Nidan Melbourne

Would have said we needed a new plague to get rid of people; but then i remembered that we already had that. lol

Thats interesting how the club requires attendance at a Seminar, Camp or Kangeiko after earning your 4th Kyu. However what is the general cost of those seminars/camps mentioned? As it seems to be a financial barrier for those who are low income earners/unemployed. Also are all of those camps/seminars local or spread across the US?

Oh I am not denying peoples knowledge and skills if they give up their rank. What got you to go from 3rd Dan to White Belt? I've noticed that a lot of BB tend to give up rank when a time comes to it where their values, realities of life and how the two interact and can't resolve without causing issues.

When I first started training in 2001, my Sensei (at the time he was a Senpai) explained to my Beginners Junior Class (9th + 8th Kyu) that there are only a handful of times that one would give up their rank. He only ever explained one time, but did say that with training you will find other times that giving up ones rank even if not expected but is in a way the right thing to do. That one time is if you ever abused either directly or indirectly brought disrepute to what you have done as a BB or even as an Instructor. For me; even though I never physically or mentally harmed any of my students. I have chosen to strip myself of my rank until a time that I believe that I am truly worthy of it again and that I have rebuilt some form of trust with the community. I chose to do this as I believe my actions are completely against my values and beliefs. And that being a Dan Graded Black Belt when it comes up to those standards I held it to a higher standard. Since it became untenable in my mind i chose to go back to a 9th Kyu. If my sensei chooses to allow me to sit for a grading for any rank that he believes is appropriate. But I honestly insist on not just Instructors to assess but also have members of the dojo give their honest opinion on me being promoted to whatever grade it is. I say that because, through my thousands of conversations with students over the years surrounding perceived authority and respectability alongside with rank. And many have said that one who has achieved the rank of Black Belt tends to garner a lot of respect in relation to those over 18. So Recently I recently gave my original belt to my club and a letter to read asking the CI to tell the students my story and why I chose to give up my belt. And why i chose to give it back to him specifically. For those wondering; I gave it to him because he was my original instuctor and when he started his own club I went to him after a few years (so he could get established) and he awarded me both my 1st and 2nd Dans. So we had a strong relationship over the years that we worked/trained together. I also asked him that if anything were to happen to me over the years, or even if my daughter were to train with him and get to the point of being awarded her Black Belt that he award her that belt instead. In which would be a special moment in itself, so he could finally promote someone from my family to the rank of Shodan-Ho. Now for context for the above paragraph; My Sensei at the time had left our original club in 2008 more specifically a couple of weeks prior to my Black Belt Grading. So me going from 1st Kyu to Shodan-Ho. So he didn't get a chance to sit as an instructor at the grading nor be there to formally promote me at the promotions night.

I understand the fact that people don't want to donate their brain for research. Like I am donating quite a few things if they are viable for donation to others. I have my brain up for research.

I respect the fact you would rather stay at the grade awarded by your Dai-Soke. Were you formally assessed for Kudan or is it strictly because you became the head of the organisation? If I was the head of a club, I would have formally awarded you the rank of Kudan for your contributions to the community. A few friends of mine (who are practitioners) have joked that if I ever get to the rank of 6th Dan, that they would promote me to 7th Dan for my work here and within' the community.

We have 9 Kyu + 11 Dan* (There is context) Our Kyu Grades; you have two requirements to be eligible to grade, Training Hours and 'Tags' Awarded. Regardless of how many classes you attend in row (7pm Class then 8pm Class same day) you get credited for one. 'Tags' you need 5 on your belt to be permitted to attend a grading. 9th Kyu (White Belt) - 5th Kyu (Green Belt) - 30 Classes + 5 'Tags' = 3-4 months 4th Kyu (Purple Belt) - 1st Kyu (1st Brown Belt) Technically the same as above, however students tend to take a lot longer at these grades. On average 50-90 Classes + 5 'Tags' = approx 12 months+ per belt This greatly depends on the student their ability to understand the material Shodan-Ho (This is why i said 11 Dan above) 18 Months Time in Grade Shodan (1st Dan) 12 Months TIG Nidan (2nd Dan) - 2 Years TIG Sandan (3rd Dan) - 3 Years TIG Yondan (4th Dan) - 4 Years TIG Godan (5th Dan) - 5 Years TIG Rookudan (6th Dan) - 6 Years TIG Nanadan (7th Dan) - Judan (10th Dan) Years TIG OR Awarded for official contributions to the community.

