RJCKarate

Cheers all! Whilst many new ways to engage have developed over the last 18 years, I still very much enjoy the forum format, and I read the topics here regularly.

I recognise the AFK provides sports coaching accreditation, but Australia has a variety of ways to get accredited as a coach, but the word "accredited" is the difficult bit. The AFTK, a body for traditional karate and kobudo, also provides a certification process recognised by various bodies throughout Australia: https://aftk.org.au/membership/certification/

I have a range of qualifications up in my home office - Martial arts, academic, professional. I enjoy having the visual reminder of the work they've taken, despite there always being more to learn.

I personally don't think there is a lack of interest, and in fact, I think we are seeing a rise in adults wanting to practice traditional martial arts for both their physical and mental benefits. What I am seeing though, is more mainstream sports and BJJ/MMA schools putting time and effort into creating professional studios with consistent marketing. This is something traditional schools aren't doing, and in today's age, being a 'good school, good style, good teacher' is simply not enough and it is something new students don't appreciate as they don't understand the value of it yet, either.

I always find this topic to be interesting. I operate a not-for-profit club which means that surplus made goes back into the dojo - we use it to run community events, purchase equipment, and essentially run a 'full time' dojo similar to any other commercial facility, except, our focus is community and no profits can be drawn from the funds. However, a few years ago we made the decision -- on the basis we wanted to be professional and align with how many other NFPs run -- to employ paid instructors. This meant that it rewarded them for their dedication, added responsibility that was needed to ensure we have consistency for our students, and also actually met expectations of our students (they thought people were paid) - especially me as the head instructor. I teach 15 hours a week and spend at least 10 hours a week on admin and did this while maintaining a FT job for a long time. Now, I still maintain my FT job (which is a different business I own) but with being a paid instructor, this gives me added time to give to the dojo, and ultimately benefits them. This has allowed us to grow into a fully-dedicated and purposely designed facility, meaning that we can do what we want, when we want, how we want. It gives us capacity to also preserve the cultural heritage and education my teachers have handed down. We do month-to-month fees (and we're very low - around 50% of our competitors), and no contracts. I know it's not exactly what you asked, however, I feel passionate about the martial arts and often think as instructors we undervalue ourselves, and ultimately undervalue the impact of the industry we're in. Best for the future.

I have a strong focus on adults karate and kobudo in my dojo and have around 100 adult karate students, and 30 kobudo students. I believe we've successfully hosted a strong adults roster because: 1. We focus on karate for self defence. 2. 60% of our training is partnerwork. 40% is kata, kihon, etc. 3. We give the opportunity for students to train with varying levels of contact and intensity. 4. Our instructors are taught to teach and to understand andragogy and that instructors facilitate learning while students are required to take responsibility for their own learning. 5. We have a variety of online learning resources to support them. 6. They don't train with young kids, and there are many adults to train with. 7. We run a lot of community engagement and social activities and focus on creating a sense of belonging. 8. We have a strong marketing plan in place (this is my professional day job) and our material is marketed to adults. Hope this helps!

I have a set of their kama, sai, eku. I really like both their kama and sai. I prefer my shureido sai for kumisai, but dreammetal sai for kata.

Hi Safroot, Hello from another Aussie - if you're ever down Canberra way, drop me a line and you'd be welcome to visit my dojo. As for kata, I personally really enjoy it. However, is the exploration, analysis and attempt to understand it that I enjoy particularly, rather than the practise of the solo repetitions. Kata is a mmemoric template for response that allows you to practise the applications in a kata when in your own. I think enjoyment of kata is directly related to understanding. I personally don't see the kata as a single strain of self defence techniques, but rather a multitude of short sequences designed to teach fundamental skills which can be then brought together to form something that is collectively greater - kata. Good luck on your journey with kata! P.s. plenty of styles that also don't use kata, too.

@strangepair03 I'll be in Okinawa for the second half of April. If you want to catch up, just inbox me.

All our students sign up to a book contract direct debit where fees are automatically withdrawn on the 1st of each month. We do not offer discounts based on lesson quantity, everyone pays the same fee. Everyone must attend at least 2 classes weekly. We pay our instructors through discounted fees. We have an hourly rate and instructors have that minused from their fees each month. It never goes into the positive (where we give them actual money). We're a non profit. I find this good as people still pay to learn, get paid to teach. Black belts get a discount on their fees, as they ill in when needed. We also pay for their first aid training and accreditation courses. I, myself, am not paid.

Our breaks are usually because I'm going to Okinawa. They also give me a chance to ensure my own karate is up to scratch. All our brown/black belts have a key and often just run informal sessions.

We shut up for about 3 weeks over Christmas, 2 weeks mid-year, and 1 week in April/October as term breaks. So, we generally train for around 45 weeks of the year.

It's hard to say what is wrong and right in a lot of ways. To refer to yourself verbally as many of those titles is incorrect, but sometimes it's even done in Okinawa, I often think that's because they're adjusting to western expectations, wrongly or rightly. In my dojo, I use Kancho when signing things or if asked about title. It simply means chief of dojo (building) or head instructor, and is fine to refer to yourself as, rather than Sensei. All my students use sensei verbally, some use Kancho when emailing me - I don't mind. Re teaching licences, it's absolutely fine to use it when referring to yourself in business cards, or in signatures. Nearly every single business card I have from Okinawa have their rank, teaching title, and positron (in my association, that's Kancho, fuku kaicho, and Kaicho). So signing a letter like this: John Doe, Kancho Renshi, 6th Dan Would be fine, in my opinion. The teaching licence can be written similar to academic qualifications and within similar parametres. Using "Dr" like "sensei" and using "renshi" like PhD. It's not exact, but it's ok for useage guidelines.

Congratulations to him on the promotion. Omedatogozaimashita!

I think what Spartacus has said is great, but I have a few points to note: "Shihan" is not a commonly awarded or used title in Okinawa. It would be more common to use "Renshi". For example: 5th - 6th Dan (usually 6th): Renshi 錬士 - polished expert 7th - 8th Dan: Kyoshi 教士 - teaching expert 9th - 10th Dan: Hanshi 範士 - model expert Shihan 師範 is also not just a reversed Hanshi either, and it means "to be a model", or in this context, "model instructor". Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi are only used in written form or if introducing someone like "Joe Smith, Hanshi 10th Dan". Additionally, Sensei 先生 doesn't mean teacher, it means "one who has gone before". In Okinawa, in at least accordance with my sensei, you don't have to reserve it just for someone teaching a class, or even just "your" sensei - he refers to many others with this honourary, and has directed me to do so as well: it depends on your personal relationship or feeling toward the person in many cases. It certainly isn't a rank restricted. Senpai 先輩 is means "someone who is senior". In my dojo, the kids call anyone who helps them senpai, and for our adults, it's mostly reserved for 1st kyu or black belts, but never really enforced. We use the term, San (さん, for those above (assistant instructors, black belts etc), and also often even if the person is lower, as a sense of mutual respect. In our style, our titles are issued by our Okinawa So-Honbu (headquarters) and some are recognised by Okinawan karate governing bodies, or the government. There was recently a new organisation established by the Governor of Okinawa and many Okinawa karate association leaders, I am unsure if this will become part of what they do. So, as for your question, I do not think awarding a title from a student body is something that should really happen, at least for Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi etc. However, if you're not a part of a governing body, titles like Shihan or Kancho 館長 (which means dojo owner, but usually the dojo name will have 'Kan' in it) might be more appropriate. I don't know if this really helps you though!