Maybetrue

When teaching(or posting in this case) , i tend to speak to the the "MASSES". the masses can attain the concept of "straight line is easiest" while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept. Sort of like watching Lebron james and trying to teach everyone to do slam dunks from the free throw line, why teach it when a hand full of humans can do it out of 8,000,000,000 on earth. The concept of dunking from the free throw line is possible but i rather teach doing "layups" as everyone can accomplish it. I am sure a handful of humans on earth can catch a punch in mid full speed UNREHEARSED flight, but why teach that? Teaching unattainable concepts and techniques is honestly detrimental to anyone (IN MY OPINION). I can try and do my Lebron Free throw dunks for my entire life time and NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE to doing it. "I just wasted my life time trying to be LEBRON"..... Disclaimer: Listen to your instructor over a random person(ME) posting on the internet. I'm trying to understand what you're trying to say, but for the life of me..I'm lost! By "while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept."..are you sying that very few people can learn and use the fundamental techniques and properties of the martial arts??? In over 30 years of teaching the arts using just those concepts you mention, it's been my experiencve that the vast MAJORITY of people can learn, and use, those techniques. It just takes time, practice and effort. Yup, people can "learn and do" but can they actually be applied effectively is the real question. since you mentioned that you have 30 years of experience teaching and you started in 1975 in your profile. Really hate to do this(as you see i just put Karate and no rank on my profile) in 1975 i was a nidan and as a sandan in 1979 Kata and Kumite champion of a very large organization. In the early 1980's had coverage of big traditional Karate tournaments i have won covered by Major Martial Arts Magazines...... enough about rank and accolades..... But it seems that ones "dan/rank" is important to many here. Rank is important but not the only defining factor of ones knowledge. If one has great Karate and APPLIED it in competition,training and students success, the "dan/rank" becomes less important... i could care less about my rank, Karateka know what i did and what i do. that is enough. Does anyone know who holds what rank? I believe sensei8 is an 8th dan, and I'm assuming Nidan Melbourne is a 2nd dan, but that's all I know. Rank doesn't matter. Ability, experience, and the drive to improve are what's important. Even people here who are just starting out have valuable things to say that make me consider a different point of view. Stop being blind. i see a lot of posts that include Rank,years and ORGANIZATIONS. none of what i care to post about. You are right with one thing. I DO LIKE to read what beginners post because they are a "clean" blank canvas that has not been brainwashed by instructors that have a "chip" on their shoulders.

When teaching(or posting in this case) , i tend to speak to the the "MASSES". the masses can attain the concept of "straight line is easiest" while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept. Sort of like watching Lebron james and trying to teach everyone to do slam dunks from the free throw line, why teach it when a hand full of humans can do it out of 8,000,000,000 on earth. The concept of dunking from the free throw line is possible but i rather teach doing "layups" as everyone can accomplish it. I am sure a handful of humans on earth can catch a punch in mid full speed UNREHEARSED flight, but why teach that? Teaching unattainable concepts and techniques is honestly detrimental to anyone (IN MY OPINION). I can try and do my Lebron Free throw dunks for my entire life time and NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE to doing it. "I just wasted my life time trying to be LEBRON"..... Disclaimer: Listen to your instructor over a random person(ME) posting on the internet. I'm trying to understand what you're trying to say, but for the life of me..I'm lost! By "while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept."..are you sying that very few people can learn and use the fundamental techniques and properties of the martial arts??? In over 30 years of teaching the arts using just those concepts you mention, it's been my experiencve that the vast MAJORITY of people can learn, and use, those techniques. It just takes time, practice and effort. Yup, people can "learn and do" but can they actually be applied effectively is the real question. since you mentioned that you have 30 years of experience teaching and you started in 1975 in your profile. Really hate to do this(as you see i just put Karate and no rank on my profile) in 1975 i was a nidan and as a sandan in 1979 Kata and Kumite champion of a very large organization. In the early 1980's had coverage of big traditional Karate tournaments i have won covered by Major Martial Arts Magazines...... enough about rank and accolades..... But it seems that ones "dan/rank" is important to many here. Rank is important but not the only defining factor of ones knowledge. If one has great Karate and APPLIED it in competition,training and students success, the "dan/rank" becomes less important... i could care less about my rank, Karateka know what i did and what i do. that is enough.

