Shorinryu Sensei

Interesting...it was on all the networks..ABC, CBS, and NBC. *shrugging shoulders*

Testing varies a lot from school to school, system to system. There are no set regulations governing how often yo ucan test, nor what yo udo for a test. As for putting "moves" on someone...you do that regularily in the class. My advice would be to go to a local martial arts school and watch a class or two. Talk to the ihnstructor if you can, and several of the students. Going to different schools should give you an idea of how they differ in their approach to instruction and may answer many of your questions.

I gather that you're not currently involved in any martial arts at the moment...correct? How do you get promoted? The same as in school...you test. If you pass, you get promoted. Fail, and you don't.

Hey man...you dissin' my fro?

I found this info through Google (gotta love it! ) Tim Fancher, 3rd Deg. Black Belt Style: Ed Parker's American Kenpo Website: http://www.columbiakenpo.com/ Interesting...you can pay for classes afrom that website too. It looks like there's a fair amount of Tracy Kenpo in MO also. From what I've heard, I'd avoid that if I were you, but Ed Parker's Kenpo is OK. As for similarites between Okinawan Karate and Kenpo...sure, there will be some, but not a lot from what I've seen. Both use shorter, more natural stances, kata are totally different. Application of techniques are similar, but execution will be different. Same, but different. Like a Buick is a car..so is a Yugo. The same, but different.

hmmmmmm.......Frank Hargrove...why does that name ring a bell for me? I'll have to think on that one for a while. *insert grinding noise here*

I'll bet he's a Shaolin monk. Peaceful, yet deadly. Oh wait..that's kung fu! DRAT!

Kenpo is a rather generic term...like karate or kung fu. Check it out...see if they'll let you take a couple of free classes. Check out the sensei's background a bit...even bring the info back here and see if anybody's heard of the guy or system. Start a new thread though, as not many watching this one I'll bet.

Since all I've done is drive through Missouri once about 4 years ago, I have no idea what's there martial arts-wise. Your best bet is to go to Google and type in "martial arts, Missouri" and see what comes up. if the city you're in is larger, start askign around about instructors/schools. There are probably a lot of sensei teaching in their back yards and such. I don't care for the big commercial dojo with mirrors, juice bars..crap like that.

I understand. I don't teach religion in my dojo. I leave that up to priests, rabbi, clergy, whatever. I'm there to teach karate, not religion. Absolutly you need to place family and religion in front of karate, if you have those things in your life. If that other guy can't respect that, then you are right in not staying there. I don't know of anybody in MO teaching Shorinryu...sorry.

OOPS...sorry, my misunderstanding. Bummer on the local Shorinryu guy.

Have you guys seen on the news the past couple of days where those 5 people wrecked in the mountains of Montana, and two people survived and walked out? That was about 40 miles up the road from me. Another story that didn't make the national news was about a month ago, a small plane crashed into a house right here in tow, 5 blocks from my house, and jsut missed a church that was just getting out. Two passengers in the plane were killed, plus a dog in the house. Man, I think I need to start looking UP for trouble around here! THE SKY IS FALLING!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!

Exactly! I used to get Black Belt Magazine every month and in the ads in the back, you could buy uniforms, belts, weapons, videos, books...and certificates! heck, everything you needed to start your own system...except knowledge! lol

To build strength and speed in your bo/jo technque you don't need steel bo or anything elaborate. You just need a good, heavy, solid hardwood bo/jo and many, many repetitions of the correct basic techniques. This will build and strengthen everything from your stance...upwards. I operate on the K.I.S.S. system. KeepItSimpleStupid Just like working on yoru basic empty hand blocks/strikes or kicks...repetition is the key to speed and power.[/b]

Who did you train under while on Okinawa?

DING DING DING DING DING....AAAAAAA OOOOOOOOO GAAAAAAA!!!!! (that's my flashy, twirling, non-practical alarm going off. Well, my bud Shorin Ryuu up there about covered it. Depending on the type of tournament your son is going to participate in kicks, I wouldn't recommend getting to light of a bo...like a broom stick, as I would make those weapons down before ever seeing their performance. Just a standard I set right off the bat. Length-wise, I'd go with around 5'6" for the lad. Not light, but not real heavy either. Some middle-weight I would think would be best. Watch the circumfrence also, as his hands are going to be smaller htan an adults. Try not to go over 1" if possible.

Yes, thanks Shorin Ryuu. That is essentially the exact same thing I understand also. Stop and think about it. Realistically, can wooden farm implements used by farmers and fishermen (Okinawans) stand up to professional warriors (samauri) with weapons that could cut them in half? And knowing this, would the Okinawans do anything that would put them in a position to have to defend themselves against these warriors? I don't think so.

