Anybody want to teach these guys?

[Neil Yamamoto]

A bit of levity for the day. For some reason, I have people wanting to study with me. I don’t go out of my way to be noticeable, nor do I try and be too helpful on line or in any public forum. My behavior is geared to discourage people in fact. I don’t advertise, I only have my name appearing as a contact for Bernie Lau on EJMAS.com in an article by Joe Svinth and on the odd seminar flyer. Yet somehow, I have people looking for me.

After talking to Toby Threadgill, Rich Elias, and Doug Walker about this while swilling beer and assorted wee drams at a recent seminar. I dug into my email archive to sharw a few of the requests I’ve received, and some of my responses. Before anyone jumps on my butt about being rude, I’m gracious to those who are polite in their requests. The idiots, well, I can’t help but have a bit of fun at their expense.

--
I’m interested in joining your dojo. Tell me how much you charge, time of classes, and if I need a kimona.
==
Thanks for your inquiry. I’m currently not accepting students. I simply don’t have the time or space for more students. Please check back in a short time and if the situation has changed, I’ll be happy to meet with you and discuss your training with me. BTW, it’s kimono, and you would actually need a keiko-gi, not a kimono.
--
Follow up email received.
There are plenty of schools that would be happy to have me join! Why should I wait for you? Who do you think you are?
==
I’m the guy who you want to train with. Why should you wait for me? Well, ask around about me and that should answer that question. But as I said, I don’t have time or space for any new students now. If you don’t want to wait, then let me help you in your efforts to find a school quickly. The following is a list of schools that most likely would be happy to have you join them. Good luck and I hope you find a school you enjoy.

--
I got your name from the website. I also had a friend tell me you kick !!!. When can I start classes?
==
Thank you for your confidence in my !!! kicking skills. I’m only taking students with references from people I know and respect as martial artists and teachers who can kick !!!. If you would be good enough to tell me what website you got my name from, and the name of your friend who told you I can kick !!!, that would be a good place to start discussions about your joining the dojo and learning to kick !!!.
--
After researching Seattle area schools, I would like to study with Bernie Lau. I got your name as the contact for Bernie from the EJMAS.com site. I am a doctor and I have recently relocated to Seattle.. I will need to have morning classes to accommodate my schedule. Reply back as to what you can do to meet my needs.
==
While I appreciate the desire to study, Bernie is not taking students and only teaches privately. I am teaching but only have evening classes. I’ll be happy to meet with you and see if I can help. For now, I suggest 2 Cranes and Aikido Eastside if you need morning classes and you are interested in aikido. I’m not sure who has morning jujutsu classes around town.
--
Follow up email received.
Why don’t you start a morning class? A good business should make every attempt to satisfy their customers! I don’t see what your problem is with my request!
==
Sir, I can appreciate your desire, but I’m not here to satisfy customers. I’m here to teach to the best of my ability, to try and pass on what my sensei taught me. I do this as best fits my life and schedule, just as you do in balancing your work, family, and friends. As a doctor, would you like me, as a patient, to want appointments only at night to fit my schedule?

Perhaps I should start a morning class just for you. Do you require me to have coffee and doughnuts for you as well? If so, please respond and tell me if you take cream and sugar in your coffee, and your doughnut preferences. I like old fashioned doughnuts and apple fritters myself, and take cream and sugar in my coffee.

