NINE TAIL FOX

I have recently migrated to Goju kai but my credentials are such that I may from time to time be the senior student in class. Please help me with the correct opening and closing commands. It SEEMS to follows as such: 1) Students stand and face shomen while the most senior students are at right angles. The Sensei is opposite the most senior students. 2) The command 'Ski' follows and while standing and facing shomen 'Mokusu'. 3) After 'mokusu, yame' students turn and face the Shihan. I think the command is then 'Surname and Shihan'. 4) Students turn to senior students and bow to them. (Unsure about command). 5) 'Otagani" and students face shomen and then 'Rei'. Please help me as I as a migrator from another Goju Style where the commands are different would like to nail this procedure.

I like the way you think. Further to that I like: 'Age and treachery will always beat youth and skill!'

Look at a student and you will see his instructor. Look at an instructor and you will see his student.

I give my comments with great trepidation as it is so easy to misunderstand or misinterpret intentions. Please do not shoot me down in flames. This is an honest expression of what happens in my dojo. I do not have all the wisdom and I hope some of the material could be useful. Maybe my response is slightly off-topic as I will advise how I like to develop randori skills. In our Dojo there are no gloves and only light contact. Contact to the body could be firm (to show that your block was ineffective) and only the lightest touch is allowed to the head. Being said it does not mean that honest accidents because of poor distance judgement cannot happen. If it happens – live with it. I hope that they would also realize that randori is a dance and there is no room for “getting even” or “taking liberties” or worse “settling a score.” Any of these actions are dealt with by calming the student and explaining there is no place for this in the interaction. Randori forms only a component of the day’s training and will generally last about 10 minutes per day. LESSON AND SESSION 1 - VERY SLOW AND LIGHT RANDORI To start I like to look at very light and slow randori that incorporates a specific bunkai. (For example punch to the chest, block and counter.) LESSON AND SESSION 2 – TIED TOGETHER STATIONARY Now that you have spent time understanding what is required we need to work on distance. Students are tied together with their belts (or spare belts) at arms length. From shiko dachi position they continue the attack, block and counter regime. First one attacks only, then the other attacks, then both attach randomly. Still all is done at a very slow and light pace. Here I like to change the shiko dachi from left stance to right stance. The student then learns to lead with either foot. LESSON AND SESSION 3 – TIED TOGETHER MOVING Students may now move around freely, still doing the same attack, block and counter. LESSON AND SESSION 4 – REMOVE TIES AND MOVE Students are encouraged to keep it light but now movement and distance is controlled by the students. Hopefully, by now, they would have learned to keep and fight at the correct distance for them. Also they should be comfortable with being close to an opponent. They are encouraged to lead with either foot and at this stage I introduce more freedom by bringing in more bunkai applications. All still soft. Speed can pick up but as soon as I notice distance is compromised I ask them to slow down again. LESSON AND SESSION 6 – LIGHT PADS Hand pads are used. The attacker must attack a pad (strapped to the receiver’s hand). The receiver moves the pad from one position to another. Sometimes simulating a chest strike, an uraken strike to the head, a low kick, a high kick or whatever. (Learning to follow and focus on a target while the distance changes.) LESSON AND SESSION 7 – INTRODUCE BAGS Now we still use the same techniques but the receiver now has a heavy pad and the attacker is given freedom to strike the pad with enthusiasm. I allow more freedom here such as allowing kicks as part of the regime. This is also the stage when I like to give student the opportunity to punch flat out with any technique for 1 minute, rest for 2 minutes and then re-attack for 1 minute. Obviously rotating the pad between students and give the student time to recover. LESSON AND SESSION 8 – FREEDOM Now students can dance together – firm touch to the body a light touch to the head. Any technique including kicks, is allowed. Lots of rotation between students to give an opportunity to deal with different opponents. I keep a watchful eye on distance and I like to ensure that there is attacking and receiving techniques between students. For example I do not like it if a student only attacks and does no defensive work. Give and take. Very importantly I also watch for flinching. A student should be able to take an attack to the face without blinking his eyes. (If your eyes are closed, how can you see the incoming attacks?) I encourage difference stances while interacting. For Example: Shiko dachi to allow for an attack at a low level, Cat stance for a front foot groin kick, feigning a tetsui uchi to the head while the real attack is a fura zuki to the rib cage. Let your personality come to the fore. LESSON AND SESSION 9 – MULTI PARTNERS Two students attack and one receives. Lots of bag work – one minute all out 2 minute rest. As always encouraging students to use the bunkai of katas in their attacks and defense. And lastly make sure you enjoy the interaction. Drills are bloodless battles and battles are bloody drills. LESSON AND SESSION 10 – REVERT TO LESSON 1 Go back to lesson 1 and introduce more variations and bunkai. By now, if the students have followed the sessions they should have a better understanding of randori.

I have my shortcomings as well - balance, suppleness and age (55). I believe that if you have trained in a martial art for 3 years it becomes part of you for the rest of your life even if you never train again. My Sensei once told me that we in karate are all the rejects. Here in South Africa at school level, rugby, soccer and athletics were the prime draw cards. What was left were the guys like us that took up martial arts. Take heed. You learn much about yourself, strenghts and weaknesses in martial arts.

There are many paths to the top of the mountain. Choose the path that suits your personality.

Could it be that belt structures are a crutch for a weak Western mind? I prefer white and when you have the skills your Sensei will advise that you may now wear a black belt. (After completing the grading requirements - whatever that may constitute in your style.) I am probably one of few that went from white to black twice in their lives. I have, also had moments of great humour when a 'higher grade' student suddenly realizes this white belt in front of him is 'different'. (Again an opportunity of growth by not placing a subconscious value on the skill of an opponent based on the colour of his belt.) I must confess that coloured belts makes sense in a training session when you have to match students with similar skills.

In my humble opinion. Wear your white belt. Your instructor will welcome your humility. When you are ready, he will tell you when to wear another colour. (I have been there twice in my life so I can speak from experience.)