wasn't there to witness either, and I really don't care one way or another because I'm happier than a Panda playing in the snow that someone had enough fortitude to create either of them in the first place.

The initials of CI are well known to many students of the MA. For the most, if not all of the time, there's only one individual at any said MA schools that those initials belong to. Oftentimes, this very same individual is also the owner/operator of said MA school; a dual administrative position. CI are the usual initials of most MA schools Chief Instructor. The CI is the Head Honcho...Top Dog...Where the Buck Stops...Large and in Charge...The Big Cheese...The Big Wheel...The Enchilada...The Big Kahuna...The High Muckamuck...The Boss!! The CI runs the entire school; wall to wall...door to door...floor to ceiling without any ambiguity whatsoever. Everyone, student(s) AND non-student(s) answer to the CI no matter the issue...no matter what. If it can be named and it concerns that particular school, then the CI is the final authority...without question(s)!! What's the initials of the instructor, whom's the sole instructor of said MA school?? Perhaps that type of individual might carry a sole initial for being the sole instructor...like..."I", for Instructor or "S" for Sensei or any other appropriate initial. Seems quite presumptuous of that sole Instructor to be addressed as the CI, when she/he are that schools one and only instructor...no one else...nobody...zero...zip...zilch...nada. Albeit, it's just a label...just some initials...just an arbitrary whim...just an ego boost. To be addressed as the CI, shouldn't there be, like, other instructors, for example, for the CI to direct/supervise as needed?!!? After all, as the saying goes..."A leader without followers is simply a man taking a walk." Your thoughts, please!!

The CI will make or break the dojo, in the short, and the long, of it all. This is why I always say, not all black belts can teach. It can be quite a trying journey to get that as perfect match as possible between CI and the student...this is a two way street.

Welcome to KF, DeskWarrior; glad that you're here!! You've great advice thus so far. Hopefully I can add something of value for you. Forget about being the only adult because that's of no importance. Frustrating? Yeah, I get that, however, a solid Chief Instructor (CI) can, and will, fill in that void in such a way, that more often then not, the student forgets that theyre the only adult. Having the CI both as an instructor AND a training partner is a win-win situation. Again, I get that being the only adult in the class can be a moment of concern. Students have to want this!! Anything else is superficial to the students MA betterment. The MA journey is the students, and that student must be accountable for their training. A student is there to gain knowledge and experience, and nothing else. Not ranks, not belts, and they will come in time or whatever else...knowledge and experience. Yeah, along the journey, the student will become frustrated for many reasons, for more times than that student can shake a stick at. The one tangible thing that students will always have an abundance of is... TIME!! In time, that which is quite frustrating at the immediate moment will become inconsequential in the scheme of it all, because you'll encounter a fresh frustrating thing to replace the other frustrating things. Shu Ha Ri!! Please look it up, and then embrace it wholeheartedly because that, right there, is the MA, no matter the label. Hopefully your CI addressed the student ratio beforehand; it's what it is...for the moment. Speak with the CI to find out if there's anything that can be done, as the only adult student, to attract prospective adult students. There's always your black belt hubby, perhaps he'd be interested in cross training, if he's of a different MA style, that way you two can train together. Imho!! I wish you much success across the board!!