Sarcasm aside, I would be happy to help, provided you are willing to work with me, since I’ll be the one teaching, and not expect me to accommodate you. If so, then please, feel free to contact me to see if anything can be worked out.
--
I saw on the internet you had trained by people who are good. How do I know you are any good before I start classes? I don’t want to waste my time if you are not any good.
==
Sir , since you are a beginner obviously, you have no way of knowing if I am any good. If you would like to come visit, I’ll be happy to have you come by and watch class. But if that still doesn’t assure you of my skills, then I’ll try to point you in the right direction to find someone who will not waste your time. Or perhaps you can find some one you think is good and have them come with you to visit. I can fight them and if I win, you will be satisfied as to my skill level. Keep in mind that still won’t mean I can teach worth a damn or not and I could still be wasting your time. Looking forward to meeting you. Please let me know when you would like to come visit!
--
Where is your dojo? I would like to start classes. Only I don’t want to join if you have any women in the dojo.
==
While I don’t have women in the dojo at this time, I would not accept any student who doesn’t want women in the dojo. Thanks for asking and good luck in your search for a school.
--
Follow up email received.
Fag!
--
I read about Bernie and you on the website. Is Bernie still teaching? I would prefer to train with him and not you, because you don’t have any articles on you anywhere so I don’t know anything about you. But if Bernie isn’t teaching, I guess you will do. Where is your dojo and what times do you have classes?
==
Gee, I’m super, thanks for asking! I’m glad I meet your expectations as a substitute since you can’t have the real thing. I happy that I’ll do, that is a trait I share with many drunk lonely people in bars at closing time. However, I hardly think that is the proper attitude to have towards some one who is supposed to be teaching you.

Bernie is not teaching. If he were, he’d probably turn you down as well with the approach you used. Please consider how you phrase things more carefully and I’m sure you will get better responses from people you approach as a potential student.

[Blackwood]

Neal,

Thanks for sharing! Pretty amusing!

"How long before I can kick someone's !!!?"

"How long do I have to be here before I learn how to run up walls?"

I'm sure there are others that could dump some pretty good ones out there!

Common, Folks! Cough 'em up!

[elder999]

"I'm not interested in empty-hand skills;I only want have time for tanto-jutsu.":rolleyes:

[SoRelle]

Wow those people are pretty sad

[pgsmith]

I'll play! Here's a couple of the more interesting ones. The only thing I've altered is to remove names ...

:) Hello,
My name is (deleted) and I am 14 years old.l will be 15 May 1st. I have been in to martial arts/ samurai was about 9 years old. I was wondering a couple of things...because I was a student of battojutsu, but it was hard learning due to the fact that 1.My sensei spoke little english. and 2. He almost didn't teach me...due to the fact he lived in japan. He taught me over the internet. Anyway...about a year ago he died. It was tragic but I have come to accept it. I have a couple of questions for you. :)

1.Where areocated?

2.Does it cost money? :(

3.Is it ok for heavyset people to train? (I had a friend who was a kendoka and he was HUGE...not that I am making fun of him...and he was good...)

4.Do you train so you can have self-defense? Or are you into the way of the samurai?

REPLY : I'm terribly sorry, but we don't accept children. Please keep us in mind if you are still interested in a few years.

My name is (deleted) and my son is interested in training in Kenjutsu. I was wondering if it is at all possible for him to try it out tonight before he signs up.

REPLY: No. I'm terribly sorry but we don't teach children.

I've gotten quite a few from obviously younger individuals writing in "chat room" language. You know, where they use no punctuation and abbreviate the words. I just delete those and don't bother to reply.

Have you noticed how people tend to get upset when you tell them you aren't "selling" a commodity. While I understand that most people don't get the whole martial arts thing, it kind of cracks me up when you tell them that you aren't selling something that they can have just because they want to 'buy' it. It's as if you told them that they have ugly money or something.
:)

[John Connolly]

Good criminy, Neil!

You are such much nicer via email than you are in person!

Although your acerbic wit shows through, I'm sad these miscreants didn't have the opportunity to see the pattented Yamamoto Thoroughly Disgusted Look (tm).

[Howard Thiery]

While the requests were amusing I was more inpressed with the patience of the responses,even when your wit leaked through.

Thanks for sharing

[Aaron T]

I alwasy encourage them to come in...so I or one of the guys can choke them out.

Aaron Fields

[kenkyusha]

Oni... poor people, all they are looking for is some guidance and you crush their souls... bwahahahaha er... BTW, machine should finally be ready soon, and we can get you that footage.

Be well,
Jigme

[johnst_nhb]

Ha! I got an email [probably] from the same guy who said he did not want a dojo with women in it!

must have been scouring around seattle...

