still kicking

OK I will look for Best of the Best -- though I've never really watched any karate movies before except Karate Kid, I will try it. Now I am thinking more about watching 7 Samurai again, and all those other Kurosawa movies. Even though it's not karate, I guess I just really enjoy seeing groups of samurai swarming around and doing their thing, and there is always some kind of good "life lesson" in them. Problem is, taking all this time to watch movies will cut into training time!

Lately I have been having a hard time finding a balance in my training. Aside from the fact that I am kind of addicted and have a hard time taking a day off when I probably should... here is the thing. It is well known that as one ages muscle mass decreases, and joints wear out. How much each of these things occur, and how soon, varies between people, but in general, it is a fact of life. Here is what I have found in my own training, in a nutshell. If I train too little my muscles weaken and my joints get stiffer, but if I train too much my muscles break down and my joints get sore from wear. This is putting it in non-technical terms... I don't know what is actually going on, from a medical or physiological point of view, I'm just saying what feels to be true. I feel best if I train just the right amount, where sore or pulled muscles have had time to repair, joints are not too strained, yet joints aren't too stiffened up and muscles are still strong. The problem is it can be very difficult to find the "sweet spot" and train just the right amount. It did not used to be such a struggle.

Well, I hope this comes across alright. All of our black belt instructors took about 10 years to get to shodan, and have been training and teaching for several to many years past that. Most of our ikkyus have been training steadily for 10 or more years. I have trained a little in a Shotokan school where their shodans only had 3 or 4 years, and the 4th dans had 10 years. Whatever. Personally I think it's silly to worry about all this too much. Mostly we call each other by our first names, except for the chief instructor, who is definitely Sensei!

OK I will admit I haven't even seen most of these movies -- don't care that much. I used to like to watch the old samurai movies, with the blind swordsman Zatoichi, and I really liked the 1st Karate Kid. Of the others mentioned, I thought "Twilight Samurai" was an awesome movie all around, even for someone not into the martial arts, but especially if you are. I highly recommend it!

The main thing I don't like about pushups as punishment is that I think it gets across the idea that doing hard physical work to get stronger is a punishment. In our adult classes, discipline is not much of a problem, but if someone is being rude a harsh word from sensei nips it in the bud right away. With the kids, usually the most effective deterrant to bad behavior is to make the kid sit out for a few minutes until they think they can behave themselves. It is amazing how fast they can pull it together so they can get back to joining their friends in class!

mudansha wrote: Rateh wrote: In my school, I teach a beginning class myself, and there I am called sensei, even though I am a brown belt. When I am assisting one of the black belt instructors in one of their classes I am called sempai. I think this makes sense.

Thought I would comment on an ancient thread. I was going to dutifully read through all 12 pages of comments first, to see if anyone already said this, but didn't make it, though did read many interesting posts while I tried. The poll shows that 2/3 of people think his BB is fake, and 1/3 think it's legit. I was wondering how those proportions would compare to the number of traditional MA'ists on here, vs. non-traditional. I think that in traditional MA's, which is what I practice, it's about much more than being a good fighter, but being qualified to pass on a curriculum, and hand down a lineage. It's true that someone had to start the style in the first place, but in my opinion, at this point in history it is different. I know that there are plenty of McDojos and little kid 2 year black belts out there, and also lots of people who can fight who have never studied a formal martial art. To be honest I question whether something is a "martial art" if it is not traditional, and would be more inclined to call it a fighting style or fighting system. The point I am trying to make is that to know the "meaning" of any black belt, someone would need to know the context of the standards within that school and/or organization (2 years or 10 years on avg. being one standard), and also is the person qualified to pass on the teachings of that style that have gone on before, also to a suitably high standard. It would be interesting if 2/3 of the people on here said they did traditional MA's, and 1/3 something else. Maybe there is such a poll on KF and I am just not aware of it.

I took the liberty of putting some spaces in... Blade96 says Plenty of people, even senseis, have an undue need for admiration. Since I don't know your sensei at all, I have no idea if this is what's going on.

