sensei8

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...SING IT WITH ME EVERYONE...Happy Birthday dear JR, Happy Birthday to you...and many more!! Have a good, safe, and fun birthday, JR!!

Congrats with you earning your Sandan; feels great, huh?!? My hardest Testing Cycle was, by far, my Hachidan's. Dai-Soke put me through the paces as though I stole something from him.

Train hard and good luck, KeithBerg!!

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

Speak with that school's CI before your first day in order to find out that school's proper etiquette/Kun. Many school's don't like, or find it improper, or are offended by it, to use that word for whatever their reason(s) might be. Just because we know some Japanese or Korean or whatever word(s) and/or some phrase(s) through our exposure at the school/dojo, doesn't mean were fluent of any varying degree, or that we're sensitive to that cultures acceptable approach. I used that very word my first time I went to Okinawa with both our Soke and Dai-Soke, who were both born and raised in Okinawa, and I was sorely reprimanded because what I did was very rude and offensive to them, as well as to our guests. In short time, you'll soon discover that you'll not use that word in that school because no one's else using that word. It's the out-of-sight-out of-mind through new programming; aka, when in Rome mentality. But again, speak with the CI asap about that word, and any other concerns you might have. Information about what one is unaware of is a powerful thing.

To the bold, this is a student. I would enforce the wearing of the white belt as well. In total agreement with your instructor. My question is, if you accept these students who insist on wearing belts from other schools/organizations/styles of MA, what kind of students are they actually going to turn out to be? Ones that expect their way every time? That precedent has already been set from day one. Will they cherry pick techniques rather than actually learn the techniques’ context within the art, let alone the entire art (or as much as an entire art can possibly be learned)? Wanting or better yet insisting on wearing a belt from elsewhere says a lot about the prospective student to me. And not very much of it is good, to put it mildly. My CI had a great line in there somewhere. It went along the lines of “how ridiculous would it be for me to expect to wear my 7th dan belt and be treated as a 7th dan on my first day as a judo student? I’d be just like everyone else who stepped onto a judo mat for the first time - a white belt.” I really can’t top that line. Totally agree. Unfortunately there are those that think that because they earned it (in another style/art) they shouldn't have to go through the process again. They think they should be extended some sort of courtesy as if what they accomplished should be accepted and transfer to your art. Many, many moons ago a 8th dan in TKD visited our school and wished to take a class. My Shinshii told him he was welcome to take a class and told him to return on a day and at a time. He entered our Dojo in his Dobok (not sure of spelling) and was wearing his belt. I was teaching the class (Mudansha) and he noticed my grade (Sandan at the time) and realized that the students were beginner and intermediate grades. My Shinshii, as was his way, was sitting in his office watching me and the class. The 8th Dan saw him and walked a bee line into his office and shut the door behind him. Not sure of the content of the discussion but after a minute of discussion Shinshii handed the man a white belt and pointed at the class as he muttered something. The 8th Dan stormed out of his office, threw the Obi across the floor and left. When the class was over and it was just me and Shinshii, he told me that no matter what grade I reach never allow it to go to my head. He said that a true MA'ist always maintains a beginners mind and as such doesn't care what color belt is tied around their waste. The next week he came into the Dojo, as if to make his point, carrying a box. He walked to the front of the class and opened it and started passing out white belts. No one knew what to make of it until Shinshii himself removed his belt and put on the white belt. He then instructed us all to do the same. We all wore white belts for a month. At the end of this period he asked us, "did wearing a different colored belt change your level of skill", "Did you feel differently"? To this he added "you make the belt not the other way around, we are all students of the art no matter what grade you wear. When you reach that place that you have nothing left to learn you can wear any belt you choose and anywhere you like, but until then your still students". Since then I and so many others have utilized this lesson with our students and ourselves when ever grade/rank/belts/titles become whats important rather than our training. I figure if I can remove my grade and dawn a white belt in my own art I should have no issue wearing it in any other art. If you enter a new art under a new teacher in a new Dojo, you are a beginner. Beginners wear a white belt. No one cares what belt or title you hold in another art. I figure if you really love that belt that much and insist of wearing it, then you should do so in your own Dojo. In mine you'll wear a white belt and if you join at the right time you might see me doing the same. I just don't get how wearing a belt (any belt) somehow diminishes you or elevates you. The belt is a representation of you. In your art it represents your a BB. In a new art the white belt represents you as well, as a beginner. In my mind you're not much of a BB if such trivial things are so important to you. Solid post; especially the immediate bold type above!! Rank has become apocryphally world wide because of the stature that it's been given without cause. It's [rank] nothing more than a thing; completely unimportant. The floor judges rank unfairly because the floor doesn't see rank, but only the practitioner on the floor; one chance to make an impression, so make it a good one. If one can't make a good impression, then either get off the floor or avoid the floor.

Guest Instructor, yes!! Student, no; not even in the slightest.

At the very least 1st degree black belt. You're not wanting us to validate you, rank wise, are you?? Because if you are, I apologize, but, I bow out of this thread all together. I've been way to long on the floor to entertain that type of thing.

Solid OP, Noah!! Solid posts, barefoot-kohai and MatsuShinshii as well!!

Sorry, I will not grade this because rank is completely unimportant across the board!! Since YOU asked...What rank do YOU think it is??

By all means, Happy Father's Day to everyone; be safe and have fun!!

