bushido_man96

Well, I guess it'll be time to break that book out again, and do so. A question for everyone here with Sanchin experience: if I were to look up some videos on YouTube, which would be good ones to reference?

It may not seem so, but I think it's probably a good thing that the CI called out Zach. I wouldn't say it's being harsh, but it is being direct. There comes a point when the younger students need to understand that they are very much the one's responsible for their training, and how important it is to take it seriously. They need to take ownership of it. They either do so, or they eventually fall out of it. It's encouraging that he took note of the CI's words, and has been hitting those make-up classes. Good for him. Hopefully, he runs with it, understanding that he can set an good example for other students going forward.

My sensei has always said that Gradings aren't just a reflection of the student but of the instructors also. So for me, if an instructor fails a student because they haven't failed before it just looks bad on them (the instructor). I feel the same way, too. As an instructor, if I don't have a student ready, and I let them test, then that's on me as much as on them.

1/23/2023 Monday, which has become my "big day" of training. Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 195x3, 245x5, 245x5, 245x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 122.5x5, 122.5x5, 122.5x5. Lat Pull-downs: 120x10, 120x10, 120x10. Squats were a bit annoying today. The bar kept rolling around on my back. 'Twas irritating. I was also having issues with my adductor flaring up, but I think I fixed that on the last set. Press is still feeling good. I'm trying to fight from adding in too much layback until it starts to get heavier. Added lat pull-downs back in without any issues. I made a point to hold each rep at the bottom of the pull for a second, and this really helped me to put emphasis on the lats. TKD Class: 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Traditional Class. Only two students again, two orange belts. I helped teach this class, and sat and did a little stretching towards the end while they were doing one-steps. They were really responding well to feedback, and making adjustments as they went. 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Black Belt Class. I did two run-throughs of Choong Jang prior to class. The first one was a more laid back run, but still with some pop and power. The second run, I really blasted out the techniques. I was winded at the end, but I really liked how it came together. In class, we warmed up with Do-Kangs 3, 5, and 6, and then spent time on three-steps 1-9. I really need to get more practice in with these, even though I don't like them very much. Choong Jang hyung count: 27 Total hyung count: 56

Hopefully you can work out the cost. That would be great training. I got the book ordered, and it has shipped. Should be here next week.

Nice numbers! The secret to pressing is keeping the stress high, and having fractional plates. Being able to increase the load by only 1.5 lbs per workout will help to sustain gains for a long time. The other secret, is lots of pressing. Good pressers are pressing at least three times a week, if not four. I can't bench press worth a darn, due to a prior shoulder surgery. But I can press without issues, and I get lots more enjoyment out of pressing overhead than I do bench pressing. Every bro at the gym benches; I want to build a press that makes their eyes wide. 1/19/2023 Half hour of treadmill...and reading a TKD book. 1/20/2023 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 195x3, 240x5, 240x5, 240x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 120x5, 120x5, 120x5. Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 165x3, 225x2, 260x5, 260x5. Shoulders are still feeling good. Almost misloaded the press today.... Snatch deads are still going up. Grip is holding, and I like the feeling I get in my lats.

This was awesome to read. Have you read The Way of Sanchin? I bought the book some years ago, mainly because of how much I saw Sanchin popping up here in the forums. I read it and enjoyed it (I've enjoyed many titles by the author, Kris Wilder), but I've never undertaken the endeavor of trying to teach myself the kata. Perhaps I should?

Sweet, I am ordering that either tonight or tomorrow!! Thanks for the link.How costly is it per month, Zaine?

That whole not being allowed to cross train malarkey is infuriating. The idea of waiting to call a student up to test and then ban them in front of everyone, after taking the fees, is a new level of low.

Thank you! Before things went south on me, I was close to pressing 200 lbs for singles. That's where I want to get back to. I'd like to have a 225 lb press, and work it up from there.

I would highly recommend reading the book, DP. However, it doesn't necessarily explain much more! Physical mastery through internal reflection. But both physical and spiritual aspects are required.

Ooh, this is great. I've got a whole bunch of manuals here at home in my library, and I'd be happy to try to study a little alongside you, Zaine. I don't know that I'll ever get to the physical performance steps; I just don't have the resources around me to do so. Is there a certain manual that you are working through right now? Is there a version of it in print? Let me know; I'm always looking for excuses to buy more books!

