Montana

Jane's obviously not into it any longer. I teach the way they do in Okinawa. If she comes, teach her. If she's not interested in learning, either ignore her, or ask her parents to pull her out. I'm there to train those that want to learn, not babysit a child that doesn't want to be there. Any time you spend on her is wasted time that is robbing students that want to be there and learn.

On this note, I'm available for summer seminars. Fly me, hotel me, feed me, pay me what you feel is appropriate, it's all good. I like to travel and go new places. Just kidding...I'm old, beat to heck, and very opinionated and will tell you as I see it, like it or not.

I'm not a fan of instructors who have maybe a first dan in multiple systems, then want to start their own system. 1st Dan just means you know your basics, like graduating from high school. There is so much beyond that that you THINK you know, but don't really until you've been working it for years and years. With that, I myself, started teaching my first class as a Shodan in a small farm town about 60 miles from my sensei. I only practiced one system, and did it as faithfully as I could. My students knew my sensei's name and phone number if they wanted to call him about anything pertaining to me or what I was teaching. Nobody ever did. I have over 45 years in one art, and have so much more to learn about it, that I never will.

I had black and white 8x10 pictures or drawings of the founders of our system thru current heads of the system. I hung an American Flag 3x5 as I'm a veteran and BY GOD THIS IS AMERICA! My kobudo weapons were hung on the walls along with my rank certificates and dojo charter from the organization I belonged to. One thing you do NOT want to hang is a picture of Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris, unless you are teaching their system! SOOOO CHEESY! I did have a hole in my wall with a picture frame around it once from a female student that put her foot thru the sheet rock and her name underneath it. lol

Personally, I'd invite them as a "guest", not as a paid instructor. I've sat in on maybe 8-9 testings as a guest instructor for TKD, Kenpo, and a couple of "eclectic" dojo's where they combine several arts into a system of their own. I asked for no compensation, not expected any other than maybe dinner if it was out oftown..

Kickboxing and TKD are a totally different types of martial arts, and will attract different types of students. I would welcome the other instructor and make every attempt to get along with them. I taught at a healty club for a while. My karate class followed a well established aikido class run by a very skilled Sensei. I'm not a fan of aikido, but would always arrive at least 30-45 minutes before my class to watch his class, and talk to him before mine started. Super nice guy! What I teach has what's called tuitte, very similar to aikido, but not as in depth or "peaceful".

My classes were 2 hours long, twice/week. They weren't rigid and set in stone, but generally they went like this: 20 minutes of basic warmup exercises consisting of stretching, 20 pushups, 25 situps and various other basic exercises. Followed by basic kicks (10 per leg), basic blocks (5-6 different ones, 10/side) then 3-4 basic punches 10/side. This was followed by a quick 2 min water break, then working on combinations. Can be 2-5 technique combos back to back, mixing it up constantly. Done as fast and strong as possible. This was followed up by self-defense techniques. This can vary from class to class, but all students, regardless of rank, work on the same techniques. I'm not a fan of "this is a white belt technique", or this is a black belt technique. EVERYBODY does them all. 2 minute water break Sparring, semi or full contact using bogu gear. 2 min water break Kata kata kata kata and more kata to finish up the class. I've seen a number of dojos where students just wander off the floor in the middle of the class when they feel like it to get water or go to the bathroom. Totally not allowed unless you're going to pee your pants. I like to keep their blood flowing and heart pounding. At the end of the class there better be SWEAT AND EXHAUSTION, or they aren't working hard enough.

I'm usually the "oddball" in here in my replies. As to what I charged for "private lessons". Well, I never taught "private lessons" other than to have a student come in early to class, or stay late after class to help them with something. My goal was to teach the next generation and people that wanted to learn. Is my time valuable? Yes, and that's why I chose to share my valuable time to help my students. Money was always secondary, and I didn't try to make a living at teaching karate. Well, for 3 years I did, but I didn't like it. I prefer my basement, small classes, personalized instruction, total involvement of their training and learning process. Yeah, I'm the oddball of the group.

A bo case? Really? Obviously you guys have never seen my beat up, dented and marred bo! lol I whack trees with mine, poles and fences. Basically, get used to hitting stuff with it. Gets to banged up, even broken, I get another one.

Good topic! My origional sensei learned in Okinawa from one of the top people in the system, Sensei Kuda Yuichi. My sensei never really mentioned what language they spoke in class, but I know sensei Kuda only spoke a little English. What I learned from my sensei was mostly English terms for the techniques, such as: Outside block Inside block High block Low block Hand block Snap kick side kick Roundhouse kick etc. Katas were in Okinawan: Pinan Sho, Ni, San etc. Counting was in Okinawan also. I had a BB student that started researching the Japanese terms for the various techniques, but I really never got into it.

