Safroot

Your point makes great sense and in my situation I will never have this fighter spirit then !

Really smart way of training Thanks for your explaination, much appreciated

How do you teach those who you think will never be able to be fighters ? I am pretty interested to know !

Thanks Wado Heretic for sharing your thoughts. I really like the way you classify people. Why do you think people will never be programmed to extreme violence ?!

That's really interesting idea, thanks for sharing it Alan

" Are we born fighters ? ". That's my question. Since I have started my MA journey and I don't feel confident to spar, not sure if it's fear of pain or fear of the unknown or inconfidence due to lack of experience with different blocks & attacks being a beginner ?! I usually have in the back of my mind the idea that: "I don't want to spar much not to get injured", espicially having family & kids I can't afford taking long break from work to treat an injury but still not sure if this is the real reason or am I trying to convience myself with it so I don't undercover the true reason ! My sesnsei told me that some people are born fighters & others not which might be true but is there any chance for those "others" to be fighters as well ?!! and if yes what they need to do to be fighters ?! I am not sure if anyone is in the same situation or have thought about it before but this issue is really annoying me. I have been raised up to keep myself away from troubles and it's not that easy to change this mindset now. I have started MA initially for fitness & self defence, fitnesswise I am doing great but with self defence I have a big question mark ? , without sparring a lot with many different opponents I will never be able to react in the street ! Sorry for the very long post but felt like sharing my thoughts with you guys

Well done , great news JR 137

Wow ... 50000 versions !!! Thanks for clarification sensei8 I was looking at it for my daughter as they offer school pickup, afterschool care and Kenpo classes which is a new idea I haven't seen in any dojo in Sydney before !

Attended my 2nd class last Wednesday, it was awesome lots of drills & kicks in addition to good self defense techniques. Our sesnei is working as a Gaurd in a night club which gives his self defense training more practicality, he is teaching from real experience both in Karate & street situations. All what I can say is I like training in the new dojo & wish to keep up my enthusiasm

congrats

Is there versions for the American Kenpo ?! There is a new American kenpo school opened close to me & they are teaching American Kenpo Version 5 (Jeff Speakman Kenpo 5) !

Try this when you Sensei is from Dominica and has a strong Caribbean accent. I would imagine how hard it can be

That's exactly our Instructor has done last night

It might seem to be a silly question but do the instructors teach Kumite ?! How they should teach it because in both dojos I have attended they just say Kumite time get your gloves on and start 1 or 2 min rounds .... that's it, is that how it's supposed to be ?! Yes!! The CI instructs everything, while the instructors support the teachings of the CI!! If the CI isn't physically teaching Kumite, that doesn't mean that that CI isn't teaching Kumite. Observations of a CI are vitally important element of teaching. Sees things, then corrects things; this is the CI teaching Kumite. So observing & correcting is the way of teaching kumite ?! But how this happens when you have 4 or 5 partners sparring at the same time ?! Yes, observing and correcting IS the way of teaching Kumite, but by far, not the only way to teach Kumite. Drill after drill are found in a curriculum, and then there's the personal experience that the CI has. To watch...to correct...without those, students have no compass to guide them; that ability is quite evident in any group class with the CI's eyes darting here and there, and when it's necessary to do so, correcting the observed errors. Depending the level of the students, depends on the Kumite drills. Not all CI's teach Kumite the same way; be thankful for that!! It's far more easy to do than one might think for a CI to do; it's the steak and eggs of a CI's teaching ability across the board. Teaching is akin to putting out a fire, but only one fire at a time. With a CI, the observing and correcting is as normal as when the CI is tying his/her shoelaces...or brushing his/her teeth...or opening and shutting a door. Thanks for the clarification sensei8

It might seem to be a silly question but do the instructors teach Kumite ?! How they should teach it because in both dojos I have attended they just say Kumite time get your gloves on and start 1 or 2 min rounds .... that's it, is that how it's supposed to be ?! Yes!! The CI instructs everything, while the instructors support the teachings of the CI!! If the CI isn't physically teaching Kumite, that doesn't mean that that CI isn't teaching Kumite. Observations of a CI are vitally important element of teaching. Sees things, then corrects things; this is the CI teaching Kumite. So observing & correcting is the way of teaching kumite ?! But how this happens when you have 4 or 5 partners sparring at the same time ?!

