Luther unleashed

So every martial art has requirements BUT it's up to the instructor you train under as to what percentage of these things will be "mandatory" with your injury. I'm not Bruce lee or Chuck Norris but I have always been fairly graceful with kicking. About 7 months ago I hurt my back badly, I typically strain it to the point of not being able to walk for a hair less then a week, I do this every few years. This time it was bad. It wasn't until about a month ago where I could perform my first kick at maybe half speed. I am absolutely terrified to allow myself to really get any "torque" but I'm on my way. I CAN relate. A problem with kicking would seem to go against TKD as an art, because I can't think of any martial art that would use the mindset of kicks more then TKD. WTF TKD uses even more emphasis, I have studied this myself and to be good at it you will need to use fast, fluid kicks that scare me to think about lol. I am practicing Tai Chi as of now to try and get my back healthy, because it requires very little fast movements and little torque, TKD would be the last art I picked up at the moment but the important thing is, ONLY do what you can and don't push too hard. Me, I'm an idiot and would so I know better but if you have restraint use it. Also, talk to an instructor and be open. See what they say about what you can get out of training, and testing for rank requirements. I have a student that is highly inflexible from a genetic issue, I push him to stretch kicks further but he's limited. I don't care, if he can perform a good kick to his limit, even if that's waist height, then great. Good luck to you and please take it slow.

Sadly I had written a post with some cool numbers based on some things said here and it didn't go through. Even more sadly I don't feel like writing it all again right now, I'll try and post tomorrow. Great info guys.

I'm a little confused, and nobody else seems to be so maybe I am just missing something. You are wanting to create a martial art or just a specific way of sparring. I understood the tournament thing so I am assuming you mean just the sparring. Also, since I did not understand specifically what you meant there, I am a little confused about what type of organization you would be starting as well, again call me naïve Lol. As for the name, I'd be ok with kumite as long as it's a traditional karate tournament, but if it was for any other type of style I would imagine it would not make much sense as most other systems do not call it kumite. As for the leg checks I enjoyed it as it is the way I have always sparred. Something I've got very used to doing is sinking in a great leg kick to stay little bit, then I go and fake like I'm going to strike it again after I've caused a little bit of pain and then I go upstairs To the upper body or head. Definitely vote for leg kicks haha. As for knees to the head I think this is extremely dangerous. If you fold an opponent over and stick up your knee it would be very easy to strike with a great deal of snapping force, and I believe it would be hard to control. The same would be true for the blind me except it will be even more difficult. I cannot even remotely imagine being able to perform a flying me with a great level of safety for my opponent, that's a tough one. Good luck regardless, i appreciate the people who are willing to push for something different.

DWx those are some cool stats. Personally I view the different branches of TKD as different arts. If you were to look at a form in WTF, compared to ITF the common person would assume they are completely different arts so to me it's a different black belt to count. It's pretty crazy to think of hey martial art having black belt practitioners in the millions but especially for tae kwon do it is certainly believable.

I know it's a hard stat to find. I'm fortunate that I have been able to follow an accurate black belt registry for this info on this art specifically. This brings up another thought, is there a black belt registry available online for you to see? I think this is a great feature to have as a school. I have one myself. I think it's also cool for students to see where they are on the list, just for fun.

Hey guys, I have been interested in these stats out of sheer curiosity. Tried googling a bit but it's a rough road, just figured I'd see if anybody has any good insight. Tae Kwon Do I am certain would be the highest anoint of black belts, but you never know I suppose. I have studied a few arts and some didn't have any rank. The one I teach at the Rec center (Tong Che Bahk Do) though has only 85 black belts total! Actually I was the 63rd black belt added to the black belt registry. Pretty cool stat I think. Anybody know any of these stats for either their art or another art?

Kendo is similar to a martial art I studied, and still practice from time to time. I used to train one class after the other and I'll tell you it was very demanding. It really helped to to develop stronger legs, and shoulders in particular. As a crisstrainong martial art it was perfect. Hope you enjoy it as much as I used to. Can't think of a single reason it would be bad or interfere with Karate. Good luck!

