Shorinryu Sensei

Wow..I managed to wade through all 12 pages!!! OK people, I know if you're a martial artist, regardless of system, that you know this, but I suspect all of you have forgotten it. Take a look at the roots of your particular system. Whether you are karate, TKD, Kungfu, BJJ, judo..whatever! Think back not that many years to those people that started the system, or those that were Masters of it BEFORE it was brought to the United States, Europe or whereever you are. Physically, how big were these people? Ahhhh..do I see light bulbs popping up on peoples heads? As far as I know, the AVERAGE Japanese, Okinawan, Korean and Chinese male is around 5'4" tall, yet these Masters, when they started teaching us "Western heathens", easily (and still do pretty much) bounced us big Americans (and Europeans) around the dojo floors like so many empty cardboard boxes? There are countless examples of smaller, (key words here) skilled and trained martial artists that can take an opponent many times bigger than themselves, and fairly easily defeat them. Now, we're talking about a real fight here, not UFC or point tournaments..OK? So I'd say that in a real street fight, size matters much less than skill level...period. Several people have said "ask yourself why they have weight classes in kickboxing, muay thai, nhb, boxing, and wrestling". This isn't street fighting or self-defense, this is SPORT fighting, where the RULES are made in an attempt to give each COMPETITOR a level and fair playing field. Totally different situation than a street fight. In this situation, yes, size might matter, however that will vary with what type of competition you're talking about. There are some general rules about size (always exceptions of course): 1. Taller/larger people have larger/heavier bones and muscles and can physically withstand more physical punishment without damage than a smaller person can. Personally, I'm 6'6" (198cm I think) tall and weigh 240lbs. I have been hit for real a few times in real fights and never really rattled much, especially to the body. A smaller man, say 5'6" tall and 150lbs would have been down for the count I suspect with the same blow. Generally, bigger people can also throw a more powerful punch/kick because of muscle size and pure mass. 2. Smaller framed bodies (small men or women generally) can GENERALLY move faster than a larger guy and are more agile. I personally move pretty dang fast for my size, but I practice speed drills a lot. Smaller people also have a lower center of gravity, which is good for such arts s judo that involve taking the opponent to the ground. Basically what I'm saying here is this. If both a large and a small guy have no skills, I'd bet on the large guy usually..but then again, there's always dumb luck to figure in to it. If either of the men is extensively skilled in some sort of martial art, whether it be boxing, karate, etc..then I'd give the edge to that individual. If both are equally skilled in the arts, I'd say it is a coin toss and can go either way. My 2 cents worth.

I searched on WebFerrot..nothing there either.

I agree wth what the others have said, but also have a few other points for you to consider. You're 16 and a junior in high school now, and will be 18 or so when you graduate and start college in the fall. Opening a full time comercial dojo at anything UNDER 25 years of age I think is a mistake, no matter how good you are, because in the eyes of the public, you're still "just a kid", and would lack in credibility and experience, no matter how much you actually have. Something you might consider is this. When you go to college, check out the availability of the gym or other rooms and think about starting a small class of your own. It will give you good teaching experience, plus bring in a modest income. Key here is don't charge to much, because college kids are generally pretty broke most of the time. Hey, gotta have beer money! lol Possibly see if you can actually make it a college club. I did this in college, had a constitution, rules, President, etc, but it was mostly for show..and basically, just a karate class. We had to have a faculty advisor, and fortunately, one of the history teachers was in the class. Was a pretty sweet deal, actually, and a good place to start your first class on your own.

Yeah, that would be about the same in my system. *sigh* Yep, and you know, it really never bothers me..honest! lol I think it frustrates my sempai (2nd Dan) though because I've taught him everything I know. He just needs to get it polished better...know what I mean?

I also see written exams as another stressfulk situation for the testing student to endure. They are already pretty terrified of the physical aspects of the test, why add more? Does it build character? No. Does it make them a better martial artist? No. Don't muisunderstand me..I see nothing wrong with a written exam for belt tests. To each their own if that's your thing. But personally, I see no need for them. My students express themselves openly in and out of class on a regular basis and are encouraged to ask questions if they feel there is something they don't understand. As long as they don't take up the whole class that is! At the end of class we have a formal "questions/answer period", and we have periodic "history lessons" during class time. My class is 2 hours long, as compared to a lot that I see on here with 45-60 minute classes, so we have time for this sort of thing. Like I said, if you want to give or take written exams along with physical...great. All they are doing is regurgitating what you have fed them usually...the same as in school, (I used to be a jr. high school teacher btw) and adding more stress to an already stressful situation for them.

