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You mentioned you have a school in Washington State. I don't see it listed, what city?

I would never consider myself a Jake Paul fan, but I have a lot of respect for what he does. In this case, he fought six rounds with Anthony Joshua. How many of us could do the same thing? How many of Jake Paul's haters could do it? Everyone seems to forget that Francis Ngannou got knocked out by Anthony Joshua in the second round, so Jake Paul did far better than Ngannou. And Ngannou is no pushover: he went the distance with Tyson Fury before that.

$100M isn't a bad price, but I think Paul let his ego get the best of him in his decision to accept this fight. Like you said, he's a novelty boxer. Part of the bit is the tendency of people to hate watch the bouts in the hopes that he gets knocked out. It's possible that he took this fight to deliver that and create a comeback narrative, but there had to be a less painful way of doing so. In any event, I would be lying if I said I didn't watch the highlight reel more than a few times.

Many fighting fans finally got their wish. Jake VS Joshua fight at the Kaseya Center in Miami, FL saw Jake Paul being knocked out by Anthony Joshua. To Jake’s credit, the former YouTube star has turned himself into a boxing novelty. Not only was Paul knocked out by a tremendous right hook from Joshua, but Paul’s jaw was broken in 2 places with 1:48 remaining in the 6th round. Paul’s surgery went well. Doctors placed 2 titanium plates on each side of his jaw. For the first time, Paul fought a boxer worth his salt in Joshua, so much so, that Joshua dominated the entire fight. While many fighting fans might’ve enjoyed seeing Jake lose, Jake got the last laugh at the tune of $100M on Netflix over the weekend.

Cowboys 17 Chargers 34 I hate whenever my friend Dwight is correct about the Cowboys. Once again the Cowboys become their worse enemy. Cowboys, as usual of late, are strong for the 1st half but run out of gas in the 2nd half. Cowboys can’t even play the spoiler team but just the team of the jester. Maybe, just maybe, the Cowboys will improve over the off season…but wait…who am I kidding?? Cowboys need a GM besides Jones and a head coach that’s not a “yes” man. Well, until next years laughs!!

Well, here we are, Sunday morning, week 16… My Cowboys are all but out…however, they need to win every remaining game and pray that the Eagles lose out. Cowboys close at home VS the Chargers before visiting the four-win Commanders and two-win Giants. Per the experts. One of my friends, Dwight, who’s a big Seahawks fan told me this… “No! Cowboys are out. Only way for the Cowboys to be in was to win division at this point. Eagles locked that up yesterday!! Even if the Cowboys were to win out at this point, they still can’t get in the playoffs.” Throughout the NFL, it’s nail bitting time!! P.S. Cowboys are out thanks to the Eagles. Dwight was right…oh I hate that part!!

No I do not. And I think that may be a part of the issue. Rank gives an idea as per one knowledge of THAT system in particular not of efficiency, understanding of Martial Arts concepts and continuum. Not all black belts can teach, and many shouldn’t. I’m not directing this towards you whatsoever. Teaching takes a special person on the floor to nurture a student because each student has a different perspective and learning curve. Ranks mean nothing!! Skills must be paramount over ranks; knowledge and experience are tantamount. You’ll find were you’re the most valuable and successful and most happy in your time by your own standards and admissions; do YOURS your way and NOT THEIR way.

What a game…what a Bears win over the Packers…what a hail-Mary catch in OT. Bears 10-4-0…Packers 9-4-1 now. Bears and Seahawks had great OT wins…man oh man I love football.

Hello and thank you all again for your contributions. No I do not. And I think that may be a part of the issue. Rank gives an idea as per one knowledge of THAT system in particular not of efficiency, understanding of Martial Arts concepts and continuum. Not to go in specific details of my life but my psychologist seems to think that since it is a something that I have been struggling with for more then a year and not resolved it is a cause and aspect of my depression I cannot disregard. Or perhaps because I am obsessing over it, don't have interest in people or friends that do not relate which isolates me furthermore. Sorry if it caused confusion as to me the anguish of continuing to bang my head against a figurative wall is very real to me. I am finally trying to seek solutions by asking directly. I feel I have asked similar questions in other format on this forum. And the answers seem to always be relatively similar. Which makes me think that I am most likely wrong for doing what I do. Everyone's answer seems to be to put up or shut up. Learn the system regardless (like we all had to) and THEN you can do as you please. My question/dilemma is why wait? Tradition has to have reason. We don't repeat what was done in the past just to repeat it mindlessly. Many seems to be of that opinion (not just in regards to Martial Arts but many aspects in life) to keep things as they are since it was good for them therefore it shall be good for everyone... Seems like I will have to learn to accept that fact plain and simple or move on and not be bothered. Ranks over Skills is what I gather everywhere in regards to this.

I wouldn’t put much, if at all. I think the “becoming a better person” part of martial arts works the same way the PSA’s at the end of 80’s cartoons (G.I. Joe, especially) worked: children are more willing and eager to heed advice from people that they look up to. And also back in the 80’s during the “karate boom,” children were more likely to look up to a karate instructor. After reaching a certain age, I think the “becoming a better person” part of karate only come to those who actively seek it, and that age is probably sometime during or right before middle school.

This might have been the game of the year. What a game.

Yes, they would. I think the hope would be that the discipline and ethos of the training would hopefully turn them away from being a bully. Unsure how much stock I could put in that.

