kensei

I think that we can all agree that an adult standing infront of a child kicking them is grounds for possible criminal charges. In my Country if the police were called and they could prove that this occured...no matter what feble excuse is given...the adult would be in jail at the least! Their is no excuse for "disipline" like this, it shows a great charactor flaw and if it was my daughter getting kicked, I would be "disiplining" the heck out of that guy! You can not demand respect or instill disipline this way. You get fear and you create children that live in fear of you. If you can not teach children these two aspects of karate with out becoming a bully then you have no place in teaching Karate to children!

I have to say I am from the old school when we saw instructors strike students all the friggin time, it was horrible but accepted a bit more in teh 70's and 80's and part of me says we see to many brats running around doing stupid things and hurting others and the spare the rod idea is agreat way to make sure we have issues...the other part (the parent in me) says that their is actually no reason that could be given by an instructor for striking a child that would make it okay. Dressing them down and even kicking them out of class for such behavior is proper, kicking them in the guts...well not so much. and that matters how? In the 80's I dropped by big brother who was wearing one of those TKD chest protectors, He was about 2 feet taller than me and about 80 pounds heavier. An adult hitting that thing would still make a impact and hurt the kid. Not only that but he is in front of the class and not ready to be hurt...shock and such and being embarassed probably hurt worse than the gut shot but seriously...who cares if he is wearing a TKD chest pad? A) I dont see anyone condemning the guy, they are all suggesting that she pass on her info to the cops and or owner. They are not passing judgement on the instructor but saying anyone that does what he is accused of should not be teaching, and I would assume you would say the same thing! B) even if he did not do what he was accused of by the kid and the adult their is no harm in bringing it to the owners attention! That way the whole thing gets worked out. Good point...but to counter that, if we dont get this taken care of we could have an child abuser teaching children! I think it is more than a little appropriate for the mother of a child who says that he was struck...and has an adult back up his story to go to the authorities and or the owner and get this guy checked out. It could be nothing, but if its something being a wet cloth over the whole thing is more dangerous for others that might get hurt by him. Yes, go at it smart...but go at it!

As a long time fan of Lee, and with all due respect for his MANY tallents...he was not everything that was printed about him! He was after all a entertainment Icon and the trueth of his training was somewhat different than we see in print. If you ask those that KNEW him when he trained you get a very different story than if you ask those that he told about his training or those that have vested interest in his being a martial arts GOD! First off his Wing Chun. His instructors have said that he only met Yip man once or twice, but he said in interviews he trained daily with the master. Truth is that he only trained and learned the first form Siu Nim Tao, which while it is the longest and most important he apparently did it like a dance routean! He was incredible as an athlete and dispite having some physical illness, suspected asthma and horrible vision. Lee was also a movie star that was BORN to be a movie star. His father was a Chinese Opera actor as was his mother and as showmen they had children they wanted to be showmen as well. Some learned music and Lee, well he learned how to act and sell his ideas to directors at an early age, he did not become an actor AFTER he came to the states, he was ALWAYS an actor. Unlike the movies when he went to college he did not go and get a philosophy degree, he majored in Drama to further his ability to be an actor...an ACTOR. He studied a little Boxing and some other arts, but many who trained him said that everything he did was set up as drills like setting up a fight sceen in a movie. He was fast as hell, but lacked real knowledge of anything other than how it would look to the camera! However, his speed and athletic ability tended to make up for it. He had a horrible memory and when it was suggested he could get a black belt in TKD he said he did not remember forms well and would never go that path. Lees name in Cantonese was Lee Jun-Fan...this does not mean the dragon as some have suggested it means "return again" Lee. Li Xiaolong was a movie name he used a few times that meant "little dragon Lee" and it was customary to use fake names in the movies. His style is a mish mash of other peoples ideas that he adopted, techniques that work great in the movies from different angles and a whole lot of Other peoples hard work. Dan Inosanto should be greatly credited for taking the Mess that Lee left behind and making a system out of it. Taky Kumura also took a bunch of ideas and techniques that Lee drilled and created a branch of the style as well as other instructors who worked out with Lee and became a training partner for the actor come instructor. The style is not a style its a mash up of Ideas that Lee read or was taught by others that he tweeked to be more useable in Movies and also more direct for self defense. Lets also kill the Idol worship by showgint that Lee died of a drug overdose/reaction to a cocktail of Aspirine, Muscle Relaxant and Cannabis. He was smoking drugs to get rid of his muscle pains and also took the drug Equagesic to counter a head ache he had coming on, this turned out to be a horrible mix. Lee was a great Actor, his style that others put together from his teachings and the teachings of others is a great and direct philosophy that can be applied to any style. So you can train in TKD and take his teachings (those he took from others) and apply them to the art you are already doing.....many people have. You do not have to adopt a different physical approach than the one you already have. Is JKD an MMA style, kind of...but it was more a mish mash of philosophy with a smattering of ideas on how to move from other styles. NO books on the subject were written by Lee, he never made a series or a book, those on the market were penned by others, so what you are learning are interpretations of what Lee himself read and made notes on. It is a worth while venture, he read and made notes on some of the greatest ideas that their are out their, but alot of it was for scripts and the like. Read what he wrote(made notes on) and apply it to what you are doing now.

