sensei8

**Wastelander's replies to my previous posts here are in italic** Being quite at odds on this one is to be expected from time to time because we come from different methodologies and ideologies. In that, I take no offense to anything you've posted here, and I respect your differing opinions. It's cool!! This is where I was referring to the difference in methodologies and ideologies, and this is never where ones wrong and the other is correct; just different, no matter how drastic it might be. We might look at the same thing, and recognize it, but we reach our conclusions differently, yet they're both effective. Yes, the drill can be drilled the way they're applied...absolutely!! CI discretion as to how the student is trained!! When I speak about maturity, I'm not speaking about the person being immature, but the technique and its understanding. NOT THE PERSON, but the technique(s) in themselves as they're executed by the practitioner. Age of the person has nothing to do with their maturity, and I will not judge ones personal maturity, but I will judge their maturity of their technique(s), and the lack thereof!! Therefore, I'm addressing the manner of which how said technique is being executed in order to achieve the optimum effectiveness. None of my students that have 13+ years on the floor have the maturity their technique(s) should have, and must have. They're still very much unsure of themselves, and it is so very evident to me. They're still afraid and sloppy and inconsistent and so on and so forth. However, in time, their techniques will mature. I'd say this, and I say it with great respect...you do not have the maturity of technique like Sensei Poage had, and Sensei Poage didn't have the maturity of technique like Sensei Bethea, and Sensei Bethea doesn't have the maturity of technique like Hanshi Judan Shugoru Nakazato. Same with me, my students don't have the maturity of technique like I have, and I don't have the maturity of technique like Dai-Soke had, and Dai-Soke didn't have the maturity of technique like Soke had. Everything takes time, and often time, there's never enough time to mature technique wise. That's why we're always a student first, and we accept and depend on that, before we can teach others. You and I might not ever be in complete agreement on this subject at hand, but that doesn't mean that either of us are wrong; just different methodologies and ideologies, yet were quite effective whenever its required. It's like, I don't like sweet potatoes and asparagus, but someone else does, and in that, there's no way that that person is going to convince me to ever eat sweet potatoes and asparagus; to each of his/her own. I respect that, now and always!! Why?? Teaching methodologies/ideologies are different, but effective in our approaches. Absorb what is useful, discard the rest thinking is evident in the two of us, both as students, practitioners, and teachers. I do admit that my curriculum might need a more fresher approach, but I do see the value of what I was taught, and therefore, I will teach what I was taught, but with by own type of flair. I agree with you and your assessment across the board. What those you speak about here is what they don't do, but I've been doing it as both a student and as a teacher for 54 years, and with seriousness...Live Resistant training, and discarding the robotic movements that have the air of ineffectiveness. I do not believe in any technique without live resistant training because the attacker on the street isn't just going to go along with whatever the defender does, not in real life. Resist me to your Nth degree, and that live approach will expose that which is ineffective, and then that effectiveness must be fine tuned or discarded!! The floor is that unforgiving witness, and can't be lied to or hidden or ignored. Yes, they are, and they speak about that much needed resistant live training, that is sorely lacked today. In closing, I respect you across the board, and I always will. Imagine just how boring we'd be if we two, or anyone else for that fact, agreed with each other all of the time. I argue with fellow Shindokanists all of the time because we both need that so that our MA betterment can grow.

Seems quite a harsh punishment for quitting for just one month. However, it's his dojo, and as CI, his decision is final. Demotions happen more often then we might ever realize, albeit, the students are responsible for their actions. Would I have demoted you after just missing 1 month?? No, no matter what the reason(s) might be; not just for quitting, If there's something under the surface of this other than just quitting for a month, then definitely not, after all, real life does get in the way. One of the reasons I'd demote any student is if they were gone for some quite some time. I'd expel a student if they were convicted of a crime against more turpitude, for cause. Now, in your situation, once a Red Belt, always a Red Belt because the earned knowledge and experience of that Red Belt can't ever be taken away. The tangible belt can be taken away at the discretion of the CI, but in no time at all, the Red Belt will once again be around your waist. In closing, if your in the MA for rank, and not for its knowledge and experience, then integrity was never an issue, nor a concern, just rank. I don't believe that this is the case, but if it is, train hard and train well to earn that which your CI demands.

Let me quote two well known sayings... "We should never be shackled by the rituals of Kata, but instead move freely according to the opponent's strength and weaknesses." Genwa Nakasone "Always perform Kata exactly. Combat is another matter." Gichin Funakoshi I believe both of these are valid points in our conversation here!!

