Montana

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.

The idea isn't to train like karate, and give a life like situation! The idea is to give them information, and help to spark something in their way of thinking. I find your general attitude to be disappointing about it. In general when somebody posts their excitement about their oppertunity to reach others, especially those with no experience, I think it's best to post our opinions with less of a salty taste, and more of a supportive nature towards our forum friends. I also find your opinion that women training with women for a self defense situation for a man, a bit of a sexist statement. You know, when we train In martial arts and do drills, am I to feel my drills are not worth it because my attacker in the street is probably nothing like the more humble, and possibly nicer person in front of me? I happen to feel this way of thinking g could easily be called "stupid" IMHO! It's highly unlikely I'll face a person in the street who know karate, so it's a waist of time to defend against karate drills as well I suppose. Why do we bother at all? IMO...If you're taching a womens "self-defense" class aimed at women learning to protect themselves against men, it's rediculous to have your practice "attackers" women. Very seldom does a woman "attack" another woman like a man will. Very seldom does a woman grab like a man will. Very seldom does a woman have the strength or aggression that a man will. I don't know what kind of martial arts drills you do in your class, but in mine the emphasis is on the attacker attacking hard, fast and strong..not tossing out punches, kicks and grabs lightly. I emphasise realistic attacks, not wimpy attacks. Take just about any woman who has taken a couple weeks class of a womens self-defense program..wait about a week or two afterwards, bring them back and give them a man attacker that uses mid-level force in his attack, and I'll give you GREAT odds that that woman will FAIL to do anything in her own defense..anymore than she would have without previous training.

The biggest flaw I see in an all-women class is..who are they going to train with in these self-defense scenerios? Women vs women? BAH! That is just plain stupidity IMO. Is a woman going to grab you like a man would? Tackle you? Punch you? I have always hated women's self-defense classes..except for one. They are motly a total waste of time IMO.

I think karates future is going down the toilet pretty quickly. There will always be pockets of "traditionalists" (like myself) that will teach the old, authentic ways without bastardizing their systems with adding elements from other systems (such as high kicks and board breaking for systems like what I taught), just to please the students and keep them coming in the door. With the advent of adding all sorts of new, flashy techiques to systems just to please the students, older traditional schools are becoming a thing of the past in many dojos. Personally, I don't like it, and would NEVER do it. My philosophy is..If you don't like what I'm teaching and would rather do something else..then by all means..LEAVE! I'd rather have a small, dedicated class of people wanting to learn it the way it was taught then to teach "new and improved techniques. I had a brown belt once that started cross training in Parkers Kempo. He'd come back to my class and spend the entire class telling everyone how great it was. I finally had enough and after class one day I asked him to stay for a few minutes and told him..."If you like the EP Kenpo so much, then please..quit my class and go there to train. If you want to stay in this (my) dojo, then please keep your mouth shut." He stayed.

I've had competitors at open (all style) tournaments come before me as a judge and do similar techniques with their nunchauku during a weapons form. I score them low and after the competition is over I will go up to them and explain why I scored them low. To prove my point about the ineffectiveness of their flashy twirling of the weapon...and it is a weapon...I have them do the twirling then I stick my hand out and let it hit my arm...it typically falls to the ground and leaves them looking rather embarassed that it didn't break my arm. Sorry, not even a bruiise. Good techniques gets good results..bad technique gets bad results..simple.

Different video, but I think it's the same girl..or at least what I was referring to anyway. Look guys, I do appreciate her GYMNASTICS AND TWIRLING ABILITIES..I certainly can't move like that...but as a martial artist? Sorry, I don't buy it..and would never allow that sort of garbage in my dojo. I worked hard for many years to be able to do what I can do, and reach a certain level of expertise in my chosen art. I consider myself a martial artist, not a gymnast or baton twirler. My opinion of course.[/u]

We do point sparring, continuous sparring and full contact using Okinawan Bogu gear. All have their merits IMO, and their shortcomings. Point sparring teaches you speed and to look for openings. Continuous teaches you to not stop and to use multiple techniques and followups. Full cobntact teaches you to defense, and what really will rock an opponent.

I just tell them..."When you're ready..."

This varies alot..in our system skill has to be done along with time in grade for advancement up to, and including 7th Dan..after that it's rpetty much if you're still active and contributing to the art...administrative so to speak I guess. We don't test in physical abilites (ie: pushups, situps,m etc) in any of our tests...it's martial arts skills and good, solid techdnique that is looked at.

It's not uncommon for Okinawan (legitimate anyway) masters to gather and train together from time to time. As for Chuck Norris...I'm not sure who promoted him, but I'd assume that as the founder of his system he's pretty much understood to be a 10th dan...he certainly has the time and effort into it imo. I'm not a fan of the Korean systems, but for years CN has cross trained with other systems so the TSD he origionally learned is just the core system for his organization, which bears little semblance to TSD as he learned it. He sold his franchises many years ago (they still have his name on them though) and only trains the black belts once/year in Las Vegas..or that's what he was doing some time ago. I don't follow him so no clue what he does any longer.

Uhhhh...being 62 years old and not really up on all this "blogger" stuff..isn't what you're talking about the same thing as what we're doing here on this site???