Good luck bob, hope it went well. But if you did not want to test....you did not have to. If you want to honor your instructor you can go in and tell them you are not interested in the rank advancement yet and that you feel that its not your time. I feel thier are reasons for the way our inner voice directs us and if not testing is what yours is saying then I say dont!

no one is with out issue here. You should have spoken to the instructor before leaving and your instructor should have been more sympathetic to the situation...but then again how could he. You could leave and go join another club, or you could "man up" and tell your instructor what had gone on. Its natural to be a tad gun shy when getting back to Kumite, but you have to remember that your injury was probably a accident, if the senior was that out of it that he hurt people all the time then you need to tell your instructor. Personally, I would say call the instructor up, write him a note or open some kind of a dialog so that he knows what and why.

Hey Kyokushinkai, We just started a new club in our organization and being the chairman of said organization I can tell you that starting up your own group...lots of work...but it can be worth it if you go at it smart. Sandan is a great rank, and actually rather high, for start up programs. Like Sensei8 Ihave seen a few Ikkyu open clubs up in our areas and I, like my instructor, opened my first club as a purple belt. Some junior grades are much better instructors than Dan grades simply because they are better teachers, rank has nothing to do with it. However, sandan and Nidan are great grades to start a club. Start off of course with White belts but talk to your instructor and ask him if he is comfortable with you teaching up to a specific level or like most instructors are you simply going to give your knowledge, grow your self and see what happens. One of my juniors started teaching as a Shodan and just earned his Nidan...and has four Shodans that he teaches, one of which was a Shodan who came back to train and was originally my instructors student. Teaching a class does not mean you have to be six levels above your students or any such sillieness. First thing you need to know is what kind of school are you going to get going, is it going to be a community club/church based club or are you looking at buying/renting/leasing a store front or area to train in. The expenses alone for any of these will dictate your over all cost. you will have rent/lease fees or a mortgage to deal with and insurance, upkeep and renovations to start with. it can be costly and I only suggest you start your program in a community club or shared space to start till you build up a good student base to help support the expenses. Sell your students gis, its important to keep the quality at the level you are comfortable with. You dont want a kid showing up in a TKD outfit that says TKD in black accross the back while you try and teach Karate to them in a more public setting. I also suggest that you build a fee into things so you can help pay rent, save up money and ensure that the business end of things is going well. Make sure you have a stalk or can get your hands on stalk for any gear you need. Again, quality control is important as well as financing your dream dojo. Certificates are normally the domain of the organization. However, if your group does not offer them ask your instructor about this. Their may be a reason and you dont want to step on any toes. As for testing, again take the lead from your instructor, and I always say Mock tests before an exam to show if a student is ready is a great idea, even getting other seniors from your organization to teach a class or two and hold "mini seminars" to get them to help and see if they are ready...the more options and oppinions you get the better. We generally dont let students test unless we think they are ready and one in particular did not test this go round and was not happy but I pointed out her Kata was not good and we can work on it, but its up to her to get ready...she agreed and her mother was happy we did not put her up to test and get embarassed. I always suggest that you start your club in a local gym/church or community club and work out an agreable rental price. the down side is you are at their mercy and often it will screw with your classes, but the up swing is that you dont have much money on the line. Insurance is often part of the organization fees that you pay, however if you are independent you will want to look into that, depending on were you life you might have to pass the cost on to students ext. also if you go through a community club or hall they may have their own and can "hire" you on as a contractor so you are under them. but if you go solo you will want to look inot this. The hardest part will be the marketing and administration, which sounds nuts because of everything I kind of outlined above. If you are going solo in a stand alone the work goes up ten fold and you are on your own...my suggestion is to start small in a small space and build. Have a building plan of five years from a tiny class of six to ten to a 40 student club and keep pushing at it. Keep good record of EVERYTHING and write notes on what worked, what failed and what just kind of fizzled at your feet. a good instructor is not just a teacher, they are a success at planning and implamentation as well as administration and marketing...or at the least htye are lucky enough to have people good at that stuff. To start with, go small...get into a Community club or church hall and work hard to market and build your club from the first step, dont get frustrated or put off by set backs or losses...just believe that you can do it and if your teaching is good you will.

