Montana

Not in my dojo we don't. Yes, sometimes running is your best option, but usually after you've disabled or stunned your opponent so they can't run after you. I'll have to do some research on this one. I've never heard of the art of running away. Dare I take a guess as to what country this originates from? No...better not.

Good point! Here's the video of him performing it. Wow..that is so far from the Okinawan way of doing Passai that it's barely recognisable.

All three--instep, ball and shin. Each has it's own purpose and targets, depending on what is open and what your objective is . Oh, almost forgot...kicking the same as you would with the ball of your foot, but using your big toe as the striking point.

Congratulations! I'm trying to remember wh3en I was at the same point in my training....I think it was early 1977 somewhere....wow, that was a long time ago.

Although this is a good rule of thumb normally to look for, it isn't always the case. In my case, for example, I belonged and have tested up through 4th Dan under a good organization, but since the head of the system passed away in 1999 the organization pretty much splintered and died. People went off in different directions and the successor of the organization (his son) turned more towards a more "sporting" attitude about the art. Nothing I wanted to be a part of. The organization I currently belong to is small, but dedicated to preserving the art as taught by our deceased leader. Nobody's ever heard of the organization, nor likely to, as we like it small and sort of "elite". So if a knowlegable prospective student came into my dojo looking for a large, well known national/international organization that I'm affiliated with, they won't find it. So TRUE! This I don't agree with. Novice martial artists don't know squat about what they're looking at. They are easily impressed with flash and that BB worn around the instructors waist. Break a board or two for them and they think you're a God! BAH! Shhhh...don't tell them that they are paying to get abused...an instructors got to have some fun now and then! OK...serious now (that's not easy for me, but I'll try). You have to have safety in the dojo, but only to a certain extent. You have to expect to get bumps and bruises now and then. We're nto teaching ballet you know...we're teaching a fighting art form here. True. I don'[t know exactly how many different sensei there are in this particular area, but I'm not at all shy if somebody asks me about any of them in particular and will give my honest opinion of them and their art. Some are quite good and I would recommend them...while others...well, let's just say...not so good.

Just using myself as an example, I've been in around 8-10 real fights (not tournament sparring) since my starting the arts and have successfully...using techniques I have trained in...defeated my opponents. I was referring to defending agaisnt weapons, not traditional kobudo. We train in defenses againt knives, baseball bats, clubs in general, and all sorts of other things. That is the training I was referring to. I was referrign exclusively to the physical aspects of defense against weapons/guns, not verbal/mental aspects. Yes, we train in those also. True that some dojo don't keep up with the times, we don't a lot, but do the obvious things like against an armed mugger as opposed to somebody attacking with a katana or a spear.

Same here, but we call it Matsumra Kenpo...same stuff, different name.

EXACTLY!

In cross's origional post, I get the feeling that you are inferring that all stylized martial arts (meaning traditional arts I assume) are not practical or deal with the modern day world of hand to hand combat...correct? I agree with that to a point about many martial arts, but not all of them. There are quite a number of systems out there, the old traditional ones that have been around and well proven to be effect in combat, that are several hundreds of years old. Defenses against a weapon or empty hand are little different now as they were then. In fact (my opinion of course), an attacker today is more likely to be LESS skilled with that knife than an attacker of 1-200 years ago, as that weapon was much more common and used more often then. The human body can only move in certain ways, or attack with a weapon in certain ways. That has not changed since...well, forever! Not all systems are lacking in one area or another. Some systems are quite well rounded and effective in all ranges of personal combat. When talking about a hand gun pointed at your face, there's only so much you can do if he isn't within touching distance. But if it is within touching distance, yes, there are techniques that are little different than knife techniques for disarming or controlling the weapon. If you are taking a "traditional", or otherwise martial art, and you don't feel that it is covering all of the bases that you think it should, then by all means, look elsewhere. I would. But if you're taking an art that does all levels of combat, why seek out something else if you're satisfied with it? I've taken just the one art for 30+ years. Is it perfect? Of course not. But in all of my time i nthe artsand taking every possible opportunity to observe every other system that I have the chance to, I haven't seen a system yet that I think is better, or more complete than what I'm already doing. Yes, there are systems that are better at ground fighting (BJJ for example), but are limited in other areas. There are systems that are better from a sports aspect than what I do and there are systems that are far flashier and colorful than what I do, but I feel they are flawed from a self-defense aspect..which is my primary perspective.

