Spartacus Maximus

The experience of having re-started the same style under a different association and teacher has brought about this question, which has been troubling for quite some time. Under my previous instructor and association I was evaluated and given a 3rd Dan. When I re-started the same style from zero with my current teacher I realized that everything I had been doing was either wrong or missing important parts. Since then, I have reached the level of first kyu but nearly every time it seemed to me that my skills were not good enough for the level I was being given. I trust my teachers judgement but I doubt my level is where what I have been given.

I have seen a few dojos and schools where a causal observer or potential student coming in would have a difficult time identifying the instructor at first glance. These were all very traditional Chinese, or other East Asian systems. In cases like these the instructors probably depended on reputation alone, because unless asked their credentials were never mentioned anywhere. To know their skill level one had to watch them move.

Quite right indeed. Under my current teacher, every single day in the dojo is an exam and the grading is just the result. I never ever know when I reach the next level. Not until the training day before and only at the very end. The observers besides the teacher are everyone shodan and above and at least three who already have the rank of the grading.

There are much too many dojos and organizations that seem to go out of their way to make gradings or evaluations more complicated than they ought to be. The best kind of grading has a few very clear points revolving around positive answers to questions such as: The person understands how to perform the material Displays correct movement Has a sound grasp of how to apply the subject material Can demonstrate all of the above to a higher level without major mistakes or omissions under pressure such as with an opponent. Either a person can or cannot. Either the student has refined his skills or needs more practise, that is all there is to it. No need for fancy ceremonies or overly complicated process.

The USA is certainly known for being a very litigious country, yet with the sheer number of places and people teaching martial arts I doubt anyone would waste their time and resources attempting to sue simply for being refused or turned away with a justifiable reason. Any claims of discrimination would have to be proven by the accusing party. While traveling in the Far East and before finding a teacher, I was refused and turned away always with the same reason. A designated senior student would curtly yet politely explain that new students were not accepted at the time. With words like that, it is impossible to claim discrimination no matter how much I may have been convinced that the master there did not want to teach me. Much later, I learned the hard way that and anyone wanting to train has a better chance of getting through the door if properly introduced, preferably before or after training is done. Kindness, courtesy, guts and tenacity worked things out eventually.

I suspect that there are more undesirable types who leave or are explicitly expelled than cases where the instructor refuses to take them as students. Does everybody really get the benefit of doubt or are there types of people who should never be accepted? Is it feasible or acceptable in this day and age to test a potential student's character(patience etc...) before agreeing to teach?

Thinking back to when I first set foot in a dojo, I recall reading and hearing the sensei's rank. At that time I was not fully aware that there was several degrees of blackbelt. Like most people, my entire reference on martial arts consisted of popular action movies and a few books on the subject. For all I knew, a blackbelt was an instructor. Not necessarily a fierce expert fighter with super abilities, but someone who was good enough to teach. Perhaps it is enough for the public to know that an instructor holds a blackbelt or some sort of equivalent. Would students go to a school were there is no mention at all anywhere of the instructor's grade, experience etc?

Martial arts are first learned by watching and imitation of one's instructors, but it is never too much for an instructor to remind the student that adaptations are necessary. Knowing what to copy is far more important than just mimicking the instructor's every move because imitation is not the goal, it understanding and feeling correct movement and adapting it to one's own body. The same technique will appear slightly different when done by people of different size or frame, never mind certain physical limitations.

The inspiration for asking the initial question about instructors being selective is the many stories from a bygone age in the history of martial arts. Most familiar are the accounts from China, Japan and Okinawa. It still goes on to a lesser degree but students are not evaluated as strictly as they might have been before. As expected, instructors who are selective are usually those who can afford to be so. These types of instructors have a sense to responsibility for ensuring that the skills they pass on will not be used in ways that might cause them shame or grief. Although commercial dojo instructors must maintain numbers to continue teaching, some degree of selectivity must be feasible. Making a list may be helpful in keeping a certain standard.

Before martial arts were taught to masses and commercialized, masters would evaluate and test a prospective student's character. Those judged to have negative attitude were always turned away to prevent teaching a belligerent student likely to harm himself or others with the unreasonable use of his skills. Although refusing to teach someone may not always be a viable action nowadays, there are good reasons why an instructor might decide to do so. Has anyone ever turned away a potential student because of a bad impression of character? Has anyone thrown out a student for the same reasons?

The Okinawan kobudo weapon called tonfa was the inspiration for the secondary police weapon used all over the world. Nunchaku were also issued to some departments in several US states for a brief period in between the 1960's and 1970's.

