ps1

I think if you do a search for Anan, you will find your search more fruitful. Here's the best I've found. It has some variations, propably because it's a very high level competition. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8840350406353724468&q=anan&hl=en

Shodan just means beginner, or first, or something to that effect. Heian Shodan means "First Step" or something similar to that. Also, the analogy that a black belt is the "beginning" is why the title of Shodan is given. Oh.. Thanks Shodan actually means first level. Sho = first, dan= level Heian Shodan means "peaceful mind, level 1"

I see a couple of different issues. I will comment on them in the order I see them, according to your story. 1. Keep a better watch on your child. He was wrong for being where he was and I have a sneeking suspicion that your instructor would not want people on the radiator. 2. The gentleman should have handled the situation differently. Perhaps just asking your child to get down in with a firm (not hostile) tone. Of course the swearing wasn't necessary. 3. You handled the situation well in not escelating the issue with him. Good job keeping your cool! I'm assuming that you reaffirmed to your child that his actions were wrong. 4. After that, while you were drilling, you were not training properly in that your mind was somewhere other than on training. That can lead to someone getting hurt. Always keep your focus. 5. You spoke to the man and he apoligized. You may not like it, but your acceptance is not necessary. He did his part, now you need to do yours and let it go. If the issue comes up again, then it would be time to talk to your instructor. To take it to your instructor now, after he apoligized and thinks its over, would be petty. Too much time has passed. Bottom line is this: You're going to run into jerks wherever you go. Sadly, this includes Karate classes. You can either let them bug you, and never truly enjoy class. Or you can ignore him, deal with him only when you have to, and have fun with your child. That's why you're there isn't it? I hope this helps a little.

Breaking the balance is refered to as Kuzushi. It is of the utmost importance. Kano's book, however, is a little deceiving in that it makes it look like the person throwing breaks the balance. Ideally, you should set it up so that the person being thrown breaks their own balance. That is, you take advantage of the movements they give you. The pushing drills you see in the book are designed to give you a feel for the movements in different directions. It's a great book, don't get me wrong. It's just not very specific in those regards.

Drop to guard and armbar. If that's not legal in Judo, you could always hold the arm and drop into a single leg. You may not get the takedown, but he will have to either let go to get the underhook/defend or step back with the leg you attacked. This will leave the opponent open for Seio Otoshi or if he releases his grip, you can begin to attack.

White: Tekiyoko Shodan - Sandan Orange: Heian Shodan Yellow: Heian Nidan Blue: Heian Sandan Green: Heian Yondan Purple: Heian Godan Brown: Jion/ Bassai Dai Black: Tekki Shodan Nidan: Kwanku Dai/ Empi Sandan: Unsu/ Nijushiho/ Tekki Nidan Yondan: Seiunshin/ Tekki Sandan Does this help?

Oh I see. Sorry about the confusion on my part. The drop and drive is called a penetration step. I like a combination of the two. I really like a single leg take down as long as it's taught by lacing the leg (really hard to describe here). I don't like the single leg that just grabs the leg. In general, it's a very safe takedown that's why I like it. It also combos with the ankle pic very well. I also like ko soto gari. In a clinch, it's easy to get your opponent to step back. Then you can just trip em up. This combos well with uchi gari. Like I said in my prior post. The wrestling take downs don't need the gi. Some of the Jiujitsu/judo takedowns do.

"Drop and Drive?" That's not a very accurate description of a good wrestling take down. Wrestlers have excellent sense of timing and distance. What may look like a drop and drive to you is full of technique and form. What do you mean by "bend down low?" There is no good take down that has you bending, you will be choked out. Just like most martial arts, posture is very important in take downs. I'm not trying to be overly critical, but neither of those describe any good take downs. Try to get with a good Judo instructor or a good wrestling instructor. The advantage of wrestling take-downs is that they do not utilize the gi in any way. Judo has a larger variety of take downs that are effective against someone wearing a gi, which can simulate a large coat or clothing.

Everyone is correct. Any of them are going to mesh well. It's up to you to work hard to combine them into a system that works for you. I'm partial to BJJ and Diato Ryu Aiki Jujitsu. But I'm biased in that regard.

I'm a big fan of simplicity. The school name and the student's name should be enough. If someone is interested in attending, they will ask the person wearing the jacket. Just make sure the students who wear them know the answers to questions such as: What's the phone number, who is the instructor, and where's it at.

Let's see...5 minutes for the phone call...standard shipping. Probably about a week:) Seriously though, it should take some time. It's hard to put an exact time frame, but between 7 and 10 years at least. I want to make sure the basic techniques will be retained in muscle memory for a very very long time (15 to 20 years plus).