I can (and do) test my own students up to a 2nd Dan black belt in my own dojo. The nearest other instructor of this EXACT same system is about 600+ miles away in Seattle or Minnesota...unfortunately. When I was a student, my sensei promoted me as far as 1st brown (ikkyu), and then his sensei came to visit (1978) from Okinawa (an 8th Dan Master) and promoted me to my Shodan. I tested for Nidan in Minnesota under a 6th Dan, and Seattle for my Sandan while attending a seminar with the same (now 9th Dan) Okinawan Master that promoted me to my Shodan. I've been a Sandan since 1990 *sigh*. Higher promotions are slow in this art unless you are able to travel a lot for instruction and training...which I'm not able to do. Fortunately, I'm not in the art for belts, but rather for the love of art itself! If I was in it for belts, how far/high do you suppose I'd be if I was (for example) in a TKD association after 29 years?

Thanks...most people have a hard time visualizing defending yourself while in a corner, but if they try it a couple of times, they find it works rather well. Well..what we TEACH and what we do aren't always the same! lol I'm 6'6" tall with long legs. I do also kick to the ribs and solar plexus also with good effect, but we TEACH not to kick high because of the vulnerability of the groin during that process. But we never...never...NEVER head kick! Some systems teach that the groin is not a target...why? In a self-defense situation, isn't EVERYTHING a potential target? It should be. A TKD friend of my (instructor) told me they don't use the groin as a target because it was considered "dishonorable" to kick a man there. HA! Give me a BREAK! lol With that attitude, I'd own his butt as soon as he lifted his foot off the floor!

To be honest with you, I really don't remember what my yellow belt test was like! It was some 28 years ago. I can tell you what my STUDENTS yellow belt tests are like though. First of all, all of my students are tested at every class. Not formally, but in my head. They are graded on attendance, attitude, improvement, effort and attentiveness. If any of these are lacking, they don't "formally" test for quite a while. During the actual yellow belt test, they are required: 1. Student will demonstrate by doing 10 reps on each side, the 5 basic blocks, 5 basic kicks and 3 basic punches. 2. a. Perform Pinan Shodan once while I call the moves. b. Again with the student going through the kata as I watch without interuptions. c. And a 3rd time with my making corrections. d. Possibly, they may have to repeat the kata a few more times to see if they are correcting what mistakes I saw. No emphasis is made on power or speed at this level, but rather on good execution of the form. That's about it. Few fail their tests because I won't test them until I know they can pass anyway. I take into account nerves and jitters, and have been known to massage some shoulders when a student screws up, and give them a hint or two. No, I don't spoon feed my people..but like I said, I won't test them until I know they can pass anyway. Official tests are, to me, a formality. I don't make a big deal out of belts, and I'm happy to say that I don't believe any one of my students is in my class for belts, but rather, to learn the art.

I've had several actually. Parking lot, and a couple in a bar. All at night. The parking lot was three, others were one. No. The parkinmg lot, we were alone. Bars, there were a lot of people. The parking lot one..a guy tried to spit on me as I walked by their car. Sure sign of trouble! lol The bars were all guys coming up to me and starting trouble. No prior indication before that.

Yep, that tall guy is me...but I'm about 25-30lbs heavier now. Those were taken in June of 1978 in Havre, Mt on Sensei Kuda's first visit to the states. He was there for 3 weeks, and all I can say is..it was FANTASTIC! As for the differances between Sensei's Kuda and Kise's karate...well, for onbe thing, Kise is more into making $$$'s than Kuda was. And because of this, tends to promote much faster and higher than a lot of people deserve. The nice thing I like about Larry Mason and our organization is that it is very NON-political. People that get into back stabbing and such aren't going to stay in there. He also has it set up from a Christian perspective and I told him right up front that I'm not much of a church-goer, and that doesn't matter. We're allowed to teach under loose guidlines, basically whatever we want to, as long as it follows Sensei Kuda's teachings. I'm lucky in the sense that the only person I've ever been under are Sensei Kuda, or directly under some of his students, so I have no conflicts in techniques being done this way according to one guy, and that way according to somebody else. That also has it's drawbacks though, in that between getting my shodan and my nidan was a 9 year period where I basically was on my own. What rank are you now? If you're at least a shodan, you might want to consider contacting Sensei Mason if you're interested in learning Sensei Kuda's Matsumura Seito/kenpo..which as far as we can determine, is as close to origional as there is.

