Shorinryu Sensei

*sniff sniff*...I didn't get one.

Checking out their website, http://www.umaai.org/index1.html I'd say RUN FORREST, RUN!!!" I'd recommend passing on it. Looks like a McDojo Association to me.

Careful bud...you just might meet that 'lil grasshopper some day in a dark alley, and you'll eat those words.

I don't believe that it's specific styles that crosses, or dosen't cross, their belts in the back...it's just the way that you tie your belt. My belt crosses in the back only because I don't take the time, nor see the need for, to do it nice and pretty so that it looks like one belt. I have better things to do than worry about that. Individual choice I would imagine.

Or to translate...(I think anyway) like i said to another guy change ur life style Like I said to another guy, "Change your life style"... wai mean is dont pik becuz once ur gonan go at a What I mean is, don't pick (a fight) because once you're going to fight a... skinny guy thats gonna make ur head spin skinny guy that's going to make your head spin. Now, don't ask me what the heck that means, because I have no idea! Just trying to help out those people out there that don't speak garbage English.

I've been meaning to ask you about that. What are the rules of competition for the "open tournament" you mention? What scores a point, what equipment do you wear, and what's the duration of a match? What scores a point? This is off the top of my head and isn't the correct order, but should be accurate. 1. Any hand/foot technique from the groin (it's a target) and above. 2. Light contact allowed, including the head, but the highe the rank, the more contact allowed. Must be a good technique, focused and have power behind it. In other words, no slop or "blind" techniques. 3. One point allowed/technique...no double points for head kicks. 4. Depending on the tournament, the time of the match is 2-3 minutes (usually 2) and the clock doesn't stop when a point is called. We like to keep it mioving as fast as possible, as there are normally only 3 rings, with 75-100 participants. We need to allow time to eat pizza and drink beer after the tournament! 5. Center ref can stop the clock if he/she deems it necessary, such as in an injury. 6. Sweeps are allowed at the ankle only, and must be followed up immediately with a technique to score. 7. Controlled takedowns allowed, but again, must be followed up immediately with a technique to score. 8. If you fall down, you can score (such as a kick to your opponents groin), or be scored upon, but if nothing happens within 3 seconds, ref stops the fight and the opponents square off again. 9. In the advent of a tie at the end of allotted time period, opponents square off again and first point wins. 10. No straight finger techniques ("chops" OK, but not straight on fingers extended) 11. Illegal targets are eyes, throat, neck, knees, back of head and spine. Kidneys are OK. 12. Divisions are usually (flexible) by age group, under one year/over one year experience, and black belt. If there are enough girls/women in a division, they have their own matches. if not, they can opt (and they always do) to compete with the boys/men. I've never seen a woman at one of our tournaments afraid to mix it up with the guys. Some will even ask not to fight other women, but rather to dive right in with the men. This is OK with us. I probably missed something somewhere on these. We have a tournament on Oct. 16th in Great Falls and I should be getting a packet of rules and info soon in the mail. It's not posted on their website. what equipment do you wear? Groin and mouth protection required, hand and foot pads. I don't think head gear is mandatory, but most are wearing it now days. Of course, a clean gi and belt. Anything else you'd like to know, ask a specific question. If I don't know the answer, I'll email the tournament promoter and find out.

If it's chromed, it won't rust. I'm not sure what metal the Shureido sai are made from, but I doubt if you'd get much, if any rust if the chrome chipped off from contact. If it did start to rust, a small bit of oil would prevent it. I've had sai for many years and have never seen any rust yet.

I would think the obvious person to ask this question of, would be your instructor, since he?she is the one that will be testing you. Have you tried that?

It's 9:40 the next day. OH CRAP...I SAID THAT?

Ahhhhh...well, that's where we have the biggest differance. I don't do TKD, nor do I judge strictly TKD tournaments. I only do open tournaments where any system may participate. In these open tournaments, aggression isn't dconsidered a factor. Myself, I'm not an aggressive fighter, but a counter fighter, and I can nail most people as they come in...it's the way Shorinryu is set up and I like it that way. So under your rules, I probably wouldn'ty do well. Nothing wrong with the way you do things, but it's not the way we do tyhem.

This one I have a problem with. I've been a judge/referee for about 25 or more years now, and who makes the first attack or shows more aggression makes absolutly no differance to me. It's who scores a point first..period. Any referee that does what you're alluding to has no business sitting in a ring calling points. A ref MUST be impartial and as fair as possible, or he shouldn't be there. If this practice is common in tournaments you participate in, then you have some pretty shoddy refs. I assume they are also black belts? Then I have no respect for these black belts.

