bushido_man96

This is great teaching methodology. I think I just adopted it. Thanks for sharing!

Yes, yes, I second the motion. Mas Bunkai, por favor!

We use the black belt with the white stripe down the middle as our recommended belt. We call the recommended black belts 'skunk belts.'

First of all, I think your Sensei should have went to bat for you. Secondly, this is the typical political power trip that tends to happen so often in the martial arts community. You have some options, but you may not like them. 1. Talk to the former head man, and see if, firstly, you can talk to each other on a rational basis. If the two of you cannot, then the process ends here. 2. If you can talk, find out what his intentions are, and if he plans on leaving again. In my opinion, the martial arts is not a 'come and go as you please' endeavor. Stability is nice. 3. If all else fails, and you feel that you have the experience, rank, and capability, take your style and start your own dojo. This is kind of a last resort, and may sound kind of harsh, but if I got dumped by my Sensei, and was taking the brunt of persecution from the 'former' head guy, I think that my welcome may have unfortunately been worn out, and choose to leave.

Would that be like Bunkai applications? I am interested in seeing it!

The problem I had with the chucks is that I would hit myself in the back of the head, and then, for some reason, the chucks would just throw themselves toward the floor, in a very violent manner. Don't know why......

Oh, yeah......Brutally honest, sometimes. It is the naivety that is refreshing, isn't it? I had an experience the opposite of you. I shaved my goatee and mustache (not that it was much to begin with) when I applied for my new job, and one of the chief instructor's little girls told me that I looked so much younger. I have the curse of the baby face!

This is how it is done in our school, and in some others I have seen as well.

Yes, good point here too.

It’s great to take a break from the formalities of class every once in a while. One school that I taught at had a Black Belt night every Saturday night. It was by invitation only and didn’t have any structure of any kind. We just kind of paired off and worked on whatever we needed, discussed teaching/training methods and ended every night with some vigorous sparring – the type that can only be done with other consenting adult Black Belts. We have around 8 or 10 black belt adults at our school, and a few high brown. I would love to have a class like this, but we don't as of yet.

I loved that book! I can't remember where I put it though. Might have to go searching for it. Anyway, to clarify for those who haven't read it, the purpose of the story was this, when he asked how long it would take, the master gave him a figure. When he asked what if he trained really hard, this illustrated to the master that he had completely missed the point, and would therefore, never become a master due to focusing on the wrong things. Thanks Jiffy. I knew someone would know what I was trying to say. That is a great book, a perfect compliment to The Karate Dojo by Peter Urban and Secret Tactics by Kazumi Tabata. Are these books listed on the Library Sticky?

You make a viable point here. However, one thing that will help in a fight is the transitional phases of the stances, enabling us to keep moving and not tangle up our feet.

Nice. Good points.

Hey, that's good. I like that analogy.

When most people hear TKD, they almost always assume the Olympic stylists that just show up and do sparring drills all class long, and churn out black belts a la the McDojo. Not all schools are like this. Mine is a 'traditional' school, for what passes as traditional anymore.

Is that sarcasm I detect?... There was a black belt at our dojo who got his second dan at the same class I got my first. He didn't put his second stripe on for a month or so, and then one day, he got to class, and my sensei gave him a new belt, this one with two stripes sewn on, and told him, "Wear this - you earned it." So I guess it depends on one's instructor. Although, when I told him I wasn't going to wear rank, he said he respected that. Maybe he just likes me more...hehe No, no sarcasm intended.

I find that using the blocking-bats, with the thick, padded areas, are great for this exercise. Heck, the kids think it is fun.

matsumura passai passai dai passai sho bassai dai bassai sho tomari passai i can't think of anything else, actually i am looking at this list ,i can only see 2 main kata Matsumura version and Tomari, i am sure TKD guys have their own version of Bassai too, what do they call it? I know some TKD schools use bassai dai as one of their forms, but I have never seen it or learned it. As far as I know, it is still called Bassai Dai.

That sounds exactly like my TKD classes, to the T, but with not as much self-defense, and more one-steps. My TKD classes are similar as well, especially when it comes to being very picky with proper technique. The difference is that we focus on only one or two aspects of our training in each class (be it forms, basics, sparring, kicking, self defense, etc.) The schedule rotates so that each class will work on a different aspect every week. I think it's just the way the scheduling goes. We sign our students up to come on the same day(s) every week so each week we can give our full attention to whatever is scheduled. I've heard a lot about how TSD is more traditional and TKD is just for sports, etc. but I've competed and trained with TSD guys, and I can't find much of a difference at all. It seems to follow the same logic as any other MA: different instructor = different teaching style. I agree with your comments here. Our TKD class is very 'traditional,' I guess you could say. We are not a sport oriented style at all. My instructor is very technical, and very big on being prepared for testings and such. We do go to competitions, but he makes sure that we are willing to compete both forms and sparring.

That's great!

You would be surpised at what you might be able to contribute here, even as a beginner. Look forward to seeing your posts!

This is the best attitude to have. Don't worry about the others. When you are rteady to advance, the instructor will let you know. Five3 months isn't vaery far into a lifetime journey. Heck, it probably isn't even the first mile. Just relax, sit back, and enjoy the journey.

You're a funny one!! I admire, that, too. If you can tell in my video, I wear no rank, other than black, too. Not that I have much to show off, but if/when I do, I still won't. Humble one, you are.

I pivot my base leg on the front kick. It only pivots about 45 degrees; not very far, but it gives me a better kick. My instructor doesn't pivot on the front kick, but he has had several knee scopes, so I like my way.

I remember years ago when I started in the ATA, there was a group of between 10 and 12, maybe 13 of us. Something like that. Only 3 of us tested for 1st degree together. And, to my knowledge, I am the only one remaining from that group. I was a certified instructor and a 2nd dan, and they were both out of it. Now, although in a different organization, I am going to test for 3rd recommended in April.