Montana

It all depends on the dojo, association or system. I was a shodan when I started teaching my own class in a town 50 miles from where my sensei lived. Some students called me sensei, some teacher, and some by my first or last name. What is correct for one dojo, association or system may not be correct for another.

The block is OK, but IMO leaves your left ribs very vulnerable and you can't see to your left side in case there is another attacker on that side of you, or if your attacker steps to your left. The palm to the chin is good, but I don't care for the "claw" to the face..not overly effective IMO. I'd prefer a hand block or outside block instead of the "rhino" block so you'd still be able to see to your left side and your elbow can easily lower to protect your ribcage, still do the under the chin (or various other punches) palm strike and finish with punches or kicks as your opponent steps/falls backwards. Different strokes for different folks...

My first reaction was.."Karate Kid...in China? Shouldn't that be The Kungfu Kid?" Tournaments in China? I don't know for sure, but I'd be surprised if there were. *sigh* Hollywood..it figures. I'll wait until it's on video..maybe on TNT in 5 years. Don't get me wrong, I like Jackie Chan...marvelous athlete for any age, let alone in his mid-50's...like I am. Sure, I can do all the same stuff he can do *cough-cough----HACK!* but it's going to be a hard stretch for me to believe he's going to replace the late Pat M..the origional Mr. Miagi.

That's exactly how I test. Basically students are tested daily by their attendance, participation, effort, knowledge, improvements, etc..and when I think they are where I want them to be for their next belt...I give it to them. They have no prior warning that they are getting close, other than I give them positive feedback. Everyone of my students knows exactly what they need to work on and what I expect from them.

I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is the instructor/owner had their student teaching a LOT without being present, and for a long period of time, probably after some discussion between the two on compensation, which was denied by the instructor/owner. My guess anyway. I make it a requirement for advancement from 3rd kyu and above that part of their training involves teaching the class periodically. I require them to take several classes/month and teach the entire class from start to finish, plus to take beginners at times aside and start them on their basics, or to assist them with issues they are having doing something (kata, basics, whatever). I also have a policy in effect that when a student reaches shodan in my dojo, I no longer charge them for classes, but instead expect them to work even harder on their training and to help in class when needed. Basically, I'm training them to start their own dojo some day, if they are so inclined (not required at all).

Kudos also for joining a martial arts class, but I would recommend, if there is an option in your area, to learn a system that is more self-defense oriented than TKD is. A Japanese/Okinawan system such as shorinryu, gojoryu, shotokan, aikido, etc, or Parker Kenpo, kick boxing, and others are much more self-defence oriented with an emphasis on practical techniques, not flash and breaking boards/bricks...all of which are worthless when it comes to defending yourself IMO. As for the gun, it will give you more self confidence, but again, is useless unless you walk around with it in your hand and are trained in its use, and most importantly, are actually prepared to use it if you have to.

You need to ask yoru doctor about this, but as I understand it, a pacemaker keeps the heart beating at the same rhythm no matter what you're doing. For example, it will keep your heart beating at "X" number of beats sitting in a recliner watching TV and the same rhythm as it would if you were carrying a 50lb backpack and running up 3 flights of stairs. Obviously your body demands a more increased heartbeat to pump oxygen when running up the stairs than it does sitting in a recliner, but the pacemaker keeps it the same. Again, check with your doctor as the best resourse for this question.

In the system that I practice, "Master" is reserved for 7th Dan and above. Sensei is "technically" awarded for 3rd Dan and above, but it's OK to call the head of the dojo (1st-2nd Dan) sensei.

I make it a point to spar with ll of my students. In the case of beginners, I prefer to have myself, or another higher student (brown/black belt level) spar with them because in my opinion, there is no more dangerous student than the beginner that doesn't know anything and has no control. A prime example of this from my own experience is my own very first class as a beginner my sensei wanted to spar with me...I had learned basically nothing at that point and he kept saying "Punch...kick...!" ...soooo...I kicked him hard...right in the groin! No cup! Well, this guy was 6'4" and around 250lbs of redneck cowboy, and when he hit the floor, I started heading for the door. He told me to stay and that it was his fault, and we became friends after that and got along fine. Beginners are dangerous, so I or a senior student spar with them first.

