What Does One Do?!?

[JR 137]

Judo. Most founders of the major schools had dan ranking in it. Gotta be good for something

[sensei8]

Hopefully, at the end of reading this OP, one might see why I placed this topic in the "General Martial Arts" forum.

This October 18th, I've been in Shindokan Saitou-ryu for 51 years! I've earned a Kudan, as well as a Hanshi! I've crossed trained since I became a JBB in 1970, and submerged myself even more so in cross training ever since 1977.

I earned a 6th Gup [Green Belt] in TKD under Grandmaster Young Ik Suh while I was in high school. I wanted to learn to kick above the waist because Shindokan kicks are only waist down. Shindokan utilizes 15% of kicks in our curriculum, and for the most part, our kicks are to disrupt ones base as well as for premeditated strikes.

Shindokan teaches grappling, and not just a slight notion, the curriculum is quite encompassing when it comes to grappling. I can hold my own on the floor; I'm quite comfortable on the floor/mat.

Shindokan utilizes Te Waza in 85% of our curriculum. This is because of our brand of Tuite and Kyusho-jitsu. In short, Shindokan is a striking art more than anything else. My hand speed and dexterity has been labeled by other MAists as somewhat "uncanny" and "unnerving".

I've developed over these many years quite a punch...quite a kick. Other MAists say that I kick "like a mule" and I punch with "a deliberate penetration".

In short, many that have shared the floor with me, both in Shindokan and those outside of the Shindokan circle, say that I've "got mean skills"!

Yet, after 51 years in Shindokan Saitou-ryu and a quite an indepth cross training regime, I still feel incomplete; as though something is still missing. Shindokan is an effective art, however, like any MA, it's limited. Shindokan is like having a nice steak to chew on, but it still needs some steak sauce to give it some nice flavor.

OK, now that I've thrown out some background, and patted myself on my own back, let me get to the question at hand. This question has been floating around in both my mind as well as in my heart.

What MA would YOU suggest that I learn?

After that...

Would this desire best serve my MA betterment to do private or group lessons?

Listen, in my own heart, I'm not all that and a bag of chips, I know that; I'm limited, but aren't we all. That drives me, and that drives me crazy!! I hated to seem like a braggest about myself in this OP, or at any time because that's not me; I'm as humble as I can be.

No matter the style of the MA, except Shindokan, I'm a beginner; I wear that badge proudly!!!!!!!!!!! I've cross trained for over 28 years, but that's indirect learning as opposed to direct learning; like Shindokan, that's direct learning. Sure, I've acquired some knowledge these past 28 years, but, I've gotten the ice cream, but no whip cream or cheery at the top...if you get my meaning. I'll ALWAYS be a student of the MA!!

I can relate to these words...

"If I tell you I'm good, you'll think I'm boasting. If I tell you I'm not that good, you'll know I'm lying." ~ Bruce Lee

Before anyone implies, directly and/or indirectly, I'm not comparing myself to Bruce Lee. Yet, I'm complete in my totality as a MAist!

Your thoughts, I welcome them!! Please be as frank and blunt as you can, if you must, just be honest!!

Hmm not sure what Martial Art you should do. However, the question of group or private is a good one. If it's gonna be at the Hombu then I would do private. However, if you travel to another dojo, then do group.

Are you speaking about the Shindokan Hombu or dojo's within the Shindokan network??

[sensei8]

Well, my initial thought for you would be Kali/Escrima, but I always start these things off by asking; "what is available in your area?" I could suggest all kinds of arts, but if no one is teaching them around it, it doesn't do you much good

Wasteland beat me to it! Pick up Kali. It's fantastic and has become a staple of what I do. After dabbling in a couple of different blends I landed in PTK and haven't looked back. That said, any of them will give you a different look at weapons and some phenomenal footwork.

I will definitely look into Kali. There's a Wing Chun Kali school in Houston, TX, and if it's not to far, I'll visit it over the next two weeks.

Traffic and all, travel times can be horrific, at best, taking hours to get from one end of Houston to the other. Hwy 290 is not for the weak because it can mimic rush hour in Los Angeles; largest parking lot.

Having said that, I'll more than likely rule out any MA school on the northern west side of Houston because of distances, but more for the snarling traffic that can ensue.

[sensei8]

Work to save Traditional Karate. Forget the physical side, that is perishable .

OK!! I like that...any suggestions, short of opening my Kyuodan Dojo!!

Take WKF down.