I find it interesting in Aikido that we have the uke, who receives the technique, but we don't actually refer to any technique as an uke. But, especially in Aikido techniques, where the focus in on blending with the opponent, uke is a very apt term.

Congrats to all the winners!

Interesting topic, and thanks for clarifying your background and your situation. I could relate to aspects of problem areas you described as things I've had to work through, too. But I don't think what you're describing is really a mental health problem, unless it's interfering with your daily life and happiness. It sounds more like a struggle to figure out where you can fit in with like-minded people. Now the critical part. You describe training in various arts with several breaks, but it doesn't sound like you ever got a black belt or significant level of experience in any one thing. But you talk about doing research and deciding how it ought to be in karate. So putting that together, if you're meeting instructors, visiting schools, and have that kind of attitude, they're going to see right through you and tell you to go someplace else (like MMA). I would say, like others have, keep training with the group you have and count yourself lucky. From my own experience, after I reached a higher dan rank, I went into Hapkido, then JKD and MMA. Eventually the JKD/MMA group fell away, and I tried to connect with a new school. Pretty much any school that was traditional or gave out belts was suspicious of me and turned me away. Eventually I too, thought I'd reached the end of the line in martial arts. Then I reconnected with one of my old Hapkido instructors, who welcomed me, and now I'm a 4th dan Master. Do I agree with all the training, or the content? No. Do I know things I never get to do there? Sure. But I'm happy to be there.

If all the students are required to take it because of self-defense, then wouldn't the bullies be learning the same techniques that are taught to defend against bullying?

Happy Festivus on December 23. Only Seinfeld fans will get that one.

The Seahawks win 38-37 overtime win against the Rams locked up a playoff spot for Seattle, who is looking to get to top seed. Big win for them and a tough loss for the Rams who might have just dropped from the top spot to a wild card. Bad news for the Packers as Micah Parsons is out for the season with a torn ACL. He has been the backbone of the Packers D this season and without him they will have to win some big games, including Saturday night against the Bears. A loss for the Pack would make it tough for them to win the division. Lots of big games this weekend.

Happy Hanukkah!

It seems, at least from personal experience training and discussions with Okinawan teachers; that the idea of ´blocking’ is something that is lost in translation. As what Sensei8 describes, uke waza is different than stopping an attack force on force. The more accurate translation and description is receiving (ukeru in Japanese) the attack in such a way as to deflect it, absorb it and using it to one’s advantage by creating an opening to counter. Both uke and counters are often done simultaneously. Okinawan martial arts share this concept with most styles of Chinese Chuan Fa(Kung fu). As far as distance is concerned, there are some styles such as Uechi ryu/Pangai Noon and Goju ryu which emphasize a very close-in range but all Okinawan karate seems to be most effective from shorter distances, mainly from within arms reach.

One of the hallmarks of being a Martial Artist is training through adversity. This is an adversity for you. It's up to you how you approach it. One other question: in the dojo you train at, do you have the rank or certification that allows you to teach, and if so, do you take that opportunity?

Same to all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Member of the Year AND Funniest Member of the Year? What an honor! Thank you to all who voted and awarded me this, and congratulations to all who won and were nominated.

First and foremost thank you for taking the time to answer and follow up. I wish! That would be an amazing time indeed. Him and a few others do practice in a very practical manner. I know of a few in Canada just not in proximity. Oh yes absolutely, this man has been a great inspiration. I have worked on 2 of those 3 parts. System delivery is not something I am strong in in the sense of marketing or promotion. A curriculum as well as a handbook have been completed relatively recently. You are absolutely correct, not many have an interest in training that way as Traditional Martial Artists. I am not worried about ever having many students as I prefer the few who are dedicated then the many who come and go and take it as a form of "entertainement". Training with them is great especially as they come from different Arts and it allows for interesting exchange of techniques and surprises. Knowing in advance how one will respond ruins the spontaneity so I absolutely like to exchange with others. That is where I honestly have an issue. I disagree with about 80% of how general classes are done. This is the part that is causing me anguish as I know I should and it would be the normal/moral thing to do but since so much of the time is spent on things I honestly and sincerely do not agree with but bite my tongue and say nothing out of respect is more then what is good out of it. I recognise myself doing exactly that. As much as I work on my on Way, I seem to want to not be alone in that. Whether it is my peers or instructors at Dojo, I do wish for them to see things my way. It would be dishonest to say I would not like that, it would be amazing to have many people who study the same as I do and can relate in the same way that I do. I think it is part of the human experience to be with people who share similar experiences as ourselves and be able to exchange with them. ( A bit like the goal of this forum as well as all online or even real life communities). I realise I am asking for the impossible and things outside of my control and that is part of the issue. Continuing to train solo and keep doing what I do is great, I am just at a point where I wonder if it is worth it. Isn't the human experience something meant to be shared; I feel the more I keep training the more I isolate myself. Either physically (by training alone) or mentally (by being in a class but not agreeing in silence and not sharing my perspective, just going through the motions). I would want to keep training and doing what I do, I just have to not give up, believe in myself and know it will all come to fruition at a certain point. The meantime is the rough depressing part however, I sure would be happy to find a way that it is a lot less. Again, Thank you very much for your advice and help on this matter.

Thank you to all voted!! Congratulations to all the winners!!