The person to blame is the sensei or the association that allows that sort of level of expertice to be promoted to black belt. Quite honestly, I wouldn't find that level of technique to pass a lower level kyu test, let alone a black belt test. Someone earlier stated that maybe that video was taken somewhere towards the end of the test where the student was tired...in my opinion, that is no excuse for that sort of demonstration. Not at dan level...not at ANY level other than gross beginner perhaps. On a personal note, often times people wonder why the Korean arts get bashed so much...well, look at that video again and you'll see a prime example of why.

As I've mentioned in various posts scattered aroudn thsi site, I've been a judge/referee at open (all styles) tournaments since 1980 or so and have seen quite a number of "black belts" with technique like this competing. Some were ranked as high as 3rd Dans. The only time they place in the top 3 is if there are 3 or less competitors in that particular event.

Easrly in my teaching (1978-80) I was often asked by new students.. "Do you think you could defeat/take Bruce Lee?" My answer was always surprising to them I think. "Absolutely! Dig him up and bring him here and I'll kick his butt!"

OK, well I'm probably going to get bashed for my opinions, possibly repremanded by the powers that be, but you asked for opinions, so here is mine... Realizaing of course that systems and instructors have different skill requirements...in my opinion from training since 1975 and teaching since 1978, I'd have awarded Debbie probably a 9th..maybe 8th kyu for that demonstration of skill during her test. Not a dan belt. Poor to non-existant stances during her speeded up self defense techniques, absolute ZERO for speed and power in everything she did, and so on. Sorry, but black belt level? Not a chance. Not even close in my opinion.

Excellent perspective which I agree with...thanks.

I think the martial artist, like myself, that holds down a 9-5 job and does the arts for the love of them and for the self-defense aspects of it, they are no more a warrior than the Okinawan merchants, farmers and fishermen that developed the martial arts as a form of self-protection. The martial artists that train to enter point tournaments and compete for trophies are not warriors any more than basket ball or track athletes because they do it from a sport perspective. I think the true martial arts "warriors" are those that devote their lives to the art for one purpose only, and that is combat. People that strive to defeat others with their skills, such as those found in the UFC and Pride.

I teach, and use feints often, but not always because in class my students get wise to it and don't fall for them any more. Where feints are good are with someone taht doesn't know how you fight. Bringing yoru foot up like you're going to front kick him in the groin will usually cause your "not-so-skilled opponent to bend slightly at the waist, breaking their center of gravity, and also usually makes them lower their guard/hands. Watching yoru opponents reaction to a feint you use is useful so that you can set them up later with that same technique, but this time follow it with a punch to the face or whatever. Same thing applies with a feint of a punch. Often it causes the inexperienced opponent to brinbg his hands up to cover his face, which in turn leaves his groin and torso exposed to a kick. I've used them successfully in a SD situation also and they work GREAT!

The competitions/tournaments that I judge/ref are all open to any system, so basically just about anything goes within reason. There are no extra points for kicks. Realistically, in a street fight, hands are going to be used 90% of the time over kicks. Not to say that YOU can kick if you want to, but the vast majority of untrained fighters will be using their fists and aiming at your head.

When I take off my belt---I ALWAYS feel good!

I've seen advertisements that say "Get your blackbelt in one YEAR!", and of course they're belt factories. I've told my students that I'd give them a black belt anytime they wanted it...and to prove a point I've passed out all of my old black belts (5 I think) and had them take off theirs and put them on, plus any new BB's I had at the time and any brown belts also so that nobody was to left out. After they put them on, amid jokes and appropriate "HiYaws..LOOK AT ME!" I asked them...now, do you feel any differently? Do you feel you know more or could perform better now with that belt on? Of course, they didn't. Point being that it's not the belt that makes you any good, it's knowledge and training. Now, back to the origional question on this thread. Which system do I feel it's easiest to get a BB in? In my experience, hands down, it's TKD. Which art takes the longest? I don't know..I've heard of one that takes a minimum of 9 years.