I just found out, on x-ray, that I have "mild to moderate" hip arthritis, with some bone spurs. Ouch, no wonder it hurts so much to do those roundhouse kicks. It's not so bad from fighting stance, but when we do them in basics, standing in shoulder stance, then trying to get the top part of the leg out to 90 degrees -- forget it! Fortunately I am now under doctor's orders to not do them or side kicks for 4-6 weeks, then see. I am spending a lot of extra time on front and back kicks! Anyway, it's not so bad really. On a good night when I am well warmed up I can do them OK on the right side, sometimes even to head level. It's mostly the left that's really messed up. At least it confirms why no amount of regular stretching has helped all that much. The good news is that I have found something that is helping. It's yoga, but specifically "yin yoga". This involves gentle poses, held for a long time, that is supposed to specifically focus on loosening the joints and stretching the connective tissue. It feels a little looser after only a few weeks, though I am also doing PT. I think I need them both.

Blade96, I really don't want to beat a dead horse, but perhaps this will help you in thinking about your situation. I work in the counseling field, so am particularly sensitive to the issue of "boundaries" -- between therapist and client, but also between teacher/student, or any situation where there is a differential in power. I think it is often the case that well meaning but unaware people in positions of power can unknowingly exploit someone's affection or attachment or whatever you want to call it. It is a big and tricky subject. There is a whole range of behaviors possible, from overt unwanted sexual "come ons" to subtle emotional exploitation, which can be confusing and ultimately harmful to students. It is a teacher's job to be aware of this. Much as in an incest situation, which may be physical, but even if "just" emotional or psychological, the child feels special, but also feels uncomfortable because is not mature enough to deal with the intense feeling. I think what some people responding to your original post are getting at is that even if there is no overt sexual abuse or harrassment going on, there are plenty of red flags, not the least of which is your own questioning of the situation in the first place, that indicate the possibility that the second type of boundary violation might be occurring. Would it be possible for you to discuss this with someone you trust who is outside of your dojo ?

OK, time for an update... Quoting Myself, from March 2009: Since then I have added Jion, Naihanchin Sandan, Seipai, and Matsamura ha Bassai in open hand, and Rohai no kon, Tsuken Shita Haku no Sai, and Kaibo Ten no Kata in weapons. Plus I forgot Bassai syo from earlier. I think that's all. It might seem silly to write this out as if it's a laundry list, but hey, I've been working hard and it's satisfying to "know" all of these kata. Of course there are too many to study in depth all at once, but our style has so many kata, and a heavy emphasis on them -- which I happen to really like -- and it's good to at least know the correct movements, and details, (hopefully) of most of the ones we do, in order to be able to teach them, though at this point I am not qualified to teach the advanced ones, but my opinion might matter as a tie breaker, as far as a detail. Anyway, right now I am mostly focusing on Seipai and Tsuken (sai kata).

Blade96 says: I totally believe that you never set out to make them like you, and I think that in this situation you are totally innocent! I also believe what you say that it is not a sexual thing on either side. It's just that I have found from hard won personal experience that intense emotional stuff in karate can muddy the waters, and make training more difficult, even if it seems like only positive emotions. I think you are right to wonder how other students might feel, and how all this might impact your relationships with them. Hopefully you are in this for the long term, and it sounds like you are clear about your love for karate and your intention to continue. Again, none of this is your fault! I am struggling a little with how to put this, because I know you have a lot of admiration for your senseis, but I guess it surprises me a little, especially considering that they are mature people in age, that they seem to not be aware of how their special attention to you might make things more difficult for you. I will also say, if I was another student in your school, I would probably feel a little jealous and resentful of their favortism towards you. But that may be my problem. In any case, I wonder if it would be helpful for you to just have a heart to heart talk with them, saying something like how much you love karate and the like, but that you feel a little uncomfortable when they call you "my girl" because the other students might be jealous, or whatever feels right to say. All I know is, training over the long haul takes a lot of energy, and in my personal experience (I won't go into it), it's really better to keep dojo relationships friendly but impartial. I really like how my teacher is -- friendly to everyone, and accessible to talk to if you have a training problem or concern, but also impartial and just a little reserved. I will admit that I sometimes try extra hard when she is watching, wanting to be a fave as well, and maybe sometimes a I am, but she is pretty good at not showing it, and in the end this makes it easier for me. I know you will work this out in your own way.