Opinions vary!! These drills, that you speak about, are only impractical whenever the practitioners techniques are impractical. These drills are designed to strengthen the techniques in which effectiveness can be improved. None of us, and I mean none of us, move in such like manner whenever executing any step-sparring drills whenever engaged in Jiyu Kumite. Similar to Kata, whereas we execute said techniques in such manner as well, some would say a robot like manner, and not a natural manner. However, Jiyu Kumite flushes down the robot like manner, BUT the techniques practiced in any step-sparring ARE STILL THERE in Jiyu Kumite, albeit, perhaps not as technical as one would hope for, yet effective at application at target. To approach any step-sparring drills with a negative mindset, shows the immaturity of the practitioner because drills are NOT ineffective, but it's the practitioner who's ineffective for whatever reason(s). Drills in the MA have their purposes for the practitioner, and if one wants to shelve said drill, that's their right, but I feel to do so is an injustice to their MA betterment. I've Yudansha students of varying Ranks that are struggling with Uke Waza/Receiving, and that's because they're still immature in their Karate-do; it takes time to break through that which is holding them back. The Practical approach is a valid mindset, however, to much of a good thing isn't always a good thing. This, to me, calling proven drills, to me, is a slap in the face of proven drills because without drills, not even the basics are refined within the practitioner. Before one can be practical, one first has to understand, and to understand, one has to drill, including the various step-sparring through experience. I'm not here to convince anybody because each practitioner has to decide for themselves. As Bruce Lee said... “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own” I hold step-sparring close to my heart because these drills have been the cornerstone before any of us here were born and/or before we ever thought of stepping onto the floor. I see the value of these drills for me and my students, and I will continue to teach them and drill them and practice them until my last breath. Attack me, and I will defend myself to the Nth degree, and while I am, my effectiveness will be felt and seen, but it will not be in any robotic fashion, but in a free flowing manner, yet each and every technique will be evident, and practical because of the many drills trained and practiced, and this includes Jiyu Kumite. No Jiyu Kumite is empty, but any step-sparring is a drill as a prerequisite to Jiyu Kumite, and a practitioner has to drill it for the rest of their life; an unending necessary. Remember, I'm a staunch proponent that the practitioner, and not the style, is at fault in everything. In the video provided in the OP, Shotokan is the model, a style founded by Gichin Funakoshi, and the one teaching in said video is Hirokazu Kanazawa, a student of Funakoshi Sensei...are they wrong in their mindset and approach in regards to any Step-Sparring?? Do we think that we're not capable of effectively executing any said technique that we've drilled and practiced for many years at any given time we're attacked on the street??...Well I most assuredly am!! I recognize a drill from reality, and can address accordingly and quite effectively. Imho!!

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...SING IT WITH ME EVERYBODY...Happy Birthday dear Danielle...Happy Birthday to you...and many more!!

This movie, Spiderman, is a must see for me; so many great movies out this summer; I loved the spoilers because it makes me want to see it more and more, than before!! I'm still sad about Tony Stark, though!! Thanks, Patrick!!

Congrats, Spartacus Maximus; well deserved!!

Describe Your MA Hell Week!! First of all, I DO NOT, in any shape, way, and/or form, compare our MA training with any military training whatsoever, especially Navy SEALs. I, of course, want to approach this with the utmost respect for every women and man that has, and is, and will be serving in the military, whether that person be from the USA or not; THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!! In the US Navy SEALs, they endure over 2 years of training before they are ever deployed. In that, they are expertly trained to deliver highly specialized, intensely challenging warfare capabilities that are beyond the means of standard military forces. (1) Then there's Hell Week!! How the Navy SEALs Work. The fourth week of Basic Conditioning is known as Hell Week. This is when students train for five days and five nights solid with a maximum total of four hours of sleep. Hell Week begins at sundown on Sunday and ends at the end of Friday. (2) What we endure during our MA training isn't a cake walk, and many times, we wanted to ring that bell to signal that we no longer want to endure anymore. Our instructor(s) push us to our limits and beyond for a purpose. As my Dai-Soke always barked to us without ceasing....SHUGYO...suck it up...7 times down, 8 times up!! Either that means something to us, as MAists, or we just paint over that mindset for good. We endure the bumps and bruises and God only know what else during our long MA journey; it's worth it all!! Can you please describe a MA Hell Week that you might've endured?!?

You're more than welcome; we got your back!! Train hard and train well!!

Nice, short, and to the point article by Andre Bertel; most assuredly so, I liked it. Thank you for the article, Bulltahr!! Blind faith; I don't subscribe to that believe because there's so valid substance to it. The floor is unforgiving in its silent witnessing, and holds no compassion of what it's a witness of. Taste and see that it is good, and the only way to know if its good or not is to taste it. Not once, not twice, but as much as it might be necessary to satisfy YOUR expectations of 'IT'!! Not mine, not your Sensei's, not any governing body, and/or not your fellow MAist...but YOURS. If I don't taste [test] it, then I've no one else to blame, but me alone. That's a dangerous way to meander through the MA. Why?? It's YOUR MA betterment, and your MA betterment demands that proof is on the floor!!

