sensei8

ONE!! Please forgive me my nagging suspicious innate nature of mine, and having said that, just why would a fellow MAist feel the urge to mention to another fellow MAist that the style in which they're a part of possess 92 Kata, even if the style in which they're a part of had 92 Kata!?!?!? Perhaps it's because that the MA knowledge and/or experience this individual possesses has been garnered form anywhere else, via some media venue, except through having actually ever been on the floor of a MA school. Of course, I'm only stabbing at the dark with my unfounded perhaps. I remember some eons ago, while my family and I had attended a family reunion, that was held at my grandparents house, on my mom's side, when a particular friend spoke, i which that particular friend had wished that they had remained silent. As always it was my grandparents way by always allowing family members to bring with them their friends, close or not to anyone in the family, to our reunions. This one particular friend, who was a boyfriend of one of my nieces, while we had all gathered around this massive table for lunch, and right at the very height of this lunch, the majority of the conversation was of no particular topic; just some idle chit chat, as family and friends will do in a setting as in this. My niece and her boyfriend sat opposite of me and my wife, we exchanged pleasantries. My grandfather has very little tolerance about discussions in his home that are centered around religion, politics, and sports, because discussions as those can inadvertently lead to hostility within the family, and ruin the occasion. My niece, and for some unknown reason, tells her boyfriend about my MA background. He's all ears!! I just sit there and eat, wanting to strangle my niece, because everyone that knows me knows that my MA is personal and private; if someone discovers that I've a MA background, then they find it out, but not from me. Also, the downside of being a MAist, is that one someone finds out I've an extensive MA background, that person(s) want to tell you all about their MA background, whether I want to know or not. This day was no exception!! I just smile and eat!! I listened to my niece's boyfriend provide me with his MA resume, knowledge and experience, for about 15 minutes or so, and all the while, my family, all of them, become very still and very quite, one by one, as each are elbowed by someone sitting near them; all eyes are on us two, and my niece, by now, is looking like she wants to crawl in a deep hole...anywhere but at the table. Grandpa's jaws are clinched!! "What do you think, Bob?" "What do I think about what, Marcus?" I say. "About what? Weren't you listening?? About my MA background and all" "Yeah! Can I ask you a question, MAist to MAist, if I may" I ask, eyes around the table are as wide as saucers, wondering what I'm going to say/do. "Yes, ask away" "What size is your Gi?" I ask "My what?" "Your Gi!! What size is it!!" I ask Silence....you can see his eyes are seeking for an answer!! Finally, Marcus says to me... "Size 32" "Size 32, huh...wow...pretty impressive" I say retorted "Why, you ask? I tell you all about my MA background, and all, and you ask me about the size of my Gi?! Let me ask you something...what's a gi?? Everyone sits much closer to the table!! I chuckle!! "What's so funny, Bob?" "You!!" I say pointedly "I wear a size 6 Gi, myself. And I believe that you would, if you really had one, would wear a size 5 Gi. Oh yeah, a Gi, which you should know, when one considers your MA background, is a uniform one wears when you're at the dojo, and that's the name of a Karate school. If you had a size 32 Gi, it would probably fit your car. As far as your MA background is concerned, I won't entertain that because I'm quite sure that all of your MA knowledge and experience came from anywhere else but a school of the MA. Tell you what! You say nothing else about the MA, and I'll not have to listen to it anymore. Two things I hate...can't stand...don't want them around me...thieves and liars!! Do not begin, not even for one second, that you can pretend to assume a possession that you've not right to, whatsoever, to me, not when it comes to the MA!!" So, please, can I please finish my meal in peace, please...thank you I said firmly, in a calm voice. He said nothing else to me the rest of the day, and the family gave him a piece of their minds behind closed doors. This fellow MAist appears to, like Marcus did, have offered a glimpse into the MA style's possessing of 92 Kata's, and having not mentioned that, while their MA style has 92 Kata's within its history, they only learn/train in, for example, 20 or more. That perhaps might've supported the statement much more as to the 92 Kata. If not, and like what I did with Marcus, I would promptly excused myself from the conversation for cause.

