devil dog

Sensei 8, I appreciate your wisdom. I have come to value the opinions of you and others on this forum. However in this case I have come to realize that I was being petty and did not have the facts before I decided to judge. After talking with Sensei last night for a few hours I have come to realize that if I were in Sensei's shoes I would have appointed this man Soke as well. I am not sure if Sensei Ken (shogoshin) will be upset about this but I feel like this should be shared so that others can learn from it. To make his point to me, Sensei forwarded the letter shogoshin sent to him explaining why he could not accept the appointment. It almost brought me to tears knowing that I judged this man unfairly and disrespected him publically on this forum. This is the letter and I quote "As Soke I would be representing your legacy, our organization, our instructors and our students. Others would judge our organization and it's instructors based on my skill level and depth of knowledge. Knowing where I am as a student of the arts both in skill and knowledge I can not in good conscience accept this appointment. I do not measure up to this appointment and would only cast a shadow doubt over this organization by accepting something that I know in my heart I am not worthy of. A Soke to me is someone to be looked up too and that others strive to be like. Someone who represents the best of what the art has to offer. Someone who has dedicated their lifes pursutes to the betterment of the art and the perfection of onesself. I have not done this and do not exeplify what a Soke is. Because of my time off and decisions I have made along the way I do not deserve, nor in my mind, rate the grade I wear much less this prestigious position. I would be but a mere paper tiger and this would cast a shadow over the whole organization and diminish your legacy and bring question over the abilities of our instructors and students. With respect to you and those that represent the organization I humbly ask you to reconsider this appointment. I do not wish to go against your wishes or what you feel is best for us but I must humbly decline this genrous offer in the best interests of the continuation of our organization. I will not jeopardize what we all love for a chance to be something that would merely be a lie. With respect and in the best interests of all involved I must decline." end quote. Sensei clarified a lot about this man that none of us knew about. I and others made a snap judgement before getting the facts. I am humbled by this mans respect for all of us and his personal humility and selflessness in turning down something that only few ever get a chance at. I am embarrassed to have judged him before knowing the facts. He is a much better man than I. I am not sure I would have put others over my personal wants and status if the roles were reversed. I publicly apologize to him and hope he can forgive my disrespectful actions.

shogoshin, I apologize for making snap judgements. I remember you teaching our classes when I first started and have a lot of respect for who you where back then and it sounds like you have not change much since then. We all make personal decisions and you are right I did not know that you turned down promotion. I figured you got sloppy and lazy like so many instructors do when they reach a certain rank and stop teaching or trying to better yourself. I will talk to sensei and appreciate you not taking this personally. I do not wish to tarnish your name or disrespect you. I realize that Sensei thinks very highly of you and I should have taken that into account before speaking my mind in anger over the situation. Sensei Pete told me that you did not accept successorship and that he respects your reasons and so does Sensei. I guess that should speak for itself. However you can understand that a lot of instructors took this personally especially the ones that have devoted themselves to the art and to the organization. I hope you can understand this and accept my apology for snapping to judgement. I guess my humility took a back seat to my anger. I see you live in Kentucky. I do too. We should get together and train. Where are you at in Kentucky? I'm down close to the Tennessee and Viginia borders.

Ken, Yes I was refering to you. It's been a long time and I hope you are doing well. I wish we could have caught up under different circumstances but.. Sensei Pete told me that he saw this forum and had talked to you and Sensei about it. I figured you would address it sooner or later. I mean't no disrespect. I know that you are well respected with in the association and are a very good and knowlegeable instructor and do not wish to air dirty laundry however this is a place outside of the organization where I can get advice from others and can take it all in before making any decision. I meant no disrepect to you but you must admit that even you have issues with Sensei's decision. I appreciate that you have enough integrity to turn this down but this does little to ease my mind or the minds of others. I have not been privy to what you did when you moved back home after the corps but I have heard that you took a long time off for what ever reason. Obviously this raises red flags when we hear that you were picked over all of us. With all due respect to you I will be contacting Sensei to discuss directly. I do apologize for not calling you back. I know you have been under a lot of stress and have been trying to put a lot of the other instructors minds at ease in the last week or so but you must understand that I have a lot of questions about why you would be picked when you are still the same rank as me and after you took so much time off. I know that Sensei has his reasons and I'm sure there is a logical answer but if it's all the same to you I would rather hear it directly from him.

