Shorinryu Sensei

Definitely laid back in my dojo. We call each other by first names. we laugh when somebody falls on their butts. Basically, we have FUN! My personal philosophy is..."If you don't have fun doing it, then do something else!" I know this will get some flak, and that's fine. It's worked for me since 1978, and that's the way that my personality, and teaching style is.

And trying to get it back somewhat to a martial arts theme...there are many, many professional sports atheletes in football, baseball, basketball, etc that are practicing martial artisits.

Just a thought, and realizing of course I've never seen you teach..."thinking" you can teach, and being able to are two completely different things. I've seen some really terrible teachers in schools and dojo's in may time, and I'm sure if you asked any of them if they thought they could teach, they would say they could. I'd suggest again, to bring in an outside sensei, or even a school teacher if you are on friendly terms with one, and have them watch your class and critique it. As for practicing on disabled people before teaching a class in it...no, I don't think that would be necessary. However, do some research ahead of time and get a game plan on how you will approach them, and teach them. What modifications to techniques will you need to do. Any special considerations and the like. For example, I've taught people that were deaf, or blind, in wheelchairs and permanently using crutches. Each has its own unique aspects and concerns with addressing their handicaps. In my current class, we have bad backs, knees and necks, so certain techniques need to be modified or adjusted to take those concerns into account. Are you looking right now at a specific handicapped group, such as deaf people? Maybe I can offer some suggestions. I think the key thing with dealing with people with disabilities is to be flexible in your approach to their training. keep in mind that htey are used to doors being shut on them sometimes, and you don't want to do that to them. I believe that ANYBODY cany learn the martial arts to the best of their abilities, regardless of handicaps. These people are used to working hard, and could possibly be the best students you've ever had.

What has already been mentioned, I agree with, except the high ranking black belt part. 1st Degree, IMHO, is fine for starting a new dojo/dojang. However, if you're a blue belt now, not many (if any) people will want to take classes from you just because of your experience level. Also, and I don't know how old you are, if you're under 21 years of age, many won't take classes from you for the same reason. No real life experiences yet to draw upon. My suggestion is to stick with your dojang and get at LEAST one black belt before striking out on your own. A black belt at least gives the general public the perception that you know what you're doing....whether or not you really do! Also, from my experiences watching many TKD classes, a blue belt level student barely (and I stress barely) has enough knowledge other than very basic techniques, let alone anything of a more advanced level in techniques and self-defense.

I used to be a school teacher and have 5 1/2 years of education classes on how to teach people, so I'd recommend, if you can, taking some classes in psychology, speaking, communication, planning, problem solving, etc. Are you comfortable in front of people teaching? Are you expressing yourself clearly when you explain something to them, or are htey asking for clarification at almost every comment that comes out of your mouth? Perhaps have a fellow, more experienced sensei watch a class or two of yours. Ask one who's teaching style you yourself like, and see what he/she thinks needs improving. One thing I do know is that not all people make good teachers, regardless of how knowledgable of the subject they are. An example would be my first black belt I promoted, then he moved to another part of the state. He's an excellent martial artist, but a really poor reacher. He has no patience with people that don't learn quickly or train hard. Just some ideas.

OOPS! I double posted...sorry

Close, I live in Montana, USA. Now, if yu were talking Monster Trucks...I'd know what you're talking about! lol Why? Have you ever heard of many baseball, arena football (American) or basket ball celebrities? somebody smack this kid alongside the head for me, will ya please! Of course I've heard of Ferrari...we actually have two or three of hem driving around town in the summer months, and yes, I've heard of Formula 1 racing also, but since I have NO interest in it, I don't follow it or who is driving them Do you follow NASCAR for example?

My guess would be that you hyperextended the knee, possibly causing damage. One thing I teach my students is to never, never, never extend your leg or arms fully when executing a strike. Whether to a bag, the air or to an opponent because that hyperextension is not good for a joint. Over time, it will wear the joint down to the point you will have serious problems with it, or in your case, you can cause immediate damage to the joint. I teach my people to always leave just a little flex, or bend (maybe 1 inch short of full extension) in the joint at the end of the technique. Very little is needed, and it will prevent injury to your joints.

I've never heard of the guy. He drives go carts? Uhhhhh....well, so do I once in a while with my kids....soooooo....????

You're correct Sauzin about the blocks being both offensive and defensive, but not simultanous. However, we also work on stepping to the side, blocking and counter striking all at the same time also.

Actually, not if it's done properly and fast. The side-kicker will generally fall down on his back because he is "spun" by the block and since he's on one foot, will fall to the side, landing on his back. I've done this many times while sparring. If you, the side-kicker, knows it's coming, you can compensate for it...but not if you have surprise on your side. Ask another student/instructor to throw a hard side kick at you. As he does, step back 1/2 a step and use both hands, fingers extended and reach behind the heel and slap the kick to the side quickly. it will cause the kicker to lose balance and fall backwards. It's easier to show than to explain....and be careful not to try to use your fingers to stop the kick...makes for broken fingers real easily!

