Wa-No-Michi

Thanks Joe, Well full credit to your instructor, but personally I am note sure that I would be happy to have to do this. Of course all teachers are parents by proxy, and we all want what is best for the kids (I am a Father of 2) but like you, I am not one for corporal punishment as I think there is risk that it can backfire. I suppose I would go the extra mile on the odd occasion, but tbh I don't have the resource to lavish too much attention on one child too often. I have twenty other children in my class that are deserved of equal amounts of my attention. By the sounds of it though, his fellow students did a great job in making him feel that he was part of the club and by being accepted, he began to enjoy his training and applied himself to it. This is exactly the model that I try to promote. Some times the big stick approach isnt the best way.

Hi John, I know how frustrating it is to loose a post due to being timed out. As a precautionary measure I usually take a copy of the text just in case. As for thoughts, I don't disagree with anything you have said, but I do think that it can be taken to the extreme and can dominate the dojo. As for the Do vs Jutsu argument, well thats an entire thread by itself, but I agree that a well run "functional" Dojo should, and will engender good character and of course the "ultimate" goal of a lot of ma is "self improvement" mine included. It is my belief however that you can promote all of the above, without having to run a club like a boot camp. I think you get better results actually.

It depends how you define traditional really. How far back do you want to go, as the way karate classes were taught has changed over time. Certainly as Karate grew in popularity (and by the time it reached the shores of Japan) in the early part of the twentieth century, teaching techniques became more "military" like in order to cope with the larger classes. Arguably prior this Karate was taught on a more personal level and for that matter there probably were no curriculums "back in the days". As far as "Traditional" karate is percieved today however, my group is part of the Japan Karate Federation and I am fortunate to be able to train with the senior instructors based in Japan - It probably doesn't get more "traditional" than that. The structure of discipline is based on a hierarchical model ("Senpai / Kohai"). The Senpai is in command of his fellow students and he in turn does everything the Sensei requests of him and his troops. If any students need to have their knuckles rapped this is usually done by the Senpai, not the Sensei (as it is not his job). Like most things Japanese it is very structured / strict to the point that I think the western mind struggles to grasp the need for it to this degree. I suppose it does have a sort of "romance" to it and I can see why people would like it. I certainly don't ignore all of it at my club, but I just don't go the whole nine yards as it were. I think to an extent some clubs go mad into it to somehow "authenticate" their karate, but as I said before my feelings are that as long as students and instructors have respect for one and other, the discipline comes automatically. Joe, I completely agree with you, and goodness forbid, I would never do anything or teach in such a way that would detract from this. I have a question back to you then Joe... If you have a youngster join your group who is shall we say a bit wayward, would you consider it your job (if you were his instructor) to try and straighten him/her out? Do you think that his parents have a right to expect that from you if they enroll him at you club?

I would say that I bye product of joining some ma clubs is discipline, but personally I don't put it as a major priority in terms of the "added value" factor. I certainly don't consider it as part of my job as an instructor to "instill" this in my students as an act by itself. As adults they either have it or they don't. As kids, well TBH thats their parents job. Even if you "play" at sparing as you put it John, would you say that makes the club a McDojo? I am not sure I agree that all clubs are falling down the "McD" pan, and I don't think that "protocol strictness"makes any difference in terms of the quality of training.

What a coincidence ! I have heard my instructor say this many times. That being able to kick HIGH doesn't mean you are a great kicker. It just means you can kick high. There are people who can kick high, but it's not a "great kick" if you know what I mean. Then there are people who can only kick low, yet their kicks are beautifully executed and effective against their opponent. Quality not height (or something to that effect) This is so funny we were discussing this last night in class about the heighth of kicks in a self defense situation. and I agree with you it is not the heighth of your kicks, it is about proper technique and the effectiveness against your opponent. If you think about it, how many "traditional" Katas are there with high kicks? Very few, if any.

I agree with your sentiments here tg. I am a reluctant sensei at the best of times and although I address my seniors accordingly, to be honest as long as my students don't call me a rude name, they can call me what they want... inside or outside of the dojo. I have always worked on the basis that if you, as an instructor; train hard, conduct yourself in the appropriate way and are honest, your students will respect you anyway - without you having to insist they call you sensei, sir maam etc. The same applies on a student 2 student level. With the children at our clubs, it is often the other adult instructors who will refer to me in the third party as "Sensei" and without prompting, most of the children refer to me as such (not that I insist or am that bothered if they don't). Children seem to be more at home with title / rank thing. I would say it helps actually. Adults are different IME and if they choose to refer to me by title in the dojo (not that I have one really) they can, outside though, I will insist they call me by my first name, and that goes with the kids too. I am quite relaxed this way as I tend to think time is better spent doing good Karate rather than worrying too much about un necessary protocol. As long as you train safe, well and with good respect... no problem. Each to their own though.