I would suspect that in whatever way that he learns it as a solo practitioner, that he could learn the reason for the movements. At every club i've trained at and have good relationships with some instructors who have gone and opened their own clubs. And we do two things with the explanation of the movements for katas; Bunkai and Kyogi. So Bunkai is obviously our Clubs explanation for the kata, and Kyogi are our students explanation for the kata. Recently I have taught someone a kata, and until they can train with someone who can help teach them the bunkai they can find their own explanation. Also the upside of Kyogi, since its the students own creation they can use anyone as a partner. Defender tells attacker what to do.

Don't get me wrong; there is more to Karate than just the Kata. And totally get that there are things in our Art that you need a partner for. If you can't get your primary instructor; you can always check in with other instructors you have a relationship with who teach your art that could always go online for. For me atm the partner work i'm missing i actually fill in with friends or others wanting to learn what I teach. And build them up to the point that they are doing the same stuff as I do. Forcing me to find a different way of doing it; including when they ask questions forcing me to think about what I do in a different way.

For context; an Aussie Rules has a slightly weirder shape than an NFL ball. Its funny how you phrase it like that. When I teach, I actually use albeit might appear to be very childish; is something that was in the show Avatar: The Last Airbender. Everyone has a natural element that they have an infinity for; Earth, Air, Fire and Water. With each element having a different way of dealing with fighting. So for instance when I read your posts; I get that your more earthy - meaning that your steadfast in your movements and at times may be brutish. Aka strong defenses and not letting things through. But when I teach students; they learn that everything needs a certain attitude and with that they need the confidence to back themselves up. When we pressure test our students; it needs to be like you said in a "Controlled" manner but still teaching them how to overcome, manage and utilise those emotions that lead to fear as a positive force instead of a negative one. Now the difficult side is the Fight/Flight/Freeze Response; and that it is a natural response. But it is something we need to learn how control and work with

I was thinking the same thing. I am in a situation where I can't viably train at a dojo at the present, and I have asked various instructors (I'm a Goju-Kai Practitioner) to film stuff for me. Not just the Kata, little tid bits, but to help tide me over till i see them next. But every couple of months, i send them a video of progress and if theres anything i needed to work on then they give me the feedback. if there is something that need to work on or to add or even consider they bring it up. Even before whats going on; I did a lot of work on Zoom with students who couldn't make it into the dojo to train. Is it harder? Yes it is. But way better than the alternative - Not training!

Interesting analysis by your Dai-Soke; how do you teach it in your own words that haven't come from either your Soke your Dai-Soke? Its a smidge difficult to compare to our form of football and in itself catching a ball. This is an interesting concept; even if to a lot of people perceive "blocking" as stopping something. Something I was taught at school; blocking is just impeding one pathway, but forces a redirection to other pathways. When you think about it; when two things collide that energy has to go somewhere. Either going upwards or somewhere Left or Right - look at Car Crashes. Deflection you need to have the right angles; which i believe most of our "blocking" techniques work quite well for. As most are prematurely angled or have the angular force to move things.

In what way is it taking away choice away from the retired athletes? The way that i see it; shows continued care for their people. When you think about the amount that those players earn over their playing career; the league including the players can easily afford to cover those scans. If my google search is accurate; a Rookie in the NFL earns approx $840,000 per annum. If that were me; after taxes (so take home is approx $451,408 if your in California) you could put aside 10% of that annually ($45,000) for medical evaluations. And i'm sure surviving off $400,000 would be significantly easier. Even with a family and proper financial planning your fine.