I knew a guy like that. He wasn't really my instructor, but owned the school. Anyway, our instructor died. Shortly thereafter I was told he didn't want me in the school anymore because I also trained in BJJ (among other arts). He tried to tell me that our instructor also felt the same way but he had told me otherwise on several occasions. Honestly, I think the guy just wanted to be the higest rank in the school.

Armbar to triangle combos and Armbar to omaplata combos and triangle to omaplata combos also work great...usually. The key is to be smooth and patient. Do not try to fight against the force they are putting forth. I also find it fun to wrap them up in guard and watch em' fight like caged bears trying to get out.

I should have mentioned this earlier. Any school with a qualified teacher is going to be better and safer than trying to learn on your own. Did you check out the school yet? Does it have a website for us to see?

Yup, Keep your chin tucked. Also, learn to accept the fact you're being taken down. Most hard falls come from the person falling trying too hard to stop it. Accept the fall and start working for good position on the way down. That may sound hard now, but once you practice it, you'll see it's not that tough. And it will make your falls much more gentle.

Forget about submissons and work for positions. Get to a position where you are in control. This should include the cross-side position, mount, and north-south. These are positions that you would be able to effectively strike from in a self defense scenario. If you have the opponent in the guard, you should be working for a sweep. If you are in your opponents guard, work for the pass-do not try to strike or submit the opponent from inside his guard!

That's great! I am happy for you. Congratuations.

Do you have a website? Also, try going in and asking if you can take a class or two for free. See if you feel comfortable.

Steve Oliver, Thanks for your comments. Are you saying that monthly dues for each student should be $295 per month? Or that the combination of dues and other marketing (pop, water, t-shirts, gis...) should total $295 per month? Because that does seem like a very excessive amount for dues.

The cocky students will fight anyway. Hopefully they may learn respect and discipline.

Yep I agree.I also agree. I have a feeling that Tokkan just wanted to see if he could ruffle some feathers. He/She was probably thrown off when no one got mad and actually asked for more comments.

I believe much of it was already watered down when it first entered the states. You had a bunch of guys that had trained for a year or two during the war coming over and teaching it to others. When they didn't have the correct answers for what the bunkai was, they made it up or just said it's secret. The strangest thing is that anytime I've ever asked anyone who is well trained about bunkai, they've never said, "oh it's secret." I honestly believe that was a cop out for people who didn't know. Does anyone else agree with this of feel this way?

Sounds awesome. I must say I am a bit envious.

No techniques are "proven" effective (I'm not talking about MMA sport fights, I'm talking about life and death). It always comes down to someone's opinion of what is effective. Most techniques taught are based on experience from one or two situations at best. There are very few people that have been in many life and death struggles. Statistically, techniques that have worked in stopping an assult have ranged from slapping to punching to kicking shins to headbuts to talking your way out and running. It is all based on the situation and the mindset of your attacker. Typically, doing something...anything, is better than doing nothing.

I teach the credited self defense class at Youngstown State University. Self Defense is different than martial arts training. Teaching self defense is more about preventing and staying out of situations that could lead to violence than anything else. Violent crimes are always about someone trying to assert their power over you. It's never about sexuality or anything like that. So we focus on ways we can make it difficult for an assailant to take that power away. The way you walk, the way you talk, the choices you make should all be discussed. Additionally, being vocal in a hostile situation is extremely important. When they are taught to take a fighting posture, they are required to yell, "get away from me!" It's vocal and could get the attention of others, not to mention it demonstrates that asserting your power over that person will be difficult. Just that could make a would be assailant nervous enough to move on and try someone else (this is called crime displacement). When I teach the physical techniques to the class, I stick to two basic punches (jab and cross) and a knee strike. I start with these techniques because the Department Of Justice has a number of statistics that show striking is more effective than grappling in getting out of a bad situation. That doesn't mean the techniques work better, just that they more commonly make an attacker halt their attack and move on. After two weeks of practice with strikes, I begin moving into how to escape a variety of graps and holds. The final is extremely stressful for the students and takes on a variety of situations. Many seminars I've been at were, IMO, very ineffective. They lasted a few hours and taught 5 or six techniques. There's no way an untrained individual is going to remember all of that. Even with a 15 week semester, I am hesitant to teach techniques that are complicated in any way. Teaching martial arts techniques is about creating new and effective habits. 15 weeks is just not enough time to create those habits in a way that they will last for the rest of their life. I should also mention that I have 4 different area martial arts schools come in and do demonstrations. One is a Phillipino, weapon based, school, one is TKD, one is Shotokan, and the other is Brazillian Jiujitsu. This allows the students, if they are interested, to get an idea of just how effective many martial arts can be.