-j

*edited to add the following story*

i got a phone call once from a guy who wanted to "wrestle". he was a middle aged guy who wanted me to come to his hotel, help him move the furniture out of the way and wrestle so he could get "sweaty and exhausted".

i told him i am not a "wrestling" school.

[Joseph Svinth]

Aaron's uwagi has its own aura. Does that count as a selling feature?

[nicojo]

I will be happy to let any of you be my sensei provded that you move to Arizona and teach me at half rate. I am sure that Ill be your best student because I have mad skillz that R()X()RZ!! Don't let this opportunity pass you by. All you have to do is show me that ur ready and willing to step up to home plate and be my teacher down here in the desert.

I don't care what you teach as long as I KIX AX!! and TAKE NAMEZ!! And you should know that sometimes my schedule is too busy for me to show up even tho you rent ur own space. You should be ther anyway if ur a good sensei. Please PM me for details. I can set you up!! I already have four black belts from videos because I watched some movies one time. I am expert in Brus Li's system, but I am willing to let you teach me some knew skillz. I am specfully intersted in the Japanese Ways of the Ashigaru Sworsdslayers. Do you have a soke or are you the only one? I already have my sword its Duncan Mclod's.

Hey as long as I cna pay I get my bb (blackbelt), rite? lets be biznessmen about it.

----------
that was a joke BTW. No pms please. All appreciations and sympathies for teachers in any discipline.

[Rogier]

Those were great to read. Why do I never get nutcases like that.

Especially liked this part:



He almost didn't teach me...due to the fact he lived in japan. He taught me over the internet. Anyway...about a year ago he died. It was tragic but I have come to accept it.

[Michael Shehan]

All I can say is wow. Is showing someone proper respect a thing of the past?

My favorite is the kid who was instructed over the internet. :D

[BC]

Hey Neil, how dare you post my e-mail on the internet! Just kidding. ;)

Reminds me of something I witnessed a few years ago. It was less than 3 months after our dojo's Japanese shihan had passed away, and we had just moved the dojo to a new, temporary street level storefront location from our old 2nd story space, so everyone was wound pretty tight. Especially the senior students, some of whom had been practicing with Sensei since he came to the US in the early 70s. Anyway, it was a hot summer night, and the first evening class had just ended, so there were a fair amount of people in the front area of the dojo. In walks this scraggly looking guy and stands in the middle of the waiting area. One of the senior students walks up to him and says "can I help you?" The guy promptly sticks his fists down in front of him, does a bow vis-a-vis "Karate Kid style," and says in a booming voice "I was wondering if you needed any more instructors!" The whole dojo goes silent. The senior student pauses, then says, "no thanks, we're covered." Said scruffy guy bows again, says "Thank you!" and walks out. The senior student shakes his head and says "I knew we were too close to the street here."

[Budoka 34]

About a year ago a jujitsu student, who also had some Chinese martial arts training, stopped me during a technique correction and with the upmost seriousness in a hushed tone said, "hey Randy when do we learn the instant kill techniques this stuff is for suckers".

Thanks goodness he stopped training not long after.;)

:smilejapa

[bgb]

Originally posted by Budoka 34
About a year ago a jujitsu student, who also had some Chinese martial arts training, stopped me during a technique correction and with the upmost seriousness in a hushed tone said, "hey Randy when do we learn the instant kill techniques this stuff is for suckers".




Heavens!

You should have explained to him that you quit teaching those as you were losing too many students.

Barb Bloom

[Loukopoulos]

Actually, traveling to CIS countries, India and some European countries I encountered karate practitioners using the word 'kimono' referring to their karate gi/keiko gi/do gi. I found it odd but did not correct them. At an opportuned moment I informed them that the Japanese referred to this 'kimono' as karate gi/keiko gi/do gi.

[climbthis]

great stories, guys.

