Lupin1

If you're near him and see him doing that-- feel free to just be like "hey!" quietly enough for him to hear you but not so loud as to disrupt the class and hopefully he'll take the hint and get back in position before the instructor has to stop class to speak to him. Regardless of ranks, you're still an adult and can help keep your younger classmates focused when needed to prevent the class from needing to get interrupted. Should you have to do that? No. But such is life and it'll end up saving instruction time in the end.

A karate journey is flexible and varies from person to person. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses and learns in their own time. At your second belt you're not expected to be perfect or even necessarily good. It's just an indication that you're not a complete beginner anymore. Also-- if you're expected to learn the roundhouse kick, Pinan Shodan and Pinan Nidan AS a yellow belt, there's no reason to be downgraded if you can't do them right away. It only means you shouldn't go further until you get them down. Kinda like if you're supposed to learn multiplication in 2nd grade but can't do it right at the beginning. It doesn't mean you need to go back to 1st grade (especially if you've already proven you know all the 1st grade material). It just means you need more work and more time to get it down. So, in conclusion, you must have done something to earn your yellow belt and you deserve it. Never tell yourself you don't. Trust your instructor and know he wouldn't have given it to you if he didn't think you earned it. Recognize that this is your individual journey and you can stay a yellow belt as long as you need to until you feel comfortable, but a yellow belt is still a beginner and you need to cut yourself some slack and let your personal journey develop as it develops. PS-- Welcome to the forums!

Congrats!

I don't understand interest on karate lessons because you're getting the lessons over a period of time. When taking out a loan for a car or a home, it makes sense to charge interest because you're getting the item right away and using it before you've paid for it. The karate lessons are happening over a 5 year period, so it makes sense to allow payment over that 5 year period without charging interest.

I was 8 and I knew that if I learned a Martial Art, it would increase my chances of Zordon picking me to be the next Power Ranger. So basically, it was a resume building move. I picked the style I did because it was a mostly free ($1 a lesson) program at the Boys and Girls Club and it was all my parents could afford. I came back to that particular program as an adult partially because it was a known entity and partially because it's still all I can afford (not that I would leave now even if I could afford a fancy shmancy school). Started Judo because I wanted some grappling to add to my striking art. Really wanted to train BJJ, but all the places around here are wicked expensive whereas Judo is offered through my town's rec department for $40 a month. Stopped Judo because it seemed like someone was getting hurt every class and I can't afford to pay for medical treatment for a serious injury. Still would like to try BJJ, though.

Palm trees.... Want palm trees....

Since you have a little while before the change, I'd start talking to her about it now. Get her involved in the search for a new school, get her opinions on websites, and have her go with you to visit new places or take some trial classes. The more she's involved with making the decision, the more likely she'll be comfortable with it in the end and stick with it. Plus, it's a good chance to learn about keeping a budget and balancing price and value.

In the words of Captain Picard-- Don't just wish for a great 2015--- make it so!

Find a new school. That is not a normal arrangement and not at all kosher. Get out of there. It may mean your daughter starting over at white belt temporarily, but with her prior training she most likely will advance a bit more quickly. I know it's a hard decision and may be hard on her, but it's definitely not an arrangement I would take part in.

My head instructor gave me a gift of champagne at our last class of the year, so I plan on busting that out. It's also my boyfriend and I's "official" anniversary (we had been dating a few months before that, but he had this thing where he couldn't "officially" ask me out until we were at a special, romantic dinner or something, so we consider our New Year's Eve dinner to be the official date), so we'll most likely be going for a nice dinner to celebrate that and then spending the rest of the evening relaxing at home and enjoying ringing in the new year together. I will try to go easy on the desserts, though, as I told myself my Chrismukkah reprieve ended after Christmas Day. Oh well....

This is the year... I got my motivation back. I started stepping up more as a leader in the program. I settled into my brown belt and started getting a glimpse of the big picture and of what I want from my martial arts journey.

My brown belt had a lot of trouble softening up. Some people will just say "train in it!", which is all well and good and great advice, but I've had the thing for over two years and it just finally decided to stay tied for more than five minutes at a time (and that's with doing some softening tricks). 1. Wash it in cold water alone 2. Twist it up while it's still wet. Twist is as much as you can one way, then twist it the other way, then back and forth a few times. Roll it, knot it, kink it-- just work it. Heck, I even put mine on the concrete floor of our garage and pounded it with a hammer repeatedly to try to soften it up (it didn't hurt it, but softened it just a bit-- still not as much as I needed it to). 3. Let it hang dry for a day 4. When it's dry, if you have a bed headboard or something sturdy you can wrap it around (a pole or a post outside, even), wrap it around that and like, saw back and forth with it so it gets nice and warm and pliant. This is the trick that finally started softening up my belt. 5. If it still won't stay tied, while you're sitting around watching TV or what not, just tie it, untie it, roll it, twist it, kink it, etc. (Bonus-- it's a great workout for your hands!) 6. Repeat steps 1-4 after a few weeks if you have to.