I've seen this at numerous places, it means Wind, Fire, Forest. First time I ever saw this was on a plague hanging over the entrance to Dai-Soke's office. Then I saw a beautiful handcrafted Kanji, several years later, written my Soke, hanging adjacent to the Kamiza at the Hombu. Street Fighter...love that game!! Tastefully sprinkled in/on various places/items in, and around, Japan and Okinawa.

Over and over and over and over...until the end of time, and then some. That's one of the most basic way I can reach/teach my students anything; serious endless solid repetition. Anything less than that is unforgivable!!

Man that is a blast from the past technique. An old instructor (boxing) of mine tied my right arm up for two months until I learned to use my left. Thanks for jogging the old memory Bob. Great stuff! My former sensei tied me to another student once so I couldn’t “run” during sparring. He tied us together with a belt’s length between us. He did it to a few others here and there too. Thanks for jogging my memory. I hadn’t thought about that one in years LOL!! Yep, I've done that more times than I can remember. I've tied them to me!! Now, that gets their attention really quick...saucer eyes and all; and they can't run far, if at all. Life has its little perks as the CI. I've told my students that one of the biggest reason that they are in my dojo is that they're my only source of entertainment, and I get bored really quick. I mean this in the most harmless way. After all, much of the drills that I've created definitely challenge and help them to reach their AHA moments, and that is the primary reasons, but, well, I do get bored.

are you doing this out of respect for the previous instructor? if you do, I understand but then, are you still gonna do the old katas, you gonna phase them out or just throw them out at once? then there are parents too. have you talked to them? you may have to face some Monday morning quarterbacks. This is just me!! What someone else does in their dojo is their business, and I will always resect that!! I never ever discuss with the Student Body about any changes concerning the curriculum/syllabus. If a change(s) are made, or need to be made, then so be it. I most assuredly don't ever discuss any changes to the curriculum/syllabus whatsoever to parents and the like, especially parents and the like, or visitors. I run the floor/dojo, and they [Parents and the like and whomever visits my dojo] know this from day one, and are reminded if they ever forget. Parents and the like might pay for the lessons but beyond that, the only thing they run is their shoes. I run my dojo, especially the floor; no one runs my floor because that's holy ground, and because it's holy ground, it's no-mans land. Sorry, I'll go back to my corner!!

Man that is a blast from the past technique. An old instructor (boxing) of mine tied my right arm up for two months until I learned to use my left. Thanks for jogging the old memory Bob. Great stuff! Thanks, and you're welcome Ken!! After all, I'm old school too!!

While I'm still on reasonable terms with the departed instructor I wouldn't expect to be able to hedge my bets and then switch once everything is established and there's no risk involved. I've made my decision but it's tinged with a little regret. I would have liked to support the new club from it's inception but things are just too messy and, in spite of myself, I've always been a little risk averse. May I dare to say this... Try to not allow your decision cloud over your MA betterment. Initially, it's normal to second guess oneself, but in time, you'll not even think about it, and when to do think about it, you'll smile!! "The road I choose, has made all of the difference" ~Robert Frost

Solid post!! I really like your terminology of "wheelhouse" because that's the familiarity that drives the CI/Instructor. I teach the history, where it benefits the students betterment, but the fill-in-the-blanks is for the student to learn through their own research. My primary responsibility to my students is to teach the techniques and to guide them to the landscape of effectiveness of those said techniques, and not to provide a history lesson. What is the advantage to the students betterment to reveal to them the history of, for example, said Kata/Bunkai/Kihon...just teach the Kata/Bunkai/Kihon. I pray that I've guarded my passions here, and if not, please forgive me.

If a student has some difficulty of training southpaw or vice versa, then, for training purposes, secure the dominate arm so it can't move. Forcing the non-dominate to learn. Slowly but surely, the non-dominate arm will learn what it needs to learn. It goes down to familiarity, imho.

Every MA has one undeniable thing in common... Human beings are required!! The drawback to that one undeniable thing is that human beings are flawed. My point, if I even have one, is that traditional MA, or any other MA, traditional or not, don't need the help from UFC or the like because effective styles of the MA, are flawed to the nth degree because human beings are, well, flawed. Nonetheless, what's even more amazing is that flawed human beings founded effective styles of the MA so that flawed practitioners of said effective MA can execute effectively upon other unexpected flawed human beings. Oh here's my point...human beings, as flawed as they are, are exceptionally adaptable to the nth degree, and they've the built in internal/outwardly inertia to buck against the perceived impossible to exceed expectations, no matter the venue. They just need the chance!! Imho!!