It might seem to be a silly question but do the instructors teach Kumite ?! How they should teach it because in both dojos I have attended they just say Kumite time get your gloves on and start 1 or 2 min rounds .... that's it, is that how it's supposed to be ?!

I totally agree with you Alan individual guidance from CI was one of my biggest issues in my old dojo, hopefully it's not a problem in the new one. I will wait for a while until I can configure what I need to work on/ fine tune before thinking of private lessons.

For sure I will consider it at one stage but don't think I will start it that early though

Thanks Wayofaswede , I might downlaod & check it

In the new dojo , they recommend it for kumite & for bag/pad work as well

Thanks tallgeese, good point

Ok , it's good to know

Hi all, I was just wondering do you use or encourage your students to use Gloves while training either on punching pad/bags or during sparring ? & why ?! I have always had the impression that karate & kung fu (MA I am familiar with) use bare hands while training & fighting !!

Private lessons have been around as far as I can remember. When I started training back in 1964, our Hombu offered private lessons, and in fact, our Hombu still offers private lesson. In my own dojo's, I've offered private lessons ever since I opened its doors. I'd say that privates lessons are a normal staple at a MA school. Just as in anything, some class structures, like private lessons, are much more suitable for some, but not suitable for others. Some want the privacy, while others crave the group setting. Oftentimes, the venue is the benefit!! Students of the MA have desires, as any individual, and these desires must be meet, and if these desires aren't meet by the school, then, they'll search for a school that will cater to their wants and needs. Benefits fit like a shoe! Either it's a comfortable fit or it's not!! There are as many benefits for and against private lessons, just like there are many styles and types of shoes to try on. Therefore, I will say that, and for the most, a private lesson is a one on one environment, with an occasional 2 on one. In a private lesson, the student has the CI's undivided attention across the board. That can be invaluable beyond what one could ever hope for or dream for!! Private lessons, are crucial if a student is seeking that much needed privacy. A well known celebrity who seeks that much important anonymity for what ever those reason(s) might be, would greatly benefit from private lessons. Hard to train when everyone's constantly gawking at them; tends to make the learning experience much more unpleasant. Do you need private lessons if you're going to or wanting to compete? No!! I do think that private lessons in this case would be more of a hindrance than a benefit because the more students you can Kumite with, the better. Variety is vital to train competitively!! Is it worth the costs? That answer can only be answered by the individual. Cost are higher than group lessons, but that's understandable because a student gets the CI all by him/herself. That undivided attention from the CI costs!! Think about it this way...1 student for an hour, three days a week at $300 per month = $300 VS 20 students for an hour, three days a week at $100 per month = $2,000, and a CI would need about 7 students for private lessons to equal what 20 students bring; it has the P&L screaming for attention. Most MA schools don't have a flip flop ratio where there are more private lessons than there are group lessons. Prices can deter most students, and those prices do play a major factor in a students decision. I've had many student actually think that if they took private lessons over group lessons, that they'd earn Shodan much faster. This is the furthest thing from the truth. Ranks are earned, not given. Promotions depend highly on the student as to how fast, or slow, a student receives. No, private lessons do not speed up the rank earning capabilities. No, you weren't asking this, I've just dealt with this very same question in 8 out of 10 interviews with prospective students over these many, many years. First of all thanks for the detailed post sensei8 as usual I really find very interesting points in your post, private lessons are bit cheaper for me, in the new dojo they charge $35/hour which in my case very close to the schools fees. The school charges $100/month and you can attaend up to 7 sessions x 1.5 hrs every week but in my case I can attend only 1 session weekly (due to work) so I am paying $25/ 1.5 hours school sessions, it might be worth paying $35 weekly for 1 private session ! I will give the normal sessions a go then I will see if I need to go for the private one !

Good points Thanks for sharing it Wastelander