Disrespect and Dishonesty.

There is something to be said about honesty. The more honest you are, the more nerves it will strike, the more people will want to distance themselves from said honesty.

They speak of not correcting Seniors within given Organizations, but when that same person tries to challenge someone and that person is, themselves, Senior to the Challenger it seems the same does not apply.

None of that really matters, anyone can be challenged, especially if they are wrong, but when one says ‘don’t challenge or correct a Senior’ in one breath, then proceeds to challenge a Senior in another it is just plain two faced at its’ very core. THAT is the part that bugs me, not the challenge. Instead of defending their view further, as would be commendable, they choose to back down and pretend the exchange did not happen. Cowardice and disrespect. These are not what I remember being the tenants of our school.

Furthermore, I feel anyone can overcome anything if they really push themselves, failures will come, but failures are our greatest Teachers... This line of thinking is what the individual took issue with and challenged.

Yes, everyone is individual, with their own gifts, traits, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses. This means that a good Teacher, or Guide, has their work cut out for them in their role of guiding people down a path towards their true selves. 

The Individual disagreed outright saying that they felt this was untrue, that not everyone can succeed and not everyone is cut out to succeed whilst stating that our Founder never taught that everyone could succeed... This is NOT what I remember and NOT what I have taught or learned in my nearly three decades of training in this Art.

In my view this person is very young in their practice and even younger in their role as a Teacher. They admitted they would not share these sentiments with their students and would rather have them believe they could succeed and have them believe that their Teacher believes they can succeed as well, which is outright dishonest! Outright disrespectful to the floor on which our mutual Teacher had taught.

To me, this Teacher, while they may know their technique to the letter (I have not had the pleasure of seeing this myself) and knowing what is required for each rank, has a lot more to learn and, if dishonesty is the example they choose to set should likely not be teaching at all.

A good Teacher will find the individual strengths and weaknesses of their students, teach to both to improve upon both, it IS possible with time to learn this skill.

Teaching promotion requirements should NOT be the focus of a class, these things are trivial without an underlying understanding of the spirit and principles on multiple levels.

This person was coming primarily from a Self Defense standpoint, but they are not really teaching self defense and do not truly understand the term.

Most Yudansha today have never had to defend themselves, so how could they judge whether or not someone else can?

Most Students enter classes not for Self Defense, but for Self Improvement, or because their parents are making them.

These are things of which one should be mindful in their approach AND if they want to teach self defense they should become familiar with the subject as it is, a legal term, not a set of techniques taught in a manner more in accord with mutual combat.

I have great respect for my Teachers and the Organization itself, I have been training in this Art NON STOP since 1991.

I can do the primary Kata with my eyes closed and come up with drills for each on the spot with variations tailored to students with different body types and temperaments. This is not to boast. This took A LOT of FAILURE and HUMBLING moments.

What I know is what I know and it is not even a tenth of the Art. After so many years I finally know that I don’t know much.

There are Teachers I respect and Teachers I do not. One thing that puts me off is dishonesty and an inflated Ego because someone was granted a black belt and a beginning Teaching position thinking they know it all.

I was THAT person once too, so I feel the pain they are about to go through in their journey. It never ends.

Etiquette, Rank, and Titles.

A recent conversation with some fellow Yudansha from the Organization to which I belong sparked me to write this entry.
What I would like to focus on here is the idea of Rank, Questioning, and Etiquette. These were touched on, albeit the conversation began about something else entirely.

It is not beyond me that there are many Teachers out there whom adhere to the notion that a Student should not question anything, and some whom hold that questioning should be done in private. The latter has my respect, the fore, not so much.
I am not a subscriber to the idea that things are the way they are because ‘Sensei said so,’ but I do respect my Teachers and what they are Teaching, what they have taught, one of those things was to keep an open mind, to question, to be mindful.

The Teacher does not have all the answers and the Teacher is not going to be there when you have to face harsh reality or even violence, whatever the case may be, you are on your own to face those things.... I know, because when I faced whatever was thrown at me I looked at an empty corner, but my Teacher’s voice was always present, so in some ways this is not entirely accurate.
I welcome questions from my students, I expect them to challenge what I am teaching, otherwise they are not learning... That is basic Education 101, if they are engaged then they are going to have questions.
It is not my job to give them all the answers, nor can I, but it is my job to engage them, to push them, and at least give pieces to set them on the right course so that they can figure things out for themselves and become self sufficient.
I teach them how to respect the ways of other schools should they decide to explore them, the importance of etiquette and respect, but I am not teaching them to be my underlings and to bow and kow tow to my every whim... I am a grown man, I should be able to take care of myself... I am teaching them to be better than me so that we can one day meet as equals.

Many place great importance on Rank, Title, and Position, which is basic human nature as we ARE pack animals.
However, Rank is not all it is cracked up to be and is by no means the sole determining factor as to whether or not someone has something to offer. It is also not something to flaunt around, nor hide behind when the baseline of skill is lacking, and those that have it generally do not need to state what rank they are as their skill and knowledge speak for itself.
Wearing such things on your sleeve is bad form in my opinion, and also not very good Self Defense when one thinks more practically.
Most do not even know I train in Karate unless I tell them, I am very private about most of the stuff I am into, so I do not generally offer that information up, nor do so advertise.

The bottom line, there are many unskilled Yudansha and many Kyu ranks with tremendous knowledge because many have trained so deeply on what they have and have just not tested, nor felt the need to.
If rank keeps a Yudansha from learning what such a person has to offer then that has more to do with ego than etiquette. Karate did not originally have ranks and the old school masters awarded none.

Etiquette is important as it promotes humility and respect, it promotes propriety, manners, courtesy, but more important than all this is Shoshin, Beginner’s Mind, you can learn something from anyone and rank, ultimately, does not contain your skill... You do.

Concepts and Principles.

Conceptually Karate is very straight forward, but we have over complicated things beyond the point of making any sense at all.

There was a saying, ‘Kata are like a box of Legos,’ always liked that saying because it rings true in every way for me. 

If things are broken down and stylized responses abandoned then things begin to make sense. What does a basic ‘punch’ tell us? These are not like boxing punches, the punch goes on a long trajectory and one hand comes back to chamber... Pushing and Pulling seems to be the underlying lesson, not necessarily a ‘punch.’

Forget what it looks like or presents itself as or what we are told it is supposed to be, look at the underlying principle itself.

Morote Kamae, what does that say? Put up your dukes? Create a Guard and boundary? A method of creating a boundary for things to go around without landing? Again, forget what it looks like and start focusing on what it is actually saying.

‘Stances’ are just methods of positioning via weight shifting, dropping, rising, forward, back, etc., depending on context... What is the possible context?

Identifying with a style or Organization is fine, but when we say ‘this is how we do this,’ what do we actually mean? Why are things done that way as opposed to another and is there really any difference? Is it just superficial?

The Human Body only moves in so many ways, so there really can be no difference, only in the mind of the practitioner and for no real reason other than an attachment to appearances which yields no real underlying understanding.

If understanding were present then the rest would not matter.

