Wastelander

Then there is no real clear cut winner or loser, only the external power that be, judged from their perspective and rules, to say who is victorious?Another point about this bout, is that the combatant that caused the injury, did not kneel down, showing his back to the injured opponent. I find this to be disrespectful? Which is another reason why this person should have been disqualified, due to adding insult to injury. In WKF, participants are supposed to stand at yoi in their starting position, generally, when awaiting a judge's call for anything, which is what he did. By the guidelines of the organization, what he did was proper, even if it isn't the "traditional" thing to do.

By WKF rules, red should be disqualified and blue gets the "win." Typically, WKF will penalize the striker any time there is a knockout, even if they technically should call "mubobi" (failure to adequately defend oneself) to the person who was struck. That happened to my Sensei in one of the last tournaments he participated in when he was alive; the other guy completely dropped his hands and stood up out of his stance right as my Sensei threw a head kick, and was subsequently dropped by said head kick. From the perspective of actual fighting, the person who gets the knockout wins, of course

Welcome to the forum, Maria!

Yes, that is the kind of rotation I mean It sure sounds like a budget combined with a checkbook, to me--tracking income and expenses broken down by line item? I'm sure it will make more sense once I have to actually start tracking it. I can put together the mission/vision statement easily enough, it's just something I hadn't really considered, given my previous experience with them. I saw some templates looking around on Google. I have considered an accountant, but I want to make sure I can afford to pay one first, lol

Currently, no, but we will be selling our current house when we move to the town I'm starting the dojo in, which will give me that cushion, and I'm saving as much as I can, just in case. Thanks! To be fair, the dojo I started in rotated students up and down, and that worked fine, so I think it can work in America, as well. Every now and then I do it when I teach, already. With kids it can be challenging if you don't have well-established expectations for behavior. I will actually not still be under his umbrella, for a variety of reasons which have caused a lot of drama and frustration. I do plan to have other instructors come and visit, though, which should hopefully accomplish the same thing. I am not responsible for paying any utilities, directly--my share comes out of my flat rates for the space--so I shouldn't have to worry too much about that part. As for a P&L Statement, I've never put together an "official" document for that sort of thing, but I've written up budgets and bills before, so it should be a similar idea? I would just like to point out, as someone who has worked for a good number of corporations over the years, that Mission and Vision Statements are pretentious jokes in those environments, so it's hard for me to take them seriously . I have heard that banks insist on having them, but it just seems silly based on my experience. Of course, as a small business owned and run by just a handful of people, I suppose it makes more sense from a marketing perspective--you don't need it to keep the business on task, but it is a quick way of telling others what you do.

I figured I would get a Square, or something like it, to take cards with my phone, and I've used PayPal for things for a long time. Now, I guess Venmo and Zelle are more popular, so I can take those, too. It's too bad that GoCardless service isn't available here, but I do know that companies out here set up direct debits for things, so I'll ask my bank about it when I go set up my business account. As for the paperwork portion, those are definitely good things to keep track of! From the quotes I've gotten on insurance, it looks like I pay per student, but it is still an umbrella policy, rather than a bunch of individual ones. Most of your suggested forms are things I already figured I would want to have, and most of that can just be included in a "new student packet." As for the pricing breakdown for the number of students, it's a "small town" for out here (still larger than the two nearest "cities" where I grew up ), so things tend to cost less, at least compared to Phoenix. Of course, prices vary by location, and the industrial complex the gym is at isn't exactly downtown, so it's on the lower end. Some industrial spaces in higher traffic areas would take me more like 30-35 students to cover expenses. Commercial spaces are about 8x more expensive than industrial spaces, so that's not really feasible, unfortunately--that would be so nice, though! With regard to training with beginners, I have mostly been training by myself since my Sensei passed away, anyway. Every now and then I could grab a brown belt or black belt to train with, but not often. I can probably still borrow people on occasion, so I'll have that. Plus, when it comes to teaching, I can periodically jump into drills with the students, and tone things down to their level, which lets me refine my technique, anyway.

