Montana

I started writing a big, long dissertation on my 50+ years of observing different systems I've encountered and paid particular attention to the "self-defense" techniques. I started naming names of systems and my observations as to their effectiveness in an actual fight, and my opinions, take it or leave it, as to what I felt their effectiveness would be. Upon re-reading what I wrote, and not wanting to get permanently BANNED from Karate Forums, I deleted it all before I added it to this discussion. What I taught my students is that there are different levels of self-defense, depending on the given situation. For example: If you are assaulted by a knife wielding drug addict intent on drawing blood, you would use as much power as necessary to stop that person. Is he 6;6" tall and 300lbs and charging at you like a freight train? Is your wife, g/f or child with you? Or is he your best friend that's had a few to many drinks? The amount of force and type of technique you would use would be totally different.

Think of the nunchaku as a sort of "nut cracker", but with a rope/chain. There's an incredible amount of potential power there. Any traditional art that uses the nunchaku in its arsenal should be able to show you.

Please God, NOOOOO!!!

In my dojo, as with my sensei and his teachings, I used these MINIMUM times between a students belt testings 10-7th kyu. Minimum of 2 months of training per belt. 6th-4th kyu. Minimum of 3 months of training per belt. 3rd-1st kyu. Minimum of 4 months of training. 1-2nd Dan. 2 years 3rd Dan. 3 years ETC. Just because a student has that amount of time in doesn't mean they automatically advance. Requirements and skills must be met. As for the longest time I have had between testings, it was 9 years from 1st Dan to 2nd Dan. My sensei left the state about 6 months after I received my 1st Dan and I had no way to advance. It took me 9 years to find somebody.

OMG!!!WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? NO FINGERTIP SPINNING??? NO HOLDING THE "CHUCKS" CLOSE TO THE ROPE??? NO FLIPS? Are you telling me there's somebody that can hold and move a nunchaku properly??? *THUD* Is there no end to the madness when somebody does a weapon properly???

What is your current rank and system that you study? Why do you only want to learn a specific kata, yet don't want to know the reason for the movements within that kata?

I have questions about this also. There's something specific you want to learn from this sensei? What is it? In my own experience, I've had people want to join my dojo just to learn KOBUDO/weapons, nothing else. most had ZERO martial arts background, training or experience in any martial arts, just wanted to learn weapons. My response has always been "Sure, you can join the class and in about 2+ years, depending on how you train and progress, I'll start teaching you weapons." So far, no takers...

"Average Opponent" would be your average. untrained adult walking down the street. Teen or child, that would be an average other teen or child.

This is something that has been a pet peeve of mine for YEARS! Should a child be awarded a black belt? I guess it depends on what you consider the skills a holder of a black belt should have. I agree that a 1st degree black belt is just someone that has grasped the basic skills of the art. They should understand the stances, punches, blocks and other techniques that make the FOUNDATION of the art, but are certainly not masters of that art yet. I liken it to public schooling. The colored grades are 1st grade thru high school. You can read, write, put together sentences into paragraphs, etc, but not yet ready to write a book. For me, a person that has achieved the skills required and necessary to be awarded a black belt needs the maturity, mental fitness, awareness, skills and experience necessary to effectively DEFEND themselves against an average opponent on the street in a real life, self-defense situation. Under those criteria, would a child of 6-15 be able to do that? Unlikely. What I adopted in my dojo for younger students that had the knowledge of the kata and techniques, but not the maturity. awareness or experience at the level they should have. These students were given a brown belt with a black stripe running thru it. They would have all of the perks and privileges of a black belt in class, and as long as they continued to pursue the art. train hard, show improvement, gain the "seasoning" and experience that only time can give, they would be awarded their black belt. The usual understanding was on their 16th birthday, but that was NOT set in stone, as maturity varies a lot among 16-year-olds. I always ran a small school. I wasn't trying to make a living at it, other than a 3 year period, because I feel doing that cheapens the art. I was content just paying my bills those 3 years but decided I liked teaching in my basement better.

I have a question: What is YOUR martial arts background? Joining a martial arts school, any MA school, you are looking to learn from that instructor. Don't like him/her? Quit. Just because that instructor doesn't do what you think they should do, makes for a real shaky instructor/student relationship.

I've had guest instructors visit my dojo, most were in the same system as I am. A few that were just MA friends and wanted to show us their "stuff". I've taught 8-10 seminars myself, mostly proper weapons/kobudo techniques as many systems I've judged have really poor weapons/kobudo technique. After we've gone thru that in the seminar, I pretty much open it up to whatever they want to see.

Very European, French or English design. Very cool!

Thanks all!!! I'd like to thank the Academy, my mom and dad, my Sensei, my students, my dog and 4 cats, and all of YOU for putting up with my shenanigans! 18 years??? Wow..I really didn't realize it had been that long!

Hey wait! I got Member of the Month??? COOOOOOOOOOL!

Again, is he in my "personal space"? Arms distance? Fists clenched? Postering? In general, the law allows you to strike first ONLY if you feel your life is in imminent danger. Factors to consider, is he drugged? Drunk? Larger than you? Threating words? In your space? Previous encounters? Self-defense in this scenario is so hard to define because of the factors that could be involved.