Fairfax_Uechi

It might be irrevelant, but some of us like to understand things and the question why is always valid. So, does it matter to us? Progrably not, but it does to him/her. Maybe we can learn from the answer. My guess is probably it's either a dojo requirement or that he/she likes the style. Either are valid.

Like everything else in life, the answer is it depends. And that's a great point. You can never assume what you're insurance covers. In the case of someone training folks out of his/her home, you need to contact your insurance agent. Many companies offer what is called an Umbrella policy that you can add to your home owners or renters insurance. Your agent can get the policy to give you the coverage you need. FYI, I"m not an agent, and won't even go into the details, or try to claim to be an expert, but I've done this for another business, and it's fairly common.

Actually the arts don't do the fighting. The person using the art does. So you're right JKD, TKD, or any other style can be highly useful. But some styles are better than others in certain areas. For instance, if you do a spin kick, and I block it (get out of the way, time it, and then come in on you), once I'm in close, you're going to have a very big problem if you don't do much close in training. The advantage then goes to someone who is used to fighting in close. But if you get your kick off, you keep your advantage. In other words, you use your techniques. I always tell people that I don't worry about an unskilled person attacking me as I have enough training to defend myself. And I don't fear those with more training than me because if they're any good and really study, they wouldn't be attacking anyone. (Like you said, once you become a martial artist you learn not to start fights or attack people).

I fully disagree. The fees should be fair. I agree with Ottman that schools have to make money. That's a given. But that doesn't mean you should feel like you're being ripped off. You should get what you pay for. If they're handing out belts like that, then how do you know that you're not one of the students who had a belt given to them? Frankly, I'd go find another dojo. I'd train under someone who I know was giving me a quality education, and that I knew for a fact that I earned my rank, and that I actually learned good technique (um, actually that's what I do) As for styles. Yea, you're right styles are bad or good as a general rule, but I do believe that as a style gets bigger and bigger and more popular it gets harder and harder to keep the standards high. Look at TKD as it is often the target of bashing and since it's very popular. There are some good TKD schools, and there are some horrible ones. There are many in the middle, and I'm sure even the horrible one can teach some good things. But I'm willing to bet, you'll never find a student in a school who says his/her school is one of the horrible ones until they are ready to leave or have left. So, there is no point in putting up with poor instruction and being charged a lot. There is always a good teacher not too far away. The trick is finding them.

Ah, but you did. You did know a lot. And now you know a lot more. You also learned that you don't know alot! And you now know that you have an awful lot more to learn! BTW, I'm in the same boat. But, I've resolved to the fact that I can only learn so much. So today I learn some things, and tomorrow I'll learn more. And so on. And one day I'll be wise.

Did you ever make a decision?

Actually this is only half correct. Uechi, is hard and soft. Most folks see all of the conditioning and hard techniques, but there are many soft also. All of the conditioning is necessary for the infighting and close techniques.

Sounds like this guy never learned about life in the big city. There is always someone bigger, faster, or just plain luckier than you around. In other words like folks said, no point in looking for trouble. And this guy was asking for it by advertising that he was a black belt. Like others, I don't normally wear my gi out in public. The exception is when I come home after a tough class, or if I have a real reason for chaning at home, such as dropping the kids of someplace and won't have time to change at the dojo. I have been told that in Okaniwana that black belts are discouranged from wearing their belts in public. Especially the higher ranking seniors as it is common to have folks start fights to see how tough they are.

Ray, Wow, what a great question. The short answer is that I meditate. Do I do it enough? NO. Is it healthy? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Do I recommend it? Yes. Feeling pain? Well there is a certain amount of mind over matter. But given enough pain, and it's very hard to focus it out. Can it be done, sure? If you have a chance, go see senior Uechi students during Sanchin conditioning. The student stands in a Sanchin stance while they are hit, kicked, and attempts are made for them to lose their focus. After enough training this just becomes an exercise even while their skin turns bright red. Anyway, the point is that you can focus and tune things out. As for the positive energy. Look at it this way. Tomorrow, as you wake up. Before you do anything stop. Focus on the ceiling, and slowly breath in and out. Concentrate on relaxing. Then slowly focus on your breath. Think about how you feel good, and how you're going to have a great day. Then after a few minutes, get up and see how your day is. Now today, after lunch, think about your day so far. Focus on something that went wrong. Really think how crummy your day is. Stay focused on this and how it ruined the rest of your day. My bet is that if you try this the rest of your day will be pretty crummy. [so I'd recommend really not doing this, but thinking about when you have] The point is that you can control things with what you believe. As for the actual energy and things that you breath in and out. Well, I'm still working with this, but can say that the more I meditate the better I am. What I was taught is to breath in the good, and expell the bad.

