bushido_man96

This made the rounds several years ago. I'd say if you've got the time and money to put into it, then heck, give it a go. I don't imagine the degree you get will be worth much more than a glorified instructor's certificate, but that doesn't mean the training wouldn't be worthwhile, either.

It does sound kind of fishy. I think your best approach would be to start tracking down AK instructors and ask them if they know anything. If they don't know anything, ask them about any other instructors or even class mates they had that you could talk to. Who knows where you might turn something up. Good luck in your search.

That's pretty cool! Hopefully, we all get to watch that unfold. Rather recently, for better or worse, Ronda Rousey has made a significant impact on the Martial Arts world. I'd also have to second Nidan Melbourne's thoughts on Iain Abernethy with his work in applications, and that of Royce Gracie's impact on the MA world in the '90s, and the Gracie family in general.

You've been in my school before, Bob, and you know it has mirrors. I do think they can be great training tools, but at times, they can be used overmuch, and cause more issues than they help. I like to have students check things in the mirrors from time to time, so they can relate to some point I'm making in regards to technique, but I don't want them to get overly dependent on looking in the mirror to check their technique all the time. They need to develop that kinesthetic awareness, and so they have to wean themselves off the mirrors. Another problem with the mirrors comes mainly from the kids, who like to watch themselves in the mirror while doing basics instead of focusing on the targets they are supposed to be striking. That is the main issue with kids, anyway. But with all that said, the mirror can be a useful tool when evaluating technique, by an experienced practitioner who knows what they are looking for.

Congrats!

Sword. Always wanted to learn to use a long sword.

That is always the hard part training them in the same techniques but with and without the prosthetic. The people i have worked with have managed to learn without the prosthetic then in their own time had figured out how to do it with the prosthetic. This was all before their next class That's real dedication there. Very cool.

My current org doesn't have any codified methodology to training instructors. In our school, 1st dans earn the responsibility of teaching teaching orientations, and 3rd dans over the age of 18 should be instructing classes. Unfortunately, there really isn't a process for bridging those gaps. One thing I'll say about the ATA is that they have a great instructor development program. They have various levels, like junior trainees for those under 18 that want to help with classes, trainee instructors, who stand at the head of a class with a head instructor and actively work the room to help with warm-ups, technique, etc. As an instructor trainee, the head instructor also logs the hours spent assisting in classes, and a trainee must accumulate a required number of hours (1900 last I checked) in order to apply for instructor certification. Once they meet the hours and the rest of the requirements, a trainee becomes eligible to attend instructor certification camp at the org HQ in Little Rock, AR.

Great work, just getting yourself out there to do it! Keep it up!

Welcome to KF!

1/26/2016 Strength Training: 3x3 week Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x2, 135x5, 165x5, 195x5; work sets: 220.5x3, 252x3, 283.5x7. Deadlifts: 160x10, 160x10, 160x10, 160x10, 160x10. Defensive Tactics Club: 1:30 - 2:30 pm. Worked with one of the guys on kicking, doing lots of front leg and back leg push kicks holding the kicking shield. Also worked on front leg and back leg round kicks. On the front leg kicks, we worked on stepping kicks, and also on not stepping. 1/27/2016 Strength Training: 3x3 week Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 85x5; work sets: 98x3, 112x3, 126x5; assistance sets: 70x10, 70x10, 70x10, 70x10, 70x10. Assisted chins: 135x10, 10, 10 (supersetted). Lat pull-downs: 130x10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (supersetted). Barbell curls: 55x10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (supersetted). Defensive Tactics Club: 1:30 - 2:30 pm. Today, I really decided to test my buddy's level of dedication: I worked with him on side kicks . We did some work lying on the ground first, the using the wall for balance, and then did some good ole-fashioned floor drills. He really liked the feeling the next day.

Sounds like a good choice! Keep us posted on your progress!

Sounds like a good class! Teaching your own kids can be an experience, to say the least!

Luther, please feel free to share your videos of forms here. I love to see the differences. I appreciate the input, as I'm just going from what I see here, as I haven't studied these forms exclusively.

Makes sense, probably a good move on their part. Now, I wish they'd rebrand the sparring a little...

