Looking for Feedback on my Karate Paper

[Dobbersky]

I personally do not see the need for "writing" papers for Yudansha tests, Was it part of the Classical Arts of Naha Te, Tomari Te and Shuri Te forming together with Kode Te.

Who actually decided that these Written tests should be done. It doesn't equate to a Degree or PHD and doesn't give me a BSc after my name so to me its wasted energy. I bet Daniel-san didn't have to write a paper

[Wastelander]

I personally do not see the need for "writing" papers for Yudansha tests, Was it part of the Classical Arts of Naha Te, Tomari Te and Shuri Te forming together with Kode Te.

Who actually decided that these Written tests should be done. It doesn't equate to a Degree or PHD and doesn't give me a BSc after my name so to me its wasted energy. I bet Daniel-san didn't have to write a paper

Seeing as I have not reached Shodan yet, I don't suppose I really have much of a say in this, but I don't think there is anything wrong with writing a paper or taking a written test. What was once done verbally over the course of years to test for Yudansha ranks has simply been put onto paper so that it can be documented. We no longer live in a world where one person's say-so about your credentials is always enough, and so there is often need for proof that you know what you should know. That's how I see it, anyway

[Kruczek]

@Dobbersky - A hundred years ago people had the time to dedicate the majority of their time to karate-do. Students would study daily for multiple hours and often with senior students of a style. How often do you study? Do you think that you learn as much in the same time as someone with personal instruction?

The intent is to help students learn many of the things that would be taught when you were able to spend more time with an instructor. While you are correct that it does not add any title to the end of your name. Consider Bushi Matsumura. His name was so famous for his knowledge of karate that people would seek him out from across the country and dedicate the better part of their life learning what he had to teach - I don't even know PhDs with that kind of a reputation.

I offered this as how I think schools should be run. You are welcome to do what you wish, but I want my students to have a well enough understanding to explain things, not just demonstrate them. A website for your style is an excellent example. It said that, Koku Tora Ryu translates to "The Black Style School of the Empty Hand Way". Koku Tora Ryu means, "Black Tiger Style/Method". Koku Tora Kan KaraTe-Do is the closest translation of "The Black Tiger School of the Open Hand Way". How would you be able to explain the discrepancy to a new student who speaks Japanese and is confused? Basic research will teach you (although I can't explain that specific discrepancy), and basic writing allows your fellow karateka ensure you are staying on track.

To each his own, but I stand behind my statements here.

@Wastelander - Rank does not denote a right to talk I am happy to hear any and all of your opinions, and I think you understood exactly what I was saying. If you are reading and learning this early in your journey - you are way ahead of me and I salute you for that.

[bushido_man96]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Karate as a style was mostly a form of civillian self-defense, and most civillians at that time still had to work for a living. I don't think they got to devote a majority of their time to the study of Karate. Perhaps they had more time than we tend to have today, but I don't think they did it a "majority" of their time.

I have not read the paper yet, but when I get some time, I will.

[Kruczek]

Most of the original developers were Pechin (Okinawan equivalent of a Samurai) whose jobs were martial arts. We often picture the Mr. Miyagi of humble origins practicing in the family dojo - but that was not how it was founded. As far as my lineage - and others may offer a different view - Sensei Itosu was born to a family of nobility and in between studying Chinese classics he learned from the local Pechin (not exactly a hard working man with no free time). Chosin Chibana was born to a family of nobility (until they lost it in the Meiji restoration). Again tons of free time and it was his job his whole life.

Karate was something kept secret amongst upper nobility until the Meiji restoration. It didn't start being taught publicly until Itosu introduced it into the Okinawan Schools in early 20th century. Gichin Funakoshi made it main stream to our current "class on wed." format when he brought it to Japan in 1930.

Offer a different light on it?

[bushido_man96]

I thought the Samurai did a form of Aikijutsu, not Karate. Most of the Karate styles, to my knowledge, were taught in backyards or small shops to just a few at a time, that could show up.

[Wastelander]

I thought the Samurai did a form of Aikijutsu, not Karate. Most of the Karate styles, to my knowledge, were taught in backyards or small shops to just a few at a time, that could show up.

As I have been made to understand it, yes, the Samurai learned various styles of Aikijutsu and Jujutsu. The Peichin were the Okinawan version of Samurai--the two cultures were vehemently separate while these martial arts were developing--and learned various styles of Te or Chinese martial arts. I could be wrong, but that is what I've learned about it.

Sensei Kruczek: As far as me being ahead of the game, I don't know about that--I practiced Shuri-Ryu for 2.5 years to earn 3rd kyu and was studying the style throughout the entirety of that time, but when I moved to Arizona I had to switch to Judo for practical/economic reasons, so by the time I started Shorin-Ryu a few months ago I had already been in martial arts for over 4 years, so the concept of studying it isn't all that foreign to me

[Kruczek]

As I have been made to understand it, yes, the Samurai learned various styles of Aikijutsu and Jujutsu. The Peichin were the Okinawan version of Samurai--the two cultures were vehemently separate while these martial arts were developing--and learned various styles of Te or Chinese martial arts. I could be wrong, but that is what I've learned about it.

me

Haha, again hit it right on the head. When I said equivalent, I meant they held a similar status in society. Pechin were typically protectors of the King of Okinawa. They shared little to nothing in common with Japanese Samurai.

@Bushido_man96 - The Okinawans had a native "Te" that the Pechin would have been familiar with. As the Chinese came to Okinawa, the Pechin would frequently ask the diplomats to teach them Chinese Boxing. Through them they learned a lot of techniques and blended the two arts together.

