sensei8

Yes....Happy 4th of July; be safe and have a blast!!

I opened my dojo with my own money from my savings account. No family members...no help from my Sensei...no help from any living soul except myself...and I wouldn't have had it any other way. As far as the SBA, that will depend on ones financial strength or weakness across the board. Just remember that lenders just don't loan money without some strict approval/reject protocol in place; some lenders are much more relaxed then others...and they're out there, just have to find them. When it comes to the SBA, it's not personal, it's business, and they will do anything and everything to protect their bottom line, than yours!! Good luck and much success!!

I agree with with Brian, wholeheartedly. MA related, the bowing is part of what practitioners do often; this is a sign of respect towards a many reason. Respect for the instructor...respect for the school...respect for other MA practitioners. Worship?? Idolatry?? Not to my knowledge, but of course, I've not been in every single MA school on Earth. For those MA schools and the like that I've been to, there's no worship, as we might understand what worship is, just mutual respect. We Westerners don't bow to one another in a commonality as it's demonstrated in the Eastern parts of the world, for example, Japan and China, so on and so forth. Seeing that bowing is part of the Eastern culture, as Brian mentioned in his post here, and the majority of much of the MA came from that part of the globe, us Westerners started bowing to each other in schools of the MA because that's what the instructor instructed us to do, so we bowed then, and continue to do so because, after all, as our instructors explained to us, it's a sign of respect. Now, I don't and will not bow to the Kamiza and/or towards Kamidana, even though both of our Soke and Dai-Soke do so daily and often; that's their believe, and pleasantly surprising, they never forced that action upon us, their students. I've seen this being done many times in dojo's, and whenever it was expected, I'd politely explain my reasons as to why I will not...yes, I've been asked to leave their dojo immediately...but I was cool with that too. More the dojo than the style that I've seen the bowing in the reference to bowing to each other or bowing as one come on/off the floor or bowing to the CI/Instructors and/or important visitors. So I can't say here that it's Shotokan or Judo or TKD or what have you, but it's more of a personal preference of the CI. Dojo Kun speaks the expected level of respect, and students and visitors are expected to follow it without hesitation. I will not be forced nor will I force believe, tradition or not, on another individual. That's the beauty of the front door...it opens both ways...enter and exit; choose one and be loyal to whomever one decides willingly!! We Westerners have gladly accepted and welcomed the act of bowing in MA schools because...when in Rome...and we decided that that simple act was quite harmless to perform. We were shown the hows and the whys of bowing by our CI, and we followed suit whenever it should be done.

Personally, I've never heard of anyone using bamboo, except yourself; quite intriguing. My entire life I've not seen any bamboo big enough to ever use as a makiwara; bamboo I've seen are no bigger than a broom stick. Bulltahr mentions something important that I believe should be kept in mind. Maybe, and I'm just speculating, if thick/dense padding over it might allow the safety factor apply. Does the bamboo have the same or near same characteristics of a traditional makiwara?? I'd imagine that the taller the bamboo, the less the characteristics remain...kind of much more wobbly causing the return/bounce-back lessen as it gets taller. I guess that depends on how big the bamboo is at its base, circumference wise, that is.

Sorry to hear that you broke your finger sparring. But hopefully your finger will heal much faster than your leg. Well, as they say...those are the breaks!! Sorry, couldn't help myself...again. Get well soon, and when you do, the floor will still be there, eager to welcome you back.

Welcome to KF, Journyman74; glad that you're here!! Solid OP!!

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...EVERYONE NOW...Happy Birthday, JR...Happy Birthday to you,,,,and many more!!

No matter what that moment is, and with no excuses whatsoever, be in that moment unapologetically. Being with your kids...be in that moment!! Being with your wife/husband...be in that moment!! Being with your relative...be in that moment!! Being at a meeting wherever it might be...be in that moment!! Being at work...be in that moment!! Being at play...be in that moment!! Being at the dojo/dojang/etc...be in that moment!! Being at your MA training...be in that moment!! Being at the gym...be in that moment!! Being at a Testing Cycle...be in that moment!! Those moments deserve that from whomever, and at 100% at all times, and not with a lackadaisical effort, and not as a passing notion that'll pass unnoticeable. Having personal concerns, leave them outside!! Is that easy?? The short answer...no...that's not that easy at the drop of a hat for everyone. If that which is occupying your mind right now can't be left outside...then stay at home; separate that which is bothering from that which your about to attempt. If one can't be in that moment, then that moment is being disrespected across the board. If one can't be in that moment for 100%, when it'll matter the most, the there'll be no happy ending whatsoever. If you're the student, then be in that moment!! If you're the instructor, then be in that moment!! If you're the owner of the MA school, then be in that moment!! One can't serve two masters at the same time; decide!! What good does it do for you to try to be in two places at the very same time; that can't be done, it's impossible. Wherever your body is, so must your mind be; focus properly, and not in a happenstance mindset; anything and everything will suffer whenever respect is not given its proper attention at all time. You can't disguise it and/or hide it and/or pretend at it and/or whatever because either you're in the moment or you're not!! Be in THAT moment!!

After all, computes do break down, whereas the pen/pencil is mightier than the computer. I'm not dead set against having a computer, I mean, I'm using one right now. I suppose that I really never found a database/program that would fit in with my needs. So, being way old school in this regards, if it's not broken, then why try to fix it, I'll just have students sign-in daily, and then just go from there.

Sign students in the old fashion way...sign in sheets, then transfer the necessary data into a Master File Book, akin to a Ledger Sheet; that's the tried-and-true method without having to depend on a computer.

Solid OP, Brian!! I've no idea which type I am because I've trained all of my life via MA training i.e., my Sensei/other MAists, and/or Health Related, i.e. my PCP and Cardiologist; I lift to live.

"Emotional content; not anger" ~ Bruce Lee This pretty much sums up my feelings on this subject. Each of us are held accountable for our own actions, whether they be positive or negative. Brian makes sense when he says...

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!!