Shodan means beginner. Meaning a 1st degree blackbelt is just beginning to understand their art. They have a long way to go. In most traditional arts you're not considered a Master until you reach 5th degree. SO with that said, you haven't even mastered one art let alone learned enough to create a new art if you haven't even earned your Black belt. At your level, you're probably at the point where you feel you know quite a bit. And you're probably right. But you also have a great deal to learn. I didn't see a style next to your name, so I have no idea what you study. But I'm willing to bet, you have a lot to learn in that style. As others have said or implied, what can you teach/create that others haven't? Why do you want to start a new style? What benefit do you get from it (besides ego)? And what benefit will it give to others? Also if you leave where you're studying, and start your own style, how do you expect to continue to learn and get more proficent, or do you think you know all you'll ever need to know? Now, I ask these questions, not to flame you. I ask them for you to think about them honestly. You don't have to respond to them if you don't want to. But I would hope that you'd look at each question and seriously think about them. Based on your post, I'm also guessing you're fairly young. Again, this isn't ment to be a slight. But I'm guessing that after a few years, and some more experience you'll see that there is so much for you to learn, and starting a style now could keep you from learning a lot of things that could benefit you throughout your life. So don't forget to think about the long run and not the present. No matter what you do, best of luck.

Sheldon Dunn is a Uechi-Ryu 6th degree black belt and a competitive body builder. He's also in his 50's. So it can be done. You have to decide what you want, and then map out a plan. How about telling us where you live, and maybe someone can get you some information of someone local to you. FYI, Sheldon is in Baltimore, MD.

I agree with what the others have said. When I was doing research to find a dojo, I knew I didn't want to study TKD. One because of all of the McDojo's around here, and two, I wanted something more practical and not sport orientated. Uechi worked great for me. Now, with that said, your needs sound much different, and I wouldn't look at Uechi if I was looking for jumping and lots of kicks, we just don't do much jumping, and our kicks are done to get the job done. So, with all of that said, I'd do some research, and see what you can find. I do think you'd like their kicking, but you're going to have to supplment for the take downs and close in work. You might want to look at Chinese and Okaniwan arts and see what you can find.

Sounds like a great goal to me.

Thanks. Hey, nothing wrong with setting a goal. It's not even bad to express it from time to time. The key is to make realistic goals, then go achieve them. Now reasons for goals are a totally different topic. No one can tell you a reason for a goal is good or bad. Especially when it's "just because". Sometimes in life we just need a goal of something because we want to do it. So go for it, and know that some of us think it's great. Just don't give up.

I love kids, but didn't think I'd like teaching them. Part of my instructors training was to work with kids. Well, as I did it more and more, I liked it more and more. Don't get me wrong, I prefer working with adults, but kids can be great to work with. But as you said, some folks just aren't cut out for it. To them, I'd suggest that they try it, then make a decission, they might be suprised. And then if they then don't like it, or aren't cut out for it then at least they gave it an honest try.

To me it's worth what I put in. No amount of money is equal to the satisfaction I get when I teach something to a student, and they finally "get it" after struggling. Rank becomes an ego thing after a certain level. Don't get me wrong. What I mean, is that it shows your dedication, how long you've been training, and hopefully that you've mastered a certain degree of proficency. But it really isn't that big a deal (or at least shouldn't be) As I've said in other threads. I teach to learn. I train to learn. And hopefully as I train I become a better person, and somewhere along the way make the world a little better in a small way or two.

Actually, in the traditional arts, this goes back to the roots. Afterall the old masters would take on a student for individual training. No commercial dojos in China, Okinawa, and Japan in the 1800's and early 1900's. Most Uechi classes in the mid atlantic are taught in rec centers, ymcas, health clubs, etc. Very few commercial dojos. Now in New England there are some, but that's because Uechi is larger in the Boston area, due to the works of George Mattson. Anyway, training out of someones home or gym can be a way to get really good instruction. And something I encourage whenever possible.

