bushido_man96

I can relate to him. When I test for my next rank, 4th dan, in our organization, it is the Jr. Master rank. I'm excited to test for it, but don't really know that I would be worthy to be called Jr. Master.Good luck to your instructor, as well!

We do the same basics set in every class. It does get monotonous, but most of the basics we do is how they end up being done in forms. Its a great way to get that muscle memory set up, and it makes teaching the forms much easier.

Thanks for clarifying this, everyone. I was waaaaay off.

Hehe, I'm at a point now that it seems all I have is patience. I can't train as much as I used to, so I just have to accept that patience is going to be a built-in part of my training now. And I've never been a terribly patient person... At any rate, this is a good post. When we are young practitioners, in both senses of age and experience, it is easy to see progress, because we really only think about the physical progress. Its easy as white belts to see how much better our side kick looks when we become yellow belts. But, as we become higher dan ranks, and get older as a result, we don't see those steps we are making as readily, and that is when many don't see improvement. At this stage, its important to actively seek improvement through very minute nuances, breaking down every little thing, over-evaluating at times, just to simplify something. That's when improvement comes at those high ranks. At least, I think so, anyway. I'll let you know for sure when I get there.

Mine, too, Bob. But, the holidays do cause that. Next week, I should be back into it. I have the same concerns as you. 3 kids, wife, 2 dogs, and a job with a rotating schedule make it tough to get to class at times. That's why KF is so great; its my supplemental mind training.

No, no, Bob! That's not what I was thinking at all! Its just something I always keep in the back of my mind when discussions of this nature arise. Its like reading Funakoshi's The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate, and then deciding that you have take everything Funakoshi said and adhere to it word for word in order to do Shotokan Karate. They are great principles, and each deserves its own amount of study and attention. But, I also think its important to not delve into the hero worship of every old master and feel it necessary to live as they did. I just don't think they are all that much better at life than I am. So, after reading and evaluating such precepts or ideologies, its important for everyone to compare and contrast each ideal or precept along with how they live and what they believe, and decide which fit their way of thinking, which don't, and which are worth considering in making one better. Hope that helps. I would never accuse you of forcing anything like that on any, Bob. But tuite, you did force that on me, rather abruptly, I might add..... (what a great time!)

I think the main issue is that there are already some out there that claim to have learned the Ninjitsu art, and are somewhat suspect in their attitudes, claims, challenges, etc, and those are the things that stick out in many people's minds. But, I will say, if someone can't be designated and heir, doesn't mean that they can't attempt to keep the art alive, or at least what they do know of the art, alive in some way of their own, and still keep Ninjitsu in the MA realm in that way. I agree with you, tg. Its these guys that you don't hear much about that could really keep the illegitimacy that others spout clear for the rest of us.

I think that probably came from not really knowing if they had a side they stood on or not. It sounds to me like their skills may have been for hire in some cases, like a mercenary. Some people hold viewpoints of what an "honorable warrior" is, and if the ideals or methods of the Ninja didn't fit that ideal, then I can see where the "eviiil" connotation comes from. For the record, I don't agree with it, either.

That's unfortunate, Bob. Pictures are great for memories of where we came from, and they mean a lot to us. They really can say a lot. What I would do if I were you, is start anew with photographs you have now, and begin photographing new events and classes, taking pictures of those important to the hombu NOW, and build your memories up again. I do recall that you should have a picture of a couple rather dapper individuals that could adorn your hombu walls......

You could talk to the instructors, if that really bothers you. But in the end, I think its your choice to decide which you want to do and which you don't. I think instructors get possessive of their students, and instead of a "cultural" thing, its an ego thing.

Don't forget that the "blocking" hand is ALSO suppose to prevent the attacker from re-engaging, thus, the attackers hand(s) are out of position, which stalls the attackers transitions and the like. These are good points to consider, as well. Thank you, gentleman.

You learn, you train, you analyze, you train more, and thus, you learn to train, and train through learning. To talk shop and philosophy is a good thing, I think. But forcing others into an ideology is not. Regardless, through training and personal experiences, along with individual values, morals, and ideals, everyone really puts together their own on the way.

You are very welcome.

Well its good that you have a leg up, then. Most people don't realize how much is out there.

Yeah, that really is too bad. I'd almost be inclined go confront the guy about it, just ask him exactly what it is he tells his students about your school's program. I'd do it in a professional manner, after hours if at all possible, but I'd be interested in hearing what he would have to say.

Thank you, Patrick! This is really a great thing going here, and its so great to be a part of it!

Hello everyone. I wanted to take this opportunity to say Happy Birthday to Patrick. He's always done such a good job of making sure to recognize everyone that does their part in making KF such a great place to visit, and he's always so good at deflecting praise and credit away from himself, so I thought he deserved this mention on his birthday. Thanks for everything you've done here for us, Patrick, and I hope you have a Happy Birthday!

I think about the defensive capabilities a swordsman would have, as well. As opposed to a block and counter, from what I've read, most of the blocking motions are a cut at the same time. At any rate, a strike with a solid stick like that would hurt. You are talking about half-swording here, right? That looks like a lot of fun. It also looks like some of the quarterstaff style I've read about, just with shorter sticks.

I'd be nervous about it to, but I also think it would be worth checking out, just to see how it works. Who knows, maybe one could glean some new scheduling ideas from it.

The problem is that most people don't realize how much of themselves they put out there. If you have a navigation app on your phone, then you are broadcasting your location via GPS. If you "check in" everywhere you go on Facebook, then you are basically advertising your whereabouts all the time.Google yourself or check the phone book, to see if you are in there. Its interesting what you can find out about yourself on the internet.

I can see why your instructor did what he did. Kind of clever, too. Didn't change a thing, except some belt finagling. At the same time, its too bad he decided he needed to do that because of the other dojo. As an instructor, I have never tried to convince anyone that they should come to our school as opposed to another. I'd kind of wonder about the other instructor if he is spouting that stuff to the other kids, or if its just the kids coming up with it on their own. Just remember, talk is cheap.

Thanks Bob. Its good to see you again. I hope you are doing well! If I recall right, the word uke actually means "to receive" rather than "to block." Just with this nuance in mind, it alters the way I see some applications happening that I was using blocking for.

This what I am inclined to go with more than a two-arm blocking action. There is actually a segment in our Yoo Sin form where we X-block low, bring it up a high to an open-handed X-block, and then we twist the open hands around the wrists in a grabbing motion that would seize into a wrist lock. From there, I'd be inclined to look at the level the X-block goes to, high or low, or mid section. So, I'd be inclined to think that a high level X-block may be indicative of a lock like Shionage, where the attacker's arm is taken over the shoulder, and a mid-level or lower X-block may indicate something more like Kotegashi. Those are just some thoughts, though. I will keep this in mind, too. In Rob Redmond's book, Kata, The Folk Dances of Shotokan, he makes references to this idea of kata using similar movements to link back to each other. I also try to consider the moves in front of and behind a move, and also any kind of turning motion involved. Lastly, I really try to reference guys like Stuart Anslow and Iain Abernethy who really spend a lot of time on this stuff. Thanks, tallgeese. I will try to do that. I hope I really get to work on some of this a bit more, at least maybe before class with some other students so I can kind of test it and work with it. If I ever run a school again....oh, the changes I'll make!

Good job to them!

We don't do Sam Il, to my knowledge, unless its the 5th or 6th dan form; I'll check when I get back to the gym. How you describe it makes sense.