I recently found out that my instructor was promoting up another instructor and advancing him above all the other instructors in the association. I am told that this individual has been on a sabatical for the last 9 years and has just recently started to teach again and reconnect with Sensei. I knew this individual when I first started. In fact he taught many of the classes I attended and was very good in both skill and knowledge back then. I believe he was a Nidan then. He is the same rank as I am, and I assume it's due to the time off since he was a Nidan when I was just a Hachikyu. Others have told me that he himself states that he is not at the grade that he wears and has asked Sensei not to promote him until he is worthy of the rank and title. I respect this but the word is that Sensei is promoting him anyway. Do you think that it is right to talk to Sensei about this and express my concern and the other instructors concerns or let it happen and mind my own business? I would normally not say anything but since he is being promoted up above all of us it has a direct impact on the rest of the instructors in the association. I trust Sensei and I'm sure there is a reason for this but for the life of me it escapes my comprehension. I am being told that he will be the successor to our association according to others close to Sensei when Sensei retires. I know this man to be a good man from what I have been told and what I know of him from my earlier years and would not want to damage him or his reputation in any way but I feel that this is wrong and feel I should at least express my views to Sensei on behalf of myself and the other instructors. Honestly I do not know if I even have the right to question Sensei's decisions but I have had several of my fellow instructors question me about this and show concern for what the future might hold. What do you think? Speak up or shut up? Talk to him or to Sensei or to neither?

Mistakes are all apart of learning. Your new to the arts and you will make mistakes. I have been training for 30+ years and still make mistakes. It happens. The trick is to learn from your mistakes and become better for it.

Heart! I'll take someone with heart over a naturally skilled student any day of the year.

The belt is a piece of material by itself. The person wearing it makes it stand for something. The belt shows the years of dedication, skill and knowledge of the practitioner. If you look at an instructor and think that he looks down on you because you are wearing a white belt you have it wrong. He judges you for your knowledge of the arts and your skill level. If you are a white belt and have never had any other training then he will see you as a beginner and treat you as such. You are looking at your lack of skill/knowledge as if it is something that the instructor holds against you. This is not the case. He is judging you so that he can figure out how best to teach you and where you fit in his classes. You would not want to be put with the black belt classes if your skill level is zero. So he assesses your abilities and places and teaches you accordingly. This is not looking down on you because he wears a higher grade. This is being a good teacher. There are those that let the belt go to their heads. However it is not the belt that makes the man it is the man that makes the belt. If you feel that you are looked down upon for wearing a white belt work harder so you can earn a higher grade then the problem is solved. However I think that the issue is in your head. The instructors I know do not look down upon white belts or any belt for that matter. After all we all started out as beginners ourselves.

Its really up to the individual school how often you test but that does not denote a scam. We test (if the student is ready ) every three to four months but that does not guarantee that you will be tested. The beginner ranks go quickly and can test every three months but the intermediate ranks are tested 4 to 6 months apart and it depends on the students drive and ability how fast they test. When I was a kid a lot more was required for each grade but there were fewer grades (only 6) now there are 8 kyu grades and the curriculum is more spread out. This school may only have a few kyu grades and it would be like studying for two grades instead of one. Other arts may take longer to get to shodan. Instead of 5 years it may take 7. Talk to the instructor before writing them off. Anything worth learning is worth learning well. It may take longer but think of how much more proficient you'll be and how much more prepared you'll be for the test.

Most japenese and okinawan arts require that the examining instructor be at least 2 belts above the testing student. When it comes to Kyu (Mudansha) tests the local instructor could promote them up to Ikkyu if he is a Nidan. Once the student is ready to test for Shodan a panel of no less than three higher ranked instructors (at least 2 grades above Shodan but typically higher) test the candidate. I could advance all of my students to Sandan but it is tradition (at least in our art) to have a minimum of two other instructors there during the examination. Our Dan (Yudansha) certificates require three signatures. This is tradition in our art but not necessarily in others. I know a Rokudan that promotes all of his students whether Kyu or Dan without a panel. It really depends on the style and what the association allows.