Going toe-to-toe is best kept for a sporting match. I would never advise anyone man or woman, beginner or expert to do that when it comes to a defense situation. Following this idea invariably ends badly for the defender because it prolongs contact. The definition of defense is to protect and preserve from harm. Once one has successfully accomplished that, there is nothing more to do than disappear as quickly as possible. An effective defense must be: 1. No more than three very simple moves, the less the better. 2. Simultaneously neutralize the attack and allow the defender to break away and escape. Having the situation degenerate into a fight or something that will be construed as such is the least desirable outcome because fighting is a criminal offense and very expensive to argue about before the police and magistrates.

Attempting to see things from the average prospective student is admittedly difficult to do for someone who has been involved in martial arts for years. The experience, knowledge and familiarity with the subject provide the resources needed to make an informed and objective judgement. Exactly how much importance does an instructor's rank have for determining his perceived teaching credibility in the mind of an average new student? Schools run by first, second or third Dan instructors exist and are not rare so one could conclude that rank has little influence on their success or difficulty to find people to teach. At the same time there is always a need to justify and legitimize a person's competence with tangible credentials even if these could easily be falsified.

In other threads it has been said that almost everywhere anybody, even with very little experience or training can open a school. If ranks, titles or blackbelt degrees are not relevant, what makes an instructor more credible and likely to be successful over another? When comparing the publicity of random schools it seems that the instructor's title and rank are invariably put up front as if to validate quality. Do potential students who have little to no experience of martial arts prefer a 5th Dan over a 2nd Dan? Will they even think twice about it?

As far as physical defense is concerned, techniques should focus on escapes. This is true in general, but especially for women and girls precisely because the single most common attack is some kind of grabbing. The attacker's primary goal is to control the victim or force her to go somewhere. Escape techniques combined with good violence awareness and avoiding skills are more than sufficient to keep women safe and informed. Anything more is bonus material and is a question of whether or not a woman is inclined to learn a whole system. In my experience, the best SD courses had 80-90% information/awareness training and less than 5 physical techniques.

Time is also an issue. Progress and training in one system takes time. Considering the time it takes to learn one martial art thoroughly, pursing more than one at a time means less time and less training for each one. It is better to learn a few things in depth than a hundred superficially. Ten years of hard work and dedicated training in one system makes more sense than two years in five different styles.

The first thing to go was and still is time to spend socializing. Even when not practising, the only company shared was either close family or other members of the dojo. Maybe a few outsiders but these too were involved in the same martial arts circles. Who can really call this normal? The choices I made may be considered differently by others who are unable to understand or accept that someone could make such choices.

For my part, it depends how far I look back. Karate has been such a high priority that I have broken off several relationships with people who were important. As if this were not enough, I postponed and restarted two years worth of a four year program while in school. Even now karate is my main occupation because although I work, it is not something I chose to do or find particularly enjoyable. After all this time and choices putting karate before nearly everything, I still cling to the hope that some day I will understand enough to be able to gain something from it.

I have one or two of those grippers stashed everywhere so that there is always one available. I even have them in the bathrooms at home.

Moments like these show that an instructor who is truly respected and appreciated does not have to be present to be shown respect and appreciation. In this case the students proved to be well disciplined, but all too often when the main instructor is away there is a change dojo dynamics. Someone will takes this as an excuse to do things they would not do otherwise.

Actively cross training is not an idea I agree with, personally. There can be some value in it for some people and in certain contexts, but I prefer to spend my training and practise time focused on Shorin ryu karate. There is quite enough to learn and discover without getting confused by the intricacies of another system. At one point I have dabbled in hard style aikido, taekwondo and Italian as well as French rapier fencing. All of these were experimenting phases and were short lived. Now I devote all my time to Shorin ryu but my interest in other systems is still high. Even without training in other systems, for comparative research and exchange I enjoy sharing with other methods.

Serious practise of martial arts takes time. Making training fit with other important obligations such as family, school studies or work is a challenge all serious lifetime martial artist have to deal with. Sometimes is easier to choose, but at other times there are very difficult choices to make. Here are questions to ponder: What is or was the biggest compromise you have had to make in favour of martial arts. What was the most difficult thing you have given up, set aside or postponed? Looking back on everything, I realize now that the pursuit of karate training and practise has been the goal as well as the driving force behind every single choice of adult life.

Although switching to a new system maybe a good idea, one should be careful not to switch too soon or too often. To gain any proficiency in one system takes time and choosing what to learn must be a well thought out decision.

I am also quite familiar with Oyama and the reports on the man and his methods. Nevertheless there is quite a big difference between intense training and trying to "win" or willfully injuring a partner during a drill or kumite practise session. Competition kumite such as in a match is a whole other can of worms, though.

I remember Blackbelt Magazine and enjoyed reading the forum section. Eventually thought it seems like the website and the forum followed suit when the publication degenerated into what it is now.