Your opinion about my dojo

[SBN Doug]

Right on.

 

The only time an advanced belt should spar with a lower belt is to make it even easier on the lower belt to practice technique. When I spar a lower belt, he has the freedom to practice combinations, etc., without worrying about an uncontolled partner tagging him in the face. I coach as we spar, and then he has some pointers when he goes against his own level.

 

The class length you mention is about our kids class. Maybe because you have so many kids? Anyway, our adult class goes a little over an our for lower belts, and sometimes up to 3 for the advanced. Nothing wrong with the lower BBs teaching class, though. We need th practice in explaining what we learned.

[Bon]

::edit:: Edited September 29, 2002 by Bon

[SBN Doug]

I agree that you should spar against different levels, but the school owner? A multiple black belt against a beginner? That should only be done for instructional purposes, and the black belt should be able to show a lot more control than what Valn has described.

[Cactus_Gazz]

sounds like your sensei is a bit full of himself. next time you get hit in the face stop and say something like "what area's of the face are you allowed to hit" this will bring up the fact that your not actully alowed to hit the face.

[Raminhos]

Man... an instructor that says you're a wimp and that hit with no intention of teaching should be in jaill!!!!!! That's not an instructor and will never be a sensei...

[1ONEfighting]

Next time your instructor tags you in the temple, kick him clean in the sack. When he complains, tell him you struck him in the legal portion of the groin.

[Reklats]

Don't hesitate to shop around for a better school.

[shotokanwarrior]

sounds like a bad instructor, not the style of karate.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I'll just make comments about things I feel are...well...comment worthy!

*The style is goju ryu

-- I know very little about goju. Good system as far as I know.

*the class is 45 mins long.

-- This, I DO NOT LIKE! Not enough time to accomplish anything, IMHO.

*the class is all in English, no japanese terms.

-- not a bad thing, but you lose some of the "art" aspects I think.

*The owner of the dojo is a 7th degree black belt but in reality 9 times out of 10 it is a 3rd degree black belt who teaches the class.

-- Is this a problem? A 3rd degree should make a fine teacher (I'm a 3rd myself! lol)

*stretching last 3-5 minutes.

-- I really don't like this. There is no way (IMHO) that you can get all of the necessary stretching done effectively in so little time.

*I get the impression sometimes that I am doing aerobic karate instead of practicing my techniques.

-- Well...are you? I haven't seen the class of course. Maybe you should watch a different class for comparison?

*For the most part, the class constitute of practicing bunkai which are application of the kata. For instance, take Heian shodan and practice the downblock followed by a punch.

-- This is OK..but is that ALL you do?

*The kata are always practiced. For instance we might do each kata 2-3 times.

-- This is what I have my class do also at the end of every class. Takes about 20-30 minutes.

*After the movie "kiss of the dragon" it has become almost mandatory to bring Swahili sticks to practice. (Swahili sticks=two bamboo type sticks, it has his origin in the Philippines).

-- uhhh..is the only reason you do this is because of the movie? Does goju normally do weapopns..particularily Swahihi sticks?

*People in the dojo may have different gi, for instance black and red, all black and white gi.

-- Depends on the school and how traditional it is. If the head of the school..and the association say it's OK, you can wear pink with purple polka-dots if you want to I suppose. I allow solid white, or solid black gi only for below black belt. Instructors/*'t Instructors may wear a combination of black pants/white tops, or visa versa.

*When I look at brown belt, the quality of their moves don't look all that great. I mean they aren't very clean and smooth.

-- what belt are you? By brown belt, they should be looking pretty darn sharp IMHO.

*Sometimes the instructor talk too much and the class is slow to start. The discussion is usually not karate.

-- with a 45 minute class, he is wasting your time, and your money if he does this frequently. A nicely said nudge, such as "Sensei, can we start now?" might be all that is needed.

*Sparring is availlable 2 times a week, and you must be a yellow belt and buy the equipment to participate. ($150).

-- this sounds like sparring is a seperate class??? Why??? And what do you get for $150? That sounds pretty high to me.

*The sparring doesn't look like karate at all. It looks sloppy in my opinion and the techniques reminds of little kidds throwing punches and kicks but with the karate precision and style.

-- Again, maybe you should check out another local dojo for comparison purposes. Maybe take in a tournament sometime close by.

*Because of the fact that the back of an opponent doesn't count for points, the fighting stance looks really messed up and I would never ever use that in a street fight. In fact, I'm afraid of getting in a bad habit. However, my instructor says its very good for practice.

-- again, without seeing your class, I have no comment.

*When I started sparring I had to spar with black and brown belt which is anything but fun. In fact, sparring with 7 degree black belt is humiliating and you get hurt, but you can't complain or else the instructor will say you're a wimp.

-- I believe that you should spar with everybody in the dojo. What better way to learn than by trying your skills against a better opponent? HOWEVER, higher belts should NOT be hurting you, other than a little bump here and there..but nothing serious. Nor should ANYBODY in the class, EXPECIALLY an instructor, be calling you a wimp. Just a question...are you a complainer? When I, or one of my senior belts spars a much lower belt, we primarily do defense and let the lower belt try soem techniques. However, if they aren't doing much, or are showing very bad openings, we will be a bit more aggressive. And like was aid earlier by others, we coach constantly when we spar. I coach my 2nd dan Sempai all the time when we spar, and it's all I can do to keep him from getting me sometimes! lol *shhhh..don't tell him I said that.

*When I spar I already got hit in the jaw, temple, and teeth even though the rules says no contact at all in the face. It's strange but even as a yellow belt I was able to hit right on the helmet and never the face, while my instructor 7 degree black belt always end up getting me on the temple or near my eyes.

-- rules are rules, and they should be followed by EVERYBODY. Keep in mind that in the heat of sparring, accidents will happen, and you need to accept that. You're going to get whacked now and then. However, if it's a consistant problem, especially with the black belts, then you have (it sounds like to me) a bunch of over-bearing bullies for instructors.

*When a referee says point, my instructor continue on attacking even if you have your guard down. His excuse is that "he can't help it, because he likes to fight and its too hard to stop".

-- This is pure *! He's a 7th dan black belt, and he can't stop when he wants to? That's a crock of you-know-what. He's sloppy, or doesn't want to stop.

 

It sounds generally like you're not real happy with the class anyway. Perhaps it's time to find another one?

[The Saint]

I'd find a new school, your instructor being the most senior belt- should have the most control over kicks and punches. When I spar with my instructor he will kick to the head but he can just lightly tap a person to teach them to keep there gaurd up. Do your homework when looking for a good martial arts school. As for the yellow belt competing against a brown or black belt and getting the snot kicked out of him- I don't think that this is normal. good luck on your decision