Roys15

It is common at our Blackbelt testings for sensei to hand a student a tonfa and a sai, or tonfa/sword, sai/kama,etc. and tell the student to perform a specific kata. The reasons for this are twofold I believe. One to demonstrate that the basic principles behind any weapon are generally the same, and two to test the students improvisation ability. I've welded two weapons of a different sort, and I've seen several people do it. It's all about the basics.

Sorry late response, I know. I just look around in class to see people struggling with things they should already know for their rank. For me personally, when I turn to a higher rank and ask him to show me a kata or technique, and he can't do it, it makes me wonder why I just bowed to him. I just think that the threat of losing rank would keep us all sharp. yeah, you "earned" your rank in testing, but if you can't repeeat it, did you really learn it and earn it?

Easy, if she doesn't meet the requirements fail her, but tell her exactly why you did. Try and light a fire under her

Im gonna rant for a minute, so please excuses my pigheadedness I have argued this point in other discussions on this site, but adults gotta realize-kids ain't stoopid. While I agree that most u13's don't have the ability to teach class, many will surprise you. As aforementioned, maturity and ability should be determined on a case by case basis. As for those that say a small person wouldn't be able to do throws and what not to larger people, are you min the right style? If I were learning or teaching such things I would want to be sure the technique worked on folks of all sizes. If you're training in a style that doesn't teach you how to take town bigger folks, well, you're dead. And junior blackbelts? Really? Why junior ranks at all? Is this not the grandest form of watering down a style? Why not go ahead and hold kids to a higher standard? Adults hold kids to a higher standard all the time, now suddenly you want to hold a child down? At something this child presumably loves to do. For what reason? If you hold children to a different, lower ranking system than adults, of course you'll never want to learn from them. If you hold kids below your level how can you expect ever to surpass anyone? All that being said, I believe your instructor should at least be able to get them self to class. So the minimum age for a solo instructor should be sixteen(or drivers license age). One cannot learn to teach unless given the chance.

There are certain styles of martial arts designed specifically for bodyguards. If you are charged with protecting another, you must realize that your life means nothing! Fear of death(whether your own or an opponent's) is not an option for a protector. When defending oneself, your incapacitation is acceptable, because you are just looking after yourself, but in a protector status you cannot fail in your attempts to incapacitate an attacker, because then you have not only killed yourself, you have also effectively murdered your charge(s). But here is the real question you must ask yourself: If one is ready, willing and eager to attack you, then do you not provide protection for humanity itself? If any Martial Arts practitioner fails to incapacitate an aggressor, has he not failed his purpose? one who attacks another will hurt all others. Martial Artists are humanity's body guards.

Here's the baseline: If you submit you ARE going to get raped, and possibly beaten or killed. If you fight back with all your might, you may not get raped, beaten or killed. submission=sure thing, fight=possible salvation

Thanks for the replies yall...

I currently train in chito-ryu yoshukai, and I read somewhere that Dr. Chitose was influenced by chinese styles in his studies. I was just wondering which style(s) influenced him so.

No, it's not the Domeitrich lineage. It's the Chitose-> Kasuoh Yamamoto-> Ray Nichols lineage . They (the sais) are held vertically when by your sides.

Sensei Ray Nichols... ...nuff said

That would be another serious question, would a jury treat you unfairly because you're a registered lethal weapon?

I take chito-ryu yoshukai, and these zai are very good for trapping and locking other weapons. The handles are wrapped with nylon cord and are made in two sizes (adult and child size). They are made of iron or stainless, depending... I believe that they are made by a private blacksmith.

You can see a picture here: http://www.karateforums.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=447

They are made that way for better balance.

Oops this should probably be in the comparative styles forum...Oh well...