Isshinryu karate was developed by a man named Tatsuo Shimabuku, who was born 98 years ago today. It's kind of fitting that my first night back to karate class would be on his birthday.
Since I got my black belt, classes have become very dull, mainly because black belts don't participate in class--at least not in our dojo. Sensei always says black belt is the beginning of learning, so why then does learning stop at shodan in his dojo?
What instruction I get, what training I do is done after class. If sensei has time.
Otherwise, I'm on my own.
10 comments:
Thats a shame that they don't instruct Shodan and higher dan in your school. I don't understand that. In my dojo, we have class from blue belt and up on monday and wednesdays. when we reach a point where the material is above some of the lower kyu, the class starts to split up-the lower ranks moving to our other dojo floor (we are lucky enough to have 2 rooms) and work on their material and the other room keeps working on more advanced material. The black belts (shodan, nidan and yondan) also do stay after class to work some newer material, but it is not the only time they have to learn stuff.
weird indeed...
I wonder why? I haven't seen that much of high belts in my life. in fact, except shodan I haven't. I've always wondered how the higher belts got instruction as most instructors seem to be 1st dan..
"black belts don't participate in class"
just what do you do at your classes?
Jeeze. Maybe that's why Sensei likes us to self practice. So, the black belts can work on what ever they want. About half of my dojo consists of black belts. Therefore, Kyu and black belts train together. We mostly work on kata. However, there are times when the black belts teach the kyu one to one.
frotoe, I agree. It is very frustrating. Unfortunately for me, I am the highest ranking student in the dojo. The assistant sensei will often work with me if he has time to stay after class. He is the one who has taught me most of the kata, but he doesn't attend regularly.
Mat, I think it's just the way his dojo did things, and he thinks that's how it is supposed to be. In our association, the dan ranks do not associate with the kyu ranks. I don't agree with that, but that's the way our association is. During class time, I assist in teaching, helping, and correcting the kyu ranks. If there are an odd number of students, I will partner with one during drills. Often I will do basics with them, or will try to find a corner and go over kata by myslef. Whether I have room for that depends on how many students are there, though. Often it is too crowded.
Lizzie, our dojo is still fairly new, and there aren't that many black belts in it yet. There is the sensei, the assistant sensei and me. There is also a junior black belt. Depending on what is going on, sometimes we will break up into groups and do different things. I am usually teaching at those times.
Once, the jr. black belt and I went outside and ran kata in the parking lot, until sensei saw us and made us come back inside. If we had another room, we could go in there...
Actually, no I don't pay any more. Since I bought the new house I just can't afford it. I told sensei we were going to quit because of it, but he said financial troubles are never a reason to quit. I don't advertise it, because not every student gets that consideration.
I get it.
I'm glad that you didn't quit. What are the average age of kyu ranks that you have in your dojo?
Mat, sensei even told me not long before I got my shodan, "When you become a black belt, don't fraternize with the kyu ranks or they won't respect you." I don't agree with that, but I understand that it is just the way he was taught.
Lizzie, most of the students are children under 12. In the adult class, the average age would probably be around 16, with a range from 12 - 55.
At my place we have a few blackbelts come and go. I had always assumed that most would want to be at a place that could award higher Dans. Our highest BB is a 2nd. Supposedly only able to award up the rank directly below them. We are the only school in town.
Ours is a fairly new dojo, which is why there aren't that many BBs yet. Sensei has not lived here but about 6 or 7 years, and he opened the dojo not long after he moved here. There have been a few other dojos in town in the past, but they have all closed. We even had one open recently that was run by a blue belt. It didn't last long.
In our association, we have to be board tested for all dan ranks, so my sensei cannot promote any higher than ik-kyu anyway. Only 5th degree and higher dans can sit on the testing board, and they have to be certified by the association. Sensei is a 4th degree. To test for shodan (and above), we have to travel to sensei's home dojo and test in front of the board.
Talk about intimidating!
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