Brian the Beast!! I love your solid devotion in your training regimen to the Nth degree!! Continue to train hard, and train well, Brian!!

I do as well. Those are all spot-on points.I've been in your position, although with not as many years off. I was rather consistent in training, but found myself changing schools, leading to a similar situation. I was a 2nd dan black belt and certified instructor in one style of TKD, and moved to another. I spoke to the instructor about my prior experiences and rank. His school was a different style, with a totally different curriculum. What the instructor did was bring me on as a white belt, and then evaluated me as I went along. After my first testing, I was graded to low green belt, which was four ranks higher. This was awesome, and made me feel like the instructor trusted in what I had done previously. At the next testing, I jumped another two ranks, but I had to spend the previous testing cycle learning three new forms, and three sets of one-steps. So, after that testing, I requested that I only advance one rank per testing cycle from then on, that way I could make sure to give the attention that was due to the curriculum. From then on, I moved forward like every other student did. The main takeaway for me through all this was that the one thing that I kept as the sole focus was training. My goal is to train in the Martial Arts, not necessarily to test or hold a certain rank. As long as I'm training, and improving myself, then I'm doing what I need to do. The ranks and the testings will all come when they do. So, the point of it all is this; you must determine what is important to you. Is it rank? Is it the fact that you know you attained a black belt rank, and want to be acknowledged as such? Or, are you solely interested in perpetuating your MA training? You have to answer that question for yourself. I knew what I had attained, I knew what I was capable of, and I knew in my heart that no matter what rank someone chose to put around my waist, it didn't change what I had already learned and earned. Alongside that, I knew that it was up to the instructor as to what my progression was going to be, so I let it be. Hopefully this helps you out. Remember, it's all about the journey. Solid post!!

In my 54 years on the floor, I've never used any glove and/or wrapping while training on any heavy bag, and the like. Maybe that's because that type of concerns were never uttered once to us from Soke and/or Dai-Soke; this was the way it was no matter the training aid we were engaged with. This practice transitioned to my students from day one in my own dojo. To do other wise would feel alien to us. Albeit, I never discouraged my students or the entire SKKA Student Body from using gloves and/or wrappings and/or whatever they felt they needed. In short, I wasn't the glove/wrapping/etc police to my students and/or the SKKA Student Body; I had far more important things to be concerned with. Nope, I'm not at my potential, neither is anyone else. More importantly, no one's at their potential consistently because we're not perfect beings, and we can ALWAYS improve, even if it's just only mere fractions of an infinitesimal improvement(s). So, I continue to train each and everyday so that I can have continued improvements of my being at my best potentiality, even if it's just for a blink of time. Guarding over my techniques to ensure that my basics aren't running askew, and that I can immediately recognize that, and to spend my days and nights diligently working on reaching my potential with the unbridled determination. That's why we MAists are ALWAYS STUDENTS FIRST, and for us teachers of the MA, TEACHERS SECOND!! I always tell my students, and myself...You/I can always do better!!

I think that you're missing my point. My point is my being dead set against ever teaching a ONE DAY self-defense class; with never returning for continued focused targeted regular classes ever again!! I've taught those ONE DAY self-defense classes in the past, usually held on a Saturday afternoon with its participants primarily being females. My mind was changed when my Dai-Soke firmly asked me... "What are you doing teaching ONE DAY Shindokan classes; Shindokan can't be learnt in ONE DAY!!" After I explained to him my reasons, which fell on deaf ears, he just repeated himself with more emphasis on that Shindokan can't be learned in ONE DAY. After I thought over what he said, I never conducted another ONE DAY self-defense class ever again. Nothing much can be taught in a day to much proficiency, however everything starts from a first day at school even for Dai-Soke.Right, but Dai-Soke didn't ever attend a ONE DAY self-defense class, to never return to the floor ever again, like many ONE DAY self-defense class participants still do!! Instead he took his very first class in Shindokan...he stayed on the floor for many, many fruitful decades to come!!