Did you look at the UVa links above? If not, stop and check them out. As you can imagine, I have a huge bias to Uechi and would highly recommend that you reconsider. The cost sounds high and the time seems long. I'd suggest that you look at the Uechi link and then go to the uechi-ryu.com web site. Go to Bill Glasheens forum and either send him a private message or post a new thread. Bill is the founder of the UVa Uechi program and a 7 Dan in Uechi and has rank in a few other styles. He's a great guy and can give you more information than you'd ever want, including names of folks in your area who might be able to help you out. Also if you can workout with the folks at UVa, that would be a great way to go. Trust me they're a wonderful bunch.

Yes , few only make it to BB , why do you think is the reason ?? Why, we live in an instant society. Many people don't want to wait. They want things right away. Look at this discussion. The focus in on time. Not content of what you're learning. Look at college degrees. Look at how many people earn degrees, and how many drop out. Now look at advanced degrees. If I'm not mistaken, only about 10% of the population has an advanced degree. The reason is that there is a huge investment in time and money. The same thing happens in martial arts. Look at the ranks. Lots and lots of white belts. Less middle ranks, and few high ranking students. Then look at the number of students that get to Shodan. They're like the folks that earn a * degree. How many folks stop here? Lots!!! Now how many earn higher ranks in the black belt ranks. These are like the folks in the MS degree ranks. Finally the really high ranks are like PhDs. Not too many here. True dedication is requried here.

Not someone you'd want to get in a fight with. As I've said in previous threads. I don't believe in fighting and believe that you should avoid fights whenever possible. But I'm also a realist, and know that you need to be prepared, and that's the reason that I train. I believe in fighting to live. So dirty, fast, powerful, and doing whatever you need to to end a fight quickly and without getting hurt (or limiting how hurt you get). In other words kicks to knees and ribs, eye gouges, grabs, chops to jaws, and anything else that would drop someone or make them not want to fight. As you can guess, I'm not a fan of punches. Open hand techniques are more effective at hurting someone and that's the mentality I use if someone is attacking me. Afterall, if they're attacking me, it's no longer a game, and I'm fighting to live and do what I need to do to protect myself.

Well it really depends. Tenshin steps (stepping off to the side) are highly effective. On the street, things happen quick. The best choice is not to get into a bad situation where you need to use force. Barring that, I would say holding your ground and a low kick to the lower leg or knee is your best choice. Next would be a block/grab pull off balance sequence followed by a counter attack. In competion, working on speed is probably your best friend. Learn to be patient. As soon as someone attacks they open themselves up with lots of nice points of attack. The key is waiting enough to get that opening, but being fast enough to get the strike first.

Still working Sanchin. Sanchin is the first kata we learn in Uechi-Ryu and the one that we spend all of our time perfecting. All is Sanchin.

What ranks do you do this for? As I read your post, I can see that this could work ok for someone with experience but I don't think the typical beginner would have much luck with this sort of training. So how much experience do you require? The good things I seem from your post, are the help with keeping motivated. I'm sure being out in the sand with not much to do, having a way of training and getting encouragement would be a good thing. But I know that the training isn't anywhere near as good as having your Sensei right there chewing you out as you mess up over and over and over until you finally get it. So your way of having to train in the dojo at least once a year, helps in this regard. Overall, I think you've made some good points. I'm not sure how much I like this, but I can see the applications for it. As for testing, I don't think testing in the manner is a good thing. But then this can be a whole new conversation.

When I started training my goal was to earn a black belt. When I earned my first belt, it was to earn the next one to reach my goal of black belt. Along the way, the belts became a measuring stick to help me stay focused on the goal. But a strange thing also happened. The goal of black belt became another mile mark. It was no longer an end goal. The goal then became to learn as much about martial arts as possible. To be the best martial artist and person that I could become. Have I met my goals. Well the short answer is yes and now. yes, I've earned quite a few belts. But I have a long way to go with becoming a martial artist. Sure, I'm developing peace and tranquility, but I'm still striving for a much deeper internal understanding. Something that takes many years to fully understand and something that beginners don't even think about. Good luck in your goals. You can, no make that will, achieve them and a geat deal more if you keep focused on them.

I agree with everyone else. When in doubt, better safe than sorry. As for the comment on the senior students. Senior students shoud press the junior students enough to make them work hard, and to THINK, but not so hard that they injure them or make it too difficult to work with them. Also, the more senior students SHOULD have control. But as we all know that varies by person. One final thought. Don't think of the head gear as protection. I can assure you if someone kicks or hits you hard enough you can get seriously injured even with head gear on. SO, when you use it, understand it offers a MUCH higher level of protection that nothing, but it doens't mean that a good hard shot won't hurt you. Always train safe.