Zaine

New year; new goals. Being that my life is exponentially busier at the start of this new year than it was at the start of the last one. 1: Advance in the current system (I'm pretty sure they do advancements. If they don't it doesn't matter much as it's a lot of fun). 2: Get in better shape (running my first (half?) marathon in March. I can't remember what I agreed to as I agreed to it the day after my wife gave birth and I was very tired). 3: I'd like to start teaching again (Shorin Ryu). I think that will do me for now. I'm looking forward to an awesome year!

1. Nailed it. 2. Didn't get that one but I'm not so much worried about that goal. 3. I am more or less in the same shape that I was in which isn't bad so no complaints. 4. Nailed it. 2 out of 2! I can be happy with that.

I think you're on point here. When you use a makiwara you train yourself on the proper way to punch and increase your skill exponentially. I constantly recommend this tool to any body who identifies themselves as Martial Artists. It does more than just help us with proper technique, but when we hit a solid object we help our joint health. Punching the air is great but as you do it you wear down you joints from the extension. Punching something solid reduces the damage that you do to your body by throwing punches.

My Shorin Ryu instructor was 300+ and over 6 feet tall. I was 6 feet and lanky and young and stupid and all the good things that make for an uncoordinated teen. Because of this, a lot of my training was against a bigger guy so I agree about the weight divisions. A good Martial Artist trains for people of all sizes, not just the people in their same weight class. I stopped watching UFC a long time ago and can cite that as a reason. I don't think that an person (man or woman) should limit themselves to learning to fight a certain weight class.

The annoying thing is that i've have only taught the junior classes a handful of times. so i am not really all that acquainted with the students there. But those times i have taught them they know how tight (instead of using a word associated with our butts and could have had this post removed) i am about doing things. I'll let everyone know how it goes and how many students were there. the biggest grading i've helped out at was 16 students and that was an adults grading If they know you're expectations they will fall in line if they want to progress. If they are disrespectful then it wasn't their time to move up. The important thing, though, is that they know what you expect.

This.I remember the first time I sat on a testing board (much more ran one) and I remember how nervous I was (both with being on the board and being in charge). It's surprising how easy it will come. Just relax and do what you do.

No, definitely not. I should have clarified, rather than ending my comment with what I did. No disparage intended regarding community centers... I feel you! Anywhere is awesome for training as long as you can do it! When my school finally moved into a gym though it was because we had a partnership with a couple other schools. If your school is close to a couple of other schools a way to keep the space you have (or find a bigger space) is to share space with other schools.

I'm a Shodan in Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu and we conditioned frequently. The logic begind it was that there are so many times in the system when we get hit so that we can finish something so it just made sense (that was the reasoning my Sensei gave but as you know Shorin Ryu has a history of conditioning and there have been various reasons throughout history). For me conditioning is a must because as much as we don't want to get hit in a fight the odds say that we're going to get hit. We condition so that we can continue on defending ourselves regardless of being struck once or twice. Every instructor is different though. From what I understand TKD doesn't, as a general thing, condition but I have met TKD practitioners who do and I have visited TKD schools that do as well. Can it injure your students? Sure. However, it is the job of the instructor to monitor their students to ensure that everyone is being controlled and safe. Conditioning is built over time, not by wailing on each other once.

Nothing wrong with community centers. The first school I trained at happened in a trailer park rec center, then a church, then a park, then another church, then a gym.

Welcome to KF!

This is the best option. We can tell you all day what we think it fun but it's about what you find fun. Check out the classes and see which one fits you the most. Make sure to keep up updated!

That is unfortunate news! I'm sure they will bounce back quickly and find an awesome space to train though.

I've spent a lot of time doing Martial Arts outside (I'm doing that currently and it just freezed in DFW) and it can be fun but there is a very definite want of climate control. It's difficult, however, finding a space that you can afford without the income of students for the first couple of months (if you're lucky) much more thinking about advertising. In short, I definitely get training outside but inside is definitely worth it if you can swing it.

Really cool interview! Thanks for posting!

I used to work in a physical therapists office and anytime I would get pains from working at a computer all day they would bring me either of these. It also helped that my Martial Arts instructor at the time WAS a physical therapist and would ask after a particularly stringent workout how I was feeling.

I have a heart disease so exercise is not an option for me, I have to do it. I have also been told the 30 minutes spiel and sought a second opinion and what the other doctor said was that 30 minutes is the minimum amount of exercise recommended a day. They recommend doing no more because they tend not to ask you whether or not you exercise on a regular basis so they don't know what your body can handle. Starting 30 minutes and gradually moving upwards is a great idea for someone who literally does nothing and has done nothing for an extended amount of time. I would ask again and mention that you exercise already and ask WHY it has to be 30 minutes a day. Chances are that the doctor just wants to make sure that your body can handle it first. Please. We all know that your in your mid-30s and that you wrestle bulls in your spare time.

That's awesome!

That's awesome! Congrats to your students and to you!

This is advice I wish I had when starting the nunchaku! could have saved MANY bruised hands/knuckles!

The ARMA is great! There are a lot more resources starting to pop up as well available either free or cheap online as well as a few more expensive books (expensive due to being out of print). I'll definitely keep posting about it, it's great fun!

I know those nunchaku. They are great quality and the ones that I use as well.

You'll have to record it and post it! I love to see sai kata!

That's great news! Everybody learns differently so it's awesome that you've found his niche!

I got to attend one of his seminars in 2006(?) and he was a lot of fun. Doesn't take himself too seriously, a great guy and super flexible. He made a name for himself as a kickboxer though.

That's a really powerful quote. I'm actually blown away.