Can you define an "Average Opponent" when it comes to Kids, Teens against Adults? Something I feel like a lot of people tend to forget is that kids face their own issues when it comes to violence. Looking at my own experience of growing up; did I face much in terms of potential violence against an Adult? Nope. But if I change that to Potential Violence coming from another Teenager? Of course I have. Now this is a two parter; the younger group (6-12 yrs) I woudn't expect that grasp the above. And this is where I'm ok with not awarding a Black Belt; but a Junior Black Belt. However Teens (13+), I feel like with the onset of puberty they have another world in comparison to adults. They face different forms of bullying (both physical, psychological and social) for a longer period of time in comparison to adults. What do I mean? I know i'm probably one of the youngest members here. But when I look at my education; as I went to a somewhat expensive private day school. And i dealt with a god awful about of rich-boy attitudes and rich-girl (via my schools co-ordinate program with the nearby girls school). The types of bullying (aka violence) I at least saw outside of the Physical Nature, was a god awful amount of the Social and Verbal bullying. Have I had to deal with the physical violence? unfortunately yes. We have these belts as our 1st Kyu rank; as it is a fair indicator that they aren't completely a Brown Belt but also aren't completly a Black Belt yet either.

The SSU (Shito-Ryu Shukokai Union) operates in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. I have a few Australian Contacts who are a part of the union but i doubt that would be useful to you (assuming you're not based in Australia). https://shukokai-world.net/list-of-our-dojos-in-japan/ I didn't see an email, but didn't look that hard.

To the bolded; i'm honestly not surprised as it would destroy the league. As the cost of insurance would drastically increase or less insurers would be willing to cover the leagues. The fact that it is a fairly new thing that we are seeing the results and impacts of it are only showing its ugly head now. However in the future, and things do progress (research-wise) to the point that it can impact the game. Which is why IMHO if you play at such a level, and then retire you should receive over a period scans to check your brain. Then upon your death that your brain should be studied to see the impact of the sport on your brain. Why? because people like NFL and other contact sport athletes among other sports are highly trained individuals. So they should be evaluated in the long term and after death.

Thanks for sharing that! Something I kind of want to add to my previous points which is that a Black Belt is supposed to give us a better perspective on how things are going in this world and to give us the tools to assist us. Now how we use those tools varies person to person, one being know when to talk abou being a Black Belt in a Martial Art over not talking about it. To me it is like my knowledge/skills are that little pocket knife that you keep in your back pocket; you don't go around telling people that you have it but when you need it its there. So with that when I go out, i'd talk about everything else but MA. Even with my friends, the closest thing I talk about MA with them are movies and TV shows that talk about it. For example; how much it annoys me when I watch "Bloodsport" (yes that Bloodsport about Frank Dux), of how Jean-Claude Van Damme does his weird hoppy style fighting stance. Especially after a kick where its a skip skip skippy knee. Even where I get into situations where a fight is possible; i'd rather communicate to see if i can resolve it first that way before having to use something else. Which I believe is a skill that not many instructors teach nor the same at schools/universities. If we were simply taught to use our words first above all else, I wonder how much less conflict there would be?

In terms of size; I'm pretty sure NFL are by far bigger. But it is hard to compare positions between the two, as they are so vastly different. Speed and Agility as well is a strange thing, because both sports have high demands on it. Rugby [Union] is 15 a side (League the less common brother is 13 a side) - there are no offensive or defensive teams. Everyone plays Offense and Defense, meaning everyone has to have a high level of Cardio and Muscular Endurance. The longest you would find a stoppage (without the Referee talking) is maybe 30-45 seconds. And that is where a Scrum is having to be formed from an infraction of the rules. They know the importance f keeping their position, but ignore the potential long term consequences. You don't get longevity in a game like the NFL, as you don't many players who last more than 4-5 years in the Professional League. Now I don't know much about the lawsuit. But out of the people that you listed; I believe the Doctors had their best interests. As at the end of the day, if something happened they could lose their Medical Licence.