Learning the Kata is piece-meal; a little at any given time, not too much so as to not overwhelm the student, particularly the beginners. The Kata IS separate FROM the Kata; neither are taught ever the same. Kata is the paragraphs while the Bunkai is the chapters of said book [The name of said Kata]. With beginners, during group classes, I do throw them into the mix. It is follow the leader, and other students around them, while my Sempai's keep a very close eye on them; all of the time, I'm darting in and out with corrections as necessary. All of the time, Bunkai is being taught. Either along with said Kata, AND/OR Bunkai applications through segments, tiny, never numerous, to avoid overwhelming the students. Too much can spoil the learning. Plus, we teach resisting training from day one!! I've dozens and dozens of ways that I teach Kata/Bunkai, and never the same way because students are not the same. I'm a staunch proponent of the three K's: Kihon, Kata, and Kumite, and that they ALL must be taught, and without any ambiguity whatsoever. If all your dojo does is Kata and no effective Bunkai, then you're being sold tainted goods. Kumite is the horsepower that drives the engine, Kihon and the transmission, Kata. Kata and Bunkai have to be taken apart and put back together over and over and over forever and ever; baby steps to the most finite detail because there's more than one way to skin a cat. ASK QUESTIONS: DOUBT what you're being taught, but at all times, be respectfully of your CI, and refer back to your CI over anyone else. If you're not doing as much Kihon AND Kumite with your Kata, then, your dojo might be setting you up for failure across the board. Time!! Be an intimate friend with time because it will take endless time to learn whatever it is that the MA is teaching. Nothing happens overnight!! Generally speaking, and imho!!

Congrats, shortyafter; well deserved!! Doubt?! Welcome to the MA. Seriously, what I know about you, through your posts here, is that you're doing fine. You respect the process across the board, and your MA journey has just begun. Doubts are erased by the endless Aha moments through Shu Ha Ri that you'll experience for the rest of your life. I got your back; you've got my support!!

Either way, hopefully XtremeTrainer will further explain the "Christopher" thing to us, if possible. My offering of a possibility as to why wasn't received well, and I'm cool with that because I could be so far off base.

We, of the SKKA, do not interfere with dojo politics whatsoever because we respectfully honor the boundaries that exist between the dojo's and the Governing Body, us; they've their agenda and we've ours. Understand, at the SKKA's earliest days of a spouting network of dojo's, the SKKA DID interfere with dojo politics heavily. However, that was very short lived once Soke realized just how damaging that was to the whole, and not just to the parts; that made all of the differences. Sure, the SKKA still does visit ever dojo within the SKKA network, with a visual presence, but that role is purely supportive, and not dictatorial.

Just move; don't overthink any movement. If the CI corrects you and/or doesn't correct you, then so be it, it's for a reason; it's a win-win either way. With your experience, any experience, the CI will correct only what's necessary, and will not bother with the smallest details. Just be yourself, train hard, and don't worry about anything. The CI will respect your experience beyond what you've might've already told him once your on the floor. Learning a new styles methodologies and ideologies is all part of transitioning from the familiar to the not so familiar. Besides, you already have accepted that you're a beginner in Shotokan, even though TSD has a solid connection between the two.

Also, if one did take the decades to master each of the individual arts that went into creating Kaj, I think something would still be lost - the synergy. One guy who "knows" (I hate using that word) all five arts wouldn't (imho) be the same as fives guys, each knowing one, meshing them together and identifying how each compliments or detracts from the other. Solid post!!

I believe that XtremeTrainer's use of the name "Christopher" was in reference to A MAN, and not just a name, which is a male name. So, XtremeTrainer wouldn't hold anything back against A MAN, but he would possibly hold back against A WOMAN!! I could be mistaken!!

Once again, you're loyalty to your style's methodology and ideology is right on point, and should be commended despite what other styles insist upon, as if their way is superior to the way your learning and training in; heel up or heel down is, and always will be, the preference of said style/practitioner. Train hard and train well!!

Is our body meant for combat? Not really - we have a lot of exposed weak spots; we'd have no chance cage-fighting the tiger. We have the strength of an animal, because we an animal, however, we tend to get in our own way, and we muddle the whole thing up faster than not. Toughness we already have, but it's tempered by many internal, doubt, and external dependents, that which we're facing at that very moment, and oftentimes than not, I believe that we're made perfectly for running away from whatever in the hopes we can fight another day, if it becomes an absolute. Why is it that we MAists would rather avoid a fight/combat than engage in a fight/combat??

But if my knee is parallell to the ground when connecting compared to vertical? Which is the proper roundkick configuration? Whenever I do a side kick or a roundhouse kick, my kicking knee is pointing to the side as my support foot turns 180 degrees away from the target. If I do a front kick, my kicking knee is pointing up. If I do a back kick, my kicking knee is pointing down as I turn my supporting foot 180 degrees away from the target.

Momentarily before the heel comes to rests, quite often and normally. For nothing, did anyone notice his left foot shape, kind of a wave shape.

Solid post!!

I hear you. In Shindokan we never block, we receive; requires quite a lot of maturity across the borad.

Styles of the MA have different methodologies and ideologies. As I've mentioned before, we, in Shindokan pivot on our heels when it's necessary; primarily in our close range and Tuite. We've many techniques that the heel MUST be in contact with the ground; for the most, at the very end of said technique. Who walks only on their ball and/or heel?? I don't. I use the entire bottom of my foot whenever I go from point 'A' to point 'B', like whenever I'm walking to the store or to the inside of the store or when I'm walking around inside the store. I like to those moves you refer to if possible, are there any clips on YouTube you can direct me to? Check out Mr. Rick Hotten's video's; he's Shotokan and solid!!