Shorinryu Sensei

I can't argue with that logic, and I agree with you. A knife fighter can only come at you from a limited number of different directions, whereas an unarmed person can come at you in many more directions. We practice defenses against an attack with a knife from high, low and mid levels, and against stabbing movements and cutting movements. Granted, my "attackers" I have in class aren't trained "knife fighters', nor have I seen any systems in my neighborhood (or state) that do teach that particular art, so it's very possible that I'm missing some sort of attack that I haven't been able to visualize so far. Without actually seeing how a trained knife fighter uses his weapon, I can't really say whether or not what I know is sufficient or not. I do believe, however, that against a typical, untrained knife fighter, what we practice would work quite well. And yes, I realize you don't have to kill a person if you strike with a knife. However, just like a gun, you take that chance if you pull it out to use it. There's people on this planet I really don't like, but not enough that I would want to try to kill them, or take the risk of doing so. Wellll...maybe a couple. With that in mind, the first thing I teach my people when fighting a weapon is...DON'T IF YOU CAN DO OTHERWISE!

OK...here's mine. Trapping -- Shorinryu (incorporated with tuite) Standup grappling --- Shorinryu (called tuite) Takedowns --- Shorinryu (called tuite and others) Ground grappling --- Shorinryu (probably weakest point though)-also tuite. Stick fighting --- Shorinryu (called kobudo) Knife fighting --- Got me here. We do tons of defenses AGAINST a knife attack, but we do no offensive techniques with a knife. Really, I see no reason to learn how to kill somebody with a knife, since I'm not planning on doing so anytime in the future.

That's entirely possible I suppose, but unlikely. I've seen black belts that I wondered how they had enough skill to tie their belts..no kidding! I think the only person you're fooling is yourself however Teal. You can watch video's, read book's, hit a heavy bag intil your body is bruised and bloody, and that doesn't mean you are developing any skill because there is no one there to correct bad technique and teach you how to get the most out of your training. How do you do judo without a partner to practice the techniques against? You can't...simple. Or sparring and self-defense techniques? Again, you can't. If self-training is what you want to do...I say go for it Teal. But don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to get anywhere up near a black belt level in your lifetime doing this. One day you may have to actually use these self-taught techniques in a real situation, and you might just find out that what you have been doing, just isn't going to work. Good luck.

OK, so it sounds liek your sensei is getting away from the competition aspects of her art, and more into what it is designed for in the first place. For me, I applaud that...but that's jyust me. If she is doing this because of financial reasons, then you have to understand that. Does she make a living from teaching her classes, or is it a sideline to her normal daytime job? If she's trying to make a living at teaching, you have to respect the fact that bills have to be paid (unfortunately). Have you talked to her about still teaching the competition stuff...but on the side perhaps? It might be slower going, but you said you've been doing this for "a number of yearrs", so I would think by now you should have just about everything down...or could continue on your own?

OK...so your sensei has switched emphasis of the class from competition...to syllabus work? I'm familiar with the word syllabus...but not in the context you're using it. Could you please define what syllabus work is? More self-defense oriented? Practical? And why did she switch her emphasis? Did she give you a reson for the switch?

Can you be more specific? What do you mean your "coach" won't support you any more in competitions? What "other stuff" does she want to concentrate on? Squad class cancelled? What's a squad class? Basically, if you're not satisfied with the class any more, regardless of anything else, then yes, it's time to move on.

Personally, I'm not going to do it. Why? Look at what the Olympics has done to both judo and TKD since it was introduced into the Olympics. Combat judo schools are few and far between, as it is primarily a sport now. And Olympic TKD? What a joke if you ask me. I would be afraid of karate, whichever system they chose to form their rules around, would suffer more than it would benefit from an introduction into the Olympics.

Thanks. Nice to know I have a black belt in shooting the bull, huh? A dubious honor?

Personally, I wouldn't use sand because it will sink to the bottom and become rock hard eventually. I've always bought unfilled bags myself, and filled them with clean rags. You can usually get good, clean rags for free...or a minimal cost..at the local Salvation Army or other thrift store in your area. Make sure they're clean, or you're going to end up with a real smelly bad down the road! You can wash them yourself of course, just make sure they are totally dry before you put them in the bag or they will mildew. Also, go through the rags before you stuff them in the bag and remove any buttons, zippers or anything else that can rub against the bag material, as this will eventually rub a hole in your bag. As you kick/punch the bag, the rahgs will start to settle, and you will need to add more rags to the top of the bag. Eventually, the bag will be quite compacted and hard. If it's to hard for what you're doing, all you have to do is dump the contents of the bag on the fkloor...and start all over again repacking it. Liek I said...I'd pass on the sand. You don't need it, and are much more likely of making a mess with it.

From some of the tournament participants uniforms that I've seen, some people think that the more patches you have, the better you are. This is a question you need to talk to your instructor about. Personal;ly, I don't allow any patches other than the association one.

