Moving up in ranks

[Gusei21]

Laurie,

What makes you think TSYR students can do what Toby Threadgill does?
:)
So far they have had as much success as Ueshiba's students copying him or Otsuka's students had success copying him.
Wado does have solo kata that develps internal strength.
In fact we have two.
Naihanchi and Seishan.
It's just that most people have not figured out the keys to unlocking them. Sort of like trying to figure out Finnegan's Wake.
Otsuka Sensei had to be able to do this stuff. Otherwise he would not have been the high level jujitsu practitioner he claimed to be.
So either his claims of proficiency in the arts was false (Yoshin Koryu, Shindo Yoshin ryu) or he knew it.
Here is what is interesting about how Otsuka Sensei taught.
He kept saying the people around him were not good enough.
They were not good enough in his opinion.
So perhaps if they were not good enough then he held back information?
Either way, he had to have had the goods otherwise he would have failed as a Shindo Yoshin ryu expert.
And if he had the goods then why would he let them go when he came to karate?

You say you believe that Toby has jedi like powers? Nice.

And yes, it does take a long time to develop a 'martially conditioned (connected) body'.
And what Takagi Sensei does is not normal.

[Gusei21]

Laurie,

Order Ellis Amdur's 'Hidden in Plain Sight.'
This book explores the roots of Ueshiba's internal power via Sosaku Takeda.

Ueshiba had it.
Inoue (his nephew) had it.
Gozo Shioda has it.
Toby Threadgill has it.
Otsuka had it
Takagi has it.
Tetsuzan Kuroda has it.

Yes, the only way to get 'it' is to condition your body in specific ways.
You live in Australia. Ask Reg Kear. He gets it.
Toby Threadgill talks about his Sensei, Takamura having an alien kicking in his belly (his tanden bouncing around).
It is a nexus of fascial tissue that you've learned to connect to everything else in your body.

It is no accident that in Wado we teach to punch with our body, block with our body....because that is the source of internal power if you know how to access it. So it takes 10 years? Then start practicing now :)

It's a way of turbocharging your engine. You can put that engine into any martial art.

I had no idea that TSYR has the most structured way of teaching it.
But I do know that even if most people want it they would never want to do the work it takes to get there.
It requires daily practice of a specific nature.
It takes a long time to even move just your tanden and all this magical stuff has to be supported thru the tanden.

[AG1]

Hi Igor,


And I think most people who walk into a dojo expects to
1) learn karotty
2) have fun
3) get in shape
4) learn self defense
5) live out their Japanese samurai fantasies
6) pick up members of whatever sex they may prefer at the moment
The last thing I expect them to do is show up to actually learn Wado.
Most people who start karate have never heard of Wado.
Our hope is that somewhere along the way they decide that they actually care and are interested enough to learn Wado.
And if that happens then we have ourselves a real student.

I don't really have a problem with Mcanything. Disclaimer. I eat at McDonalds...
What is nice about McDonalds is that no matter where you are a Big Mac tastes like a Big Mac and the fries are always the same.
I like that consistency.
I wish my dojos were consistent like McDonalds :) I want all my instructors to teach kihon, kata and kihon kumite my way - McBob.
Once in a while I get strange reports of inconsistency so then I have to go and squash it in order to get everyone on the same page.
Consistent, like McDonalds.
Quality can only be insured if they follow my template and do it my way.
And yes, I decide what is 'quality'. That's my job and no one is forcing anyone to stay.
It is my version of the koryu model. Less headache. No need to compromise. Benevolent dictatorship is much easier.

I think you can both follow the profit model and have a successful program.
I have never done it but I don't see why it can't be successful.
I don't have the personality to run a dojo. I know my limitations as a human being.
In order to run a dojo you have to like people.
You have to be personable.
You have to care about the little children.
I fail miserably on all accounts.
I am much better at showing up at a location a few times a year just to work over the instructors.
...and I eat at McDonalds and I know it is not good for me.

Well, the question of what makes a McDojo was asked, so here's an answer by Jesse:
http://www.karatebyjesse.com/93-signs-of-a-mcdojo/

[oneya]

I think you both need to clean and disinfect your keyboards after that...

oneya

[andyb28]

Do we get to choose from light force powers or dark force powers?

I have always fancied the lightning and death grip myself. ;)

[oneya]

Yes you do actually get to choose Andy.

oneya

[majin29]

I am now Green Advanced. Working towards Blue belt now with things like Pinan Yondan (already know it- my favourite kata thus far!) and Oyo #2. Some health issues have precluded me from training as vigorously as I'd like but I'm still plugging away.

[oneya]

Some health issues have precluded me from training as vigorously as I'd like but I'm still plugging away.

Ganbatte

oneya

[majin29]

Thanks oneya!

Got my syllabus for the next belt and I've got my work cut out for me with the spinning back kick. I always get dizzy doing that technique. Any helpful hints as my inner ear is not so good.

[rmeacham]

In answer to original post my Wado Ryu class Brown belt usually takes 18 months to just under 2 years? we are a independent club. The grading tests are every 3 months.... IF you are ready. That covers a syllabus, kata and a fairy brutal fitness test.
I could grade for brown in December. I've got 3 months to work my syllabus. The kata in my case is Kushanku which i know already!