White Warlock

Aye. I haven't responded to this thread because i wasn't sure if it was a, "woe is me," "look at me," "what's your philosophy" or just a... "blow me" post.

In doing so, please remember to stay 'relaxed,' not tense... or expectant. And glad i could help.

Hmm... did you read my posts on aikido? They have been far from such a stance. Anyway, the more i read your posts about aikido, the more i'm inclined to believe you are studying aikijutsu, and not aikido... or at least a far removed interpretation of aikido. Please don't take this as invasive or disrespectful, as i'm somewhat interested in the origins of the style you are studying. The general belief in aikido is that there are different interpretations of aikido but there are never rifts in belief, such as one would encounter in other systems. Therefore, all interpretations of aikido are acceptable. Added note: hybrids are not 'interpretations,' they are mixes. I.e., a system incorporating Pan Nam wing chun styles with aikido... would be a hybrid system, while an aikidoist presenting instruction and focus of aikido in different fashion, or with differing emphasis... is an interpretation.

ty, any requests?

The 'quantity over quality' mentality, eh?

Ignore the troll.

gcav's approach is good, and it would be the route i would take. But if that is something you really don't feel comfortable doing, and believe it would create an irreparable rift between you two, then you might want to talk to your instructor... explain the situation from your perspective and ask him to talk to your friend, or the class as a whole, addressing the issue... without bringing attention to you. If i were your instructor, I would gladly take the lead on that and courteously, but bluntly tell the 'entire' class to be quiet and focus whenever i saw your friend chattering. If the chatter continued, i would do it again, more firmly. If it continued beyond that, i would direct my comment 'at' the problem person(s). And, on that note... i find it odd that your instructor hasn't already done what i noted above. Then again, maybe your instructor is trying to encourage you to, "come out of your shell," as it were, by leaving you alone in your predicament. As to the slow punch, i would say... don't do that. Don't undermine your training to accomodate your partner's failure to 'pay attention.' All you are doing, is encouraging him/her to continue doing exactly what you don't him/her to do. And, if the punch makes contact, and he/she complains... simply respond with, "pay attention then."

My doctor, physical therapist, and fitness trainer all recommended not to exercise at least 4 hours before going to sleep. Also, not to eat carbohydrate-heavy foods at least 6 hours before going to sleep. Need a late night snack? Go for protein-foods that are low on sugar.

I'm sure this is going to eat up some harddrive space.

So, you don't actually have a wrestling team at your school then, and don't compete against others schools? This is not at all typical, for wrestling to be provided, but weight classes not defined. Have you talked to the coach, or been getting this info from your friends?

Well said Jules.

This situation is unique, because the instructor is wearing three hats. I created and ran many college clubs in the past, so i feel reasonably qualified to chime in on some of the 'unique' issues here. One of the important things here is, the club CANNOT exist without the advisor. As far as i know, a prerequisite for every club on every campus in the U.S. is to have a 'college staff member' serve as an advisor. If a club cannot provide an advisor, the club cannot be formed on campus. Add to this the advisor position is entirely voluntary, therefore it needs to be respected. Part of the problem, as i see it, is that this woman is blurring the lines between what the instructor does off campus (which is to run/teach at a dojo), what the college hired the instructor to do (which is to teach those karate classes), and what the instructor has volunteered to do (which is to serve as an advisor for a club). As a college student, she is entitled to file a 'formal' complaint about the manner in which the instructor teaches his classes at the college, if she so wishes. However, she is not allowed, in no uncertain terms, to harrass or publicly criticize an college staff member (some of her comments could be construed as slander, depending on specifically what was said). This is clearly stipulated on just about every campus. Even if he is sitting in a meeting with a bunch of students, wearing the hat of an advisor, he is still very much a member of the college's staff, and thus is protected by the campus on that aspect alone. Indeed, were her actions over the top, she could very well be kicked out of the college. But, for what you have indicated as her actions, no campus administration in their right mind would lift a finger. As to the meeting, all club meetings on a college campus MUST be publicly accessible. Even if she weren't a member of the club, she could still participate. But, if she is disruptive, you can contact the Campus Police and have her removed from the room. Better hope you can provide a reasonable excuse. Now, my recommendation is to talk to the Student Association Advisor and President. Ask them what options you have for being able to 'remove' someone as a member of your club. As VP, you shouldn't have any difficulty setting up an impromptu emergency meeting with them. It may help to have your club's president and advisor (the instructor in question) attend this meeting as well. Your club's constitution should have provided a means to remove someone from membership status and it may be required that you amend your existing constitution. If this woman is NOT a student of the campus, she cannot participate in a campus meeting. As well as i know, she can only be on campus as a guest. Which is to say that she can be charged with trespassing if she was warned at least once by the Campus Police. Last, is the dojo outside of campus. If she is also a student at the dojo off campus, then that is an issue entirely separate from the college and the club. This is something your instructor needs to handle on a personal level. Whatever happens in the dojo is a matter for your instructor to handle. He wears a different hat in the dojo, and it is a hat of 'supreme' authority. I'm assuming he owns or co-owns the dojo. Is that correct? On the rest, i agree with Shorinryu Sensei. In the dojo, it is not your place to resolve these issues. Avoid talking to her, ignore her antics, and focus on your lessons. If you find her actions to be disruptive, then talk 'privately' with your instructor, stating your grievances. In the end, however, it is the instructor's call as to what, if anything, is going to be done in 'his' dojo. Hope this helps. edit: just read your comments about working on the constitution. Glad to hear you're heading in the right direction.