Sensei8, I hear you. One of the things that make me feel out of my element is not only my lack of tournament experience, but also that even in striking I practice so many techniques that I can't use in sparring in general. As I have said a lot I always went for real street stuff, even some of the stepping jab or cross techniques won't work because you can't strike to the face. I aim lead leg sidekicks to the knee of the opponents leg they use to step in, and I work on this and getting the timing just right. This has always gotten me going. In that sense I'm even more then I thought, out of my element that is. DWx thanks for the words. That back, ahh yes well if I don't compete in sparring it will be because of the back. I'm hoping it will be an easy process to build it back up. Today I performed about 11 forms so I could take some videos and pics for students. Haven't been able to do that in a few months. Hopin for the best. Everybody else thanks for your input too. Nidan and TJ, I appreciate the comments. I wouldn't say I'm afraid to step out of my box because of fear as much as concern I won't adapt quickly enough. I ageee it's good to step out of the box, but I hope I can hang. On the forms level I'm not terrible but not exceptional, I have a chance with zero having to adapt. Weapons as well, I hope my staff remembers to be good to me haha Wastelander, it only makes me feel better if somebody who's out of their element is across from me. Truth be told the guy who heads the tournament is part of a team that travels the country sparring, and they are pretty good at this, craziness. For the first time ever I am feeling like I'm in the Karate Kid (the old one) haha! By the way it's the "Phoenix open martial arts tournament" which is on April 22nd in Phoenix. Here's a shot of the flyer http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5_tN7Nb02p4/WFjU9XEK4bI/AAAAAAABJwY/lyvUEik-Njg/s1024-no/IMG_3783.JPG

Hey guys, So I have never been to this portion of the forum. Sport components have never done anything for me as a martial artist. I enjoy the combative side of traditional martial arts, and being a guy that came from the streets I wasn't into sports, I was into fighting and the draw of self mastery and attempting to lay down pride and stay clear of fighting. It just isn't a sport to me, and I never felt a tiny bit like I needed to compete. I have been open 2 years now and decided to attend a large tournament in the Phoenix area in hopes to create a more fun and new environment for my students in 2017. Along the way of dealing with it, I decided to compete myself. For one thing I felt it's what a leader should do because my students have never attended and I want them to try it out. They (and I) will face , according to last years numbers around 400 competitors from 40 different schools from about 5 states and many styles as it's an all styles competition.. Phew! The problem? I am about 1 month pain free since a back injury 6 months ago that took weeks to be well enough for me to stand up straight. Also, because of my desired approach to learning and not thinking about rules and such, I am a bit out of my element for sparring. Some of these guys look real good, although different. I can see they have really dug deep to perfect the art of that "type" of fighting within those boundaries. I fear my back getting hurt, I have 4 months to build it up. I also stress my ability to adapt. I also worry because I spar with leg kicks, our sparring looks like an offshoot of Muay Thai, because it is. We kick to the outside and inside of the thigh in our usual sparring. This tournament is Sport karate based and no leg kicks allowed. My leg checks/blocks are waisted energy with accidental fires just waiting to happen. I also use the leg a lot! I case some pain in the leg and shoot up top for a roundhouse, or hook kick often. It's a challenge to say the least to adapt. I use a great deal of lead attacks but these guys look like super foot bill using one leg. I hope to enter both point sparring and continuos sparring categories as well as forms. All styles welcome, going to be crazy. Sorry for the book guys, just couldn't figure out how to shorten and I expect most to skim which is ok lol. My question is has anybody been a traditional martial artist who has placed himself in a sport element that was way out of their norm? If so any ideas to throw around about it? I'm a bit uncomfortable about it all to be honest, I enjoy my bubble but I want to be the best teacher I can, so here I go...

Nice job guys. Deserving pics.