Never thought about teaching the bunkai and then the kata before. That is a very interesting concept. Let me ask you; do you find that the kata's are easier to pick up or that it just gives a deeper appreciation for the kata and why they are performing it? I do things in the direct opposite fashion but I can see value in what you are doing. I love seeing their faces when they realize what they have been doing and how the kata comes together. Most probably think "when will I ever use this" and then they see the applications and realize the value. It's a really cool thing to witness. However teaching them the bunkai techniques and then introducing them to the kata sounds very interesting. Can you tell me what value and benifits you have discovered by doing it this way? I may try this as an experiment and see how it works out.

1. No not all dojo's offer weapons. Some may offer it but it may be taught by an outside source. 2. It's a personal choice for me. I will not allow students to start training until they show they have the maturity necessary to train with weapons. Weapons are dangerous and it only takes one student to start goofing off while your back is turned and someones going to the hospital or worse. Personally it is in my opinion a liability issue. However I started when I was a Gokyu so my instructor did not feel the same as me. I know some dojo that start them as hachikyu and as young as 10. As far as rank I would say a good time to start is Nikyu or maybe Sankyu if the practicioner has demonstrated good control, excellent empty hand skills and is mature enough to recognize it for what it is. A deadly weapon and not a toy. 3. Not sure but I view it as any other weapon. If I transport them I do so by putting them in the trunk of the car. Putting them on the passenger seat may not be the best idea. As far as walking down the road with a Yari, Nunchaku, or Kama it's probably not the best idea and you'll probably be stopped by a cop and questioned at the very least.

I do both. I roam during kata, bunkai, oyo and Kihon and sit and observe during kumite and covering terminology.

Not sure I understand why you would need to pitch this. Unless your charging an outlandish amount for the lessons I would think it sells itself. I offer them as a means to help my students with areas they think they need help in. I also offer them to students before their tests to help them fine tune areas. I don't have to ask them they ask me. It sells itself.

Listen to your Sensei. You can't skip the beginning of the book and expect to get the overall meaning. The beginning techniques although simplistic will be the building blocks of all other applications to follow. Work on your basics and realize that if your in a mixed class there will be students of different ranks and skill levels. Don't judge yourself against higher ranks. Realize that they have had a longer time to train and learn the drills and combinations you are seeing. Give yourself time and you'll get there. It's normal to want to be at a higher level but if you cut corners you'll find out that it only hurts you later in your training. Stay on course and it will pay off.

8th - pinan shodan 7th - pinan nidan 6th - naihanchi shodan and pinan sandan 5th - niseidi shodan, pinan yondan 4th - naihanchi nidan, niseidi nidan 3rd - niseidi sandan, pinan godan 2nd - ananku, sesan, wanshu 1st - matsumura no rohai, matsumura no bassai Shodan - gojushiho Nidan - chinto Sandan - kusanku Yondan - hakutsuru shodan Godan - hakatsuru nidan

Have not heard of progressive grading but they may just be using their own term. Our Shodan tests are spread out over two days and sometimes three if the candidate can not complete all requirements in the time given. This sounds like what you are talking about. Kihon, History, Terminology, and 6 of the 19 kata, Makiwara on the first day. 8 kata, Bunkai (indepth explaination with their own interpretations to show depth of knowledge) and (Oyo), Yakusoku Kumite (Ippon, Nihon and Sanbon), and Jiyu (full contact) Kumite on the second day. Prior to the physical portion of the exam the candidate must write a detailed essay and submit it to the board for acceptance. This further tests the cadidates depth of knowledge. It's basically breaking down the test into bite size pieces to fit time constraints. When I was young this test would be a one day event but unless you were superman you wouldn't be worth much the following week and some student did not attend the following weeks classes so they could heal. Most candidates crawled out of the dojo and some still do even though it's broken down into two days.