I've been a ytournament judge/referee for quite a few years and have always enjoyed a good, tradition kata in competition. However, many traditional kata are rather "unexciting" to watch, and a few of my students and I have designed a few kata on an individual basis, both empty hand and weapons, and have done quite well with them. I don't think there's anything wrong with designing your own kata using your favorite techniques. Afterall, practice is practice! It can also help prevent the boredom of continuous repetitions of the same kata over and over.

We teach blocking, counterstriking and shifting your body (change of body) simultanously, as soon as the student can understand it. Most often still while a white belt. It is an intrigal part of this system and it is worked on at every class during self-defense, sparring and basic warmups.

Do a little research on the net about it and you'll find that Frank Dux is generally considered by the majority of the martial arts world as a braggert and story teller that has never been able to prove any of his claims about that "kumite" stuff.

I skipped maybe 3-4 of the 16 exisiting pages of this thread, but I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Shorinryu? Odd don't you think, since it is the basis of so many other modern systems and offshoots? I've used that system numerous times through work (bouncing) and play (out having a few) for self-defense, and it hasn't failed me yet.

I'm from the old school...eat your Wheaties!!!

You're probably already gone...but GOOD LUCK anyway! Let us know how it went and details!!!

I'll wager $100 cyber-dollars on you.

You didn't say what kind of sparring though. full contact, I'd bet $25 onb the MT guy (you will take a check, right? ). Point fighting...never having seen either fight, I'd say even money.

This appears to be pointed at me I guess, so I'll respond. I trained under amy instructor from January 1975 until July of 1980. At that time, he moved out of Montana to Minnesota and basically retired, and has never taught again. As i said before, for nearly 10 years after that, there was only one person that I knew of in the united States teaching the same exact system of karate, and I found out he had bastardized it himself so that it wasn't the same thing. You can't train with an instructor if you can FIND an instructor...right? Keep in mind..that was during the "pre-internet" days of the martial arts. Today, all you have to do is log on, and hundreds of instructors magically appear at your finger tips.

My thoughts exactly benkendrick. The journey and end result are far more important than promotions to me also. I'm sure, if I really cared about higher rank, I could have found a way to travel and get more rank, but it just simply doesn't matter to me. One interesting note on that. I had two students in the past that joined a different organization and now both hold 6th Dans, although they started out under me...one attaining his Shodan, the other a mid-level belt. Are they any good now? I don't know, as one of these students I kicked out of my class because of a poor attitude, and the other left because he rarely showed up and I gave him the choice. Commit to it, or leave. He left.

Well, since this appears to be directed at me, since I've been in this one art for nearly 30 years and "only" a 3rd Dan, let me explain to you why. I live in North Western Montana. If you've never been here, it would be hard to visualize I suppose. We're rather isolated here, and jobs and money are tight. This is so in my case. the nearest senior black belt that I can train under is in Seattle, Minnesota or Texas. All of which are around 600-800 miles or so away approximately. I travelled to Minnesota once and was tested for my Nidan, and a few years later to seattle and tested for my Sandan. That last time was 1990. Due to finances and job constraints, I have been unable to travel to any of these locatiosn to test further. Also, for 10 years after I received my shodan in 1978 I was basically on my own because my sensei moved out of state and our class to fend for themselves. As far as we knew, there was only one other sensei in the United States teaching this particular branch of Shorin Ryu Karate. So, during that 10 years, I and my class were alone on a island in the middle of nowhere. Alone and not knowing where to turn to for help, until I was contacted by a 4th Dan in Minnesota by the name of James Lee. Unfortunately, what we learned from Sensei Lee was, we found out a few years later, incorrect, so we had to make a lot of adjustments. To make a long story short...yes, I have been in the arts a long time, and no, I don't hold a high rank. I have never been concerned with attaining higher rank, but strive to hone my skills and gather knowledge instead. To me, the art is my passion, not another stripe on my belt or a certificate on the wall. My students know this and are very loyal to me and never question why I haven't advanced since 1990. I am under, as of a year ago, a different sensei and organization than I used to be and hopefully will be gaining more knowledge this year, and possible another certificate to hang on my wall. But the former is what I want.

Agreed Sauzin. Also, there is not a 10th of the striking power in the techniques he demonstrates as compared to good technique. Twice I've taken nunchauku away from people that were screwing with me with them. They both hit my arms as I reached in. Sure, it hurt a bit and left a small bruise, but if they'd have been using good technique: 1. I wouldn't have done it, and 2. It could have broken a bone on my arm.

In that same regard tommarker, I've taught ranks considerably higher than myself quite a few things. For example, I have taekwondo friends ranging from 3rd Dans to 6th, scattered around the NorthWest that have invited me to hold seminars for their classes. The ones I'm talking about had, and taught, no techniques against grabs, grappling or defenses against weapons, and had no weapons training at all. Hey! I just noticed...I'm not a green belt any longer...I got my purple!!! Dang, that's just about as fast as some schools I know! lol Is this forum a belt factory/McDojo?

You have to wait until you get a 4th Dan to teach? Dang...nobody told me that!!! I'm in trouble here! This January I'll have 30 years in the arts, and I've been teaching since September of 1978...and I haven't reached 4th Dan yet! ARGH! Guess I'd better contact those couple of hundred people I've taught and awarded belts to and tell them their no good!