Mike:
My students were uncharacteristically enthusiastic about the idea--and didn't bat an eye over the cost. If you'd like to discuss our plan, and the way we implemented it, please feel free to contact me to discuss it.
David
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Moderator: Available
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David Kahn
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 1998 6:01 am
- Location: Wheeling, IL, USA
- Contact:
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David Kahn
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 1998 6:01 am
- Location: Wheeling, IL, USA
- Contact:
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I am cross-posting this message to a couple of different forums because I want to share with other dojo owners a training idea we have implemented. This weekend, the students at Chicago Uechi-ryu had the good fortune to host Sensei Gary Khoury for a weekend long seminar on sparring drills. The weekend was, without a doubt, a huge success, with every student gaining valuable new ideas and skills to add to their personal arsenal.
Last fall, our dojo discussed the fact that our training in Chicago left us somewhat isolated from the Uechi world, save for the Sensei Mattson’s summer camp. We decided to begin a program that would allow a continuous influx of information originating from outside our dojo. The method we developed to achieve this goal was our new “Seminar Series.” Each student agreed to pay a yearly fee of $200.00 (either lump sum, or at a rate of $20/month, which included a $40 “payment fee”), which would create the yearly budget that would allow us to host 3-4 top instructors for weekend long seminars.
Our first Seminar, held this past weekend, was led by Sensei Khoury. I asked Sensei Khoury to kick off the series with a sparring seminar in preparation for an upcoming Dan Test for 8 of our students. Although sparring is a part of our regular curriculum, it is admittedly a weak link in our training. Sensei Khoury worked with our dojo all day Saturday, and most of the day on Sunday. He began by explaining his theory on sparring, offered drills to develop that theory, and finally, ended with some sparring sessions to put the theories into practice. Having spoken with my students after the sessions, I have received nothing but positive feedback about the seminars.
We have already lined up Sensei Mattson for a seminar/Dan test (along with my teacher, Rich Baptista) in April, and we look forward to hosting Raffi Derderian in the fall. Next year we will continue to invite instructors throughout the year. Having thrown together a quick list of almost 30 instructors we’d love to have come visit us, we realized that at a rate of 4 per year, we will be busy for the next 7 years!
So, I encourage each and every dojo owner, whether you are in New England, or a thousand miles away, to create a seminar series like the one I described. No one teacher knows everything, and no matter how skilled, or how successful you are as a Uechi practitioner, or teacher, you and your students can always benefit from the point of view of another teacher. Don’t be xenophobic (like that one J.D?) Don’t hide in your little world where you know you can be King. Explore, share, discuss, even debate once in a while, but get the information flowing—you owe it to your students.
David Kahn
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email: <A HREF="mailto:chgouechi1@aol.com">chgouechi1@aol.com</A>
website: http://members.aol.com/chgouechi1
Last fall, our dojo discussed the fact that our training in Chicago left us somewhat isolated from the Uechi world, save for the Sensei Mattson’s summer camp. We decided to begin a program that would allow a continuous influx of information originating from outside our dojo. The method we developed to achieve this goal was our new “Seminar Series.” Each student agreed to pay a yearly fee of $200.00 (either lump sum, or at a rate of $20/month, which included a $40 “payment fee”), which would create the yearly budget that would allow us to host 3-4 top instructors for weekend long seminars.
Our first Seminar, held this past weekend, was led by Sensei Khoury. I asked Sensei Khoury to kick off the series with a sparring seminar in preparation for an upcoming Dan Test for 8 of our students. Although sparring is a part of our regular curriculum, it is admittedly a weak link in our training. Sensei Khoury worked with our dojo all day Saturday, and most of the day on Sunday. He began by explaining his theory on sparring, offered drills to develop that theory, and finally, ended with some sparring sessions to put the theories into practice. Having spoken with my students after the sessions, I have received nothing but positive feedback about the seminars.