I have been following this thread, pondering what to say. As others have said, it's only natural that a teacher will have favorites, but it's important that he/she is not obvious about it, and behaves professionally. I think it's fine to show a little extra attention to a student in class who is particularly motivated to improve, and a little less to a student who is doggin' it, but beyond that, a teacher should attend to all of the students equally, in my opinion. Off the floor, that professional relationship continues. Not wanting to sound judgemental of a school and senseis that you love so much, but I do wonder a bit about boundaries here. Aside from that... Blade, I do not want to presume to psychoanalyze you or anything , but it seems really important to you that they like you so much! Even if you are a "fave", and they are less than subtle about showing it, I think that after you have been training for longer and are deeper into the art, that might become of less importance, and you will be more focused on the art itself. Not that you're not now, from what you have written it is clear that you are dedicated and motivated to learn, and a fast learner, which is no doubt part of why the senseis are so fond of you. I'm just sayin', I think part of it too might be that it's all new and exciting for you, but believe me, at some point you will hit a plateau or get an injury that keeps you out of training for a while (I hope not) or get frustrated in one way or another. My advice, which as I always say may be worth exactly what you are paying me for it, is to take a deep breath and focus on learning and deepening your karate. Just my 2 cents. It's great that you love it so, and have joined the ranks of us fanatics.

Hmm.. I think we are splitting hairs here. It depends how you define "crossing" in the back. In either case, there are two layers of belt back there! I've been tying belts for years and have always used the second way (on the video), and it works for me. However, I reach aroundf in back and consoldate the two layers so they are flat. But anyway, I suppose it's not that important as long as your belt stays on. Thanks for the video, Kuma.

I don't know what you mean by "not crossing over the back". It always has to cross over in the back, unless you use a really short belt and just bring it across the back once. I am confused.

I've always wanted to be called "Your Highness" myself.

Quinteros1963 wrote: It sounds to me that the real issue is that you feel that your old dojo had higher standards than what you have been able to find in your new location. I might as well state the obvious, but have you looked around thoroughly in your new home? Would it be possible for you to find a school with more demanding expectations for each rank, even if in a different style? I do think it is more satisfying to achieve a rank, whatever it is, if you know it was hard won. On the other hand, if you are in a school that you like and respect, I would go along with whatever my current sensei thinks. If you don't trust his/her judgement, I would keep looking!

mudansha wrote: Does the fact that they tested at the same time mean that they would necessarily get promoted at the same time? Just because it's testing day and you've put the time in doesn't mean you should get promoted, in my opinion. Hopefully it is not just a matter of "knowing" the required kata and other required techniques, but showing improvement, committment, (as shown by training regularly, and working to improve weaknesses), spirit, and the like. IMHO.

No, I have never seen it. I practice Shito-ryu -- the IKF version. Annanko is an important kata in our organization, and we also have a bunch of sai kata, but as far as I know we do not have Annanko no sai. I wish we did, though, because I love Annanko and I love sai. I know that the head of our organization created an additional version of Annanko, which we also practice. It's called Annanko henka, which I guess just means "Annanko variation". Anyway, I hope some day he makes, or I guess I should say, adapts, an Annanko no sai for us, too!

cathal wrote: I think that's true, but on the other hand it gets crazy when you are trying to have competitions, when you are mixing apples and oranges, so to speak. I know in my iaido class there are many nidans, sandans, and yondans, and a few higher, and shodan is really not really such a big thing. In my karate school, on the other hand, there are only a few black belts, and it is a much bigger achievement. But these are totally different arts. I don't know the answer, I doubt that there is one, but actually I think the problem is that Americans in particular seem too obsessed with pride in rank. Maybe it's that way in some other places, too, I don't know, but from some of the other postings on this board I recall some people saying that in Asian countries it is different. I sometimes wish everyone would just shut up about rank and train, but I know I am guilty of the same thing. My hunch is that there is something particular to American culture, with our focus on individual success and achievement in comparison to others, that in many European and Asian cultures is not so prevalent. I think it really gets in the way.

