tke010

Honestly, don't know what I would have done in that situation. I'm very protective of where I train. But, talk is cheap!!!! Looking at it now - aftyer its over, your assistant instructor handled it very well. Being called a rookie from a stranger, no biggie.... I would have done the same thing, ignored the comment - keeping an eye on him until he left. If he tried to break something or attack a student\instructor, now he's gonna get hurt....

Rateh - good point! I don't do this all the time, kids will be kids, and we as martial arts instructors need patience. But each time you group exercise You politely give the same speech (each time) explaining that "since several of you cannot behave like martial artists, you cannot train as such. You can get injured with martial arts if you do not pay attention. Since you do not know what i just said and since i trying to prevent injury, enjoy the squad thrusts." Some of my good kids had a talk with the others to get in line, its working for me. Hopefully, it can work for others. On several occasions, I have had a few students (who were behaving properly) stand in the front of the class with me watching the others do squad thrusts. When they finished, the ones doing the squad thrusts kneeled down and I began teaching the ones that were standing with me. That worked really well. Another thing I do that has worked well for me: I tell my kids that I am trying to treat each one of them them like adults, but if they fool around I have treat them like kids again. I also expalin that kids who fool around do not get promoted, because they are not mature enough for their next belt. I then break that class into 2 groups (adults and kids) The adults get the normal lesson, while the kids get to work only on 1 pinon (their first form)

I love teaching Kids. Repetition is key for children. I got all emotional when I took 8 of my kids to a local tournament (the school that ran the tournament was a totally different style than Shaolin Kempo) and each kid got at least one trophy that day: (several other instructors also came up to me stating how impressed they were with this and that...) 2 - 1st place trophies 3 - 2nd place trophies 5 - 3rd place trophies Each kid running around with their trophy. Moments like this makes teaching kids 100% worth all of the time, effort, and patience needed.

I find that Squad thrusts\jumping jacks work better than push-ups. I don't consider it punishment, Its all exercise to me A martial artist needs to be in decent physical shape (including kids) if you are teaching and a couple of kids begin talking. stop class and make the entire class do 20 squad thrusts. (start with 100 jumping jacks making a different kid count 10 each) Squad thrusts: Have one of the higher belts count them out and to ensure that everone stays together. if not, restart the count back to 0 until everyone does 20 properly. Explain (each time) to the class that Martial arts is an Art, not a game and they can get hurt by not listening. Since they were unwilling to listen and to prevent injury, aerobics (squad thrusts\jumping jacks\sit ups) will be done instead. After they finish the 20 squad thrusts, ask the class if they are ready to learn martial arts or do they want to do another 20 squad thrusts. (someone will mouth off, make them do it again - they are quiet the 2nd time). They are now tired and quiet. class is restored. This gets the kids that really want to learn to help keep the others in line. This has worked really well for me. My kids are much better now. (this can also be used if the kids act up before or after class as well, just make sure you follow through with what you tell them they will have to do the next class, if not it loses its effectiveness)

You need to ask yourself what you want out of your style\ dojo \ Instructor? (self defense, sport, cardio,...whatever it is that gets you to train...) I stopped into several martial arts schools and talked with the Instructor(s). I got a really good gut feeling at my current school (instructor(s), other students, style,...) and stayed. (I'm never leaving ) I have been training there for over 6 years now

If you can't walk away.... 3 on 1 odds are bad... possible danger of being killed.... strike the throat, gouge the eyes (i had a cut cornea once, put me out of commission immediately, ...imagine squishing an eye ) do what you have to protect yourself to get away.... if you know your gonna be going to the hospital, at least take one with you....

I would pay for this fight! My vote is Rogan. But, I would probably root for Blade, I mean Snipes

I was disapointed in the fight. I knew Ortis would win, but I expected a better showing from Shamrock. Does anyone think, from what you saw, did Shamrock even re-watch his last fight? I think he watched it, but he should have trained against what Tito did to him in fight 2. IMO, Shamrock was not there to fight, just get the payday and help UFC keep fans happy. Shamrock letting go of the grudge was the right thing to do, but watching Tito make fun of him at first was great. Watching the Camera people not letting Shamrock out was very funny too The other fights were much better.

