ninjanurse

I have been without a martial arts family for 3 years now ! I have truely missed my ma buddies (more than my other friends) and got "sad" when reading a ma mag or watching ma's on tv. I have recently found a new ma "family" and am looking forward to making new friends and getting back into dojo life !!!! You never know how much you care about something (or someone) until it isn't there anymore!

KoreanTiger, I did not know that!!! I came from a WTF affiliated school and we did not even do taeguks! We did Palgwes and other old traditional forms. The history that you supplied is quite interesting and I see your point on this issue-thanks for not taking it personally! "kung yeht"

Train for all distances and heights, never exclude any possibility.

We always encouraged participation in gymnastics and/or other sports. My instructor used to say "You won't be able to play football when your old but you'll always be able to do martial arts...so play now!". I think acro/gymnastics is a great compliment to MA for the strength, balance, flexibility, etc. But I also think that MA can compliment acro too-my daughter (a TKD BB) started gymnastics recently and is already in the advanced class...all because of MA (balance, flexibility, strength,etc)! Hmmm...which came first? The chicken or the egg?

Kid's are amazing! You'd be surprised how much they can do and learn that we sometimes don't give them credit for. Running classes with the same format as adult classes is a must...eventually they will be in (or teaching!) those classes!!!!!! Of course it's never too early to learn respect so rules about talking, horsing around, etc. are a must. You need to be consistant, consistant, consistant...and realize that you may have to say the same thing over, and over, and over for some kids to get. Always use PNP (positive statement, negative/correction, positive statement) when talking to them. My old schoool always had a "word of the week" that was a tenet or positive message, etc. It was ALWAYS positive and fun to talk about it and NO One ever gave a "wrong answer" . After this discussion and questions the class was bowed out just like all the others..then it was time for high fives and additional praises.

It looks to me like an illustration of the position of the hips when beginning the rotation used when punching-similar to an open stance. I

At my old school the uniform or pant color denoted rank. White=all colored belts White with red trim=Black belt club students White intructors top with red/blue panels=1st degree Solid red pants w/instructor top=2nd degree Solid red instructor top w/ red pants=3rd degree Red instructor top with blue/white panels=4th degree During grappling classes all ranks wore a white gi.

I have been posting for a few days...I guess it's time to introduce myself ! I am a Martial Artist who has been without a home school since relocating to NY from the West Coast. I have studied Judo, TSD, Jujitsu, Shotokan Karate, and TKD. Prior to moving I worked as an Instructor at a TKD school. We relocated for family reasons and I have just recently found a new TKD school to train at. KarateKid1975 was very helpful to me while I was making a decision to train there-THANKS! I have enjoyed the postings and good conversation very much and I look forward to more of the same !!! "Kung yeht!"

Where did you get this "minimum requirements" thing I have a BB from a WTF school and it was harder to get than the BB I got from a shotokan school. Any style/school can incorporate techniques from other styles into their system wether they are TKD (WTF/ITF), karate, jujitsu, etc. That doesn't make them any less of a school/style nor does it diminish their requirements for BB. Maybe you should visit a few more TKD schools? No offense but I think you are being a bit narrowminded

It sad but we live in a society that is totally me oriented. People are increasingly putting themselves before others, and expect others to give them whatever they desire. In my experience with students described in the article, they(or their parents) think it is up to the school to teach them respect and martial arts...and when the kid is so out of control that you can't do either, they act like it is your fault. Those that are there simply to fight usually leave when they don't get what they want or may actually find the error of their ways and "change" inspite of themselves. It is not up to the school to make a student be respectful, it is up to the student to learn respect. We as instructors can only continue to follow our tenets consistently and set a good example to all students(even the bad apples) so that those that are ready and willing can benefit. When students put others at risk they should be removed. The only way a martial arts school can teach respect is to not tolerate disrespect!

AMEN Ken!! "We are all colored people living in a colored world-and they call us the HUMAN RACE." DCTalk

Wear it a lot.