Doubt is an evil thing!! Doubt is NOT permanent!! Doubt is allowed by the practitioner!! There's one thing about doubt...you either defeat it or your become a prisoner of it!! Here's another thing about doubt whenever it comes to ones Testing Cycle...allow the Testing Cycle take care of ITSELF!! Worrying about it only exacerbates the problem, which is doubt. You'll never ever receive a 100%. Do you know what you can do to get a 100% in?? EFFORT!!!!! Whether you pass or not doesn't matter because pass or fail just isn't that important; it's just a thing. A thing that as not and will not define you as both a human being and/or a MAist. A thing is just a thing that's only a want, not a need. Did you put forward your best at all times on the floor, no matter the whereabouts of said floor during our training and practice?? Or were your efforts put forward in a lackadaisical fashion?? I sincerely believe that that's not you. Nothing wrong with remaining 5th Kyu, none at all. Why?? Rank is NEVER important, only the acquired knowledge and experience!! Your Sensei believes enough in your abilities so much that he allowed you to attend the upcoming Testing Cycle; don't dishonor him by second guessing his knowledge and experience. So what if you fail the Testing Cycle, so what!?!?! Worse things are far more important especially in ones MA journey. I know that you are doing all that you can do in order to improve your own MA betterment...I know that...I feel that in my bones. Big deal you miss some classes...big deal. You know what?? Life has a rude habit of getting in the way of ones MA journey, in which, life doesn't apologize never ever. Pass or fail...either way it's a challenge, and every challenge is a chance for an opportunity, and every opportunity is a chance to learn; don't ever allow it to pass you by. Get with other students OUTSIDE of the dojo, and train with exuberant diligence, not for the upcoming Testing Cycle, but because it's the right thing, and your MA betterment deserves it. Solo training or not is STILL TRAINING. Honest and sincere training is one being honest with yourself to the Nth degree. If one can't be honest with themselves, then stay off the floor; the floor always deserves that respect. You'll be fine!! Train hard and train well!!

Have you considered Cocobolo Hardwood?? It can withstand quite a lot, and it's wood color, orange or red tones, are attractive to the eye. I've had all of my wood weapons made with Cocobolo Hardwood a very long time ago, and I still use them. Cocobolo is great wood also. I've a few sets of cocobolo nunchaku Just a word of caution if you use Cocobolo or any exotics to make your weapons... check the MSD sheets. Woods like Cocobolo have a natural insecticide in it's oils and this can cause mild to severe reactions. Make sure you're wearing a good respirator and clothing before turning, cutting or sanding. I have used this wood quite a bit and have a very adverse reaction to it. I had to install an exhaust and ventilation and wear the proper protective equipment or I get a rash at the least and boils at the worst. Nasty stuff if you're allergic. This is not the only exotic wood that contains bad stuff. just make sure to read up on it before working with it. You'll be thankful you did. Solid post!!

Congrats wagnerk on earning your 3rd Dan!! Feels great, huh!?!

Congratulations, Alex, for reaching this near unparalleled KF Milestone!! What Patrick has posted in his OP is the exclamation point in what you've contributed and achieved here at KF unselfishly these many, many years. The respect I have for you, Alex, is immeasurable beyond words. Your unwavering devotion towards your family, friends, students, community, KF, the MA, as well as your law enforcement career, are incontestable. The last KF LiveStream was, imho, one of your most definable moments. The manner of ease in which you handled each and every aspect throughout that event was seamless; with your engaging personality, no matter the topic. You've an penetrating intellect that's most inviting, which allows one to learn and relax in a welcoming atmosphere. Your professionalism is without any ambiguity whatsoever; in that, you've never expressed an outwardly judgment towards anyone here at KF. You've mentored more here at KF than you might be ever willing to accept. However, as one here that can emphatically proclaim most sincerely just how much your mentoring means to me; I greatly appreciate your mentoring me all these many years. For all that you mean to KF and its members, for all of your vastly contributions, through your being that proponent of contagious exuberance, and being that positive example... THANK YOU, ALEX!! Here's to another 10 years, God willing!!

I still believe that your on the right path across the board, with one exception. Only thing that scares me is that your dojo doesn't train Kumite whatsoever. Imho, that sets up a negative precedence that Kumite isn't important in ones training. To me that's akin to not ever learning about blind spots when learning how to drive a vehicle...it's an accident waiting to happen.

Nope!! Not my cup of tea because imho, that would set a parameter that would seriously limit me across the board; I want to keep my options open and fresh/effective.