elbows_and_knees, I re-read your posts on this and began to really think about kata last night. Thank you for that, lets just look at kata just from a fighting aspect. Kata is used to train muscle memory (no mind - mushin). After many repititions, you no longer need to think which moves comes next - the kata just flows naturally. (beginner belts get the form with one set of techniques, which is then practiced many times over. After some time, that same person re-analyzes that same form [maybe visioning new techniques not displayed in the beginning] This person then practices the form many times over, but with the newer vision of techniques.) In an actual fight, you do not have time to think what move you will be doing next. you will just re-act (using moves from kata)

Wheeze, Thanks! mine is also a Christian dojo. I'm gonna use the parent control card. Here is one of the worksheets I have already used: (I forget where the questions origianlly came from, but i changed some of the answers to fit my students) (let me know if i should post the other ones I have.) Common Sense Circle the best answer about using common sense when it comes to self defense. 1. Which is an appropriate place to use karate? A. At School B. At Home C. At Church D. In karate class 2. When should we use karate? A. If someone calls us a name B. When someone bumps into us C. If a stranger tries to hurt us D. When brothers or sisters are bothering us 3. If someone really makes us mad we should… A. Call them a really bad name B. Walk away and take deep breaths and cool down C. Punch them square in the nose D. Talk bad about them behind their back 4. If a stranger approaches us we should… A. Accept candy from them B. Get in the car with them C. Keep our eyes on them and get away as quickly as possible D. Flying side kick them in the belly 5. When we get good at karate we should... A. Show everybody at school by beating up on people B. Practice self control and save it for the karate class room C. Punch or kick holes in the walls at home or school D. Play fight with our friends 6. If a bully is picking on us we should… A. Punch them before they can hurt us B. Put our fists up and make a warrior face C. Get in a self defense stance and tell them to back off D. Get a group of friends to help you beat them up Below write what you think it means to be a Black Belt. _____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

Wheeze, thats sounds really good. I'm Interested to know what is on the bully\parent cards. With your permission, i might like to copy that. Currently, I ask each kid what they have done for their parents prior to bowing out of each class. about once a quarter, I send home a parent questionaire with each child (the parent signs it) asking the parents if their child is displaying black belt qualities. then i have a bulleted list of yes\no items, such as -does your child talk back when you ask him\her to do something? -does you child do his\her homework? -are you satisfied with his\her grades? -does he\she practice Shaolin Kempo at home? ... I read them at home, if anyone answers no, i take class time to have discussion about black belt qualities.

This depends on what you are teaching at the time. if you are just teaching the meaning for the kata, then you keep the moves of the form the same. if you are teaching a move, and then someone asks you if that is what a piece of the kata they know is, then you yes\no and explain the move and why the modification. I teach bunkai to my kids. Once the kids (10+yrs old) know what the moves are for, they forget them less. The younger ones can't remember, but they like watching the techniques being explained each and every time. the explanation also allows the younger ones time to kneel and rest.

I use kata as a tool to identify different ways in which people can attack you and the technique used to defend against it. Kata sparks thought about a technique that then needs to be trained. I see what you are saying, but I myself enjoy the experimentation. (makes me think). I jst don't want to lock myself into just 1 way of thinking. sometimes a throw could be better in a situation than strikes.

good luck in your journey. I became a TKE at Kean University, Union, NJ (I think in 1992) But, I live in Princeton. how bout you?

I love Martial Arts - Shaolin Kempo!!!!!! I enjoy Kata! kata is not as simple as it seems. Kata is very, very deep! At first, you just go through the motions trying to learn the moves of the kata. Then you analyze the kata more and see differnt strikes that were not obvious. Then you teach it to someone else. As you explain a move or 2, a new explanation of that moves appears (example: its not really a srike, but a throw) you then explain both ways. Then you discuss your new observation with the balck belts\higher rank students and practice the move to see if it would work or not. you may need to modify the move to make it work for you (differnt body types). kata breakdown with different training partners has helped me identify pressure points, throws, chin-nas that were not initially obvious. maybe some of these explanations were not the greatest techniques, but they caused me to re-think what i am doing (what else can this move be) quick example, 1 pinon in Shaolin Kempo is not blocks and punches, its all throws. look at the first kata you have, analyze the blocks, the punches, and the turns. how can this form become all throws,think about it....