I say this with much confidence, this thread boils down to... Spencer Johnson, M.D. [Look up the name; you'll get my meaning then]

I've ran into individuals on the floor that cast a shadow of doubt on themselves due to their lack, thereof, more than I care to remember. How so?? These questions might explain myself much better than another one of my long dissertations... Should an Instructor of the MA posses effective techniques?? OR... Should an Instructor of the MA posses a solid grasp of MA history, especially their core MA history?? OR... Both/Either of the two?? OR... Is there a middle ground that can be reached/satisfied?? Knowledge and experience are separate, yet, equal; context of the equality can differ. One can have one or the other, however, one should have both, but again, the context is about WHAT on the floor!? Do students want a history lesson or do students want to learn effective techniques!? I've the intimate knowledge of Shindokan as well it's history, whereas, I've also the experience garnered through BOTH!! As a result of my having been cross-training in the MA for as long as I can remember, I've also the knowledge/experience of other MA styles, albeit, not to the intensity of Shindokan, however, my being a student of the MA has allowed me to learn from those MA styles that aren't Shindokan; my ears to the ground, so to speak. I'm not boisterous in my comings and goings; I'm quite plain spoken about a lot of many things, in and out/on and off, that are of/about the MA. Then, there's the old saying that goes something like this... “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.” ― Lao Tzu, Tao Teh Ching. Inasmuch as I've witnessed those flood gates of impropriety within the MA, and they're most assuredly abound endlessly, that claim to be CI/Instructor but DO NOT have the most minimum knowledge/experience when MA history is concerned, not even an iota. My niche is that of teaching effectiveness of techniques to whomever honestly desires. I'm not a history teacher, I'm a MA teacher, even though I'm extremely well versed in its [MA] history. Please don't misunderstand me, history, like anything else in the MA, has its place, and it's importance, therefore, I do NOT, and will NOT ever speak disparagingly towards those who do teach MA history to whomever wants to learn said history. If my niche is to not teach, even though I'm very well versed thereof, MA history in overabundance, for reasons already mentioned here, am I lesser of a CI?? What fruits does a MA instructor want to be known for??

Everyone should be ambidextrous, nonetheless, the only way to become such is to train both sides all of the time, albeit not allowing students to favor a strong side; all sides should be strong equally, no ambiguity whatsoever in that quest. Imho!!

Or...Alex and Noah; they've done quite well on FB, if what they do at FB is what you're asking about.

Sorry, I can't help you with this, Danielle; possibly Patrick might be the one to ask. Anyhow, I wish I could help you; good luck.

Everyone wants to be the boss and everyone wants to be known as the best, and this is perfectly fine, but how one goes about that, well, that's where the rubber meets the road. From a distance, what you're witnessing, is confusing, but when you're in the midst of it, well, that's alarming because students are understandably uncertain about quite a many things while they wait for the dust to settle. Again, imho, the Student Body is hurt the worse in things of this magnitude.

Just curious, given your trouble within your organisation that you have described in quite a few other posts... do you feel that those rules actually worked? Yes!! Any dojo within the SKKA network can do whatever they want, it's their dojo. If said dojo doesn't want to support the SKKA By-Laws, then said dojo faces losing their charter for cause, it's the SKKA rules, it's their Governing Body. Worse things can happen if ones dojo isn't part of any Governing Body.

For the most part, change isn't greatly received, especially at its onslaught. However, those very same people that balk at change openly are encouraging change behind closed doors. I am of the opinion that the advancement of the internet, like anything else, has both its proponents of, as well as its detractors of, which is the normal flow. Is the internet striping the value of said MA school since its advent?? That depends on whom one asks!! Surely, it's of no surprise that I'm not in favor of the internet replacing qualified instructors entirely, nonetheless, the student is entirely accountable for its own betterment within its own journey. In short, students of the MA have the right to seek out whatever source they believe that they need from wherever that might be. If a school of the MA is worried about the internet being the cause for lower numbers, I'd challenge that instructor to first look into the mirror before arriving at any unsupportive conclusions. After all, the internet is here to stay, so we need to figure how to best utilize it instead of placing blame on it. It's a tool, either we learn how to utilize it or we ignore it; either way, it's an individuals choice. I've never utilized the internet for my own professional and personal reason(s), nor will I, and nor have I and/or am I worried about the internets impact on me and/or my dojo because I'm of exceptional quality on the floor. Imho!!

