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There is another concept in Okinawan karate and related martial arts which agrees with getting behind the attacker. The idea is that the most advantageous position for counterattacking and defending is always at an angle or offside instead of moving straight backwards or meeting the attacking force straight on. This is especially important if the attacker is much bigger and stronger. This means moving out of the attacker’s direct line of sight and into the “blind spot” so that the counter will be much more difficult to see coming. Moving behind or as close as possible to the attacker’s back is the ideal application of that strategy.

Key factors about Shindokan: 1) We never block an attack 2) We want to get behind our attackers 3) We want to be very close to our attacker 4) We don’t back up Here’s a basic brief of what I’m talking about. So far, I’ve briefly discussed key factor #1; We never block an attack. We deflect said attack. Moreover, we receive said attack!! Today, I’d like to briefly discuss Shindokan key factor #2; bold typed above: We want to get behind our attacker. Why?? As a human being, our natural instinct is to address any threat head on because forward movement offers many opportunities. So, when attacked heads on, said attack can be avoided much easier, akin to having eyes on the target. Both tools are online and I don’t want that. By getting behind my attacker, I blind him as to my intentions because my attacker no longer has clear eyes on me. Once behind my attacker, even if just for a split second, it gives me clear opportunities to create havoc. There’s numerous targets to strike once I find myself behind my attacker. Once behind, I must strike with a vicious intent. Sounds goods?!? Not so fast!! Getting behind an attacker isn’t as simple as it sounds. Offense/Defense is a chess game; both battling to outdo one another. The goal is for me to get the checkmate on my attacker before he does…not a stalemate or a draw, but checkmate. How do I get behind my attacker?!? By getting up close to your attacker, aka, close range attack/defense. Not many people are comfortable getting nose to nose with their attacker. The unnerving positions aren’t always easy to engage but it has to be done whether it’s liked or not…I love it. For us in Shindokan, the key to getting behind our attacker lies in close range fighting. Yes. However, you just don’t waltz into close range without a little help. The little help comes via the setup(s)!! We use our longest weapons…our kicks, but not just our kicking arsenal. Hands and feet in combinations. When my opponent moves, so do I. My goal is to exchange positions so that I’m standing behind my attacker. One of the drills we teach in getting behind our attacker involves “Slipping”. This technique is when we create an irresistible opening for our attacker to target. Once that target reaches a point that’s too hard to resist for the attacker, arresting said attack can’t be effectively prevented, the attacker becomes way far too committed to their target. Once the point of no return is reached by the attacker, we simply slip behind our attacker through our setup, whichever that might be. Primary drilling tool we use in teaching how to slip in phase 1 is a body shield. When I travel to Hayes, KS years ago to train a few days with Brian, aka bushido_man96, we drilled this phase 1 drill; it’s a two-person drill: In phase 1, the Attacker holds the body shield in front of them against their body. Should is to protect both because things happen. Defender assumes a fighting stance. Attacker doesn’t announce their attack; attacker attacks at their own discretion. Defender waits for attacker to get very close, at that point, defenders slips the attackers attack making sure to stay very close to the attacker, ending up behind. Once the CI feels that the defender is ready, the shield is removed from the attacker; that’s phase 2. Phase 3; the defender incorporates set ups. Phase 4; the defender selects attackers off-line targets. Advanced drills incorporate a Bo-Staff being thrusted forwards to the defender’s front online targets. Again, if one can’t function effectively with close range, there’s no way to get behind said attacker. Main reason for this difficulty is that the student is afraid. Maturity in their technique takes a long time to develop. The most fearsome animals moves to the back, and attacks its prey from the back. Why? When my attacker is behind me, all of my tools are isolated. That’s not good!! All of fighting is getting your tools online. Once I’m behind my attacker, my tools are online but my attackers tools are isolated. Being isolated is not where anyone wants to be. So, if possible, learn to get behind your attacker(s) so that your attacker(s) tools are isolated and your tools are online.

Be Water My Friend; The Teachins of Bruce Lee by Shannon Lee

“During the post-fight interviews, Joshua praised Paul, “Jake Paul, he's done really well tonight. I want to give him his props. He got up time and time again. It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that. Anyone who laces up the gloves, we always say we give them their respect. We have to give Jake his respect for trying. Well done, but he came up against a real fighter tonight.”” “According to CompuBox, Joshua landed 48 of 146 punches (33%), while Paul landed with just 16 of his 56 shots (29%).” Both quotes per Wikipedia. Jashua taunted Tyson Fury after the fight. Perhaps we’ll see a Fury VS Joshua fight next year.

“The ending came in the sixth round, when Joshua landed a straight right followed with a right-left combination, knocking Paul down for the time at 1 minute 31 seconds. Paul attempted to get up but the referee counting him out as he reached his feet.” ~Wikipedia With that being said, by definition, that means a Knockout.

Did Paul get knocked out? I'd heard that he wasn't, but the fight was over because of the broken jaw.

You have to try to see it from both sides; yours and theirs. An instructor spends a few months or years teaching a student, and all of a sudden the student appears (to them) to be acting like they've got it all figured out and can teach it better than them. Or this student is pointing out what they believe to be the flaws in what they've been teaching. This can rub people the wrong way, especially those who have a lot more time and experience with a subject than you might have. To the first quote above, what I would suggest is to bide your time and put in the work to attain your instructor certification or rank. By doing that, you will have shown others in the field that you've put in the time to get there, and when you start suggesting different ideas and approaches, you'll have that clout to go along with it. Not everyone will agree with you, but having that pedigree will help you get more established and give you more pull within the wider community. In the end, this will help you get down the road to where you want to be. Remember, Martial Arts is a journey, and it's never truly finished. So what's the hurry?

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.