Bob, that cat resurfaced at the dojo recently... i think it was after BC from glen ellyn taught. he walked in right after class ended, and i asked Dave if he recognized him, and then we both started making our way towards the entrance. but before we got there, he saluted in the direction of the rank board (!) and then left. i think he was wearing the same clothes. but i'm not sure

ok, gotta go search for more mailorder rank

practice hard
jerome cervantes

[ssanutokh]

The guy promptly sticks his fists down in front of him, does a bow vis-a-vis "Karate Kid style," and says in a booming voice "I was wondering if you needed any more instructors!" The whole dojo goes silent. The senior student pauses, then says, "no thanks, we're covered." Said scruffy guy bows again, says "Thank you!" and walks out.

Who knows - you lot may have missed out on an incredible opportunity. :)

[Daniel Sullivan]

In my first post on E-Budo, I'll share my story of a silly visitor to our studio. Last year, I was about to start kendo class when two young men came in and one yelled, 'hey sensie, can you take me?'

Where? I asked him. He seemed puzzled, so I asked him, 'do you have a sword?' He said that he did not. I explained that kendo is a sword art and a type of fencing. "Where's your black belt?' We don't wear our rank in kendo, I explained. Then he asked if I could at least show him some kicks. I explained that this is a sword art and there are no kicks. I then directed him to the front where there was someone who could assist them if they were interested in lessons and went on to start class. They left and the young man yelled, 'man, you can't even kick!'

Not true, but I was amused.:)

Daniel

[ssanutokh]

In my first post on E-Budo, I'll share my story of a silly visitor to our studio. Last year, I was about to start kendo class when two young men came in and one yelled, 'hey sensie, can you take me?'

Where? I asked him. He seemed puzzled, so I asked him, 'do you have a sword?' He said that he did not. I explained that kendo is a sword art and a type of fencing. "Where's your black belt?' We don't wear our rank in kendo, I explained. Then he asked if I could at least show him some kicks. I explained that this is a sword art and there are no kicks. I then directed him to the front where there was someone who could assist them if they were interested in lessons and went on to start class. They left and the young man yelled, 'man, you can't even kick!'

Not true, but I was amused.:)

Daniel

Was that the last you saw of them, or did they come back to train?

[Daniel Sullivan]

That was the last. We moved our location to warehouse space since then, so walk in's are rare now.

Daniel

[Andrew S]

I've always believed that every dojo should have it's own kyujutsu division, if not a Heckler and Koch, to deal with the hecklers.

[wmuromoto]

Okay, I'll bite. Back in the day when I was helping to teach judo and aikido at a college club on the East Coast, a new student took one look at my Or-ee-ental features and (remember, this was in the days of Bruce Lee and "Kung Fu") came up to me and in all seriousness, asked, "Can YOU walk on rice paper?"

I can't say I had such encounters after moving back to Hawaii. There's a lot of other folk here of Asian persuasions so we're not as exotic, it seems.

Oh. Typically, that student didn't last very long. I think his fantasies were shattered by how hard judo training was. You don't contemplate your navel too much.

Wayne Muromoto

[Hissho]

I've always believed that every dojo should have it's own kyujutsu division, if not a Heckler and Koch, to deal with the hecklers.

We have an HK division...:D Those are the "advanced killing techniques."

I posted for a while on some CMA forums and got a statement, more than a request from a guy saying it would basically be cool to train with me. He "could tell I had real skills," apparently deduced from reading electronic media. He asked what I trained in, to which I replied mostly judo and BJJ, and never heard another word. Probably looking for the Five Deadly Fingers or somesuch.

[DDATFUS]

to which I replied mostly judo and BJJ, and never heard another word.

Why train in a commonly available art which promises regularly measurable skill that you can acquire through hard work over time when you can train in an exotic art your friends have never heard of that promises unbelievable and superhuman skills just by learning the secret techniques?

[Andrew S]

Why train in a commonly available art which promises regularly measurable skill that you can acquire through hard work over time when you can train in an exotic art your friends have never heard of that promises unbelievable and superhuman skills just by learning the secret techniques?

Because I want instant gratification. :D

[wmuromoto]

...Then there was the time this fellow joined a Japanese weapons group I was in. When I started talking to him, I learned that he had previously learned martial arts from Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, and had supplementary training from the Eight Secret Shaolin Monks. A couple of times when I tried to work with him on paired kata, he simply could not get the moves and kept doing all sorts of odd things with his wooden weapon, then he started to have the shakes, like a heroin addict on withdrawal...Which, in hindsight, I think he might have been.

