Montana

Ah..the simple chair. Such a marvelous martial art weapon. We have several folding chairs in our dojo that we use for various training situations. ie: 1. Defender sits in the chair and attacker comes from behind and tries to choke them. Defender grabs attackers arm and while still seated moves his feet back a bit and bends forward...it throws the attacker right over the defenders shoulder and on to his head..right in front of you for easy "mop up"... 2. As has been said before, blocking and striking with the feet, legs, arms and hands are also taught while seated. 3. We also will set 3-5 chairs around the sparring area and fight around them..teaching the usefullness of obsticals in your way and how to avoid them, and how to use them to your advantage. 4. Oh yeah, we also can use the chairs as a self-defense weapon for blocking, "jabbing", or as a distraction.

I like to mix it up and teach a little of this, and a little of that..one night fairly basic techniques to the entire class, regardless of rank..and the next night brown/black belt level techniques. What I've found in 30+ years of teaching classes is that beginners, although not as pretty and precise in the movements, can nomally handle the harder techniques just fine. Understanding them fully--well, that takes practice and experience.

I can think of a few dozen (or more) "martial arts" that I've seen since 1975 that I thought were a joke...but they weren't really all that funny.

100% in agreement with you bud!

In the situation described... 1. You're to close to do an "effective" kicking technique as they've described. A foot stomp or side kick to the knee would be more plausible. 2. Look at the videos again. The attacker is soooo wide open for a punch to his floating ribs, which causes serious pain, if not cracking/breaking the rib, and the fight will end there. 3. Anybody really know what the high block is used for besides blocking something coming at/down to your head? It's an arm break guys. You put one hand (like in the video) on the guys arm to keep it where it is and do a high block to his elbow. Of the 3 videos, the first is the only real plausible technique..the others work great in the classroom with a partner that goes along with what you're doing, but doubtful in the street.

Agreed on all counts.

I'm 6'6" and 250lbs with a 38" inseam and long arms. Your best advantage at that height is to kick low and use yoru hands a lot..or so has been my experience since 1975 anyway. Kicking above the waist leaves my groin wide open and vulnerable. My advantage is reach, mass and strength and I use it to my advantage. As for tall people being unable to "in fight"..well, I seem to keep the little guys pretty well under control if, and when they get close.

I'd have to see the kick to be sure of course, but yes, Shorin Ryu certainly has low kicks to the inside and outside of the leg.

If you really get into the bunkai of the block, you'll discover that the "double block" has actually several applications. It can be a double block, or a block and a trap, or a block and a strike, or 2 strikes, or...

It was a relatifvely small TKD organization (International Korean Karate Association I believe) led by a man (now deceased) in Great Falls, MT. I don't know how many dojos were involved in the organization, but I believe the organization passed with his passing. I never put much stock in the certificate other than as a curiosity. One thing though is that after he gave that certificate to me, he asked if I would, in turn, give him an honorary Dan ranking in my system (I'm not, nor ever have been, the head of that system.) I politly refused stating that I didn't believe in "honorary" rankings, but told him that if he wished to join my classes and work his way up through the ranks like everybody else has to do, then I'd be more than happy to issue him certificates of rank for whatever ranks he successfully could test at. He declined.

4th Dan Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kenpo (Formerly Matsumura Seito) Karate/Kobudo 3rd Dan TaeKwonDo---and interestingly enough, I've not taken so much as ONE TKD class! Honorary..certificate hangs on the wall as a conversation piece.

Way back in the summer of 1978, my Sensei, Dennis Miller had invited the head of our system, Sensei Kuda Yuichi to come and visit us in a small town (about 12,000 people) in Montana. This was Sensei Kuda's first trip to America. Sensei Kuda spent 3 GLORIOUS (well, for me anyway) weeks in Montana training us. To say it was fantastic would be a gross understatement. Anyway, I was an first degree brown belt (just before shodan) and 2nd highest student in the class. During the 3rd week of Sensei Kuda's visit he had us line up against the wall by rank in a sitting position, and one by one, starting with my Sensei, had us stand before him as he asked us to show him various kata and other techniques. Each person spent about 10 minutes before Sensei Kuda doing as he asked. I was the 3rd person called up and performed what Sensei Kuda asked of me, and when I finished and returned to my place along the wall, my Sensei leaned over to me and extended his had. I thought he was going to say something like "Good job" or such, but instead he said...and I'll never forget this...he said "Congratulations...SHODAN!" I said "WHAT??? He said "You were just tested and passed for shodan..." I didn't know, or I would have been nervous as heck! My sensei had trained under Sensei Kuda for several years and knew how he tested, I didn't. There are a couple of pictures towards the bottom of this page of Sensei Kuda and I (I'm the really tall, skinny guy)-- http://www.geocities.com/rohai.geo/page.html Sensei Kuda passed in 1999--he was a true Okinawan Master of his art, a find and gentle person and is greatly missed by those that knew him or had the opportunity to learn from him.