I agree, it's true it really depends your background. I have plenty of traditional eastern arts training myself but I think it's not about earning it, its teaching it that's hard for me sometimes, like if I have a big class with 20 students at seven different ranks need to learn different material. I studied and just started teaching (trying to offer a new class) Hung Gar Kung Fu. I don't hold any rank in it. Some schools give you color sashes for Rank and some do not. Often times when a Chinese style doesn't have belts/sashes they simply go by the form your on. I like this, it's weird at first but I like it. Don't misunderstand me, I hold value over my rank, but teaching to rank specific marlterial with a group of 20 is stressful is all. To a good multitasker maybe not such a problem lol

On a second note. I am unfulfilled as an instructor and teacher. I am frustrated that so many politics and structures get in the way of my own personal relationship with martial arts. The very first real martial arts training I had was from an instructor who was my neighbor. We put on gloves and learned to fight. He boxed and held a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Inboxed up top and used TKD style kicks. It was me. As I trained I soaked up the knowledge never feeling I needed to put a name to what I did. I never felt the need to obtain rank at that point. I took these moves and practiced. I did roundhouses on trees for and hour here and there. I practiced being fast and hitting hard. Rank didn't satisfy my need or desire to seek what I was after. I never cared what style I was learning, only if I felt it was real or not. I was happy to be a "mut" if you will. Laying out curriculum for others... oh my lord wow As a teacher it's all about rank, and structure, and quite honestly most people just don't kick trees like they used to haha, no but really, these topics stress me out because teaching traditional martial arts conflicts with my own personal agenda of freedom in martial arts, and it's a personal problem, so I apologize if I seem uptight sometimes. It's because I am uptight. I'm searching for answers to my own path of enlightenment and business, and they sometimes mix, and sometimes don't. Stressful man phew!

Thanks for the post bushido_man. I'm not frustrated at responses. When I appear to feel I'm misunderstood it's because I feel that way lol. In my small mind, I think to myself that if somebody feels I'm discrediting rank by doing this they must be missing something as I can't imagine why somebody would feel that way. Maybe I'm understood and that's just how some feel but I don't know. If you have to know 2 specific forms and some other techniques for 7th rank, giving you a belt instead of a piece of tape or something showing your almost to 7th rank but can have 7th Rank if you learn these exact things, doesn't in any way compromise 7th rank. This is when I assume I'm not good at conveying the message, rather then I'm disagreed with. I suppose I am stuck on belts, and that is my problem. I can't see going another route. I suppose my dilemma more specifically was assuming we're giving belts or tape or working towards rank in one way or another and deciding a way to work around the fact that I was supposed to give something like a trophy but went with belts, and because I did this I was short sighted and later realized that some aren't gonna be ready. Maybe it was a little bit of me assuming I'd have them all ready in 5 months to test for one belt too. I'm not frustrated that people have opinions or suggestions, I'm just not always sure I can fit my passionate feelings along with logic into complete paragraphs that keep attention and truthfully represent my points, that's all!

First off welcome to the KF. Just wanted to sound like Sensei8 sorry . Seriously, nice to see new people. So, in Tang Soo Do it'a always a middle stance, I'd describe it as a low/middle stance. Not high like the Okinowan styles that sensei8 referred to. I find that when people have an issue it's because of the alignment of the toes and knees more then anything. Toes should be pointed outwards and not forward. Knees should not squeeze but should relax and open up. As for flexibility I agree with DWx, sounds like right calves. When I perform a really high front kick, or axe kick I feel it in my calve muscle and not my hamstring like many people do, so I can relate in some manner. I would try doing front stance, and essentially point rear toes at the normal 45 degree angle, slowly try and point them forward without lifting the heel. This is a stretch we sometimes do in class, specifically for that muscle. Outside of that congratulations on going for black belt. A lot of good stuff here, hopefully some ideas help you out.

Senei8 I really like how you wrote this. I myself like some are pretty good at making my own point. This post sums up your ability to be very open minded in your approach and I appreciate that very much. I deviate from curriculum but as it was taught to me I have a "main" curriculum and "suplimental" curriculum. The main curriculum are required for a large portion of rank, the auplimental curriculum isn't as much for rank but is still important to the art. On sumplimental days I will often try new things and not only follow exact ways of doing things. The only reason is boredom. I feel like I need to mix it up, I feel like it keeps the program fresh and students can learn the main curriculum while still doing new things. It also keeps me having fun because if I get bored with teaching exactly the same things over and over what energy will I bring to class? I am the verometer and my energy carries to my students. As you said some won't deviate from it. I'm ok with that because there's a shoe size for everybody. This is a great second topic haha. Good post sir!

