Ask the Sensei
“Ask the Sensei”, is a forum where students are invited to ask any question pertaining to the martial arts. Sensei will choose one question each week and post the question, the name of the student who asked the question and an answer to that question, here. So, Ask the Sensei!
November 10th 2007
Question from ”annonymous”…… What will happen if I mess up or make a mistake on my test?
Sensei: This is a good question. Below Green belt level, all students receive their rank at testing time even if you mess up or make a mistake. Remember what Sensei said, the test is really how well you do every week in class. The day of the test is a day for celebration, fun and performance. Its a little bit like showing off but we don’t brag. So don’t worry about mistakes or messing up and just have fun, if you do this you will do much better anyway.
November 23rd 2007
Question from John Fenton:
Was Sensei Kim your only Sensei and how old were you when you started Karate?
Sensei: John, I started Karate when I was 15 years old, in Ireland. I took Shotokan Karate from Sensei Casey. Sensei Casey was my first Sensei and I have had many Sensei’s since then, including Sensei Mann of Massapoag martial arts in Sharon MA. In the Japanese tradition, anyone who is a teacher is called a Sensei. Even a school teacher is called Sensei by his students. In martial arts, when we talk about our Sensei we usually refer to the teacher we have at that time. I was never a direct student of Master Kim’s, however, I call him Sensei as I learned an immesuarable amount of knowledge from him at Summer Camps, Seminars and lectures. I consider Sensei Lou Jemison my Sensei today and he is one of Master Kim’s top students having trained with master Kim for more than 30 years. Sensei Jemison lives in Santa Cruz, California.
Question from Griffin Fenton:
What are the different belt ranking colors and how did you meet Sensei Kim?
Sensei: Griffin, Colored belts for ranking is a modern addition to martial arts. From what I know, Judo was the first martial art to introduce belt rankings and colors. Although different schools use different colors and sometimes many of them, we typically use the following colors. Yellow, Orange, Red, Green, Purple, 3 Brown belt levels and then Black.
The first time I met Master Kim was at a martial arts Summer Camp in 1992 at Guelph University, Canada. He was leading the week long training and I met him face to face for the first time after a lecture he had given at the Camp. I can tell you that he changed my life and continues to influence my life today. I feel privilaged to have been able to learn from one of the true Masters of the Martial arts. Master Kim passed away in 2001.