mal103

I think this is what I was thinking on the original post, people have come back to training after years away and have honestly said "I used to be a..." This is fine but another has claimed a high status even though they haven't trained in years. I can honestly say though that people who have achieved Shodan level don't take long to regain their former level of training. Thank you for the replies, it has given me plenty to think about

I've been teaching for nearly 3 years and still can't get used to people calling me Sensei.... It just doesn't sit right, I'm happy to be recognised for knowing more than them and to be slightly better with technique but I certainly don't strut around like I'm anything special or get a buzz about being called Sensei and being bowed to a lot. I use it occasionally when I'm in training or use the word osu (OSS) as an acknowledgement of their guidance. It's when people with large ego's insist on being called by their rank, position or even the dreaded master that it makes a joke of the whole thing. I am following the trend but I think I would prefer to scrap our belt system and just train, maybe just a 3 colour system of white, brown and black. It's a very western idea of needing to grade every few months to be able to mentally progress to the next stage and is seen by some as a money making method.

Thinking about the people that achieve their Black belt and then either stop training or run off towards the flashing lights of another quest. A lot of them think that by gaining a black belt in multiple MA will make them awesome as by having more than one BB is better, right? This is like doing several apprenticeships but only ever learning the basics of each, I understand some styles take a lot longer so may be different. Some students need to be reminded that if they stop training in a style then they will go off the boil like a saucepan of water will return cold once the heat is removed. I think they need reminding that they WERE once a Black belt.... What do you think?

We don't have blue but 8th Kyu is red for us, there is a slight shift in gear, normally increasing the number of techniques done in the line and Kumite. It is also the time when you are expected to show an increase in speed and power, can't really say what is required as each club is different, you should talk to your instructors to find out what you need and if you are at the level needed. Now as for aiming for 5th kyu and swapping MA - why? I am doing some bjj training this weekend but to compliment my Karate, there is a lot of cross over with styles later on, especially when you identify lots of wrist locks in Kata applications, a lot are identified as bjj or Judo etc but there are only so many ways of locking and throwing, you will learn them if you are in a good school/dojo or have a good instructor. Swapping styles is like doing half an apprenticeship as a builder and then changing to plumbing where the end goal should be in becoming a master builder who will have both skills included in their armoury. You would be better getting your Black belt and then training for at least another 18 months before looking at other MA.

Out of respect I would certainly get along to one of Gazrichards sessions, just to make more friends and training opportunities. Good luck either way

Chrissyp - i'm not suggesting I have a problem with effort as I feel I have reached a level where I can push myself. I was just wondering how people view this subject, i've seen the same student give different amounts of effort with different instructors, i've also seen some look out the window. Jaypo - I get what you mean about mental effort always needs to be there, some days I know I should of stayed at home, many others where I felt like not training but SO glad that I went. Training has a knack for taking your mind off your problems and setting your self at ease.

Just wondering how much effort you put in when training and if the actions of the Sensei have a big influence. I have trained with several good Sensei and normally have a semi wet or soaked Gi after an hour or so, since Brown belt I felt that I pushed myself more so wasn't too influenced by the drive of the sensei although one did push me more and I gave 110 percent effort. It is painful to watch some just go through the motions when i'm out front, you want to push them but feel if you push too much they will give up or they will always be reliant on being pushed in training and will take longer to be able to push themselves. Some just drive forwards regardless and will turn out well.

Welcome, always good to be able to see your own faults and work hard to be better... Where in London, I have trained with a couple of good people there.

I have some bitter experience of this lately, the first lot of graders were a mixed bunch of good to ridiculous with some only having a few hours in a dojo, the last lot were nowhere near purple or brown belt level but were allowed to pass because they had good spirit... Watching a 2nd kyu miss bits of a kata and still grade was painful, it was more painful to see a once respected Sensei smile and pass them.

I'm on the same diet although my weakness is caffeine and...good scotch. :) Best advice ever, and you have to have some vices.... I try to have 80 percent meat, veg, fruit as it was intended and not mixed up with chemicals or salt/sugar. The other 20 percent is pure convenience or indulgence.... When I work hard I have a healthy intake of food but I see this as fuel for the body, some people at the gym try all sorts of whacky rubbish and have certain shakes after certain workouts - too much hassle for me - just eat what god intended us to eat.

How is this different than the McDojo approach? Honestly, I think the only difference is that in the McDojos, these people tend to stick around longer. Very true, if I find myself with lots of students without effort I turn up the sweat factor and will lose a few, those that stick around are generally serious. They will always be there but you can't ban them because they haven't shown much interest in the first few lessons. For my few years of teaching I'm quite proud of my student retention rate, I've only lost a few higher grades but I don't think it was a reflection on myself or my methods.

