Black Belt at Home Blog
Congratulations on enrolling into a Distance Training program!! Being a home study student is DIFFERENT than being a physically present student. You must have more self-direction, discipline, organization, and internal motivation. Here are some tips and necessities to being successful:
1. Be Committed to Excellence
Let me be clear that my standards for Distance Training & Physically-Present Training students are THE SAME. I have awarded black chevron (and black belt) ranks to several dozen students from my training facility and around the world – their performance were in similar levels. You must commit yourself to 100% excellence in your performance – from how you train at home, to doing stances, yells, strikes, consistent practice, physical fitness —– I am looking for your level 10 effort always.
2. Post Your Rank Requirements & Focus Only on These
You need to post the “current” rank requirement that you are working on somewhere you can see everyday. So, if you just began the Ultimate Bo course, you are working on your yellow chevron. Take this sheet form the manual (or make a copy), and put it on your fridge, bulletin board, wherever. Focus on these requirements ONLY – don’t worry about more advanced techniques right now. First, LEARN all of these techniques by practicing along with the video (this should take 2-4 session with the DVD generally). Next – practice and bring out the level of excellence during your practice sessions.
3. Make a Practice/Workout Schedule
Ahh —- everyone gets lazy on this one. You MUST schedule your practice in some way each week or it will not get done (at least, as effectively). I recommend at least twice a week – 3 times being better. I would workout for 20-30 minutes (cardio, kickboxing, flexibility) and then practice with your bo for 20-30 minutes. Focus on the form you are doing, or the techniques themselves – in front of a mirror is great – or go outside where it is calming and open.
4. Give it Your ALL in the Video Exam
I have had students in the past filming themselves for the video exam – and it looked like they were just going through the motions. It was like they were simply practicing with the camera on. THIS IS A TEST!! You must go into the video exam like it is a physically-present martial arts test, where you have hundreds of students and the crowd watching you, along with a panel of black belt judges. Give it 100% in your effort, yells, spirit – it WILL show through the video.
5. Immediately Correct Mistakes & Take Criticism Well
This last one is most important for your long term success. As a distance student, you must be humble – taking constructive criticism and immediately correcting is the way you will make progress. Just read that last sentence again – it is sufficient. Good luck – and look forward to your many successes in this new journey with you! –Sensei Michael Hodge
Below I explain it all in a video:
Hi Michael,
My Wife & I and 3 children are currently red belts in Shotokan Karate. Can we progress with your program from where we are or do we have to start again at white belt?
Also, if we buy the program, can we all progress through or is it for one person?
Thanks,
Bevan.
That is excellent that you entire family trains together, bring me back to good memories. Yes, it is possible to ‘test-in’ to our course. Although you will not be able to start straight at red belt (as our style is a bit different that most ‘straight Shotokan’ systems) — you can do this:
1. Order the course, review the DVDs and rank requirements
2. Take a rank exam where you feel comfortable enrolling (most likely Purple or Brown belt level)
3. If you (and your family) appears proficient enough at that particular level, you can move forward from there
Your whole program can use the one program. But you all have to pay a rank exam fee as you are individual students. But since this is a special case, I can give you a family discount on the rank exam fee — first two exam fees are regular price; all other fees are 50% off. I still have to take up the same amount of time to review each student individually in order to provide deep, helpful feedback.
Of course you can go ahead and purchase the program, if it doesn’t fit your family, I have a 100% guarantee anyway.
Let me know how else I can help!
Thanks,
Sensei Michael Hodge
Where do we get our gi and where to put the patch and belt thank you sensi wayne cft nutrition expert
You can buy a gi anywhere you would like to. Check amazon.com, karatedepot.com, karatemart.com, centurymartialarts.com. The shotokan karate patch goes on the left side of the chest, over the heart.
Thank you what are the white belt shotokan katas some students mention i hope i am doing well only 4 weeks complete thank you
The white belt kata are taikyoku shodan, nidan and sandan. They are the basic kata forms that hold the basic stances and elements of shotokan karate. Also heian shodan, is a compilation of the basic elements. One of the strength of this style of shotokan is the “geri” kicking kata this system uses. These geri kata called the “chario kata” hold all the basic kicks (mea geri keage, mae geri kekomi, mae washi geri, yoko geri keage and yoko geri kekomi) and are learned and demonstrated in the lower rank levels. So Complete Shotokan Karate has a broad base of training katas that go beyond many traditional school systems. Happy Training!
I have a desire to be a black belt teach\learn.