If you'll reread what I said, my personal criteria for a black belt test is that they should be able to handle themselves against an average adult. This does not include pro football linebacks, professional wrestlers and boxers, or people twice their size. And yes, I see no reason a man or woman, age 55...or 65..or even 75 maybe, can't do that also. It might take them twice as long to achieve their black belt as someone in their 20's, but I see no reason why they can't do it. Using your logic Kicks, then a 4 year old can wear a black belt, because he learned to do one kick or punch well, and can use that against any other 4 year old of the same weight, age, and size. Is self-defense now supposed to be like a tournament with different divisions and criteria for different people? And what does this have to do with the discussion? He learned to defend himself..that's good. Yes, so have I. Again, what does this have to do with the subject? There are some dang good street fighters out there that can take a lot of black belts. I wouldn't consider them average usually...eithger htat, ot the black belt had inferior training....or a bad day...or was caught off guard. It can happen to any of us. Being a black belt does not make us invincible or Gods. On any given day, anybody can be beaten. Ahhhh..now we get into delta1's sore spot...regulation of the arts. I fweel that this is something that the individual instructors and associations need to worry about. Any of my students that go out and teach their own classes have the same opinions about this subject as I do, and would not promote a child under the age of 16 to black belt. I do not force this policy on them, but they have been with me long enough to have absorbed my teachings and agree wiyth what I teach because it makes sense to us. If it doesn't make sense to you...go ahead and promote kids to 1st..3rd..10th degree black belts. It matters not to me, as long as my shaking my head in disbelief and disgust doesn't bother you. Again, why do you keep talking about tournaments and weight classes? This is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about something that is apparently alien to you kicks...and that is the dreaded street. Real fighting for survival...not trophies. In case you're nto aware of it, there is a HUGE differance between the two. Are you sure you could take her? According to what you're saying, a child black belt should be able to handle just about anybody. Oh...oops...I forgot ...weight divisions, age, height....OK, maybe you could. OK...it's now 1:34 am and I'm a bit tireed and cranky. I'll probably reread this post tomorrow and go "Ohh crap..I said that?" Basically, there is no solution to this issue for anybody. You can promote your kids as young as you want to black belts, and I and many other martial artists will point, shake our heads and groan at the absurdity of it. You're within your rights to do so, and it's my right to think it's stupid. Agree to disagree?

I've never had a game plan as such when sparring. I go up very relaxed and loose, watch what the other guys is doing, how he's standing, the way the he moves..and pretty much wing it! It seems to work for me. No two people fight the same, so having a game plan isn't a good idea I don't think. There are generalities of course, so maybe a basic game plan might be OK...but I don't use one.

Just a quick comment on the swing log you practice on for a moving target. It swings at a steady, predictable and easy to follow and anticipatable rate. A human being doesn't and can move at trandon, including forward or backwards, side to side. *waiting for him to tell me he has somebody standing by it and changing the rate now* And if you don't carry your throwing knives with you on a regular, if ever, basis..what good are they to you in a fight?

Wanna bet on it? Off the topic, do you know Rod martens out of Wyoming? Also does karaho. Just wondering.

Well, if your sensei is putting up with it (Why he does is an interesting question), then I'd stay out of it totally. Ignore her..don't talk to her..don't correct her..and either she'll quit. or start shaping up. It's really a problem with your sensei, as he's supposed to have control of his class. As for "She's supposed to respect the sensei"..respect is earned, not expected or demanded. There are sensei that I know that I have no respect at all for for various reasons I don't want to get into. Any sensei that demands to be respected...won't get mine. She obviously has no respect for him, and one reason is that he sounds like he has little control over the class. For a teacher...ANY teacher of others..this is not a good thing.

An interesting side note Shorin Ryuu that I rib my sensei about now and then is this. I've actually been in this art longer than he has! By about 5 years I think. I had may shodan before he even started training for cryin' out loud! However, he lived and trained directly under Sensei Kuda on Okinawa for quite a few years, and I didn't...thus the biggest difference. I call him "Junior" sometimes..or "Kid". He's about 8 years younger than I am too. I like martial artists, and people in general, that have a good sense of humor.

I appreciate that Shorin Ryuu. I used to test, years ago, where the student had to show me this, that and the other thing, and do it perfectly to pass. I've since changed my testing procedures myself (allowed to test how we want in this association) where the students know they are being tested in every class...not just during a formal test itself. I will most often just watch a student during every class, and when I feel they are at the level I want them to be at for the next belt, I will, at the end of class, give them a certificate for their next belt level. They're usually taken back by that, and quite happy. I have never seen any reason to run a person "through the testing mill" by seeing how many pushups they can do (what does that have to do with it...I've never figured out), how many times I can make them do a kata until they drop on their face, sparring 20 people one right after another, etc. Heck, that's a pretty normal class for us anyway! Not that I'm saying other sensei can't do those things..that's fine if that works for them, but it's not the way that I believe that it needs to be done. Heck, for my shodan, Sensei Kuda asked me to do two kata, then sit down. Nidan was before a 6th Dan..trained with him for a week...no formal test, and he promoted me. Sandan was about the same as shodan...if front of Sensei Kuda again. And now this yondan test. Oh hell...rambling again. Is this a result of Shorinryu training? I don't remember learning a "rambling kata" anywhere along the way.

