Spartacus Maximus

Experience with Okinawan and Japanese run dojo usually expect the most senior student to be “instructors-in-training”. Depending what the individual dojo requirements, usually from third dan and above students are taught the basics of how to teach and might be asked to take over a few minor teaching duties. This was, in personal experience, quite common in Okinawa. As a third Dan, teaching and preparing lower ranks for upcoming exams was implied and expected. This meant the sensei judged and trusted that a third dan had the skills and knowledge to faithfully represent the style/system to that degree.

The short answer is that it is much, much more complicated than it seems with many things to think of which can greatly influence whet your not the experience will be successful or bound to fail. The first thing to know is that the dojos and instructors that would or could accept live-in students are very few. Karate instructors in Japan have full-time jobs. This means that a typical karate dojo will probably not be open until the evening. If you are serious, I do have some ideas. pm me if you really want to know.

After discussing it with the student concerned, getting back into training is a key step towards mental rehabilitation and recovery from a serious case of depression. Before falling into this depression, this student had trained nearly every day since his early teens. Sometimes over an hour a day in addition to the time spent in the dojo. Karate is the only source of physical activity for this person. He did mention practical self defense as an important priority, but it’s obvious that physical fitness, social and mental wellness are equally important to him because he is unable or uncomfortable with ro

As far as physical conflict and defense situations are concerned, the less one has had the better it is. Unless one is constantly putting themselves into situations that escalate to physical violence, the average person may have to defend themselves maybe once in their lifetime. Violence never happens without any signs and unless one is completely oblivious, there is always the possibility to either prevent it or avoid it without ever raising a hand. The number of times a martial artist has been involved in self defense is by no means a measure of their skill level, effectiveness of their system or authenticity. It means absolutely nothing other than that they were unlucky or that perhaps there may be something wrong with their attitude or behaviour when faced with social conflict. In today’s world, most people who live in a politically stable country is d relatively safe area will probably never have to use martial arts in “a real situation”, especially as adults. Even the founders of many of the styles around today who lived over a hundred years ago rarely had more than one or two in their entire lifetime wherever records are available and accurate. There are a few case exceptions to this, but the general rule is that most martial artists never have and never will have to use their skills in an unavoidable situation.

What one does with one’s belts or certificates usually reflects one’s personality and how one was taught. It is the same things with academic diplomas or certifications. Only some categories of professionals display them or have them in a visible place because they are required to do so.

As a personal rule to avoid embarrassment when visiting different dojo of various martial arts, being polite to everyone has never failed. Until one learns the protocol for a particular dojo, general polite forms of address are always acceptable.

Generally speaking one can never have too much insurance because each policy available to buy has limitations. As an instructor, it is a wise choice to make sure the training space is covered in case of sudden accidents or damage. On the personal level, the types of insurance must cover the maximum and match the kind of activity one chooses to engage in. Personally, in addition to a general health insurance system with good coverage, like all dojo members we all have a special insurance tailored for extreme sports(dangerous/high risk).

In Okinawan styles it is usually very simple in that everyone shodan and above will wear the exact same plain black belt. The belt may or may not have embroidery on either end with the style/dojo name and the wearer’s name. Unless the dojo has the traditional wooden name and grade tags, there would e no way for a new person to know except asking. In that case it should be done at the appropriate time and not in the middle of training. Either before starting or at the end is the best time for such questions. In some styles and dojo, the assistant instructor/s and those who have a godan and above might wear belts with different combinations of black, white and red. A solid red belt means a ninth or tenth dan, someone who is the most senior in the karate system they teach and the headmaster of a particular lineage as it was awarded by the founder. Usually this person will be over 60 years old with several decades of training behind them. They maybe called Hanshi as their teaching title, but in common conversation they will be called sensei....by everyone. One simply cannot make a mistake if all due respect and courtesy is applied to anyone who has been there longer. Be kind, and respect everyone and appreciate whatever help or attention to be had. Everyone had to start somewhere and at the bottom. Sensei is the instructor leading at the front and centre by example everybody else is your peer or your senior. All of them will help you get where you must go if you allow them your time and pay them back by doing your best to take in what they give.