The Shimazu Clan took over Okinawa in the 1600s, they banned weapons (some exceptions to the Pechin) and did not allow open teaching of Karate. While you are correct that it was commonly taught in backyards, Gichin Funakoshi talks about his experiences learning it at night to avoid being caught. The only reason he learned Karate was because his childhood friend was the son of Anko Asato. This was years after the Meiji Restoration, and even then he still didn't practice Karate openly. No one just "showed up". In 1908 Anko Itosu (unrelated) petitioned the Japanese Government to allow him to start teaching Karate in Okinawan primary schools (refer to the Tode Jukun - copy on my blog), arguing that it would help the military. This was the first I know of it being taught publicly without an invitation.

@Wastelander - I recognize that story about a former Judo student in Arizona from somewhere else . I still stand by what I said though. I was already a black belt before I realized the need to read and discuss my understanding of karate. I initial realized that my instructor was taught some great kata..."Heian Nidan"...and I noticed that it wasn't the Shotokan kata, and it definitely wasn't Shorin-ryu. It sparked me to read more and now I regret not starting from day one. Shoot me a PM if you ever run into a roadblock in your learning, I think you have a lot of potential if you are able to punch and kick too

[Dobbersky]

@everyone

My main issue is that Karate to me is about personal understanding, my Idea of Kata, Kumite and Kihon may be totally different to my students' ideas. Am I to "scould" them for thinking "outside the box?". No, a good instructor learns from his students. If they wish to talk and write about Martial arts and what it means to them, I alway let them know about Forums like this one and then its up to them what they wish to write.

I read loads of books?forums/articles on Karate/Martial Arts, I got several of Iain's, Lawrence's etc which I lend to my students if they wish to extend their knowledge but to me if the perform well on the Dojo Mat and can give a good perception, in application, of the kata (senior grades are asked to take the basic application and "extend" on it) then to me, whether someone is the next famous author or is dislexic and/or can't formulate a sentence, is not important.

I agree you all have valid points as does everyone else who has commented on this topic, I think its an excellent topic by the way. Its just that to me I don't think that "Written Papers" are a good media to express what a student "Feels" about his or her karate. I feel that the relationship between Student and Teacher should be a bothway relationship with Students having a relevant amount of input to the karate they are learning. I never refuse to answer a student's question and I always you practical means to demonstrate the answers.

There are basically 3 types of learning and we have to cater for them all (note there are various names or Categories but Lawrence Kane's book on Martial Arts Instruction goes more indepth into them

1, Listening Learners

2, Seeing Learners

3, Touch/Experience Learners

Thinking outside the Box to me is for students who see what is taught but their concept is completely different to that of their Instructor, hence why we have so many styles and offshots of the Classical styles. If one of my students could see a grappling technique from what I taught as a Strike only, then I'm not going to tell them they are wrong, just ask them to explain it and we can work on it with the rest of the class to validate the technique.

With regards to writting Essays of say 500 words to say 2000 words, some people have issues putting pen to paper and would not manage any more than say two paragraphs; does this mean that they fail that grade because they are not academic enough to complete the written requirements even though their Karate is picture perfect?

[Wastelander]

@everyone

My main issue is that Karate to me is about personal understanding, my Idea of Kata, Kumite and Kihon may be totally different to my students' ideas. Am I to "scould" them for thinking "outside the box?". No, a good instructor learns from his students. If they wish to talk and write about Martial arts and what it means to them, I alway let them know about Forums like this one and then its up to them what they wish to write.

I read loads of books?forums/articles on Karate/Martial Arts, I got several of Iain's, Lawrence's etc which I lend to my students if they wish to extend their knowledge but to me if the perform well on the Dojo Mat and can give a good perception, in application, of the kata (senior grades are asked to take the basic application and "extend" on it) then to me, whether someone is the next famous author or is dislexic and/or can't formulate a sentence, is not important.

I agree you all have valid points as does everyone else who has commented on this topic, I think its an excellent topic by the way. Its just that to me I don't think that "Written Papers" are a good media to express what a student "Feels" about his or her karate. I feel that the relationship between Student and Teacher should be a bothway relationship with Students having a relevant amount of input to the karate they are learning. I never refuse to answer a student's question and I always you practical means to demonstrate the answers.

There are basically 3 types of learning and we have to cater for them all (note there are various names or Categories but Lawrence Kane's book on Martial Arts Instruction goes more indepth into them

1, Listening Learners

2, Seeing Learners

3, Touch/Experience Learners

Thinking outside the Box to me is for students who see what is taught but their concept is completely different to that of their Instructor, hence why we have so many styles and offshots of the Classical styles. If one of my students could see a grappling technique from what I taught as a Strike only, then I'm not going to tell them they are wrong, just ask them to explain it and we can work on it with the rest of the class to validate the technique.

With regards to writting Essays of say 500 words to say 2000 words, some people have issues putting pen to paper and would not manage any more than say two paragraphs; does this mean that they fail that grade because they are not academic enough to complete the written requirements even though their Karate is picture perfect?

It seems as though you are thinking of "essays" in the College sense of the word in that they are to be strictly structured and meeting certain guidelines for quality, but I don't think that is what is intended. To me, writing is easy and I enjoy it, but other people do not find that to be the case for them and they are still able to write their "essays". I think that the point is not to have someone explain something exactly the way it was taught, but explain how they interpret it and what their take on it is--that, to me, is proof of knowledge.

As I mentioned previously, this can all be done verbally by asking someone in class to explain something. For instance, if you were to ask someone in class what all of the applications of a middle block in a given kata might be they might give an answer of "blocking a punch to the midsection", if they sit down and think about it and write about it they might come up with "blocking a punch to the midsection, or blocking and breaking the attacker's arm, or deflecting a grab and applying a wrist lock, etc.". To me, the writing itself is not to be judged, but the thought process behind it because writing is a tool to provoke thought in both the person reading it AND the person writing it.

Just my thoughts on the subject.