Kendo utilizes a training method known as Tsuburi in which a movement is exaggerated specifically for training and conditioning. 

The stylization behind Karate is similar to Tsuburi, simply an exaggeration for training, emphasis, to draw attention to something specific, not the be all and end all of everything. 

The question in the mind of a Karateka going through Kata or drills should be ‘what principle is this trying to show me and how does it meet the strategy in this context?’ 

Does this make sense? If not, what other way does it make sense? Get a partner and work it through, try it out in a pre-arranged drill, move to free sparring, apply it there, then move to specific scenarios if you are able to do that with any skill in experience. 

Books can, and have, been written on this stuff so I will leave it at that. Good luck and happy hunting.

Side Note: On Function Over Form.

While the previous post is stewing I felt like writing this while it was fresh in my mind as an afterthought or a side note.
Each attacking ‘technique’ in Karate should have the aim of ending the altercation (too many people use the word fight) and, thus, would become a primary tactic with built in redundancies to follow. The goal is not to get hung up on pattern and to apply the PRINCIPLES freely without much conscious thought... But enough to stop when the attacker is no longer able to attack.

This is the simplicity of Karate that makes it so effective when applied properly. Kata are tools to train the body, mind, and spirit. As are the various drills.
They are meant to train functional body mechanics, to instill strategy, etc., but they can only teach so much and are not necessarily the first step or even the primary tool in learning. They are more like a book of equations. Equations are endless when applied in the moment and there is never an apply X to Y type of mentality, so maybe a better analogy is akin to reading musical notes on a scale... There is definitely an underlying theory, but endless applications and variations depending on the moment.

Just some food for thought. Hope it makes sense. I may have to think more about my wording and analogies here. Hard to put into words.
Those that attended the last Convention taught by Shihan Roseberry will understand if they think back on the session where he picked apart Gakusei No Kata and had us spar for eight hours using only select segments of the Kata, but not necessarily in the order or way they appeared as a sequence.

Karate is NOT Punching and Kicking.

Most take Karate to be primarily punching and kicking, at least that is the general opinion outside Certain circles.
I have often felt this is not the case, certainly Karate has punches and kicks, but outside of Tournament Karate these are not necessarily the primary tactics.

It is important to take into account which techniques are often repeated within Kata, where they are, angles, even the preceding movements and transitions between one thing to another as they are all linked.
In his book on Kumite the ruff and tumble Karate ‘Master’ Choki Motobu refers to Kata segments as technique, not to what we consider individual techniques today. Each segment as a whole, including transitions, are the technique of Karate... These are the keys to Karate’s primary strategy and an understanding of the tactics that support said strategy.

Seiken Punches, with the palms down, are a longer range punch and do not occur very often in Goju Ryu Kata at all, but can be found A LOT in the various drills we practice within SRSK Goju Ryu, which lends to the illusion that these are a primary tactic rather than a lead-in to close distance to in-fighting range.
This leads to confusion in the minds of many as they wonder why only a few punches and kicks are ever thrown in sparring... Simply put, it is a lack of understanding.

In the context of Kata, where does the ‘punch’ fall and what precedes it? In Gekesai it is preceded by a Jodan Uke and followed up by a drop into Shiko Dachi and Gedan Barai.
It does occur in another couple of places, but the same principles here apply there. To me the Jodan Uke is the key. This tells me we are already at an extremely close range, too close for the type of ‘punch’ that follows to be effective.
If we are to follow Toguchi’s guidelines for understanding Kata then the advancing step in the Jodan Uke segment means this is the primary strike or attack and it is aimed at the neck/head as almost a hammer fist and a post-up.
What follows, to me, makes more sense as a bicep check, reach through, in preparation for a takedown utilizing the back/down drop in weight to Shiko Dachi.

That is not to say that a Seiken is never a punch, it is all about context. Take the opening to many Kata that begin in Morote Kamai. This can imply a guard starting at striking distance, three punches to close the gap, follow-up at in-fighting range.
These can also be other things, depending on how one approaches them, but the primary principles here imply aggressive attack to close distance.
Again, not a primary technique, but more of an opening tactic to set up for the primary tactics that suit the Kata’s strategy (and nearly all of them are at in-fighting range or end up there).

To understand this requires an understanding of various ranges, timing, and rhythm, but also to step outside the blocky ‘techniques’ we are used to and looking at them from a more fluid perspective.

I will come back with an article listing ‘techniques’ that recur the most and look at how they are used in each Kata respectively. These are the primary principles/methods/tactics of Karate, at least the Karate I study.

I am also working hard on creating a Kata based on the Kumite Drills of Choki Motobu, as they are understood from my perspective... More to follow on that as well.

Effective Training versus Delusional Mind.

So what you do will work on the street? Tell me, what sort of active drills do you practice? How often do you practice free sparring? What type of free sparring? Do you do any pad work? Heavy bag? Makiwara training and conditioning? Rice bags? Do you go over scenarios and apply those in live scenario training? Do you have any comprehension of weapons? Classical AND Modern?

No?

Then what do you practice that has you convinced what you are doing will ingrain itself and save you when you need it most?
Real fighting you say? Just what does that mean exactly? Are you going out and getting into knock down drag outs on the pavement and leaving a bloody mess every day? Are your hospital bills through the roof? No? That’s good because that would make you a thug and a criminal.

So what ARE you doing then?

Oh? Standing there in a stylized stance while someone yells from the front of a packed class and attempts to push you over? This is good training for posture, balance, and energy transfer, but it is not the whole picture.
How is this real fighting? The yelling inoculates you to stressful situations so you can act with a cool head? Seriously? Have you EVER had some two hundred pound tatted up douchebag try to take your head off while yelling and snarling in your face, chest bumping you in preparation for the blow? No?

Then I’m afraid what you are doing is training, and only partially, and I’m also sad to say that this is building a false sense of security and confidence if you are not aware of the flaws in your training whilst actively seeking methods to strengthen those areas.
If you are not pressure testing your stuff on a continuous basis and really getting beyond ‘the mind’ on these things then you honestly have absolutely NO IDEA what is and is not going to work for you when push comes to shove.

You may have some sense of loyalty to a Teacher, this is great because it fosters character and shows that you have loyalty and humility, when it is a good Teacher deserving of such loyalty. You may also have some overt attachment to some style as part of your identity, which is ultimately not healthy in the long run.
Style is not going to save you when your life and limb are on the line. Your Teacher, in all likelihood, will not be by your side, nor will either pay your medical bills when it is over.

YOU and ONLY YOU are responsible for your safety, when all is said and done you have to make it home, for whatever your reasons.
No one is going to do this for you, so you have to decide how to get to this point and do what is best for you whilst drawing from good resources along the way.

In the end, it is all training, just training, by its’ very nature it is flawed because it has to factor in safety of your partner and yourself, first and foremost, and some training focuses on specifics in regards to mechanics, among other things.
The simulation is not the real thing, but the more you train and focus on each area the better off you will be, even without experience, your body will know and it will only know when it is in the thick of things.... For real.

