SaxonPig

I do get paid by the college (about $25 per hour which is less than I usually make). Not paid for teaching at the dojo where I train (well, I don't pay for my training which means about $7 per hour compensation for teaching ). Money isn't everything. I do it to support my instructor and to promote the art. Is that kooky?

Trained twice a week for a long time. Then was asked to teach a couple classes. So I was up to four classes per week. Then head instructor opened second location and I started going over there three times a week as well as taking the classes at the first place. Now going to class seven times each week. Teaching two and training in five. Recently offered to teach two classes at the college where I work. That made nine total per week. Four teaching and five training. College classes so popular the dean wants to add two more starting next week. That will mean I am going to class 11 times each week. Teaching six and training in five. First time the number I am teaching exceeds the number in which I practice. Of course this is all on top of my regular job. Right now I am pretty beat by the end of the week. Guess I'll get tough or die.

Perfect. Thank you.

Anyone know a site where I can find the katas needed for Dan ranks in the SKIF system?

... the head instructor pauses during the bowing out at the end of class to tell you (in front of everyone else in the room) to review the requirements for your next rank and start getting ready to test? Which brings up a question. Do you prefer knowing about a test well in advance of the date; shortly before the date; or do you favor the "while we're here, let's test you for you next rank" method? I have done the last to kyu-ranked students and except for the initial shock they seem to like it. Less time to get nervous, maybe.

There is no universal standard. Every style, system, school and instructors make its/his own rules and sets criteria. My first instructor believed that Shodan meant you had mastered the basics. He thought at least 5 years was right for Shodan and it often took 6 for many students. Took me 6.5 years. Looking back I am amazed more students didn't give up and quit. Many did, but I am surprised it wasn't more. My current instructor thinks Shodan means you have learned the basics. He thinks an average student should be promoted in 4 years and an athletic one in 3.5 years. This seems fast to me but I have spoken with two men who earned black belts at local schools in far less time than that. Both said they felt unworthy of the rank and grew disappointed with their training. Interesting. One local dojo advertises a black belt program that takes six months at two classes per week. I don't think I could take such a black belt seriously. I may not totally agree 100% on every detail, but I mainly agree with the philosophy espoused by my current instructor. Shodan in about 4 years, at Godan (5th) you should have learned the system totally and can do it all with expertise. Beyond that rank is awarded for effort, promoting the art, and time in service.

Your choice to refuse rank advancement. Rank is fairly meaningless anyway as there is no universal standard. I have seen some folks walking around with 7 or 8 stripes on their belts who were clowns. I heard of a Shotokan sandan who didn't recognize a kata required for green belt. My first instructor was tight with rank promotions. After 17 years I was still a nidan. At the time I didn't really worry about it. I dropped out for a long time and then started with a new instructor who has a much different attitude. He is much more willing to make promotions and is much faster with them. He made me a sandan about 16 months after I joined his dojo and I believe he has no reservations about rewarding serious effort with serious rank. Although I am mainly interested in self improvement and didn't spend much time thinking about rank, I admit that I enjoyed being promoted after so long a wait. I think that doing your best and letting the rank chips fall where they may is preferable to either straining for promotion or deliberately avoiding it.

Hmmm... Supposed to be some well known guys. Guess I don't feel so stupid for not having heard of them before now.

Kick... punch... strike... block. All styles are variations on a theme.

Since there are no universally agreed to standards for rank advancement, rank is fairly meaningless outside your own style/system/school. I have learned not to worry about it.

Thank you. My search for "Kuriyama" turned up nothing useful. Kazuo Kuriyama is indeed the man I asked about. He was a Kenkojuku stylist who taught at Way of Japan in Fresno, CA in the 1967-1972 period. I think he was a Yondan at the time of his premature death. I found that first link interesting. With a little more experience God can almost match Bernie Fleeman's accomplishments, no? Fleeman claims to have taught at Way of Japan at 14. Funny, I don't recall hearing of him or any other 14 year old instructors at that dojo (I was there 1973-1988) and frankly, I find the claim rather fantastic. Maybe someone else has some info on the other two gentleman?

Please forgive my ignorance but I have virtually no knowledge of Japanese karateka and I am hoping somebody can fill me in a little bit about these two men. Masahiko Tanaka (I hope I spelled it correctly). As I understand it he's in his late 60s and has a reputation as a real tough guy and a Hell of a tournament fighter back in the day. Masaki Soto (or Soto Masaki, not sure which is correct). I am told he is well along in years and is very highly ranked in both karate and judo. I would appreciate any biographical info or other factoids. Thanks. While I'm at it, does anyone know of a Japanese Shotokan practitioner who was living in the U.S. (maybe Calif.) and was tragically killed in a car crash around 1972 or so? Last name was Kuriyama (again, hope I didn't butcher the spelling) and first name is unknown.

Actually, it is partly based on how many katas you know.

BM96- I can understand avoiding obsession with rank advancement, but my point was that too little is also a bad thing. As for the man's comment about belts not getting any darker, that response really did not address the issue or answer the question. I think the students deserved a better answer than what was offered.