This is true! I'll give you a quick example. We don't break boards at all. We feel that it is showy, has no purpose and proves nothing. A student of mine, Roland, is 50 years old and works for a local lumber mill. He routinely, when work is slow, breaks the boards on old wood pallets with his fists...just for the heck of it. He's never trained in breaking, nor has any interest in it..other than just messing around at work when there's nothing better to do except make kindling! He's an average sized guy, and an average student. Again, breaking sheetrock is easy. A young child, 8-10 years old, could easily break 1-2 sheets. I'd say if you're really interested in breaking something, try something that a would at least give you some sort of challenge.

I checked out that site...I'm not sure if I've heard of Sensei Koepple or not. Looks like he's studied under both sendei kuda and Sensei Kise. I don't know how familiar you are with the differances between what the two Sensei taught, but they're about as different as night and day. I'm currently under Sensei Larry Mason, 6th Dan, who is in the process of moving to Maryland or Vermont I guess. Our group is headed by Sensei Ken Penland, who I haven't had the pleasure of meeting or working with yet. This is Sensei Mason's website..there are pictures of me at the bottow working with Sensei Kuda in 1978. http://www.geocities.com/rohai.geo/page.html We're trying hard to preserve the teaching of Sensei Kuda as much as possible. I personally had the opportunity to work with Sensei Kuda twice, once in Montana where he gave me my shoday (1978), and again in Seattle where he promoted me to my Sandan in 1990. He has since passed away, and is missed by all that knew him.

As far as I know, Seito/Kenpo and Orthodox are all the same thing, depending on who you're under and what they're calling it (this monh). I'm practicing according to Yuichi Kuda, one of Sensei Sokens top students. You? As for the bowing, we do it as a sign of respect. No religious significance is attached to it, nor any mystics either. Basically, liek you said, a handshake to our founders, and as a sign of repsect. Outside of a quick bigging of class bow, bowing in/out of breaks, at beginning/end of kata, and at the end of class..that's all we do. Not excessive, respecting the tradition I suppose mostly.

Hmmmm...well, at the end of class we face (kneeling) the "founders" of our art, represented by pictures on the wall of Matsumura, Hohan Soken and Yuichi Kuda, bow once..then I turn and face the class and we bow to each other. No hand thingy's though, then get up and leave. Is that so bad??? I feel it's important to show respects for those that came before us, and that we are trying to copy. I also feel it's important for an instructor to show respect for his/her students, and likewise. At the beginning of class we do a standard standing bow, then start warming up.

I dropped my long-term subsctription to that magazine years ago (in the 80's somewhere) for two reasons. 1. Just as you are all saying, the rediculous ads and their claims! 2. But more because of the constant, nearly every issue, claims about the superiority of TKD and Ninjitsu being the ULTIMATES in martial arts! Not to bad mouth those two systems, but PAH! Not from what they are showing in the magazine they aren't. The techniques, along with pictures, that they showed were nothing short of GARBAGE! An example of the TKD they showed was if a guy grabbed the TKD guy in a bear hug from behbind, the TKD guy would bend forward and bring his leg up behind and kick the guy in the back of the head...yeah, RIGHT! Sorry, but that's * in my book and will get your face slammed into the ground real fast. An example of a ninjitsu technique they pictured was for avoiding a car coming at you, was this guy CARTWHEELING out of the way! For crying out loud..stop and think for half a second. Any idiot wouldn't realize that it is by far FASTER and safer to just RUN or leap out of the way of the car, because to cartwheel you have to bend over and place your hands on the ground, and while you do that your feet are still in the same location as the car gets closer. Poor balance, bad timing, fully exposed, bad recovery..you name it, but it just is STUPID! Anyway, I had enough of reading of crap like that and dropped my subscription. I think the only time I've picked one up since is if one of my students tells me there's a good article on our system in there.