Violence Is Not Glory.

Fight is a word that most use interchangeably with Self Defense, as if they are the same thing, rarely giving it a second glance.

Fortunately many are waking up to the fact that there is a difference, however, it seems there is still a long way to go and many groups out there still subscribe to a Killer-Kung-Fu-Fighter mentality.

You still hear ‘oh it will work on the street because (insert whatever here),’ but that is only part of the equation.

Sure, it may work in the street, but does it leave you looking like the aggressor and, therefor, the guilty party? Will your actions hold up in a court of law? Did you stop when you had to? Did you make every effort to get away? Did you first try to de-escalate the situation? Does your school even teach de-escalation?

Self Defense is a legal term and definition that is very clearly defined in each State and Municipality, if what you did does not fit within that definition and you cannot convince a Judge or Jury of this then chances are likely you will be subject to jail time, legal fees, and all sorts of other issues thereafter.

Even if you are found to be within the legal definition of Self Defense you are going to face some issues, internally (especially if you have never faced violence before) and socially (from those who don’t understand and judge anyway).

Using slang like ‘throw down’ is only going to make it sound worse because it makes one sound like they were looking for a fight and does not fit within the legal realm of Self Defense.

A fight is a mutual thing, both parties are complicit in the violence, the fight is about ego the majority of the time beginning with one party trying to one-up the other in an escalating Monkey Dance (Rory Miller’s term) culminating in someone throwing the first punch.

Chest puffing, voice raising, arms and hands flinging everywhere, there are usually signs.... Overt signs.... Which means one has amazing leg time to swallow their pride and walk away.

The vast majority of violent encounters are like this. Either Domestic Disputes that result in handcuff, hospitals, restraining orders, and damaged reputations or drunken/belligerent scenes that escalate into full blown brawls that last for a short time... Really worth it to prove you’re the biggest and baddest in the room? 

Most times the bait fest and baddest does not even get involved and when they have to it is a terrifying sight as they, very calmly, stand up, take a deep breath, clear their spine, glance on with an annoyed look in their eye and just wait.

Yes, street violence does happen and, yes, there are times when violence cannot be avoided. Walking down the street and suddenly you are blocked by a couple bangers one way, ‘Hey, where you going b*tch!?’ and ‘Nice watch! Lemme try it on homes!’ A few dozen shoves, turning to find three more blocking your path the other way.

This is not even an extreme scenario, albeit it does not happen just out of the blue and with a little bit of awareness it can be avoided before it becomes too late. 

Most things can be avoided by simply paying attention and following common sense, but when push comes to shove, you have two options... You can give them the watch and whatever cash you’re carrying, maybe they let you walk away, maybe not... Or you can take your chances, hopefully you find an escape, you may not have a choice if they are just looking to use you for their entertainment, either way there are no winners, it is going to hurt, and you are going to face repercussions afterwards.

I was having a conversation with a guy at work about how people tend to glorify violence. I listened as he recounted an experience he had at a local Church.

The Pastor gave a sermon regarding mass shootings and open carry stating that ‘if anyone came in here you should all get down and I will take care of them,’ rather callous, met with applause from the crowd.

The person I was talking to was bothered by this response, not with the idea of doing what you have to do, but with the response. He stated that he had confronted the Pastor afterwards and expressed his concern... ‘People applaud the killing of the image of God without a second thought, but do not applaud when the Preacher talks about the peace and love of Christ.’ The Pastor brushed it off saying that my friend was too young and inexperienced to understand violence.

My friend was a former Green Berret, eleven years in the Army, deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places... He was also called in for CAG, Black Ops.... Imagine that for a minute.

Glorifying violence, even necessary violence, is not going to be on your mind when you have to actually engage with it.

Those who glorify it have never truly been there on any level and, if they have whilst continuing to glorify it then they are nothing more than a Sociopath... 

You can go on and on about the mean streets and how it is, how laws don’t matter, how your training will work because it has worked, most times that is just talk from someone who has something to prove or someone that gets off on that sort of thing.

The fire simply means they are blowing hot air, the latter means they are a criminal and probably should not be given further education in violence.

Teachers that perpetuate this sort of mentality are even worse. They either perpetuate ignorance (which most are ignorant of the beast to begin with) or they perpetuate the violent criminal mindset itself by providing it with more tools of the trade.

Learn the difference.

Karate Cults II

Laying criticism upon someone is not without its’ price, even if the criticism is well deserved. Myself, I could have practiced more tact in my approach rather than just throwing it out there, but a simple comment it was, yet it blew up into a huge banter war.

Not necessarily the finest of moments and, perhaps, I should reflect a bit on my own motives. Was my motive simply to start something with a specific individual? No. I can safely say that was not the intent. 

Did I know the individual was going to respond the way they did? Yes. I certainly could have bet money on that one.

A simple comment that pointed out the individual’s habitual trash talking of others while boosting himself as holding the ‘better way’ really took off and had the cult-like behavior of this individual’s group on prime display in all its’ classic cult-like glory.

The individual took a jab, I responded, the individual took another jab, then another, verbally of course, then their followers joined in... Both students and non-students alike.

Cults generally surround a single charismatic individual that claims direct access to some source or secret knowledge or, in this case, the best knowledge.

A following builds up around them with no real reference point beyond them against which to actually test what this individual claims to know and many begin to echo the leader in their words, deeds, and actions.

Should someone challenge the Leader and/or the worldview they will step up to defend it, tooth and nail, logic and reason be damned.

Threats were thrown my way, along with childish insults, plus an invite to come and try their way, a classic cultish move, followed by more childishness, banter, and outright hostility... Over a single comment that would have been brushed off by anyone else.

Yes, I hung around, I contributed, my motives at this point? See where it goes and if my suspicions were well founded.

Others had told me of their experiences with this group and the individual in particular. Others have voiced their opinions of this person openly, but most keep some modicum of courtesy. 

At one point a Senior within this individual’s group called for an end to the banter citing a quote from Chojun Miyagi, the Founder of Goju Ryu, regarding anger and keeping one’s cool while at the same time naming myself and another individual as the instigators and completely ignoring the actions of their Teacher and their fellow group members.

This same person had, previously in the conversation, suggested I shut my mouth and open my ears when his leader spoke, implying that I would do well to learn from what he has to say.

This is all basic cult-like behavior. Do I feel they are going to run off to some compound and die for their leader? No. However, to a lesser extent, they CAN get hurt should they depend on their absolute belief in what their Leader is showing and teaching them.

Without any sort of outside reference or even some more of pressure testing AND no real understanding of self defense law it is not going to be a pretty fallout should one of them have to depend on this for their own safety.

This sort of mentality is dangerous. 

At one point I brought this up, but the notion was scoffed at. Laws? Seriously? That was their attitude, which was echoed by their Leader.

This after being told my skill was nothing, my life was a joke, and I likely couldn’t throw down if my life depended on it... All based on comments in a social media thread, one comment in particular which directly called their Leader out.

Never mind none of them had met me, none of them had ever trained with me, and none of them had any insight into my life or what I had or had not experienced.

