That's just stupid
Due to work I've travelled around a fair bit and been accepted as a guest member in a number of dojos/dojangs, and it's always been requested that hair is tied back, no jewellery is worn and that fingernails/toenails are kept short. One sensei would occasionally line everyone up and if he thought your nails needed trimming, you didn't spar for that session, you stuck to basics.

It's the owner of the nails that needs to worry too - a nail gets bent back and ripped out of the cuticle base is extremely fucking painful.
(JohabMorelli is spenging merrily away, Fri 20 Apr 2012, 12:47, 1 reply)

I would check, yes
But when I was younger and the class was being taken by a "softer" instructor, they wouldn't always check.

Training 4 days a week meant I travelled to 2 or 3 different venues, and they weren't all held by Master Loke, who would have you doing 50 "jumping pumping" (jumping pressups on the knuckles) just for having your belt tied incorrectly.

It's a shame that over the years I have seen a general decline in standards. I suppose this will happen with 3rd or 4th generation instructors in this day-and-age.
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Fri 20 Apr 2012, 14:17, closed)

Yes, you've just reminded me.
There have also been clubs where I've turned up and sat in on a session before training, and decided not to bother - kids mucking around, belts badly tied, etc. Signs which pointed to a lowering of standards, and a lower quality of instruction.

I'm not sure the problem is specifically 3rd or 4th generation instruction, it's what the objective is - if you try to pander to the needs of the many (to keep numbers up and the money rolling in), the quality is going to go down. A lot of people see it as cheap babysitting for the kids, or a social club, or a slightly more interesting way of getting fit, rather than as a martial art.

My Kyokushin sensei in Sweden would quite happily wind me with a knee to the stomach if my guard was down, because he knew I shouldn't have let it go through, and he'd also angrily shout at me if he thought I wasn't giving it 100%. Many people wouldn't be prepared to spend their free time being treated this way. Personally, I knew he was doing it because he believed in me - and when it comes down to actually needing those skills in real life, you don't get a chance to do it again.
(JohabMorelli is spenging merrily away, Fri 20 Apr 2012, 15:05, closed)

You've hit the nail on the head.
I'm glad I trained when I did and with someone I actually respected.

Forunately most of the bullies and get-dangerous-quick types couldn't take the discipline of standing in one stance for half an hour because one of the group momentarily relaxed.

Sounds like you had a good instructor, and it's probably done you good in life in general.
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Fri 20 Apr 2012, 15:24, closed)

The standard lowering..
is really sad. I trained Aikido for fifteen years until I emigrated at 22. I desperately tried to find a new club to join over here and I sat in on a few but the complete lack of discipline and courtesy was overwhelming. I even saw a group of students running around off the mat in bare feet.. gik..

So I haven't trained now in five years. I miss it, and I miss my first Sensei. It makes me sad :(
(darras jeg har en grevling i hodet. Grevling, grevlang, Thu 26 Apr 2012, 9:35, closed)

Unfortunately it now seems to be part of the UK culture
Personal discipline in a sport is the same discipline that stops us from just dropping litter instead of walking over to a bin.

If you've got the self-control to train in all weathers, when you're not feeling 100% or there's a good film you'd rather watch, then I'd imagine you're not going to be lazy in other areas of your life.

I've had many students that drop out because they wanted "something for nothing". In a more affluent society you generally get more for doing less, and they think this works in sport.

You only have to watch the talent shows to see how deluded some of them are...
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Thu 26 Apr 2012, 10:12, closed)