jaymac

I don't ever recall any one situation where a student needed to be demoted. Prevented from further testing until said behavior has been corrected - yes. I think with children, bad behavior can be corrected without permanently stripping rank. In our school, as I assume in every other Martial Arts training facility, students line up by rank. Taking the belt away from the child for a temporary time and having them line up with beginners has been affective for us. Once they prove they can behave, they can again wear their belt and line up appropriately. With adults, disruptive behavior calls for expulsion at our dojo.

But correct me if I'm wrong but it seems by your post that your instructor doesnt even allow questions durring the actual class? Is that right or have I just overanalyzed what you said or something? Oh, he allows questions. Once he has stopped talking and we are practicing, if we have a question, we raise our hand and he comes over. Still, we do not just shout out the question. Usually he will then say to the class, "so and so had a great question..." and he will explain. No we do not talk out. It is a very large class, and if people were talking and interrupting while he was teaching, there would be less time to train because he would be waiting for the room to quiet down or have to explain himself every few minutes.

I too was not always gung ho about sparring. I like it, but I really enjoy kata and self defense. Then I realized a few years after my training began, what even controlled sparring was doing for me: reaction time. I can't believe how my reaction time to strikes coming in at me has improved because of sparring. Sure, you are probably thinking that "Well yes, under controlled circumstances." No, in real life, I have avoided several punches and strikes thrown at me from non practicing individuals. I work in a busy ER and unfortunately we have to put up with alot of mean individuals under influence of alcohol, narcotics .... I have not been hit square on in any vital area because I got out of the way and was able to get the individual under control and to the ground.

This is a very good posts, with alot of good advise. In a situation where you are being grabbed by a man, having a distracting manuever like poking the eyes, jab to the hollow of the throat, kick to shin, knee, groin before doing a technique is good to have, being that men are stronger than women. A crazed man grabbing you is even more strong because he has adrenaline rushing. This is in no means to say women are weak, they aren't. But training in class is different than defending yourself in a real situation. Now for the other. In our school, my instructor does not tolerate anyone talking out in class while he is teaching or talking, no matter what age or gender. I noticed he lets some things slide (slightly) with new students, but once they have caught on to how things are done, watch out. I would say that a day will come for you when he no longer tolerates arguments.

I really have mixed feeling about what MMA should be called or represent. I enjoy watching Ultimate Fighter, and I enjoy watching the matches. Some of these guys trained for years in one or more types of Martial Arts, boxing, and/or wrestling. Here is where I think it begins to change: They have schools opening now where you just go to learn to become a Mixed Martial Artist, so these new students arent even spending quality time in one or more styles, but many combined. Never learning the why's or how's behind a style. These new students aren't learning the respect or discipline one learns in a quality martial art school. Their goal is to learn how to fight, win matches, and not have respect for the person you just beat to the ground. But this is where I see Martial Arts heading. There are less and less traditional schools out there, and more competition type schools emerging.

I remember in the past, some people talking about the Contender. I for one love the show. I caught on ESPN (I believe), a Contender competition between the USA and the UK. 6 previous fighters from the show were handpicked to represent USA under Sugar Ray Leonard. Right now the standings are 1 - 1. If anyone is interested, it airs Tuesday nights at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN 2. This coming Tuesday is Alfonzo Gomez fight!

We always end class with some fun form of exercise that involves using their Martial Art skills. We really rarely have problems with students acting out. If we do, it is usually newer students who haven't caught on in a disciplined atmosphere. (No I don't sit down brand new students, I do give them a couple of weeks to figure out how things are done and what is expected of everyone ) I have visited many schools who do not keep a disciplined atmosphere and do not use positive reinforcement. It reflects on their teaching and on the behavior of children and adults alike. It's usually chaos with periods of learning MA. I am a nervous wreck just watching it take place.

Thanks bushido, I know that alot of people do not like schools with contracts. I think they feel it gives it a McDojo type of classification. I too thought this at first years ago when I joined the school I was with. I sat down and read the contract. It wasn't long or too involved. It basically was a legal document protecting the owner. He at the time was trying to really develop his school and make it his full time job. He has done so successfully. The contract remains the same. Unfortunately, we all have to protect ourselves from legal actions in many ways, including contracts.

Sonic, sounds like you are getting some good experience. I am responsible at times for conducting classes of 15 - 20 6-9 year olds. I don't have time to allow children to speak out. If I lost control of the of the dojo to children who speak out, they would never learn their requirements. The students (children and adults) are required to stand in an attentive stance when not training. If I have an individual who is speaking out - I point to a child who is not and say "Thanks for standing like that and not talking out." Usually works. I do not hand out push ups. If we are having races, I let the kids pick team names and cheer for each other. If one or two of them are acting out, I have them sit out. I usually allow them back in after they watch how much fun everyone else is having, but I always ask them if they think they can behave while participating.

I agree with ps1. Have you read your contract? I know our contract basically states we agree to pay a certain amount for so many months, but the majority of our contract talks about not holding the owners responsible if an injury occurs due to our own unsafe training... It is just a good business idea for someone who doesn't want legal problems of any sort, not that my instructor would have that kind of problem, but people sue people for anything these days.