That is great. But i mean "MASSES". not 1x1 or small groups. To develop a large(1,000's - 1,000,000's) of followers, the Head of the organization needs to be politically correct. That is just how it is. He has great points, but the great ambassadors of Karate are pretty nice about what they say about other "KARATEKA". Anyone can open a dojo, but to become well known it takes a lot of sacrifices to what true KARATE / Martial Arts is. Sacrifices like "softening" ones teaching and requirements. He will learn later when he gets older and his "Dojo" has a ceiling of a handful of students. There are plenty of schools that didn't "sell out" and water down their arts because of numbers. Even in the US. While Kyokushin is more splintered than a windshield that was hit with a brick, they've got big numbers. World Oyama karate, Enshin, etc. Then there's a Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, MMA, and so on. I think that here in the US, karate has been stereotyped as a kids' point fighting art across the board. Wrongly so, but it is what it is. The people who would have taken full-contact or hard nosed karate are basically going to the MT, kickboxing, MMA gyms rather than karate. If these options weren't available, I'm sure it would be like it was in karate's "golden age." Not that I'm saying full-contact is the only type of karate that's worth anything or even effective. I study Seido Juku, and it's not knockdown like Kyokushin. The McDojos are what they are. But if you look around, there's plenty of serious karateka and dojos around. They're just not advertising and/or on every corner with huge signs and posters. They'd rather you come to them than them coming to you. Marketing, Marketing and Marketing. Even "Hardcore" knockdown Martial Arts have great Marketing behind them. Its not "selling out" it is the changing culture. If i were to teach how i trained , i will get law suits and complaints every week.

That is great. But i mean "MASSES". not 1x1 or small groups. To develop a large(1,000's - 1,000,000's) of followers, the Head of the organization needs to be politically correct. That is just how it is. He has great points, but the great ambassadors of Karate are pretty nice about what they say about other "KARATEKA". Anyone can open a dojo, but to become well known it takes a lot of sacrifices to what true KARATE / Martial Arts is. Sacrifices like "softening" ones teaching and requirements. He will learn later when he gets older and his "Dojo" has a ceiling of a handful of students. I hear you, real world, paying the bills business model, but I guess he may be one of the lucky exceptions to the rule in that students come to him because of his traditional attitude to karate. Most definitely would not work for everyone. I have never met the guy, but I believe he has a pretty good reputation in JKA circles. There's not a lot on Youtube, but there is quite a good interview with him there somewhere. I like what that guy says. the problem i have is his delivery. He is screaming for everyone for respect. That in itsself is not "BUDO". The reason some great Karateka become popular is their "personality". Kanazawa,Asai,Higaonna,etc .. they would not say other peoples Karate is "Rubbish/fake" to the masses(they may say it to there best and closes instructors, but NOT TO the average masses). That guy sounds like a Yahara or Tanaka mold. beat up people and hit people in seminars or training . But as those great Karateka age, they become less sought after. He may be good now, but he is just going thru the "PHYSICAL" aspect of True budo karate... he will get it later on in life. I personally when thru that stage when i was competing and younger "just do it this way" "just punch" "stop complaining and do it" . It is like a "kyu" rank in the complete life of a Karateka. Another thing i disagree with according to his "BUDO". I dont think jumping around organizations is good "BUDO" . Loyalty is very important to the Japanese culture / BUDO. I could go on for hours on Bushido/budo . BUT LOYALTY is where it starts (REAL BUDO/BUSHIDO).

That is great. But i mean "MASSES". not 1x1 or small groups. To develop a large(1,000's - 1,000,000's) of followers, the Head of the organization needs to be politically correct. That is just how it is. He has great points, but the great ambassadors of Karate are pretty nice about what they say about other "KARATEKA". Anyone can open a dojo, but to become well known it takes a lot of sacrifices to what true KARATE / Martial Arts is. Sacrifices like "softening" ones teaching and requirements. He will learn later when he gets older and his "Dojo" has a ceiling of a handful of students.

Good stuff. But he needs to be more "politically correct" in his statements. A lot of instructors think like he does but cannot be so "hardcore" due to having to deal with the "MASSES". If this "guy" ever starts to actually "TEACH" and have his own "DOJO", he will realize that training as a "STUDENT" is much easier and he may begin to start realizing "WHY" the true way of Karate-do is not really practical to "pay the bills". Its a "fine line" between Karate-do and being able to keep a dojo open. He is young and going thru the Physical aspect of "KARATE-DO", wait till he gets older and his skills diminished and if he ever gets good enough to have his OWN dojo and pay bills, His "ideals" WILL change. Its just part of learning. KARATE-DO.

That guest instructor knows what he is talking about. listen to him. Spend A LOT of time just stretching out daily.

When teaching(or posting in this case) , i tend to speak to the the "MASSES". the masses can attain the concept of "straight line is easiest" while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept. Sort of like watching Lebron james and trying to teach everyone to do slam dunks from the free throw line, why teach it when a hand full of humans can do it out of 8,000,000,000 on earth. The concept of dunking from the free throw line is possible but i rather teach doing "layups" as everyone can accomplish it. I am sure a handful of humans on earth can catch a punch in mid full speed UNREHEARSED flight, but why teach that? Teaching unattainable concepts and techniques is honestly detrimental to anyone (IN MY OPINION). I can try and do my Lebron Free throw dunks for my entire life time and NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE to doing it. "I just wasted my life time trying to be LEBRON"..... Disclaimer: Listen to your instructor over a random person(ME) posting on the internet.