He lasted about a month. A while later, I was buying vegetables down in the seedy section of Honolulu's Chinatown. I saw him through the bay window of a bank. I think he was trying to get a loan, wearing black satin kung fu pants and a black t-shirt that had a big image of Bruce Lee and a dragon on it.

...There was this other guy. I was doing jo with Quintin Chambers and his friend, Donn Draeger came to train with us. We were training in a small public park up on the side of a small mountaintop. It took about a mile uphill to get there at a steep incline. You'd think nobody'd bother us, right?

This young guy showed up in shorts and running shoes. He ran all the way uphill to the park, apparently to show us how in shape he was. He was all excited to talk to Draeger and Chambers, and as we practiced, he would go through a bunch of gyrations just a few yards away from us, including stretching, karate-like warm ups, kicking air, punching, doing made-up kata, wrapping his ankles around a tree and doing situps while punching gyakuzuki and kiai-ing like Bruce Lee.

I'm not sure if he ever asked to join the jo group, but he kept doing it for a couple of weeks while Draeger worked with us, I suppose to try to impress us with his Bruce Lee-like moves. Sometimes it was too much even for ol' Donn, who would be distracted by the screaming, just smile and shake his head.

He, too, eventually faded away.

Wayne Muromoto

[budo_magus]

I was working at a mixed martial arts school a few years ago. But we had more traditional kids classes. We had a number of interesting walk ins. Here are a few of the better ones.

This one guy walks in. He spoke spanglish. Anyway, he comes in asking if we had any black belts. I said yes. and he asked to see our "Champions." I asked what he was talking about. Then he said that in order to get a black belt, all of the masters send their students to Puerto Rico, where they all battle to the death, and the last man standing gets a black belt.

I said that we don't have anyone like that, and he left in disgust.

-------------------------------

Another guy had an appointment to come in. He arrived when I was on the phone with someone so he was flipping through our testimonials. After I got off the phone I greeted him. He said he wasn't too impressed. I asked "With what, you haven't seen anyone train yet." He said "Well, I was reading what the students wrote. 'Thanks for helping with the #5 elbow strike'. I don't like that you use names for things." I then said that we use names so that people know what we're talking about when we demonstrate something or ask to see a technique. He shook his head unhappily.

He then asked for some Korean style, which I had confessed I never heard of.

He then asked what kind of katas we do. I said "We teach mixed martial arts, so we don't really cover katas at the adult level."

Then he left.

I found the weirdest thing to be that he had such utter disdain for things with names.

My boss who made the appointment, then told me the guy was very interested in mixed martial arts, and seemed like an excited prospect. But I said he was interested in a Korean art, and my boss seemed confused because he had expressed a dislike of traditional schools on the phone.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This one guy was a father of one of our students. He was self-taught. He said his son was only with us until he was old enough to be taught the kill techniques.

So, one day we got in some rebreakable boards for the kids. They are plastic boards that have pegs you push into the slots, and they are about as difficult to break as a certain number of boards. He expressed interest in them. He wanted the strongest board, to make sure it wasn't too weak. So I grabbed the black board, which has a difficulty of 2.5 boards. The owner asked him what kind of strike he wanted to use to break it. He said a punch. So I held the board for him, had him adjust the height and all. Then he sets up to do a Bruce Lee style one inch punch. After six attempts, he gives up, and decides not to get a board.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Now, the grand finale.

I was eating my pizza, getting ready for the first class. My boss is at the front desk. It's July. 98 degrees out. This guy walks in, all black, black cowboy hat, black trench coat, camo pants.

He says: "Perhaps You've heard of me."
Boss: "How would I have heard of you?"
Guy: "I'm making my name known on the streets. Wherever I go, people honk their horns at me."
Boss: "Ok."
Guy: "You see, I've recently attained complete enlightenment, and now my reflexes are lightning fast, and I need Ninjutsu to hone my skills."

