Spartacus Maximus

Real life where people have to work for their situation and where personal choices have consequences is made up of "hard feelings" it is best to get used to that while one is young and adaptable. Unfortunately the "I want it right l, now and everyone is a winner" mentality is more widespread than rewards based on merit and effort. It is no surprise that people expect martial arts schools to function that way when that is how things are done in the regular education system. Not very long ago, it was normal to be held back a grade at school. There was something called cut-off grades below which one would fail. Now everyone has to pass, no child(or immature, lazy adult) left behind. This is the type of student who will throw a tantrum when they don't get a new colourful belt or trophy just be the they showed up. Or the parent who threatens to sue or demands a reward for something their child did nothing to earn or deserve and cannot stand to have their "feelings" shaken a bit. These types need a good shock wake up. Unfortunately for some, the wake up part never happens

This is some can o'worms about to be opened with that question. Applying the "customer is always right" notion to a martial arts school implies accepting and encouraging complicated issues; which will eventually undermine or derail teaching. This would mean, for example that a student could be evaluated simply because paying entitles said student to grade, regardless of demonstrable skills. An instructor applying the notion that students or customers are always right will be obligated to sacrifice entirely give up quality training in order to satisfy customers. Applying the notion or not depends on the instructor's goal. If it is to make a profit above all else by offering a physical activity or sport, then it probably should apply. Especially if it is the instructor's living. If on the other hand the goal is to teach a system with focus on quality and depth skills, it would be counterproductive to apply "customer is always right".

There is nothing stopping a dedicated and determined person from training whenever and wherever possible as often as possible. A student should be able to attend as many training sessions with an instructor as possible. The key is to make the most of that time. Whatever the student's time and financial resources will allow at a given time. Sometimes these might change, but the essential principle remains: learn in the dojo, but always train on your own. Make sure to take full adavantage of the instructor's time, especially if this is not as frequent as you would like it to be.

At the very least it would be reasonable to expect moral support from one's spouse. However unless said spouse clearly and explicitly expresses interest in becoming involved one way or another, it would be wrong to push it. Doing so might even cause unnecessary stress on the relationship. This applies just as well to martial arts schools as to any kind of business.

Training in ways that cause injuries over time is something everyone practising martial arts ought to consider. Years of moving incorrectly eventually lead to painful joints and knees. Do you or anyone have such issues that are a direct result of cumulative damage from training?

With the advent of Olympic karate, it would seem logical to expect an increasing trend towards sport and competition. This will certainly boost public interest, however the popularity will be for sport. Those who teach and train in karate as it was originally intended are few and far between. Olympic karate could mean that fewer and fewer people will be interested in training "original" karate.

Karate is now officially an Olympic event. The games are in a few years, so it may be too early to make any speculations as to how this will affect karate. The only sure thing that can be expected is an increase in popularity. Regardless of how it is considered, the influence will be strong. How much do you expect this to affect your dojo and in what way? Will the fact that karate is now an official Olympic event change anything in the way you reach or administer your dojo? What about your training?

Forms are a staple of training in a great variety of systems, especially those from China, Okinawa and Japan. There are many accounts of exponents and notable practitioners specializing in one or two forms. Of all the kata/forms taught in your system, which one could you rely on the most? Which is your specialty and of which one are you most knowledgeable and capable?

Well, as most posters mainly practise empty handed systems the original question was intended to be about breaking bones by striking. The result of impacts from one limb. For example, breaking an arm bone (cubitus or radius) or a lower leg bone (tibia or fibula).

The evidence does indeed show that breaking a bone and cutting through it require two different types of force. A bladed weapon such as a sword can concentrate much more force in its sharp edges than any kind of impact from a strike with hands, feet or legs. The most important factor to consider when trying to find something suitable to simulate bone is the fact that living bone is much more flexible than dead bone, as well as being wrapped in muscle and other soft tissue, which varies depending on each person. Many martial arts systems from Okinawa and Japan use standard wooden baseball bat handles for breaking. Although the point is probably not to simulate a bone of the same size, could this practise provide any accurate information about what is required to break a bone? What about wrapping the bat handle, dowel etc in a layer of foam or other materials to simulate tissue/muscle?

Has anyone ever heard of bamboo being similar to human bones for density or hardness, flexibility or other characteristics that are comparable? Have you heard of other material that have been used to build training tools specifically because they are good stand-ins for human body parts? Weapons such as swords are commonly tested with various materials, but it appears to be less common with empty handed systems. What materials have you heard of being used in the system you practise? Is it something of the past or are these still used despite the availabilty of modern equipment?

"I always see my sensei & sempais doing really powerfull techniques even if they are demonstrating with no partners or in katas and that's another thing that I still can't do !" There lies an important part of the answer to the question. One must consider that each individual person takes a different length of time before being able to do a technique correctly, consistently and with power without thinking about it. This is the mark of true mastery of all the physical mechanics involved in a skill, and usually takes considerable time. A novice of a few years cannot expect to be able to do anything that an intermediate level person does only with the utmost effort and concentration, but not consistently. Only when all the mechanics are assimilated and done without thinking is it possible to do a technique with the complete control required to avoid injuring a training partner when doing it with power.