Paint A to Point B. straight line. If anyone "CAN" trap,catch,shift,deflect,etc.. they should be capable of doing something EASIER like just getting straight to the point. Simple,practical and just more scientific(fastest point to anywhere, a straight line.)

knowing the "terms" "sayings" will not equate to actually experience and executing that "FEELING". 1,000,000's of karate-ka throw around the "terms" but will never actually "feel" it. dont "think" or set goals on "terms", when you train and kumite for 1,000's of hours you begin to get a "feeling". If you learn the "word/term" first, you will only "think" about the feeling and rarely have it NATURALLY. stop reading. it hinders your training. Its not really a "STYLE" thing, it is a individual "feeling". MOST WILL NEVER HAVE the "terms" being thrown around. That whats separates the great Martial artist from the good/average.

"Dan" are watered down already. for people that are young and starting out , a sandan or yondan in his 30-40's year olds are the best to learn from, they basically still at peak condition and dont worry about anything else but training. for someone that is a black belt and need to learn Karate-DO. you need to find a higher rank with experience in all aspects of Martial arts. Most "6th dan" are just average karateka that put their time in and follow what the 'Head" figure said for decades or people that just jump around organizations trying to collect "dans". Odds are 90 to 10 ratio(might even be 95 to 5) 90 average 6th dans 10 Really good 6th dans. The more the instructor has to talk about the ORGANIZATION and DAN, the more likely he is one of the 90 average. Just train hard if your a beginner. even a good technician brown belt can teach good karate.

Its not always the instructors fault. Great martial artist can get "turned off" by politics,egos and other martial artists. The longer and more experienced one gets, the more a person will see the "BAD" of martial arts. So sad. Being a student is the easy part of martial arts, just listen and do. Have fun when you are a student!

there may be a deeper story. I would open a class in the same rec center same room on the same day , time slot before and after if that classes instructor has done something(wrong) to MY INSTRUCTOR,Me or organization in the past. In fact, one of my dojos is having a small problem with a instructor from a same style(diff. org) that may cause me to open a "dojo" in state which i live in now, i will inform those instructors close to me about why i am doing so, those instructors will need to inform the "heads of their organization to kick that instructor out or i will just open up close to their affiliate dojos in my state ... long story. for me personally, i would love to have a same style open in the same rec or next door to my dojo. no problems.

Dont think anyone will experience this "ZEN" while training in a dojo. It may happen in "spurts" while competing in a tournament and may happen in a "street fight". This is why i hate to explain "terms" or "feeling" in classes, people tend to be trying too hard to accomplish a "term/word". If one just trains, that "feeling/term" will occur naturally. Most will never accomplish this "zen" and many will mistake this "zen" with adrenaline, focus or even fear.

What are the approx ages of the instructors/masters in the videos?

This is an interesting point often made in MA study, and Bruce Lee is often cited as saying it, too. But, like many MA adages, sometimes, they are taken too literarily or taken too far. For example, I can look and look and look in TKD for some answers to grappling situations, but I'm going to find better answers in a BJJ school. Likewise, I can train one punch over and over and over again, but at some point, I reach the point of diminishing returns, and that time can be better spent working some different techniques and skills. Training certain techniques extensively can be very important. But one should be sure to not take it over the top. First, never read a book from Bruce Lee. To me he is an actor FIRST and Excellent Martial Artist second. Sadly we will never know if his "theories" ever would work in real fights or even a normal tournament. A high level Martial artist will understand that venturing into another Arts world is just plain "STUPID". why would a striker want to wrestle with a wrestler, why would a wrestler wand to box with a boxer, why would a TKD want to grapple with a grappler,etc... I explain VIVIDLY when going thru basic self defense sessions, "if a Judo man grabs your IT IS TOO LATE", "if a boxer cheap shots you ITS TO LATE" if a "JJ guy sneaks up behind you and sinks a choke in ITS TOO LATE".'a guy with NO FORMAL TRAINING CAN WIN ANY FIGHT"...etc.. As for training one specific technique. I never saw anyone in my life perfect any one technique. EVER. Techniques are "PERISHABLE" its not perfecting it one time and retaining it forever. it does not work like that, period. i could go on for hours about this. but if your happy with building "knowledge" it is fine, that is the most important thing, WHAT MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY and enjoy martial arts. Disclaimer: Do what your instructor says FIRST over a random guy(me) posting on the internet.

