Nidan Melbourne

I very much do like! Thanks for the suggestions, guys! Welcome I'll upload through Youtube and share the link so you can see what I mean. That way others can have a visual representation of what I'm talking about.

For the Mawashi Geri you can kick with ball of the foot OR the top of the foot. One drill i recommend is to break it down to two steps, and work on both 2x10-15 on each leg. Step 1 is to bring leg up and pivot to the kicking position (without actually kicking). Step 2 is kick and recover. Once you've done both steps you can combine. If i get a chance this weekend i'll film what i mean if you'd like

Welcome to the Forum Dave. I hope you can find a dojo that fits your well. Have you tried using Dr. Google for that little bit of assistance?

Congrats Noah. Well Deserved

I normally recommend to Parents that 6 years of age is the earliest that a student should commence Martial Arts Training. This is due to them commencing school in Prep that year, and that they should have a minimum attention span and coordination level. Previously I have taught kids younger than 6, and they have been unable to concentrate for than 30 minutes at any one time, even when a session for them was 45 minutes. Psychologically they are at that stage that they can comprehend simple instructions and guidelines that we teach them at 6.

I saw your post on the facebook page, but thought I might share here whilst at work (naughty i know!). My club doesn't run formal instructors classes or anything, even though I would like to see it implemented. As such we don't require any formal qualifications to be an Instructor, but does help if you do have some qualification in either Teaching or in the Health AND/OR Fitness industries. My Sensei is a Qualified Remedial Massage Therapist, and I'm the only other Instructor with Tertiary Education in Health (Diploma of Health Sciences + Final Semester of Bachelor of Exercise Science [Clinical Practice]). I'm contemplating doing NCAS Course at some point this year or early next year dependent on time and $$$. Obiously under Australian Law all instructors over 18 require their WWCC, the only exception to that is where you are directly supervised (At all times) by someone who does possess this. But my Sensei still requires everyone to have one irregardless. I'm currently making a Instructors Manual atm for my own club that I am in the early stages of starting.

Ok thank you for taking the time to answer that for me. I feel like that would not only been important for you and the organisation but for the families too

My prayers and thoughts are to you and to the families that have lost their loved ones. We as a forum stand with you Bob and the families of the SKKA. Even though not related by blood, we are forever in each others hearts. Are you contemplating a Service for the families at the Hombu Dojo?

Solid Post JR137 My dojo (along with my old one) are affiliated with Karate Victoria (our state federation) and the Australian Karate Federation (Which is one of the Member Federations of the WKF). For gradings we operate our own and in no way do we require to contact KV (Karate Victoria for short) or the AKF to bring instructors to sign off on students. Our Senior Black Belts (Currently we have 4 Nidan, 4 Shodan + many shodan-ho) have the opportunity to choose to grade through the AKF but is very expensive in comparison to ours (Gradings are a part of our memberships). They don't force anything down our throats, yes we have to pay to be members BUT they do offer various things that make them worthwhile and we can communicate with other clubs to train or have friendly events.

Andre Bertel is indeed an amazing Karateka. I do enjoy watching his videos. Personally for me it is Rika Usami who is amazing, but if it has to be a non-competitor it would be Andre

Fair enough if you didn't know. It is well deserved

I think it depends on your federation, as there are many that are good and some are bad. It does depend on what they offer and what influence they have over individual clubs I have heard of some federations that are close minded about others and non-federation clubs.

I agree, once you receive your Shodan you do promise in a way to teach in any way possible. It may not be a full class, but you might help teach in a way in class whilst your training.

I think we should make reasonable accommodations to include as many people as reasonably possible. Key word being reasonable. It's unreasonable to allow someone not to bow to their instructors, classmates, etc. I an exception becomes unreasonable when it becomes a distraction to the group at large and/or detracts from what's being taught. I heard a story of a female student in my former organization who refused to spar against men. She'd do all drills and pre-arranged sparring with men, just not free-sparring. She was allowed to do this at the dojo she was a part of (not mine), with the understanding that she would have to spar against men (and women) during dan testing. Dan testing was done at our honbu by the head of the organization. Apparently she was a victim of sexual assault. Had she not been given this exception, she'd have never joined. She was a very good karateka and person by everyone who knew her's account. She made it through shodan and nidan testing, but she needed a lot of encouragement and consoling. Sitting back and criticizing it is easy. I'm sure it was quite difficult for her to do what she did under her circumstances. If you always say "Nope. No exceptions. Good bye," you're going to miss out on some people who will contribute a lot to what you do. Just my opinion. I agree, you need to make a reasonable amount of accommodation for those who wish to train; although i do believe there is a limit on what you can reasonably allow for people to do. For the karateka in your account, i can understand the wounds have run deep and she may have been diagnosed with PTSD. IMHO I think it also depends on when it occurred as well because it would depend on the form of treatment and assistance that they are getting from a Psychologist. I say that because I know a few people with PTSD and have been abused either physically, psychologically or both and they battle every single day but over time for them as part of their treatment is to confront the root of the problem either directly or indirectly. One of my closest and dearest friends (who I got permission from to tell this story as long as I left out certain identifying features of them and their attacker), was emotionally and continuously bashed by their parents which left them with an inability to handle physically contact from men or contact near or on their neck. But as part of their treatment it was to build up the tolerance and ability to control and recognise when it is getting to that point of an episode. As such their treatment and training was to undergo being touched on or around the neck and how to manage those emotions. But every time this treatment occurs it had to be with people they knew well and felt safe around. This friend of mine is now a 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt) and is working hard at treatment, and is everyday training hard in Karate. This person as much as they know doing Kumite with Males is a Trigger along with Older Females; they will not refuse to do it because of that but to learn to control themselves and to heal and not let it happen to them again or as often.

