scottnshelly

You have some very good points AnonymousOne, i bow to you. I think where we differ is in that everyone has a different goal from the Martial Arts. It is clear that your goal is a very traditional and hard path, and that's great, I'd love to travel that path. I have, due to circumstances, taken a different path though. Also, when students come into your school, you have to understand that they are expecting different things from their training. Not everyone gets the chance to train with masters in Japan, not everyone even wants to. I know that some Instructors are in it for the money, most aren't. Those that are in it for the money are more likely to promote 'fun' classes to encourage more kids to come in. Even if you're not in it for the money, you have to understand that the kids (I mean like under 15) aren't looking for a lifetime committment of hard core training. Most are there because their parents put them there. Then you have to understand what the parents' expectactions are from the class. So in conclusion, hard core, stenuous, arduous training is best to turn out the best Martial Artists and the best fighters. That is not always necessary to turn out Martial Artist of high morale or kids with a little more confidence and self-esteem than before the class.

Most good judges don't pay attention to the sounds. I never scored somebody based on a kiai/kiyup. If you don't see the point, don't score the point. That's why they have more than one judge.

That's a very good point. I know that they still train hard though. Even if we couldnt learn the 'secrets' of the ancient arts, maybe we could just get in a good weeks training with some really highly trained monks or something.

Well, if you've ever taught a class - Martial Arts or otherwise - you'll know that the key to making what you're saying sink in is to keep their attention. One way to do that is through demanding respect and shouting commands, like a drill sergeant. The other way is to make it interesting. Kids also have a short attention span. They need entertainment to keep their interest. Otherwise they'll lose interest and leave. I don't think you'll disagree that learning to kick and punch are key to the Martial Arts. I also think you'll agree that basic exersizes should be part of the cirricullum. What's so bad about doing these in a fun way four or five times a year? Do you really think it's better that you line everyone up every day for an hour and make everyone do the exact same kick over and over shouting out commands? Maybe that would be beneficial once or twice, but not for every class. You've got to change it up a little, and this is possible without disrupting the integrity of the Martial Arts. I can see where you are coming from, but you are thinking of extreme versions of 'fun' classes. There's nothing wrong with having a fun class - with a workout - everyonce in a while, but there also has to be some structure and predictability to it. whew!

That sounds like so much fun. I would love to do the sand or water in the bucket thing, but i have a chain link fence and a neighbors on both sides... I don't want people to talk to me about Martial Arts for some reason. I don't think the wife would like me bringing a big bucket of water into the house and making a mess either. Ever studied Two-Finger Zen? Thanks.

In addition to those listed above, i would like to add Secret Tactics by Kazumi Tabata. Here's a link: http://print.google.com/print?id=GZyg6POGj20C&lpg=2&dq=kazumi+tabata&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dkazumi%2Btabata&sig=C21c2bCq3w-byKeal7KUJcE8HOc One of my all time favorites.

In my primary dojo, I was asked to teach a class on emergency notice one day, the Instructor called me and told me he wouldn't be in. It was my first class to teach, i was a 1st brown at the time (2nd kyu/gup) and had just started at this dojo. After that, the students told the Instructor that I did a great job, so he started having me assist and stuff. After I acheived Jr. Black I was eligible to line up with the Instructor facing the students. I then became relied on for teaching when the Instructor was out. At the end of my Adult Black Belt test, I was awarded an Instructor's certificate. I didn't go through any training specifically for teaching, I learned through experience - the best way. After that, my father and I opened a dojo. He did all the money stuff and I did all the teaching stuff. It closed down after just under two years though. Anyway, that's how I became an Instructor. Oh yea, it took about 10 - 11 years after I started.

I had four favorite things that I used to use to break up the monotony. When I noticed low morale or lagging students i would devote an entire class to one of the following four things: 1) Pushups class. 10 reps of every kind of pushup you can imagine. It's not that many when you divide it up into 10 reps, but afterwards when you tell the kids that they just did 150-200 pushups they're all like 'wow, i had no idea.' 2) obstacle course. I'd set up several different 'obstacles' in the room, such as hanging bags, heavy bags, speed bags, etc. All of the students would go through, one at a time, to see how fast they can get through. At each place they would have to do something different. Maybe 10 front kicks on a heavy bag, then 20 pushups, then 40 situps, then jump over a chair, then 100 jumping jacks, etc. 3) station workout. Similar to the obstacle course, except every stays at the same station for a determined amount of time. For instance, someone will be doing pushups for two minutes while someone else does side kicks. 4) races. This was mostly for the young kids; I'd set up two people holding a bag or hand pads. Two people would line up and race to 50 front kicks or punches or whatever. The winner stays and the loser goes to the back of the line. The kids loved this one. There are probably more, but it's been a while. Seems like they used to enjoy walking the floor with different stances and punches - or maybe that was me that like that! I also found that anytime you can incorporate something into the workout that isn't usually associated with everyday training, they like it: chairs, cinder blocks, bouncy balls, etc.

