bushido_man96

This is how I feel about this situation: Do you still call your doctor Dr. Smith, or do you refuse to recoginize his station? What about teachers? This is how I view the master title; it is a station achieved in the MA community, and it should not be offensive to anyone of a religious manner.

I would strike with the part of the arm measuring from just in front of the tip of the elbow, to about 3 inches up the forearm. In my experience, hitting anything with just the tip of my elbow hurts like the dickens.

Sounds like a good time. Sometimes we need to get back to the basics to truly understand what we have learned.

I don't believe it can be put any more clearly than this. Bushidoman96, if you wish to write on something, you must first define it. Every orginization has a definition of what their "masters" are and what they know. If any orginization gives the title of Shihan/ Master/ Pendakar or whatever, without a definition of what skills and qualities that person should posess, the title is meaningless. If one, as several have already pointed out, defines master to mean perfect...or even near perfect...than it is something unachievable for all except God. And I know one thing for certian in life...I'm not God. Perhaps your article could be one of comparitive research. You could do research on what major orginizations require for their "master" ranks and compare them from there. For example...I saw someone posted saying a person should be at least 25 yrs old. That seems kind of young to me. Most 25 year olds have lived very little life to be wise enough IMO. In the Kwanmuzendokai a person must be at least 35 before earning godan (the rank associated with Shihan in that orginization). I think an article of this nature would be extremely interesting. Thanks This is a very good point that you make. I think writing this paper would be very difficult. There is an article in this forum on one man's journey to becoming a master. I loved it. I may not need to say more.

I would like to point out that there are other bad MA schools out there aside from TKD schools. The problem with the ATA is that the organization has franchised, making ATA schools like McDonald's stores. Sometimes, you eat at a bad restaurant. The ATA is like this, because it is so large. When I was in, I had great instructors, and they all were very technical and strict about being prepared of a test. My current instructor has a saying: There are no bad martial arts, just bad instructors.

You may not think about wearing your black belt to the class, but the instructor may want you to. You never know, he might, or might not. Never hurts to be prepared.

I noticed your SCA note. I have had some experience in the SCA style of swordplay as well. We really just use a simple stance with the lead leg about shoulder's width in front of the rear. I do find their ruleset very limiting.

This is a good point. What ever happened to the schools that just had KARTATE painted on the window?

Make eye contact with the students, and speak just a little louder than your normal tone usually carries. That way, everyone in the room can hear you, and you won't have students asking others what to do. One more important thing: smile, and have fun. If they see you enjoying yourself, then they will have fun, too. If everyone has fun, then everyone comes back. Another thing that I do, after I teach a class, is thank everyone for coming. I don't necessarily do it at the end of class, but I do it after everyone has changed, and they are making their way out the door. They will appreciate it.

Another good thread from Sohan. All very true. Just a side note, but I think we all would be extremely entertained if you ever took a day trip to the zoo!!

You are right about politics...they cause so many problems within good MA organizations.

It is none my business, but what happened? Kudos to your instructor for sticking by you. An orgainized group of individuals like that can be intimidating.

I met my wife at TKD; I was a 1st dan at the time, and she was a green belt when we started dating. I say, go for it. Just keep it professional in the class setting.

Sometimes head instructors are like this so that the relationships with their students stays professional. It is difficult when they become buddy-buddy, and then the instructor has to reprimand them in class.

I don't think mixing striking and striking is a bad idea. You will get to experience a couple of different philosophies. Also, striking in TKD is different than striking in Karate. Why not experience both if you can? To give you a suggestion, I would consider boxing as your striking art, if you are looking for one.

When Gracie fought, it was style vs. style. Now, the sport has evolved, and everyone in it that is competitive knows how to strike, kick, and grapple. If he has not enhanced his training, then he going to get trounced. Personally, I am cheering for Hughes.

I would go with my instructor. In fact, my current instructor, for reasons I will not name, had flirted with the idea of breaking away from our current organization. However, he is on good terms with the Grand Master, and they talked and made some changes to hopefully better the organization.

Yep. And that is all technique, my friend, all technique. Aodhan Doesn't the bulk of punching power come from the triceps (along with technique)?

With my current workout, the last set of 1 rep that I do is 260 lbs. My 3 reps are with 240 lbs. I have not done an actuall max out testing, these lifts are just part of a workout that goes 8-6-6-3-2-1-4 -- those are the sets.

Wasn't Yip Man Bruce Lee's original intsructor?

Bruce Lee. Bar none. Also, training with Joe Lewis would be unbelievable.

On the intro to the Bruce Lee collectible anniversiary Enter the Dragon video, they referred to him as the Asian Shotokan champion. Of course, that was in '73 or '74, I think.

Not sure where you would find them. Those would be a treasure, wouldn't they?

I think san shou is set up like kick boxing, but also scores points for throws, but does not allow ground fighting. I think low kicks are allowed, but I am not sure. I think some guy named Kung?? is the dominant figure of the sport right now.

Thanks a lot, everyone. I didn't think I would see that award any time soon. This is an awesome forum. Kudos to the site administrators, and Patrick.