We have already lined up Sensei Mattson for a seminar/Dan test (along with my teacher, Rich Baptista) in April, and we look forward to hosting Raffi Derderian in the fall. Next year we will continue to invite instructors throughout the year. Having thrown together a quick list of almost 30 instructors we’d love to have come visit us, we realized that at a rate of 4 per year, we will be busy for the next 7 years!
So, I encourage each and every dojo owner, whether you are in New England, or a thousand miles away, to create a seminar series like the one I described. No one teacher knows everything, and no matter how skilled, or how successful you are as a Uechi practitioner, or teacher, you and your students can always benefit from the point of view of another teacher. Don’t be xenophobic (like that one J.D?) Don’t hide in your little world where you know you can be King. Explore, share, discuss, even debate once in a while, but get the information flowing—you owe it to your students.
David Kahn
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email: <A HREF="mailto:chgouechi1@aol.com">chgouechi1@aol.com</A>
website: http://members.aol.com/chgouechi1
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mikemurphy
- Posts: 989
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 1998 6:01 am
- Location: Randolph, MA USA 781-963-8891
- Contact:
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David,
That sounds like a great idea. I wish you all the luck in making it succeed. You couldn't have started better.
I'll look into trying that at my dojo, although I don't know how it'll work, but you never know until you try.
Good Luck,
Mike
That sounds like a great idea. I wish you all the luck in making it succeed. You couldn't have started better.
I'll look into trying that at my dojo, although I don't know how it'll work, but you never know until you try.
Good Luck,
Mike
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
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David
Just thought I would let you know that the headquarters for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is in Chicago. I get there on and off - mostly for day trips but occasionally for longer. Mostly when I am there I spend my extra time with walks along the great lake or time in the 3 story climbing gym. But if you want, I'd love to stop by and work out. It would be fun.
- Bill
Just thought I would let you know that the headquarters for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is in Chicago. I get there on and off - mostly for day trips but occasionally for longer. Mostly when I am there I spend my extra time with walks along the great lake or time in the 3 story climbing gym. But if you want, I'd love to stop by and work out. It would be fun.
- Bill
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David Kahn
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 1998 6:01 am
- Location: Wheeling, IL, USA
- Contact:
seminar series kickoff
Bill:
We'd love to have you work out with us. Next time you are planning a trip, let me know so we can make alternate arrangements if your trip doesn't fall on one of our regular workout nights.
David
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email: <A HREF="mailto:chgouechi1@aol.com">chgouechi1@aol.com</A>
website: http://members.aol.com/chgouechi1
We'd love to have you work out with us. Next time you are planning a trip, let me know so we can make alternate arrangements if your trip doesn't fall on one of our regular workout nights.
David
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email: <A HREF="mailto:chgouechi1@aol.com">chgouechi1@aol.com</A>
website: http://members.aol.com/chgouechi1
seminar series kickoff
Dear Dave and gang:
Sorry others had an opportunity to post before me! Let me take a second to thank you and your team for their effort, sincerity and amazing hospitality during my stay!
Others among us can stand to learn A LOT from a man like David Kahn. Knowing that no one person can know or learn it all, he has dedicated himself to providing his students with a broad range of instruction from teachers in--and outside--of Uechi ryu.
Good for you, David, and even better for your super students. I feel honored to have been the first of your guest instructors and am confident that the rest of your seminars will be as, or more, fun and interesting as mine (as vexing as that fact may be!).
Thank you again!
Sincerely,
Gary
Sorry others had an opportunity to post before me! Let me take a second to thank you and your team for their effort, sincerity and amazing hospitality during my stay!
Others among us can stand to learn A LOT from a man like David Kahn. Knowing that no one person can know or learn it all, he has dedicated himself to providing his students with a broad range of instruction from teachers in--and outside--of Uechi ryu.
Good for you, David, and even better for your super students. I feel honored to have been the first of your guest instructors and am confident that the rest of your seminars will be as, or more, fun and interesting as mine (as vexing as that fact may be!).
Thank you again!
Sincerely,
Gary
