cathal

Very helpful everyone thank you.

Ah, that's good. I was also thinking of doing chambering drills with the knee so they can get used to the pendulum action of the hips. .

A sparring partner of mind used to do it all the time. Pretty much every sparring opportunity he got, he charged in like a bull swinging away like I killed his dog. In his early days it was recklessly done, and nowadays he uses it as initiative and to put you off balance. In a sense it is a good tactic to take against someone you know isn't as experienced as yourself. Something to think about was another student who did this recklessly all of the time. He went up against one of our female students who rooted her rear leg and put up her knee, as though chambering a front snap kick, and he ran into it a few times. He learned to not just rush in. .

Another way of looking at this isn't just the training. Awareness is another aspect of your physical training. One of Gichin Funakoshi's 20 precepts is to be aware at all times you have millions of potential opponents. Essentially--in this case--you can take it to simply be aware. Next time you walk anywhere, let alone your vehicle, be aware of the people around you and the environment you are all in. .

Hey folks, When you teach the front snap kick to beginners, how do you do it? I'm interested in seeing how others start off and do practice drills. thanks

I'm pretty sure I didn't see this one posted already. This is called Taking the Centre (or for you US folk, Center). For beginners we place a mark using masking tape (or something else non-permanent) and this is designated as The Centre. The first of the pair stands over this mark and is permitted to move 1-2 steps away during technique execution. The other student, who must then take the centre, can use set techniques to usher his opponent from controlling the centre. For beginners I usually have them do very simple techniques such as lunge punch, front snap kick, or even just a push or a grab & throw. The beginner in the centre, at this level, doesn't use counterattacks, they simply avoid & dodge. They're permitted to block of course, but they must remain in control of the centre by getting their opponent out of the 1-2 step range of the centre. Most beginners have no idea how to do this but this helps to teach them awareness, dodging & escape, and the importance of maintaining balance. If the student in the centre loses balance or can't keep their opponent from the centre they switch roles. Intermediate students have a bit more to do, they're permitted to use grapples, most kicks, etc. Advanced level students are permitted to use whatever technique they choose but the student in the centre isn't aware of the technique to be used against them. The goals of this exercise are numerous. You've got the aforementioned dodging, awareness, etc. But as they advance you'll see the student becoming more and more comfortable with random attacks being used against them. Students who used to flinch, blink, tense their shoulders and chest, etc eventually stop this as they become more and more comfortable and more importantly, more self confident. The trick is to start slowly so the beginners aren't full of intimidation and fear. Eventually they'll pair up with a senior student or myself to help control these feelings but still aware of what techniques are to be used. I get good feedback from this exercise and I'm constantly refining it. What do you think?

"You suck, boss." .

The split was due to conflict of interest of new rules that were declared at the 2007 JKA directors board meeting. Here is a link to an official statement from Takashina: http://sakahonbu.org/ISKF_JKA_Letter_April4_580x748.jpg Not much there, but that is something at least. There was a list of information on the ISKF site but after such a long time they've taken it down. I'm afraid I have no additional insight for you. .

Four years is a long time, I'm sorry that you were treated like that by folks you knew. The good thing is that you aren't affiliated with them anymore. It is a cause for regret that you were disrespected this way, but it is also good that you did not cave in to their demands. .

Alright I can accept this as the differences between organizations, beliefs in black belts, etc. I can understand how this can become challenging, as there is always a danger of an under-qualified person if the alliance accepts dojos based on dues & fees as opposed to training standards. I think this is the most important point thus far. I know kind of glib, but hear me out. You've got an allianace of organizations which seems to allow the range of dojos and their philosophies to join & get together for tournaments and training (I presumed the latter). From your posting I gather you do not belong in the youth category? If you were an adult I would expect an adult as your judge, rather than someone with much less overall life experience. Again, IMHO I feel that life experience does affect how one sees Karate, competition, et al let alone how one looks upon life in general. In the organizations I am familiar with there is an international standard for referees and judges and one absolutely cannot take on the role without first taking and passing the training. So now to the part where I'd recommend a few things. Firstly that if your dojo can continue to respect & tolerate the differences I'd say go ahead and keep doing it but do not take it as seriously as your own dojo's training and competitions. Keep yourselves in the family of practitioners and see if you can gently nudge the alliance into a more standardized methodology for judges, referees, etc. Open forums are great for this as the competitions & gatherings I've seen allow for instructors and their senior students to discuss and debate standards openly. If the alliance does not permit open discourse then I'd recommend ending your affiliation. Next I'd say that you may want to put feelers out for other organizations who allow for anyone to join up for competitions and training. The JKA, for example has an international standard for these things and they welcome dojos which aren't affiliated, to participate. Food for thought. What do you guys think? .

