No, not ‘how to find your range while sparring’ or ‘sniper 101’. Sensei Tim Gannon of Sierra Martial Arts & Fitness feels that distance training is a credible method of increasing his martial arts knowledge and a suitable method for advancement based on his 8 years of experience. He puts forth several good points, but I disagree with both his premise and his findings. In his examples he mentions distance learning programs for colleges and universities as proof that it is an acceptable method, but my experience at a college completing a physical education program points to the fact that: there were no distance learning opportunities because physical involvement was essential. Another point he raises, is that he had an instructor that had a high rank, and bad character. He uses this to point out that the ‘traditional method’ didn’t stop this. I can’t imagine distance learning under someone you may never meet in person would improve this in any way.Take a look at his article, and tell me what you think.
Sometimes it works…
I found a link to a report (vaguely in my neck of the woods) of a child abduction foiled, with the credit going to the 10-year old child’s kempo training. The article is from a month ago, and I don’t see any follow-up, so take it with a grain of salt. This raises a bit of a question – what do you teach the kids you teach, and would it apply here?Here’s a link to another story from the local paper.
No longer a minor.
I hadn’t really thought of it until just now, but since it is March 2008, I’ve hit a milestone. I began training in Kempo 18 years ago this month. It’s been an interesting ride, and I’ve changed quite a bit in my outlook and goals regarding kempo. I’ve met some great folks along the way, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes from here. I was just telling a student tonight, “I just figured out that how this should be done a few years ago. I’m telling you now so you can skip the ten years of doing it poorly so you’ll be way ahead by the time you’ve been doing it as long as me.” I’d like to give them the benefit of what I’ve learned through my mistakes without them having to make them themselves. But then again, I tell my students to question how they do everything I show them, and to play with how they execute their material, or else they’ll at best only be as good as I am, which would be sad. I want them to think about their material, experiment, and surpass me.
