> Hi H & S :-)

Well, howdy G *lol*


>
> We have been battling a host of viruses that attacked our network and
> have literally taken out a couple of our computers.

I understand. I've been battling Alabama pine pollen for almost three
weeks. I feel as though I've been taken out.


> H(oward) your post is one of my favorite ones to respond to...

Gary, I'm certainly happy this is the case. Your posts are always
educational, as well hilarious.

>
> I have trained in Japan both Goju and Daitoryu a half dozen times and
> have found the quality of instruction and training to be mediocre--
> not meaning to flame. Like Sara, I do believe that any practitioner
> of an Asian martial art should visit the art's roots--but mostly from
> a cultural standpoint.

Do you have any thoughts as to why this is? Did you feel that perhaps the
Japanese were "holding out" because you were there, or perhaps the sensei
was mediocre?

I have been fortunate enough to meet some very high quality Japanese
teachers, so I know that the level of expertise is prevalent in Japan. Your
sentiments have been echoed by many, while others speak so highly of their
experiences there. That's one of the reasons for my post.

> That said, I have also run into a plethora of Karate-Dough dojo that
> assess a floor fee to train and will basically "sell" you a dan
> ranking of your choice if you commit to train at their dojo every
> day, paying that floor fee for your three-week stay.

That's so unfortunate, but I guess that's the way of capitalism. I'm happy
to see that Western country's haven't cornered the market on this.

> I find that from a cultural standpoint, the Japanese Goju dojo are
> more "individualistic" in their training (as are Okinawans) and
> that "mass class" training is not as common. Often, students of
> equal rank may be working on their kata at their level while another
> group of students is across the floor, working on another kata.
> Also, I have seen some students saunter over to a makiwara and just
> individually train, while others go outside for a smoke. I once saw
> a student smoking while he hit the makiwara.


I have found many of the Goju people that I've trained with to be this way.
Both American and Japanese Goju practitioners seem to take themselves less
seriously, without taking their respective art less so. This is one of the
reasons I enjoy the art and being around those that practice it.



> Also, I have personally NEVER been in a Japanese dojo where there was
> a lot of barked out orders and militaristic, Cobra Kai-like regimens
> and environment. It is my opinion that the American pioneers of
> Karate were military men who first started teaching other...military
> men. Harsh disciplinary environments were comfortable for these
> American pioneers and so, they passed it on--their students teaching
> the next generation in the same manner, and so on. My teacher has
> mellowed considerably over the decades, but still conducts classes
> with more of a militaristic flavor than what I run into in Japan.
> One just cannot get that Marine DI voice and cadence to go away even
> after 35 years in retirement. ;-)

I suspect you are correct about this, and it makes much sense to me. I hope
to one day make the trip to Japan so that I can draw my own conclusions
regarding this, but I would think that you are on the mark with this
statement.

Thanks so much Gary!

-h

P.S. I've gotten your book and will begin it shortly. I'm very much looking
forward to the read.