1. how hard can I legally push the students/myself ( I half jest, I tend to give "butt kickers" and some technical classes...but mostly "butt kickers"). 2. How can I make a hard class fun? ( I think that this is the single most important thing for me because I tend to be "drill sgt-y and want to make it more fun for younger members and not chase people away). 3. What key component/theory/technique am I going to teach at that class (is it a Kata, a kick, an idea of movement, a speicific Kihon waza....It makes a big difference if you go in with an idea and build around that...but I have to admit...I often change my mind at the last second during warm up) 4. what age/grade levels are their and how can I not teach above their heads and not bore the seniors at the same time. (lots of juniors leave Karate because they are made to feel stupid during classes when they dont get something that they were never taught in the first place...and lots of seniors get board and leave Karate because its all for the juniors). 5. What is more improtant in this case Spirit in training or techical improvement. Sometimes you have to abandon all want of perfection and just go with pure raw animal spirit from students. If you are doing Kumite and you see some sloppy form in movement but the student is training like their hair is on fire...do you stop them and correct the form or let them experience true spirit training and work from their later? Teaching is organic, everyone is different and that is what makes the classes fantastic as well as pushing me to improve my skills as a teacher as well.

If Sensei H had come to our Dojo to TEACH Goju then I would expect and request he wear his correct belt....however if he were to show up at a Judo club and wanted to learn...white belt!

If you look at the research that was done he was looking at the old instructors and forgot that times have changed. No longer are Karate instructors, for the most part, poor people that dont have access to health care and good solid nutrition. Karate would be like any other sport, if you do the sport in moderation all the way it will make you live longer, ONLY if you have access to things that the old instructors did not. I would assume that we will still have people die young while training in Karate due to poor nutrition and no medical intervention...but they would die young regardless. The theory if flawed! The research is skewed and you could just as easily say that Japanese men die much sooner than non asians of the age catagory or that Americans with no health care (poorer) have a lower life expectancy than UK based people because of the health care system or that left handed drivers in the states have a lower life expectancy than right handed Canadians......I have read research papers that make conclusions based on what they say is solid evidence and shot it down because they assume things based on information they "see" and not what is real!

If you go to a club that teaches a different style, then you wear a white belt. If you go to a club and you have not trained in some time...then you wear a white belt....however, if you go to a school that teaches the same style and you are continuously training in that style, then the guy that asked you to wear the white belt has issues! for me any visiting student that is our style wears the rank given to them. If they are from a different style of Karate then I would insist they wear a white belt as they are training in my school, in my style and have no idea of the style! It would be the same as going to a Judo club and being a black belt in Karate...and insisting you wear your black belt while training in Karate...you dont know judo in this case and theirefore you should not be wearing the belt of a senior...you are a beginner! Now, if you insist on wearing your belt to the new style...then the answer to your question is yes, if its Goju...then no!

hmmm.... good question.....at 40 years old I would LOVE to retire and travel a bit. First I would start with going through the states and Canada hitting up instructors like Koyama, Takashina and Nagatomo to train with in Karate. I Have always been facinated with BJJ and would also stop off to train with Renzo Gracie and a few of the Gracie Barra groups. Then I would jump over to Japan and hang out at the JKA....and return often! As well I would "winter in Brazil" and hang out at Gracie Barra and a few other clubs to pick up some of the gentle art their. Other than that perhaps a trip through europe to some of the JKA clubs their. Nothing special however...just that