Thanks. It was unexpected, and yes, it was actually embarassing to me in front of my class. The next class I talked to them about it and explained to them my feelings on it. As I said, at the time, that other guy was a friend. A few years after that, he became the opposite. He died in 1998, and had promoted himself up to 9th Dan by that point.

This is directed specifically to those people, usually instructors, taht have received "Honorary" Rank Certificates in another system. I'll define "honorary rank" as a certificate for rank in a system/style of martial arts which you did not study/train in. I'll give you 2 examples from my own personal experience. In 1989 or so, a friend of mine who was a tested 3rd degree black belt in TKD, but was claiming a 6th degree BB because he formed his own association (American Korean Karate Association) was up in my area on business and came by my class to watch. In the middle of class, this person asked if he could talk to my class, and of course I said "Yes." He said many nice things about me for a few minutes, then reached into his briefcase and pulled out a certificate from his association and awarding me a 3rd Dan BB in his system. I was, at that time, a 2nd Dan in my own system. I did not ask for this "honor" and was a bit flustered by it, but did my best to be graceful (ME? GRACEFUL?) and appreciative. By the way, nowhere on my certificate does it say anywhere that it is honorary. It is the same exact certificate that he awarded any other black belt in his system. After the class, he and I went out for a beer, and the first thing he asked me was.."Since I gave you that 3rd Dan in my system, would you give me a 2nd Dan in yours?" I was taken back right there, and told him that I was sorry, but I couldn't do that because I don't believe in "honorary certificates of rank". Rather, I felt you needed to work for that rank under a legitimate sensei. If he wanted to join my class, then yes, after he'd gone through the ranks like everybody else, I would give him the rank that he deserved. Since he was a friend, he didn't push it any further. A few months later I happened to be in his area and stopped into his dojo to say "Hi". As I stood in the hallway watching his class, I noticed against the opposite wall about a dozen certificates. Upon reading them, I found out that my friend had all of a sudden gotten high rank in about 10-12 different systems. I'm talking 5-6th degree black belts here people. All of them were obviously bogus, as I knew this guy quite well, and there was no way on this planet that he had earned those ranks legitimately. My friend confirmed this after he finished his class. They were all "You give me rank in your organization, and I'll give you rank in mine" exchanges. I'm sorry, but that really bothers me. So anyway, I have a 3rd degree black belt that I have worked hard at in my chosen system, and a 3rd degree black belt in a system I have never taken one class in. I show that bogus certificate to my students periodically to show them the * that can be found at times in the martial arts. Anybody else had experiences like this?

Sorry if I sounded critical kicks...it was more of an observation on my part as a long time martial artist and tournament referee. I know that in your type of tournaments that the head isn't considered a target for hand strikes, and the groin isn't at all, and all I meant was what I said. Do that same sort of sparring in an open tournament, tired or not, and you wouldn't make it past your first opponent in any open tournament that I've attended, especially in the black belt division. And yes, it was off-topic..sorry for that. Different strokes.....

I'd suggest finding every school in your area and gathering up as much information as you can about them. What they do, what they charge, etc. You also need ot figure out exactly what it is that you want out of a martial art. Aikido is good, but takes many years to learn and perfect. And 18 is not to old to start. Heck, I was 22 or 23 when I started, and I'm 51 now and still learning. Basically, if you're in decent shape, you can start at any age. I've had students in their 70's start.

Seriously kicks...no offense meant here, but you have no idea how badly you'd be torn apart at a open/all style tournament fighting that way. I've seen this before at other stictly TKD tournaments, where the peoples arms are just dangling at their sides. Might as well be armless for all they are doing.

I'll agree with this. Like singing, the sound needs to be projected by the diaphram. Here's a couple of exercises: 1. Have a student stand in a solid stance, feet apart of course, and hands behidn their backs. Tighten their stomachs, and you put your fist on their stomach. As they kiai, you push hard on their stomach, forcing the sound out via that spot. 2. Same thing, only student lying on their back with arms at their sides. You can have one of the lighter students (100 lbs or so) stand on their stomachs to help with this. Also a good exercies to learn to tighten the stomach muscles. One exercise I haven't done in quite a while, and thsi made me think of it, is to have everybod line up laying on the floor..side to side, alternating head to toe (every other person laying opposite the one next to them), interlinking the arms so that they are close to one another, and I...or one of my students..walk slowly across their stomachs as they talk, count to 100..something. Teaches muscle control. yeah...I'll have to do that tomorrow night.

Well bummer bud! No credit cards here. My ex-wife cured me of those 9 years ago.

Do you want money...or will you take a check?