So clearly the title as everybody moving in a certain direction and I guess it's a little bit of a different direction then much of my post. I feel that because it is so long-winded that many I've missed the essential points I have made. In no way am I giving one student who does not know the required curriculum the same as another does so my idea of giving somebody a rank that is just an in between stage and is not giving you an official Rank in that martial arts, I do not see how I would be diminishing all that I have built in anyway, obviously I'm speakIng loosely and that is not exactly what you said but essentially the same thing. My whole idea to come up with a half rank was to not diminish what I have built in my stand so I can't imagine how you think giving away a belt color that is essentially rank in an afterschool karate program and not Rank in the martial art style I teach would make all rank mean nothing? It absolutely means something, if a student is doing well and learns the requirements and they burn the appropriate rank in the martial art, if they do not then they earn a half rank which means that they are on their way to earning rank in the martial art but are not there yet. The standard in which a student adheres to, to earn that same exact rank in the martial arts does not change one single bit. So, in the end a black belt in the martial art style I teach is held to the same exact standard because nothing changes. I feel like it is a complicated way to explain and because of my long winded posts I have to imagine that my points or at least some of them go Uncomprehending or unnoticed because of that. Let's remember this very valuable point, giving somebody a belt is not the same as giving somebody rank because if I give you a belt and it does not attach itself with some type of rank in the martial arts then it essentially means nothing other than being a marker for progress in my program, It is the rank itself which carries the weight in that particular belt color is just a reflection of the progress.

Never been challenged and never seen a situation that was too wild. At my last school a guy wanted to take classes and asked to spar the instructor though. He was persistent and ignorantly disrespectful in an oblivious that he was crossing a line way. After enough hounding my instructor sparred him. He lit the kid up until he asked to stop. He joined hahaha! Also, a student once was going hard on the same instructor in sparring. I heard something hit the mat real hard and looked over and it was that student, and my instructor letting him know not to do that again. Agh I miss that place. Closed down as he moved to Japan, fun memories.

I hear what you are saying, the first problem with that is everybody's already geared and primed for belt testing because that is the route I chose to go already. Also, The way I teach is always material for testing so I have been really already prepping them for rank and I would feel a bit strange teaching them everything they need for rank but not giving that to them. There is a program out here in Arizona which is very successful in the school system. They easily have hundreds of students and they only operate out of schools. They use a belt system of 27 belts and in my mind they do that because they see some of them as sort of a half rank as I am Talking about doing. Most major martial arts seem to have around 10 belts or so, in my martial art there are 10 color belts, I think the ATA also has 10 color belts, is this correct? The thing I suppose that makes it very difficult to want to get away from the belts is watching a program with the success that this company has had in doing rank. To be totally honest I am seriously looking at the possibility of not even re-signing for the next semester. This is the third time I have branched out away from the recreation center location, there is always been a reason I felt I was better off not doing it and I am toying with the idea of just focusing on my one location and that's it, I just started a kung fu program there which has been very enjoyable to teach. It's only one class so an extra 45 minutes twice a week but the location is proving to be pretty solid. With 37 students at just that one location I think there's a good chance I might be there only after December anyways. It has been very difficult to be a teacher of so many students so shorthanded I have to say. I'll give it much more thought after December when this semester ends at the school, I don't know what I'm going to do for sure yet but my goal is to go in there and get everybody up to speed on what they need to know for their very first rank, which is a half yellow half white belt. I would like to think if I made a decent teacher I can get them there, even if it's just this one time.

