pittbullJudoka

I would have to say they're not so much important to me but something I'm proud of. I'm proud of both my titles and rank due to the fact I've worked hard to earn both. And both have been bestowed upon me by my instructors meaning they feel that I have proven myself to be worthy of both title and rank that they have given me. I posted several years ago about dealing with the title Sensei after after receiving it. It wasn't so much having the title but others referring to me in that way because it was a title for my instructors at the time. I took several weeks to get use to it because before that I was just sempi the señor ranking student. The only time rank ever became important to was when I was a teenager training at my first dojo. And I let that cloud my training and ended up failing a Kyu test and I vowed from that moment on that I didn't care about rank and have yet to fail a promotion exam since. Since and now I just try to learn and teach my students the best I can. But again I say both because I earned them from my instructors. Proud not important

Something you mentioned that I forgot was the mental prep. This became very important during my preparation for my nidan test which I went through last month. This time around I couldn't be in the dojo as much as I would've like to have been dur to my work schedule, and life in general. Most of my kata work was done mentally, as was my basics not saying we didn't train train hard in the dojo just life happens. The mental prep is just as important if not more important for these big promotions in my opinion.

Great job! Even the smallest and lowest promotions mean a lot, again congratulations keep moving forward.

I don't remember how much time I was in the dojo prepping for my Shodan but it was more than most I tested with . Not to mention all the running, push ups, sit ups, shadow boxing, ect. Constant kata work, and I felt like I didn't have enough time to prepare. Even through I knew the dates months in advance.

The gym I train BJJ at is just over an hour drive from my house about 75 miles away, my dojo is about 12 miles from my house or 3 minutes from work depending where I'm coming from. Not bad in my opinion.

This is the last topic I thought we'd have here but I like it. I currently have a Bushmaster Ar15, a Glock 21, trusty 870, Taurus 627. Other toys include S&W 38spl, Colt New Frontier Bluntline, Ruger MarkII, Savage Predator model 10 .223, Savage model 11 .308, Ruger 10/22, Enfield 7.62 x 51, Cimmeron 1885 High Wall 45-70 Gvmt. And my soon to be finished custom 6.8 SPCII AR. My wish list is too big to put on here.

Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Shorikid I'm toning to have to correct you. That person didn't tell me that directly, they told another we use to train with who told me after word. He knew better than say that in my presence. But you know what he still have the connection to those big names he desired. Those "real black belts" have signed both my Shodan and Nidan certificates. So they must think my abilities are that of a true black and that's all that matters. My opinion this person just couldn't see what we are teaching because of their closed mindedness. Personally I don't need ties to Japan or Okinawa for is to be considered real karate though is would be awesome to have those ties. But to me unless you now the elders of your style on a personal level they are kinda like a myth. But I was raised in a "family" and that is personal.

Congrats, you'll learn a lot at that seminar. Hey you get extra time to train for that promotion by pushing it back. It will be well worth it.

Thanks guys I know this means a lot to me to get to share this with my forum friends that I've know for years. It's funny how I had only been training about two months when I found this forum. And now I sit here thanking you guys for well wishes on receiving my nidan. Seems unreal to me still.

We are very blessed to have the instructors we have. That hughe weight has been lifted. I can rest better now. Was fun though.

Congratulations to your son on an awesome season. Best of luck to him in the future.

There are pros and cons to every situation. As a non federation instructor you can set your sylibus to your liking such as teaching the kata you feel are the most important, spar the way you like whether that be full range or point, you can incorporate grappling if you see fit, set you own requirement belt by belt. The down side is if you don't have senior instructors to look to you are forever stuck at your present rank unless you are into self promotion. Also you students can see there maximum achievable rank ( this goes back to self promotion ). If you students move away from your area they will have a hard time getting others to recognize and respect their rank without association certificates. You may want to look into Abernathy's new association seems to fit what you are looking for.

Congratulations, keep up the good work.

Congratulations that's a great accomplishment.

Yes indeed once the messages of directions and meeting times started the nerves have went into over drive. As usual it seems that the preparation hasn't been long enough the recent illness and state of my lungs worry me a bit. But the finally days of in class and self training take over now. The kata must be polished more in the last days. My fear isn't failure or injury but to disappoint those who have be our instructors in the past. My tank is full and nerves high, I must rely on my past and current training to carry me through this test. I am willing to stand my ground and not give an inch, take what is given and deliver my blows with intent and knowledge of the fathers of my art. I believe it's said best in the Five Finger Death Punch song Back for More " It's time to rise up, man up, get back up, never been and won't be broken Dust off and then come back for more You've gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground, Show them all you won't be beaten Brush it off and then come back for more!"

Congratulations! To get it from Mr. Sauer is big time. Good job.

I'd have to say my favorites are the kimura, scissor, and wing. But I'm open to what ever I can get. The shaolin sweep was originally called the classic.

Videos looked good. Thanks for sharing. I just want to know how flat does that ref need a kids shoulders to call a pin. But good job to your son he looks like he's doing we'll.

Sound like he is doing great so far this season. A tech fall is as good as a pin if not better in my opinion. You guys keep up the good work. And on the losing if you can relate to him even the best athletes lose from time to time and that is we're you learn from the mistakes you make. But again congratulations.

Think about this they have only been concerned with the real safety of the fighters since about 2003 a relatively short time if you think about. The have been more rule changes in the past the to five years than ever before in the sport.

I would talk with my instructor about the situation all details included. This guy was not only disrespectful to those present but to your instructor. Him jumping in to take over in your instructors absence and some of the comments he has made showed his ego. It was all about look at me I'm a godan I know more and this is how you do it. I commend you guys that left. Also this guy needs to understand that the way dojos train change over time. I would say that if the student that was left to teach that night would have stood up to him it sounds like it would have gotten real bad real quick. Definitely talk to the others to see if they will talk to you instructor with you so it is the entire group that was involved there in the conversation. This way is doesn't sound like you're training to out this guys for personal reasons. I would hate to say what would happen if someone came into my dojo and pulled a stunt like this because in some ways we are still very old school.

Sensei8 it was in the early days of MMA before anyone cared if the fighters had more than one fight. Well not so early days but during what is know as the black years were there were no ppv or media coverage. The refs jobs back then wee to make sure the fight ended with the round and to stop fighter A if fighter B was ko'd.

On the karate Gi I only have a Sprawl patch on the lower right leg. My BJJ gis have several, mostly manufacturer, team, and association patches. One pair has a Spartan helmet & MOLON LABE patch on the upper right thigh.( team motto) My BJJ competion Gi has a team patch on the back & lower left leg, association team patch on left thigh, and manufacturer patch on lower right. You can put several on a Gi without it looking like a NASCAR but you have to choose the placement carefully.

I just noticed that last night Glory World Series kickboxing heavyweight grand slam tournament was on last night on CBS SN channel 613 on direct tv. But even better tonight at 10 pm est they are showing Dream 18 followed by Glory 4. I'm starting to like this channel for their showing of different combat sports. I've got to work in the morning but thank god for DVR.