Friday Knight News
"Should you desire the great tranquility, prepare to sweat." Hakuin Ekaku
The law demands that we have to teach everyone the same, but I have refused some people for what I believe to be good reasons. It has long been my practice to make sure that not everyone is admitted in my dojo. The law does not allow private businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation or deny service based on race, sex, age, disability or religion. That is fine by me, I have had students that fit in every one of those categories. What I did not allow into my dojo was people that had a history with felony violence, but I also had other categories that I discriminated against.
As I had mentioned before, the law stipulates we as martial art instructors cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation or deny service based on race, sex, age, disability or religion, but I rejected people over their mental outlook, and people who were careless about safety standards, or lacked a work ethic. A few of the people I dropped claimed that it was because they were discriminate based whatever reason they felt looked best for them. But it was always actually over mental outlook, being careless about safety of other students, or they were just lazy. No charges were ever filed as I could produce people from any of the categories that would refute their claim. Laziness was always the biggest reason students couldn't get in my classes or were dropped. Money was never the prime reason to either receive or be denied instruction, over the years many students received classes paid for in sweat equity. I've had almost an even amount of free and paid students, but I have primarily only turned away people that refused to empty their teacup.
Some of the worst cases were from a few people that came in wanting to get ranked in kenjutsu, but insisting that I recognize their karate kata bokken training as part of their overall grading. I told them that I do not teach a separate stand-alone sword art, but only teach the sword as part of our jujutsu system. For us sword kata is done in a flash and is not a long drawn out fight scene. I sent these people on their way after I recognized they only wanted my approval for their style of training. I figured they were better off without it. I have also thrown out students that didn't follow instructions, this is very dangerous stuff in blade based arts. Then I've had people who dictated to me what they would do, but still insisted they wanted me to teach them. They just wanted to learn jujutsu with no contact. I couldn't see how that would happen; I got the feeling that they had latent homophobic feelings, but sometimes it was women that couldn't handle being touched by men or women. I referred all of these people to shooting classes as it is hard to learn kempo let alone jujutsu with no physical contact, also I didn't know of any no contact schools available for them either.
In the past at our dojo we have used physical fitness standards to pass from kyu to kyu and it was also required to maintain your standing at the dan level too. Each year the yudansha would perform a maintenance review. Of course, we also had requirements for technical proficiency in all of their martial art skills as well. I will admit that I have taught both men and women and for the most part had graded them to the same standards. However, over time I did lower my standards for the women students so that they were only required to perform fitness exercises to match standards for their sex. This move reduced the fitness level that I had previously required for the men too, as it was only fair that we applied the same type of fitness test across the board. Although, for a time I did let my guard down and let the kyu ranks perform at a minimum level as a base line, a stupid move on my part. Previously, in order to gain admission to my dojo, you had to perform at the minimum acceptable performance requirements to get in the door, let alone to go from on rank to the next.
As I had mentioned before, the law stipulates we as martial art instructors cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation or deny service based on race, sex, age, disability or religion, but I rejected people over their mental outlook, and people who were careless about safety standards, or lacked a work ethic. A few of the people I dropped claimed that it was because they were discriminate based whatever reason they felt looked best for them. But it was always actually over mental outlook, being careless about safety of other students, or they were just lazy. No charges were ever filed as I could produce people from any of the categories that would refute their claim. Laziness was always the biggest reason students couldn't get in my classes or were dropped. Money was never the prime reason to either receive or be denied instruction, over the years many students received classes paid for in sweat equity. I've had almost an even amount of free and paid students, but I have primarily only turned away people that refused to empty their teacup.