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

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

Welcome to KF, Theochh; glad that you're here!! What does your heart tell you?? Accept that which your heart expresses, and go with your heart!! Are you wanting to continue in Shotokan?? Are you wanting to rejoin your last governing body?? If, of course, you're wanting to start in a completely different MA, then joining as a white belt/beginner is the right thing to do. I seriously believe, from what I've gathered from your OP, that rank means absolutely nothing to you, and in that, knowledge and experience are paramount to your MA journey. Flexibility will return, but in its own time; I'd not ever rush that, and that's the smart thing. So, if you've selected the dojo you want to join, then what I'd suggest to you is that you go speak to that dojo's CI, and then decide from there!! In the options that you've noted in your OP, I'd say this about them... Only if you're not continuing in Shotokan training. However, if you're continuing in Shotokan training, then no!! Whenever any Shindokanist returns, and they've already earned a Shodan or above in Shindokan, and they've been away for any amount of time, one, they will continue to wear their black belt because, once a black belt, always a black belt; they earned it. Albeit, they'll not be invited to any Testing Cycles for advancement, but only Testing Cycles to bring them back to the their appropriate level, and then be invited to the Testing Cycle for that Shodan or above. I'm not fond of this because it speaks more about the importance of rank, and not the importance of increasing knowledge and experience for ones MA betterment. This also speaks of impatience and immaturity in the MAist, which should never be the hallmark of any MAist. You've gotten off the horse for solid reasons, so, just get make on the horse. Once you're back on the horse, things will improve as you knock off all of the dust and rust, and you start polishing. There, right there, speaks in volumes that your muscle memory is STILL IN TACT, and hasn't left you!! Sure, dust and rust will be evident, but will fade away in time, however long that might be. Flexibility will also return!! After all, you've no longer that young whippersnapper whatsoever. Patience shall be your ally in your returning to the floor; proof is on the floor!! Train hard and train well!! EDIT: Spelling and grammar

I think that you're missing my point. My point is my being dead set against ever teaching a ONE DAY self-defense class; with never returning for continued focused targeted regular classes ever again!! I've taught those ONE DAY self-defense classes in the past, usually held on a Saturday afternoon with its participants primarily being females. My mind was changed when my Dai-Soke firmly asked me... "What are you doing teaching ONE DAY Shindokan classes; Shindokan can't be learnt in ONE DAY!!" After I explained to him my reasons, which fell on deaf ears, he just repeated himself with more emphasis on that Shindokan can't be learned in ONE DAY. After I thought over what he said, I never conducted another ONE DAY self-defense class ever again.

The difference from a one day self-defense class and a focus targeted seminar are night and day. Forget about the bottom line because that bottom line isn't, and shouldn't be, the focus of any MA school. The focus is misdirected away from what is being taught MA wise. Financial security is necessary for the MA school, but it must never be the primary concern. Imho!!

Solid post!! Going on your own will limit you to the Nth degree, due to exactly what Tempest has posted, as well as the negative muscle memory, a memory that will be hard to break away from...not impossible, but quite near impossible depending on how long that negative muscle memory has been around. Without a qualified instructor, how will you ever know what's right or what's wrong when you do it or don't do it...before it's way too late?!?!?

Solid post!! Again, like your Sensei, I don't want nor need a governing body; proof is on the floor, and not what's around ones waist or what shingle one hangs outside their dojo doors. My dojo hasn't been affected with the SKKA closing at all. Yes, the affiliation decal and certificates have been removed, and it didn't gain any attention from my student bod that they were missing...and the decal couldn't ever be missed...it's of a good size...the certificate of affiliation could be missed among all of the other things that are hanging in the lobby, dojo floor, and my office. Having a panel is what I've been doing at my dojo for as long as I can remember, and the few Seniors I have are always seconding beside me. I suppose it's become more of a habit having a small panel because that's what our Hombu under Soke and Dai-Soke always did; habits are hard to do otherwise. The really weird thing will be not going to the Hombu for any Testing Cycle for Godan and up; which was a strict requirement of the SKKA. So, whenever I finally have a Godan or above Testing Cycle at my dojo, it will be a first for me.

You're correct, but with my experience and knowledge, and the more I toy with the idea, the more I don't want/need to create a governing body. Perhaps I'll discuss it more with my Student Body, and put it to a vote. Anyone know of any CI's personally that have splintered away and have NOT gone the path of forming their own governing body??? If so, have they regretted not doing so?? I mean, who is the heck needs a governing body?? Governing Bodies birth the air of politics, and politics can destroy whatever it touches and bring contempt on its heels. My advantage is that can conduct a Testing Cycle up to the rank of Nanadan on my own, and I've enough Senior Dan students of mine to sit on the panel as well. After all, proof is on the floor, anyway!!

No, I'm sorry I've never used that particular piece of equipment before!!

Well, in light of the SKKA's decision(s) to permanently close down the SKKA, more sooner than later, and quite many other SKKA CI's are splintering, well, maybe splintering isn't an accurate word because the SKKA has to be in operation first to be splintered away from. Albeit, they're starting to create their own little governing body, or not even starting one, or being associated with one; they've got to do whatever they want to protect their immediate Student Body. So, for grins and giggles, I've decided to protect my immediate Student Body, I will be starting a new governing body...SKKF [shindokan Karate-do and Kobudo Federation]...it's in its infantile stage right now; just some notes on a legal pad. I really don't want to or need to or have to, but if need be, I will to protect my immediate Student Body. Life sometime can be a sun-of-a-gun; I would love for the Earth to stop just long enough for me to jump off of it.

Solid post!! Each of you have presented solid arguments against my mindset across the board, and whatever you're doing, it works very well for you. Thank you!!