I trained Judo for a year. I loved it. But in that year I had bruises, mat burn, a black eye, fingernail gouges on my throat (those raised a lot of questions at work), a sprained shoulder, and a broken toe. I also developed bursitis in my knees during that time that still gives me problems anytime I kneel or whack them on anything (probably a combination of landing on them in Judo and kneeling a lot at work). Towards the end I started getting really nervous every time I got on the mat, especially if we did anything involving joint locks or sweeping around the knees. Left for the summer for a job with every intention of going back in the fall, but just couldn't justify the potential for serious injury. I still would love to go back and consider it every once and awhile, but I'm legitimately scared. I can't afford a serious injury.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. Disclaimer: as of the writing of this article, I am, in fact, a 1st kyu brown belt. Will that affect my viewpoints, make me biased and limit my perspective? Yup. Will I look back on this article five years from now and think how naive (and possibly wrong) I was? Probably. Will I let that stop me? No way. Because capturing the mindset and viewing ideas through the lens of someone at a particular point in a journey has value in and of itself. And so, as a completely unqualified non-expert, I present to you: "5 Ill-Advised Things Every Brown Belt Should Do." Brown belt is a unique time in a martial artist's journey. It's usually seen as a time of intense, focused preparation. "The Test" is coming and each student is giving it their all to ensure they are ready. They're reviewing syllabi, drilling kata and attending extra training sessions. They're racking up class hours, teaching hours and practice hours. They're composing essays on "what black belt means to me" and putting together service projects - all to meet the requirements for that golden achievement, that ultimate goal, that trophy at the end of the race: the coveted black belt. But with all this focus on the future, how many martial artists take the time to live in the moment and really savor the present state of being a brown belt? How many instructors encourage their students to take full advantage of this as a time of great growth and development, in and of itself, and not just as the final push to Shodan? This point in time should be celebrated, explored and lived in. Mistakes should be made, chances should be taken, and life lessons should be learned. Here are just a few ideas: 1. Try a new dojo/style/art just for the fun of it. It's an oft-presented piece of advice that a student shouldn't start looking into a supplementary martial art until he or she achieves at least Shodan in the first. I disagree to an extent. While it's true that the serious study of another similar art before Shodan could be difficult and potentially confusing, exploration and "dabbling" can lead to huge benefits. Trying new things widens your focus and shows you what else is out there. You learn how others do things differently and gain new perspectives on well-known movements. You meet fellow martial artists to whom you never would have been introduced and have the opportunity to learn from them and see things presented in new ways. You learn to move your body differently and come to find that there is no "one right way." You also get to see the results of your training in a new environment - how will you apply or tweak your Goju-ryu training while sparring this Tae Kwon Do green belt, or how will it help you throw this Judo white belt to mat in a bout of randori? Conversely, how will attempting these new things help you strengthen your Goju? How can you set aside your training and reap of the benefits of embracing the beginner's mindset while still being able integrate pieces of each new experience to create a stronger, richer whole? And if you do get a bit confused, that in itself can throw you out of your comfort zone, help you learn your limitations and force you to think through things more systematically as you recover - all of which can be an opportunity for growth. DONE 2. Try some wacky training methods. Blindfolded kumite? (Well, padded, I hope). Performing basics without letting your back come off of a wall? Running kata in a pool, on a trampoline, backwards, at an angle, feet only, hands only, insert strange adaptation here? Take some time to experiment. The weirder the better. Maybe you do just one kata 20 times a day for a week and see what happens. Maybe you do nothing for a week just to see what happens when you go back (I've have some major revelations in the first few classes after month-long breaks). Maybe you do everything with your ankles attached by a rope or while holding a dumbbell. Some exercises may turn out to be useless. Some may regress you a bit (it's OK, you'll recover). Some may force you to think more deeply, concentrate in a way you never have or raise your understanding of a move, a form or your own body to a whole new level. 3. Get put in your place by a black belt. Cockiness. Whether deserved or not depends on the individual, but regardless, it's a stereotypical trait of a brown belt. A brown belt knows enough to be dangerous. Things are clicking, movements are coming together and starting to feel right, and there's a general feeling of "I've got this." That can be an awesome thing and cause a huge leap in self-confidence, but in many cases it can also lead to an attitude of "I already know this and don't need to practice it or listen to any corrections." This stage is completely natural and may even be an instrumental part of growth and self-knowledge. It shouldn't be disparaged and discouraged but should be allowed to happen in its time (see #5 below). Yet an even bigger leap of growth comes when the brown belt realizes just how much they don't know. And that's why going toe to toe with a black belt, and getting thoroughly put in your place, can do a world of good toward making the necessary shift from reckless arrogance to humble confidence. 4. Get put in your place by a white belt. A beginner's mind is a valuable thing. A white belt can sometimes clearly see things that have become clouded by years of study and judgments. Those approaching what appears to be a precipice of that study can often use a reminder of how important it is to retain a beginner's mindset. Getting corrected or brought back down to Earth by a new beginner can do a world of good in teaching this value to a student on the verge of Shodan. It can serve as a lesson in how much the brown belt does NOT know and help empty a cup that has become overfilled. 5. Contract brown belt-itis. My instructor has a special term for the experimentation he finds so common in brown belts: brown belt-itis. Students with brown belt-itis will add moves to kata that don't belong. They'll change their hand position in that basic block they've had down since yellow belt. They'll try out that cool jump spinning side kick they saw on TV and get kicked somewhere unpleasant as a result. They'll incorporate the boxing moves their friend showed them into a sparring tournament and get disqualified. And of course any black belt who attempts to explain why any of these are a bad idea has no idea what they're talking about. In an essence, it's very similar to the bold experimentation of adolescence. And similarly, it can be a frustrating thing to encounter as an instructor. However, just as those sometimes ill-advised experiments are vital to the healthy growth and develop of the adolescent, a brown belt must be free to blaze their own crooked and rocky path to Shodan. And the dirtier they get along the way, the more they get lost and have to find their way back, the more they stumble and recover; the more their karate will become their own and the stronger black belt they will become. And, of course, the more fun they'll have.