The advice you've gotten so far is all good, but there's always the problem with a new, novice prospective student in that they have no idea what is good technique, and what isn't. The majority of peopkle see an instructor wearing a gi and black belt around their waist and assume that yes, he's good...no matter what he does. Add a few dozen (hundred?) tournament trophies (no sign of skill really), and your typical new student with no knowledge of what they're looking at, is impressed. Every instructor you meet will tell you that what they are doing is the best...period. If he/she didn't believe that, then they would be doing something else. I'm no different. When someone invests the time, the sweat, and yes, the money into learning an art, they become followers and believers of that art. As mentioned before, talk to the instructors (don't believe everything you hear though, especially really wild claims), and his students (wthout the instructor present if possible), take free classes, watch out for contracts, get on the net and research the heck out of every system that you have available in yoru area. Can you tell us what systems are available in your area...maybe we can help there. Good luck! Oh...one thing to watch out for is someone that is in their 20's and claims to have a very high rank...say 4th dan or above. MAJOR red flag there in my opinion. Or anybody that claims national champion of this or that. References are good also. If an instructor takes offense to any questions you have of him/her...RUN! It's yoru money and you have every right to find out his/her qualifications before you sign on the dotted line.

I've used Shureido gi for a long time. Can't hardly wear the dang thigs out! Of course I have 3-4 of them, and they get rotated...that helps. Supurb quality.

Although not your typical "well rehearsed" demonstration video...if you know what you're looking at anyway, that video shows some very fine basic blocking technique (note a couple of good examples of body shifting) of Okinawan karate! Got any more links like that?

I met a young (mid-20's) Seidokan Karate instructor via another forum a few years ago by the screen name of sauzin. Some of you might know him, as he has his own small forum. He and another Shorin Ryu stylist came to me and we worked together for a weekend Unforunately my back went all haywire on me the day they arrived, so my participation was very limuited. Anyway, as sauzin explained to me, Seidokan Karate is an offshoot of, or highly influenced by, Shorin Ryu. All I can say is, that sauzin impressed me a lot, and if he's typical of what Seidokan Karate, then I'd say go for it...it's a good system!

The ribs will heal and not be a problem when they do. Sure, no problem...I can help. Send a bank draft to me for $500 (USD) and I'll set you up with the basics and guarantee you a yellow belt by the end of summer.

I agree. The video looked like a belt factory class. Do the minimum and get a belt.

For me, the arts are only about one thing. Being able to protect yourself, a loved one, or a total stranger if you chose, in a self-defense situation...period. That's what it was developed for origionally, and that's the way that I teach it and practice it. With that in mind I've got a lot of stories over the past 25+ years of teaching, but the one that sticks out the most is when Latigo, a 14 year old boy, and his father walked into my dojo one day and wanted to talk to me about learning to defend himself (Latigo, not his father). When I first say Latigo, he had 4 stitches over his left eye, a fat/split lip and a missing top front tooth. His father said he had been in a schoolyard fight two days previously (a Christian school) and the school bully, 1 grade higher and considerably bigger than Latigo, had punched him out for no apparent reason other than to do it. The school did nothing to the bully other than suspend him for a day. Anyway, the father had gone to sign up Latigo at a local Aikido sensei's (a VERY distinguised and excellent sensei) class and asked him to teach his son how to defend himself. I know this Aikido sensei fairly well and have great respect for him. This sensei talked to the father and son about what happened, and what their goals were and told them to come talk to me instead because learning Aikido would take to much time to be useful. Latigo's needs were immediate, not a few years down the road, so he referred them to me. So, after talking to Latigo and his father, and stressing that my most important rule was that what I taught (Shorin Ryu) was to be used for self-defense purposes ONLY, and that I would not condone a student of mine starting a fight for any reason, I accepted Latigo into my class. Latigo was a serious, and attentive student from that first day of training. About one month after starting classes he and his father came in for normal class and his father told me that Latigo had been in a fight at school again with the same bully that did so much damage before. Apparently the bully was picking on a much smaller and younger student at the school and Latigo went to his aid. The bully turned on Latigo and pushed him to the ground. Latigo got up and told him that if he touched him again he was going to knock his block off (or words to that effect). The bully attacked again, Latigo parried the attack, countered and knocked the bully flat on his butt with a bloody nose. All of this happened with teachers present on the play ground, but they did nothing to stop the bully. In conclusion, Latigo and the bully were suspended from school for a day, and Latigo's father was taking him to a movie, out anywhere he wanted to go for dinner, and then shopping for a new, expensive bike. His father was VERY proud of what his son had done (I was also) and was so very thankful to me. He is a sign painter, and a week later came by my school with the most beauiful sign for my dojo window I could hope for...free of charge.

