CredoTe

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear KF Happy birthday to you! Oooo-eeee!

good one! Seriously, though, great work.

As part of a beginner's training, as well as on-going training for advanced karateka, basic stance training is taught in a myriad of ways. In our dojo, Tachikata is taught based upon the following method (Okinawan): Tachikata The positions of Tachikata that follow all fall on a series of parallel and 45-degree angles of the feet. To illustrate, I will use parallel pipes ( | | ) to represent parallel feet positions and back-and-forward slashes ( \ / ) for 45-degrees, as well as underscores ( _ ) to denote spacing between the insides of the heels. 1. Heisoku Dachi: || 2. Musubi Dachi: \/ 3. Heiko Dachi: |__| 4. Shizen Dachi: \__/ 5. Naihanchi Dachi: |____| 6. Shiko Dachi (or Jigotai Dachi): \____/ 7. Zenkutsu Dachi: \____\ 8. Kokutsu Dachi: \____\ (shifting of tanden, feet don't move) 9. Zenkutsu Dachi: /____/ 10. Kokutsu Dachi: /____/ (shifting of tanden, feet don't move) As a training drill, we proceed from position 1 (Heisoku Dachi) through position 10 (Kokutsu Dachi) and then back to position 1. Other well known stances that we do practice that aren't shown, Nekoashi Dachi (cat stance) for instance, can be found from one of the stances shown above. Note that we do not practice kiba dachi or the like because Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) does not have kiba dachi. What isn't shown in the diagrams is the depth. Matsubayashi-Ryu has only 2 stance heights: standing (natural) and crouching (low). In all low stances (zenkutsu, kokutsu, naihanchi, shiko, nekoashi, etc), the bent knee(s) are bent low enough to be in a straight line above the toes, and the length is such that the feet are kept under the tanden. A simple way to describe our stances in Matsubayashi-Ryu is that our low stances are deep, not long. I am curious to know how everyone else here practices Tachikata; to see differences from dojo to dojo, as well as Karate style to Karate style. What is your Tachikata? How do you practice it?

Interesting... When the day comes that I run a dojo all by my lonesome, I often wonder if that's how I should regularly test students... How well does it work for you to test students that way? (I may post this question in it's own thread...) Both jits clubs I've trained at worked that way and it seems to work just fine. It's more of an ongoing assessment of skill by the instructor and time served In one way, I kind of like this, it's more of an indication of what you're capable of on any given day rather than after a fight camp. The down side of this is that there is no "testing" of drive, ect. That said, in arts with a heavy sparring component that's kind of built in to a degree. A large part of jiu jitsu is "open mat" or "free roll" so I think it's less of a factor. You're always proving your technique against resistance. Stripes on the belt tend to be less of an occasion and can be very informal. Actual belt promotions are at the end of class at least and upper ranks are usually at some sort of function (seminar for instance). However, other than "it's been about that time" you have no idea if you're up or not. Enlightening... Thanks for sharing that Once I have my lonesome dojo, I may try a combo of what you describe and formalized testing. Say, the testings that signify a year's worth of training for a student make into formal tests, and all others in-between the informal tests you describe.

How we operate sparring/kumite in our dojo is similar to what you describe... When sparring, kyu students only spar black belts/instructors. The instructors act as the "aggressors" in a self-defense situation, and must spar at the kyu student's level of skill; if a student hasn't been shown a spinning back kick or arm bar takedown, then the aggressor cannot use those moves. Now, while a match is on-going, if the aggressor gets a series of moves in on the kyu student, or the kyu student incorrectly uses a series of moves on the aggressor, then we aggressors (instructors) will walk the student through the situation showing the technical side of things. Then, we try the series again to give the kyu student an idea of how successfully use the series of techniques. Note that when I say "series of moves" or "techniques", I mean it as a figure of speech and not as a prearranged set of moves/techniques...