My students are told that they are tested literally every day in class. They are tested on attendance, participation, effort, attitude, knowledge and improved speed, power, and accuracy in each technique they use. They are required to perform whatever kata for the level that they are at, plus any other previous kata that I feel like asking them to do for me. Students are coached by me during each class about what they are doing well, and what they need to work on to improve. I am a "hands on" instructor, which means I'm involved in each and every class, with each and every student I teach. I have an open door policy when means students can come in anytime and ask me anything, martial arts related or otherwise. The actual test itself is a formality really. I run them through kata mostly, but often ask them to perform a series of self defense techniques against one or more opponents. These are realistic drills, not prearranged. There are NO physical fitness requirements for advancement. Showing how many pushups you can do has nothing to do with advancement. I don't care if you can do 5---or 500! As for sparring..yes, we finish the class/test with sparring. Win or lose, I don't care because I've been testing them all along in each class, so I know what they are capable of. Students are not told when they are testing. I take a prospective rank advancement student and have them show me a kata or other techniques, which I do often anyway, so they don't know if at that time they are testing, or just having me watch them. I find it keeps them on their toes and stops the "When am I going to test?" questions.

Funny you should mention this...once in a while (can't do it often or they get used to it) I will throw both hands into the air while sparring and KIAI loudly...it really does startle your opponet! Makes for a good opening for a snap kick. Give it a try.

Agreed. In my school, everybody is equal. We don't make a big deal about the genders. The groin to the head are targets and you either protect them, ot get hit., You learn real fast that way. Now don't misunderstand me here...if a man intentionally starts attacking a womans breasts in other than normal sparring sense, he will be pulled aside and talked to about it and it will either stop, or he will be either excluded from sparring until he shapes up, or expelled if he doesn't. We don't use "gear" as a general rule (you won't have it on the street) unless the individual wants to get their own and use it. You learn to block or take the hit.

PRACTICE--PRACTICE--AND MORE PRACTICE! With an emphasis one the basics and kata DAILY! As for how do I prepare for the next rank? Well...I don't worry about it. I got my shodan in 1978 and my yandan in 2004 and there has not been one time that I have actually trained for advancement. I practice my karate to the best of my ability as frequently, and accurately, as I can, and if a promotion happens..great. If not...no biggie.

One thing I learned during my 30+ years in the arts is that NOBODY is unbeatable, regardless of system, size or experience. To assume otherwise is foolish.

Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito (we call it Kenpo now) under the late Kuda Yuichi.

ShorinRyu Matsumura Kenpo (aka Matsumura Seito Karate) Started in January of 1975 (34 years) 4th Dan (Yondan)

Agreed. The kama is a slashing/poking weapon whereas the sai is more of a poking/striking weapon. As tallgeese said, victory would no doubt go the the more skilled person...or the luckiest.

Kobudo is a seperate art within the art of karate, and as such, has a seperate ranking system also. Myself, I teach karate and kobudo as one art, but the kobudo training doesn't begin until sankyu karate level. I wouldn't say that kobudo training is "mandatory", but rather it's taught more like just going to another level in your karate training. Primarily, the weapons are taught in this order. Bo/Jo Sai Tonfa Kama Nunchauku Niton Bo Ikku I also toss in the cane here and there, which in my opinion, is the best. Go to your local farm and ranch store and get a "bull" cane. Literally, it's a cane used to prod and handle bulls...lightweight, but thick and very strong.

Not all martial arts schools now days are what I call "shake and bake" black belt factories...although I personally think the majority of them lean that way. Some dojo/sensei actually *gasp* make a student earn a black belt. I've judged and ref'd open style tournaments since 1983, and my personal opinion of the quality of the competing black belts today is...well...poor to terrible compared to when I started judging/reffing. We had a 8 year old 3rd Dan BB at one tournament that was simple a joke. Yet his sensei and parents walked about nearly throwing roses in his path as he strutted around the tournament. I was throughly happy when a 9 year old blue belt girl beat him in sparring..quite easily too! For me, I believe a black belt should have the knowledge, skills and abilities to be able to teach a class on their own, without supervision, on literally everything they have learned up to that point.

Pinan means Peaceful Mind also. As to the Pinan and Heian being the same...uhhh...yes, and no. The Pinan are much older and in my experience, considerably more indepth as to their bunkai that the Japanese Heian interpretations. Or so I've seen from the shotokan sensei that I've worked with. The movements of the Pinan bunkai are more subtle and with the slightest of changes, can be altered considerably in their meaning.

Agreed. As soon as the video said "George Dillman"...well, enough said if you ask me. There's a long, bad history between Dillman and the late head of my system (OSensei Soken Hohan) about where he got his "techniques". I tried to do a link about this, but it triggered an automatic "No No" device on here, so I'd suggest doing a search for "George Dillman Hohan Soken" and see what you get.

Congrats! Wow...that got me to thinking, so I did some digging through some boxes in the garage and came up with my 9th Kyu certificate, dated March 14th, 1975! ARGH...man, do I feel old right now!