Nidan Melbourne

For my dojo; only our senior instructors receive reimbursement dependent on how often you teach and for how many hours. I don't actively receive reimbursement due to only teaching for 2 hours a week at the dojo. Unless I additionally assist at Gradings which will push my teaching hours to 4-7 hours. In which I would receive AUD$100 (USD$75). That is true the difference between physically owning your building or space vs. renting can be thousands to your bottom line on a annual basis.

Wow well a very very belated welcome to the forum. That must be a record on the forum to be that belated! hahaha that was a bad joke i know

Currently I am on a huge Salad phase of my new diet. It consists of: - 100g Chicken (Roast) - 40g Spinach - 40g Carrot - 15g Danish Fetta - 20g Red Onion (Spanish Onion) - 10g Olives

Well Hot Dog, thats a surprise. Did you see that eventually coming prior to leaving? I dislike the idea of contracts, and locking people into that school as it makes me feel restricted in my training. All my clubs memberships are flexible in allowing students to train as they please and when they get to train. The only requirements is that they train in their respective class, and if they have to train in a different class is to have the consent of our Chief Instructor (Also owner of the school). My sensei has always taught us to learn from anyone and everyone, if that means we want to go train with a different sensei at the same time then we are allowed to do so. If we want to train at 2 clubs then we are allowed to, if we want to go attend seminars with other styles and instructors then we can. This is why i love and respect my sensei, because he only wants us to be the best that we can be. If that means we have to go train with multiple schools then that is what he wants or would like us to do.

I can understand that you having that feeling like something isn't working for you. That is a sign that you are nearly complete in packing for the journey that is a Black Belt. If it looks good, but to you doesn't feel right then it means that you have potential to grow the more you train. I having that feeling every time i train, and I just think what can I do to change that feeling? Is it timing, how I twist my hips or whatever it is. At the end of the day, you are unique to what you feel and you will adjust to what feels right.

At my dojo it varies between $95 (Direct Debit; Monthly) and just over $1000 (48 Month Membership). Each of our membership options you are able to suspend with no penalty or payment. You are able to suspend your membership for as long as needed; as such if you need to suspend your payments, we will be ok with it. Each of our memberships broken down include; - Unlimited Training - Grading Included - New Belt (Part of the Grading) - Grading Certificate - Insurance - Training Hall Fees - Instructor Payments We give the students of the following Membership Options - Direct Debit (monthly) - 30 Lessons (Grading Free) - Red Belt (12 Months) - Blue Belt (24 Months) - Black Belt (12 Months or 24 Months) - Often for advanced students (3rd Kyu +) and Current Black Belts

I've trained for 15 Years and a Nidan! And i absolutely suck at kicking anywhere above the mid-section. But i am still working on it and to find how to get there whilst maintaining my balance. Although me trying to work on it has only happened for the last 4 years. As JR said sweep the leg to bring them down to size.

I know a lot of others have junior black belts and I see the point of view however it kills me to see kids running around with BB's on their waste when I know they could never measure up to the real grade. I get that it's not the same as Shodan but I think it's the perception that bothers me and others in my organization. This has been brought to a vote several times by our president but has been shot down every time. I guess this is part of my old time thinking that I just can not get past. I was adamantly apposed to the whole concept but after reading others reasonings behind it I can see their points. However for me, I just can not bring myself to give a child a BB. It's just not in me. I have nothing against those that do anymore but it's just a personal thing for me. However that does not mean my association will not eventually pass this practice. After I found out what ShodanHo was it took a few minutes to catch my breath at this suggestion. However I am told that the student does not wear a black belt but a different belt for this grade so I find little harm but do not understand why it would even be needed as we have utilized Ikkyu since I started and it worked out just fine. I guess just a way to add more belts to comply with the masses. I still don't get it but I'm trying to see the value in these things, just having culture shock I guess. To the bolded above, can you please elaborate on it please? Yes holding a Black Belt does convey a message to others that they know how to protect themselves and do so competently. But let me put this to you; what if all martial arts schools didn't use ranks, would those students measure in ability of the curriculum required? When I grade students to Black Belt, and irregardless of age I do not promote them to that rank if I personally don't think 1) they deserve it and 2) Does this student have the technical ability of existing black belts within' the club. You don't necessarily need to add more belts to it, because if you run a Junior Black Belt Line they can wear the Black Belt w/ a White Stripe down the middle for their Dan Grades up until they reach your minimum age requirements to grade to Shodan-Ho or Shodan (whichever you grade to immediately from 1st Kyu). At my current dojo we have 9 Kyu Grades + 11 Dan Grades (this includes Shodan-Ho), and any student eligible for promotion to Black Belt is able to. But they are expected to perform at that level and compare well to others.

