Montana

I've also seen this sort of things in dojos across the nation. From budda statues in shrines, to crosses hanging on the wall. I've been asked many times by people that they would love to take karate, but can't because they're Christians and won't pray to budda. I laugh and tell them I teach karate, not religion. Sparticus, who did you study under on Okinawa? Sensei Kuda by chance?

Put it in a Christmas card and mail cash to them. I know mailing cash is dangerous, but I've been doing it for years and have NEVER had an issue. Or even better yet, have a friend of yours that they don't know (or a local minister would do it probably), take a card to their door and give it to them anonomously.

EXCELLENT!!! There were a couple of the old black and white vid's of OSensei Soken Hohan (my particular linage) in there but went by so fast!!! lol

The kids class played games, ate cookies and drank KoolAid. The Adults...well, we went to Moose's Saloon and drank beer and ate pizza. More like an office party actually..lol

Simply, no it doesn't annoy me if people think it's just for kids. Honestly, I don't think that in 40 years since I started, that comment has never been made to me that I remember..but then, I'm old too...memory isn't what it used to be.

I've never heard of him...what does he do would be helpful. Links?

I judged a nationally ranked kata competitor once in a traditional kata competition that did back flips, splits and the like and out of 5 judges on the panel, I scored him a 7 out of 10. The other judges gave him much higher marks. His kata, as good as it was, was far from traditional. He gave quite the glare afterwards.

I was a judge/ref for over 25 years, and IMO if a judge scores higher because of the condition of a competitors belt, or his rank, and not his skill level, he has no business being a judge/ref. My opinion of course.

I use either RH or LH forward, depending on who I'm fighting, how THEY are fighting/standing, or what techniques I want to use. IMO you need to be able to use either side just as effectively. I'm RH'd btw.

When teaching(or posting in this case) , i tend to speak to the the "MASSES". the masses can attain the concept of "straight line is easiest" while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept. Sort of like watching Lebron james and trying to teach everyone to do slam dunks from the free throw line, why teach it when a hand full of humans can do it out of 8,000,000,000 on earth. The concept of dunking from the free throw line is possible but i rather teach doing "layups" as everyone can accomplish it. I am sure a handful of humans on earth can catch a punch in mid full speed UNREHEARSED flight, but why teach that? Teaching unattainable concepts and techniques is honestly detrimental to anyone (IN MY OPINION). I can try and do my Lebron Free throw dunks for my entire life time and NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE to doing it. "I just wasted my life time trying to be LEBRON"..... Disclaimer: Listen to your instructor over a random person(ME) posting on the internet. I'm trying to understand what you're trying to say, but for the life of me..I'm lost! By "while very few(talking 1% or less) can develop "shifting,torque,combo,angles,etc" to be an effective concept."..are you sying that very few people can learn and use the fundamental techniques and properties of the martial arts??? In over 30 years of teaching the arts using just those concepts you mention, it's been my experiencve that the vast MAJORITY of people can learn, and use, those techniques. It just takes time, practice and effort.

Agreed...

Neither have I, and I've been doing Shorin Ryu since January of 1975! lol Learn something new every day!

I was thinking more along the lines of a Parkng Lot Tournament...but probably not a good diea...

Is a practitioner or Bartitsu referred to as a Barista? Sorry, couldn't help it. I'll drink to that!

I'd like to mention that years ago I had a 8th Dan friend of mine from another system ask if I'd like to sit on his black belt testing panel and give my opinions as to what I thought of his students during their test. There were about 10 people ranging in age from 10 to 50 or so. As each person was tested I was asked to comment in turn with the other judges as to what I thought was good about their performance, and what I thought might need improvement. I was totally APPAULED at what I saw in these students! They were HORRIBLE! But what was I to do? My vote as to whether they passed or not did not apply, and I was just sitting on the panel as a courtesy only. I tried to be as nice as possible, but it was VERY difficult to bite my tongue and not say what I was really thinking. In my opinion, not one of these people testing deserved higher than a mid-level COLORED belt...but they all passed and were promoted to 1st, 2nd and even 3rd degree black. I will NEVER do that again because as I get older and more disgusted with some of the stuff I see in the arts, I can't keep my mouth under control..which has been an issue now and then on this forum also! lol

That's a good point and I would love to have someone from the same system test my students (they have tested a few when a student or two of mine and I travelled to work out with other sensei from the same system...a rare occurance however), but the distance between these other sensei is rather prohibative. I was in northern Montana at the time, and the nearest sensei for the same system was either in Seattle (a good 12+ hour drive ) or Minneapolis (probably a 20 hour drive), or Texas..(2 day drive at least). I did have a couple of these sensei visit me a few times, but only when they were passing thru my area and I had no advance warning they were coming. My chosen system isn't like some where's these's one on nearly every street corner in the country. We're a small system and like it that way. In general, our instructors work on quality over quanity with our students. Heck, in the 27+ years I taught, I only promoted 4 people to black belt level.