Could have just been muscle memory taking over when you got too tired to think about it. Or maybe one of those previously suggested possibilities.

I have seen several websites that offer a tour of the temples, training at the temples, book from the temples, etc. Are any of these real? I would really like to vacation there and possibly train for a day or two while there (in the far future, of course). Does the temple even allow tourists and part time trainees? shaolinbooks.com offers a whole long list of books for sale from Shaolin, but are they legit? http://shaolinbooks.com/index5w.htm Thanks.

Thanks for the reply. I have a beginner's mung bean bag that i have been hitting for a while now. I hit it with my palm, back of the hand, fist and fingers. Is there anything that I should not do while hitting the bag? I know that it is impossible for me to acheive a high state of anything without proper instruction, but i'm hoping if i hit it enough i can at least condition my hands. Thanks.

Great metaphor; I'd like to expand on it a little. There are colleges of varying degree. To earn a degree at a community college is easier and takes less time than it would at a larger, more prestigious university. Also, Instructors vary. One person might train regularly for a year to obtain the same rank as someone at a different Dojo that trains intensely for three years. The standards are different, but in the end, we all gaze at the same moon (or however that goes).

I don't, but I don't like to see a topic sit unreplied to for so long. I think that Shaolin is a generic term mainly used for marketing. People are familiar with (and impressed with) Shaolin, so if they see a Dojo with that word in the title, they're more likely to give them money. Kenpo/Kempo is also a generic term (from what I understand) in Chinese. American Kenpo is more modern and stems more from Hawaiian arts than Chinese (although Hawaiian stem from Chinese). I know a little about Kenpo, is there something specific you were wondering, or just a general synopsis?

Does anyone on here practice any type of hand conditioning art, such as, but not limited to: Iron Palm, Iron Claw, Two-Finger Zen, One Finger Shooting Zen, Iron Fist, Golden Bell, Iron Shirt? I'm interested in doing Iron Palm and Two-Finger Zen, but there are no qualified Instructors within 100 miles of me.

Also, how is the testing/grading done? Is it all using the honor code, assuming that no one is exaggerating in their journal? Do you have to go to a central location to test in front of a panel, or do you send in a tape or...? I guess if someone went through all of this, they would be a well versed fighter/Martial Artist.

http://www.centuryfitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&categoryId=14154&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10008&crumb=13501 http://www.centuryfitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&categoryId=13751&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=13534&crumb=13501 http://www.centuryfitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&categoryId=13535&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=13534&crumb=13501 http://www.centuryfitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&categoryId=14659&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=13534&crumb=13501 http://www.centuryfitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&categoryId=13534&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=13501 well, you get the point.

Sounds like quite an enterprise. I didn't even see the price, but I bet it's hefty.

I've never really had too big of a problem with disrespectful students round here. That's because most of the Instructors teach and show respect. When we travel to some tournaments in the larger cities though, we see a lot of disrespectful students. Good observation pineapple.

Wow, what can i say... I'm shocked. I didn't prepare a speech. Umm, let's see. I'd like to thank everyone on the staff at KF.com, all of the old members, the newbies with their simple questions... Sorry if i'm leaving anyone out, i'm just so surprised. Thanks to everyone.

I've seen some good fight scenes in a couple episodes. For instance: in The Thin White Line, Brian busts up a drug smuggling ring of midgets. Pretty good multiple attacker fight scene. in Lethal Weapons, we see a pretty good example of a modern day 'McDojo' when Lois joins a Tae-Jitsu class and beats people up. Then there's the episode that ends with the whole family fighting. And the one where Peter fights a large chicken for several minutes. Anyway, it's probably nothing, but i just enjoy watching the fight scenes in this cartoon.

That's great, but has anyone noticed the well choreographed fight scenes?

Has anyone ever watched the adult cartoon Family Guy? They have such great fight scenes compared to other cartoons and TV shows. I wonder if someone on there has experience in fighting. Anyway, they have good fight scenes.

For those of you who are married, what does your spouse think of your Martial Arts training? Did he/she know about it before marriage? Did you get started after marriage? etc.

Tell her to quit piano and go full on Martial Arts. But seriously, that's the only advice i have right now... long day.

I would re-test - if it's bothering you - but you don't necessarily have to drop down a belt. Just keep the belt that you have and re-test. Or train really hard for your Nidan to justify yourself. As for the original question, I've taken away a belt or two in my day for disobedience. Maybe if a student tries to lateral over from another school we might ask them politely to take a lower belt until they learn our methods. It's rare, but happens for a good reason when it does happen.