What I've seen over the last 45 years is a longer, more aggressive "tournament kiai"..one aimed at intimidating, impressing or "SEE ME" type of kiai. There are 3 purposed of a kiai: 1. Startle your opponent. 2. Tighten your body to absorb impact. 3. Add strength to your technique. IMO, these long Kiai, especially at the beginning of a kata, are ridiculous!

There was no "requirement" to remove jewelry, but a recommendation. Rings can get your fingers hurt. Necklaces can get broken. Bracelet's can hurt yourself or others. Facial jewelry can be a bad idea.

My thoughts also. Are they afraid you'll switch to the other side?

As far as I know, my branch of Shorin Ryu doesn't do that kata. Descended from Soken Matsumura, to Soken Hohan, to Kuda Yuichi, eventually to me. Interestingly, my branch of Matsumura Seito does do Seisan. However, my lineage branches differently, from Soken Hohan to Kise Fusei.Essentially the same thing as I do then. Kuda and Kise worked together at first, but as I understand it from several high ranking sensei that left Kise, he was passing out BB's like confetti and changing things quite a bit. My origional sensei studied under Kuda in Okinawa. I received my Shodan from Sensei Kuda.

We've talked about this before. My personal Shodan testing took maybe 5-10 minutes under 7th Dan Kuda Yuichi, head of the Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kenpo. I didn't even know I was being tested. We don't make a big deal out of the BB tests, or any others for that matter.

America...none

As far as I know, my branch of Shorin Ryu doesn't do that kata. Descended from Soken Matsumura, to Soken Hohan, to Kuda Yuichi, eventually to me.

Top of the foot

100% agree. Almost anything can be used in self-defense if you get your mind to thinking about it.

I don't remember my first test. Sometime in March or |April 1975. Yeah, a bit ago. I'm sure my test lasted maybe 10-15 minutes. Basic blocks, kicks and punches. Stances of course, and Pinan Shodan. Sensei Miller made corrections and suggestions, and that's it. Done. Pass or fail. I really, REALLY don't like instructors/systems that feel they have to put a student thru a 2.5 HOUR long test! WHY??? As an instructor, I should know what you know better than you do. I see you in class every day, make corrections, give advice, correct flaws and MAKE YOU BETTER!

I'd take you up on that. Most of the schools I've been a part of have not indulged in this kind of training. I've dabbled a bit in the past, years ago, but without really knowing anything about what I was doing. I've seen a partner forearm blocking drill that I think would work really well, but never any of the leg kicking stuff. I do think this kind of training would be beneficial, so long as it's done right. I'd be afraid of getting that "no pain, no gain!" style instructor that would batter someone up to the point that movement was difficult and actually causing injury. Kicks are easy. Only hit as hard as your partner can take, but take all you can. Does no good if you're not pushing your limits. receiving end determines how hard. 1. Face each other, right or left legs forward. Roundhouse to partners thigh. Alternating turns. Emphasis NOT flinching the knee away or could be hurt! Do other side. At least 10 reps each leg. 2. One person with right leg forward, other left. Same kick but to the INSIDE of the thigh. Roundhouse kick. Same thing, don't flinch! 3. Back shoulder kick, facing each other, right let, right hand on top of the head. Roundhouse under the arm to kick back of shoulder blade. 4. Stomach kicks. Partner stands sidewise to you, hands behind back, horse stance. Partner roundhouse kicks to stomach 10 times. There's one using an openhand block where a partner punches you, block, then upwards against their forearm then double chop down. Easy to show, hard to describe. If I knew how to do a video on here and get it to you, I'd show you. Really good for toughing up the forearms.

We do what we called Kotoate drills, involving roundhouse kicks to the inside/outside of the legs. stomach, ribs and back. The idea was to accept as hard a kick as you could manage. Arm techniques involved doing outside to down blocks whacking each others forearms against each other. Thee is also one using an open hand block, but I cant really describe it. I have a grandson in Tang Soo Do class right now and offered to show it to their sensei if he'd like to incorporate it into his training. No interest..lol.

Yeah, that's an automatic TWO point deduction!

Exactly! I might be going down with another sensei from Tang Soo Do. He's VERY legit, having competed in the same circuits as Bruce Lee, Bill Wallace, Chuck Norris and the like. He's 78 years young and trust me, still has it! He's been to this tourney before and didn't like it, but might go just to watch. He said there were a lot of things this tourney does oddly. If I go, August 3rd, I'll give you guys my impressions Afterwards.

I've run into that a time or two. What I meant was after you finish your kata, face the judges and bow to indicate you are finished. Probably 98% of kata do finish facing the same way as you started, but yes, a few don't.