I'll try and touch on every bodies post. Sensei8- I don't think it sounds hardlsh the way your speaking. It sounds passionate and it sounds like you have a first belief system. Don't for a second think I'm offended. I enjoy these topics that make people's blood boil a little haha. I never had to pass them, I chose to. I was short sited and assumed I'd get everybody to pass. A trophy, a certificate, all would have been ok to the school. I chose testing because it's progressive, and I don't want to teach any other way. I award Rank and teach standards to that rank, and that's what happened. I'm now thinking ahead and maybe I should have thought of this stuff sooner. As I now realize some students aren't really making it to class and such, I see some conflict here so that is what this is all about. Jr 137- yes the school was ok with anything but wanted it distrubuted fairly. As I said, my son played soccer recently, he became the second best player on the team and the go to goalie. He didn't receive anything special for recognition. He got a trophy the same as the kid who was cussing, being rude, not listening and so on. Is that fair? Nope. It's the way our society works though, and I have beef with that. Anyways, I have never, and I mean never handed out a trophy, a medal, or anything else, only certificates of rank and belts, this is what led me on the narrow minded path I am on now. Never been much for the sporty theme in martial arts. Yes I know you can hand out awards in this manner and not teach sporty like karate but this is just never been my way as I'm a little old-school traditional in that way. Alan Armstrong- I agree that a belt trophy or anything else can be symbolic of achievement I would like to open my mind to such things but obviously I need to get that right in my head because as I've said in the previous two paragraphs I've just never done thank that way so I'm a bit narrowminded with that stuff. I don't agree that an American solution would be something other than belts, maybe it started out that way but I think that when students take martial arts these days in America they expect belts. I recently started kung fu class and I was faced with the decision of whether to use a sash ranking system or not. I faced this decision because I know it is what many people will expect and many people will see the belt rather than the lesson but that's just the way our country works I think. Brian- yes to answer your question they can absolutely retake the course, if they were not able to I would not see a great deal of value in having the Rank or belts. The course last for five months so as I stated in my long winded post previously, it *should* be enough time to get everybody prepared for one Rank. In reality that may be hard as I see some not making it often, the ones showing up are one, and one student is two forms into the training, but hear students missing will fall short if it continues. Only 6 weeks left, and my dilemma is present. I could certainly do grades, or any other system I want. I am not governed in anyway by the school other than the fact that when they mentioned maybe giving away trophies or something like that I suggested the belts so I guess I'm sort of locked into bills at the moment because this was my agreement and my idea, hence the problem from short sighted vision. After dropping my dojo, and getting down to almost only 20 students I was a bit quick to make the deal and push details off a bit. Lesson learned. Spartacus Maximus- as my soccer comparison goes, the school wanted I suppose, a fun course introducing them to karate in a sense and obviously nothing is wrong with giving them something for that as far as I can see. The real issue is I'm not the TKD guy that does those things. I don't mean to offend any taekwondo guy but minibus know of those programs being very fun and kid friendly. I think my approach still works. I have 18 in one class at the Rec center, ages 4, 5, and 6. I'm doing something right but I think my kids have a little less fun, but parents enjoy my discipline a little bit more then many "softer" (for lack of better word) programs. Bottom line, I'm not the best fit for a program like this as I am very serious about the way I do things. There was a TKD guy I ran into and we had a conversation. I was intrigued by our large differences. He spoke of birthday parties and fun classes and nobody gives a crap what martial art I teach, they want fun fun fun. I agree some, but certain things I won't do for success. Everybody has to sell out to a certain degree. We all have to step out of our own way on some way or another to be successful at things at any job. The main difference between him and I? His definition of success was student numbers and money, mine was teaching how I want and making enough. I'm stubborn. I'm more like an old Japanese sensei8 that doesn't smile a whole lot, not the goofy kid Instructor that makes everything a blast. Wish I was both, and I try to be, but nature is hard to ignore. I have 6 weeks to decide either way. I have talked with my wife plenty about maybe not even doing another semester. Possibilities are always there to do what I chose so we will see. I will follow my heart and I ha e faith things will work out the way they are supposed to. Thanks for the well thought out posts everyone!