Their Leader even ‘threatened’ to out my ‘past’ even though he, again, has no knowledge of my life on even a superficial level... Which is interesting considering all the stuff he says about other people, just how much of that is made up too?

Basic tactics to get someone to submit and a means for the Leader to maintain dominance within their circle of followers, not that the followers would break rank so easily, but they might start to show cracks of the Leader does not assert control in whatever form.

It rarely even has to make any sense depending on how much of the follower’s mind is given to the Leader via the ideology touted.

The Leader’s self worth and ego depend on skillfully keeping followers whilst amassing more while the followers tend to gain some sort of purpose from this dance, but it is always a one way street.

The individual shoots down any notion that they are seeking attention, then goes out and does interviews, puts on seminars inviting more people to ‘come and try,’ that it is ‘exactly the same as was passed down,’ and ‘the old way you will not find anywhere else.’

They find ways to go to other people’s events in order to get their name out their, even if the person has no idea who they are.

They begin to sow the seeds of their influence within other Organizations and Schools, drawing in even more under an unofficial banner that would become official at some point.

Some might even capitalize on this to draw from something mutually beneficial, even at the cost of a good relationship with their own Teacher, but that is how they tend to operate... Under the radar in some cases.

These groups are out there. Unfortunately they are not rare. They exist as Organizations unto themselves, but they also exist within pockets of other Organizations that are not necessarily cult-like as a whole.

Buyer beware.

Karate Cults and Impractical Methods.

It has been a while since the decision was made to cease writing and during that time many experiences, insights, and issues were presented.
So here I am, back at it, for what it is worth, sharing and learning, most of all, looking at things through a critical lense.... On that note...

There is a group of Karateka that train out of a fitness center to which I also belong and I decided to join in a few of their classes.
Fingers stiff, body sore from nearly two hours of rock climbing just a few minutes prior, donning the Gi given to me by Todd Sensei for Christmas just a year ago, chalk still fresh on calloused hands.
I had been invited to the group by a Yudansha a few weeks ago as I had trained for six months with the Founder of their Organization and, while a different lineage with differing methods, it was still Goju Ryu and an opportunity to expand my horizons.

I walked away from the experience with a particularly bad taste in my mouth. First they had me doing a drill where I would jump straight up in the air and spin to face the person behind me.... To avoid a sweep... Really? All that to avoid a sweep? This is not a Goju Ryu practice! Every ounce of me screamed farce as we continued with the drill. I gave it a chance because it was a good workout, but selling it as a practical sweep avoidance is quite a stretch.

In that same session there was also another drill that had us going through extremely long and deep stances, block and punch sort of stuff, good for training footwork and positioning, but it made more sense to me as simple throws and takedowns... Striking and entering to pull and finish sort of stuff, but that is just how my mind works and how it would be reworked were I to teach it.

Another session had me demonstrating our Hookiyu Dai Ichi Kata and re-learning their Fukyugata series, which are fairly similar to the Taikyoku Drills we do in the SRSK.
This was fine, I enjoyed the Kata training and went home picking apart their Kata looking for little gems of wisdom. Great stuff there when I modify the stances so they are not so deep and keep in line with the Atifa power generation structure within Sanchin Kata.

The next session had me paired up with a Senior Yudansha for Randori, which is a form of free sparring that is very light.
It was fun, but when I began utilizing Muchimidi (Chi Sao) as a tactic to get inside and take the center I was reprimanded and told not to do that. We reset and I refrained from using that tactic, instead utilizing a loose Sanchin Guard to take the center.
My elbows caught light strikes along with my forearms as I moved in. Again I was reprimanded, ‘don’t do that.’ Okaaay?

I was able to grip for throws, several openings for takedowns, great opportunities to test out Kata Bunkai, all of these things were prohibited. Basically I was to stand there, let the guy punch and kick me, move in, move out.
Besides this being one of the only opportunities for partner work, outside the jumping sweep avoidance on day one, most of this class was spent in line training, doing technique in the air and even imagining a Makiwara at one point... Yes, they instructed us to imagine a Makiwara rather than utilizing the time to work partner drills and actual full range Randori.

The mentality was that no one really knew any better and this was just how things were done, with ZERO explanation as to why, even less explanation on mechanics or principles.
Honestly, this type of thing right here is what gives Karate a bad name... I am not going to mince words on that, it doesn’t matter what the reasoning actually is, what matters is the fact that this approach is not practical and, while a great workout, serves no real purpose beyond that.

I am not meaning to be disrespectful, but it is really hard to avoid coming off that way. The attitude towards my presence was one of tolerance so long as I conformed and submitted to the way they do things... In a club that I pay quite a bit of money to be part of... Honestly I feel like there should be an option for me to use their facilities to train the way that I train.
As the Assistant Regional Director for SRSK in Washington State it would not be right for me to train with them and conform as though I am a member of their Organization, but Organizational Status aside, it would simply be wrong to train in a manner that does not sit well with me and does very little to yield any sort of practical insight.

When I trained with their Founder he came off as a very nice guy, with very brutal methods that made a bit more sense, very different to my recent experience. I parted ways with that guy due to the overtly cult-like status and control he maintained.
A bit of that remains with this group, but far less considering they are operating out of a health club and that may play a role in the reason their methods differ.

I witnessed someone get injured when attempting the full 180 jumping sweep avoidance, zero explanation from the Yudansha as to where his error lay, zero instruction on how to correct it and seemingly zero concern for the injury aside from a few comments at the end of class.
I am grateful for the opportunity to train with others, but this all goes contrary to every fiber of my being and I can still feel the cult-like mentality that is the legacy of their late Founder.

I will post more on the technical side moving forward.

Farewell.

Studying greater minds than my own, I know that I do not know much and, while my study into these lessons that I began with explorations in previous posts will continue, I do not feel that I know enough to keep writing about them, at least not publicly.
I will maintain these things in personal journals and share with whomever is interested, although I am certain they will bring more to the table than I will and it would be a humbling honor to learn from them, whomever they may be.

I am going to cease contributing to this blog as I am not really certain it does anything, other than give me a platform for my own ideas and ideas are meant to be worked.
Writing may be a form of working them, but it feels as though a public exercise such as this only serves to prop one up and cry out ‘over here! Notice what I have to offer!’
It IS all within, but I have nothing to offer for others that they often do not already know and I know there is a great deal which I do not know, I would rather spend my time there, it is more of a challenge to learn than it is for me to write.

Thank you for reading and if you got something out of it, great! I hope you find what you do not know from someone great and keep discovering, keep working, keep sweating and toiling away.
What I have offered here is meager and ultimately self-centric from my own experiences about which I am only beginning to understand.
I am no one and will one day be forgotten. So this is all just trivial.

Arigato.

Lessons From The Kihon Kata #3 - Movement Pathways.

Maybe this is an ‘aside’ or a ‘backtrack’ and ‘correction,’ but still very much part of this deep dive adventure beginning with the Kihon Kata.
I have to remember that the Kihon Kata were made specifically for school children and had a lot of the ‘higher force’ techniques omitted and a lot of what was taught with them, as far as two person drills, were created towards those same ends and, often, later.

