tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post1368330058214837532..comments2023-10-22T16:13:55.130+01:00Comments on My journey to black belt: End of summer training.....Sue Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-795079437204002542013-09-06T16:24:26.918+01:002013-09-06T16:24:26.918+01:00Hi Matt, mixed age/ability classes have there pros...Hi Matt, mixed age/ability classes have there pros and cons. On the whole they work ok but I'd love it if we had a black belt class once a week as well to focus on some higher level application stuff. I can dream!Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-28574425613431006202013-09-06T07:25:43.697+01:002013-09-06T07:25:43.697+01:00Lincoln's saying was so true, especially in th...Lincoln's saying was so true, especially in that situation. There will always be someone not content with the status quo.<br /><br />We never combine age groups. The few times we tried it in the past just did not work.<br /><br />We tend to shut things down over the summer and let kids take it easy, with just a minimum of classes running. It is challenging indeed to handle mixed classes.Matt Kleinhttp://karate-kids.com.au/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-16556256983069296612013-08-27T16:17:35.215+01:002013-08-27T16:17:35.215+01:00Baby Boomer Sensei, thank you for sharing your exp...Baby Boomer Sensei, thank you for sharing your experiences so eloquently with me. I have read about such training and its purpose but not really experienced it. I'm not sure our summer training is hard enough to achieve the mental shift that you talk about but sometimes I have felt so tired and exhausted that my arms and legs just seem to be moving themselves after a while - so maybe that's the beginning of such a mind shift. <br /><br />Charles, ....sadlySue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-91110562680778389242013-08-26T16:00:35.206+01:002013-08-26T16:00:35.206+01:00Sue, not a sad story. Rather the way of things tod...Sue, not a sad story. Rather the way of things today.Charles Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13812618556413423872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-13221281643829633762013-08-25T19:40:21.789+01:002013-08-25T19:40:21.789+01:00Years ago, when I trained Shoriji-Ryu in San Franc...Years ago, when I trained Shoriji-Ryu in San Francisco Chinatown’s YMCA, under the well-respected and late Richard “Biggie” Kim, we had workouts that lasted four hours long consisting of kihon, kata, kumite, weapons, jiujutsu, qigong and taichi that included beginners, intermediates and advanced students. At times we’d have as many as 75 to 100 students packed in this old dilapidated gym with about 10 senior black belts whacking us with their bo when our stances were weak or our concentration waning. Master Kim would provide short breaks by introducing his philosophies on bushido, one I remember on the subject of “mushin” or “no mind.” He said that in order to reach a state of zen, we must attempt perfection by not concentrating on the movements or techniques, but by allowing ourself to be part of the movements through mushin or no mind; hence, the many hours of repetition. Hard work and repetition were part of the ancient tradition of achieving mushin and in a small way self-actualization or zen.<br /><br />So the message behind long hour work outs is to open up the opportunity of reaching a different level of consciousness and at the same time improve your techniques. I remembered him saying, “Don’t worry about techniques. If you do it enough under the right teaching, it will come. Develop the mind and the body will follow, for without this relationship, the person’s only reason to exist is to die.”<br /><br />Wow deep.<br /><br />I really miss his teachings, talking in his Hawaiian accent but yet filled with so much knowledge. The following is a rare footage of one of the “breaks” he provided between all those kihon and kata repetition. Hope you not only enjoy it, but it provides some deeper meaning to your quest.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cZLahYfuz0&list=PLE31E3ECF425A6C71&index=1 <br /><br />Sensei Dominador Tomate<br />http://babyboomersensei.blogspot.com/<br />Baby Boomer Senseihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13430634888692039875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-62512110110268295112013-08-24T11:20:15.877+01:002013-08-24T11:20:15.877+01:00Brett, I sometimes wish we had at least one adult ...Brett, I sometimes wish we had at least one adult only class a week just to focus on more adult style stuff...<br /><br />Journeyman, I always like to think positively about everything as there are always gains to be made if you have a positive mindset.<br /><br />Charles, you make it sound like a sad story...I admire your ability to keep going it alone though, I'm not sure I could do that.Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-30435662606575318552013-08-23T16:05:34.518+01:002013-08-23T16:05:34.518+01:00I have/had a dream, a dream that I would find four...I have/had a dream, a dream that I would find four practitioners who would realize true budo spirit and find themselves dedicated to training regularly and diligently and consistently regardless of the time of year, holidays, or other such interruptions. Maybe this is why I train alone :-) now. Charles Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13812618556413423872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-90839468034731532582013-08-22T23:43:29.337+01:002013-08-22T23:43:29.337+01:00Summer training is always a challenge. Ours peaks...Summer training is always a challenge. Ours peaks with a major training event and then the doors are shut for a short while. Sad but refreshing at the same time. <br /><br />It's tough to strike a balance with mixed ages in training. Personally, I'm not a huge fan, but as you pointed out, there are always things to learn, whether through introspection or from others.Journeymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146093025259375890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-36828578853770384962013-08-22T18:32:18.447+01:002013-08-22T18:32:18.447+01:00Our dojo doesn't change at any time during the...Our dojo doesn't change at any time during the year. We are a mixture of young children, teens, adults, and "oldies", as you put it.<br /><br />If I am going to be honest, I really dont like having the young children in our class. Sensei has to spend a lot of time coaxing them to do something right - even when they clearly know how to do it and are just being lazy!<br /><br />*sigh*The Strongest Karatehttp://www.kyokushinblog.comnoreply@blogger.com