Nidan Melbourne

Like the header says how do you run your gradings as an instructor? Do you have your instructors sit behind a table and have one roaming (or all sitting) or all the instructors roaming whilst one is up front giving instructions to candidates? During the grading what is your favorite part of it? As in you like the kumite the most or kata or whatever else you have to test students. Also what is your least favorite part of gradings aswell? Personally my favorite is a tie between kata and kumite, as i specialize in kata at my dojo and i love kumite as an instructor (and as a student as well) because i can really pressure students into working their absolute hardest. Our instructors (all of them) roam making sure students are performing the techniques the best they can, and to ensure they aren't slacking off at all. my least favorite part of the grading is the combinations because it can be tedious to think of combinations that are hard enough to really test students but also easy enough for them to manage

Interesting idea to have a Bachelors in Martial Arts. i know a South Korean University offer a Doctorate in TKD

Depends on the person. I get private lessons on top of my usual classes because there are things I want to get covered with my instructor one on one. But I get a couple of sessions free due to me teaching for free. but for students they pay for the room and time.

Nothing to do both at same time. It can keep things interesting for you

I train specifically for Goju and not so much Shotokan (but have done a couple of classes in it) and have left me good.

good job on the results Do-gi! work hard for your grading first then focus on the next tournament.

out of curiosity why did your school recently add red belt?

oh wow that is quite bad. I wonder what the heck the parents were doing when the toddler walked off

I hate roundhouse kicks which are a pain in the butt because i have bad knees so it is painful to do. Otherwise remembering Bunkai

I'll take a photo of mine tonight and put it up.

For a class or longer? What i've seen some instructors take the belt from the student and not give a belt to them until they have learnt their lesson. They could be say a black belt and they would lose it until there has been a change. Do they get to be in their normal spot in line to bow in and out? No Are they recognized for the rank they are meant to hold? No Do they get to train with people of the same rank they are meant to be? No Once they have learnt their lesson in the eyes of the head instructor they receive their belt back. If they are a kyu ranked student, they will not get tested at any point until they have learnt their lesson. They will not get their belt back until that point in time behavior has changed. Completely irrelevant of whether they are due for grading or a test. IF they are due for Grading they CANNOT attend that grading. Be it for 1 lesson or for 10 lessons, it doesn't matter. If the parents don't like it we do explain to them why we did what we did.

never underestimate the use of a foam roller. For those who don't know a foam roller is a roll of foam that you use to cause a muscular release. It is an amazing utility for those who are feeling sore or want to prevent or reduce tightness. You are able to use the roller for the whole body, now how does this relate to MA? You can use it to help cause a release in your legs and hips (obviously with the rest of your body). Especially effective if you have done a class focusing on hips and kicks, and the muscles get very sore. Now a serious question who uses one or want to?

As the title of the thread says what is your favorite way of teaching practical applications for kata to students. Feel free to share what you do

When in class i couldn't care less if i am partnered with a male or female. BECAUSE by me not giving 100% to my partner at all times they aren't going to learn anything or get used to being hit. when i hear people go "you can't hit me because i'm a girl but i can hit you as hard as i want" i don't care. Unless i am told otherwise for good reasons then i won't hit hard. a good reason would be when we are doing things that can be dangerous or if we are learning something. Otherwise if the person has a pre-existing injury then that is a valid reason, and if you are much stronger than your partner then you adjust how hard you hit. I hit both genders equally as hard because if they do get into a situation that they do have to hit hard or get hit hard then it won't phase them. I do understand that socially that people do see hitting females is wrong, but IMHO i am not showing them the same respect by hitting them softer than i do against the guys. I am all for equality and treating men and women EXACTLY the same. I also expect that both genders will hit me with the same amount of force. That way i can learn to accept that pain is ok. But I also expect when we are doing things hard that you will also at the same time not aim to cause injury or arm at locations that could be extremely dangerous (Head and Neck for instance) and cause severe & long term injury

If you train multiple times a week in karate and the muay thai class is run on the same days, then as said previously by others you can do one day at karate and then the other at Muay Thai. That way you can do both during the week without giving up karate. Otherwise alternate between the two each week

I've been in this situation a few times. Both times we had 15 people each time, ranks ranged from white belt through to black belt (including dan gradings). each time we all discussed if there was anything in particular we wanted to run through. Be it through Basics through to kumite, or also teach everyone something different from another style of karate or martial art. For example if a white belt (in karate) puts their hand up to show us some BJJ moves, they can take the lead but also if someone else does know BJJ they can help out. hence it is irregardless of their rank to take the lead. But if we do have things to do for karate usually some of the senior students take the lead

So basically you get to create your own kata with its appropriate bunkai? That sounds so cool!!

Thats really bad that he doesn't listen to anyone. How old was he when he started karate? because an 8 year old getting their black belt sounds a bit off to me. This is because at all the dojo's i've trained at the minimum age to start is 6 and takes on average 3+ years to get their black belt. At my old dojo, their hombu runs "mighty mights" for 4 + 5 year olds but they don't get to transfer that rank over, due to the different curriculum taught. He started when he was four.Ok now that makes sense. How is the Chief Instructor dealing with the child? As in discipline etc

Thats really bad that he doesn't listen to anyone. How old was he when he started karate? because an 8 year old getting their black belt sounds a bit off to me. This is because at all the dojo's i've trained at the minimum age to start is 6 and takes on average 3+ years to get their black belt. At my old dojo, their hombu runs "mighty mights" for 4 + 5 year olds but they don't get to transfer that rank over, due to the different curriculum taught.

Take your time learning everything. Learn your basics and do them well. Every student of any martial art requires a strong foundation before learning advanced techniques. Pratice what you know and practice often. Even if at work when you have a few minutes break.

Do you learn weapons at your dojo as well or do you go out to learn them?

Very interesting use for the kata. Thanks for sharing

No envy or jealousy among my students or those I train with. We compete against each other to improve and to have a friendly competition.

Please don't take it that all styles/associations/clubs are like this, because they ain't. I've practiced with groups that are like this but I'm trained with groups that aren't. I agree with you on that one wagnerk. Every school is different and that they have forgotten why most martial arts use the belt system. it is really just to show where you are at in terms of knowledge and remind people who have 'seniority'. And it also helps instructors remind students that they should be a lot more proficient in their skills than they would be if they're slacking off

she just has to get used to being hit. It is something every martial artist has to get used to. But it honestly does take time to get used to. So she will eventually get used to it.