Nidan Melbourne

Solid Post Spartacus Maximus. At my club, we don't screen students at all; albeit unless it becomes apparant early on there are some red flags that may appear. If we have any genuine concern, we will inform them that we will no longer have them join us at our club. For me it is ethically and morally wrong to do so, as it feels like an invasion of privacy. But for the safety of others I would if I had a genuine reason for doing so.

I explain what we are doing and why we do it a certain way. Which will take 3-5 minutes, if it is a new drill. Otherwise I do: 1. Show what we doing 2. Explain what we are doing 3. Get them to do it 4. Make corrections

Super technically I am a Goju-Kai Practitioner. Depends on how many steps away from Yamaguchi Sensei you are. And also what your organisation may have added. My club has a similar curriculum to Tino Ceberano’s organisation. He of whom trained underneath Yamaguchi Sensei. There are minor differences between Goju-Ryu and Goju-Kai. Most predominetly is stance height; as Goju-Kai you are lower than Goju-Ryu. As with Goju-Ryu, we have an emphasis on Bunkai. But also we do utilise Jiyu Kumite a lot and is a large part of our curriculum.

Its Self-Defence; any body part is fair game to strike when you’re defending yourself. If your ear is close to my mouth (when i cant use arms), then i’ll bite it. If someone is attacking me, they lose that right for me to be a gentleman or sportsmanlike to them. It is a matter of life and death.

Sending my thoughts and prayers to your Sensei Noah.

Congrats Shizentei!

I had someone come in recently with this opinion, and I asked them “How does that phrase incorporate with equality?”. As I am an advocate for an even playing field. As I dislike it how some women say that a man can’t hit a woman. But it is somehow ok for a woman to hit a man. As to me that is an unequal playing field. I was raised to respect the person, not just women or men. And that it is wrong to hit another person in an emotional state. But if say a woman hits me, i will defend myself accordingly regardless of the fact I had to hit a woman. But prior to that I always try and defuse.

Each of us as instructors and club owners act as a form of quality control within’ our own associations or clubs to ensure we promote those to the Black Belt Level and that it was warranted. I have 2 questions for everyone here: 1) How do your 1st Kyu’s or Current Black Belts become eligible for promotion? Do they have to meet certain requirements in-grade (ie. pass x tests to become eligible) and/or be at that rank for a certain amount of time? For my club; our 1st Kyu’s must achieve a minimum of 4 tags (Basics, Combinations, Kata & Pre-Arranged Sparring (gyakusoku, bunkai + kyogi); sparring is the 5th tag. Often our students are at 1st kyu for anywhere between 4 and 12 months. 4 months if the student is of high quality. Some students take much longer depending on them. I took just under 2 years to be eligible to grade. All our Black Belts (Shodan-Ho - Sandan currently) must actively train in class for x amount of time. So for a Shodan-Ho it is 18 Months, and I as a Nidan must wait 3 Years; which means i can grade in 2018. The time begins from the last grading you attended and passed. 2) How does your club or association dictate promotions? Do they have to meet an overall score? Do students have to do any additional work in addition to the above question? Our students must achieve a minimum of 3 of 5 to be considered for promotion. If they have 3 they are considered a Borderline Pass; but they are scrutinised even more to determine if they pass or not. That usually comes down to attitude and effort levels. If any student achieves a 4 or 5 they are an overall pass, given the right attitude.

When Tempers flare; I get them to separate and cool off. I speak to both individually and without the other in earshot or sight. As to get their side of the story and how they perceived things happened. When i got the information, i'll sit them down informally as to make sure tensions dont get worse. And we'll talk things out and get things cleared. I admit freely that I've had issues with students in the past, but we sat down and talked it out. No parents, no students, no instructors just us two. A few I don't speak to anymore, but that is because they moved on and left the club and I didnt have them on Social Media or their contact details. The others i am now good friends with and we laugh about things that happened.

I haven't seen any knee spring in anything i've done as karateka. Maybe because I haven't thought about it in what I do, or just haven't been taught something that does this particular movement. In a sense I can understand why TKD Practitioners do this, as they do a lot of kicking at a height. So in other words it is almost like a prepatory movement regardless of what you are actually doing. Or I could be totally wrong in my statement above; and any of our lovely TKD Practitioners can correct me on it. As I am in no qualified to talk about TKD as I have never trained in it. As from what i've seen and learnt in my karate years, is that we are very much at the hip; where our power is generated from there, along with being able to get height whilst remaining balanced.

We have had many students leave us, but we don't bear any ill will. As we understand that there are often other mitigating factors to them shifting. Often due to travel time, school or family.

To add to my previous post, to elaborate on why I don't freely give all my knowledge to my students. When they progress, I tell them that there are some things that I will only give if they ask the right questions or if they are able to understand what it means. And each and every one of them understands that when I ask something that may be oddly obscure or even extremely personal, that there is something that they can learn or should ask about. One of the biggest questions I will ask any student is "Who does it feel to you?". Which for me, when they answer will either show me that they 1) have listened and learnt what I have taught them, 2) listened to their mind, body and spirit and 3) whether they can learn from it. I don't care if I ask it when it comes to Kihon, Kata, Kumite OR even something the we all do everyday in class like bowing in or out.