To me, the longer it takes, the more its worth! just enjoy the moment, enjoy your current belt level-whatever it is, try to continuously improve your basics. you will eventually get one. what is a black belt? a white belt that never quit. True Story: A dad walks in where i train with his kid who is a 2nd dan black belt (10 years old) in a different style. The dad and child are upset that he keeps losing in sparring tournaments. After a class, my instructor explains to the dad that he is fighting way above his level. dad and child left, never to return.

another fun activity for the kids. cut a fun noodle in 1/2. need 2 square focus mits. need 2 foam pad helmets. have each kid put on the helmet, place the focus mit on their weak hand (pad facing towards the knuckles, like holding a shield), the other hand holds the fun noodle like a sword. its just like sparring, 3 points get the win, no head shots, stop them if the swings look like they are toward the head or seem too aggresive. points are awarded if the strike the arm, body, legs only. the kids learn how to block, how to make an oppening to stike the arms\legs. its fun to watch as an adult. it actually showed me a way to attack with an escrima that i never thought of (or atleast thought it wouldn't work) that was cool! The move is hard to explain, but here it goes: opponent at end of ring (like against a wall and can't escape) (my kids are not allowed to go out of the ring) shoot the head with the blocking forearm, place escrima (fun noodle) through opponents legs (escrima being held in the middle with each end behind opponents knee) then forearm strike towards opponent, knocking him down. this was something i really never thought of when training escrima.

about 7 years ago, a buddy and I competed in a poorly run tournament in Manhattan. got there at 8:30amsaturday morning, competed at 6:30pm. had about 20 people come out and watch both of us (friends and family) About 5:45, my buddy was doing a leg stretch and ripped the back seam of his GI pants (the entire seam busted open displaying his boxers) Everyone in our group witnessed the ripping of the uniform and this was even greater bonus, The ring next to ours was women's forms 17+, they heard the rip and began to giggle too. no time to buy a new pair of pants and change, he competed with his aired out GI Pants. (He did not want to competed, but the group demanded he fight because they were standing around for almost 10 hours. i cannot write how funny this was, or all the commentary from my buddies ) He did not perform well. but what a great story. lost his first point sparring bout, and then immediately changed.

A really good book - describing the pressure point names, where they are located, how to attack them, what damage they cause - is the Pressure Point Atlas, which can be found on http://dragonsociety.com/catalog/ The gooseneck lock can be devastating, but there are people out there that do not feel pressure points on their wrists. In that case you will need to just break there wrist by using more power. (but be ready for the consequences of this - jail, being sued,...) If you apply any lock, and it looks like its not working, immediately move to something else (a different lock, a strike, a kick). Also, be ready for your opponent to counter your lock attempt, you never know what the other guy knows... I have been to over 15 of the DSI Pressure Point Seminars, they are great! If you can get to one, I recommend you attend.

you are very lucky a biker brawl did not break out. I think that eneded the best possible way, the other guy leaving. Many bad things could have happened.... People situations very differently. Some biker could have attacked you when trying to appologize, thinking you were picking on him... then his buddies jump in... (that would not end well...) you definitely need to apologize to your sensei!!!! if you see the guy (you hit by accident), you should apologize to him as well. but, if not - just let it go. stay humble. and please try and think before you attack the next guy at a biker event. glad you are safe and not arrested. what is the statue of limitations on assault?

Does anyone hand out worksheets (on topics such as kindness, fitness, listening to parents, obesrvations, bullying,....) for kids to do to get prizes (such as stars for their uniform)? I am considering doing this, would like to know if it works well or not? Is there a website\book that contains premade worksheets that i can use? (don't want to re-create the wheel on this...) Thanks in advance for any information regarding this.

My insurance is by Martial Arts Group, Inc. it is located in North Lauderdale, Florida. They are easy to work with.

One of my friends who is a Black Belt in Shaolin Kempo actually wrote a novel about a Hero who is a Shaolin Kempo Instructor. I am not a big reader, but I have ordered this book, Point and Shoot by G.D. Baum, from Amazon. I am amazed that I now know someone who has actually written a published book, but I am more amazed that the Hero is a Martial Arts instructor. I am looking forward to reading this book. I know most movies are based off books, but are there any other good books like this one that is worth recommending. also - If you read this book, please post to let everyone know what you thought of it. I will post my thoughts once I finish reading it.

it's a tie between devil dogs and tastee cakes. this just got me in the mood for a devil dog, going to get one right now...

Chuck norris has a pretty cool cartoon.