I'm more with mudansha on this one, except that I don't think that non black belts should judge. Our school also has a very long path to black belt -- normally it takes 8 to 10 years. It disgusts me when I hear about how many black belts are handed out so easily. For example, I was seeing a chiropractor the other day (tweaked my back a little bit, in karate, of course), and when I told her that I trained in karate she proceeded to tell me about her nephew, who was a black belt in tae kwan do. She said that he had a lot of health problems, and attention deficit disorder, and that he was a skinny 11 year old kid. He had been training for less than 4 years, and barely had the upper body strength to go across the floor in the "wheelbarrow" thing, yet he had been given a black belt! I wanted to snort with derision, but held my tongue. When I think what we have to go through for a black belt! This is an old story. How our school deals with it as far as tournaments, there are only 2 we go to regionally, though some people occasionally travel. The ones we go to are traditional karate, and all of the schools have reasonably high standards for promotion. They all require that the judges be trained, and I believe certified, as judges. Not just any old black belt can judge, and there certainly aren't any little kid 3 year black belts running around judging. Jeesh! You have to just stick with schools that have similar philosophies about what rank means, I think. Just my 2 cents worth.

Hey Mudansha -- Before my last test, my teacher gave me a very helpful article about performance anxiety, with examples of very high level competitors freezing up in important competitions. In a nutshell, it happens when we start doubting ourselves, often when a little mistake is made that jars our confidence. Then the more you overthink the more mistakes you make. The remedy, again basically, is to trust your body, and the muscle memories that are stored in there. I was very nervous before my last test, too, and what helped me was to just keep reminding myself to breathe, take my time, and trust my body. Every time I would start getting nervous, I would try to let my energy sink into my center, and feel that power. FWIW, it has never helped me to tell myself to relax -- that just makes me more nervous. Anyway, I also find it helps to tell myself that in the whole scheme of things, in spite of the fact that I might be disappointed if I don't get my next rank, it's really not that all-fired important. If we just keep training we will keep progressing. Good luck!!

Truestar, I guess I don't understand your concern about money. The issue of ranking, time to shodan, and all that, can take up many words. The funny thing is that some people on here say that promoting people too fast can be all about money, and that some schools promote people quickly so they will be happy and stick around. It sounds like you are taking the opposite view, i.e. that keeping people at ranks longer is a way to keep them around. Are you saying that the assumption is that people will leave after they reach shodan? Anyway, if you read some of my previous posts you can see that I have had plenty of gripes about thinking I have been held too long at a rank, when it seemed to me and other objective observers that my skills were higher than some of those above me. Be that as it may, I never thought it was about the money, just my teacher's perfectionism. The thing is, I would and will happily pay my $85/month dues on an ongoing basis. Regardless if I am 10th kyu or san kyu or shodan or some higher dan, the $85 provides me with the option of training 1 1/2 hours a night 4 nights a week, plus Saturday mornings, plus an extra advanced training one Friday night a month, with a highly congenial group of people, and with a teacher of high skill and integrity, I believe. This is less than the cost of one hour with a highly skilled mental health therapist, and believe me, it takes its place. It seems to me that the issue might be whether you trust your teacher's motives. (?)

Well I figured Patcherson meant it in the sense that karate training can help you live longer because of being fit, but I have to admit that when I first read it as written, I had the image of my corpse doing karate! Whoa, I imagine that would really freak out my dojo mates.

emjay, quoting Rorion Gracie (?) Perfect! Truestar says: Maybe they are not just sitting there, maybe they are ripening.