Shorinryu Sensei

I think you're right on the money here KenpoMike. If you already have a background in the art, video's can be of help..but not if you're a beginner. As for promotions via videos...they're as good as the paper they're written on IMHO....which isn't much.

To wake up each morning with a pulse! Hey, at my age, that's a pretty good goal!

I'll just assume that you mean being promoted via sending in a video of whatever it is they are asking you to do...correct? I've not really been promoted that way, but I do have sent video's to my instructors in the past. Livinbg where I do, and my inability to travel to work with higher belts makes it difficult to have someone check out what I'm doing, so now and then I will make a video...unedited, of my class and send it to someone more knowledagable than myself and ask for a critique of it. So far..so good! lol As for video promotions...I'd say that if you can test "live" in front of your sensei, that is always the best chouice...but if you can't, then video is the next best option. If I had a student that wanted to test this way with me, I would require the video to be unedited, and only allow the camera to be stopped once during the process...that way you know they aren't cheating and re-doing the actions over and over again to get them right.

A general rule of thumb is...Don't believe 95% of what you see in martial arts movies as being "real" martial arts. And just in case you aren't sure, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren't real.

Shawn...you've seen WAY to many episodes of KungFu Theater I think.

Keeping in mind that every situation is different, and every person is different, all I can speak for is myself. I would only attack first if there were more than one person attacking me, or if the person was larger than mem, or that I knew that person had extensive training in some sort of art (ie: boxing, karate, wrestling, etc). I've been in a number of street fights started by the other guy, and I've found that if I stick to my training (what I've learned), it works very well as a defensive art. Twice I have have been able to nail the person as he draws his arm back to throw a "haymaker", and each time I had the pleasure to see him falling backwards on his butt with his arm still back in a chambered position. For the others I've had to fight, shifting your body while simultaniously blocking and throwing a counter has worked well for me. It hasn't failed me yet.

I'm just taking a wild guess here, but you're 15 years old...right? Judging by your spelling mistakes (I used to be a school teacher), my first suggestion would be to master the English language first so that you can communicate your intentions, thoughts and philosophies to others more effectively and by doing so, gain their respect and trust. Secondly, what is your background in the martial arts that makes you think you are qualified, or skilled enough to start your own style? Have you mastered at least one system by training in it 20...30...or even 50 years? What legitimate rank have you earned, and in what systems? This is just a fraction of what you need to start a legitimate new system and then to be able to promote it IMHO.

Personally, I'd recommend saying nothing. They're doing TKD...you're doing Shorinryu...'nuff said!

Nobody's going to see that post anyway *I hope*

Many moon's ago in college, I had to take a Rhythmic Dance class (don't even THINK about commenting on that please ) and for our final test we had to do a dance of our own design to music. I was a brown belt (ist Kyu) at the time, so I did a "dance" with my sai to the tune of the old Clint Eastwood spagetti western music of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Trying to find that music might be a trick...check your local library..that's where I found it in 1978. Oh..by the way..the instructor of that class loved it so much that she had me do it for the entire class instead of just privately for her (as everybody did)..and I got an "A" for the course!

Can somebody please translate this for me please so maybe I can offer him some advice?

Okinawan Shorin Ryu if available. If not, just about any other Okinawan system is good. Personally, I'd recommend avoiding ANY Korean art if you want to learn effective self-defense and weapons...but that's just my opinion.

Why wear either? You're not going to have them on under your jeans on the street are you? Get used to the pain...it's our friend!

I'll just add my 2 cents in here for the heck of it. To me, I have ALWAYS felt the martial arts are for one thing only..and that is for self-defense purposes. Basics, kata, sparring, drills, breakfalls...EVERYTHING has its purposes in the area of self-defense IMHO. With that in mind, we drill constantly on different self-defense scenerios where you maybe be fighting one...two...three or more opponents at a time...with, or without weapons. We learn use our environment to our advantage, whether it be a tree, chair, ashtray, bottle, stick, handful of dirt, car or whatever. I contantly tell my class "Envision yourself fighting someone" when they do kata, and I have student "attackers" attack with true force...not wish-washer weak attacks. We learn to defend against hard, serious strikes. We practice being attacked by baseball bats, other clubs, chairs, knives, pistols and rifles (at close range of course). Yes, it can be done if you know what to do. I leave the long range firearms techniques to the Ninja's to mess with.

Just to clarify, in the USA there has NEVER been anywhere that you were "licensed" as a deadly weapon, or to "kill". That's pure *. States and couintries will vary, but as a general rule you are allowed to defend yourself and yoru home with "reasonable force". Reasonable means that you don't use any more force than is necessary to defend yourself. Now, if a guy pulls a knife or gun on you and you kill him...that would be considered reasonable on the grounds that you were afraid for you life. if you were a 5' tall, 890lb woman and a guy 6'5" and 300 lbs attacks you...even bare handed...she could draw a bun and shot him dead, as that wou;ld be considered "reasonable" in that circumstance. Now take my situation. I'm 6'6" tall and weigh 240lbs. I have multiple black belts and 30 years of experience. In an empty hand self-defense situation, I would be expected to be able to control most situations that would arise in the area of my own self-defense against an unarmed...which I, personally, think is total *. There are many, many people out there that can kick my butyt...and I know that full well. But in the eyes of the law, they won't see it that way if I kill someone without actually being in fear of my own life.