Now, we didn't really teach Ninjutsu. A number of us had Bujinkan experience so we had 7 rolls, 6 throws, and 4 armlocks in the curriculum. But there was a Jinenkan group headed by two Dojo-Cho who had used our backroom for years, and to whom I was(and am) a student.

Guy: "The way the Japanese do. I've recently overcome some demons and I need Classical Ninjutsu to hone my skills."

So, my Boss gave him the number of one of the Dojo-Cho, and said they'd be there for class at 7pm. The guy called the Dojo-Cho(Chad), and had an exchange with him, repeating the exact same stuff.

Come 7pm, this guys shows up. He decides not to take class, despite many offers to join in or do the warmups. He sits crossed legged on the floor, watching as he complains about his back hurting.

Chad: "If you sit like this(In Seiza) or at least straighten your back, it wont hurt as much."
Guy: "Really?"

So, at the end of the class, he was asked about training. The guy said "Well, I don't really have any..money." He is asked to come back again anyway, but we never see him.

One of my coworkers sees him later at a hollywood video, just staring at a video, he couldn't tell which one. Then he goes to the counter empty handed, and whips out his wallet. He shows the cashier a few dozen business cards. The cashier asks "Nice, are they yours?" and the guy replies "Nope, I've just picked them up from different places."

Interesting, huh?

Shawn Zemba

[Hissho]

This one guy walks in. He spoke spanglish. Anyway, he comes in asking if we had any black belts. I said yes. and he asked to see our "Champions." I asked what he was talking about. Then he said that in order to get a black belt, all of the masters send their students to Puerto Rico, where they all battle to the death, and the last man standing gets a black belt.

And? That's how I got my black belt.... ;)





Now, the grand finale.

I was eating my pizza, getting ready for the first class. My boss is at the front desk. It's July. 98 degrees out. This guy walks in, all black, black cowboy hat, black trench coat, camo pants.

He says: "Perhaps You've heard of me."
Boss: "How would I have heard of you?"
Guy: "I'm making my name known on the streets. Wherever I go, people honk their horns at me."
Boss: "Ok."
Guy: "You see, I've recently attained complete enlightenment, and now my reflexes are lightning fast, and I need Ninjutsu to hone my skills."

Now, we didn't really teach Ninjutsu. A number of us had Bujinkan experience so we had 7 rolls, 6 throws, and 4 armlocks in the curriculum. But there was a Jinenkan group headed by two Dojo-Cho who had used our backroom for years, and to whom I was(and am) a student.

Guy: "The way the Japanese do. I've recently overcome some demons and I need Classical Ninjutsu to hone my skills."

So, my Boss gave him the number of one of the Dojo-Cho, and said they'd be there for class at 7pm. The guy called the Dojo-Cho(Chad), and had an exchange with him, repeating the exact same stuff.

Come 7pm, this guys shows up. He decides not to take class, despite many offers to join in or do the warmups. He sits crossed legged on the floor, watching as he complains about his back hurting.

Chad: "If you sit like this(In Seiza) or at least straighten your back, it wont hurt as much."
Guy: "Really?"

So, at the end of the class, he was asked about training. The guy said "Well, I don't really have any..money." He is asked to come back again anyway, but we never see him.

One of my coworkers sees him later at a hollywood video, just staring at a video, he couldn't tell which one. Then he goes to the counter empty handed, and whips out his wallet. He shows the cashier a few dozen business cards. The cashier asks "Nice, are they yours?" and the guy replies "Nope, I've just picked them up from different places."



This one started out hilarious, but ended up....just sad.

Good ones, Shawn.

[poryu]

HI

I had an email once that simple read

'Hi, can you please give me one good reason why I should consider training with you'

My reply

Hi can you please give me one good reason why i should consider allowing you to be my student.'