So the Education given was specifically starting with Kata, not with Application (and it is doubtful that application itself was ever incorporated, judging from the state of sport Karate).
No real skills were taught beyond punching, kicking, and blocking, all done at unrealistic ranges in unrealistic ways.

Does that mean they are useless or useful? Just because something was not explained or highlighted does not mean it is not present.
How do we fix this? First, the opponent, forget the idea of ‘opponent’ and start thinking more of an ‘assailant’ and forget about doing a specific technique against a specific attack, the ABC method is out the window because it sucks and does nothing to prepare people to face assailants when or if they should have that displeasure.

How does the assailant move? They are certainly not going to assume a position akin to Zenkutsu Dachi in a Gedan Uke ready position with their attacking hand in chamber so that you know where it is coming from and what they are going to attack with so that you can apply your cookie cutter response.
Karate does not begin with Kata, it ends with Kata. Training should not be based on training, it should be based on creating competency, skill, and strategic thinking ON THE SPOT!

Taking this into account, you are slammed into a wall violently, maybe even jerked back up with one or two hands on the scruff of your shirt or jacket. What skills do you employ?
Me? I would likely move with it and head but the guy, assuming he is taller it would hit the nose region or just under with the combined momentum of his jerking me up and my push into it. Shoot my hands up center and out to slam his arm or arms away, pop him a few times in the abdominal section then sweep his arm through while he is still disoriented so that I gain the flank and he is either hitting the wall or passing to one side giving me the position of advantage.

See that? I aggressively stepped forward to close the distance while using it to assault his face then bring both arms up to get his hands off me (Morote Kamai from Gekesai Dai San, Gekesai, Kakuha).
Gaining the flank and allowing him to pass through maybe be further bolstered if I just help him along the way by adding momentum with a weight drop while grabbing the back of his neck to pull him down either face first into said wall or follow up with an interesting arm crank or a takedown. Same type of sequence as shown in Gekesai Dai San, but same movement as the previous post? Maybe? What skills is this teaching as opposed to the previous?

We have taken into account the ways in which an assailant will move or assault you in one instance, what they do is not as important as how they do what they do or, in other words, the feel of it.
They are going to jerk you around, grab and tear at clothing and skin, they are going to be bigger (possibly, at least in my case), and they are not going to leave their arms out for you to apply anything, they are going to do everything they can to stop you from applying anything.
What skills are useful with this? Sensitivity and blending, using what the opponent gives you is not just in or on their bodies, but in the movements themselves, the jerking and thrashing, the momentum, the back and forth.
What YOU do may not be what I do and what WE do will not looking like Kata, nor should we strive for that.

What else? Striking to disrupt and disrupting to strike and closest weapon closest target, head butt with a punch combination follow-up while on the inside, what this also tells us is that the inside is dangerous because all of their weapons can still reach us, so keep moving and causing damage vying for a dominant position.
This segment also teaches us entering aggressively, closing the distance and throwing off their timing by taking their initiative away from them.
Next it teaches us to clear their arms and allow them to pass through with whatever defense they muster so that we gain the better position by flanking them, taking at least half their weapons away by means of positioning.

We then continue the motion with a weight drop and forceful pull using the hand on the neck (Koken Uke) as a delivery system for the downward and backward force of the whole body.
With this we can use the wall to hit them, in this scenario it shows us that the environment is a weapon too, but this is not specifically called out in Kata, thus, this illustrates what one limitation that is seldom addressed.
It shows us using our whole body with momentum of the assailant and the importance of mobility with stability and elevation within footwork.
(Pretty sure I can word that better)

The main points, as you can hopefully see, are not in the techniques, but what they are meant to illustrate and to work those principles rather than perfecting and getting attached to technique.

More to come. Thank you.

Lessons From The Kihon Kata #2- Sensitivity, Flowing, Locking, and Striking.

How often does the sequence ‘stepping forward into Sanchin Dachi while performing Chudan Uke’ appear throughout Goju Ryu? It does not matter the lineage, the answer is A LOT.
It is in every Kata, whether it be open handed, closed fisted, it does not matter save the context, which means it is a primary principle of the system, indeed, it seems to be a primary principle in just about every incarnation of Karate in one form or another (an interesting aside is that Jodan Uke is not particularly prevalent in Goju Ryu as a whole and is seemingly a secondary principle that utilized similar mechanics to Chudan Uke - in my view the Kihon Kata are primarily for teaching, not for application, as such this seems to be a way of telling the student to be mindful of different elevation zones).

After the initial movement (in Toguchi Goju Ryu) there is a half step at a forty five degree angle with a pivot to the right whilst performing a Jodan Uke.
In Kata performance this seems choppy and broken, but if we take that out it would show a seamless flow from one to the other with a ‘spinning top’ principle at play.
What does this say? What is the context here? In my view it is to train sensitivity to a changing situation, as is prevalent throughout Goju Ryu also as a primary principle, while also training clearing, striking, and lock/flow in response to how the opponent might react after the student has put them on the defensive.

Clearing the initial attack the student gains the flank on the opponents’ right side while moving in and taking the center.
While footwork they also assault the legs and lock; the opponent may freak out and step back, pushing or attempting a strike or guard with the other arm.
In clinch or near clinch range contact is maintained in order to feel these responses as the ‘feeling’ sense is faster than what the eyes can capture, at least at close range.

The main point is to feel the shift and respond, basic infighting; as the arm is presented the student shifts, clears it through overhead (Jodan Uke), grabs and rolls their ‘punching’ arm through into an arm at.
Yes, this all seems rather formulaic, but again, the underlying principles are the important point of focus here.

Sensitivity.
Clearing.
Flowing and Locking.

Wait. Where are is the striking? In a previous post I pointed out that the mechanics for what we often call Punching in Karate are not really conducive to good Punching. Yes, one can punch if they choose or if a punch is called for, but generally the striking occurs in transition (at least what I have found).
This is something else the Kata calls our attention to. In the ‘clearing’ sections of Chudan Uke and the transitional ‘clearing’ to Jodan Uke one can find many strikes moving towards the centerline targeting the softness that is the general area of the throat or beneath the jaw line (striking hard to soft and employing closest weapon to closest target).
There are also forearm strikes to the assailing and pushing arms (attacking the weapon) with a sweet spot halfway between the elbow and the hand on the outside of the opponents’ forearm (think Kotekite).

These things can, and should, all be trained in isolation THEN re-deployed in conjunction within free-form ‘play’ (a Rory Miller term).

More to come. Maybe going to take all the opening sequences from each of the Kihon Kata and see how context changes from Kamai to Morote Kamai and dictates either Jodan Uke Principles or Koken Uke Principles, both from a Nissan Dachi and Shiko Dachi weighted principle and how these work.

Thank you for tuning in with me on this journey. It will take some time, a lot of training and visualization, a lot of back tracking, a lot of correcting, and a lot of Coffee.
Hopefully I can add some pictures soon to show more of what I am talking about from a visual medium, but I hate drawing on digital programs, so maybe not and this forces us all to use our imaginations.