Thanks, Danielle! I'm not actually even sure how to go about setting up direct debit--I assume I just talk to my bank? Or do I have to have them set it up with their bank? If nothing else, I figured I could use Square, or PayPal/Venmo/etc., to collect payments, as well. The paperwork part is something I'm not going to be terribly good at, at first, I imagine, since I don't even know what all paperwork will be involved. I know I need to keep track of waivers, and payments, and class attendance for students, as well as my own business finances/expenses. I'm definitely on-board with the Facebook ads. How many students can I fit in that space at a time? Well, that depends entirely on what all we are doing in the class, at the time, and whether I can have people sit out and rotate in. That comes out to around 20ft x 30ft of space, which I can have plenty of people running kihon kata and Naihanchi on, which is what they will be starting with, kata-wise. I figure 10 is probably my cap for people being able to do partner work at one time, staggered on the mat. Having people sit out and rotate in could let me have more people in a class, even in the smaller space (they do it on Okinawa, so why not?). I'm going to have three childrens' classes and three teen/adult classes in a week, and chances are that I won't have every student attend every class. Just starting out, I imagine it will take me a bit to reach a point where all of my classes are full enough to justify increasing my space, but when I do, I can discuss expanding with the gym owner. Ideally, I'm hoping to eventually be able to lease my own entire space, so this is my building ground for that purpose. My rent agreement with the gym owner is tiered, based on the number of students, up to the full per-sq-ft price he pays for the space, and that includes utilities for me. I will need a minimum of 7 students to break even on rent at the start, which I'm fairly confident I can manage. For what I plan to charge, in my market area, I would need 25 students to break even on leasing an industrial space like the gym entirely for myself, so I figure 30 to break even on operating costs, overall, when I decide to start leasing my own entire space. I have to provide my own martial arts insurance, since the gym insurance doesn't cover it, but otherwise he has given me free reign on how I run my program. We can even use the gym equipment, if nobody is already using it. I can also bolt things to the floor (makiwara) or hang things on the wall/ceiling (bags), and I can store equipment (mats/pads) in the gym. I do need to get some proper martial arts mats, at some point, because the rubberized gym floor isn't good for throws/takedowns, so that's a limitation of the space, but it's really my responsibility to address. I do need to ask him about what sort of signage is allowed on the property, because that isn't controlled by the gym owner--that's a property owner and city decision. If possible, I would like to put a sign up in front of the complex by the road, but I don't know if that's feasible. At the very least, I will be hanging a banner in the gym with my logo, and I'm going to have uniforms embroidered and/or patches made. We have also agreed to do cross-promotion, but we will have to see how that works out, in practice. I've already come to terms with the fact that I will only have beginners for a good while. In some ways, that is a little frustrating, but at the same time, I see it as an opportunity to really build a new generation of martial artists from the ground up, so I'm also excited. I have some intermediate/advanced level friends and acquaintances that are open to coming down and training with me on occasion, so I can always get my need to work more advanced material out that way

Thanks, Bob! I feel as though I am in the phase where I know there are things I don't know, but I don't know what they are to ask about them, lol. Teaching karate is easy, for me, but setting up a business to do it has a LOT of moving parts. I'm wondering if there are any "standard" business considerations I have forgotten, or missed? Any additional considerations for starting it up? That sort of thing.

Well, I'm finally doing it--I'm going to start my own karate program/dojo! I am moving to a smaller city, South of Phoenix, early next year, and have made arrangements with a CrossFit gym to sub-lease space from. It's not much (only 600sqft), but it's a start. I created an LLC, got an EIN, and applied for a trade name for the dojo, itself. I've pulled together information on signing up for insurance, a TPT license, and a business license from the city. I've created a logo (which I'm quite proud of), and set up a page on my website for it, along with social media accounts. I've started posting in a Facebook group for city residents that has over half the city's population in membership, and I plan to run targeted ads on Facebook/Instagram, post up flyers, and attend local events to drum up more interest. I know I will need some program to keep track of finances, and something to track students attendance (although that one I may just build, myself). I'll be honest, it feels like a whirlwind trying to set this thing up, and since I have never set up a business, before, I don't even know what I might be missing. Any advice from those who have done it before would be appreciated!

As I mentioned earlier, I don't know what kinds of drills you do as part of your system, so you may very well use "step sparring" or "formal drills" or "yakusoku kumite" to describe practical drills. I simply use them to describe unrealistic, impractical drills because that is the vast, vast majority of such drills, such as these: A drill consisting of a realistic attack, from a realistic distance, being reacted to with a realistic, practical, effective counter that works as you add resistance, can be considered a type of "yakusoku kumite" or "step sparring" drill, but is not what I'm referring to with my complaint

It's a good question. Maybe there isn't any?.... What are the benefit(s) if there aren't any formalized drills?? Perhaps uncertainty of any continuity of some degree for either the student and/or the instructor. Possible chaos on the floor...should I learn this first....or that first...or at the same time...oh never mind... The benefits that I see in formalized drills is that there must be a learning starting point somewhere and somehow. Then perhaps, once a learning starting point is understood and established, the non-formalized learning point begins. In learning/teaching anything, a starting point must be understood and established. Baby steps at every turn of learning/teaching, whatever those baby steps are. I'm not sure I follow. Why would one need formalized, impractical drills to ensure continuity, when we have kata? Why would one need formalized, impractical drills to maintain order and prevent chaos on the floor, when we have an instructor leading the class? I would also argue that starting with realistic drills would provide a "learning starting point" that is much more practical than the formalized drills. We don't even start having our students work the formal yakusoku kumite drills until 7th kyu prepping for 6th, and by that point we have taken them through quite a few practical self defense drills against realistic attacks. It hasn't caused a problem, and I'm honestly