First of all welcome to the forum! Where in Japan are you looking at travelling to? As that will greatly help the other members provide you with helpful suggestions. Does your club have any affiliations in Japan? May be worth speaking to your sensei if they know any other Shito-Ryu Clubs that are members of a Japanese Organisation.

From what i've seen, Yes it is less dangerous. The rules around tackling are strictly enforced, where it is effectively around the waist and from the front. Anything above Sternum is a High Tackle. So there are No Tackles from the Side or Rear. A few people I played with, received concussions during the course of a match. They had to immediately report for Medical Assessment, until cleared to return they aren't playing. They can do supervised training; but is more about movement and cardio. We had a few exchange students from the US, and played a match or two with us. I remember talking to them, and what shocked them was how safe the game of Rugby is in comparison to NFL. IMHO at the end of the day the Coach has the final say about who plays and who doesn't. Also they are the ones responsible for Player Safety. When I was a coach (I coached Basketball), and had players ruled out due to injury. Now a few times - I had a few parents, or even club management try to force me to get an injured player to get court time because they had organised a scout to come watch. However I strictly refused, and the scout came to me to ask what happened and why I didn't play a certain player. Now I explained to them that I do not play a player that is injured, as it is my responsibility for their safety and if I did let them play it would just be reckless. However I have heard disturbing reports from various places that coaches at the High School Level push their players to unsafe levels during extreme heat.

I know the Taxi Whistle as the Wolf Whistle. But I have never been able to figure it out even with instructions on how to do it. Although where I live, its not that much of a skill that is needed. I think the only people i know who who use it are farmers or footy (AFL) players. For me I regret not expanding my opportunities to have met people as a kid/teen. A Big one was moving Basketball Clubs from one where I could have met more people to one where it was all people that were in my year level. As I feel super awkward making friends; and felt super jealous of those i knew who had friends from multiple places

Nope no respect lost at all! because we're human and also at the end of the day we're able to have an open and honest discussion. Cheap Shot? Maybe The way I see it, after some reflection is that it was probably the only way you could put things to words. Out of curiousity; what do you mean by responsibilities? For me there are Three Categories (and students know it even if they don't recognise it) 1. Students who don't teach at all (and are promoted to Shodan and above 2. Students who also teach (They may alternate Teaching/Training in the same class) 3. Students who also teach but keep the two very separate (They train in a different class or elsewhere) So I class as both 2 and 3; due to the fact that I will jump between the two where required. Usually where I am not required to teach. None of our Instructors that are under 18 can assist at Gradings. Obviously I don't know how your organisation was run nor do I know how your Soke or Dai Soke ran things. But from my humble opinion; it did seem like there was a curve to how things were taught due to the d'ifferences in competencies in how they fight. When I look at both a JBB and a Shodan; there can be a massive discrepency between a JBB and a Shodan or even Shodan-Ho in the way that they're taught. But in my mind; even though a JBB is young there should be zero differences to a Shodan or even a Shodan-Ho. The only difference should be that the JBB be pushed harder than others. Especially how to cope with violence by an adult or by a fellow person their age.