Same as my dojo, especially for our Juniors where we have a White Belt (9th Kyu) + Yellow Belts (8th Kyu) class. Of which is designed to teach new students what they need to know and to expect from training and gaining that initial experience. Our Seniors we operate 9th - 5th Kyu, but many of our senior ranked students attend this class also due to various restraints.

Shiatsu can help, but for many martial artists finding the time due to work and family commitments. I don't combine Shiatsu or other forms of Massage Therapy with my Martial Arts Training. That is due to various reasons including; school, teaching and work, along with my free time spending time with loved ones. Massage Therapy of various origins can indeed be beneficial due to the nature of how they treat muscle tightness/soreness. But it depends on each individuals physiological needs, this is where many practice yoga because it works for them where shiatsu may not. I was not aware that Aikido practices Shiatsu, if it does then I believe it may be due to the nature of the art where you have to roll and fall a lot. As they may have people who are certified to practice it.

That is unfortunate mate that you had to make the decision, but at the end of the day you had to do what was the best for you and your family. But at least you know what you have to do down the track to get things back up and running again. Maybe when you eventually start back up again you can incorporate the Jujitsu Program so you can potentially attract more students.

I'm pretty sure it's roots are in Shotokan, with elements of Goju. I'm only guessing really, from the katas. They are: Kihon kata Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Gekisai dai ichi Gekisai dai ni Chokosen Gekisai Tekki Shodan Saifa Bassai Dai Tensho Seiunchin Sanchin Shisochin Empi I did Wado Ryu when I was a nipper, got my yellow belt but could not keep a temper when I received a whack in competition. So I didn't progress and then didn't really want to go any more. My sensei is keen on application, seems that way more than theory or classwork. So I'm making more of an effort to learn basics from multiple sources, so I don't slow others down. I'm the lowest grade in the class at the moment, after 5 or 6 joined earlier this year I'm the only one who's stuck to it! The school has classes all over the south west, gradings are done at regional centres and bigger gradings are done in Plymouth, where the school originated from. Only having had on grading so far I can't really comment much more than that! Yeah it looks like a combination of the Shotokan and Goju-Ryu. Gekesai Dai Ich & Ni, Saifa, Seeiunchin, Sanchin, Tensho & Shisochin are all Goju-Ryu Kata. I do find a lot of people tend to quit after 3-4 months because it is either not right for them, no time or not what they expected or even lack of funds.

Welcome to the forum idsymo. I look forward to reading your posts and sharing knowledge with you

Welcome to the Forum! we look forward to listening to what you have to say. I haven't heard of Doryoku-Ryu either, can you tell us a little bit about of its history/background? As I tried using Detective Google to find out some information, but couldn't dig much up at all unfortunately. Well with the exception of this site: http://www.doryokuryu.com/portal/index.php but doesn't seem to have much information about the style itself.

Forward rolls are always difficult at first because it is human nature to freeze up when falling forwards. Has your sensei gotten you to start from a crouching position and go from there first? Often there are Sensei's that get you to do them from a standing start first.

Congrats to your daughter, she must have been so proud of getting it.

Well Deserved LLLEARNER!!!

Haha thanks Bushido_man96! I was planning on stopping by at a few dojos to train as well. Otherwise I'd probably go insane if I couldn't train for that much time.

Using equipment vs. no equipment for push ups can vary how you perform them. The push up handles i've seen can make them harder and allow for a greater ROM throughout the whole movement. Also it can sometimes boil down to a persons health requirements, especially if you have to have your hands/wrists, elbows and shoulders in a particular position.