Thanks, Brian!! For Kancho and me, it simply means... Temporalis Auctoritate...Temporary Authority. Until the By-Laws have been amended, and then approved by a unanimous vote, we've full authority. Plus, we've appealed the vote, even though it appears to be a lock on us turning in the store keys when all is said and done. Transitions of this magnitude can take a minute or two to reach its final conclusion. In time, should we both be thrown out on our backsides, and while we'll still be members, in good standings, with the SKKA, we'll have no say so as to the daily operations of the SKKA. However, I'm the highest ranking member across the board, and that carries some hefty perks that can't be removed and/or denied and/or refused; FOR LIFE clauses!!

What's the most common Kata?? Whatever you, as the CI, says that they/it are/is, no matter what someone else might suggest. Teach what you know!! Those before me here have given you some solid advice.

You bring up some very valid points here. You have to assess what it is the instructor has to teach you, and just what the instructor's rank is. You want to get the most you can out of the instructor, and you want it to be what you want the most. I'd not look at the rank much because not all black belts, no matter rank, can teach, nor should they ever try. They've the solid technicians through and through, but they've not the minimum of an idea as to how to effectively convey the methodology/ideology as far as teaching is concerned. That's where the rubber meets the road. Both the CI/Instructor(s) and the student have to meet expectations because it's not a one-sided relationship; take two...one to teach, and one to learn...both accountable for their expectations. Students know what they want from their CI, and if the student believes that that CI isn't providing it, then the student has the right to seek out for a different CI; after all, the student is the customer. Is that CI providing the student with what the student wants?? Is the student experienced enough to know if the CI isn't providing what the student wants?? What the student wants doesn't have to be inline with what the CI wants, however, the student has to be accountable for their own training and practice. The student came to the CI, and the CI didn't come to the student; who knows versus who doesn't, and those have to meet somehow in the middle of the road so that both are satisfied, but there's a teacher and then there's a student...know you role.

Well, not meaning to throw a stick into the bicycle spoke here... The MA holds a treasure trove of importance to that said MAist, in which, what motivates and/or touches one MAist isn't the same for another MAist, but each stand upon their personal/professional reasons unswervingly, but nonetheless... What's NOT the point of the MA??

Congrats, Chunmonchek; well deserved!!

Yes, Pinan 1-3 (especially 1-2) has been drilled almost every session. 4 and 5 moves into much less known territory. What surprised me the first time I saw yondan was that one of the stances looked just like the ones I associate with Kung Fu. Little did I know then about the history of karate and its Chinese influences. Backwards in segments...sounds very hard, but fun and inspiring. Any particular favorite kihon or bunkai from Yondan you would like to pick out and elaborate some on? Curious and interested to hear about such. Relation to kihon/bunkai always makes parts of a kata seem more logical and makes it easier to remember To the first bold type above... The embusen for Pinan Yondan is unlike any you've encountered, thus so far. The introductions of transitional shifts and the like are also unlike any you've encountered, either, thus so far. Therefore, the Bunkai, especially Oyo, opens up the flood gates of effective possibilities, that's for sure. To the second bold type above... Without the Bunkai, imho, Kata is merely a dance. As far as the Kihon, well, imho, they stand seperate and away from the Kata; Kihon speaks for itself, and truly don't rely on the Kata, like the Kata depends on the Kihon. It's the Bunkai that marries the two together, Kihon and Kata, and can't be divorced from the Bunkai, however, and once again, the Kihon doesn't need Kata.

Yondan provides a bunch of yummy things across the board as far as its Kihon and Bunkai are concerned. The upgrading of transitions are quite exciting, or can be. I love drilling it backwards in segments...I'm evil that way.