I do think that many of the formalized drills can be adjusted to be more realistic--closing the gap to a realistic distance, changing the postures, throwing more realistic attacks, etc. We do that with some of ours, as well. My problem with it is that it has become something different from what it started out as, and none of the training of the formal drill really helps students when they transition to doing it more realistically. They have already gotten used to the long range, the stepping back, the impractical blocks, timing a formal karate-style attack, etc., and when none of that happens anymore, they get lost. So, why not simply START with the realistic drills? The only reason I have seen is "safety," or to make it "easier for beginners," but I have not found either of those arguments to really be valid. I've taught realistic self defense drills to children on their first day of karate, and they have been able to pick them up and do them without hurting anyone. What benefit, really, is there in the formalized drills?

As others have mentioned, those kata look made up. As a Shorin-Ryu practitioner, I can say that the kata are far removed from anything I've learned, and the mechanics are lacking. Actually, it kind of reminds me of the mechanics I tend to see from competition TKD forms, more than Shorin-Ryu.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

As sensei8 said; demotions do happen, and they are at the discretion of the instructor. Personally, I would think you had to do something far worse than quit for a month to be demoted that far, but perhaps he just has different expectations and policies than I would. Just remember that the belt you have isn't important--you still know what you were taught, and you will still continue to learn and develop your skills, regardless of what color belt you wear.

That they do, and I'm afraid we seem to be quite at odds on this one--I hope you don't take offense! I do not intend anything personal, but I'm going to address some of your points from my perspective, and I know that can get touchy I tend to disagree, a bit. The movements are there, yes, but they are applied drastically differently. Why not drill them the way they are applied? Perhaps I am immature. It's easy to assume that I am, only being 31 and having been training for a little over 13 years, there are plenty of people who have been training longer than I have. Even so, I would like to think I have spent a lot of time in that 13+ years looking hard and thinking deeply about my karate. I've been getting a lot of the "you just don't understand what the drills are meant to teach," from people in my organization since I made some comments about such drills. Now, I suppose it could be my own ego, but I actually do believe I understand what they are meant to teach--it has been explained to me quite thoroughly, by good teachers, and I have spent far more hours than I care for practicing the drills. It is exactly that understanding that allows me to see that they are not worth the time and effort that is devoted to them. Can you find valuable concepts in the drills? Sure! But the way they are drilled in traditional step sparring is definitely not the best way to do it. I would also argue that, when it comes to drills, if you can say "you just haven't been training long enough to understand" to someone who has been training diligently for over 13 years, then that should illustrate that the drills are terrible. Continuing to learn things from drills after that long is one thing, but to simply "not understand" a drill after that long? I'd like to think my brain is not THAT slow. By and large,l the arguments that have been given to me in this regard have been logical fallacies. I made a statement that something was impractical, because it does not in any way reflect effective combative strategy/logic, or effective applications of the techniques being used, and pointed out that the same things people claim the drills teach can be taught more quickly and efficiently with different drills. My evidence to support this is provided by examples of people within karate teaching in this manner, and having students grasp the material more quickly than students taught with the traditional drills, as well as examples of drills and corresponding results from a variety of other martial arts. The responses I got were things like " created them, and they wouldn't have taught us something that doesn't work!" (Fallacy = Appeal to Authority), "The drills are time-tested and important components of our style!" (Fallacy = Appeal to Tradition), and "I have been doing these drills for years and understand how valuable they are, and you just don't understand them because you haven't been training long enough!" (Fallacy = Sunk Cost). The list goes on. I realize that we are not on a college debate team, and aren't having points deducted for using logical fallacies in our discussions, but I have to say that such things don't carry much weight with me. I can respect the time, effort, experience, and knowledge of the person who made the drills, and still think the drills are poor training exercises. I can respect the fact that we have been doing the drills for something like 40-50 years, and still think that doesn't add value to them. I can respect the fact that someone has spent a lot of time becoming skilled at doing the drills, and still think that their time would have been better spent on more realistic drills. As I mentioned in the OP, this isn't to say that prearranged partner drills aren't valuable; it's just that this particular take on such drills isn't valuable enough to justify their use. Whereas I do not hold any such love for them, and will promptly remove them from my practice and teaching once I am no longer part of the organization I currently belong to. I have plenty of other drills that teach the concepts, tactics, and techniques of karate more effectively. I would also argue that the formalized drills I'm referring to are in no way a prerequisite to jiyu kumite, but I have other drills that are. I am in complete agreement that the individual martial artist is responsible for their skill and knowledge, and ability to apply it. I would say, though, that some styles have formalized curriculum that is not really conducive to that. I have also known people who have spent years and years practicing such formal step sparring drills who did, indeed, promptly fail to execute anything they learned when they were attacked, because the drills they spent so much time practicing did nothing to prepare them for it. All that said, I haven't seen the drills that you do, Bob! It is entirely possible that the drills you do are ones that I would find value in. I can only go by the drills that I am familiar with, which utilize the wrong distance, the wrong attacks, unnatural responses, dead hands, and applications for movements that I would NEVER teach if they weren't required as part of the curriculum, because they simply don't work in reality, or don't work well enough. To your point, realistic drills just do a better job, and I honestly haven't had any problem with safety teaching them, even in larger groups. If you think about it, teaching kata application at a seminar is the same thing. That's kind of my point--I have no problem with the general concept of a prearranged partner drill, but the way they are generally done is not useful for the type of karate I practice and teach. Both very good and important quotes for the karateka!

