ninjanurse

Congrats!

Please check out http://www.karateforums.com/post473841.html?#473841 for further discussion.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Glad to hear it! Make sure you warm up first and stretch your lower back and hamstrings. Hold each one for 12-15 seconds (NO BOUNCING) and breathe down to your core to help you relax. Hope this helps get you started!

Yay-congratulations!!!!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

I agree here. I place much higher expectations on my Black Belts and push them as far as possible frequently. If they don't know where their breaking point is they will never have a bar to raise.

Wow-does this hit close to home! In August I split off from my "Master Instructor" and became an independent school for just these reasons. The final deciding factor for me was a short but very meaningful discussion with a friend from my past about Shu Ha Ri. I embraced my own vision and left a stagnate system behind for the betterment of myself and eventually my students. A move that has created another path that has rekindle the passion for the journey. Shu Ha Ri should be embraced-it is the natural progression to self-actualization and the very concept that great systems where built upon. Any "master" that denies his students this teaching is not a true master.IMO.

Good stuff!!!!

My karate promotions were much the same way....Sensei would say after class "next time wear _______ Belt" to class.

I don't think it's you that shouldn't be sparring women....

Welcome!

In my most recent, and former, association, Black Belts (regardless of rank) were addressed as Mr, Mrs, Miss, etc. I prefer to address them by their martial arts title (Cho Gyo Nim, Sam Bum Nim, Bu Kwan Jang Nim, etc) because I was taught that we address our elders as Mr, Mrs, etc, and it has no bearing on their position in society (i.e. dojo). We are slowly transitioning...old habits are hard to break!

Welcome~!

Welcome to KF!

I teach both Olympic Style and Point Style sparring at my school...kicking with the hands down is just not acceptable regardless of which style!

I think marketing does have something to do with it-people today are very much into instant gratification and getting something tangible for their efforts. But, this can work to your advantage as long as the message is right....and doesn't get lost along the way. I use "extra" belts in my program-not to "sell belts" but to teach patience (as their progression "slows") and to give me more time with struggling students, as oftentimes, the one's who struggle are the one's who will bring you the most treasure...and anything you can do to keep them with you until they have the "a-ha" moment is worth it. Here are my belts, divided into Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced: (It is somewhat based on a traditional TKD system of colors) White Orange Yellow Green Purple Blue Sr. Blue (black stripe) Brown Sr. Brown (black stripe) Red Sr. Red (black stripe) Red/Black (Black Belt candidate) I have a separate belt system for kids ages 4-7. When they graduate from that program they start at Yellow and progress from there. I make no outward distinction (belt color/stripe) for students 8-16 but they are considered "junior" gup or dan holders.

While some blocks and kicks do travel in an arc-the energy produced needs to hit the target "squarely" or the energy is "smeared" across the target and loses it's effectiveness. It is my belief that the "sinewave theory" was intended to explain the physics of natural movement and evolved into an unnatural pattern of movement that wastes energy, and therefore decreases power. Techniques must be delivered in the most efficient manner possible to maximize the end product and I am not convinced that the "sinewave", as it is practiced, is efficient nor is it the best way to maximize this delivery.

Welcome!

Welcome!