HI YA! Shudokan is a blend of Shotokan karate and Jujitsu. We used to have some shudokan students visit our school to spar and trade techniques. It is relatively new system-in fact my husband has sparred the gentleman that started it. They use shotokan kata and basics-then blend the jujitsu into their curriculum. I think it is a very good system and learned many very good street self-defense techniques from them. Shudokan attracted alot of law enforcement officers in our area (West Coast). They are very good at sparring too! Hope this helps!

We used "p-n-p" at our school too! Works wonders for self esteem and positive attitude! P-n-p=positive statement, correction(negative), positive statement.

It sounds to me like you have missed the point somewhere along the line. Respect/honor is earned because of the person you are, not the belt you wear. I also wonder how a 4th dan can be considered a "master". I don't know of any art that considers any dan below 5th a "master". By that time you shouldn't have to prove who or what you are anyway!

LittleFighterZero, Since you are thinking about studying aikido or other art later anyway you might investigate Hapkido further before deciding on Shotokan.

I think there is a place for striped belts in a system provided the Gup requirements do not change. What is the difference if you have a black stripe around your belt or a black tab on the end? Both can denote a senior ranking within that gup. In my old school we used them for our 3-5 year olds who were in a junior program (karate rangers,little tigers, etc.). The basic belt was white and the stripes were gup colors-they were earned in order of a regular gup belt, (i.e. orange,yellow,green,purple,etc.)- the last being red. This gave them something to earn and be proud of while they were learning the basic skills they needed to join a regular jr. class program. The skills they learned under that program usually put them at yellow belt which they tested for when they were ready. We also had 2 levels of blue belt, 2 levels of brown belt, and 2 levels of red belt. The senior belt had a black stripe all the way around. I found it much easier to identify the students level of curriculum when teaching a multi ranked class (too hard to quickly count tabs). I guess everybody benefitted and the outcome (a good solid Black Belt) was positive. Just my experience and opinion. As far as honoring ranking when changing schools I agree with both sides. The individual should be evaluated not the color of their belt. Personally, if a colored belt (or black belt) student is switching styles-they should go to white belt. If they are switching schools within the same style it would be the instructors choice based the the students skills and abilities to learn. I do feel though that some respect is due to the students hard work on achieving their dan ranking and to the master instructor that gave it to them. Ultimately it comes down to...do you want to train or are you stuck on what color belt you have holding up your pants?

Classes are for learning new techniques and getting critiqued on old ones...they are not for practice. No disrespect intended...just an opinion.

Well said!

Should you ask yourself "Am I getting what I am paying for?". I could never put a price on the knowledge, self confidence and skill that I "paid for" over the years and would gladly pay again. As far as contracts go.. it definetly is a business tool to keep dollars in the school but...it can serve to keep that wishy washy, uncommitted student coming to class just long enough for them to learn the self discipline and perserverance that it takes to become a true martial artist. It's that one student that otherwise would have quit that makes teaching worth it!

First of all...I am not dis'ng Shotokan nor my Sensiei. Itoo had the same trouble when I first started to spar in this style. I always got nailed by a front kick because I just couldn't get out of the back and forth straight line mode. We did a lot of linear one step sparring so that was my mindset. It wasn't until someone (from another style) explained to me that I didn't have to stand there and trade blows (clashing)...and didn't have to stay on "my side". Could this be your problem too? Try drills that force you to counter from different directions and use various angles of attack. Good luck!

My first BB was in Shotokan. I guess that's why I have a love of kata and basics, basics, basics!!!!!!!

The purpose of martial arts is to learn "peaceful resolution of conflict". "One must learn to fight in order to learn not to fight". Gichin Funakoshi

This is an excellent point! Understanding the bunkai of each kata helps one "internalize" the basics so that it is not just "going throught the motions" as some beginners think. All martial arts practice, whether kata or shadowboxing, has its value...its just a matter of understanding it's place in the scheme of things and utilizing it on the appropriate level, i.e physical or mental. It sounds like a lot of people here have forgotten just how important the basics are!