Thank you.

Lessons From The Kihon Kata #1 - Opening Movement Analysis (Single Kamai).

The notion is to get beyond thinking about the shape our bodies take at the end of a movement, which we now call ‘technique,’ but to get at how those principles can function strategically towards an end goal.
The first movement in the Kihongata series is a step into what is called ‘Kamai’ (probably not spelling that correctly) and what many take as a ‘ready position,’ but we have to examine this deeply in order to get at the essence of it without getting too hung up on it.

I would NOT guard my head with only one hand up at chest level and one hand in chamber, so what is going on here?
First, when practicing solo we tend to do things against our own imagination which assumes our own approximate height and weight, so the chest level movement against a larger opponent might adjust to a higher level or even a wider level, within reason as there is a point beyond which the movement loses its’ applicability.
The solo form or the training form is an ideal to teach the principles, not necessarily something to expect. Rather like Tsuburi Training in Kendo.

The movement itself is not just a movement of the arms, but of the whole body in a specific way that encompasses each ‘zone’ as part of the whole.
Stepping out into a crescent shape with the feet while moving the left arm to meet the right in the center, then completing with right arm out in what we call a Chudan Uke. The body itself DOES perform a slight weight drop then rises up into the ‘final’ shape of the first position.

What is the opponent doing? Perhaps an attempted grab or shove? Perhaps an attempted sucker punch? A general idea leads to insight regarding the strategy, but it is not dependent on one specific act of the opponent other than the opponent is moving on you from the front somehow.

Taking this into account we move to implementation:
Closest Weapon/Closest Target coupled with Aggressive Forward Pressure and Clearing.
Attacking the Posture by rotating via leverage or attack on the arm while assuming a flank on the outside by the very rotation implemented.
Couple this with the footwork, stances are NOT static positions, they have a purpose. With aggressive forward motion we, at the same time, lock-up the leg of the opponent as a point of leverage in the overall attack.
Chamber hand is part of the overall movement as well, taking place and near Clinch or Clinch range, it is generally a grab and pull coupled with the motion of the opposite hand - the application of Yin and Yang as complimentary forces.

The success of the first motion is not guaranteed but also not ruled out which is why the Kata continues, the main point is to steal the initiative/steal the opponent’s mind and put them on the defensive, at the very least, but to END the altercation first and foremost.
There are other aspects in the motion that include striking the arm of the opponent with the offhand as it meets the right hand in the middle, which then catches and rotated the opponent, plus a small kick implied in the step for Sanchin Dachi before catching, trapping, and locking... The kick would be the set-up to get the necessary leg, otherwise a legitimate attack as feinting is not an option.

This movement can be examined in even greater depth from various angles that can fill volumes upon volumes of books and that is just one movement.
The movements themselves are only few, and the principles employed are even fewer, as we waddle things down we can see that Martial Arts are really only a few principles applied in varying ways with differing goals.

Take away for me here is;
1) Aggressively Close Distance.
2) Closest Weapon/Closest Target. All Zones.
3) Get to Flank.
4) Disrupt with pain to gain leverage or rotation points.
5) Attack posture.

The main point. Get the other person to defend.

More to come, possibly on this, maybe on the next movement, maybe both with some corrections for myself.

Introduction - Lessons from the Kihon Kata.

Approaching this subject I have chosen to view Hookiyu 1 and 2, Gekesai 1,2, and 3, Gekiha 1 and 2, Kakuha 1 and 2 all as part of the same set of strategic principles with an emphasis toward variation within those principles.
Basically they are all the same Kata, they are not meant to be separate, but progressions. Originally created as a means of Physical Education for Okinawan School Kids, they are simple in what they have to present as far as lessons, yet not completely devoid of what makes Karate effective as a means of self-defense.

Toguchi Sensei built upon the groundwork started by Miyagi Chojun Sensei by creating additional Kata in progression, which is the beauty of the approach he passed on to those of us that study these, yet they were meant as an introduction to principles, not as a means themselves.
Kris Wilder Sensei once explained to me that these Kata were like the first steps in writing basic alphabet and grammar while the Koryugata were more along the lines of cursive. Perhaps that is true, but maybe a more apt view would be as learning the rules of mathematics, then applying the rudimentary skills, then moving on to algebra with a good base in fundamentals.

The take away I have from this, while I continue my deep dive, is that there are really only a few base movements in Karate, a few base principles, these principles are worked differently or varied depending on the problem presented.
It is not merely X does Y so you should respond with Z, it is in Z itself taking different forms within a sentence structure in order to formulate a word.

The basic movement of Jodan Uke is not fundamentally different from a Hammerfist strike, the context changes certain things, but the fundamentals of the movement remain the same.
Open hand versus Closed Fist is not a matter of Advanced versus Intermediate either, the principles remain the same, the only difference is the context, which will require one or the other, nothing more.

Ultimately there are sweeping principles, swinging principles, clearing principles, striking principles, projecting principles, sensing principles, positioning and timing principles, and control/neutralizing principles.
This list may change, but this is what I have found for myself in this deep dive and I feel these do not fundamentally differ from Kata to Kata, they are the same things applied in different ways.

These first Kata show us aggressive advancement into near clinch range in order to flank and neutralize, sometimes with simple projections.
The feet are involved as weapons throughout as well as the upper body, including the head and torso. The main point being continuous aggressive movement attacking from all levels systematically utilizing sweeping, striking, sensing, locking, clearing, Timing, positioning, ect.
All are present in their most rudimentary form.

Each aspect can be isolated and trained, indeed, months, even years can be spent working each aspect of strategic principles to proficiency, but months and years are not necessary for effective application right away so long as one does not get caught up in the ‘preservation of Tradition’ mindset and work from a strictly technique or form oriented approach.

Each in this series of Kata are meant to cover differing variations of the same problems, albeit the variations are meant to maintain the upper hand based on the many ways an opponent/assailant will react, though not exhaustive.
Another key point would be mindset, quite likely the key most principle, aggressively getting ahead of the curve and stealing the initiative in order to put the opponent/assailant on the defensive.

This is a brief introduction and I will go in more depth later. I will cover each principle I have mentioned with further explanation based on what Kata presents us.
A key to remember is that the Kata are the culmination of lessons that should be learned, they are a tool to give us some direction, but are not the means or even the end and as new lessons are learned perhaps new Kata should be created to illustrate what may not have been previously taken into account.

More to follow.

Musings on Principles Based Deep Dive.

Deep diving into the notion of Principles Based Training has really brought some new angles to light and raised some really great questions.
These questions may not be appreciated by everyone, but ultimately that cannot be helped and, regarding reactions, may give rise to more questions within each that reacts, questions like 'why do I feel this way about what he just said?' or 'Why is this causing such a reaction within myself?'