In Isshinryu we have the benefit of having a unique-to-our-system kata which contains pieces of all our other kata-- Sunsu. If I wanted complexity and variety of movements, I would most certainly choose Sunsu. Though, personally, I'd probably go with our first kata-- Seisan. Seisan just holds a special place in my heart.

You'l still progress going back and forth, it just might be very confusing and cause you to progress slower in each art. There'll be an adjustment period each time you switch and you'll be learning twice the curriculum, meaning double the kata to progress. It'll be slow going. I like the idea of BJJ in Cali and Karate in AZ. After 4 months you'll have enough to practice on your own for awhile while you do BJJ. The only problem you may run into is that it'd be a lot harder for you to continue BJJ while in AZ without finding a school there.

Awesome! Way to go!

Awesome! Your instructor must have seen something in you! Keep up the awesome work!

Sounds very interesting! Thank you for the review!

I have two tattoos, though neither are martial arts inspired. I am considering getting one once I get my Shodan, but I can't come up with a good one (and I won't be getting one unless I can come up with a good one).

Annoyances: -- Putting down other schools, especially in front of children. When I was in 2nd grade, I still remember being very upset when I excitedly told my friend who went to one of the big, expensive local schools that I had started karate at the Boys and Girls Club, only to be shot down with "that's not REAL karate". Likewise, my instructor is constantly putting down the commercial schools in the area saying THEY'RE not "real karate". I know it's a competitive market and there's always been school rivalries, but I don't think those things need to be addressed with the kids beyond "they do things a little differently than we do". -- Pressure tactics with potential students. Not all schools do this, but it has me almost afraid to visit other local dojos. I want to be able to go in, see what you're all about, and see if I'd benefit from training there without getting the high-pressure sales pitch in the back office after. Likewise, I'd like to be able to get some basic information about the program without getting permanently put on your mailing and call list. -- Using nothing but stock photos on websites. I go to your website to learn more about YOUR school. I want to see what your training space looks like, hear about your values, and see your schedule. Possibly even get a glimpse into a class or tournament (though I understand why some schools don't like posting pictures of their students). When I go to an expensive-looking website and see nothing but stock photos, and catch phrases, it feels a bit dishonest to me. Sort of like how I wouldn't trust a sales posting online that has the stock picture of the product new rather than a picture of what I'm actually getting. Things I like-- -- How places around here seem involved in the community. I know some of it is to get free advertising, but I still like seeing a bunch of kids in karate uniforms running around giving demonstrations at our town's yearly festival or in our parades and I like how the places will sponsor events and volunteer for community initiatives. It's positive exposure for the martial arts. -- Setting standards for kids (and adults) and making them work for them. We don't have any terrible McDojos around here (that I know of), and every school has at least some standards they make their students meet before they advance. It's a good lesson in a world where the general attitude seems to be shifting towards everything being given away for nothing and everyone expecting something for nothing. It teaches people to work hard to meet goals.

I am actually. Taught 2nd grade for two years and now a middle school librarian. I do miss the classroom, though, which is partially why I'm trying to develop some more learning opportunities for our karate kids.

I like the form idea, too. I think when I personally teach forms from now on I'm going to include that as I think it's really interesting. We don't really cover any of that in class. When you get a year or so away from Shodan our instructor gives you the "black belt exam manual" outlining everything you need to know for black belt. Part of it is giving oral explanations of the history and name meaning of each form before performing it, as well as an overview of the history of world martial arts, Okinawan martial arts, and Isshinryu specifically. I'm in the process right now of going through and researching and filling in pages of information for each talking point, though from listening to my instructor, it seems like black belt candidates in the past didn't going nearly as in depth. As I said, though, we don't go over any of it in class, so it seems up to the black belt candidate to find the information on their own.

Happy first night of Hanukkah!

Not sure, actually. When I was a kid it was optional for everyone. About half wore it, including myself. At some point while I was gone (I quit and went back to the same school 12 years later as an adult), my instructor decided to allow it only for yellow belt and up (since the first Isshinryu kata isn't taught until yellow belt). But, as I said, we mention it in our welcome speech on the first night and never bring it up again. Not even the adults wear it (I personally like to keep my gi plain as I like to dabble in other styles and it makes it easier, though if I were to do this I'd probably start wearing the patch).