I agree. As an instructor myself, I would find a point of pride in the fact that my students would always be ready for testing.It has seemed, in my experience at this school, that the CI has always had the final say on testings held at the school. At the HQ school, it's a little different. I knew of another incident, quite a few years ago, in which a young student went to test either for 1st dan, or as a 1st dan, at the HQ school. The CI wasn't happy with the attitude this kid was having at the school, or his effort levels, or something of that nature. At any rate, after being back from the testing, when others got their promotions, this kid didn't get his. CI told him he didn't pass. Well, the dad was a bit miffed by this, and contacted the HQ school to find out the results there; turns out the GM had passed the kid, as did the rest of the testing panel, I guess. Needless to say, the dad was not happy, and shortly thereafter, the kid quit. I don't know if that was an instance of "when I get certain rank, I'm done," and that was the CI's issue, or if there were severe attitude problems at class and that was the reason for failing the kid. Those are issues the GM and the rest of the testing panel probably weren't aware of. But, the CI should have either shared that information with the testing panel, or should not have allowed the student to test at all, and spoke with the parents about what the issues were.

1/18/2023 Strength Training Deadlifts: 135x5, 185x5, 255x3, 325x1, 350x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 117.5x5, 117.5x5, 117.5x5. Deadlifts were feeling pretty good...and then after finishing my work set, I got my buddy that works at the gym to come count the weight; I misloaded my work set. It was supposed to be 360...curses! But, I was able to keep the weight from floating away by getting back into my heels to start each rep. Last rep was the worst of them. My shoulders were feeling really good today; not really any lingering pain from class or lifting on Monday. I did a couple of test pulls on the lat pull-down machine, and I will be adding that back into the routine next week. Didn't make class tonight. The weather was starting to get nasty.

$75, but they get the next uniform, too? Not too bad, compared to what I've seen.

Congrats Montana!

I agree, the issues with this approach are embarrassingly glaring. It was really frustrating to hear that this happened.

1/16/2023 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x3, 235x5, 235x5, 235x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x4, 115x5, 115x5, 115x5. Triceps Push-downs: 65x13, 65x13, 65x13, 65x13. Decent session. Got back to the limited ROM triceps push-downs. TKD Class: Traditional Class: 5:30 - 6:30 pm. No one showed for this class, so I used it as my own training time. Sat in the sauna for about 10 minutes before class, and did Choong Jang 3 times throughout the class time. I took a middle section of the form, which has some tricky stance work in it, along with a round kick done on the ground from one knee, and did quite a few reps of that section. Also spent some time in The Rack. Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Warmed up with Do-Kangs 1, 3, and 6 (two reps of 6; still learning it). Had 5 rounds of sparring afterwards; two with kids I tried to help out, 1 with a big kid who is taller than me now, and 2 rounds with the adult black belts there. It was my first time sparring in 2 months. It didn't go badly. Choong Jang hyung count: 25 Total hyung count: 51

I agree as well. As in any form of human achievement, there exists the law of diminishing returns. Some people, based on genetics, have higher ceilings than others that aren't so lucky. But, in order to reach that potential, the combination of genetics and hard work have a huge affect.

That sounds like a school making lots of money on each belt testing.

I envy your, Zaine. I'd love to be able to work with something like HEMA. I've got a whole bunch of books on various styles of sword fighting and other medieval weaponry. It would be just a blast to do. Go for it. I look forward to your posts.

That's another thing that bothers me here. The instructor assumes that the student has never dealt with failure because they have never failed a belt test. Most of life happens outside of the school. The teacher likely has no idea what that student has gone through. Agreed 100%.

Hitting PRs can be quite enjoyable.

Awesome job!

Heard this story in class the other night. One of the adult students, who is going to be testing for 2nd dan soon, has a son, middle school aged kid at the time, who was told by our prior instructor that he was going to fail his testing; can't recall if it was for 1st dan recommended or decided (I think it was for decided). His rationale: "he hasn't failed before, and I want to see how he handles it." The parent mentioned that he lost quite a bit of respect for that previous CI at that point; I can't say as I blame him. He initially thought he was kidding about it, but the testing came and went, and the CI failed his son. Personally, I think this is a bunch of malarkey, and the CI's justification for it was bunk. Seeing how a student reacts to actual failure is one thing; fail them on principle is quite another. I find serious integrity issues here. If the parent would have dropped both him and his son from classes at that point, I wouldn't have blamed them. Luckily, the kid responded well, they stuck around, and ownership changed. I wanted to vent about the situation a little here, and see what other's had to say. Personally, I'd have been furious, and probably would have neglected to keep my mouth shut on the matter, regardless of an preconceived notions of rank and respect. In my eyes, this was an abuse of power.