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Post by kensei on Oct 4, 2012 12:49:52 GMT
Yep, anyone who can't wait to tell you what Dan grade they are, maybe shouldn't be.... Never mind Dan ranks. the other night a student came up to me (he is one of my juniors students) and asked me about protocal for visiting brown belts because one of my seniors students started asking what level of brown belt he was so he could sit infront of him (in line) if he was a lower level.....BROWN BELT...learning bad habits early!  |
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Post by Bob Davis on Oct 4, 2012 13:12:53 GMT
I would still ask where he's learning these habits from, it's us that make the deal out of rank and the etiquette that surrounds it in the first place.
I had the opposite the other night, I had a visiting Shodan who's been a Shodan for more years than I've actually been training. He was saying that he might go for Nidan soon but he's never seen the point as the training is the same and, for him, it's all about the training really.
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Post by middleton on Oct 4, 2012 13:46:55 GMT
Bob that is an excellent observation. Students are educated by the instructor and seniors often times in very subtle ways. Generally this leads to students that are of the same character and approach as the instructor. If I had a student in my Dojo that was only concerned with rank I feel they simply would not last, because this is not my approach. In other Dojo's this same student would be encouraged, and would flourish in those surroundings. Life long Karate is a very personal journey, and if we choose to share this with others then in my humble opinion we need to be strong enough to surround our selves with like minded individuals. Kind regards, Scott Middleton www.traditionalkarateofbrandon.ca/ |
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Post by kensei on Oct 4, 2012 15:39:48 GMT
Oh, I know from were they get this attitude, and as hard as I try to break it...the attitudes are set in some.
The most eye opening thing that ever happened to me was visiting Ottawa and being set beside people that were of all Dan ranks and no one cared...just shut up...line up and sit down...lets train. it was amazing and probably one of the best experiences I have had with rank importance EVER!
I put alot of weight in my stories and memories of training in Ottawa and with Saeki Sensei because he is one amazing man and his organization in Ottawa is just as incredible. No issues of who is the boss or who is next in line, just shut your pie hole and train!
I get very upset when others bring up rank because its kind of like saying "Im in charge" or "Im higher than you are" and in a school yard way! Silly and stupid and gets in the way of training!
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Post by Paul Bedard on Oct 5, 2012 2:00:16 GMT
You know, I have been to a lot of black belt classes & really once that you hit nidan you are exposed to all the same material. So getting a higher rank really doesn`t put you in a position to learn more...
Paul B
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Post by kensei on Oct 5, 2012 13:37:34 GMT
You know, I have been to a lot of black belt classes & really once that you hit nidan you are exposed to all the same material. So getting a higher rank really doesn`t put you in a position to learn more... Paul B Very True....now to just convince others of that! the issue is that rank is often used as a club to beat respect into others by those that are not matrure enough to realize that rank is a responsibility not a momento! |
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Post by middleton on Oct 5, 2012 14:10:31 GMT
Good morning, I would agree that after a period of time the practitioner has been exposed to most of the techniques that are common to Shotokan Karate. In essence the learning curve begins to even out. Paul mentioned that this happens around the Nidan level, and generally I would agree with this as well. The practitioner that has legitimately achieved "higher rank" should be focusing their efforts on refining these movements. Although most practitioners will ultimately experience a saturation point in learning new techniques this is certainly not the end of their study. I believe the deep reflection required for technical understanding is only possible through time, and consistent training. This is ideally what the "higher ranks" should reflect. Kind regards, Scott Middleton www.traditionalkarateofbrandon.ca/ |
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