There reply

'Your a little rude arn't you'

[Jung_Yul]

Back in the early 90's, a man walked up, pushing a shopping cart, to the Tae Kwon Do school I used to attend. He stood out front just looking up at the sign for a few minutes before deciding to come in. He walked straight past the front counter to the bulletin board in the middle of the visitor's area, and just stared at the board with a mildly manic expression on his face, hugging his coat around himself. The school was run by a married couple, and the lady of the pair was the first to notice him, so she approached him and cheerfully, if a bit cautiously, asked him if she could help him with anything. He slowly turned his head, not blinking at all, regarded her for a moment, and turned back to stare at the board. At this point, as she put it, she used the most effective self-defense technique she'd ever learned in the martial arts - she called her husband. He came out and similarly asked the gentleman if he could help him with anything. Suddenly the stranger turns to him and abruptly asks "DID YOU EVER FLY A SPACESHIP?" My instructor was, understandably, caught a touch off guard by this question, but he replied "Well, no..." "WELL, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE STILL HERE!!!" At that, the stranger walked back outside, collected his cart, and left. We never heard from him again... which was probably best for everyone, really...

[Asiatic Budoka]

We had a guy come in once, he sat and watched class. All the while he was shaking his head, pursing his lips, and saying, "I wouldn't do that...See, I've trained with green berets, navy seals, etc. and if it were me, I would snap the arm, break the neck, crush the throat..." and all kinds of other deadly stuff! By the way, this is an aikido class he's watching.

The sensei, a former marine himself, invited him on the mat. Of course he quickly took off his shoes and hurried onto the mat. The sensei kindly explained to him that he was demonstrating a principle and not a combat technique. Sensei then asked the guy to attack him...he did...and wound up on his back quite easily. Then said..."OK, that would work too!"

Shareef Muhammad

[ChrisHein]

When I was teaching in the park I had a guy call me and ask if I would teach him the Xing Yi healing arts. I told him that I didn't teach Xing Yi, I teach Aikido.

He informed me he knew I was a student of Tim Cartmell, and that Tim Cartmell was a Xing Yi master. I told him that in fact Tim Cartmell is one of my teachers, and that he is well known for his Xing Yi, but that was not the focus of my training with him, and that I didn't know enough about the system to teach it. Further, Tim taught me Xing Yi as a fighting martial art. If their are any "Xing Yi healing arts" he never told me anything about them.

He then asked if he could come to class. I told him he could come and try a class the next week, but I teach Aikido, and not Xing Yi. He showed up, was very out of shape and uncoordinated. He told me several times that he was an expert in Japanese Jujutsu, so this stuff was pretty basic for him.

After class was over, he got really close to me, and almost in a whisper said, "I know you can't teach me the Xing Yi death techniques at first, but I'm willing to train in only the healing arts if you'll accept me as your student". Doing everything I could to keep from laughing, I let him know again, that I don't know enough about Xing Yi to teach it, and that I only teach Aikido. He looked at me with a sad look in his eye and said, "I understand, I will try again", then he walked off to the parking lot.

After he left, The other teacher and I had a little laugh. It was a nice day so we hung out in the park and did some training of our own. About 15 minutes in, I saw this same guy hiding behind a tree watching us. I waved to him and said goodbye once again, he scurried off to his car. I'm pretty sure that he thought he was going to catch us doing some magic karate after he left...

[Daniel Sullivan]

After he left, The other teacher and I had a little laugh. It was a nice day so we hung out in the park and did some training of our own. About 15 minutes in, I saw this same guy hiding behind a tree watching us. I waved to him and said goodbye once again, he scurried off to his car. I'm pretty sure that he thought he was going to catch us doing some magic karate after he left...
I just focus my Ki in such a way that all anyone ever sees me do is basic karate and kendo. That way, I can practice all of the magical Ki techniques in the park and nobody sees me hurling Ki balls at the crows.:laugh:

Daniel

[Usagi]

Haven't posted anything here for sometime...simply because i have more to learn in here than to write :D

Well, there is no Kendo/Iaido sensei in my city, so i have to travel to SP(2hours fly from my town) in order to have some classes and then train, mostly by myself. No need to say, i suck big time.

I am also an Aikido yudansha, so some people ASSUME i most be equally qualified to teach ANY martial art.