Listed is some things that I've done to attract students... 1) Went to libraries and book stores. I'd find the MA sections, and then I'd put my business card inside each and every book/magazine. 2) I always wore either a T-Shirt or a baseball style cap advertising my school. I'd have catchy phrases like..."Want to learn Martial Arts? I can teach you!!" blazing on the front or the back of the T-Shirt..on the cap..."I teach the Martial Arts!!" Crude?!? Maybe!! What's more crude?? An empty class or near empty class!! What's a teacher without students?? A guy/gal taking a walk alone!! I had no shame in my marketing came because what's more shameful is an empty bank account. 3) I had a refer-a-friend program. If they referred someone, they'd get one month free or $20 Finder Fee or $20 in MA supplies. 4) Bring A Friend Day. This worked out pretty good in the long run. 5) Hold a MA Tournament once a quarter or once every 6 months or annually. If not, I went to tournaments as a vendor selling my dojo!! 6) I put a large transparent sticker on my rear window of my car!! Attractive and easy to see by anyone, and safe for me to see out the rear window while I'm driving. And I NEVER took that thing off...I'd change it out once every 3 months. Anything and everything I did I recorded it on some spreadsheet or the like for tracking purposes...a kind of P&L statement. The things that I tried that were duds, I killed them. However, I tracked for 1 solid year for comping-up data. However, what didn't work in Q1, I'd try it in Q2 and so on and so forth...tweaking here and there adjusting here and there trimming and adding here and there. If you first don't succeed, try, try again!! There's a few things I'd do, and still do, to attract students, and they work for all ages.

I wholeheartedly agree!! Remember the test will take care of itself, therefore, there's nothing to fret over. NO ONE scores 100 on any Testing Cycle!!

And the crowd goes wild!! Practice makes perfect!! I look forward to the update, Brian as the season progresses; good lick to Kendall and Kenneth!!

Have you considered Cocobolo Hardwood?? It can withstand quite a lot, and it's wood color, orange or red tones, are attractive to the eye. I've had all of my wood weapons made with Cocobolo Hardwood a very long time ago, and I still use them.

Solid post!! Prospective adult students might be a parent(s) who's kid(s) have a monster of a schedule in and/or out of school. The more kids a parent(s) have, the more demanding their time constraints across the board are...and Friday night is no exception, with many sporting games are held on Friday night, wherever they might be. Friday nights, as JR has already alluded to, are the start of the weekend, and we all know that Friday night is the time to get together with family and/or friends somewhere, anywhere. Having said that, there are methods to that madness, and there's good news. The good news is that not everyone is involved in going out Friday nights...not everyone!! At the start, I would hold Friday night open-workouts, but the type where I was there to train WITH them, and not just teach them. Having that visual presence motivated them because they knew that I wasn't going to sit in my office ignoring them and letting them train on their own. Oh I still hold open-workouts, but not just one day/night. Just have to make the dojang appealing of Friday nights. Creative juices have to flow if you want to meet expectations financially. I've adult students that come on Friday classes, and afterwards, they go to a dinner and a movie. The dojang has to be appealing. You have to find the hook, and reel them in, hook line and sinker!! I know that I've got their attention on a Friday night once every 3 months because that's when I hold my Quarterly Testing Cycles, and depending on rank, if they miss a Testing Cycle, they'll have to wait up to a full year. Yes, that doesn't make up for the other Friday nights. I've a full house every Friday, but I had to work at that day after day and night after night. Once you discover what hook(s) work in your community, the rest in quality time. I've held Friday night guest seminars, I've held parties Friday nights but we still train before or after the party, or I've held Weapons classes on Friday nights. However, those activities have shifted to Saturday night because once I found the hooks and reeled them in on Friday Nights, I didn't need to entice them anymore. A willing student makes life so much easier!! Drive around one Friday night, just drive by, to see your competitors schools, and see what their Friday night student turn out is. When you find the school that's the busiest, park outside and just watch to see what they're doing. Earlier I suggested that you could speak with the other CI's, even if they're your competitor, to just ask them how they're generating adults, and adults on a Friday night, or anyone on a Friday night. No matter what, you'll still have to have the necessary amount of students on the floor to still make Friday nights financially viable. If a class has a low turn out for 2 weeks in a row, that means that that class will NOT be available after the 4th week. It's like college, if there are less than the state required amount of enrolled students for said class, that class is cancelled immediately!!