To the WKF people. I do appreciate what WKF original intentions were. But the direction that WKF is taking Karate is not what many like. It is becoming a monster like the FIFA and OIC.

I am serious about this. if any other instructors agree with me feel free to contact me with any ideas.

I can promise the traditionalist, i can have influence on lot of instructors within my style. If the other major or even sub major styles want to have input , please let me know.

OK! Sounds to me that you do want me to reopen my Kyuodan Dojo. Shindokan, as Soke Saitou founded it, IS a traditional Karate. I've located an outstanding recreation center in Pearland, TX, Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium. What I can tell, they offer NO MA training. That could be for a variety of reasons; worth investigating possibilities.

Build up the student body first before moving into a commercial space, and the rec. center might be the way to go.

[sensei8]

Judo. Most founders of the major schools had dan ranking in it. Gotta be good for something

That's for certain!! Shindokan teaches Judo techniques within it's brand. Soke created an eclectic Karate style in Shindokan; he saw things differently from his fellow Okinawan's.

[The Pred]

Hopefully, at the end of reading this OP, one might see why I placed this topic in the "General Martial Arts" forum.

This October 18th, I've been in Shindokan Saitou-ryu for 51 years! I've earned a Kudan, as well as a Hanshi! I've crossed trained since I became a JBB in 1970, and submerged myself even more so in cross training ever since 1977.

I earned a 6th Gup [Green Belt] in TKD under Grandmaster Young Ik Suh while I was in high school. I wanted to learn to kick above the waist because Shindokan kicks are only waist down. Shindokan utilizes 15% of kicks in our curriculum, and for the most part, our kicks are to disrupt ones base as well as for premeditated strikes.

Shindokan teaches grappling, and not just a slight notion, the curriculum is quite encompassing when it comes to grappling. I can hold my own on the floor; I'm quite comfortable on the floor/mat.

Shindokan utilizes Te Waza in 85% of our curriculum. This is because of our brand of Tuite and Kyusho-jitsu. In short, Shindokan is a striking art more than anything else. My hand speed and dexterity has been labeled by other MAists as somewhat "uncanny" and "unnerving".

I've developed over these many years quite a punch...quite a kick. Other MAists say that I kick "like a mule" and I punch with "a deliberate penetration".

In short, many that have shared the floor with me, both in Shindokan and those outside of the Shindokan circle, say that I've "got mean skills"!

Yet, after 51 years in Shindokan Saitou-ryu and a quite an indepth cross training regime, I still feel incomplete; as though something is still missing. Shindokan is an effective art, however, like any MA, it's limited. Shindokan is like having a nice steak to chew on, but it still needs some steak sauce to give it some nice flavor.

OK, now that I've thrown out some background, and patted myself on my own back, let me get to the question at hand. This question has been floating around in both my mind as well as in my heart.

What MA would YOU suggest that I learn?

After that...

Would this desire best serve my MA betterment to do private or group lessons?

Listen, in my own heart, I'm not all that and a bag of chips, I know that; I'm limited, but aren't we all. That drives me, and that drives me crazy!! I hated to seem like a braggest about myself in this OP, or at any time because that's not me; I'm as humble as I can be.

No matter the style of the MA, except Shindokan, I'm a beginner; I wear that badge proudly!!!!!!!!!!! I've cross trained for over 28 years, but that's indirect learning as opposed to direct learning; like Shindokan, that's direct learning. Sure, I've acquired some knowledge these past 28 years, but, I've gotten the ice cream, but no whip cream or cheery at the top...if you get my meaning. I'll ALWAYS be a student of the MA!!

I can relate to these words...

"If I tell you I'm good, you'll think I'm boasting. If I tell you I'm not that good, you'll know I'm lying." ~ Bruce Lee

Before anyone implies, directly and/or indirectly, I'm not comparing myself to Bruce Lee. Yet, I'm complete in my totality as a MAist!

Your thoughts, I welcome them!! Please be as frank and blunt as you can, if you must, just be honest!!

Hmm not sure what Martial Art you should do. However, the question of group or private is a good one. If it's gonna be at the Hombu then I would do private. However, if you travel to another dojo, then do group.

Are you speaking about the Shindokan Hombu or dojo's within the Shindokan network??

Hmmm, I guess the Shindokan Hombu?

[DWx]

Could always take up something radically different? Western MA: fencing? HEMA?

Or how about Tai Chi?

[Luther unleashed]

Congrats on all of your longevity in martial arts, not a small task.