I can understand why there are some who don't wish to have children training in the dojo. But on the same hand it limits the potential for those wanting to train at your dojo. I personally feel like the board should NOT put a requirement on how many juniors you take on board. However you can have juniors classes and progress to more if numbers are sufficient. You do not need to lower standards to cater for the parents of the children. If you set the minimum of 18 to grade to shodan, you can promote younger students to Junior Black Belt Status and if you wish you can grade them to junior dan grades (which can be seen as a 1/2 grade) and when they turn 18 they get graded to full shodan.

Congratulations of the back dated promotion! Always a nice surprise.

Congrats. Well deserved!

This is what we do for our students: Juniors: 2 x Term (8 per year) or where required 3x Term Seniors: 1x Term (4 per year) Black Belt Grading (Juniors): 2x Yearly Black Belt Grading (Seniors): 1x Yearly (2x if required) For ALL Kyu Grades (Juniors + Seniors) you must attend a MINIMUM of 30 lessons and have passed 5 in grade tests prior to being eligible for grading. If you are 6 lessons (=1 in class test) out then tough luck and you have to wait till the next grading to be able to attend. We do however make some exceptions to allow students to grade with less than the 5 'tags'. They are limited to either being ONE Lesson away from being tested for their final tag OR if that final test had fallen on the Grading Day. Our 1st Kyu's are Permitted to Grade to Black Belt with 4 Tags on the provision that they have met our other requirements prior to grading. However our Black Belts must meet the TIME IN GRADE Requirements prior to being eligible to grade. My Sensei however has made some changes to allow those who possess a Senior Dan Grade (for my club currently anything above 2nd Dan) we are permitted to grade within' 6 Months of becoming eligible. That means originally we had to wait 3.5 Years to attempt for 3rd Dan, now we can Grade at 3 years (no earlier) if able.

I love the stare downs, just not when the two fighters decides to try and knock their teeth out when the other person gets too close.

It's not really a Saying Per Se but one of the laws of physics. However I teach Yin and Yang in a way with students, where they learn to minimize the levels of effort, and instead use your opponents energy against them. Purely because I hate wasting energy when i could be using it for something more fun.

From what I know if Shureido they take the time to make sure all their gi's meet their stringent quality control. As they often try to go above and beyond what International Karate Organisations require of the gi's worn, along with ensuring the uniforms last more than 18 Months when worn and put through it's paces. Like JR said that the one size seems to be the most common, which usually gets sold in Japan itself. As such they have a tough decision to either Increase the Production Levels of the Gi but sacrifice quality. or Sacrifice Speed for Quality! Tough Decision.

Congrats Brian, it sucks I couldn't end up making the stream courtesy of work making life difficult. Would have loved to have made it and watch it live or even participate. Btw loved your shoutout Patrick!

Solid Post LeighSimmsMA, i liked your thoughts on performing Ippon - Gohon Kumite. At my dojo (Goju-Ryu) we don't use that form of Kumite, however some of them look similar to our Gyakusoku Kumite and our Advanced Pre-Arranged Sparring. However our "Kamae" Position is never from 'Yoi' (Heiko Dachi, Shoulder Width Stance) it varies but both Attack + Defense are in the same stance (Usually either Sanchin Dachi, Zenkutsu Dachi, Shiko Dachi, Neko Ashi Dachi or Moto Dachi). And they incorporate: Distance, Timing, angles etc so we get to utilise them differently whilst moving. Each of our Pre-Arranged Sparring Drills then can be done in a flow drill, as so we will continue from where ever we land and becomes more realistic because if we use correct power, speed + strength then it can become quite dangerous. But often we commence this type of additional training when our students reach 1st Kyu or above. Ironically the Shito-Ryu Video you linked is from a school i know in Yarrawonga which is a couple of hours drive out of where I live.

