Montana

I've been buying belts since 1975 and have NEVER had one "bleed" before. My guess is that you're buying cheap belts. Spend the money and get better ones.

Depending on where you live and the laws/ordinances there, and if you're charging fees for classes, you may have to get a business license. Otherwise you need no license to teach martial arts...which is unfortunate in some cases.

When I started training while in college I used to go to the gym, a local park, or at home and work on kata...over and over again. God knows how many times I did my kata, and I did them with enthusiasm and worked for accuracy, speed, power and good technique. Trust me, it works!

Good point! I'd also like to add, depending on the system you are taking, and that it takes time to get to this point in your evolution as a martial artist, but eventually you'll sort of detach yourself from the "fight" mentally and just react to your opponent movements. I'm 6'6" tall and 245 lbs and very non-aggressive when I fight. I find I seldom look at my opponent(s) directly unless I'm watching them and coaching them at the same time. If we're just fighting, my mind sort of detaches from the situation and I just react to my opponents moves. I'm very calm and relaxed and waste very little energy (which is good, because I'm getting OLD! ).

Personally, I've never even HEARD of the guy, let alone been influenced by anything he's done. I quit subscribing to BB Mag years ago when it got to be full of ninja crap and flash and awe martial arts. I don't think I've bought one in over 20 years.

I was a school teacher for 11 years and taught a mixed class of junior/senior high students after school for free. I was a 2nd and 3rd Dan at the time. One of the biggest things you need to consider is a liability factor. Anything less than a black belt rank is considered a student, not an instructor, and if one of your students were hurt in a school sponsored class, or even one that is being taught to school age kids on school property, could POTENTIALLY be a large liability for the school system because you would not be looked at by the courts as being "teacher rated", or qualified to teach.

Be that as it may, it still does not change the truth, that most modern Korean MAs came out of Japanese styles.And most (not all) Japanese fighting (empty hand anyway) arts came from Okinawa.

If it's who I'm thinking of, I met him once when I went to Mn to meet Greg Ohl and train with him for a week. Fred Ettish I believe. This was about 20 years ago, but if it's who I'm thinking it is, he's a student of Greg Ohl's, and from what I hear, very good! He picked me up at the airport and drove me to Willow River, Mn where Sensei Ohl was living at the time, but I didn't get to work with Sensei Ettish.

Might that be with sensei Greg Ohl perhaps? If so, an EXCELLENT sensei and martial artist! I had the opportunity to train with him once for a week way back when...

I have been under the teachings of the late Sensei Kuda since I began my journey back in 1975. As for a comparison between this system and Kobayashi Shorin Ryu, I haven't a clue as I've never had the opportunity to see Kobayashi Shorin Ryu before. Sorry I couldn't help.

Sorry to hear that, but...ROFL...and I'm still laughing. Sounds like something that I'd do! Doh! After she smacked me I just sort of stood there for a few seconds while the rest of the class sort of "Oooooo....oh oh'd" and didn't know quite what to say. I moved my tongue around a bit to see if I was going to lose a front tooth or something, then said something quite profound...like "Well, that didn't work out quite like I wanted it to...". The lady in question, once she realized what she had done, was VERY apoligetic and said "Well, you told me to punch you in the face...so I DID!" *sigh*..sometimes total obedience isn't always good.

A couple of years ago we were talking in class about distance, and I, having had about 30 years in the arts at that point, stupidly stood in front of one of my students (female) to make a point about distance and told her to punch me right in the kisser. Well, I knew how long her arms were and how far she could reach (experience) and that in her current stance/posture, she couldn't reach me by a few inches. What I failed to take into the account was that the woman was going to lean into the punch and step slightly forward...and yes, she smacked me full on the mouth with my hands behind my back! Needless to say, I won't be doing THAT again!

Long suits and belts? Nope! How to make your kata look better is simple...do it RIGHT!

We train not to finish, but rather to stop the fight. Our aim is to use whatever force is necessary, yet not excessive unless the situation warrants, to stop the opponent from attacking us. If that means we have to "finish" him, then so be it. If it mens we just have to knock the wind out of them or bloody his nose to end the fight..even better.

*ahem*..well, other than that's a typical example of the type of kata that I, personally, do a daily basis...it was pretty ok. Well OK...maybe a bit more flexible than I am.... Anyway, she's very impressive in the flexibility and balance areas..,.but I'm a hardcore traditionalist and really hate turning the arts into a flash-fest.

I disagree here. I think self-defense should be taught as the core of a style, and everything else should come out of that idea. That way, you know that the bulk of what you are learning is self-defense based. Absolutely CORRECT!

I'm fairly new to Shorin Ryu, having just started in January....of 1975. One thing you'll learn about Shorin Ryu...the more you learn of it, the harder you train, the more discoveries you'll make about it. It's a wonderful, well rounded art and allows you to grow for the rest of your life. Embrace it...study it...and open your mind to it. It's a wonderful art.

Exactly, and not only openings and weakness's in your opponent, but in yourself as well.

If I'm understanding you correctly, the standing guy is in front of the kneeing guy and has his hands around the kneeling guys throat? If so, then his balance is WAY forward because he has to bend over at the waist to get his hands around the others throat. I can't see anybody doing this...to awkward and unnatural. But anyway, in the given scenerio, I'd probably: 1. lean backwards and kick the guys knees out from under him, or... 2. groin strike with my hand, or... 3. lean back and kick to his groin, or... 4. grab his arm, spin so my back was to him and launch him over my head to the floor, or... 5. lean back ans sweep his legs out, or... 6. his torso is totally exposed and open for any sort of punch you ants to give him. That's all that comes to mine in 60 seconds...there are others.

I've been a judge and referee in open (all styles welcome) since 1978, but have only competed in one tournament myself. Why? well, I'm not a competitive person by nature, and for me, tournaments are just a game. They have little relevance to what martial arts are all about in my opinion. Tournaments are "play time" and sport, not really "martial arts". In the one tournament I competed in (black belt heavy weight division) I won 2nd place in kata (Chinto), 3rd in sparring (single elimination..I lost with a score of 4-5 to a good friend of mine from another system with many years of tournament competition experience), Outstanding Judge award and the Outstanding Competitor Award. I figured for my first tournament as a competitor I walked out with 2 trophies and 2 plaques..that was good enough, so I retired from competition.

VERY cool!

\For the most part, I agree. Depending on the circumstances, such as just one opponent, I might just stand back and be there if needed, but otherwise not get involved. Multiple opponents, you betcha! I'm there for ya sensei!

DITTO!

Our system also advocates the head turn prior to movement in a kata. I'm wondering if I'm seeing a pattern here with Okinawan systems? When I call outa kata, and my students know this..the first thing I want to see move is the head..period.

I also agree..where a class is taught is by far less important than the quality of the instruction. Myself, I've taught in the local park during nicer weather, several high school and college gyms, churchs, grocery store basement, 2 health clubs, my basement, my garage, my living room, conference room of a phone company, in several commercial locations including a shopping mall, and a few places I'd just as soon forget about! lol Yeah, I know...a lot of locations. I've been teaching since 1978 in 4 different cities.