marmaduke

I'm a parent. If I could offer my 2 cents. I see how it goes at my sons Dojo 4 days a week. Same problem. Why don't you have the parents become involved in belt tieing? Spend 15 min. and have the parents come on the mat and train them to tie their kids belt. Then hopefully they can show their kids how to do it at home. (Give them advance warning that they will be required to participate in class. This way, they won't drop off their kids and leave.) My own opinion? I'd like to see belt tieing as part of belt promotions. Then they'll learn quick enough.

Looking for some slippers or soled socks that can be worn on the mat and also will survive kicking a bag. My son went in to the Dojo a couple of Sundays ago for practice and it was 54 Deg. inside. Floors freezing. And of course he got sick. They have slippers for the Tia Chi class but those won't survive a few kicks. Was also looking at Ninja boots. $35 seems a little high. Any suggestions?

Could use some input on this. My sons Sensei prefers all wooden weapons to be raw wood. No varnish or other hard coating on them. He says the wood can "stick" to your skin after constant use. For the raw wood. He recommends oiling the wood to prevent it from becoming brittle. He used to provide a bottle of marine oil that he said was part Teak oil and part Coconut oil. He ran out and hasn't gotten anymore yet. I couldn't find this combo anywhere and got just plain Teak oil. Now, during the Winter months, the Teak oil is acting funny. My son is getting a "glaze" on the wood. I end up sanding this off and trying the oil again. Sometime it works, sometime I get the glaze again. I asked him about this and he said to use just plain coconut oil. So I got a jar. Its liquid at 76 Deg. and a solid at 74 Deg. I'm kind of wondering if he was pulling my leg about this. Bottom line....Does anyone oil their wooden weapons? What do you use?

No. Actually, he has only 4 names to remember. From Tony Ramos down to the Sensei of the school.

He's 16. Studying Karate for 9 yrs. Testing was closed session. I wasn't allowed to be there. Only the candidates, uki's and 3 judges. Basically, testing covered everything from White Belt on. Kata's, stances, take downs, sparring, weapons, etc. Every Belt Promotion involved a report on something Martial Arts related. They had to remember the reports in case they were asked about something on them. Also had to know the family tree of the Dojo/instructor. http://www.leewardkenpokarate.com/tree/tree.htm

My son was tested for his Black Belt Sunday, and passed. Started as a great Morning and ended in a Blizzard. (Cleveland got hit with 9" of snow) 3-1/2 hrs of a closed session test. I got to sit at McDonalds. Just the candidates, the judges and uki's allowed. Tonight, Tuesday, will be when he gets his belt officially. Style is a mixture of Kwanmukan/Kajukenbo. I would like to thank everyone with their input/comments/suggestions/help thru the past several months.

After 9 long years, my son was notified last night that his Black Belt test is scheduled for December 16. As I understand it, the Sensei takes everyone involved in the testing out to dinner afterwards. Cross your fingers everyone.

Interesting. I ordered the Tokaido brand and they sent me a Shureido instead. Its about $1.50 more. I'm guessing they may have been out of the Tokaido. Real nice belt. 11 rows of stitching. Thick belt. stitching looks real good. Even all the way. Now, ask me in a few years how it wears.

Whats "Stainless Combat Steel" ? My son practices Iaido and his blades have to be carbon steel. Even for Tameshigiri. Sensei will not allow stainless steel blades in the Dojo because they can break unexpectedly. There is a famous shopping chanel video where the guy is showing off a fake Katana, hits the table with it, it breaks and the flying piece stabs him in the leg.

I just noticed the post where someone had pictures of their Black Belt Test. Kind of curious. For a Black Belt Test at my Dojo, the Sensei will not allow cameras, camcCorders, or extra people to watch the testing. Only the Judges, candidate and Uki are allowed. How is it with testing at other Dojos?

I think you're right. I e-mailed them last week. Still waiting for a reply. Ordered belt from here, this morning. http://www.kungfu4less.com/belts.html Website looks kind of cheesy, but its the same belt. Update: 10/10/07 Already out for scheduled delivery 10/15. Thats fast.

Thanks for the help. I'm going with a Tokaido brand. Plain black. http://www.doshinmartialarts.com/belts.html Should do for a first Black Belt.

I'm looking to get a Black Belt. Something a little better than a Pro Force. I ran across "Ronin" and "Pine Tree" brands. Anyone have any opinions as to durability, wear, which one is better? http://www.bestbuymas.com/robrdeblbeto.html http://www.discountmas.com/pintrebelsol.html I'll even try these as a last resort if anyone has good recomendation on them. (Kind of priced high for me, last resort.) http://www.kinjisan.com/belts.html Thanks.

My son had a 3hr test Monday afternoon. Last night, he got his 4th stripe for his Brown Belt. Wasn't expecting it that quick. Now he has a Black Belt test scheduled for December. Style: Kwanmukan/Kajukenbo.

Has anyone actually seen this person in a seminar? My sons instructor constantly raves about him and his extraordinary abilities. We're having something called an "Arnold" in Ohio next year and this person will be at my sons Dojo. I"ve already signed up my son for one of his seminars. http://www.usadojo.com/biographies/dana-abbott.htm

Hi all. For years, my son has prefered a Diamond Proforce 14 oz. uniform. It has an elastic waistband. http://www.proforcema.com/cnt_show_products.cfm?mode=Uniforms&level=6|35 (Sorry, its about 20 down. Couldn't get exact web page) Monday, my son passed his Bo test and is allowed to wear a black top. I found this... http://www.martialartsmart.net/112uniform.html The pants will be allowed when he gets his Black Belt in December. This is the closest match I could find to the Diamond Proforce. There is no black Diamond Proforce. Would anyone know of any other brand/company that has a black Karate uniform. 14oz., elastic waistband? I've asked around and was told elastic waistbands are for children. I've found 2 different uniforms that have elastic waistbands but are also not for children. There has to be more out there.

