sensei8

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!!

Great topic...one I love because I get this question all of the time!! The short answer is... There are a lot of material to cover, depending on what Rank is being tested, and the integrity of the Testing Cycle is too far important then to just wax over it in a short cut manner. The Testing Cycle will take care of itself; it always has, and it always will. Whether the Testing Cycle takes an unruly amount of hours or days, be in the moment of the Testing Cycle by doing one's very best...whatever happens, happens....let the Testing Cycle take care of itself.

Yeah, that's quite unfortunate to hear. Sorry, Wayofaswede!! What are your plans, if any, to continue on your MA journey?? You've come quite a way, since you took your very first MA lesson; one that I am so proud of you across the board. You did what you were suppose to do, and with every issue, you upheld the maxim that says....7 times down, 8 times up!! I've enjoyed reading this thread, thoroughly, about your MA journey. Hopefully, this is just a temporary hiccup in the MA journey!! Hang in there!! Train hard, and train well, as often as possible!!

Oftentimes, transitions can be difficult to negotiate through learning that styles methodology. This can depend on how long one had been doing a style; teaching a new muscle memory a new way can be quite frustrating. I believe that it's similar to when someone becomes fluent in more than one language; which one do they dream in while asleep...or...is their that pause as the brain switches form one to another, and then back, and then to another. I've dealt with this, what you're experiencing, each time I would learn another's methodology concerning their technique(s); this can be a pit fall for any type of cross training. I've a very close friend that subs at a local dojo from time to time. His core style is TKD, but when he subs, he teaches Shorin-ryu. He found that difficult at first because he'd refer from Shorin-ryu right back to TKD right in the middle of teaching, in which he'd have to correct himself so as not to confuse the students. Keep at it!! After all, as the old saying says...Practice makes perfect.

So it will have Donny Yen?? In that case, I will check it out!! Thanks, Bulltahr for the heads-up!! Any idea when it might be released and to what venue/media?? I do enjoy Donny's movies quite a lot; I thought that Donny did an excellent job in Star Wars: Rogue One!!

Sorry, I've not seen it yet!! Without going to the internet, can you tell us about it briefly?? Thanks!!

18 years!! Happy 18th Birthday, KF!! Can someone say....20 years is just around the corner....WOW!! Thank you, Patrick for the highlighting us KF KF Staffer's!! I mean, the numbers are staggering, to say the least. I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every second being part of the Dynamic 9, and for being on Staff here at KF. Thank you, Patrick for all that you do; without your consistency, across the board, this would be just another place!! We've some AMAZING members here at KF!! Awesome comes to mind quite a lot when I think back all of those many years, and we keep finding the cream of the crop members. Happy Birthday, KarateForums.com!!!!

Congrats, scohen0300; well deserved!!