Before i respond; i might disagree with stuff you have said BUT at the end of the day what you wrote is your opinion and how i respond is mine and that is ok. It is always ok because I know full well that there is a Generational Difference between the two of us; especially when it came to how we treat one another. Also the big difference being that in my lifetime (Mind you i'm a 1992 baby) we never dealt with a National Draft, but see what has happened with the Twin Towers, Y2K, Financial Crisis, several Invasionary Wars (because of alleged Nukes being owned). In comparison to yours where violence was a by far a more commonn thing in what was going on in the world. To me it does in a way come across as an insult. Why? In this context, it makes me go if I want to go expand my knowledge and skills if I was young person beyond a 1st Kyu. But to be told that I couldn't do it because I was too young. i'd be pissed off. As I was effectively tested the same as an adult for everthing up to that point. The way I was taught; is that the belt system is a curriculum check and that you should be competent to fight people your age. Just like how in BJJ they say a White Belt should be able to hold their own against other White Belts and be challenged by a Blue Belt. and by the time they're a Brown Belt, they can start being a challenge to a Black Belt. But the difference between Karate and BJJ is that there is no distinction from the beginning for the two for age groups unless your 4 or 5 Years Old. In comparison to BJJ where the curriculum for adults start at 16, so by the time you go for your black belt your well into your 20's. If a Child believes this; then I believe that both Instructors and Parents have coddled that child into that. Every kid I teach, especially when they get to 2nd or 1st Kyu I remind them that they may have some skills and knowledge. But for their age, they need to be aware that there are people out there, who both know or dont know how to fight but either way could severely harm you. So before they can grade for the Black Belt; they have to demonstrate that they are more than capable for handling themselves against an aggressor. Not what i see in a lot of instructors where they are playing a game of tag against the kids. They need to control the fight, get me down any way possible OR get away from me. By that I tell students that when its their turn against me; that I am not taking it easy, i'm going to either try and hurt or pick them up and put them on my shoulder. They can't let that happen.

When we are on the street and dealing with all types of violence; even if we aren't paying attention to it or looking for it. For instance; I was taught that I can relax but be paying attention to whats going on around me. From the people sitting in my immediate area to the people that could be impacted from an accident in my immediate area. I'm not looking around like a crazy person, but I have that awareness. Why? when I pay attention, I can listen to how people are talking and if there is a shift I can be ready for things to explode. So if I did have to get involved; I have a better sense of control of where its coming from and what the threat is. This also falls down to simply observing what gets served to the tables around you and what doesn't. So are they getting lots of alcohol and nearly no water or food? Like I rarely drink these days, and if I do its literally 1 or 2 drinks. So when I am like this, I feel a whole lot safer than not listening to whats going on. Any of those change how you interact with them, especially if they are armed! Do I tend to opt to hit them? No Do I listen to them and treat them kindly? Yes Do I treat them like a child if they are like that? Yes Sometimes I ask them "Hey, I'm starving where should i go to get some good food?" if their homeless I don't ask it. Otherwise if their drunk or high they get ridirected very easily. I agree, because in the Ring its Knockout or Be Knocked Out or Lose by points. In the streets its Live or Die. I think its well known here that I dislike Violence a lot, and I try to redirect it as much as possible. But if I do have to fight i will, yet will use every tool in my box to survive and not have to hit someone.

Great thing to bring up, as it can happen or where people sandbag themselves below their actual skill level. No I haven't experienced this in a tournament myself personnally. Why? Because I already compete in the 3rd Kyu + Division as an Adult. IF I did enter another division, the organiser would recognise it immediately, as I know so many people in Victoria that are either Referees or Instructors that they would immediately say something. The only time I would enter another division is if I was in a legitmately different MA or style of Karate (i.e. Kyokushin). But if I did plan on entering a Kyokushin Tournament, I'd contact that organiser to get their opinion on what they want me to do. As it is the fair and right thing to do but also i'd be tellinng them that Yes i am a 2nd Dan in Goju but a White Belt in Kyokushin and inexperienced inn their style of Kumite. If I had reasonable belief someone was entering one of my Tournaments as a Lower Grade or was purposefully Sandbagging i would do 1 of 2 things: 1. If It was BEFORE the start of their event; i'd speak to them and their club to find out their actual rank. If unlisted, I would want verification of their most recent grading. 2. If they are Sandbagging; which is often a lot easier to recognise as they tend to smash that division easily or have a stupid number of wins in that division (unless they are a BB). I'd speak to their club, and force their hand to promote and i'd adjust them to the appropriate division OR i'd say that due to their performance we're upping them to the next bracket for a challenge. I never have had to Verify my rank at any tournament, as it seems that they all go off the Honour System. But if I wanted to compete at a higher level (eg State Championships); i would need to provide a recognised club. Even my coach if he was to attend needs to be an accredited coach. However Karate Australia has recently changed their system, where you can register directly with them and have your insurance covered by them. But you do need to put in your current rank and who it was awarded by and when.