ramymensa

In our federation in oder to become a shodan you must be 18 years old. There are some exceptions ... a coleague was tested at 16 years old and I mean TESTED. She had to really prove exceptional to benefit from this and she did. But usually you must be 18 years old. Otherwise ... brown belt (1 kyu) is for you. I've never seen our teenagers with brown too sad they can't test for shodan. They have a high rank already so it's OK with them

Aren't there open competitions? I'm also "too old" to fit in the usual category, but all our touneys have an OPEN section. There we, oldies, fit without any problem. And I too doubt you won't be allowed to train cause you don't compete. Talk to the instructor. If he is really hard headed, find another judo class, he's not the only one.

If you are passed in our dojo you keep your rank no matter what. There are still some partial grades. You pass, but are expected to perform better in a month or so. You don't pay the test again and have the rank assigned in the testing you partially took. This is done at lower ranks that did almost OK, but have 1 or 2 things to work. In order to show them their work is being respected and there are some aspects to take care of, sensei grades them. The get the belt, but the diploma would be given when they prove they master the spects they lackd. No need to say they were masters at the second grading and sensei was pleased to see they really earned their rank. For the student is good to have this, because the rank taken "partially" motivates them. It's not usually done, but sometimes the student is not feeling OK, is tired or too emotional and although has worked very good at classes he manages to make some mistakes. Sensei knows they've put a lot of effort before (otherwise they wouldn't test at all), but also knows they weren't quite convincing. So they have a second chance and all pass with flying colors

He deserved it and maybe more. Some are like wild animals. Sportsmen ... ha

So Sai, you know something we don't Then happy birthday to our darling host. May you have a life full of success (like this forum), hapiness, health and luck. Where's the cake?

Having total beginners to spar full contact IMO is not such a good idea. They can hurt themselves really bad because of the lack of techniques not to mention that after some injuries they'll be afraid and we'll have some extremely shy fighters or they'll just leave. At first they should spar lightly in order to learn how and ENJOY it. Afterwards at a higher rank, they'll be able to spice up the things a bit. My opinion

I think age can be a problem, but not a dead end street for a martial artist. When we are young and beginners we rely a lot on our strenght and speed and sometimes tend to forget about proper technique, because we compensate with our youthful power. Once mature enough we learn more and more to use tactics and techniques and sometimes they'll be our secret weapon. Being older doesn;t mean out of shape. I've seen people in their 60's or 70's who could wipe the floor with us, youngsters. A karateka I guess is like wine: it just gets better. The only condition ... to move on and surpass all the health problems caused by a lifetime in MA.

It's hard because somtimes parents too should be disciplined You are too good to the little bratt and they'll call you incompetent. Too severe and probably you'll get sued. I go for expelling the problem kid. I'm not responsible for his life if he's not willing to cooperate. I don't want distraction in my class, I don't my other students to suffer (do push ups because of him or being bullied by the person). I think first thing would be talking to his parents, banning him for a period and than letting him go. I don't teach something to a person that doesn't want that. Maybe he's there because of his parents. I don't want to proplongue his misery. If you train in MA it means you like it and that's what you want. If not, there are millions of things to do

We've never been involved in a demo team, and I think we would all do the demo. I'm with Shorinryu Sensei on this. A certain student not picked for the demo team would (correctly) assume he sucks and that would make a big zero from all my previous encouragements. It's useless for me to say ... you're doing OK, your technique is better and so on. I don't chose him, he knows why. And the others too. Imagine the relation between your yound students in such case. Kids and teenagers can be quite b...y in such situation.

In an ideal world we could specify an age requirement (no kids under ... years). We could make some exception if the kid is really gifted and serious. In an ideal world we could throw out kids that are a problem. In an ideal world we could teach the way it was meant to be taught, disciplined and hard. But it's not an ideal world. We need to survive and the MA training is not the same as years (centuries) ago. It's a consumer's society, we need to live and the students want less training and quicker advancement in the ranks. They are no longer prepared to work their b...ts off. The students come more from the younger category (adults are too caught in the earning a living thing to have time for a MA class). The parents are willing to give away the kids to a baby sitter that could teach them some MA. Unfortunatelly they forget MA is not kidergarten Until we'll get to the ideal world (weak chance) we'll have to cope with the situation, make compromises and still try to be real instructors true to our students and to our beliefs.