No they don't know the difference between the two, I have had several people recently argue that they are the exact same martial art. Personally I like the WKF Ruleset; probably because I've grown up using it here in Australia. The WKF Rules have been changed a number of times over the years, because at some point kumite bouts were starting to become rather 'boring' because the fighters were continuously going into the "Clinch" and attempting to throw. When we utilize Point Sparring in Class (normally we have a a minute or two chucked into each round alongside our other forms of sparring). But when we do it; we don't stop the bouts to call points. The impact on schools, i feel like it may increase numbers for a while but they may quickly drop off when they realize that it requires commitment and to even get to the olympics that they would have to be the best of the best.

I haven't found many studies that relate specifically to Sports. However I have found Studies that relate more to periodisation and health overall. Can you post links from Journals that relate to what you mentioned? I am curious to see what you found. Cross-Training can be highly beneficial to students or even athletes that may lead to elite performances, of which i recommend more to Seniors than I do with the Juniors due to the associated Risks against the benefits. What I do instead with them [Juniors] is incorporate different exercises that allow for growth and that is safe then they can progress to multiple sports. I always encourage Cross-Training for Martial Arts or even for their own Health. But what we also need to take into account is the risk of burn out or over-training, which often happens when they take on too many additional activities that places excessive stressors on the body. Personally I Cross-Trained whilst in High School in 4 different Sports (Karate, BJJ, Rugby and Basketball) which now I am down to 2.

Thanks for input all, i'll be in contact with the Sensei who wants me there in regards to anything that they may want me to cover. I agree with your comments Sensei8 because I have had that before where someone took my class for a seminar and they weren't exactly confident.

Thats usually what happens, people get stuck on the idea of losing their weight but when they step onto the scales they haven't moved much even though they look in the mirror and see improvements. From my perspective in my field of work, when we help set goals with our clients we do not ever set weight related goals. As they can lead to an addiction or behaviour of not being "the right weight or skinny enough". You're right about body composition though, when we look at those results we will look at fat vs. muscle mass. As you may just be replacing that amount of fat that you used to have with muscle, which is something we want to happen. For me personally I have dropped to date around 25-30 kilograms (55 - 66 pounds) but even though i am dropping the kilos slower, i am at least putting muscle on to help my body stay structurally sound.

I feel like if you said in your OP that you didnt feel like you were compatible with your current style then IMHO responses would be different. Also each individual school has a choice to be a part of international organisations like the WKF and your countries Represantive National Federation. Also moving schools to try a different art is also a good reason to move, usually either to cross train OR in your decision to make the transition completely. I strongly suggest if you want to move school that does kumite is to go to several schools and watch + speak to the CI about how they approach things and what their curriculum is like. Because if you move there is a strong possibility that they might not permit new students (even with prior experience) to undertake kumite, but then there are schools with different views on kumite and they start earlier.

I can understand your wanting to move dojos because you want to be training with people closer to your age, however the question is would moving dojos really be better? If moving dojos means you get more sessions in and that is your motive then thats ok. But is it really worth it for one additional session? In relation to a lack of kumite, have you considered speaking to your sensei about it? But just as a friendly reminder not every instructor will see the value of kumite in class as they may choose impart their knowledge and abilities to their students. At the end of the day its your choice as a karateka and a consumer. I moved dojos several years ago because it was partially my instructor left but mainly because of incompatible personalities between myself and the chief instructor (and owner) of the school. If it was me wanting more sessions i would go 1 of 2 routes; either make private bookings with sensei OR train at a second dojo if they trained on different days. I train with several people who are older and are surprisingly fast and flexible. Also it depends on how long they have trained for and their approach to training.

Happy new year Safroot and all members!

Hi all, I've been asked to host a seminar sometime in 2017 and i'm curious to know what I should include. The school that has invited me to come is a Wado-Ryu School, and they've asked me to run a Goju-Ryu Seminar as to help further their technical abilities and expand their horizons. However the problem is I'm not sure what to include and at what type of level i should put things at. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.