Welcome aboard .

How did it work out? .

A good friend of mine turns away from the competition when his turn is close. He sits quietly and meditates. That may help you. I, however, am riveted and watch it like it was TV or a film. .

Do you know if your sensei has brought these concerns to the organization you are affiliated with? I'm curious to know if they're indifferent or not. Oh and I was wondering if the youth black belts also judge the adults and senior competitors? I'd say that there are a lot of different philosophies on just exactly what a black belt is. Some like your dojo take it quite seriously, and that isn't bad. Others I have seen have faster paths to black belts because they feel real learning begins at the black belt level. One cannot judge another style purely on their own philosophy, but merely respect and tolerate it. IMHO. .

Welcome to the team .

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I haven't met him nor have I heard of him I'm afraid. But that isn't too unusual the MA community of the world is quite large. I'm sure anyone here would be happy to chat with him on this forum. .

I go through basics and several exercises a master taught us he called "closet exercises" because they focused on only one step or in-place techniques. They help you to focus your movement from the hips to different stances, etc. I'll do some kata if I have the space. If I don't I'll do the kata in place or backwards, which is quite fun.

You bring up a few good talking points here, and thank you for doing so; this type of discussion goes on a lot more than you think between MA practitioners that I have known in my life. The first thing I suggest you do is speak about your thoughts to your sensei and express yourself as diplomatically as you can so that you can learn from his/her experience in these matters. It is a cause for regret if you do not speak with the sensei as many I have seen not speak just move on away from the dojo. This is also where some organizations can split up and yet again we have another organization coming into play. The politics involved in such situations can be strenuous at best. One thing to consider, though, is who is making the decisions. If the master is deciding that the younger karateka are doing well enough to get to the levels they are at, then you must respect that decision. If you disagree please speak with your sensei on this as well. In my own opinion I find it a bit odd that you'd have such young karateka at Nidan and Sandan but each organization (see above) can have very different philosophies about ranking. If you take issue with a judgement call I suggest you speak with your sensei so they can speak with the head judge of that competition so the call can be discussed in greater detail. Think of it as a training opportunity for those judges rather than being malicious about "reporting" them for discipline. Something to think about yourself is that you've repeatedly mentioned that rank doesn't matter. I also respect this, and you're main concern seems to be related to ability and life experience. Approach this with great respect and reserve and I think you will learn a lot, participate in some good discussions (and perhaps debates) and help some of the younger judges to learn to better themselves if they make errors. .

Hey guys & gals, Any suggestions for weightless training on these two muscle groups? Thanks! .

This is a great thread. One thing I'd like to say is that if the centre is the centre, assuming that it doesn't shift depending upon our position; relative distance to the earth (say while jumping) and the gravitational concern (gravity strength, rotation of the earth, location along the orbital path, relative proximity of the moon, etc.) we'd have a constant location. If, however, there is a shifting loci for the center of the body the task is to discern where the centre of the body actually *is* any given second in time. Let's assume that the centre cannot physically move far. Because of the locations of internal organs, muscles, etc. there really isn't much room for movement. What we'd need to do is spend some time studying this phenomenon in greater scientific detail. Let's say a kinesiologist places electrodes on the skin and perhaps some in the centre of the body to study this. What do you think would be the results? Would this soft-ball shape move around? Would you think this could be affected by the movement of internal energy? Food for thought... .

I completely get that. But I'm a talker and if you get me going on a topic eventually they get the idea I'm not a sword-wielding maniac or a bar brawler. .

That sounds very fun! I'm glad something like this goes on and I hope to participate or help organize something like this for the future.

I watched a show about a woman who went to live with an Aikido sensei. The sempai was responsible for the day-to-day organization and shepherding of the students. As well the sempai would act as a jack of all trades, gopher, paper-pusher, etc.

Congratulations Tonydee, no doubt well earned.