I think as we go through life, our mentors change. There are always people who we look up to, ask them questions, and want to be like them. I look up to my own instructor when it comes to Martial Arts. He is very good at what he does. But being 35 year old, I can't say I really have any others. I just try to do my best everyday, my own way, and be the kind of person others may want to look up to.

I believe that comparing ourselves to others happens everyday in every situation: work, school, home, and the dojo. It doesn't mean that we feel superior to anyone, it is just a way to look at ourselves and try to be or not be like the other. It is a way to better ourselves.

I would sit down and talk with your instructor. If you are unhappy with the program, he/she knowing you have ranked in another style, may allow you out of your contract. They would rather not have bad publicity from their students. By the way, the legal fees involved in trying to get money from someone who bailed on a contract cost more and is more hassle than just letting them go.

Your Pinan Shodan is the same as our Heian Nidan in Shotokan. I really do enjoy that kata and if it is your strongest, you should stick with it. I did perform Heian Yondan (pinan Yondan) for tournament at 5th kyu and took first with it. Both are good.

Of course when I had a kyu rank, I thought getting black belt was quite the achievement. What a special night it was too, getting that black belt tied around my waist by my instructor. Now, I see it in a different light. There is so much I have learned since receiving that rank and so much yet to learn. As a serious student, I think Black Belt should not be the ultimate goal, just a stepping stone in the journey of training in the Martial Arts. Night Owl, i remember those days year ago. I achieved black belt in a school where being hit by your instructor was a daily thing. We never used gear, black eyes, broken noses, and messed up shins were the norm. Training every day for 3 - 4 hours was my life for years. My black belt earned then and my black belt earned now, still mean the same to me. I just have less broken bones.

A police officer came to our dojo once to talk about this subject. He said everyone has the right to defend themselves, but you have to prove that it was in self defense. He said, if someone comes to you and is trying to hit you (no weapon) and you inadvertantly kill him with Martial Arts, you can be charged with manslaughter. If this same guy had a weapon and was putting your life at risk, it would be a different scenerio, but one you would still have to justify use of excessive force.

I agree alot with what bushido man said. You are doing a great job at yellow belt by the way. Remember to always keep your guards up. Try not to look at the bag as being your target, instead look through and past the bag. Hit as though you are trying to go through that bag and hit the man holding it. He will be OK. Nicely done anyways, and way to go with asking others to critique you. Criticism is hard for some people take, but by doing so, you will become very good at the Martial Arts.

I was just thinking about this the other day. I don't know how good I am, but I do think that over all these years of training, I could defend myself in a situation if need be. I am only a Nidan and hope to continue to learn from my instructor. He is an amazing teacher/fighter/Martial Artist. I still believe I haven't even tapped into the knowledge he has about our style. I believe I am good a kata and at reaction time to incoming strikes. I need to improve on being more aggressive in class.

Thanks Night Owl and he really sees everything! I just wonder how he hears everything too.

NICE!

Marie, I have had that happen to me before. I was working with someone close to my rank at the time, (I think 4th or 5th kyu). This student acted as if I was completely out of control with my techniques, crying out in pain. It couldn't be further from the truth. Finally, I spoke to my instructor, not in an accusatory manner, but just saying that I do have control and have never had complaints by other students when working with them. He said, " Notice all the mirrors I have on all sides of the dojo, I see alot, I know what is going on. Continue to be patient. " I did as he asked. When I went up for rank testing and the other did not. It was explained by the instructor - "Well, it seems you are having trouble blocking techniques and constantly being injured. Learn to block the strikes and you can move up." Wow, did that work in a hurry. All in all, talk to your instructor.

I think this is a great topic and I see what you are asking. Yes in ancient times, those who practiced Martial Arts were not always honorable. They would go out deliberately looking for fights - and fights that I might add that resulted in death. I do not think it was until Martial Arts became accepted and taught in schools that it turned its bad side around as good. Instructors like Master Funakoshi demanded respect, honor, and nothing but 100% given by all his students. Martial Arts has come a long way from ancient times and is ever changing. These days, I believe it is up to the practitioner himself/herself to decide whether they train with honor and respect or dishonor and disrespect.

The styles are not the same. You should be respectful to the other students and the style you are learning. You do not have a black belt in kempo, you have a white belt.

I do think at times in a class setting, kids need to fight adults or larger students. One it is good because their striking areas have to change for a larger person. Two, it is good for the older student to learn control, and take the role as the teacher in a sparring situation. I still stick with my guns that an adult student should not spar children in a test, especially if parents are watching. They didn't come to the test to see an adult black belt student "kick the crap" out of their kid. They came to see their child do well and get a new belt. We all wish we could say that a child could defend themselves against anyone. But in a real life situation, if an adult is trying to attack a child, we hope that the child can use his MA skills to quickly get away from his attacker/abductor and get help. Not stay in there and spar him.

I guess I don't feel the need to write down kata. I think it is great that it works for others, but not for me. I do write down all my self defense techniques, but kata is different. To me, I feel each Kata can be interpreted in so many ways. To put it on paper and study it like studying for a test, takes away (for me) the art form of the Kata. I love to practice them over and over and imagine the different bunkai that can be used. Practicing Kata takes me on a different level of my training, one I cannot make concrete by putting it on paper.