I don't think you're actually going to learn much by breaking drywall, as even in layers (3-4 thick) it breaks very easily. If you're just looking to make some chalk dust, any technique will do. If you're looking for something better, spend the dough and get a good heavy bag, or maybe a makiwara. You'll have much better results with your punching I'd say.

I got out of the Army in September, 1974 (yeah, I'm an old fart) and where I was from there were only two instructors of MA in the whole town of around 12,000 people. This was during the "Bruce Lee Era" and I really wanted to get involved in some sort of MA. One of the local instructors was Robert F..a 3rd Dan in TKD, and the other was Chuck G..a "Master/Professor" of Hawaiian Kempo. Both of these individuals were well known locally (and I had seen this numerous times myself) for starting fights in local bars..and generally considered bullies and jerks. Sorry, not my thing, so I figured I'd never get an opportunity to learn anything. In January of 1975, I called a friend of mine and asked him if he wanted to go drink some beer and cruise around town (the thing to do at that time) in my '68 Plymouth Roadrunner (God, I miss that car!!!). He said he couldn't right now, but would later..he had to go to karate class! I sighed and asked..."Robert or Chuck's class?" He said "neither, there's a new guy in town." I perked right up and asked my friend if I could come and watch..he said "sure", and I went over to a duplex apartment on a bad side of town where Dennis M. was teaching Okinawan Shorinryu classes in his small living room. He had recently also gotten out of the military after being stationed on Okinawa for a couple of years. Dennis had about 8 people crammed into that small space and when my friend introduced me, Dennis said "Take your shoes off and get in line." I told him I just wanted to watch, and I'll never forget what he told me..(I still use this line myself.) "If you're interested enough to watch, then you're interested enough to try it."...so I did! Man, was I SCARED!!! Two months later, my friend had to quit..and this coming January, I will have 29 years in the art, and STILL LEARNING!!!

I've only fought in one point tournament (judged and ref'd dozens), and against a head kicker (assuming the groin is a legal target)..you can get away with this once/tournament against a TKD or other head kicker stylist. Get in a low stance, side facing your opponent. When he moves in and launches his head kick, drop to the floor and at the same time launch a side kick to his groin. Shakes them up pretty good, and they won't try THAT again! lol This is one reason we don't do head kicks at all in my system. Good way to get neutered!

I agree with the black belt club thing...but what's an example of a strange bowing ceremony at the end of class???

Hang on a second here, gotta take off my shoes and use my toes for counting. Hmmmm...7:00 - 8:15 is 45 minutes? Dang! I'll bet this is that new math, huh? lol. Sorry, couldn't resist. So..whether class is 45 minutes long, or an hour and 15 minutes long (whatever)...4 days/week I'd say yes, by how I teach anyway, you'd very possibly be about ready for a belt test to 9th kyu.

Please tell us of your superior system. I am curious to see if you have a better idea, or if you just like to poison the discussion with your clever comments. Actually..I agree with him. If you're students are paying attention, and liek I do..ask questions of them periodically to see if they know what you've taught htem...I see no reason for written tests. If it's obvious they don't know the material, then you can have a lecture.

7 weeks to your first colored belt? A bit quicker than I test, but within reason. How many classes/week, and the length of each class?

I'm not familiar with that particular branch of Shorinryu, but here's some links to help you out. http://www.shitoryu.org.uk/chibana.html http://www.ihadojo.com/Origins/chosin.htm http://www.ashley.arachsys.com/pedia-chibana.html http://www.shinjinbukan.com/Chibana.htm http://www.okinawakaratedo.com/Chibana.htm http://www.karatestl.com/chibana.html http://www.ibonddesigns.com/nyshidokan/about/lineage/chibana.html

This would be a whole different thread and I don't want to change the subject, but I personally LOVE to fight while standing against a wall..or even better still, in a corner.

I was a junior/senior high school teacher for 11 years, and have been a martail arts instuctor for 25 now, and I have yet to give a written test to my karate students. Not that I disagree with it..if it works for you, great! I verbally quiz my students daily in class about names of various things in the art, history, lineage, etc so that htey have a good background in it. I also have a 27 page "handbook" that I give each new student at the end of their first month (want to make sure they're serious first) that I made up years ago, and keep editing and working on which contains a lot of the history and such of the art. I like the idea of hving a black belt write an essay of what that belt and the art means to them. I think I'll use that soon.