Sensei Rick

Flow of your events is important. No one waiting too long for the next event. starting and ending on time. this is a challenge. That takes lots of planning and experience. Where are you, perhaps I could help. I help run A tourney with about 450 competitors 6 times a year. I also am the MC of the event.

HSU, they are the only way to go. they have a 1.5 weave that is the best gi in the world.

I'm having the exact same problem. But you are faced with what is an easy solution. He was just a white belt. It's so early. You need not worry; he isn't expected to prove himself this early in the game. I wouldn't change a thing or tell anyone. It can have negative effects on you. YOU STILL have about 5 years to get him to black. He will even out with his peers in the next few testings. It’s not an issue this early in his training. And a low kyu rank isn't an exact science. I used to use a similar scoring system when testing and judging in out tourneys. Then we changed the rules in our sparring from points.. to "who is the more effective fighter" where you truly just watch the fighters and look for effective technique and good strategies and counters. it was a true "eye opener" I look at the big picture now when judging. I decided to do that with my testing too. Believe it or not but I am ending up with students that are a better representation of their rank. I still make notes on a testing paper, but that's only if there is a question from a parent or something. I just look for the big picture. Does the student meet the standard? You might try that one yourself. Good luck.

The timing on this topic is so funny, i just tested. I found this web site that makes word searches. I gave them to the students that were waiting to test and it kept them so quiet that I'm going to continue the new tradition. I put in words that are related to karate, and some fun words that mean stuff to my students and I personally. Here's the link http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/WordSearchSetupForm.html

it just makes your bicep look bigger, try it yourself and see. it's nothing.

I don't think there is an instructor in the world that is doing this for money. That isn't the point, this is a behavioral thing not financial.

Oh man, I [m so jealous of that. I haven’t experienced that in karate training but as a musician I remember I was soloing, playing an instrumental version of Hendrix’s little wing and I just let go. I didn’t look at my fingers and the music just started flowing and I didn’t want it to stop. Even my band looked at me with amazement and I was hearing myself, but didn’t believe how great and different it sounded. I was detatched to, like even if I wanted to change the notes and their sequence I couldn’t.. the music was coming from elsewhere. To this day I have people tell me how much they liked that song that particular night. I wish I could control the uncontrollable. Must go practice. Congratualations.

If i was master of all mightyness i'd have a better web page.

When I first saw many things in karate I couldn’t see the benefit. Sparing may seem like that. I now have black belts that challenge me with their skill. I have a friend or two in my dojo that we trust each other enough to really go at it. We punch for a second or two then some gets slammed on the ground. Next thing ya know we are trying joint locks and arm bars and even finger locks. (I bet I can break any hold with those digit destroyers now) We push each other hard and punch each other with full force. Afterwards we laugh and hug and let each other know we okay. It’s good to be able to do this so that my confidence is high. I now know that I train so I don’t have to fight. Mr. Miyagi was right about that. None of this would be possible if I hadn’t spent many years doing wimpy point type sparring at a wimpy school. You will one day look back on it and see the point…. I promise.

or you could wait for them to come to you....

I have seen this and have done similar things. You may think the instructor had done a risky thing, after all the student could possibly quit. At one time, I was struggling financially and tried to save every student and tolerated the disruptive behavior. After all the kid is still in class and paying to be there so you are making something out of it. What you don’t realize is that the other parents, the ones whose kid isn’t being disruptive, don’t see the discipline aspect being taught in your class, and that may be the very reason they are bringing THEIR kid to class When I do this, I always get questioned by a sempai or some other higher ranking students that have aspirations to become a sensei too. The disciplined student will only do one of 2 things…. He will either quit, or he will improve his behavior. Either way, sensei gets what he wants. (Read that last line again over and over, it’s very important.

I am now training in a very traditional dojo. I train with shojiro koyama. It's not my place to ask him these types of questions. in fact today, while he was talking about american training vs. japanese, he basically said that americans question too much, while the japanese just respect sensei and do what he says. I am a teacher myself but I am learning karate do from a true japanese master before he passes. i will ask him, but only when it's time. I'll keep ya updated.

oh man, i've had it..... today, sensei used it at the end of class to say "goodbye" uuuuhhhhhggggggggggg!

Tom, I am proud for you too, that is the greatest accomplishment ever!! One never truly understands their own black belt untill they try make someone else a black belt. let this inspire you and keep that momentum going. osu!!!!!