@Dani_001 As someone who has trained almost exclusively under Okinawan Senseis, all of whom trained and taught martial art, not competition or sport; what you mention about the variety of kicks and their purpose is accurate. In fact, when listening to any of the high ranking karateka or instructors there is a consensus that in the decades before 1945, Karate in Okinawa had only two kicks. So it is not just goju-ryu, but Shorin ryu, Uechi-ryu and everything else. Kata reflects this and, counting the total number of kicks of each type in all existing Shorin kata one finds a very high number of front kicks and a smaller number of stomping kicks aimed at one's own knee height. The one thing that is not emphasized enough by most instructors is that despite the fact that kicks in karate were never intended to be aimed higher than the lower abdomen; strong, powerful kicks is very demanding on the legs and knees. Therefore it is vital for karate to train strength, endurance and flexibility to the maximum degree. That is why having the flexibility and strength to kick high in training. Of course the same warning goes along with flexibility training as anything else. Anyone can do it with enough dedication, but it must be done slowly and gradually, never rushed.

Music is distracting and impares training by disrupting the senses. Having music in the ears while training something which may be needed for self-preservation makes as much sense as walking through an unfamiliar and perhaps dangerous neighborhood with earphones on.

Same dojo, but different schedule or different instructor is the best way to maintain optimal benefits of training as well as quality.

Knowing the types of people in martial arts and possible dojo antics, there is no such thing as being over-prepared. Murphy's law says that most of the liability issues will come from a situation for which one is the least covered.

Usually the reason why a dojo has photos or portraits is to show or illustrate lineage. In Japanese and Okinawan dojos a sensei will have at the very least a picture of the founder and one of their own sensei. New students do not know who the photos are, so advertising is not really the point. They become useful when the instructors has to give an explanation of what they teach and from whom and where it originated. Sort of like introducing one's family. Of course in some dojos this is taken to a level which may appear like a personality cult. It depends on whoever is in charge of the dojo. Some have huge poster sized portraits all over and others are very modest with only a small desktop sized frame tucked away somewhere or at the front. Too many can be distracting, though

Besides liability issues, being aware of a student's general physical condition from the beginning can be helpful if there is a need to adjust certain parts of training. Sometimes there are some health conditions that could be of concern but are not obvious at first glance.

Humans have instincts and natural behaviours just like all animals. The key difference is that unlike other animals, people can exploit their own natural instincts and even control them by training. Training is what determines the way a person will behave in a given situation. Two different people with radically opposing characters and personalities will both fail if they are not prepared to deal with what they are facing. Someone who trains effectively and regularly for self-defense will most likely succeed at defending themselves. To be effective, training and practice must have a clear goal.

The point of training is to develop and ingrain certain actions and responses which would not otherwise be possible. The results of training depends almost entirely on the methods and purpose. With proper supervision, diligence and adequate repetition, trained actions become instinctive. The fact that born "fighters" do not exist or that a person lacks a certain character trait is completely irrelevant to that person's ability to deal with physical threats. Self defense and dealing with violence goes far beyond physical techniques. The subject involves many other social and psychological aspects not usually discussed and often ignored.

Without certain environmental and cultural conditions, developing the traits of a fighter is not possible. To be a fighter, one must be conditioned, influenced and trained. This happens through several factors, but the most important are the person's culture and social background. If both of these encourage and exalt certain traits or skills, then developing these will be a natural process.

Modesty and remaining humble about skills, knowledge and achievements is a cultural value that applies to everything. Displaying certificates and other such things only goes against these principles if said objects are put somewhere where anybody will see them. If they are just neatly organized in a designated area at home where nobody will see them unless they request it, it could not be called vanity.

A doctors release, unless requested by the patient, does not have to mention any details other than officially stating that, the person concerned has no major ailments that would make training in martial arts or any other intense physical activity dangerously risky as per professional medical opinion. Basically it is a written note from a doctor saying training is no unusual risk.

It certainly is a terrific marketing tool to have many achievement certificates in beautiful frames hanging in the dojo. The downside is that the technology to produce quality fakes is cheap and widely available for anyone to access. This means that frauds have exploited it to the point that the authenticity of any certificate can be doubted and questioned. The public at large may or my not know this, but there are much more savvy prospective students than ever who are aware that the martial arts world is rife with frauds, charlatans and crooks who would no be beneath forging certificates. Both types have their reasons for the way they treat their achievement related documents. Even when one is not an instructor, the question of what to do with them will come up. Personally, the certificates are of immeasurable sentimental value. Framed written recognition for years of effort by sensei. Seeing them on the walls each time I am home serve to remind me how far I have come and how much work sensei put into teaching. They are the greatest personal training motivators.

This may or may not belong here but it is something that could make an interesting discussion. Everyone with a shodan or above usually has a certain number certificates, or other objects and documents officially recognizing their achievements. Usually instructors will have these framed and hanging somewhere in their teaching space or office. Others still are much more low key and keep everything stowed away at home somewhere personal. Why do you or choose to display or stow away your martial arts achievement certificates?