I've had people ask me about private lessons numerous times over the years, and I just look at them and tell them that "You cant' afford it." No, I'm not being cocky by saying that to them, but rather my time with my family and friends is important to me, not to mention that I work a hard 44 hour week with rotating days off, different hours, etc...and I value my free time more than I value some extra $'s. Sure, if some fool wants to pay me a ton of money for private lessons, I'd do it just for a laugh. I believe there is no advantage to private lessons as opposed to a group class. Actually, I believe that if you only take private lessons, then you won't be nearly as good of a martial artist as someone that takes group classes. You need to work with as many different people as you can, as nobody reacts or moves the same.

I charge $40/month for 2, two hour classes/week. No test fees, no contracts, no overinflated uniform/equiptment charges. I'd actually not charge anything for classes if I could, but I've found over the years that if you don't charge anything that the majority of people put little or no value in their training, and often will not come to class because they have nothing invested in it. Odd how the thought process works sometimes.

I've been a kata judge/kumite referree for 25+ years now in open, all style tournaments and not knowing the kata you performed, I would have scored you high because of strong technique, good balance/timing, etc. it was a good kata. On the kumite, I'm normally the center ref and I will NOT let my corner judges sit on their fat keesters or stand in one place. When the judges first are assigned to a ring, I have a quick 60 second meeting with them before we start and tell them what I expect them to do. They move with the action, get involved, or I get another judge and replace them. There are a lot of bad judges out there and because I'm pretty "senior" at these tournaments, I normally get to choose who I want to be in my ring as a judge. I pick some good people that I know will call legitimate points and know what they are doing. Sure, we're not perfect, but we do the best we can and I'd say that we're pretty accurate most of the time. You're a brave man for posting yourself on the net and opening yourself up to critisism. You have nothing to fear as you're a good martial artist and have had good instruction. Bravo to you and your sensei!

And one other thing to consider is that in the martial arts, you don't really "peak" until you're in your mid to late-50's. You can't really say that about many other "sports" (I don't like to call the martial arts a sport). Well, except maybe bowling and golf...

Just a quick little story here which shoudl make my view point clear. Maybe 15 years ago I attended a seminar the night before a tournamentthat was hosted by a 10 year old, 3rd Dan black belt. He was supposedly a National Champion of some sort. During a break in this seminar, which consisted of this 10 year old showing off his high kicks and general "flash-crap" (as I like to call it) I was talking to other sensei in attendance when this kid comes up and just starts taking over the conversation. I don't know what made me do it...just an impulse I guess (I get those sometimes)..but I grabbed the kid by his lapels, picked him up and put his back against the wall so that his head was level with mine (I'm 6'6" tall), and our noses were maybe 6 inches apart. I said to him..."Now what are you going to do?" Well, let's just say that I was worried he was going to pee his pants, so I put him down. I know this sounds mean, but you'd have had to been at this seminar to see this pompous little ...uhhhh...turd... strutting around like God Himself to understand what made me do what I did. His parents cater to his every whim, he has students that kiss his ....cheeks, and he just thinks he's top of the heap. AT 10!!! I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I don't want to take classes from a young kid. 15/16+ is OK, but any younger and I won't do it. Not a whole class. Sure, help with something like a basic or a kata perhaps, but not a whole class.

Well, a 3-4th degree BB in 4 years is, IMO, a "shake and bake" quickie way to get higher rank. You may have the knowledge of techniques and kata, but you don't have the "seasoning" that comes from experience for that rank. A 1st Dan..OK, I don't see a problem with that...but a 3-4th? Nope. Smells of "belt factory" mentality to me. Sorry, despite being from a very reputable institution (Concordia), I think it's a load of crapola.

Are you to old to do the arts any longer? Here's a link to a video from the early 1970's of OSensei Soken Hohan at about 80 years old performing Chinto. Stories abound of this man performing tossing 20 year olds around his dojo well into his late 70's.

IMO, absolutely NOT! Bouncing puts you into a definite rhythm that an experienced fighter wil luse against you. I've used this myself, and if you tiem your attack to move forward when your opponent is just starting his upward "bounce"...he can't move his body away from you until he comes down from that bounce and is able to push awy from the ground with his feet. It takes practice and training, but very possible. Fighting is all about using your strengths against your opponents weakness's and openings.

Our back stance is around 40/60 (front/back) weight distribution. We don't like to overcommit to anything, as that can leave you vulnerable. At 40/60 you can still go forward quickly if needed, or back, but the wieght is slightly off the front foot. As for the foot position, generally pointed forward, but could be angled. Angled telegraphs to your opponent (if they're skilled enough to pick up on it) that you are more prone to trying a side/roundhouse kick. With the foot straight on to your opponent, you can do anything.