I'm in for some quizes, not written though. In many dojoj the students have a good knowledge of techniques and that's all. God forbid you asked them who that Funakoshi was, what with the symbol of the tiger. Some BB don't know what the kanji for karatedo means on their belts. I'm a person that likes to know all about a certain activity I get involved. Don't mean to brag, but after 3 months of studying karate and all I could read, I've put together a romanian site that helps beginners in their pursuit to become proficient. It's https://www.dojo.ro I've changed the appearance, but the written materials are from that time. My sensei was appaled when I started asking questions like an instructor and prove my vast knowledge. I'm an advocate of learning as much as you can. Ignorance can be deadly is my motto and I do think all students should spend some time reading the stuff related to their MA style, and then, lots of ranting posts wouldn't appear here

We do this sometimes too. It's great. You've got the opportunity to tire a little and come to know your coleagues in this aspect too. For making classes interesting there should be more variations like this, some different exercises in the warm up and so on

You can still use the computer which is great Congraulations. We are glad it ended good. Now take care and rest a lot and keep us posted

There are sides in the oriental religion that are similar to us, thus can be "converted". Still some are opposite and maybe wouldn't be looked upon too good by our fellow people. For myself ... I try to take from Karate some things and use them in my real life, making me better, helping me to grow as a good huma, but still I'm a Christian, Orthodox and Romanian. I don't live in Japan.

I can only imagine what you are going through. But just be calm and try to let the guys say what they want. If it gets more phisical (they try something on you or your girlfriend) consider taking an attitude. Don't forget to talk about your problems to people who can really help you in a "legal" way. Keep us posted

As an instructor there's more than teaching techniques. I think a good instructor must a like a parent, teacher, friend and a role model. All in one. If the student has got a problem the instructor should listen and try to help, council, and so on. I don't believe in instructors that forget about their students the moment they are out of the dojo. He sholdn't intevine unwanted but must always act like he's available for a question.

Our newbies are put among the other beginners. The instructor is there to show them how to do correctly the technique and always praises them for the effort. Some of us higher ranks go help them. It's a relaxed atmosphere and they are taken in the group the moment they arrive, are being told everything would be OK, they are welcome and it'll be fun. Works like a charm

Another problem in that tournament discussion. Guess you've come to know people who just don't feel like rushing in the ranks. I have some coleagues that were in the class when I started and some are still white belts, cause they didn't feel like grading and sensei doesn't push us. He tells you are ready, but it's up to you. So a person like that goes to a tournament and fights a similar belt, though should have a high rank. I think when going to tourneys you must be prepared for anything ...

I came across a dojo rooster/shark ... last night. He's joined our class for some weeks and last night he told me how great legs I have got At first I didn't know what to do: laugh or punch him. I just laughed

Merci for the help you gave a poor Romanian in understanding that Guess I've got something similar after a car crash years ago. Interesting how the problems can appear even though you forgot it ever happened.

For me a traditiona MA is one with some decades of existance (the more the better) , with a well established pholosophy and etiquette, a certain way of dressing and adressing ... with some scientific fundaments and of course some tradition Regarding the other question, by chosing Shotokan I've made my choise public. For me TMA is better. Maybe I'll come to change my mind, but for now it suites me like a glove

I would consider it a FRAUD. It's impossible to teach somebody the stuff in 12 hours. And if it's a seminar they must have some requirements and so on. Did they give black belts after the 12 hours?

It's a challenge One of our instructor has got his 7 years old girl with us and she's quite good and respectful. I found out she was his girl when a coleague told me, because their relation in the dojo was strictly "professional". He told me at home she calls him daddy (of course), but when in the car to go training he's sensei ... sensei did this, sensei told us She's adorable and very hard working

Hope I wont step on anybody's toes here ... I think religion and MA are slightly distinct. You can be an martial artist and still go to church without problems. I don't think it's a problem. I don't see MA training as a sin. But bringing church into the dojo ... why not say a japanese/corean/thai prayer ... The style practiced has nothing to do with your religion, so why mix it? Now please tell me if I'm wrong ...

At green (6 kyu) we start helping around. I got involved more because I'm good at making others understand (I'm a teacher, though don't teach) and I tend to be attentive when it comes to all the details. The classes are taught exclusivelly by the BB instructor, but higher ranks are there to help.