That shouldn't matter Mat. Wrestling is broken down into weight classes. As to judo, what's going to make the difference is not the throwing, but the reversals. Judo offers some interesting insight into this that freestyle wrestling doesn't provide. You'll see more opportunities to turn things around, in case you find yourself in a bind.

Also, i have a personal concern. You indicated that it was your 'first' day in class. Did they pair you up with someone to throw or be thrown, or just focus on rolls and falls? By all rights, you should only be learning how to fall at this stage.

If your neck is hurting, you need to work on 'angling' your falls and rolls. Sounds like if you're either landing too straight on your back (causing a whiplash), or you are rolling 'across' your neck. This could cause a 'delayed-effect' injury to the neck very easily. In a roll, your body should make contact with the ground 'across' your back. Visualize a line going across your back, from the pit of your arm to the rise of your opposite-side buttcheek. Now extend that further and visualize a semi-circular curve from the knife-edge of your hand, down your 'slightly bent' arm, across your back (as noted above), and down the back/side of your 'slightly bent' leg. Your neck is 'never' supposed to be involved in any contact with the ground. It's job is to protect the head, by absorbing some of the bounce associated with ground impact. Also, it's a good idea to attempt to absorb to the 'side,' as opposed to front or back. If necessary to accomplish this, turn your head slightly. All of this will eventually need to be brought to a subconscious level. Your neck pain may, however, also be associated with an increase or change in computer use. Lower your monitor so that the top of the monitor is even to, or slightly lower than, your eye level. Mice (trackballs not as much) also significantly aggravate the shoulder and neck.

I do not disagree with you regarding the inherent flaw associated with giving children BBs. But... (always the but)... an age limit is essentially a rule. A rule, in and of itself, needs to be enforced. How would such a thing be enforced? The best i can see... is the button of shame. I.e., are we talking about a reasonably large portion of the respected martial arts community, from a variety of disciplines, openly and formally condemning the practice of doling out BBs to children under 16? That's not necessarily an age limit, but it's the only semi-rational approach to having the 'martial arts community' (whatever that gets defined as) 'start' anything remotely addressing age limits. Another thought is... majority rules. At the moment, quality instructors are a very small minority. It takes a tremendous amount of time to generate a quality-bred instructor, while it takes 2 years to pop out with a quantity-bred instructor. Continuing, a quality-focused instructor releases possibly one or two black belts a year (a generous assumption, mind you), while a quantity-focused would easily generate 10 to 50 black belts a year. So... what would motivate the majority to adhere to the derisions of the minority? And yes, i know it was just a simple question posed by okc_deputy16... but it's a loaded one.

It all depends on circumstances, and on the definition of what a roundhouse kick is. Most every system practices things differently, as well as provides differing labels... or translations, to actions/techniques. In the end, it's about common sense and opportunity. The right tool for the right task. Supercalifragilisticexpyalidocious...

lol Tommarker

I agree with Delta1.

Yes, as long as it is with the 'intent' to pin, such as in an effort to bring the opponent around and on their back.

Well Jerry, since we're not face-to-face to improperly kiai at each other, it's not like this debate will get anywhere, eh?

You started teaching many years ago. Slander is a crime. But if you feel he has slandered you or your wife, it would be very hard to prove. You will be in the hard task of proving he said something, and all he has to do is deny ever saying anything. If, on the other hand, he put something in print regarding this accusation, you have a case... for libel. Libel is far easier to press in court, for there is physical evidence. He would then have the task of proving his written accusations are true. Without concrete evidence, and it's very likely he would not be able to provide it, he would lose. Sounds like he did you a favor by cutting you out, seeing as you were doing volunteer work, while he was pulling in the dough. At some point, he should have been paying you. The former could be construed as libel, the latter would not be. Check with an attorney. What was mentioned before by Lucky, about any no compete clause... you should look into that and have an attorney examine any 'contracts' or 'agreements' you may have signed. As well as i know, as long as you are not limited by a an earlier agreement (as mentioned above), you could open up a school nearby and hand out flyers 'outside' of the property and/or the leased lot. Be sure to bring a videocam with you, in case the guy attempts to attack you for doing what is within your rights to do. If he's slandering you or your wife to the students, and there are sufficient witnesses to this (the students themselves perhaps), you may be able to present a strong case. Again, seek a free consultation with an attorney. In the end, you need to determine just how important this is for you to pursue, and whether by pursuing it you aren't going to expose any skeletons in the closet.

/me smacks solar_kid

Umm, don't get pinned?