Maybe a few more details to explain the question would make it easier to answer. For instance, what is the ADA?

A large sum of lottery winnings would probably make it possible to retire permanently and live quietly in modest comfort free of financial worries and stress. Perhaps moving closer to the dojo to avoid the long commute.

Although there hasn’t been any lockdown, the health crisis did have a noticeable effect on dojo attendance. The dojo closed for a time and then reopened about a month ago, it under very strict conditions. Anyone who trains must wear a mask and the floor and equipment is thoroughly disinfected afterwards. Sensei wears both a mask an a face-shield and training is limited to private and semi-private sessions with four or less people at one time. Those who do show up must also check their body temperature. Anyone even slightly feverish is asked to go home.

Personally, the less anybody knows the better. Karate never was something to be shown off or displayed to anyone. Nothing good ever came from showing off or displaying achievements. Even those not related to martial arts. Everything karate-related is kept in the most private place that casual guests will never see. Something like a “karate vault”. This is a reflection of the personal attitude towards involvement and interest in karate and martial arts in general, which is something kept very private and mostly secret. Dan certificates are framed and hung on the wall of the personal home dojo, which looks like exactly like a typical dojo, but on a much smaller scale. Again, this is not a place that would ever be shown to any houseguest. It is a private place for personal training, practise and meditation.

It is very difficult to accurately determine an actor’s true skill level even when it is a known fact that the actor has experience in martial arts. Everything shown on the screen is rehearsed and carefully choreographed. Nothing is spontaneous and special effects ensure that all the action happens exactly as the film director wants it. It’s made to look as good as possible and to make the actors look as intended. With that said, it is even difficult for experienced martial artists to tell from a movie how skilled the actors might be. Actors always have to make changes and adapt to their part, especially when doing action scenes. Entertainment takes priority over how it would likely and realistically happen in real life. Actors with martial arts experience have to actually be taught how to adapt their techniques so they look good on screen.

It depends on the training culture and environment of each dojo. Each one will be different as to what is expected according to how the main instructor has decided to approach teaching. It will also depend on how an instructor deals with everyone in the dojo as well as affiliations if any. With that out of the way, the word “sempai” means “senior” in Japanese. Japanese society is extremely hierarchical and knowing where one stands in relation to everyone else is of the greatest importance. In the context of a dojo, the senior students would be expected to assist teaching whenever required and serve as examples of what to achieve in order to progress. In Okinawa and Japan, the first thing one is expected to do is learn techniques and kata from those with more time in training. One must try to copy them and be taught by them first, and then be corrected and given more fine tuning by the sensei. How closely that is followed will of course vary from one teacher to another and the number of members training at one time.

Everything would depend on the amount of the winnings. If it were enough to make it possible, then most of it would be spent on living expenses while pursuing a long period of intensive training, research and study of karate and other personal interests. Some of it would be invested to make more money and some of it would be given to family and of course to the instructor who has given so much time and energy to teach all he knows.

In many dojos in Okinawa, kata applications are taught and practised as two person drills. The kata is broken down into different sections and each of these has a specific technique pattern. These are meant to illustrate a key concept in its most basic form. Later on as students get better, they are introduced to variations in the applications. For instance, if the first attack in a given section is a mae geri, it is switched to a different kick. Initially, though everyone begins by first learning the set applications and identifying the key principles.

Personally, experience has shown that bunkai and kata applications depend more on the instructor than the style. Within a single style and organization of karate, there can be a very wide difference between how applications are approached, taught and how much. So it is impossible to choose a style based on how much applications will be taught. Finding the right instructor is key.

For a lot of people it is very difficult to take in and especially to recall later what their instructor covered after the training session. Taking notes is a great idea for keeping track of one’s personal progress, as well as an excellent tool for planning and organizing personal practise away from the school when it is closed or one is unable to attend. Writing and recording corrections or technical points given by the instructor gives during training really helps because one can go back on and work on them. Without notes or a great memory, knowing exactly what to practise can be overwhelming. Those who have been through post secondary level education are aware of the importance of taking notes. The same method is easily applicable to non-academics and any activity one wishes to learn more efficiently and improve consistently.