Background put, here we go...
1.Case
Q:"I want to learn kenjutsu and iaijutsu. How much do you charge?"
A:"I don't teach any of these, i am BEGINNER PRACTICIONNER of Kendo and Iaido. There is no sensei of those arts in our town. If you come by the dojo we may talk more about those arts."
Q:"Ok...i think Kendo and Iaido will do for now...can you tell me what is Kendo and Iaido?"
A:"No, but google will likely help."
Q:"By the way i have a skin conditions. Do you think i'll be ok in those arts?"
A:"Talk to a physician and THEN come to the dojo."

Never came...but wrote to a friend of mine to complain about my rudeness...

2.Case - chat room, waaaay back...
Q:"My dream was to practice an japanese art called Aikido. Have you heard of it?
A:"Yes...i actually teach it."
Q:"wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, that is great! Can i be your student?"
A:"Well...come by the dojo. It is in [neighborhood]"
Q:"But..that is far from my house...couldn't you teach in my street?"
A:"Actually..."
Q:"Also, i don't have money for the fee, but if you allow me to practice for free, after some months i could be your assistant instructor and repay you..."

3.Case - morning breakfest, my then girlfriend family house, talking to her aunt, three years before i started Kendo...
Q:"You don't have many students in you class Renato."
A:"Yes."
Q:"I know what you could do to get more students!"
A:"Really...?"
Q:"Stop teaching Aikido and teach Kendo instead!"
A:"Do you actually know that, althought there is Kendo in Brazil for more then sixty years, there has never been Kendo in Salvador(my city)? Do you also know that my dan is in Aikido, not in Kendo?"
Q:"But doesn't a blackbelt in one art serves for teaching all?"

By the way, her aunt is JAPANESE.

[Prince Loeffler]

I had a girl ask me what we teach and I jokingly said Kama Sutra and she responded "That's so cool ! Is that Japanese Style ?" I said yes and I'm and 8th Degree Balck belt.

when I told her I was joking, She responded " That was not real martial art ?" I said are you for real ?

[pgsmith]

Can't believe you didn't offer to be her instructor Prince! :)

[Prince Loeffler]

Can't believe you didn't offer to be her instructor Prince! :)

I think I did:

http://www.alljapankarate.com/gallery/album02/shugyokan_hottie_1?full=1

and she brought a friend:

http://www.alljapankarate.com/gallery/album02/shugyokan_hottie_2


:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Trevor Johnson]

I think I did:

http://www.alljapankarate.com/gallery/album02/shugyokan_hottie_1?full=1

and she brought a friend:

http://www.alljapankarate.com/gallery/album02/shugyokan_hottie_2


:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

What, your kata instruction involves a lot of sticking the butt out?

[Prince Loeffler]

What, your kata instruction involves a lot of sticking the butt out?

Ashi Dachi waza requires perfect balance..:laugh:

[Derrick Roffman]

I am part of a small dojo of (up to) four students who are central to our dojo and have been there a while, the newest one has 1.5 years in. I completely understand the attitude you are taking and I'm sorry we live in a culture that isn't willing to put forth the effort it requires to learn something. We've been especially explaining this lately to the new people that are trying out our classes, this isn't something you'll understand and do well in for years. I usually tell them, "If you like Japanese Martial Arts, then come, if not there is MMA and kickboxing all over, you can try there." It is nice to find the people to train with that do it for the love of training instead of looking for something that is being sold. When people ask how much our dojo fees are (only $45!) I usually say, "Just come in once and see if you want to join first, because if you're worried about money than it's not for you."

I myself was given a little slack as I moved to where I'm at about 2.5 from the other side of the state and have worked hard keeping myself here in order to train. I've stopped talking to people in depth about the martial arts, because I usually learn they're not at the same place I am mentally.

So I understand your responses and hope you acquire the students who understand that they get the privilege of working under you and learning what you have to give not that it's something to be sold and bought and they can have it with money, or any other earthly goods.

To quote The newest Count of Monte Cristo,

"In return for your service I offer you something priceless, something that no one can take away from you."

"My freedom?"

"Your freedom can be taken away from you, as you well know, I offer you something even greater....knowledge."