I have heard and teach that osu is a contraction. Forgive my spelling here, but the words were ose shinobu. I was taught that there meaning was…. I am trying to keep pace with you. In the school where I teach we use this word to answer in the affirmative. Also, when I become sensei task master and I’m pushing my students to their limits, they respond with OSU! And it can basically mean… I’m trying….. Very hard sensei…. But I’m trying. I have seen many styles and schools use this term in the same manner. I have questioned 1000’s of black belt on its meaning and at most they say, “it’s a karate word.” I accept this and move on, for I’m only trying to improve my knowledge and confirm what I was taught by my sensei. My original sensei passed away in November 2006. His loss to me is devastating but I went and found a new dojo. Here, the term is used most indiscriminately. For instance, upon entering the locker room, the students all greet each other with osu, not hello. And they use it like the Hawaiian aloha, for goodbye also. They use it for every darn instance in the world….. It reminds me of a Kevin Neelan skit. KEVIN SAYS; I was walking down the street, osu, and I saw this dog, osu, he wad sharp, osu teeth, osu. I looked and he didn’t have a collar, osu. But he did have a black, osu, belt. You get the idea. I can’t stand it. It’s so overused that it looses its meaning with me. When I think of trying to keep pace with sensei, I try to keep pushing and pushing until I can’t stand anymore. If anyone has any input I’d love to hear it. And please tell me how it is used in your dojo and how was it explained to you. oh, i almost forgot..... OSU!

I train 3 days a week for an hour at a time, that is my “official class” My original instructor just passed away, I had been with him for 23 years. I also teach 5 days a week and my Saturday class is 12 hours of straight teaching. I get tired there. I am now studying shotokan with Sensei Koyama in Arizona. He is 72 and has been teaching for about 42 years. He is amazing. He will teach our class. Then he dismisses us. I go to lunch and come back 1.5 hours later and he is still training. He is an animal. He would blow you away if he was 22, and at 72 you just sit there with your jaw wide open hoping you can keep up. Like all martial artist, I have acquired a few problems over the years (bad knees and left hip for me) I would never tell sensei. I’m 31 years younger than he is!!!!! I’d be too embarrassed to even think of it. I can’t believe my goal now is to keep up with a 72 yo. Man!

The one advantage to the machine that I can see (I’ve used my friends century ratchet type model a few times) You can't hold your legs in a straddle sit stretch without something holding you there. and without a partner, you will do nothing but benefit from these. You can only dig your heals in so far and they will creep closer as you are trying to stretch. With the machine you just sit there and can relax…. During the stretch allowing you to become flexible. I think the wheel operated ones are better, but they do not have a meter that tells you your progress. So good luck and hope this helps.

I use weekly homework all the time and it does work, but, it can be tons of work for YOU, and you must be consistent. If you don't put effort into it, then neither will your students. And, the parents (the ones paying you) will not see value in your program. I Have used teams in the past, assigning students to a team and rewarding the best, and rigging it so the teams stay even to the end. You have to follow thru, it you don’t all your good ideas will defeat you. As for rewards, I am the best salesman in the world. I can get the cheapest prize in the world, but if you sell it…… it has value. Example…. We had a summer t shirt. I had it in a bag so you couldn’t see it. I talked about how it was the coolest t shirt ever, our best design so far…. Really talked it up….. when in reality, it was nice, but so were all out t shirts. Then, I slowly pulled it out, real dramatic like, and the kids all went whoooooooooooooo, and ate it up. I sold out in one class. Get it. It has value, if sensei says it has value, just like bowing and traditions, they mean something to the student, because sensei gives t value.

Hey, sensei happy now! Rememer karate isn't about perfecting technique, it's about seeking perfection of character. I say you are on the path to both. good work.

Ialways thought that you were a kenpo person, I had no idea you were TKD.

I have a great system of checkig in with envelopes and a sign in sheet. Both serve as a double check against each other. I also have my secretary give me a head count midway thru class to make sure everyone is paying and everyone is getting credit for their training.

LOL, I believe that you are awsome!! I might through in another reason. Motivation! When you are paying the price for privates you are more likely to be motivated to progress very quickly. Meanwhile, you can more easily make corrections while only watching the two students at a time. I tended to be more strict with requirements and effort with privates. I still feel that they're missing something in a private class though. Wether it's the competition with other students or the enviroment of comrodity, a group class has always produced better fighters for me personally. It sounds like your enjoying this too though, maybe they are feeding off your good energy. let me know your thoughts!

I love the fact that you have the best intent for your students. You sound like a great instructor that wants his students to defend themselves above getting thru a syllabus. One bit of concern though. Before you ever test a student you need to have a plan from white to black. You have to know what you want them to know at each level, and…………… how correctly you want it executed at each level. You can’t expect a round house of a beginner to have all the components of a black belt RH kick. Then….. Only test on what you have taught, and only test when then they have accomplished their technique to the level you want at that time. There by ensuring that they do not fail. Building confidence is the goal of martial arts (along with others) I know you are reading this and saying “DUH!!” but many instructors teach without a plan or any concept of what to expect of a student a each level, and until you have done it over and over, you may never learn. Teaching is, above all, a learning process. Good luck, and let me know if you need any help. My goal is to help and get help, so that the level of all martial arts is lifted and that a black belt of any style can be respected and defend themselves if need be.

I want THAT CURSE!!!!!!!!

agree! Being a shodan is about learning what you DON'T know about what you know. If that statement perplexes you, you're not ready to be a teacher. if you understand it, your still probably not ready to be a teacher. when you try to teach what you know to someone else..... it all becomes clear... and that is very confusing