patusai

I too agree that the Sensei should know that the student is ready. I teach and my testing is done the way that my Sensei passed down to me. Only one day of testing, Review of all material learned thus far, all kata for the rank performed with improvement on all older kata, Kumite. One somewhat unusual thing would be a breathing kata called Kokyu ho done blindfolded while there are two instructors testing for balance, breathing tension, form, posture, etc.

There have been a number of masters who studied in japan, reached shodan and by the time they got back to the states had 7dan written all over them and it was with the approval of their instructor in japan who happened to be the head of the system. Just as a college degree is nothing more than a piece of paper that represents something more than paper the black belt is nothing more than a colored piece of material that represents something more that a black piece of material -- be is 1st, 2nd or 8th degree. Is it right that someone go from a 2nd dan to a 4th dan? It's not up to me it is up to their instructor. Really, nobody should have anything to say about it. You don't have to like it, agree with it or think that it is the sound thing to do. Back in the day, there were no 1st, 2nd...etc degrees. They had titles. Nobody skipped a title (to my knowledge) Titles and degrees are two different things. Again, it's up the the instructor...IMHO.

Poof! They're back!!

RIP

The board break trick with the egg...was it was a pine or cedar 12 x 12 board one inch thick? If you brace such a board on blocks or some other supports you can lean (or push) on the board and have it break. The reply suggesting the inability to squeeze an egg and break it...that's true too. Now if this is a thicker board or a brick that would indeed be something special. As for blocks,,,many they are dried in a kiln. Taking the water out of a brick/block make them more brital. When the block or brick is broken (especially a block) and you see a lot of dust flying it has been dried..

If a Blue belt can mop the floor with a Black belt, does the color matter anymore? I have known former street fighters who came in as white belts and could have destroyed the instructor in a fight. There is more to rank than being able to defeat anyone at any level. In my years I have never heard of anyone losing belt rank. I have heard of organizations or schools not recognizing/honoring the rank within the school or organization...for reasons related to ultimate disrespect and such things. Idon't remember how, in Japan, such things are handled. It would be interesting if someone knew that. Rank revocation may be an American things...

Depends on which of my styles: 9 in one 12 in another 10 in another

Some of the old masters taught things differently to students who had physical limitations. Talk with your sensei

Changing a system? What does that mean? If it means changing the techniques used in a few kata or adding a few kata or eliminating some kata in the original system then I would say...well...maybe I should just say nothing...

With time comes control.

There is an American reaction to the situation and an oriental reaction to the situation. There is more to martial arts than winning a fight. Martial arts is not the ultimate form of fighting it is just another way. Walking away always does wonders.

Worth? Depends. Guys came back to the states who trained for 18 months or so claiming Roku Dan. Shodan is not that big of a deal, realistically. It indicates that you have reach a point in training where you can begin learning. Even within major organizations there are problems. Sometimes higher grades are based on politics. I'm not saying always.

I believe that there are techniques that most of us do not even know exist no matter how long we have studied...but...maybe the guy that got the technique applied to simply got a shot in the groin real hard, lost control of his bladder and had to be rushed to the hospital for another reason related to the strike. It seems pretty irresponsible for someone to have this technique used on another individual in a dojo setting...I mean it does not seem likely that it was an "accident." Based on this alone I think that the technique is questionable.

3. A black belt is a master Now this is a myth. I have seen white belts (or people of the streets) beat up black belts. I have also witnessed so called masters flub up something that they are supposed to know. Yes indeed. The Shodan Level is this country (USA) is not the same as a Shodan in Japan. In this country people think (or at least use to) that a black belt was a big deal. If fact, as we all know, a black belt is a point of beginning.

ShudoKan is not an offshoot of Shotokan. Kanken Toyama's school is that of ShudoKan. In his day there were two men in Japan who had authority to promote to any rank in karate and it would be honored in all of Japan. Toyama was one of those men. He is a Student of Itosu who was a student of Matsumura. I hope that this helps. If you want more information google for "Kanken Toyama"

Maybe next year they can win the pennant again and maybe win the whole thing[ [/img]

Many Masters prefer not to be called master. For example I began karate with a guy who is not a 8th degree in another style and his students refer to him as Sensei. He does not allow them to refer to him as master. To answer your question, if the word Master is difficult for you to say to soemone there are japanese versions of respect that can be spoken---if that helps.

8 kyu system White Mukyu to 7th kyu Green 6th kyu - 4th kyu Brown 3rd kyu - 1st kyu Black 1 - 4 Black red 4 cm tip 5th Black red stripe down center 6th Red White patched 7th Red/black patched 8th 9th dan -- not sure anymore but I think it was red 10- red SPECIAL NOTE: 9th and 10th are HONORARY and only awared after death

Kilik -- very interesting site. As for the question. Ki is a life force. Who gave man life (as a Christian would answer that) and that would be God. All such things that God has given us is good. I have found that some Christians do not think highly of the art of Karate. Respectfully, we humans only use 3% of our brain capacity and about as much of the ability that we can develop from Ki. I have also read that Reiki is a strength that Jesus used. Perhaps this is not true but I read it argued to that point.

If he wants to build a rep for himself and he is going after the weakest to start with...first of all that does not do much for him. Secondly, although no consequence to you, if you loose but hold your own how will that hurt the rep that is is trying to build for himself? I once hear a guy challenge an old man in a similar way. The old man turn to him and say something like "I'm an old man you SHOULD win! But, what if you don't? What if I lose but don't go down as fast and these people think I will? What becomes of your reputation then? Either way, you lose. Frankly, he's a coward. A good solid human being, wanting to be the best would select who he thinks is the best and then train to a point where he can challenge that person. Picking on the weak makes one weaker. I have no magic move that will allow you to instantly win. Sorry. The guy's a bully and a coward. Sometimes standing up to them is enough. Good luck

Sorry, I don't buy that. There are vast differences between some systems. For example, if you wanted to consider taekwondo or shotokan ...I could talk about the differences between them and shorin ryu for a long time. I am not arguing. Karate is karate but there are many ways of performing it. There are vast differences and now that karate has come to America there will be even vaster differences within the same "style" and withing the graduating students of each style. It's been like that all along. There are many differences even within most individual systems. Look at Itosu. Itosu taught karate. His first generation students each developed their own "styles" (except for Toyama to my knowledge (although Shudokan is used to represent his training he never considered it a style) even though they learned from Itosu. Yes, some added training from other masters along the way. As for style, yes, I do refer to what I do as a style but I think I understand Toyama's reasoning...of course, unfortunately, that reasoning would, I am afraid, cause a great deal of hard feelings and arguement.

Disagreement is difficult. If it was a disagreement in Japan it would need to be handled one way since the Japanese custom of dissagreement is done differently. Since what you are speaking of is more than likely an American senior things would be different. Frankly, perhaps the best way to handle this is to see how the chief instructor at the school would want you to. I thought that Senior instructors use to cover this disagreement thing at the start. This way there was a logical and clear path to learning for both parties. Of course this was back in the day I suppose.

Black 1981

White Green Brown Black Not very flashy but it works

1) What is your favorite kata to use in tournaments (or just your favorite kata to do)? to do :: JION - ITOSU VERSION 2) What is your favorite kata to watch? KUSANKU 3) What is your favorite kata of all time? Ura Jion