Some of the worst cases were from a few people that came in wanting to get ranked in kenjutsu, but insisting that I recognize their karate kata bokken training as part of their overall grading. I told them that I do not teach a separate stand-alone sword art, but only teach the sword as part of our jujutsu system. For us sword kata is done in a flash and is not a long drawn out fight scene. I sent these people on their way after I recognized they only wanted my approval for their style of training. I figured they were better off without it. I have also thrown out students that didn't follow instructions, this is very dangerous stuff in blade based arts. Then I've had people who dictated to me what they would do, but still insisted they wanted me to teach them. They just wanted to learn jujutsu with no contact. I couldn't see how that would happen; I got the feeling that they had latent homophobic feelings, but sometimes it was women that couldn't handle being touched by men or women. I referred all of these people to shooting classes as it is hard to learn kempo let alone jujutsu with no physical contact, also I didn't know of any no contact schools available for them either.
In the past at our dojo we have used physical fitness standards to pass from kyu to kyu and it was also required to maintain your standing at the dan level too. Each year the yudansha would perform a maintenance review. Of course, we also had requirements for technical proficiency in all of their martial art skills as well. I will admit that I have taught both men and women and for the most part had graded them to the same standards. However, over time I did lower my standards for the women students so that they were only required to perform fitness exercises to match standards for their sex. This move reduced the fitness level that I had previously required for the men too, as it was only fair that we applied the same type of fitness test across the board. Although, for a time I did let my guard down and let the kyu ranks perform at a minimum level as a base line, a stupid move on my part. Previously, in order to gain admission to my dojo, you had to perform at the minimum acceptable performance requirements to get in the door, let alone to go from on rank to the next.
Pull-ups (Men) This event is not timed, your score is determined by how many pull-ups you can complete before dropping off the bar. 20 was graded at 10.0 the entrance to the dojo and the pass minimum was 3 pull ups.
Flexed-Arm Hang (Women) This event is timed, your score is based on how long you can hang maintaining elbow flexion. (30 seconds graded at 10.0 and 15 seconds was the minimum entrance and pass level.
Squat, Push up & Abdominal Crunches (Both) Your score is determined by the number you can do of each in 1-minute time limits, a short rest was allowed in between each category. If you got fifty repetitions in each category it was graded at 10.0 and 30 was the minimum to pass or gain entrance. I also allowed for variations to be substituted for injuries etc.
Swimming or Running as Substations A one mile run or even a mile swim was a favorite substitution over the years. The swim was an overall fitness substitution when we had free open water available. I recall ice on the edge of the bank in November as our latest swims of the year. Swimming was a very martial test as in open water you faced the risk of death, as we swam in over 100 foot of water. The samurai were often ranked in the battle field by their ability to swim too. Still running was the most popular substitution and this event is timed, your score is determined by how long it takes to complete the run. A seven minute mile was graded at 10.0 for men and a nine minute mile was required to pass. The women's run was the same but with an extra minute added on either end of the test.
Bend and Reach (Both) This event is used to determine you flexibility score. We used a simple count of ten with a toe touch to pass. To achieve a 10.0 a palm to the floor for the count was required. A five second hold was a minimum length of time to hold. Most of our students could hold a stretch for thirty seconds as a normal everyday part of training. I met my wife doing splits out on the lawn where I could put my chest on the ground in between my legs or my shoulders on either side of them for minutes at a time.
Again I allowed for variations to be substituted for injuries etc. on any exercise. For example, I have had students that had a missing limb; they could work around their injury. I had one fellow who had an above the knee amputation that could out run most men on two feet. I've had others that have had arm, hand and shoulder injuries that did well by working around their injuries too. I have had back injuries that have resulted in an almost two inch loss in height, but with time and painful effort I've found you can train around injuries. A perfect score would grant you an overall fifty percent on you rank test with your skill portion of the test. Yet in my view, the dojo has no place for those that are not willing to work or consider the safety of themselves or others. Plus, no one wants to waste their time with someone who is not willing to try.
"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend." Theophrastus
Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)
Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.
Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)
Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.
Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6
Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.
"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend." Theophrastus
My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.
Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)
Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past.
Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past.
Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)
The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.
Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)
Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.
The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.
Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)
Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.
Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)
Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.
Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)
Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.
Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.
No comments:
Post a Comment