All styles have strong points and all are effective when used properly. There is no "best" style for everyone. I find it disheartening to hear people disparage another style when they really don't know what they are talking about. As a long time Shotokan practitioner I always get a kick out of people who say the deep stances aren't practical, or that all a Shotokan guy can do is reverse punch from a front stance. The higher level Shotokan katas include techniques that are very "soft" in nature, looking like Kenpo moves more than traditional Japanese karate. It's all good. People in other styles are always so shocked to learn that we do such techniques in Shotokan.

What does it mean to be a black belt? What is art? What is the nature of God? All questions for which there is an endless variety of answers. I was told that shodan meant one understood the basics and one was accepted as a serious student. Sandan was considered "instructor rank" and as such one was qualified to teach and make rank promotions. One was said to be taken seriously at the sandan level. The godan meant that the individual had achieved mastery of the system. All ranks beyond godan were awarded for years of service and other intangibles as by the time most people reached that level the physical body was in state of decline and it was unrealistic to expect physical improvement to continue. But I always wondered where nidan and yondan fit into this description? Stepping stones? As noted by others, there is no universal standard for rank. This means that all rank is actually rather meaningless except to the individual being awarded the rank and the person bestowing said rank. I have to question the legitimacy of a 10 year old nidan. IMO 4-5 years should be expected to reach shodan and an additional 3-4 for nidan. Young children usually require a bit longer than do adults because of physical and emotional limitations. Did this kid start training when he was an embryo? My first instructor was extremely stingy in awarding rank. I'm not sure why. Maybe he wanted to maintain high standards but this can be carried too far. I saw guys at that dojo who worked hard, were very talented, and had been training for up to 20 years who were still nidans with no sign of any promotion on the horizon. In fact, nobody at that school was ever promoted beyond nidan in the 16 years I was there. When asked about dan rank the instructor would simply say "Your black belt doesn't get any darker with promotions." I found that answer too glib. I think rank should be mainly recognition for accomplishment, effort, and spirit. But I believe it is also to reward and encourage further development. I saw a number of people drop out as nidans and I'm sure some of them felt frustrated by the apparent utter lack of potential for further rank advancement. This is not a good thing. I have been with my current instructor for 15 months. I will take my sandan test next Saturday. I'm actually a little excited at the prospect. I think 25 years as a nidan is long enough.

Quick history- Started in 1973. Made shodan in 1979 and nidan in 1984. Stayed with the same dojo and instructor until 1989. Then left for a variety of reasons. Moved to another state. Sort of fooled around with training until April of last year when news reached me that first instructor had died. As a result spent much time on phone with former training partners and friends from dojo. Old memories galore. Longing to recapture lost youth mixed with guilt over abandoning instructor. Sought out local dojo and started again. Been brutal. Much agony and injury. But lost 35 pounds in 10 months (need to lose more) and have improved... slowly... but improved. Went to a couple local tournaments recently and picked up 2 firsts and 2 thirds. Not bad for a fat old man. In class last Thursday and head instructor in attendance. Casually tells me I'll be testing for sandan at the next rank test. Hadn't really thought about rank advancement until he mentioned it. All I wanted was to train, try to get back in shape, and have some fun. But now I have decided that I want it. Although, it's only been 25 years since my last rank test. I hope I'm ready...

Do most people retire at Shodan? I think more people drop out at colored belt ranks but I could be wrong. People quit for many reasons. Family, career, burn-out, advancing age, other responsibilities can all factor into the equation. Some students become frustrated with lack of progress, either in their own abilities or their failure to achieve advancement in rank or status within the organization. I was at a dojo for many years where the head instructor was pretty stingy in awarding advanced rank. I only fully realized this after leaving and seeing what was happening at other schools. I think some Shodans and Nidans left that dojo because they felt their efforts weren't being fully recognized. Looking back, there were hard working and talented students there who had been training for 15-20 years and were only Nidans in rank. There was only one person at that school who had reached Sandan and he had been training and teaching for 25 years before being promoted to that rank. Seems a little late in coming, to me. I understand that rank should have meaning, but an instructor can go too far in withholding advancement. Anyway, I can tell you why I dropped out after 19 years (as a Nidan, BTW). I was 37 years old, tired, and in graduate school seeking a career change. Time and energy became the issue. This past May I returned to training after a 16 year hiatus. By August I had blown my knee out. Sigh... Now the age and general infirmity thing becomes the issue.

Ahhh... He had great success winning numerous competitions doing the SAME FORM EACH TIME and then became an actor. Although I'm sure he looks great in his movie fight scenes he apparently never actually competed in kumite, only forms, doing the same form every time. I'm sure he's very athletic but I can't quite pronounce him to be a great martial artist based on his very limited endeavors (doing one kata really, really well isn't enough to be a great martial artist). JMHO

We used to practice ridge hand strikes on an 80 pound bag. I would not want to get with one thrown by someone who knew how to do it. Temple? Forget it. Side of the jaw. Will unhinge the jaw causing unconsciousness or will fracture the jaw causing severe pain and mental distress. My favorite ridge hand usage is when side-stepping a charging opponent. Lay the strike across the area above the upper lip and below the nostrils for good effect. Be careful not to fully lock the elbow when delivering the strike or you could injure the joint. Keep the elbow slightly flexed at impact. JMHO

Who is Jet Li?