The last student I promoted to brown went this way. I watched him for the past 2 years of training, saw where he was at at the belt prior to brown belt (we have 3 brown belts), and decided he deserved his first brown belt. I called him out at the end of class, opened my briefcase and handed him a certificate and belt for 3rd kyu. Simple, huh? No pushups (they do those every class anyway), no massive kata drills (these do kata every class anyway), and no sparring (they do that most classes anyway). Esentially, that student had been testing weekly (every class) for the past 2 YEARS! Personally, I don't see a point in a "formal" testing process like you described.

I'm just a youngster at 62, but on a recent trip to Seattle, and having arthritis in both knees and a bad back, I took along a "bull" cane that I've had and trained with for years. They are hard to find sometimes..usually in a farm and ranch type of store, but they are indestructable ratton and about an inch thick. Wonderful and legal weapon to carry openly in my opinion.

Thanks, but I've been "retired" for 10 years now due to arthriis in both knees and a bad back. I run thru my kata now and then and basics, but anything to intense and there's an audible "snap" in my back, my legs go weak and I'm literally out of commission for days/weeks. 10 years ago I had to make a decision as whether to keep teaching, or possible some day that "snap" would do somnething permanent and I wouldn't be able to work. At 52 years of age at the time, work had precedence. No, my martial arts days are gone, but not forgotten!!! lol Most of my friends came to me via the arts as students, and I think of the art daily. I'm considering judging and referreeing again at local tournaments in the Spring...we'll see.

Another bummer here from me that I would have loved to participate in something like this also. I think it's rare that Okinawan stylists get together like this to share their knowledge.

It wasn't my knee I nailed with the kama..IT WAS THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT! I was doing a karate kata and thought I'd try it with a kama instead for fun. I did a snap kick to the side and down strike with the kama. bottom of my foot met the tip of the kama..BLED LIKE CRAZY!!! This was maybe 15 minutes before class started and I was laying on the fkloor with a roll of paper towels trying to stop the flood of blood as students came into the dojo. Embarassed? Oh YEAH! lol And yes, I've had many bonks on the head, knee, elbow, groin, shin and about everywhere else with the nunchauku.

Oh Lord..how many tests have I done? Many hundreds at least. I've said this before...I test my students each and every class, and they know it. I watch them every class..guage who is practicing, and who is not. Who is making the corrections I make, and who is not. Who is putting forth appropriate effort for their belt level, age and experience, and who isn't...etc. The test itself is really a formality. If the student has progressed to where I want them to be for that next belt and has really worked for it..they will be tested..sometimes without them knowing it. If they pass, GREAT! If they don't, they will know what exactly it is that they need to work on.

Seriously? Just 3 years? You've just started..what do you expect? lol It was around my 15th year that things just "clicked" for me. it was like a light bulb going on in my head and body, and I've never looked back. Things just started making sense.

We only teach kata specific to our system. Between the karate kata and the kobudo (weapons) kata..that's PLENTY! lol

Jyust to be clear here, I am NOT attacking you, or anybody else. I have nearly 40 years in the martial arts and have watched many different systems teaching their arts, which included many different classes of "women's self-defense". It is my opinion, which I'm fully entitled to, that women's self-defense programs, for the most part, are a near total waste of time and IMO, can actually be dangerous to the woman participant because it will give them a false sense of security that they will effectively be able to defend thenmselves against an attacker after just a few classes. As of the last I heard, this is still a free country (USA) and I have the right to my opinion, as do you. I am not attempting to insult you, or anyone else when I voice that opinion. If you think women's self-defense clsses have merit..good for you. I happen to disagree with you. As for what you said about ..."Respect towards others views is essential in creating a place we can all feel welcome."..I don't see anywhere in my comments where I don't respect your views. I DISAGREE with your views.