UPDATE: This week in class (last night), I have begun using some of the suggestions here to work with the student in question. I'm starting with a version of what mal103 suggested regarding having a senior student work with the student in question. I plan on gradually incorporating / blending mal103's suggestion with what ninjanurse suggests; meaning, I will add to the number of senior students that work with and around this student so he eventually sees a large group helping him while increasing what's expected of him. We'll see how it goes...

EPIC!!! Slow mo with Unchained Melody was especially awesome

Funny because it's true.... With the sue-happy society we live in, I'm not sure a tournament like that could be pulled off anymore...

Regardless of one's stance on Jean-Claude Van Damme's MA ability/background, he has some pretty epic physical abilities, even at 53 years old... Check out this Epic Split Volvo commercial in which he appeared recently: :o I realize that there's probably some safety harnesses/equipment and stuff that was digitally removed, but still...

Cool. Keep us posted about your Shodan training, and let us know how it goes when the time comes.

Very much a hard-hitting razor, man... I like it And more great advice from bushido_man96 and others... UPDATE: This student did a little better tonight in class, but I'm not sure if it's anything we instructors are doing differently. As far as choosing an option to work with this student, I will let everyone know next week, sometime. We'll be out of town this weekend, so I won't have a chance to do anything until then. Thanks again everyone for weighing in!

We follow Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu); the kata progression listed below for our dojo is according to the kata students need to test for the corresponding rank, not when they begin learning it: 10th Kyu (white): none; begin basic Tachikata (stance training) and basic concepts; begin learning Fyukugata Ichi (Basic Form 1, first kata) 9th Kyu (Yellow): Fukyugata Ichi* 8th Kyu (Blue): Fukyugata Ni* *Known as Gekisai kata in Goju Ryu 7th Kyu (Green): Pinan Shodan 6th Kyu (Purple): Pinan Nidan and Sandan, Yakusoku Kumite I 5th Kyu (Purple): Pinan Yondan and Godan, Yakusoku Kumite II 4th Kyu (Purple): Naihanchi Shodan, Yakusoku Kumite III 3rd Kyu (Brown): Naihanchi Nidan, Yakusoku Kumite IV 2nd Kyu (Brown): Naihanchi Sandan, Yakusoku Kumite V 1st Kyu (Brown): Ananku, Yakusoku Kumite VI Shodan (1st Dan): Wankan and Rohai, Yakusoku Kumite VII Nidan (2nd Dan): Wanshu and Passai (Bassai) Sandan (3rd Dan): Gojushiho Yondan (4th Dan): Chinto Godan (5th Dan): Kusanku Our kata curriculum is a little more accelerated than the official Matsubayashi-Ryu curriculum, but not by much.

That 3 1/2 years will be here before you know it... I was a Nidan for almost 8 years; life happens, marriage, a family, job/career, etc. But, I never stopped practicing. After a near-death experience, it was a hard road for me to get back into shape; hence, why I didn't feel like I was physically ready for a formalized test. But, sometimes it takes other people observing me to give me a smack upside my head for me to realize I had come back... Thanks! Looking back at it, after talking with my instructors, you're right on the money there....they said almost the same words you posted...

Yes, yes! Great advice from everyone, so far! Thank you For now, before I do anything, I'm carefully considering all of the advice given here, so far...

Solid post!! Very solid post. Very entertaining when they try and be awesome when they are not Solid posts all around... I agree, it is humorous when these things happen The silver lining is the gentleman in kensei's story seemed to recognize the error of his ways and switched to something else...

I'm a little late to the well-wishing party... Nevertheless, I hope you do well and come out without any serious injuries! Let us know how you do!