I'm with JAKEHE3078 on this one. We don't have grading ranks identified on our belt anyway. Also, most of the seniors in my group tend to tuck the belt ends back through their belts, so the ends don't hang down. As I understand it, the belt ends hanging down thingy is a relatively modern invention and originally, the obi ends were tucked away to stop them hanging. There are numerous photos of the likes of Funkoshi and Mabuni etc. wearing their belt this way. As far as tying the belt correctly well... thats a whole thread by it self I think. 1. Do you overlap your belt when you wrap it round or 2. Do a cross over thing at the back 3. Left over right or right over left 4. do you have the belts ends coming out of the top or bottom of the knot etc.etc. And goodness forbid if you ever have to wear Hakama!!!

How does your school display the "stripes" at dan grade. Do you have the little gold bars at the bottom of the belt to delineate between same?

"Without count", is good way to put it. Principle being (as sensei8 mentions), is not to be restricted to someone else's timing - be that of your instructor (in order to teach you the kata (by the number as it were)), or your peers. You have to make the kata your own, and make it "live" as oposed to "igata". And welcome to the forum crow.

So how did you get on Norbert. We are all waiting with bated breath I am sure. BTW, Norbert is a great name. I haven't heard it for years, but it instantly brought to mind the famous British literary character of "Norbert Colon"; who in the words of Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, was (allegedly) "as tight as a gnats chuff". Whatever that means.

Yes, Patrick is quite right, thanks for sharing this sensei8 TBH, I am not a great lover of anecdotes and metaphors, but I understand that they do have their place in terms of focusing the mind. I just think perhaps, that there are more salient / functional ways to get these sort of points over. But thats just me.

Got to be honest, these sort of things don't float my boat. But if you enjoy it then great. Thanks....I think! I just can't win! How do you mean sensei8?

In my group, the requirement for shodan are "technically" less complicated than for 1st kyu. Theory being that up to 1st Kyu you should have covered (academically at least) virtualy all of your school's syllabus. 1st dan (in our group anyway) is a demonstration that you have a better undersatnding and ability to perform "fundamental" techniques more accurately. Through 2nd, 3rd and 4th dan etc., is when you consolidate the techniques found within the entire syllabus.

Got to be honest, these sort of things don't float my boat. But if you enjoy it then great.

I don't know about other MAs but for TKD most, if not all, of the major GB associations are under the British Taekwondo Council (BTC) who provide insurance, including indemnity for coaches/instructors etc. where steps have been taken to reasonably minimise risk. Unless it is negligence and it really was too dangerous, the instructor is rarely liable. "...where steps have been taken to reasonably minimise risk." Yep!, that includes the appropriate grade matching thingy.

Unless you live on the North Pole (or Alaska) I bet there is an MA club within 20 miles of you.

What is it you are looking for Karatefighter? I mean apart form a good book to read. If you really want to learn Karate, join a club and start to train. You can not possibly experience what real Karate means, until you start this process. Off course, you have to do your homework first, but it seems you have narrowed it down to traditional Karate as what you want, so the next step (I would suggest) is joining a trad club in your area. I would go for Shotokan if I were you. WNM

Says it all really. WNM

£5.00 GBP = $7.43 USD At todays rate.

And thats my point really. Re the insurance thing. Here in the UK, one of the main causes of accidents is what the insurance companies refer to as "inappropriate grade matching" when it comes to sparing, and as in instructor you should be very aware of the abilities of everyone in your club in order to match them appropriately. I totally agree rockdan btw with your comments on guidance of new students (both experience and inexperienced), but if I remember rightly the op mentioned about sparing. Personally I would be reluctant to let any newcomer to my dojo loose on sparing the first time I met them. But maybe thats just me. I like to train safe at the end of the day.

Hi Patrick, First, thanks a lot for allowing my suggestion. Very Kind of you. Second, respect to you with your description above, as I think you are spot on. Even in the most traditional terms, most Japanese ma buy in to the principle of Shu-Ha-Ri, which in a nutshell, is the qualified process of change or "evolution". They have to, because failing this the art would die.

I agree with this, I have only touched on it with a koryu group that a train with (now and then), but it is a good exercise. Bushido_man you practice Aikido, have you started randori yet?

Hi sensei8, I see your preferences are bias toward the sweeps and throws that can be interpreted here. Your list of techniques would be more familiar to Judo-ka than Karate-ka perhaps. Thing is, how many doors do you need to open (as you put it) in order to cover all possible scenarios?

Just so I understand you post ozpunker, when you say "tips" with your grading, are you talking about remarks from the examiner, or endorsement marks on your belt (IE orange with one stripe). Eitherway, you are entitled to feed back but as the other guys hav pointed out you need to do this respectfully.

Not really, as my art doesn't have to update itself per-se. It is comprehensive enough however for practitioners to be able to adapt it to suit modern application.