Oh heck guys...look at what we have here. The decision should be obvious! You have a school aged young man here in conflict between two different dojo's, and says that he likes them equally. So..what's the problem? Go with the one that has the best looking GIRLS in it! OK OK...seriously now. One of them has to feel better to you...even just a little bit. One of the instructors perhaps, is better, or that you like better. Or the other students? It really shouldn't be that tough to decide.

Short and sweet...you can't teach yourself anything major in the martial arts from a book or video. You need and instructor. Period. Chances are, if you walk into taht dojo and tell the sensei that you have trained extensively on your own from books/video's, he'll smile and say "Show me". That's what I'd do. Personally, I'd recommend just joining the dojo of your choice, keep your mouth shut about outside training, dive and and learn. If what you've studied does you some good...GREAT! I think you'll find however, that it won't.

You sound like a Home Ec Teacher here bud.

I've probably had a dozen (give or take) people come into my dojo claiming all sorts of rank. One guy told me he was a "master", and wanted to take classes from me. HUH? When I asked him why, he told me he had doen many "covert" operations and there were a lot of people looking for him, and he wanted to train and hide out in another school. Then he asked if I needed an assistant instructor...he was available. I said "Well, let's see what you know first", and ran hinm therough soem very basic techniques. Stances, kicks, punches, etc. Brother, this guy was BAD! Another guy came in claiming a brown belt in soem Japanese system I've never heard of and asked if he coudl start out in MY class as a brown belt. He couldn't furnish any proof of rank, his sensei's name or number..basically...nothing. So, I told him no.,,he had to start out as white belt like everybody else. You just have to humor these people mostly. Sometimes, give them a swift kick out the door, and other times...just let them know that you know they are lying, so SHUTUP!!! With this guy you're talking about, I think your sensei made the right decision. It's one thing for him to make unsubstansiated claims of rank and mastery, and another to get on the floor and see what he has. If he just said it once, and the subject was dropped...fine. But if he continued to bring it up, I would have booted him.

The one video with the two men (as far as I could tell anyway) sparring was a bit more contact than I like to see. But some systems like, and do that. The other one of the kid in thr tournament...how can the promoter allow that?

Generally speaking, the vast majority of the human body can be stabbed...not to deeply...and not kill them. However, there are a few places on the human body that if stabbed, will cause certain death if not immediately treated. Also you run into the "LAW". If you are in a fight with someone about the same size as yourself, and unarmed..you can be held liable for any injuries you cause that person. You can also been seen by the law as the "aggressor"..whether you were or not, and could land up in jail for assault with a deadly weapon.

mmmmmm......uhhhhhhhh......not the kind of fame that I'm looking for. I'm more the I JUST HIT THE $100 MILLION DOLLAR LOTTERY!!! kind of fame personality.

It was a poor attempt at humor. I'm glad SOMEBODY caught it!

Yeah...but you didn't see the look on the school principal's face when that happened. I put the sai down..said "Sorry" to the kid and made sure he was alright...then proceeded to do empty hand tecyniques from that point. Kinda spooked me.

Here's a link to the guy. http://www.mararts.org/biography/porter.shtml He's older than I thought...I must be thinking about some other Superman. Still a pretty impressive resume' though. Some of the ranks are admitted to be honorary...but only about 3 of them.

Nope...but the one that I lost went about 2 feet into the air and landed at a kids feet in the 2nd row. I just about crapped when it took off...nothing I could do to catch it.

I think I've seen that guy before kempocos. Isn't he arounds mid-50's or so? IMHO, it's just not possible to get even ONE legitimate (emphasis on legitimate) 10th Dan in any system by that age. Unless of course, you start your own system..then sure, give yourself a 20th Dan if you want to. Does it make you more skilled? Of course not. It just makes you a running joke in the rest of the martial arts community. Anybody that knows anything about LEGITIMATE martial arts knows that that sort of ranking in that many systems is just pure crap.

I agree 100% with what has been said so far...but take a look at the video again. I believe (could be wrong though) that the "Dad" is using foam covered practice nunchauku. Not that those wouldn't hurt also, but if they are the foam ones (black and skinny looking to me), and with the amount of force he's using..it probably wouldn't do a whole lot of damage to the child if he did hit him. Don't get me wrong people...I'm not saying it's OK to do it with any sort of weapon on a child. But I'll bet that "Dad" is taking a certain amount of precautions with the practice "chucks". Did I just say chucks?

Hmmmm...you know...that I can agree with. Giving a "Honorary Dan rank" to a non-martial artist that isn't going to abuse it, and for the reasons you specified. I would drefinitely want to make sure Honorary was displayed on the certificate somewhere prominently...just in case!

TELL me about it... I'm an utter klutz and used to drop the Sai all the time when I first started with them. What's even worse is when you're flipping them out hard...and they go flying into whomever happens to be standing in front of you! Had that happen at a elementary school assembly once...pretty embarassing.