Very true, but that was not my point. Someone stated that Boxing has no "belt system" and I stated that was not really true, they have a "Different" kind of "belt" system...its called rankings. You can take up ANY endevour and NOT partake in the ranking system. I know of a few people that run for themselves and dont enter foot races, I know of a lot of body buiders that do it just to keep "big" and not compete and I know of a few people that do boxing and Muay thai and never compete. Personally I dont really put much weight in ranking anymore. I have met 8th dans in TKD who were horrible and I have seen Shodans in Karate that were amazing, I have met Rokudans in Karate who were morons and had horrible form and could not teach their way out of a wet sack...and Judo brown belts that were "master teachers" in my mind. Ranking has become rather relevent to the individual and organization. I have kept plugging away at Karate for darn near 40+ years and really dont care what the paper on my wall says I am...if you come to one of my classes you get a mental and physical work out, you have fun and at the end of the day I love training for trainings sake. The fact that I have a black peice of cloth holding my jacket shut...well that just keeps me from having to explain the tattoos!

For me, boxing, Thai boxing and wrestlings are sports, they have goals like trophies, money and ranking. So, dont fool yourself into thinking that a "Black Belt" is not something that they look for...its just in the form of a strop made of Tin and leather that says "Champ". As for Kung fu...dude...they have rankings. Ever hear of a white and gold sash or a black and red sash. They have ranks as well. No physical endevour that I know of that man has created is with out a "goal" such as a Dan ranking or a title of some sort. sorry to me its all the same!

One of the good things about not having my own club and teaching as a "Traveling Sensei" and helping my instructor is I can bark at people and boot them out with out feeling the financial crunch. That and my juniors all let people know I am a drill Sgt (actually I was a second Lt ). As I said before I had to dress down a black belt a few times, and a day ago it happened again were a black belt felt he could teach better than I could at that second and he began "helping" the people around him. The worst part was He was teaching and was getting it wrong to begin with so I blasted him with embarassment infront of the class. I was very frustrated and after it I said "and when you want to teach something...can you at least try to get it right....Now I have to fix the other guys drills because you messed them up". He was red in the face and will NEVER do this again. Talking over an instructor is unforgivable in my books if they are adults....kids...well that is a different story that just needs a bit less abrasive tactics.

when you first meet someone you treat them with a specific level of assumed respect....no one deserves to be disrespected with out cause. However, once you get to know the person the level of respect they continue to get will depend on their actions. For instance you meet a martial arts instructor for the first time at a class. you show your due respect and they should in theory show it back. Howver during the class the instructor is sexist and hits on his female students, beats on his male students and acts poorly in general...well your level of respect for him will lower. On the other hand, if he delivers a respectful and skilled class and you get a great deal out of it, he shows his male and female students great respect...you find out he has ties to the community and does good deeds on the week ends, your level of respect for him may grow. Respect grows and shrinks the more we learn about people. Respect is also one of those things that you can not demand, you have to earn and giving respect earns you more respect...or should. If you demand respect you dont get it...you may get fear however, which people wiht huge egos mistake for respect.

I dont practice any organized....or disorganized religion at all. However, I am aware of a few "religious sayings" from the good book and a few that sticks out in this case is "do unto others" and "An eye for an eye". I would assume that the history of the world would show that not all people live by the single "turn the other cheek" ideal. Not getting into any debates here but as a martial arts instructor I teach students not to get hurt and if someone chooses to try and hurt you that you have the right to defend yourself and preserve your life and health...its their choice to attack you and they need to know that the results can be less than favorable for them.

Most people Dont talk in my class because of my reputation, but when they choose to I often stop the class completely and watch them, I stop moving and look at them...stop the whole class...and ask if they are done now. I try to embarass them as much as possible then continue like nothing happened. I dont feel sorry for them at all, they may have paid money to train (Grandted I volunteer my time) but so did the rest of the class!!!! I dont feel sorry for them nor do I get upset, some people just dont know when to keep silent. What irks me more is when a senior wont shut it in class when you are teaching and actually tries to teach over you. I have had a few times when I had to, infront of the class, dress down a black belt for getting out of line....and that is both harder and more frustrating. I tend to do a good job of dressing them down as it is a sign of even bigger issues.

He has had some major MMA stars on it too. Its funny and points out some of the McDojo stuff that goes on out their too. If you cant laugh at it.....maybe you need to take a second look at your club and things they do!

It should depend on the individual. In judo it took me two years, in Karate it took a bit longer. I avoided testing like crazy and by the time I was Shodan I knew as much about advanced Karate as some Sandans did. the Black belt is only a goal as far as "i now know my basics" i know of a few brown belts I would hand a Shodan to in a heart beat because they know the stuff....but miss alot of classes. it means different things to different people. On average 3-5 years is normal with dedicated training....but longer is fine as well...it aint a race after all.

