Martial Arts Traditions

[yoda1]

I just wanted to get a feeling for how many of you follow strict regimented traditions in your studio's?

Although I have a belt ceremony and bow in at the beginning/end of training I concentrate more on training in a semi relaxed training environment.

We line up at 7 PM, bow in, kneel for prayer, say our creed, on command the belts are snapped then put on. The class assumes attention and bows again.

We do pretty much the reverse at the end of training.

During training, safety is strictly enforced but strict traditional ediquett is semi.

We have a lot of different training going on at one time. Part of the class is working on basics, blocks, forms and sets. Another portion may be working on self/defensive tactics techniques and the intermediate to advanced belts are usually working on more complicated forms both weapons and without.

I guess I rattled on again? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for your time everyone and Peace to you and all your families always.

- Yoda (Jim)

[Mell]

Diddo on the belt respects both before and after class.

Though we do not bow in our school, we do a lot of saluting.  We salute for:  

Black belts entering/leaving the school,  (respect)

When asked to demonstate/dummy with Sifu for a technique, we salute before and after being beaten on ( )

Salute instructor when he corrects or fixes something for you.

Salute before walking on and off the floor to train.

Aside from saluting, though I'm not sure you would call it a tradition, we never wear our belts when not on the training floor.  They come on and off inside the school with everyone else.  

[Sifu Julian]

Interesting Thread.

When I started in Kajukenbo 18 years ago, we only saluted and prayed at the beginning and ending of class. We didn't wear gi's or belts. We never used terms like Sifu or Sigung. We were a really small group and everyone knew everyone else's rank without wearing belts.

The class I moved to after that one was a hair more traditional, but not much. Still saluted at the beginning and end of class and, in addition, everyone wore belts.

After all this I think I have seen the value of a little more traditional or classical approach. I don't think the stricter classes teach better material but I think people view classes with tighter discipline as more worthwhile and valueable. I think parents especially like to see it with their kids.

So, it seems like both of your classes were a lot more "traditional" than the ones I trained in.

Aloha!

Sifu J.

[Mitch Powell]

For me, the answer depends on what day of the week it is!

During the week, we follow a traditional opening and closing format and always make sure the students follow the rules of the school. Respect, courtesy, and the like are highly stessed.

On the weekend though, I teach a black belt level class where we train at a higher level. In those classes the setting is very informal. We do not wear belts or conduct any type of traditional ceremony. We often wear street clothes or sweats. Our goal is to make things as real as possible.

Sigung Mitch Powell
KSDI, Vallejo