A lengthy conversation has been going on, recently, about "x-step sparring" drills, which I'm sure many karateka are familiar with. Things like ippon/sanbon/gohon kumite or yakusoku kumite drills. In general, the basic premise of "prearranged drill where someone attacks you and you practice a defense," is fine, but the way that these formal drills are done (almost universally) is not practical. Generally, the attacker will step back into a preparatory position of some sort, then step forward with a formalized, basic karate attack, and the defender steps back and blocks it with a formalized, basic karate "block" before countering. Here is an example of typical sanbon kumite (3-step sparring): I am of the opinion that these are impractical, ingrain terrible habits in students, teach improper distancing and timing, and do not scaffold to be built upon by practical drills later on. If your goal is developing practical skill, you would be better off making your own prearranged attack/defense drills using realistic attacks and defenses at a realistic distance instead. I'm curious as to the forum's opinion on the matter, though, as some people really seem to venerate these drills, but I have yet to hear a convincing argument for it aside from just enjoying doing them, which is fine for the individual doing it, but not for everyone.

Like sensei8, I have doubts about the functionality of the bamboo as a makiwara. I do suspect it would work as something like an ude-makiwara or tou for conditioning, though. You will definitely want to be cautious of splitting, as previously mentioned. I don't know of anyone who uses it for that purpose, explicitly, but I know some people who have used pieces of bamboo to fashion "arms" for training dummies, and it seems to work okay. If you want a makiwara, I would build a proper one.

Honestly, I don't wear wraps/gloves when hitting the bag, at all. I have tried it, after having person after person insist that I will be able to hit the bag harder if I do. Apparently, I'm weird, because if I do that, then I hurt my wrists, which DOESN'T happen when I punch bare knuckle. I'm so used to hitting with the knuckles that the curved surface of the glove makes the impact feel wrong, and it feels jarring to my wrist, and makes my carpal tunnel flare up.

While I get your reasoning and point, I can't say I completely agree. As an example, a friend of mine taught a womens' self defense seminar, and one of those women was attacked while jogging within weeks of that class. She very specifically used what she learned from my friend to fight against her attacker. It actually even became national news, and she became an outspoken advocate for good self defense training and having the right attitude to protect yourself. Did she learn how to fight well? No! Was she proficient? No! Would she have fared better and escaped in better condition if she had actual proper training? Yes! Even so, the seminar taught her about escape, the mentality one has to have to stay alive, and enough basic techniques to give her something to work with, and it made the difference between life and (most probably) death. I won't say that "anything is better than nothing," because some of the "anything" you can find is absolutely terrible. I do think, however, that a class that heavily focuses on awareness, avoidance, and escape, along with the mentality you HAVE to have when defending yourself, and some basic grip releases and strikes, IS better than nothing. I will always recommend that people get proper, consistent training if they want to learn to protect themselves, because they will, of course, become much better at it the more they train! That said, I wouldn't tell someone NOT to attend a self defense seminar, unless I knew that the material was bad.

I've never had to worry about it in any of my jobs, but my girlfriend has just used makeup in the past, when necessary

Our intermediate to advanced kyu rank tests take that long, too. As JR mentions, the tests are cumulative, so you don't just demonstrate the requirements for the rank you are testing for--you have to demonstrate everything from white belt up. Of course, we could tell whether someone should be promoted without that process, but it is a rite of passage, and forces students to overcome nerves and physical/mental stress. On the other hand, dan rank tests on Okinawa in our organization are generally handled by having you perform 2-5 kata in front of a panel of 8th, 9th, and 10th dans, and that's it.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks! I like mixing in various takedowns, as well, and it's always fun doing it with people who wrestle It's in the smaller training floor in our dojo--the same room we filmed our Waza Wednesdays in