99.9999% of Karateka read/vids too much and worry about terminology and the end result is self fulfilling prophecy of understanding. What a true Karateka should be doing is NEVER READ A BOOK for the first 30-40 years of your marital arts training. After training for Decades you read and learn about the terminology and realize what you "felt/feeling" is what book/sensei is explaining. When i explain something in class like "go no sen" , the students will try and "force" that feeling. The correct way of learning "go no sen" is not knowing or being taught "go no sen" and kumite so much that you LEARN/REALIZE LATER that there is something like "go no sen" and that is what you where experiencing ... That is the true way. STOP READING or watching videos. it is a detriment to your Martial Art. NOTE: Your sensei will TELL YOU that you have that "sense, go no sen" Dont force it. Some will "feel" it once in awhile, very few often and MOST NEVER.

Hate to do this but i must. Do not take any ballet classes if you are not serious. Have any of you been a serious ballet class? Like martial arts ,there are different ballet classes and "levels,types" Most of these "Ballet" classes you hear athletes going to is similar to "Open" style martial arts. I have sat thru many classical Ballet classes as my college GF was a classical ballet dancer that ended up studying at The Royal Academy of Dance in London and was assistant/presenter at The Juilliard School in NEW YORK (kind of like the "BUKOKAN" of performing arts). Like you all HERE, Ballet is taken very serious by ballet community. The average person may not know about this, When the singer "Ciara" did a video with "pointe" shoes ,the ballet community was very discussded at the singer for DISRESPECTING the use of pointe shoes which is saved for ballet representation of grace and beauty. I am sure if some "hip hop" singer wore a black belt and gi making up moves in a video we all would feel the same. Just wanted to add some insight to Ballet. my personal opinion is that ballet should not be on a list for things to do for anyone over 20 years old. If anyone here tried ballet, i am sure some of us would blow our achilles tendon or hamstring anyway.

Dont blame your instructor. Blame the lawyers and the current generation of "no one left behind" ....... If i taught how i really want or how i was trained, i get sued,complaints and have to shut down the dojo.

I recorded this video, so I can speak to your comments, a bit. Merriman Sensei did say that we have kihon bunkai to get people started, which I suppose it what you may be thinking of with "correct bunkai?" After that, though, he insisted that everyone should explore the kata and test it to find what works for them, even if that makes it different from what others are doing. I think the higher level instructors realized something was missing. There is always a correct way and variations. that is the problem with the internet/vids/forums/etc. It is easy to take things out of context.

Here we go again, my dooms day posts. There MUST be a wrong and right way of doing Bunkai for Exam purpose and retaining the Purity of your specific style. (i suspect that youtube clip was a interview that does not show the full answer to the question) A good instructor will make it well known which is the correct way and the expected way to teach a specific move/bunkai. THEN, it will be explained that variations do exist. Most times when a person uses the "excuse" of doing a variation of the original bunkai is to cover up not knowing the correct bunkai or just no caring enough to know the correct bunkai to begin with. Disclaimer: Remember to always listen to your instructor over some random guy(ME) posting on the internet.

No such thing as a non-contact martial art? Tell that to these guys... Quoted from http://www.wmakarate.com/rates-policies "2) Do not spar unless under the supervision of the Instructor. During Free Style Sparring, NO OFFENSIVE CONTACT is allowed at any time. There are no kicks to the head, face, neck or groin area allowed. Contact shall be limited to the execution of a defensive move (Countering) during Free Style or Three-Step Sparring practice; provided however, that such defensive moves are properly executed with control and not intended to cause physical injury. NO CONTACT is allowed at any time except as set forth above." What does that look like at the higher levels? This is allegedly a 5th dan test (not being sarcastic with the allegedly part; that's what it said)... No copyrights that I saw in the video, posted the link to my quote, and didn't take more than a fair amount. I'm trying to get this right wow. they must be in great aerobic shape though(seriously).

What is funny and annoying is when the "full/hard styles" think that point tournament fighters dojo kumite the same as they fight in the point tournaments. We used to have alot of "full contact" traditional styles come to train or even lead class. For some reason when it comes to sparring . The full contact students think our style does not have full contact dojo sparring which is totally different from the "RULES" one has to follow in a point tournament. most never came back to visit or train anymore. Another thing is that most of the "legendary" street fighters in our state(which has a high concentration of great fighters) were the point system champions or boxers. not the hard contact styles. go figure that one out. ????????

OK!! I like that...any suggestions, short of opening my Kyuodan Dojo!! Take WKF down. To the WKF people. I do appreciate what WKF original intentions were. But the direction that WKF is taking Karate is not what many like. It is becoming a monster like the FIFA and OIC. I am serious about this. if any other instructors agree with me feel free to contact me with any ideas. I can promise the traditionalist, i can have influence on lot of instructors within my style. If the other major or even sub major styles want to have input , please let me know.

Work to save Traditional Karate. Forget the physical side, that is perishable .