Problem solved. The head instructor ( The Dojo owner) came back from vacation and I asked him about it. He told me that the iaido instructor is getting senile and he'll have a word with him. He couldn't see it either that people would have to drive halfway across the state to plug his sword class. He said too many students/parents get upset and leave. As it is, he said there is a Dojo tournament he's planning for September that my son can participate in and that will qualify him for his testing/promotion. So that takes care of that.

Hey !! My son passed his Bo test. 2 hours of Katas, sparring, question & answer sessions, and board breaking. The other Brown belt didn't. He couldn't break a board with a Bo thrust. You're supposed to do it in one thrust, but it took him 3 tries before he got it. The Sensei had my son do it for him. He had a girl hold the board with one hand, and my son broke the board with one thrust. He wanted to show the other Brown belt that it could be done easily. With this test out of the way, my son has earned the right to wear a black Gi top to class. (Everyone wears white up to this point). All he has now is a 4 hr. Black Belt test scheduled for December.

Hi. New problem. In addition to Karate, my son is taking an Iaido class on the side. During his last class his instructor mentioned to the class that he expects to see everyone at the next Tournament (July 22). He mentioned that grades would depend on participation. This caught me by surprise. I really didn't care for a threat like that. For one thing, I do not take my son to every single tournament just because I am ordered to. We usually go to two large tournaments per year for the Karate class. This Iaido instructor just started training and want to promote his class. More or less plugging an add. I don't care for that. I also have no idea where this Tournament is and do not plan on driving across the state just for one Kata. As it is, Ihave car problems and am trying to save up to have the car fixed. ( I can't do high speed freeway driving rightr now.) I would just as soon end my sons training here and now instead of putting up with tactics from his instructor. Any comments?? I am just being ridiculous?

As I understand it, Sensei's make their own rules. No one has ever heard of the board breaking for a Bo test, but my sons school has been doing it for years. And as the Sensei himself always says... He's the slowest school to promote. He prefers a student knows everything required. before he promotes anyone. As for the Ooki, the Sensei wanted a Green belt to help out for the experience. Thats his way. And as for Kwanmukan, the Sensei is also into Kajukenbo. His philosophy is to teach each High rank belt something different. One person is into Judo, another is into cane Katas, another uses Eskrima sticks, etc. I'm sure Mr. Anderson of Mr. Ellis would not interfere in the way a Sensei teaches his own school. I don't even think Mr. Anderson gives a flying Kata how a Sensei teaches his own school. Have you ever seen Mr. Anderson visit a local school? All I have ever seen of Mr. Anderson and his daughter have been at the Medina tournaments. Oh, and I'm curious. How was your Black Belt test? Again, Sensei's school, Sensei's rules. No one other than the Judges, Ooki, and the student being tested is allowed in the Dojo during the test. That includes family. When my son was Ooki for his friends Black Belt test, I had to sit at McDonalds for 4 hrs during the test. One of the Judges brought his wife. She had to leave. My son never argues with his Sensei. He follows instructions P.S. Who's Mr. Caldwell http://www.kwanmukan.com/members.kmk.html Granted, the list is old, but I have never heard of a Mr. Caldwell. .

If I might reply... http://www.e-bogu.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y I got my son a set from here. Good material, but the sizes are a joke. After measuring my son and picking the one that was "supposed" to fit, I had to return it for a larger size. He couldn't tie it closed. Good uniforms...lousy size chart.

Would you believe, everything worked out? Teachers pet got hurt while learning to drive a motorcycle, so she's out of testing. Sensei agreed to let each Brown Belt be the others Ooki and he let the Black Belt be there as backup. I have never been so relieved.! July 9th won't get here soon enough.

Thanks. My son has been here for 6yrs, plus 2 from another Dojo. When we switched him over it took a year to bring him up to the current Dojo's standards. I really don't want to start looking again. As it is, my son is scheduled for his Black Belt test in December. I really don't want to screw him up for that. As for the board breaks, its common at this Dojo. A downward swing across the board, a end-on strike/lunge, and a break at a 45 Degree upsweep. Several students have already done the practice strikes. One cracked his Bo, but otherwise, the breaks are simple and not very dangerous. One or two Ookis hold the board with "C" clamps. Its over before you know it.

Hi all. First time here. I could use some info/help/advice. My son is a Brown Belt in Kwan Mu Kan Karate. In two weeks, he will be taking his Bo test. Last week when he found out about it, he asked another Brown belt to be his Ooki. Yesterday, we found out the other Brown belt wouls be taking the Bo test same time as my son. So right no we don't know if they can Ooki each other or not. I asked a Black belt if he could Ooki. (My son was his Ooki for his Bo Test) Someone told us Black belts could not Ooki. The Sensei suggested to ask two Green belts (for the experience). would rather ask a blind person. I would not trust either one of these Green belts to help my son pass his test. Both are 16yr old girls.(no offense) Both are worthless. One has a habit of getting a headache during warmups and sitting in the middle of the floor until she feels better. (Teachers pet, she can get away with it). The other is afraid of any type of physical contact. My sons Bo test involves breaking three boards with his Bo from various positions. He has one chance to break the board. If the board does not break or his Bo breaks, he fails the test. The Ooki has to hold the board while its being broken. I'm expecting both of the girls to flinch or run when the time comes for the test. Not much choice left. Another Green belt who we would trust is out sick. What this boils down to is, should I be a pest and ask the Sensei whats going on? Or should I just stay out of it and let my son take his test and "pray" he passes.