Guys, I appreciate the posts, I thought about doing something like tape but that's a matter of trying to figure out how to move somebody along in the ranks system, this is a matter of making sure everybody get something. If I was to use electrical tape then something of equal financial value would have to be given to those students that equals in their mind, karate belt. They all pay the same and they all need something for participation so it's not that they all need a belt it's just that they all needed something of equal value for the program. When kids play soccer at that school they all get a participation trophy. They are looking for something similar. I really like these ideas I simply feel that I don't want to be so in-depth this stuff and I would just like to teach the art and help them to advance. I am overseeing 72 students by myself with very little to no help. This is not easy to do and giving them different types of merit for different things would be an off a lot of work for one person. Teaching when I teach is not extremely difficult although it does have its challenges with large groups of students especially kids. I don't exactly want to do something completely different for them and that's the issue, I would rather simply advanced them and that's it. Sensei8, I think you misunderstood my post, I made an arrangement that they would all get something but I never made an arrangement that they would have to get rank, it was my choice and they did not dictate any of that. They were perfectly happy if I gave them all a trophy at the end and did not even rank them but again it was the direction I want to go because this is the way I like to teach martial arts and not in so much of a seminar style if you will. When I said I would yes test them I guess I wasn't thinking, so there is still room to make adjustments however I would prefer to simply give everybody a belt and move forward. That's the problem here. I think I like the half Rank idea. In essence, I would be giving a certificate from my school, not a specific martial art. This seems uncomfortable and I'm not 100% into it like I said a few times in the post but to me it's the easiest way to just keep everybody hungry and achieving those short term goals that belts offer. In the end none of this may matter if I can get everybody to pass the basic standard, especially just starting out. I don't know that everybody earning a belt is sending a bad message, not if students are allowed to skip the half rank and move to a full range, I think at that point the message sent is that you will move at your own pace and you will get out what you put in. I could see if I had students who were just bouncing off the walls and terrible students that giving them a belt would be a bad thing but in my class that really doesn't happen. I'm probably overthinking all of this because in reality I have never had to think about anything like this but I guess I'm just concerned. Realistically five months till testing everybody should be able to make it in theory, in reality I'm worried there will be some that just won't put in the effort and I'll be left with a decision like this so in a sense I'm thinking ahead.

You know man, to be honest I think I'm just a little too particular. I think I'm too knitpicky. I am more likely to give the students belts and certificates from my school and not rank in my martial art, rather then skip belts all together. I feel like that's what people are after, and it's what I'm use to. I have thought about doing it that way. Like I said I don't see them coming to me at my main location at the center because of distance. Also, I don't know how to teach non-progressively. It would be strange and I am a creature of habit and I think once I'm on the spot I'd teach like I always do anyway. I don't know, I'd like to just give them Rank and grow the art, I just don't know if I can get everybody through to that standard, especially when some aren't really showing up consistently. I don't want to be inovative here, I'm overwhelmed at times with these large classes of children, sometimes more the. 20, for obvious reasons.

Sensei8, there is no fee for testing as they pay upfront for class, the class cycle is an entire semester which is around 5 months. I'm going to be holding one testing at the end of each semester for all students. I suppose the reason I'm reaching for opinions here and ideas because I have not done any testing at this school location so I'm free by any type of system I come up with or answer to my current dilemma. The first testing will be at the end of the semester which is December 19Th. The school was pretty firm on the fact that they need a program Where everybody got something. He did not have to be a belt but when I made the agreement and they were talking about trophies and what not I mediately said we will just do a testing at the end of the semester, I've never been into sport karate, not that I am against it but it's just never been my thing and handing out trophies and ribbons is just not my style. The belt seem like a good fit. At the time of the deal I was down to 22 students and did not think this part of it through. I could still come up with something different and it doesn't have to be a belt, however I watched a program here in Arizona do something similar although they did not make it know that any particular belt was at half Frank. They use a belt system of 27 belts and those that do very well go ahead if you ranks and those who do poorly essentially never fail and I just avoided a lower rank and if you figure 27 belts he would have to imagine it could easily take 14 years to earn black belt if you weren't putting much in. This is what sparked this particular way of doing it in my mind. In my mind I would do it in a similar fashion and I think the students and the parents would simply see a bell color not really understand the rank for the most part so I don't really foresee any issue you're referring to honestly. Maybe I am shortsighted but I just don't really believe it would be a problem. I will say however that I don't prefer to change or add any belt colors as when pictures are taken it would look very off with funky colors in there to me personally. I don't really know, i'm just feeling it all out and although I put work into making it I'm just not 100% sure. I always appreciate your advice. DWx, I do not have to test with a belt system, it's just simply that I have already agreed to that and I've been preparing the students for a frame of mind her being ready for testing so it's a bit late to switch that now. So it would be proper to say I did not have to but now I do LOL. As far as doing it where if they want proper rank they have to see me at my other location it's very much not likely as it's a 45 minute drive and I have never been successful and trying to get parents to drive their kids that far for rank especially when there are so many places on every corner here in Arizona. To top it off I'm up against many taekwondo places that are very good at marketing and displaying some what of an image relating to those into sports better than myself, I am structure in more of a military mind frame with a louder voice and less flashy colors and although I seem to be pretty successful I'm simply saying that there are some cards stacked against me to try to Lure students 45 minutes away. I am curious what you mean by breaking the curriculum down and testing them that way? In my mind I would not mind doing that but leaving them without a belt is going to be against what the school is expecting. I understand where sensei8 is coming from i'm not letting an outside influence dictate how I do things, but I guess the thing is in order for my program to be successful I am open to do things a different way of course as I am in somebody else's facility, I don't want to sacrifice the integrity of the martial arts or Standard of what is expected for each rank however, this is why I would consider creating half eanks. I suppose I just don't see it as that big of a deal and it could be a nice idea but if there was another way that sounded good I would certainly consider it as I'm not 100% on board with the idea. Thank you for the input, always helpful.