Really there is no wrong way. There are varying opinions but no wrong way. I have heard a dozen ways and a dozen reasons which were all valid. Some say that the Wakizashi should be on top because it's the first sword placed into the obi. Some say the Katana because it is the primary sword and deserves a higher position. Then you get into whether the Tsuka should be on the right or left. I have been told that in peace time the Tsuka is placed on the right and in war time or if you expect hostilities it would be placed on the left. As far as edge down or up I have been told you display the Daisho or Tachi as you would wear them. Edge up if Katana and Wakizashi and edge down if Tachi. Personally I display my Daisho edge up, Tsuka to the right, Katana on top and in Shirasaya. But again different schools have different traditions and I have seen them displayed many ways and to their school it's the right way. In the end display them the way you like. Heck I was even once told that the Katana is on top because the daisho resembles the Torii. Who knows? It really doesn't matter as long as your happy with the way you display your swords. And the old wives tail about the edge being damaged if it is mounted edge side down... well I have put my Shinken through a thousand times more abuse practicing Tameshigiri than the inside of my saya could ever cause no matter how long it sits in it's saya. I don't believe it. The bottom line is respect the sword and display it the way you feel gives it the most respect. If it is a Shinken it deserves this respect. If it's a wall hanger don't even display it IMHO.

I don't understand why they would be asked to test unless they are deemed ready. We do not schedule a student for testing unless we know that they are ready. If most or if all of the students pass that is most likely because the instructor makes sure they are ready to test. I do not understand testing on a set schedule where everyone is automatically scheduled to test. I could imagine the falure rate would be high. Not all students progress at the same rate so it stands to reason that a few students would not be ready and therefore would not pass the test for the next rank if scheduled with everyone else. Personally I evaluate every student before they are scheduled to test in the upcoming test cycle. If they are not ready they will not be scheduled.

I would have the new association call my last school for proof of rank. It is common place for us to ask for their rank certifications to keep on file but there has been an instant or two when the student did not have the certifications. However we do not rely on their certifications for rank qualification. We still test them and qualify their rank. If they do not measure up they keep their present certifications but they have to wear the rank that they qualify for at in our school. I'm sure it's difficult to go from a Shodan to a Nikyu but if the correct attitude is taken they get more out of it and are better for the experience. We actually keep copies of all certificates and record books so our students never have this issue. I have been called a few times by other schools and organizations to provide proof of a students rank and it is nothing more than scanning and e-mailing the credentials to their new school. On most occasions it's nothing more than a short phone call without having to send anything. Bottom line is if your truely the rank you claim to be it will show whether you have the paper work or not.

I would take it as an honor. How many chances to test in front of Soke do most students and instructors get? I would imagine that you know the testing cycle is coming and that you would be training for it, so I don't see the difference between testing before you instructor or the head of your art. It would be a little more pressure but still it would be an honor.

Sorry gentleman I didn't realize that anyone had posted to this in a while. To clarify... We keep our certificates. When we test Dan ranks we send them with our signature to the main hombu and a board member or Soke himself signs off on them and sends them back. We keep our certificates. I think the misunderstanding was my use of the word legitimacy. What I meant by that was if I left, my students testing for Dan would only have my signature on them. In most Okinawan and Japanese arts Dan certificates require three signatures. My sensei and me are two and the hombu provides a high ranking third. The reason I said legitimacy is anyone from another similar style would see this as at the very least uncommon and question the legitimacy of the rank. Our kyu certificates only require the instructors signature. Every style I have taken had no less than three signatures as a minimum. Unfortunately we have no other high ranking instructors beside myself and my instructor. So this is the basis of my original post. I'm not sure if it is absolutely required as I have seen other styles certificates with one or two but it's tradition for us atleast and I want to make sure that Dan's do not have a rough way to go should they ever leave and join another style or open their own dojo and have their ranks legitimacy questioned. That and after leaving you would no longer have the backing of the organization. To be clear the hombu does not keep our certificates. They are sent back and a copy is made and kept on file and the original is given to the student. Just like e-mails, sometimes it is hard to get your meaning through on a post. Hopefully this has cleared things up. Sorry for the confusion.

Wow! That's impressive. Thanks for posting. Does the heart and soul good to see that demonstration.

I'd love to hear about it. It my lend resolve to my decision.

Not sure if this has been asked but what style do you study and how many weapons have you learned? Is it a stand alone or is it through you empty hand art as an addition?

It really depends on where you look for insurance. I found it as cheap as $350 to as much as $799. In the old days (I'm old) we didn't need insurance. At some point we started using liability waivers to protect the school. Some still use only waivers. To me this is dangerous. You leave yourself open yourself up to litigation. No you do not need a association to teach or to get insurance. However it does give you a little more protection.