Do I hold things back from my students? Of course I do! As I want them to go read, learn and have multiple sources. Why? Because there are somethings in Martial Arts that you can't give to a student. Like how things are supposed to feel or if they will work or not for them. Do I still teach students as they progress? I still teach them what I can, be it part of the curriculum or not. Why do I hold things back? For me it is to allow students to explore what Karate or Martial Arts in General means to them. I cannot dictate this for them, if they see it as a deeply personal thing then I am happy for them. But on the same hand if they see it as a logical form of expression then they can do so.

Either it is a knock off or you were just unfortunate to get one with some faulty stitching. May be worth shooting an email to Seishin or where you bought it from. Especially Seishin, as they take it seriously that there is an issue.

I've never had that issue with my Seishin Gi. But will follow to find out what to do in case it does.

I make an effort to learn some japanese, haven't had an opportunity to try and learn okinawan as I haven't found anyone who speaks it here in melbourne. We do use the Japanese terms for them; albeit we are aware that some schools use slightly different names for techniques. Example: instead of Jodan Uke (Upper Block) may use Age Uke (Rising Block) instead.

Thats awesome that no signs or symptoms arose during course of you wearing it. Maybe you should change your username to "Sensei8 Robocop"? Haha.

Coming from the Health Industry in particular Prevention & Rehabilitation, i'd recommend that you request a referral to a specialist that works directly with exercise prescription. I don't mean a Personal Trainer, but a Exercise Physiologist or similar field. As they are trained to deal specifically with those with medical conditions that need to be supervised and prescribed accordingly. Moderation in the Exercise Science (& Exercise Physiology) world is a subjective thing, in particular to the goals and needs of each individual. [Note Reference below for context] Seeing people go well above the recommendations ie 450 mins/week of moderate exercise and 120 minutes of high intensity exercise can be dangerous over the long term if they aren't accustomed to it and have the appropriate skills to prevent overtraining. . And we discuss what is appropriate with each client, and also actively work alongside your doctors to give you the best treatment. Especially if we do a graded stress test, which your cardiologist can supervise and oversee the ECG. Normally we recommend 150 minutes/week of moderate activity. Which is an intensity that you are working hard but still are able to talk uninterupted. Then additionally around 30 mins of high intensity exercise for at least 2-3 sessions per week. And these sessions you are unable to talk comfortably. If I was based near you, i'd want to help you on your way to make sure you get the appropriate treatment. Considering I also have that understanding of what goes on in the life of being at the dojo.

With joint manipulation being a major aspect of grappling as well as many stand up techniques, understanding about synovial joints could have its advantages; would you agree?While martial art training and being aware of how synovial joints are playing a major role in what is being used and how they work, wouldn't this be helpful for a person to progress faster, safer and be more effective in their chosen discipline? With joint manipulation would it not be better to classify joints in terms of type of movement? e.g. hinge (elbow) ball and socket (hip and shoulder), pivot etc. Not sure what practical use it is to know it is a synovial joint rather than another type. I agree with you there. For me it is more beneficial to know how a Joint moves, along with their limitations and susceptibility to dislocation + injury. Like Elbows flex quite nicely, but can't do hyperextension. Which when you apply a lock it will be more effective. Even when I'm working with clients as an Exercise Scientist, I look more at how each joint moves and what is the most efficient + safe movement for that joint.

Who here watches the TV Show Survivor and its associated shows that are aired internationally? For instance here in Australia, we have the Finale of the Australian Format tonight! Which the difference is that they last for 55 Days instead of the 39 Days that the US Format does. Then we also have the new season of the US Format of Survivor now airing in its 3rd Week. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- it is weird to think the Australian Season is nearly over, as one of my siblings made it to the Merge. But got voted out a couple of weeks ago, as such was part of the Jury to decide the Winner. But on Sunday the sad thing happened, reward challenge came up to the final 4, and the winner got to vote one member of the jury off so they couldn't participate in anymore tribal councils nor vote for a winner

We normally give them the basic infornation that they will need for the first few lessons, like: Hai, So, Kiai, Sensei, Senpai. Then they join in on the classes warm up, which we normally give an introduction to our Basics; so stances, punches etc. Then we split up into groups, and depending on class size and instructors; they will either join the lowest white belts in a small group OR will do it with fellow intro students.

Nope I don't bow at the door when I enter or leave. I know a couple of people that do it. But there is no steadfast rule for it at my dojo. When it comes to visiting a dojo, I bow as I enter & leave as I assume that is the custom in said dojo. Usually I bow to go onto the mats and when I leave them. This alongside when I bow into/out of class and bowing for partner work. Although my BJJ club, did 2 bows (1 start of class & 1 at end), then fist bumps at the end.

Congrats Luther. Well deserved!

When I put stripes on belts (despite being a Goju-Ryu Practitioner), it is normally on the end of the belt that doesn't have the Belts Logo on it. For Dan Grades, I think it depends on the organisation and how they like it. Some clubs i know do the following: - Bars under your name, which is worn on the right hand side - Bars on both sides, to indicate that your that rank in that organisation and is your personal rank. - No Bars on belt, regardless of what your dan grade is.

I've never seen belts tied with Elastic Bands before. I compete in AKF Tournaments, and seen god knows how many people changing their belts regularly after rounds. For Kumite; i can understand why due to the nature of combat. For Kata; it shouldn't be as necessary to have one. Personally why even wear it if your not going to tie it properly? And then also have to rely on something else to keep it tied up.