Weapons would be the way to go for something different and interesting for sure. Of course it's a matter of preference though. A good deal of people seemail to really enjoy weapons, I perso ally enjoy empty hand martial arts very very much. I have trained in staff, nunchucks, sword, and fan. I'm not great at any because my heart isn't in it, but I'm pretty good.

If a person thinks they might like weapons I always say it's a great way to go because it's different. Different gets your attention, for me anyways. Also, I recommend a Chinese martial art for karate practitioners because it's also different and really offers a different concept in methods more so then another similar style like Korean martial arts vs Japanese and so on. Kickboxing and the like are great too and I always liked that but it lacks some of the forms and concepts many of us martial artists become a custom to.

My answer is really, whatever gets your attention, get it!

[sensei8]

Hopefully, at the end of reading this OP, one might see why I placed this topic in the "General Martial Arts" forum.

This October 18th, I've been in Shindokan Saitou-ryu for 51 years! I've earned a Kudan, as well as a Hanshi! I've crossed trained since I became a JBB in 1970, and submerged myself even more so in cross training ever since 1977.

I earned a 6th Gup [Green Belt] in TKD under Grandmaster Young Ik Suh while I was in high school. I wanted to learn to kick above the waist because Shindokan kicks are only waist down. Shindokan utilizes 15% of kicks in our curriculum, and for the most part, our kicks are to disrupt ones base as well as for premeditated strikes.

Shindokan teaches grappling, and not just a slight notion, the curriculum is quite encompassing when it comes to grappling. I can hold my own on the floor; I'm quite comfortable on the floor/mat.

Shindokan utilizes Te Waza in 85% of our curriculum. This is because of our brand of Tuite and Kyusho-jitsu. In short, Shindokan is a striking art more than anything else. My hand speed and dexterity has been labeled by other MAists as somewhat "uncanny" and "unnerving".

I've developed over these many years quite a punch...quite a kick. Other MAists say that I kick "like a mule" and I punch with "a deliberate penetration".

In short, many that have shared the floor with me, both in Shindokan and those outside of the Shindokan circle, say that I've "got mean skills"!

Yet, after 51 years in Shindokan Saitou-ryu and a quite an indepth cross training regime, I still feel incomplete; as though something is still missing. Shindokan is an effective art, however, like any MA, it's limited. Shindokan is like having a nice steak to chew on, but it still needs some steak sauce to give it some nice flavor.

OK, now that I've thrown out some background, and patted myself on my own back, let me get to the question at hand. This question has been floating around in both my mind as well as in my heart.

What MA would YOU suggest that I learn?

After that...

Would this desire best serve my MA betterment to do private or group lessons?

Listen, in my own heart, I'm not all that and a bag of chips, I know that; I'm limited, but aren't we all. That drives me, and that drives me crazy!! I hated to seem like a braggest about myself in this OP, or at any time because that's not me; I'm as humble as I can be.

No matter the style of the MA, except Shindokan, I'm a beginner; I wear that badge proudly!!!!!!!!!!! I've cross trained for over 28 years, but that's indirect learning as opposed to direct learning; like Shindokan, that's direct learning. Sure, I've acquired some knowledge these past 28 years, but, I've gotten the ice cream, but no whip cream or cheery at the top...if you get my meaning. I'll ALWAYS be a student of the MA!!

I can relate to these words...

"If I tell you I'm good, you'll think I'm boasting. If I tell you I'm not that good, you'll know I'm lying." ~ Bruce Lee

Before anyone implies, directly and/or indirectly, I'm not comparing myself to Bruce Lee. Yet, I'm complete in my totality as a MAist!

Your thoughts, I welcome them!! Please be as frank and blunt as you can, if you must, just be honest!!

Hmm not sure what Martial Art you should do. However, the question of group or private is a good one. If it's gonna be at the Hombu then I would do private. However, if you travel to another dojo, then do group.

Are you speaking about the Shindokan Hombu or dojo's within the Shindokan network??

Hmmm, I guess the Shindokan Hombu?

Whenever I'm at the Shindokan Hombu, I will train with those that are usually Rokudan and above, and primarily with Greg, our Kancho. As Kaicho, I'll teach quite often, if not all of the classes while I'm in house. When it comes to my training time at the Hombu, there will be about 15 Senior Dan Ranks on the floor with me; all of us training! Greg, well, that's usually just us on the floor but spectators will be there because Greg and I train quite extremely.

[sensei8]

Could always take up something radically different? Western MA: fencing? HEMA?

Or how about Tai Chi?

I do like that, Danielle; quite possible!! Thanks!!