I don't know who this Jim Wagner is, but he's wrong...SERIOUSLY WRONG!

I dont quite understand....please explain...thanks I don't quite understand your question..why don't I charge, or why did I quit charging? I quit charging because I wasn't teaching for the income. Sure, the extra money was always nice, but I felt I had knowledge that I wanted to pass on to others that were so inclined and felt there was no need to charge them for this knowledge. I had even stopped charging for classes at one time, but that was a disaster! (another long story, but I won't get into it here).

Wow, take away my backfist and you might as well cut my hands off! I've knocked a guy out with a backfist years ago in a fight, and it's probably the fastest, and most accurate hand technique to the head that there is in my opinion. Personally, there's no way I'd enter a tournament where they put that sort of limitation on a match. But that's me. I've never understood why some tournaments (most notably TKD tournaments) don't allow hardly any hand techniques anyway.

I started my martial arts journey way back in the stone age (1975) also when I was in college. I had formal 3 hour classes with my sensei 3 days/week and practiced at least an hour/day on my own. I was a full time student and worked 25-30 hours/week at my job, and I still had plenty of time to party hardy with my friends, date and enjoy life. What I did was I always had an hour or two during the day between classes and I would keep my gi in the car and run to the gym and work out for an hour between classes. Basics and kata mostly. Sometimes there would be another student that would join me and we could work on techniques we had been learning. Another way to get practice time is to incorporate practice into your home routine. For example, I would walk from one room of the house to another doing the walk I learned in class and practicing my basics as I went. Kicks, blocks and punches. If I was at home studying and was approaching that point where I was burning out on the school work, I would sometimes take a 5 minute break and do kata or beat on the heavy bag...then I'd return mentally refreshed to my studies. There's always free time here and there that you can train...it doesn't have to be a set time daily, unless you have that luxury.

Pretty much, yes, karate is empty handed. Weapons practice, or Kobudo, is a totally seperate, but connected, art. Karate comes from China origionally...in part anyway..then to Okinawan, which was a major trading island at the time. Okinawan had its own hard martial art, which when combined with the softer kung fu from traders to the island, became what we know of today as modern day karate. Japan didn't get "karate" until the early 20th century, and they got it from Okinawa. No, karate was in existence long before the weapons ban, but it became more pronounced after that time. I assume you're still talking karate here? True "old school" karate doesn't do jumping kicks. Or at least, not high jumping kicks. The systems that are doing those now have added that technique within the past 30 years or so. Honestly, I'm not sure, but I doubt it. Karate, Kung Fu are generic terms, like saying cars/automobile...it denotes a generalized "thing", not a specific, such as a Toyota car. Can they be the same? Not really, as the emphasis of each is different than the other. Also, karate denotes a fighting system from Okinawan/Japan, whereas kunk fu and quan fa denote a Chinese influence.

From and instructors (since 1978) perspective, if I'd heard one of my students was starting to teach somebody outside of class, I'd be more than a little miffed. Depending on your instructor and the organization he represents, you might want to consider these factors: 1. You PAY your instructor to teach you...and yet you're going to give this knowledge away to someone else without consideration to your instructor in this area. 2. Are you under contract to your instructor? If so, you might want to read that contract because there could possibly be a clause in there about you NOT teaching until such time as your instructor deems you able to do so. If you are found not honoring your part of the contract, you could face legal litigation if the instructor wanted to pursue it. 3. Are you qualified to teach others? Since you didnj't mention your belt level, nor experience in the arts, are you a low/mid level kyu belt, or a dan rank? There's a big difference between those ranks when it comes to teaching. 4. You, yourself, could be possibly opening yourself up for a lawsuit if you accidently hurt your new student. People with little experience teaching, but think they know what they're doing, can easily hurt someone else while attempting to teach them a technique that they themselves aren't really that good at. You say he's your friend...well, friends are one thing, hurting that friend through negligence and he comes after you with a lawsuit is quite another. 5. As an instructor, I'd be angry at one of my students that was teaching others and didn't come to me first and ask permission. Angry enough to dismiss the student? Possibly.