Nidan Melbourne

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.

One thing with high kicks is your recovery. Often if your recovery of the kick is slow then you would lose your balance. But if you recover too quickly you can still lose your balance. So overall it is a fine line to keeping your balance! it all depends on you and how move and stand whilst kicking. There are a lot of exercises i've seen and done but can't seem to recall.

At the tournaments i've been to so far they have had roped off areas. The only people inside the roped area are the competitors, judges/referees and coaches. So parents aren't allowed inside the area, the only time a parent is allowed on the mat is when their child gets injured.

Ummm I'm more Goju-ryu background but our starting and ending procedures are different. We have a standing formal bow in/out, and an informal bowing in/out. But also we have a bow in/out in seiza. Our formal bowing in whilst standing isn't too special except where the instructors turn around and bow to the front. In seiza: 1) Head Instructor commands Seiza 2) Mukuso (eyes closed) 3) Mukuso Naote (End meditation) 4) instructors turn and face front, Shomane Rei 5) Instructors turn to face students, highest ranked student says 'Sensei, Senpai otagani Rei or Kata Ni Rei' and then 'naote' to end the bow 6) Head instructor goes Otagni Rei. But honestly speak to your sensei about correct procedure for it.

My goal has always been to work hard to earn my next rank, but also it is to win against a national squad member without being in a state or national squad

My school has contracts of sorts. You make payments every month or in full. We do a direct debit for majority of students, just need 1 full months notice

It is usually an honest opinion in time to receive your black belt. As many instructors are strict on the basics (Kihon, Kata, Kumite) so it will take you longer to become extremely good at those techniques, and by the time you reach black belt doing those techniques is an automatic response. I trained for 7 years (including 6 months off due to injury) to get my black belt. And it was in between training 1 day a week to 3 days a week, and it varied so much because of other commitments