A few months ago, a 14yo boy joined our dojo; his parents were looking to get him involved in something that would motivate him, and he was looking to be involved with something in which he wouldn't get bored in 5 minutes... This particular student, at ~6'2" (~1.879meters) tall and ~185lbs (~83.92kg), is too big to be in the youth class, so he's in the adult class. The problem with this is his mental maturity level is about that of a 12yo (he's not mentally challenged or anything, just immature). He really should be in the youth class, but we just cannot put him there. During his time with us so far, we're discovering that this student has a tendency to be oppositional and defiant, but is expressed through passive laziness. When we're going through our exercises, kata, kihon, etc, he just goes through the motions with obvious lazy actions, like he can't be bothered to truly put effort into anything. Compounding this is that he's extremely uncoordinated; and, when we show him how to do something, and he does it once, ever after he truly thinks he performs the moves exactly perfect (no matter how utterly clumsy and lazy he still performs them). We're not sure if he's got some sort of ego/superiority complex, or if this is just his 14yo teenager attitude coming through. While not aggressive, he sometimes deliberately violates dojo rules or etiquette (which earns push-ups or the like). When he starts to get too lazy or defiant, he is dismissed from the floor. He's starting to become a distraction to the class, to the real adults there, almost every class. I'm planning on having a chat with his parents about it, but I'm a little apprehensive about it because people/parents are so sensitive about their kids these days (which I know from experience this student's parents are). I'm not sure what else I can do. In your experience, how have you dealt with similar situations? Anything more I can do? Anything less, or that I shouldn't be doing? While I don't like losing students, I don't think this student is going to last much longer (even if a way to successfully deal with him is found, he still may not last much longer, but I'd like to give an effort).

Ditto... Thank you and Godspeed...

Chuck Norris because a) he's Chuck Norris (his legs are named Law and Order), and b) he was a student of Bruce Lee. I wouldn't pick Bruce Lee because I don't think I could be Bruce Lee, but I would love to have been one of his students...

Absolutely great OP, Harkon72! Very deep, introspective, but applicable to all...

Solid post!! Your last sentence, "Honor is a man's gift to Himself" has a great ring to it, yet, it's more than that because without honor, nothing else can really matter both in and out of the MA. I know that I'm reaching the end of my journey, it's just something that I feel in my heart, yet, the battle within me still rages on, and in that, I will not allow 'IT' to define me both in and out of the MA. To die doing what one loves is an honorable thing, but, I don't want to die doing the MA if it means that I've neglected my family. I believe that my MA life will be measured as something that is complete in its totality. Who will measure it? I will, and in that, others can only submit their opinions, while my measure will be exact and demanding across the board. My proof can be found on the floor!! And from: Great posts, Harkon72, Bob, and Kusotare... IMHO, one of the aspects of my MA journey is similar to one of the aspects of marriage; like marriage, MA is a journey that prepares one for death. Think about any of the folks you may know that have been married for 50, 60, 70+ years. IME, the closer these folks get to their ends of life, the more resolute and content they seem to be. I think a long, rich MA journey would have a similar effect...

Just finished up watching the Live Stream replay... Absolutely outstanding! Well planned, well presented. It was great to hear from the great folks here. I really enjoyed the phone interviews with Harkon72, pitbullJudoka & ShoriKid duo, Bob (sensei8), monkeygirl, bushido_man96, and DWx... Thank you Patrick and Bob for the shout-outs... Special thank you to Patrick for putting all this together! I wish I could have participated in the Live Stream; alas, I was running karate classes for over 6 hours Saturday, including during the time of the Stream... P.S. I can't imaging trying to learn how to pronounce everyone's username, but I can help with mine. Phonetically, my username - CredoTe: "CRAY-doh-TAY"...

Wonderful interview, bushido_man... For sure, you've earned the top spot at KF for a reason. Also, you and Bob are the top two posters I always look for when visiting KF... I think I've learned more from you guys at KF than anyone else, so far. Food for thought: I've often wondered what it would be like to do a "KF Tour" where members band together around the country (whatever country) and travel around visiting and training at other members' dojos/dojangs/schools...

American football (NFL and college football) mostly, but also baseball

Thank you all for the congrats and support. Interesting... When the day comes that I run a dojo all by my lonesome, I often wonder if that's how I should regularly test students... How well does it work for you to test students that way? (I may post this question in it's own thread...)