To start... We tend to focus on the end result, or shape, of each principle and label that as the primary thing, like Jodan Uke, rather than taking what the whole body is doing into account, or even what our opponent is doing.
'Jodan Uke' is a label given to classify something that was not previously isolated and classified, isolation of an end shape may be the ideal shape we wish to achieve, but it is not important in the grand scheme of things.
Does it work? How? If not, then why? In what context did it work and in what context did it not work? What is the 'it' to which I am referring? Is it the end shape or the total movement as it is happening?

In conflict there are no 'end shapes' other than the end goal, which is to end the conflict and/or escape the situation altogether.
If something works to that end then it is correct, if it does not, then it is not correct. Whether it LOOKS the way it is supposed to look is not the point.
Are standards imposed from the outside important? Maybe to a certain extent, but more as guideposts, not as the immutable rule, mainly because everyone is different and the lessons learned for each person, even from the same principles, will be different.

Preservation of a system for the sake of preservation is not really doing the system justice, and maybe we need to stop thinking in terms of systems in the first place because such a thing implies 'programming' or 'programmable' responses, which are counter-productive to effective application.
Going along with the answers being within, there is nothing to teach, but lessons to learn, and this begins with learning the lessons, not with how someone else learned the lessons.
What would the role of a Teacher be in this instance? As a guide, to pose the questions and get the student to think, to question, to understand what it is the moment has to Teach them about particular principles being worked.

I tend to agree with Patrick McCarthy Sensei and many others in that Kata are a culmination of principles, first learn the principles, learn what those principles mean to YOU, then check out the Kata, but don't get hung up on it.
What do Kata include? The lessons can be isolated insofar as one focuses on principles rather than 'snapshots' or 'end shapes,' because these really miss the point. Mabuni Kenwa Sensei even stated that there are no 'static positions in Karate,' so this idea MUST be thrown out because it was never an original part of it.
Karate is NOT a system, it may contain schools with different approaches, some having different Kata representing different lessons learned, and this is fine, but these are not the main focus, nor, even, necessarily of any real importance beyond being tools to lead towards one's inner way and manifesting THAT into the world.
What good is preserving a System or Tradition if it is not used to Educate (to draw out) what is within?

Belts are an artificial method of measuring progress and, more often than not, just a commercialized device to gain more revenue for the school or the Organization.
Tests, as they are practiced in Karate today, require the memorization of rote forms, single and two person, great if you are just training to test, not so good if you are training for practicality, functionality, and even personal health, it is not really a good approach.
BJJ, Judo, and similar arts have a system that basically requires students to perform principles in matches against resisting opponents, albeit there is some memorization of 'techniques,' the shape of the technique has little to do with the successful application of the technique, at least when it comes to looking EXACTLY like the technique.
Something different needs to give in Karate overall. Performance and function need to determine good form, form should be functional and effectiveness coupled with experience and understanding should be the measure upon which we recognize an individual's growth... Perhaps belts should be thrown out altogether, at least for adults, the kids like them.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as my deep diving into this stuff, more to come, next article I will focus more on my discoveries in the principles of Kata, starting with Hookiyu Dai Ichi and Dai Ni (Toguchi lineage).

Good day.

The Answer is Within.

I was watching the movie Willow, one of my favorite movies, and in the beginning Willow had hopes of becoming the Apprentice of a character known as the High Aldwin, a Sorcerer.
The question he asked each of his ‘hopefuls’ was ‘in which finger holds the power to control the whole world?’
Each picked a finger and he shook his head no, until it came to Willow, who hesitated, and then picked a finger, to his dismay he had no apprentice.

Prior to this he gave a hint to the answer telling each to trust their own instincts. The answer was in the finger of each hopeful.
This got me thinking; applies to Martial Arts as a whole. There are no styles and the real answer is within oneself.
Put your trust in Kata, technique, style, and Teacher and you have missed the point. The answer is inside yourself.

Shihan Roseberry once asked, ‘who is your favorite actor?’ Each would answer in turn and owe push-ups.
The answer was yourself. None of us got it at the time.

What Is Already Present.

There is a point where one really has to look at what they are doing, what they have been taught, and really ask themselves why?

When we break things down to their base principles three hundred things become two, maybe three things and that is really all one needs in order to be safe, to defend and get away, even to take it to a level of putting someone down if necessary.

It is not complicated and, deep down inside, we all know this as we are the product of many generations whom have effectively applied this in order to stay alive long enough to pass on their genes.

None of this is new, it is already there within, maybe a jumbled unfortunates mess and atrophy if we have not been forced into situations that require these things (and many haven’t), but they are there nonetheless.

Striking. Grappling. Throwing/Takedowns.

Awareness. Assessment. Engagement.

My own take is that we train to hone skills already present on a barely conscious level and these are not just physical skills.

Most approaches are as though they are ingraining something not yet ingrained, rather than waking something up they are building something up.

Perhaps both approaches may be valid? Maybe. What I am most concerned with is cutting through to the core that can be readily used.

Training three hundred responses to one thing might be fun, but is it useful? For me it would be more useful to bring out what is already there, to get to know the principles, and not really care what the assailant does other than getting the assailant down and getting away.

For this I only need to know maybe two or three things and maybe I do not even really need to know them on a conscious level because thinking is often too slow and stands to get you maimed or murdered out there.

In contrast I am also a Kata guy; I find great value in analyzing those principles, maybe I find the exercise to be a lot of fun, but fun is how humans internalize things. Very similar to how baby animals play fight.

They do not learn a specific way of doing things, no techniques, they just learn to flow and the principles tend to come naturally.

These two things seem mutually exclusive unless you START with free play, move to examine the principles of Kata, then go back to free play and really start to see some amazing things happen.

Break it down and focus on specific things, I do not just do rote Kata for the sake of performing a pattern to perfection as I am not a tournament player.

Focus on locking principles one week, focus on striking another, muchimidi another, practice against a wall, around tables and chairs, with stuff strewn all about the floor, sucker punched or attacked from behind, ambushed rounding a corner, practice escape and running.

All very important stuff, shift back to Kata with new eyes, then shift back to play.

Some might prefer a more technical or technique based approach, which is fine, some might prefer something else.

I once heard a story of an Okinawan Karate Sensei that would teach simply by saying ‘do this’ in whatever language it was and then demonstrate, straight to the point.

Drills and routines serve as tools to hone our understanding of principles, which are nothing more than physics in action. 

Some train to fight, some train to compete, but when you remove both from the equation what is left? A predator is not looking for a fight, they are looking for an opportunity. We are not Samurai, we are not Kung Fu Killers, most of us are just people looking to survive and navigate a world that can be very treacherous, although not always.

So while I do train Traditional Drills and Kata, interspersed with some other things I pick up and notice to fill in the holes, I do not train to preserve a Tradition. I train to put things to use and, I feel, this is how the Old Dogs would have wanted it.

Shihan Roseberry preserves his Teacher’s Teachings and built upon them, even creating new Kata based on what he had come to understand.

His Teacher, Seikichi Toguchi, had done the same prior to him. Roseberry Shihan’s last great lesson that I took away from his last International Convention, besides spirit and endurance through extreme fatigue, was ‘If it makes your Karate better then use it.’

