NothingsShadow

If we are talking about what is the best language to allow for the best international understanding of an art wouldn't that be both the native language of the art and the native language of the martial artist. If we use our native language as we practice a martial art there is no need to learn any language just technique, if at the same time we learn a little of another language (the native language of the art) our understanding will be more global.

I would have to agree with those that have argued the point about Karate and Sensei not being English words, if you want to use only English in your training then do just that. I do personally believe that the traditional language of a martial art is an important part of the tradition for that art as a whole and those who wish to not use (or learn) their arts native language are to some extent missing some of the tradition of that art. As has been said in this thread already translating Japanese into English correctly is difficult but that's not a good reason not to use it. I'm sure most would agree that few of us do martial arts because it is easy. I have read a number of times in this forum that people believe the Japanese language is often mistranslated and misunderstood (I agree), but I believe one of the objectives of a truly traditional martial artist is to seek out these mistranslations and rectify them. Some things need to change and some things need to stay the same, the individual will decide what falls where. I personally use as much Japanese as I can, and strive every day to gain a better understanding of it as I see this as another doorway into the philosophy of Karate-do. I do get concerned sometimes by schools that seem to use Japanese terms when it suits them (e.g. titles) but at no other times, this kind of use of the traditional languages seems to stem either from laziness or ego, neither of which are traits becoming of a martial artist.

Yes I had a go at tug of war last night too and it went over quite well. I also had a go at the Sensei doesn't know anything game, I think I need to try that a few more times before they fully get what I want them to do, but it's still a great idea.

Well done on your surprise grading. It's good to see that you instructor understands that life it what happens when you begin to make plans. I have had this happen to me as well (not the MRI thing but the grading thing) and I remember feeling the same when I worked out what was going on. Good luck with your MRI.

Our dojo is similar to Sohan in that no one gets double graded mainly because the gap and skill level between each grade is large. We have only 5 Kyu grades in our system and once you get to about 2 Kyu it would normally be 2 years or so between 2-1 and 1-Shodan (normally at least 6 months between each of the lower Kyu grades).

Yes star systems work very well with kids, we have used a punch card star system in our dojo for a number of years (a card with lots of stars on it and you get them punched out as you receive them). We hand them out a little less liberally though, but the idea is the same, you get patches for your dogi and prizes once you have go a certain number.

I think the rough plan you have laid out looks good. It's a good idea to brake up the gaps between the karate sessions with something completely different (especially if most of the kids have little Martial Arts experience). A few ideas I would put in for some fun stuff would be follow the leader (outside around a playground or something if you have access) and something that I remember doing once when I was a kid on a Karate camp was Joke telling (the older ones may need to be warned to keep it clean), it can help everyone to gain some confidence and to get to know each other (if they don't already). I think the most important thing if your looking to "wet their appetite" is to make the week as fun as possible, obviously is the kids don't enjoy themself they are unlikely to continue training after the camp.

I don't think anyone has ever been expelled from our dojo. Our dojo is very tight knit (as I would expect are most), if someone did something to dishonour the dojo or themself they won't be expelled they will just be ignored, eventually they remove themselves. Fortunately we have never had anyone do some of the things some of you have suggested (like violent crimes), I'm not sure how that would be approached, that may a case were someone is strictly expelled.

Also ... I completely agree with this, and I think you have really hit the nail on the head with regard to the problems western dojo's face when using Japanese terminology.

ps1, I understand and agree with what you are saying, I don't think that you need to speak Japanese in order to successfully learn martial arts (or that doing so is any less traditional). That said if you do wish to use the Japanese terminology (this is what I meant by "Seek out the native language", there is no need to do so if you don't use it in your dojo) it is important to understand it (our idea of what a basic understanding is may differ some what). As I said a few posts above I know there are some issues with the use of Japanese even within our dojo that has stemmed from many years of misunderstanding (e.g the use of sempai and kohai and even the use of sensei). Just for the record Isshinryu_heart, in our dojo any dan grade is regarded as a sensei (it takes about 7-8 years to get shodan in our dojo with 5 kyu grades in between). In the years I have been involved at our dojo I have seen about 14 people promoted to shodan only 6 of those still actively train (not including Kancho our head sensei).

Unfortunately this is often the case but I don't see this a reason to not use the terms at all. It is up to all Karateka to seek out and understand the native language of the art they are learning (at least at a basic level) as this is part of the tradition and origan of these arts. If you do not understand what these titles mean it is part of ones training to find out for oneself.

I feel the same way. Although our dojo's do charge some grading fees in the lower grades and our training fees have slowly increased over the years (to keep up with our local council trying to bleed us try) but even with these things in place the rewards I have received from my training far out weigh the minimal cost.

Five years training in one style is unlikely to be that useful when it comes to adapting your own style (especially if you are looking to improve martial arts in general not just your own fighting ability). One reason martial artists train under high level sensei is because their sensei has trained for many years under his sensei and his sensei under his and so on. Hence the style has evolved from one sensei to the next with the assistance of the many years of experience of the teachers of the past. By branching off at such an early stage of your training circumvents this process and instead of further strengthening an already good thing you would essentially be starting from scratch. If you really do wish to apply your style to the training you have currently done and don't wish to continue in the traditional vein then DokterVet's idea is probably a good path to take as it will give you some hands on time to try out your style and ongoing contact with other martial artists.

"You cannot forge a strong body with a weak mind, you cannot forge a strong mind with a weak spirit"

I agree that $6000 is ridiculous but not unheard of, I have heard of a few dojo's that have grading fees this high. I think you really need to look at what your grading fee is getting you. Some smaller schools don't have the resources to grade above shodan, hence they may need to bring in instructors from interstate or overseas to carry out a grading, this costs money. That said a can't see that the cost of importing several instructors from the other side of the world (which is about what $6000 would get you) should fall to one student who is attempting shodan after 3 years with the dojo. This is obviously a farce and I personally would start looking for another place to train. Fortunately in our dojo there is rarely the need to import high level sensei to sit on grading panels so our grading fees are on a sliding scale. They start at about $50 for your first grade and by the time you get to shodan your gradings are free. This is because the more time you put into your training and the more you put into the dojo the less you need to support the dojo financially. Our dojo is a non-profit dojo and any fees collected are put back into the running costs of the dojo. The lower grades contribute financially, the higher grades contribute with there experience. That said everyone pays the same training fees.