Another view of the clowns and conmen is that they are turning some people against MA as they turn up, pay lots of money and several months later they feel they are no different to when they started. This is a bad thing as then the attitude shifts towards MA being useless. On a positive note they will also attract in people that would maybe have never of dreamed of walking into a Dojo, how many parents have you seen start because their kid wanted to have a go, I have a few who are still training with me long after their kid went onto something else, they wouldn't have normally given it a go. This leads to where real Dojo's will benefit as some of the new students will get to purple or brown belt and realise they aren't progressing to where they thought they should be, this will lead them to look over the fence and find a good Dojo. The new club where I now train have had students from the local joke dojo and some have even said they were ashamed of their belt and that they really didn't know anything realistic. Of course most Dojo's also need a steady turn over of wannabe's who will eventually give up because it's too much hard work, these help pay the rent but you will normally gain a real gem amongst these rocks...

I think you've just summed up the way a lot of clubs have gone in the UK, I've just broken away from a club and gone it alone as it was becoming similar to what you describe. I am promoting proper traditional hard Karate. I have visited a couple in London, pm me for one of them who trained like a man possessed! Great workout and great Karate. If you ever venture out towards Bath or Salisbury then I can name a few of the best, anyone is always welcome to train with me near Warminster and Westbury in Wiltshire. The Dojo where I now train is top heavy with a very good Sensei. Good luck with your search, you will know when you find one...

Well done, first big hurdle

Depends on what you want to teach and what your students want to learn, if it's a mix of technique, spirit, sparring and learning applications then I think this is fine, if they want to just bash hell out of each other then maybe they should try MMA or cage fighting. A lot of students gain from confidence, humility, awareness, fitness and respect, most of these types of gains can't be taught by just sparring/grappling.

I think a lot of people go through this realisation stage, I went out and trained with others when I was brown belt and was fairly happy with my training but since being Shodan I have been gradually more unhappy so have finally split. When it was more about the money than the standards then I realised it was time to move on. I don't regret it but could have been more advanced by now....

Not at home, but during training I recently put a hole in the plasterboard wall of one of our Dojo's... I was demonstrating the front kick and how it should be done with more push forwards, it was supposed to stop short but I managed to knock a hole the size of the ball of my foot into the wall, luckily it wasn't a solid wall.

Massive mistake and hugely disrespectful. If he thought something was wrong then he should have spoken with the instructors afterwards and not tried to teach it his way. There are loads of variations and they mostly depend on what you are using it for. I have recently been training with another club and when i see something different i may question it but mostly to ask if i am wrong. Normally it is slight changes in the style or Sensei but i wouldn't dream of correcting others. I am happy to accept a correction or to learn of another way of doing the same thing. if he comes again then ask him to not try to teach others during a lesson or to try and correct something being taught. Or say you are full that night....

Look at leg strengthening exercises to gradually build up muscles so you won't get any pain. Also look at the correct stance for you, it doesn't have to match your Sensei perfectly, look at the applications of the stance and if you can do this effectively. Remember that correct human alignment and correct MA stances should be the same thing.

Good points about working with kids, always ensure you follow appropriate guidelines and policies. If you haven't got them then get some!!! A key point i missed was to make sure you have a good balance of teaching kids and adults AND plenty of time being taught in the line. I know a couple of people that are years behind where they should be due to being USED as a kid teacher for years.

This should be printed out and handed to all students - perfect perception!

Forget styles and look for a club that will just allow you to train. I have had 3 Shotokai Karateka join me recently, they will train for 6 months and then join our grading from their current grade. So long as they have a good grasp of the syllabus, or they may go back one belt but I see no point in starting them from the beginning again. I have also assessed returning students and after 6 months handed them an appropriate belt, they can then carry on grading from there. So long as you keep your training up then just find clubs that you want to train at. If you are with them long enough you may hopefully grade.

Have a plan, then a backup plan, then another plan.... Always have something in reserve if it doesn't work out. I try to do basics for as long as possible, always have something new for them to learn but keep this until near the end. Kids will generally remember the last few minutes. If you are stuck for ideas then make a list of the bad habits of your kids and then work on them, if there are loads of bad stances for example then work on this. A good winner is to get a type of competition going between girls/boys or groups, they will be trying to win but will be improving their skills at the same time. That said, don't stray too far from good MA as there are far too many kids out there learning rubbish or working at rubbish standards. If they really find it boring then show them the door.

It's not always wise to bad mouth organisations online but some of the obvious ones have been given, it would be better to recommend good ones if you give an area. Some of the bad things mentioned may be a necessary evil to keep the club going, high prices may be due to high rent, monthly payments may be due to the instructors not wanting to handle money every lesson. long term payments may be due to the hall hire needing to be paid up front. Go visit and ask questions. Although I know a few that look great on the surface and have been a member of a large governing body but they ended up being really bad in standards and ethics. Go and interview them all and try them out.

8oz is fine for beginning, later on you may want to consider a medium 12oz and much later on you may like a heavy weight 14/16oz. The thinner Gi's (8oz) will do you for 2-3 years but eventually they tend to stick to you if you train hard, thicker Gi's won't do this and you will also get a snappy feel when you increase in speed. 8oz certainly won't restrict you, I have seen some real thin/cheap Gi's that really do look bad but then i've bought some better Gi's and had to adjust them due to bad cuts - or assuming everyone who is 6 foot tall had a belly the size of a beer barrel.... Spend a little more if you can or buy one through your club, depends on how much they are selling them at?