Words to live by. It is and always has been MY Karate. Dascenzo Sensei, Roseberry Shihan, Todd Sensei, Iller Sensei, and Wilder Sensei only guided me to what was already present.

Gassho.

Distinctions.

The last article generated some great feedback, but not regarding the main point of the article itself. No, it was regarding my use of the words Teacher and Instructor.
An individual suggested that, to argue a difference between two words that mean, essentially, the same thing makes no sense.

For me that is like saying there is no difference between what it means to be a ‘Dad’ as opposed to what it means to be a ‘Father,’ or what it means to be a ‘Mom’ as opposed to what it means to being a ‘Mother.’
For me it makes perfect sense and getting caught up on semantics is missing the point entirely. The point is that one is all about themselves; making a name, a reputation, everything they do is about self promotion, and a little bit of self promotion is okay, but if it is not coming from a standpoint of putting the student first and getting out of your own way then all the student is there for is to serve as a promotional tool for oneself and their business.

The second part of this is operating from a standpoint of responsibility where one thinks of what would best help the student to grow; knowing that what they have could possibly be something that the student depends on for survival.
It is not about the person at the top at that point, it is about the student and their families, their livelihood, it is also about their attitude, their spirit, drawing out what is within (the word Education comes from the root Educari, to draw out).
There is so much more to being a good Teacher than even that, but ultimately it boils down to a calling in which self gain is not a focus. Can one earn money and be a good Teacher? Sure. Run a business? Absolutely, and it would likely promote itself aside from advertising costs. Word of mouth is a great thing.

For me the word ‘Instruct’ implies placing something within, it is also a bit too clinical for me, rather like Father and Mother, cold and formal.
Many people can Instruct, not everyone can Educate, so if there was a word I would seek to replace from the last article it would likely be Teacher to Educator, although that feels too formal as well. When the individual took offense to the light in which I painted the term Instructor it seemed they took it as almost a personal affront, possibly even on behalf of others that use the term to describe their profession.
I cannot speak for them, but the argument is ultimately purely semantic and pointless as it had nothing to do with the underlying message.
Why is there such an offense? Why place so much importance on words and descriptions? Sometimes they can be useful, other times people confuse the Forrest for the trees.

Titles do not mean much to me. So when they suggested I should change my title I was confused. I am not an Instructor, I do not even like to be called Sensei, often just Dave, David, or Hey You is fine so long as I am helping.
If the attitude of the person is one of service and speaks for itself from a place of responsibility and sincerity then what is the issue? Call yourself whatever you want. Do you identify more with a word or do you identify more with the actual thing? Are you Instructing or sharing? Training or playing? Again, words can be useful, but ultimately titles are not so important.

Humans like to have things illustrated for them, that is human nature, but even then we can only approach things from our own personal angle, complete with bias and judgments, even this post and the last one.
So long as people are thinking more critically then I really don’t care, I did what I set out to do and those seeds will grow.

I am not changing the article. I am leaving it as is. If something struck a nerve and you do not want to face the root cause for that within yourself then so be it. Blame me if you like, I don’t know you, but I do hope you have a great day and continue to be successful.
If something I say is not to your liking, sorry, it is not my job to please you, simply don’t read what I write... Others do.

The Difference between an Instructor and a Teacher.

There was a story I read once in a book called 'Steal My Art' written by Tai Chi Teacher T.T. Liang in which he talks about a student who constantly pushed to receive an Instructor's Certificate.
T.T. Liang gave him the Certificate and wished him luck, but he did this just to make the guy go away, not because the guy actually knew anything as he was more interested in making a name for himself than he was in learning what T.T. Liang had to teach.

This is a sad state of affairs in the Martial Arts and Self Defense Community throughout the world today, although in my view it is nothing new.
You get the guy that trains a couple months in one thing, moves on to another thing, trains maybe a month, then decides they know enough to formulate their own system, not because they actually have any understanding of what they have studied, but because they want what they perceive as recognition, they are drawn to the power and position that go with it... Or at least what they perceive as power and position... They want to stroke their own ego.

The more I train, the more I realize I need more training. The more I discover, the more I realize I don't know anything at all.
Maybe I have no business teaching, but people do ask, and my Teacher had always told me to pass on what I know, not because I wanted to, but because I had the responsibility to do so; being a Teacher is so much more than standing around telling people what to do while counting.
I distinguish between a Teacher and an Instructor, or a Coach. I am not an Instructor or a Coach. I am not going to be standing on the sidelines coaching my Students on how to take another point, those days are gone and, while there is some benefit there, there is far more benefit in being an actual Teacher.

A Teacher is not someone that chooses to be in that position, a Teacher is recognized naturally and sought out, or not, and a Teacher has enough sense to know what they do not know along with enough humility to help their student seek out those answers they do not know elsewhere.
This is not a good business model, indeed, it was never meant to be.
Making money is fine, but helping a person discover and manifest their own inner power and truly transform themselves, those around them, and their lives is far greater a calling. Sometimes the two can go hand-in-hand, and it is a good thing to Teach a business mindset because that is the world we live in, but when it comes to Teaching, even Teaching this mindset, there is a line. You have Clients and you have Students, sometimes a Client may become a Student, but that is their choice.

My Teacher was never a big fan of the business side of things, he would always lament on how much more than a business this was, for him it was a calling, because we kept calling and kept coming around, despite how much effort he expended in trying to make us go away.
I cleaned a wall, then cleaned it again, cleaned the Dojo in order to Train, and I was expected to be at each of the classes, so I would do my Homework at the Dojo; for a long time I basically lived there, besides sleeping, although sometimes we even slept there.

My Teacher's Teacher, John Roseberry Shihan, had refused to Teach him for a while, and when he finally did he would devise some really extreme workouts to completely exhaust my Teacher, both mind and body, in order to make him go away, but my Teacher kept coming back.
Because of my Teacher's persistence, and the persistence of two other Students, John Roseberry Shihan created an International Organization that has outlived him, that continues to carry on his legacy and produce Teachers rather than Instructors, many have only ever heard of it by word of mouth, and that is the way he would have wanted it.

As Teachers we have a responsibility to set our egos aside, sometimes Students stay, sometimes Students go, but my Teacher always said it is not the Teacher who leaves the Student, but the Student who leaves the Teacher, like a bird leaving the nest.
They may continue in the path of Budo, they may end up taking those lessons and manifesting them in other ways, but they will always remember the core of what they are doing, and the core, ultimately, has nothing to do with you or me, as Teachers, it has to do with their manifestation of that inner power... You only showed them the way, you did not give them anything, you did not take anything, you were a stepping stone, nothing more, but that is good enough.

Ego should never enter the picture... If you enter a school and are met by a plethora of self-inflating statements and displays, you can bet you have only encountered a Professional Instructor, not a Teacher.
If they have a cult following surrounding their personality and do not EVER question, then you can bet you have joined a cult, you have NOT found a Teacher... Run.
These are Ego factories that serve to stroke the Ego of the person at the top... Buyer beware.