With more and more experience, everybody will find the spot works for them. With that said, where I teach my people to looks is right in the center of their opponents chest. NEVER look at their eyes because some people (my sensei was good at this) can fake you out or intimidate you with their eyes. Plus looking that high will make you miss their feet. I can guarantee that when we get within leg reach of each other, my front foot will sneak up very quickly and nail you in the groin while you're busy looking at my eyes. You won't see it...but you'll darn sure FEEL it! If you watch my hips, you'll miss my backfist coming t you, as we strive NOT to turn our hips. It's a clear "telegraph" that something is coming...as we work very hard at not telegraphing out techniques. They're on you before you see them coming is the goal. Watching my feet will get your nose broken, teeth knocked out and eye blackened...period. Looking at the chest, but not focusing on it will allow you to see both hands and feet, plus where their body is moving to....as we move at angles mostly.

since your origional question has been answered it seems, and the thread is already wandering a bit..this is my philosophy on safty equiptment for sparring. Next month (January) I will have had 30 years in the arts. During that time, I can count on one..maybe two hands, the number of times I have worn a chest protector, mouthpiece, groin cup, hand/foot pads or a head protector. We spar at 3 different levels. 1. Tournament "tag" type sparring, or light contact. This is to practice speed and accuracy. All techniques are expected to be full speed and power...but pulled short (within an inch or two) of contact to the head and groin, or only the lightest amiount of contact. Medium contact is allowed to the body. 2. Medium contact is the same, but with more contact allowed to the head and groin areas. Body contact gets pretty hard at times. 3. Full contact sparring with what we call "Bogu" gear. This is Okinawan full contact head and chest protection. Since it is full contact, the groin isn't targeted during this type of sparring, but you MUST make hard, heavy contact to the head or chest areas to score a point. We don't always call points thoyugh and just acknowledge a point by your opponent when it's obvious that he knocked you across the room with a technique. Takedowns and grabs are legal in every sort of sparring we do, as are low sweeps to the ankle. My philosophy is that on the street, you aren't going to have all of this nice protective gear, so you'd better learn to avoid or block strikes. Amazing enough, ain all those years, I've never had a serious injury in my class. Plenty of bumps and bruises and the wind knocked out of you..but nothing that they didn't take and smile about later.

Actually, I used to tell my people that they were testing...not that they could test, but have changed that method in the last year. What I do now is when I determine that they are where I think I want them, to be...I make a point of looking at them more closely than usual and essentially, test them, during normal practice. If I feel they are where they should be for the next belt, I "surprise" them with a certificate at the next class..."Congrats..you're promoted!"

In may travels around the world and visiting other dojo's, I've seen a HUGE difference in skills at the same belt levels. Generally speaking, I'd put my own students against any others most of the time in a equal rank street fight. Please understand, I'm not chest beating here, but rather I have very high standards for my people, and they know it. They earn each and every rank that they get from me. That's probably why, in the 26 years I've been teaching, I've only promoted 4 people to black belt. They don't get it until I know that they know it....and know it well.

Invisible? Yet another God-like story starting about the old masters. As others have stated...more likely being in one spot when an attack comes, shifting the body (turning "invisible") so that you're not there any more, and then attacking your opponent form a different position. He did NOT actually disappear! People that perpetuate this sort of nonsense need to be smacked briskly about the head and shoulders.

Being loose and relaxed when you throw a kick or punch is the best way to increase speed..and thus power, in a technique. The arm or let should only tighten just a moment before impact. As for breaking bricks...try a sledge hammer. It's much easier that way.

It shouldn't shrink more than once. You don't want it dragging on the ground...maybe 2" above the groudn or so. Make sure you wear it and kick a few times to see if the waist slips at all. My first gi was about 6" off teh ground, but the rest are around ankle height now. Personal preference. There is no set rule on the length.

I used to work o nthe track department of the Furlington Northern/SantaFe railroad and put a lot of that track together. Trust me bud...you do NOT want to go the bullet train speeds on that track! You'd be lucky to survive the first decent turn.

Peace on earth...Good will towards men...and a Harley!

If you're not sure how to do it yourself (I wouldn't do it myself), I'd suggest taking them to any seamstress. She will no doubt cut probably 4 inches off the bottom (you may have to wear them so she gets the measurement right) and make sure she understands that there needs to be multiple rows of thread on the bottom, not just one, as they are going to be taking a lot of stress from kicking and grabbing during workouts.