Here are some Okinawans for the list: Matsumura Sôkon whose teachings are what became Shuri-te and the genesis of all “shorin” styles. He was known as an expert in the native Okinawan martial art, learned one or more styles of Chinese boxing from Chinese experts both in Okinawa and China. His social status and position as chief royal bodyguard also allowed him to become highly skilled in Jigen-ryu, the fencing style taught to the Satsuma clan from mainland Japan that annexed the Ryukyu kingdom. Higaonna Kanryo is another very influential Okinawan. He learned his skills both in southern China and Okinawa and his teachings are the origins of Naha-te. He was the main teacher of Miyagi Chojun who founded Goju-ryu. In China he studied the White Crane system, which Influenced most of what he taught. There is also Uechi Kanbun, who learned most of his skills in southeastern China. Most likely a crane style, which became the basis for Uechi-ryu. Of all the Okinawans, he is the only one known to have brought back a complete system virtually unchanged from China.

Teaching martial arts in Japan as a foreigner is no small accomplishment. It is even complicated for native Japanese. Usually explicit approval and endorsement from one’s sensei is required and traditionally, barring few exceptions, one had to first become Shihan or assistant instructor in one’s own dojo with a fifth dan, minimum. How did you happen to become an instructor in Japan? What where the conditions?

The answer lies not with the style, but with the depth of knowledge and experience any given instructor has to share. There are immense variations even within the same style as to how kata bunkai will be taught, approached and practised.

They seem to be separate entities with their own network of branch dojo. By looking at those that have an online presence, including the Okinawa Hombu, each of the ninth/tenth dans do not individually answer to it. Each has their own nextwork of branch dojo throughout their country; yet they have all been students of the founder and all remain with the same style organization. The scheme is as such: ABC-ryu XYZ-Kan Okinawa Honbu and its branch dojo Tokyo XYZ-Kan and with branches in several countries ABC-ryu Beikoku(North America) XYZ-Kan with branches in US and Canada XYZ-Kan France, XYZ-Kan Germany There is nothing that clearly states any regional monopoly or jurisdiction or territories. Strictly from an ethical point of view and assuming the ideal relationships between all of these, would it be problematic for a student to open a branch dojo under his sensei in a country/area where the style and organization already has a presence?

Everyone who has an instructor made the conscious choice of training with that person. They know and are convinced that their instructor is better then them at what they aspire to learn, but more importantly that said instructor is better than them at understanding and explaining things in a way that the student themselves will become better. As for instructors, there is nothing wrong with knowing that they are more knowledgeable and skilled than their students. In that way they are certainly better, if only at the physical techniques. Like all the rest, though instructors and students alike must never forget that some tout there is always better in one way or another. Each instructor is different and it would be a safe bet to say that in martial arts, one could hardly find an instructor who believes he has surpassed all those who have taught before. Remembering this is how a worthy teacher keeps his feet on the ground and we can all realize that we can only truly succeed at surpassing ourselves rather than trying to be better than others. Anything else would be idle speculation and would take our focus away from where we ought to seek even the slightest improvements.

Without asking each of them directly, it isn’t certain what kind of relationship each of the ´main dojo’ have, if any. The seem to recognize each other but neither is specifically stated as subordinate to the other. For example, the US main dojo is not a branch “shibu dojo” of the Okinawa Honbu. Perhaps the founder wanted it that way. Obviously each of the chiefs did not reach their grade at the same time and are not the same age. They are at least aware of each other since they all participate in events related to the style and association held in Okinawa. One such gathering was the anniversary of the founder’s death.

Is it possible for a style association/organisation to have more than one representative for the same country? Most Okinawan styles have the main dojo in Okinawa with branch dojo everywhere else headed by designated regional/country representatives. There are a couple cases where there are more than one main dojo within the same style organization. For example one in Okinawa and another on mainland Japan and others in North America and Europe. This is because the founder designated more than one successor. Each of the four hold a ninth or tenth dan and each run their own HQ but they all belong to the same association/organisation. Now here is the question: could a direct student of the Europe HQ chief open a branch in the USA and teach there? The student’s ninth or tenth dan sensei and the head of the US Hombu are both direct students and successors of the founder.