Speak to your CI [Chief Instructor] to ask for MORE kumite time, starting with the most basics of kumite within your style. Imho, a style that steers away from kumite is so out to touch to any reality. Spar...spar...spar...spar...spar...spar...ALL OF THE TIME!! I agree. At the rank you are at, I should think you should have done some form of sparring by now. Especially if you plan on attending tournaments. Why don't you spar in class?

That's pretty cool!

We went to a big tournament in KS the weekend of 1/29/2016, the Salina Tournament of Champions. Its always a huge tournament, and I heard there were 1500+ kids there this year. One of the things we like about going is that it is a very challenging tournament, and we usually end up seeing what some of the competition from the eastern side of the state looks like. Kendall got to see just that. He competed in a 6 man round-robin format, so he wrestled everyone in the bracket. His first match was a tough loss in the second period, getting pinned. He was really frustrated with the loss, because in the first period, he thought, and I thought, he had the kid pinned. He had the kid on his back for a while, and I thought his shoulders were down for sure, but I guess the ref saw something different. But, we talked through it, and determined to not let that match break the day. His second match was against a really tough opponent, probably one that could end up being a state placer. Kendall really wrestled him tough, and did a good job of working from the bottom. He got shut out in points, 5-0, but went all three periods and didn't get pinned. So at this point, he is 0-2 for the day. Match 3, Kendall came out and got a win. He wasn't very aggressive on his feet, but he ended up getting a takedown and a pin, running one of his favorite go-to moves. This kid was 2-0 up to that point. Match 4, Kendall got another win against another tough opponent. This kid, I watched early on, and saw that he really liked to ride an ankle, and really liked to twist the knee around as much as he could get away with. But Kendall was able to get out of the bottom from him in the second period, and got him turned and pinned, evening his record on the day at 2-2. Match 5 was against another talented kid, and I really think Kendall just hasn't been aggressive enough on his stand-up wrestling lately, which costs him at times. He made it to the second period with the kid, and scored some points and did some good things, especially working off the bottom, but he ended up getting pinned in the second period, going 2-3 on the day. So, although he was somewhat disappointed, he was close to going 3-2, and at the end of the day, he placed 3rd, a very respectable finish at a very tough tournament.

Switching stance takes some time to get used to. Years ago, I made the switch to spar southpaw most of the time, and recently, I started using more orthodox stance. So, I guess I'm re-getting used to stepping back with my strong side. Its a good way to keep you thinking in your training.

I don't really like the idea of relegating most of the Martial Arts practitioners in the world to merely "hobbyist," but based off the definitions filling in here, that is how most of the practitioners in the world would end up being labeled. But I don't think it has to be a career in order for it to be considered more than a hobby, either.

What a challenge that would present! I would experiment with different options on each technique, and see where it takes you. Have you thought about doing the techniques without the prosthetic, as well?

Truly mastering teaching is learning how to teach the same thing in different ways, so you can hopefully make a broader range of students understand the same concept. Its about taking different roads to arrive at the same destination. Sometimes, you have to really make them just work lots of reps to get something down. Other times, its breaking a technique down into component parts and finding where the issue is, and working that component. And other times, you may need to have another teacher or peer take a look at what they are doing, explain to them that you know what they need to fix, and ask them how they would do it. Each of these can help you nail down what it is that helps the student "get it." Last of all, it just takes longer sometimes for one than it does for another, and we, as instructors, have to be patient with them to really help them out.

Welcome back, Hawkmoon! 1/22/2016 Strength Training: 3x5 week. Deadlifts: warm-ups: 135x5, 165x5, 195x5; work sets: 208x5, 240x5, 272x7. Busy day, had to get in and out of the gym.

I wouldn't lay off classes to work on increased flexibility. Your body will gain flexibility with work and training over time, and its going to be best for you body to gain flexibility by doing what you want your body to do, like trying to kick higher. Know your limits, and work to the extent you can with them. Then, know how to push it just a bit more to improve.

Yes, check out both schools. Watch a class or several of each, and try to speak with the instructors about their classes, what they teach, what their goals are, etc. Do your best to gather as much info to determine which school lines up better with what your MA goals are, that way you can make an informed decision. Welcome to KF! Let us know which one you decide to go with.