Thank you, yes obviously I'm just trying to adapt and allow my program to take on a somewhat different form while not compromising the quality of the martial arts taught and the ranking system.

So many old-school guys are going to feel funny about this one I am one of them. I have a training on and off since 1983 , I was only six my karate was my first martial art. I certainly think I qualify as old school compared to places these days that are a little bit more loose and gimmicky. Teaching mostly children I am more loose already because I realized I have to be as many of them are still a bit clumsy and trying to find their way in life let alone martial arts. I have been pretty open about my road and my path and had my recreation center location I have had a good amount of success at keeping students, over the summer however I went from 37 students all the way down to 22 students and was left closing my newly opened dojo. It was just a little bit of bad luck and timing as we went into summer and many students I had wanted to go off and try new things and about half of them returned. I had new students come in of course but not enough to make up the difference. After I closed my standalone facility I sold my benches to a gentleman who owned an elementary school and asked me if I would do a program there after school. Long story short I did and for the first semester we enrolled 34 students in those will be my students for five months till the following semester. And Buckeye we have cracked our previous years record of 37 with a number of 38 this month so far. Simple math tells us that we are at 72 students total so things are going great and I pushing hard to make sure I never go down to 22 again Ha! The problem is at the school expect it to be a participation thing and everybody get something at the end of the semester. Obviously some students are working harder than others and some are showing up more than others and learning the actual requirements so I can just give everybody the same belt. I could skip the ones they're doing well that would not be holding a standard to develop system so I came up with something on my own and I'm guessing it's probably been photo before and executed before so I'm sure my ideas not tremendously original but it is new to me. I devised what I'm calling "school Rank" which is not the same as the "martial art" rank. Essentially I'm looking at it as a half Rank. There are 10 ranks until you hit 1st dan, but for students who don't know the full material yet know some will go to an in between Belt. I'm not doing it for money, I'm doing it because I want to keep my program going and give the school what they want so nobody fails, or as a common school term they use now in the area is "nobody left behind"! The reason I would do this rather than handoff rank is obvious, it's because I worked very hard for my ring and I would not want to just give it away so I have made to certificate types, one states that the student has met all the requirements to earn such and such rank and is entitled to wear such and such belt in my martial art, the other one certifies they have advanced to the level of such and such belt. It's a half Frank so I'm ranking them in my school but not a full rank in the belt system. I'm sharing because I find it to be an interesting predicament and I'm curious if others have run into something similar and if they know of any other ways to deal with this type of situation. I'm going this route because I don't see anything wrong with awarding somebody a belt as long as they understand that it is not attached to a full rank yet. What do you think?

Everything jr137 said. He always has great posts and I hate posting behind him because it's hard to sound smart lol. That form was executed really well. Forms have always been enjoyable to me, although I have never been the best around at them. I can truly appreciate a great performance when I see one though. Nicely done. That form is Pyung Ahn EE Dan in Tang Soo Do, almost identical but a little different of course. I wanted to post this one to mix it up a little, now it's tough competition thanks . This is me messing with some effects and working on some Kung fu. It's a small section of a very long form, check it out. Hung Gar Kung Fu "Iron Body" from Tiger Crane 108 form https://youtu.be/fL_0dyhQrBU It's done very differently depending on lineage so knowing weather or not it's accurate takes some knowledge of the form but it's fun to do. My sone playing on his iPod behind me is oblivious lol, that's how you know you practice too much, when your family barley notices