Ahhhhh..and advantage I've never had living here in God's country. Beautiful as it is here, there are certain aspects that SUCK! I KNEW IT!!! All I can say is...I'm stubborn, and by God...one of these days, I might just get it! Certainly, if I was in this for the rank, I'd have quit years ago. And interesting side note (now that the thread is totally highjacked...sorry), I talked to my sensei the other day about promoting my 2nd Dan sensei student to his sandan. I believe he is well qualified for it, and he has been teaching the majority of the classes since my back is pretty well "toast" from a non-MA related injury. I still teach, but there are some things I can't do now...like kicking with my right leg and breakfalls. Anyway, since I'm a Sandan myself, I can't promote him higher. He's been at Nidan for 6 years now and has never asked for another promotion. My sensei said that he would promote him on my recommendation alone (the guy trusts my judgement...foolish? ) on one condition. That I accpet a yandan promotion myself. I balked at that somewhat because after 14 years as a Sandan (no pun/sarcasm intended), I'm really not sure if I'm at that level yet....especially with my injury. It is the only condition he would accept...so...I guess one of these days I'll get a certificate. Yes, I didn't formally test in front of my sensei, as he's in Maryland, and I'm in Montana. Mostly "time in grade" I suppose, and I'm sure people will have a fit about that. I can understand that, so let's not go there people. Given the opportunity, I'd love to test in person...but it's just not feasible. And you thought you rambled? Ha! You ain't got nothin' on me bud!

I think you give me more credit that I deserve... Incorrect bud. Probably my weakest aspect of my nearly 30 years in this art is my knowledge of specifics pertaining to the details of it. Mostly due to the fact of where I live, and my inability to travel to train with higher ranking sensei in the art. It obviously hasn't prevented me from continuing my love for Shorinryu, practice of Shorinryu, or willingness to pass on what little I have learned to others. You're a HUGE asset to the system and thsi forum bud, and I'll take "issue" with anybody that says differently. How long did you say you have been in Shorinryu? I know you read a lot. I picture a guy with glasses, looking like Harry Potter sort of. No offense meant by that.

See? I told you he'd dive in here! Correct Thanks for the history less Shorin Ryuu. Glad to have you around to clean up the many holes in my knowledge.

Ti...2 suggestion here for you. 1.) Just ignore her if she's bugging you. 2.) This isn't your problem, it is your sensei's. Let him deal with it. If he choses to do nothing, that is his chocie, not yours. As for her talking while you're lined up...the easiest thing to do is don't look at her, and raise your index finger and make the "Shhhh..." signal with your finger to your lips. Don't say anything else to her..just ignore her. I find it odd that the sensei doesn't see these things you're talking about and act upon them immediately. I've taught classes as large as 75 people at a time by myself (more if you count seminars), and I don't miss much. The sitting in the wrong position at the line up tells me that he's not watching his class very well, or doesn't know for sure where his students are supposed to be. Just how big is your class that you're talking about?

Where in Canada are you? I'm in NW Montana. We get TONS of your brethern down here all the time for golf, skiing, etc. Just last night, I was having a heck of a good time with a bunch of people from Calgary. I'll probably see them tonight also.

Honestly, I can't tell you as I really haven't studied or seen the others. I do the Orthodox/old version of Shorinryu as taught by the late OSensei Soken Hohan, and passed down to one of his students, Sensei Kuda Yuichi. I'm sure they're very similar to the unbtrained eye, but the little I've seen, some of them get into higher kicks, different applications/movements of their kata, more sporting aspects sometimes, etc. I'm sure Shorin Ryuu will dive in here before long and be able to answer that question much better than I can. If he doesn't, send him a PM and ask him to join in.

The thing that bothers me dealta1 is this. The general public just doesn't understand the politics of the martial arts, and is easily fooled by McDojo's. That's what keeps them in business. Am I glad that they are taking care of teaching people that just want quick rank? No, not really, because those pople..and there's a school like this locally...get a quickie black belt, have poor self-defense skills (BUT THEY CAN BREAK A BOARD!!! ), but because they have that belt, walk around like peacocks thinking they are just the toughest SOB's to walk the planet, and really think they have the ability now to defend themselves in a street fight. You know as well as I do bud, that the belt doesn't make the man..it's knowledge and abilities that does that. These kids just do not have that ability to defend themselves against the "average" man on the street...which is one of the things that I personally consider a manditory point of being a black belt level martial artist. Somebody please tell me of a real life story where a 10 year old black belt successfully defended himself against an adult that was seriously trying to attack and hurt him? I mean a serious attack, not just a half-hearted attempt at molesting him or something along that line. It just isn't going to happen people.