First off Lee abandoned the use of any title for what he did after he created JKD. He said titles are useless and harmfull. so really if you want to adhear to what Sifu Lee said you would say you train in the way of no way and that you practice a style of your fighting that has no name and is ever changing. Why use a label, maybe a broader term like Karate or Kung fu, but I would avoid using a term that labels you, especially if it is not accurate. Like I learn karate but call it Sambo...not at all correct and more than a little misleading.

Hey Sensei8 , By no means is this in anyway a conviction of you and your practice, which is dictated by your group and not yourself. But it is not in tune with the use of Shugo or should I say the past use of Shugo. Shugo titles are part of the old Menkyo Keiden system of "ranking" or to be more accurate licencing for instructors. The Koryu systems of martial arts in Japan used them and NOT in Okinawa. The schools of Kenjutsu, Iaido and the many other Bujutsu schools used the titles/licence as a form of ranking the instructors, and really from my point of view it was a marketing idea gone horribly wrong! The use of Menkyo Shogu in Okinawa is reletivly new and the use in Japan is adopted from the Koryu systmes as a marketing tool. When Jigaro Kano did away with them he developed the Kyu/Dan system to clarify student ranking and give flexibility to ranks...at least that is the story they give out. I think its just another way of rewarding students for sticking about. the Menkyo system was reserved for older systems of Jujitsu and Koryu weapons systems. Karate never had a ranking system, nor did it use the Menkyo licences. When the instructors came to Japan they adopted the Kyu/Dan system and MANY years later some of the systems used the Shugo for high ranking instructors. And before anyone says "well they used the term Sensei"....Yes they did....so do universities and elementry schools....it means teacher. The use of the Shugo system is post WW2 and I have no doubt that some use it to reward and identify people, and that is great! No issues, just want to be clear that this is a re-using of an old system not a link to the past....not really. by no means am I lampooning you, and your by-laws are what they are. Following them is a rule in most clubs/orgs. and I respect that you guys use the titles to identify individuals. I just dont partake in that kind of title use. I can actually understand part of your point of view, a title is awarded based on your rank, understanding and in the old days, supposedly, your ability to pass on the arts core basics and philosophy. While rank just means you stuck it out and tested a bunch of times. the use of Shugo may not jive with my training and my experience in a traditional martial arts organization but its cool if someone else wants to use them or uses them because it is common practice in a group. I did not mean to make fun of or make light of an individuals practice, I just wanted to be clear that they are not ancient Karate titles, they are titles used by Koryu systems, of which Karate is not a Koryu system. I guess its better than some groups that use "grand master" and "your Honor" when refering to members of the higher rankings.

Also the children are not to be compaired to an adult. Even and adult white belt can beat a child in a grappling match up...they want to make it as apples and oranges as possible so they dont have a situation like we have in Karate were you have some moron promote a kid to 1st Dan at nine! I am totally in agreement with the different belt system, however I see the issues that it could have as well. but in BJJ they say not to worry about your belt at all, just your skills. I know of a few white belts that can roll with purple belts very well and a blue belt or two who tap brown belts out alot. The belt is not as important as the skill set, dont EVER sleep on an opponent when rolling....learned that the hard way!

I would not freak about anything and in place of throwing in the towel, I would ask for details as to the instructor response. He may have had an "of day email" situation go left on him. Truth is...their is nothing "hidden" in Kata...if you know how to look. When we start teaching people we do the basic "a block is a block is a block" stuff to not confuse them or spend WAY to much time on a single move. then as they go up in rank we "reveal" some little tid bits and help them find even more. Can you imagine going to school as a five year old and having everything from elementry school to university drumped on you? It would scare the carp out of you! I have been doing this almost 40 years now and I still have aha moments, have instructors show me something I have forgotten or a different point of view and I just shake my head and smile, this is what makes it worth while. Dont lose heart over a bad answer, and truth be told it was not that bad, just a bit lacking.

Well said, I was simply joking! But very well said!

Lol, So...just for arguments sake...what do Canadians, Australians, English, Irish, Welsh, Scots, Antigua, Barbuda, Bahama, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominca, Fiji, Ghuana, Jamaica, kenya, Malta, Samoa, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Tnongo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, and Simbabwe speak? Other than native languages??