sensei8

Very interesting topic, Spartacus Maximus; thank you. I believe that this topic must be taken seriously because dire circumstances and consequences arise from an lackadaisical approach. Each USA state has distinct and varied laws regarding self-defense. Know before one acts because there’s a saying that says that “Only a fool has himself for a lawyer.” Several years ago back in 2010, I purchased the following book that might still be of some interest and relevance: Self-Defense Laws Of All 50 States by Attorney Mitch Vilos and Eva Vilos. No matter what, book or not, recent publications or not, I’d still speak with an attorney just to protect myself.

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.

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.

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

Merry Christmas KF

That makes a lot of sense now that I think about it. Why else would the Raiders numbers on the field be so drastically reduced?!? Perhaps the Raiders players have indeed given up on Carroll. GO…never mind…I’ve no team left that I can cheer on!!

I know that this thread is for NHL news. I just want to share this. I saw something that warned my heart while I was watching an American Hockey League game between the San Diego Gulls and the Henderson Silver Knights. 2nd quarter, tied score of 0-0 until with 5:43 remaining on the clock, Silver Knights scores. What warned my heart is immediately after the goal, fans rained stuffed animals or all sizes onto the ice. The ice was covered end to end and side to side with stuffed animals. It took an army of arena crew about 15 minutes to clear the ice. Arena crew used snow shovels to corral these stuffed animals into large clear trash bags. The Salvation Army will be collecting them and then donating them to needy children and families. I’ve never seen this before that I can remember but it was great to see the community in action.

Mental Health is a very serious and personal matter; it should never be taken lightly. When it comes to my mental health, the MA is just a thing, it is just a want and not a need, and not worth to affect my mental health. Before, I wasn’t alone, but nowadays I’m very much alone. What was once alive is now a lonely destitution. The SKKA is dead, our Soke and Dai-Soke are dead, many of my fellow Shindokanists are either dead or gone their own way; only empty chairs surround a once thriving table. I’m still trying to understand and cope with the fact that what was is no more; not easiest thing to wrap my mind around. Still, I’m a MAist, now and forever and nothing will change that in me. My mind might be a very lonely thing but my mind is strong. Keeping God first before the martial arts keeps my sanity in tact amongst the dark cloud of loneliness.

Your fist needs to travel a certain distance and your arm needs to be extended out by a certain amount before your punch can have much effect. So if you grab the other guy and pull him towards you into the punch with the other hand, you're reducing the effectiveness of your own punch. I respect your opinions wholeheartedly; I thank you for them. Power aided by Hikite isn’t forgotten nor is it ignored by us Shindokanists, inasmuch as how our grappling is aided by Hikite across the board. For us, our fists as well as our feet are used primarily as set-ups for our grappling; that’s us, and may not be for others. We, you and I, might have different methodologies and ideologies concerning many different things including Hikite, and in that, I don’t discard what others have been taught across the board. Oftentimes, MAists have yet to mature in their techniques, which is understandable because it takes a lot of time to mature in ones technique, and this by no means to be directed to you personally or anyone else here. Imho!!

According to The Sporting News: My Cowboys: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys (-6) Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC Peacock “The Cowboys had extra time to prepare for the Vikings. JJ McCarthy threw three TDs for the Vikings in Week 15 against the Commanders, but he also took four sacks. Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb is in concussion protocol. Dallas needs this one to stay in a tight playoff race, and the Cowboys are 4-2 ATS at home.” Pick: Cowboys 28, Vikings 20 My Wife’s Raiders: •Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (-12.5) Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox “The Raiders can’t score. Las Vegas has averaged 12.8 points per game in the last five games, and Kenny Pickett replaced Geno Smith (shoulder) in Week 14. Pickett would get a chance to start against one of his former teams, but the Eagles will not be accommodating coming off a short week. The Eagles are 0-3 ATS when favored by seven points or more - but they get the message here.” Pick: Eagles 30, Raiders 16 We will see how The Sporting News predictions pan out.

Hikite is NOT about power; it’s about being in close range of my attacker. Hikite aides in providing me information as to where the body is without me having to look. With Hikite I can control, manipulate, and seize. Of course, I have to use both of my hands to do one or another. No Hikite, no acccuracy. Imagine how kata would look like without Hikite??

Mahomes seems to me that he’s the most dangerous when he’s forced in a corner. I sure am not counting the Chiefs out as of yet. How about them Chiefs!! (Normally I end my posts in the football thread by supporting the team from Arlington, TX but not until next season…maybe!!)

I’ve seen various MA styles being taught in a public school in after school programs that were held in the schools gym. These programs rented the schools gym but both the school and the schools administrators approved before hand. These schools allowed the CI to place stacks of flyers in the schools office or one flyer found on the school’s office bulletin board. The MA program, as part of the approval process, had to submit its syllabus/curriculum. However, the school and the school districts administrators HAD NO authority as to said syllabus/curriculum; they just wanted to know what was all involved. Those MA programs also had to show proof of insurance at various levels. In short, these MA programs were NOT part of any academic curriculum of said school whatsoever. On the other hand, I very briefly taught Karate 101 and 102 along time ago at the LAVC in the San Fernando Valley in southern California. I had to follow the college curriculum to the letter, and had to submit everything under the sun to the Department Chair of the Physical Science Department as far as grades, reports, this and that and that and this. From time to time, the Chair or the Assistant Chair would pop in and out a few times a semester just keeping an eye out. But they never ever tried to correct me on the manner of how I should teach said techniques. The whole time I was there, they never pulled me aside for cause. I knew my job and I knew it well. The powers that be at LAVC just wanted to make sure I followed the curriculum and that I didn’t deviate from it. Not everyone should learn the MA like not everyone should learn how to be a doctor. And I agree…not everyone should learn to defend themselves because the MA is not a one-seminar or one semester thint, and there are so many other ways than the MA to defend themselves with.

Brian makes many solid points in his last post here. Cowboys already had their chances. Let us remember back to the 2016 season when the 13-2 Cowboys loss to the Packers in the Divisional Playoff 31-34 at home. Cowboys window closed. NFC teams haven’t gotten any better. Jerry Jones let Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells go. Wouldn’t sigh Dak until the last minute. Wouldn’t sigh CD Lamb until the last minute. All Cowboys coaches, except Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells, are nothing but “yes” men. What’s the answer? As long as Jerry Jones won’t let the coach coach and make personnel decisions about the roster, etc., the Cowboys will never ever get to a NFC Championship game, let alone the Super Bowl. Imho!!

Yeah thats true - i hadn't factored in senior grades We’re talking about lying about rank whenever competing in tournaments. My last tournament, Bakersfield Open, was 30 years ago where I garnered 4 Grand Championships and 1 2nd place; I was at that time a Nanadan. I was only allowed to compete because that tournament had a Masters Division. My 4 Grand Championships were in Kata, Open Kata, Weapons Kata, and Open Weapons Kata. My 2nd place was in the Masters Kumite Division which was open for 5th Dan’s and above. In each and every Kata Division I entered, I was the most Senior ranked competitor whereas most other competitors were of no rank higher than Sandan. During that time I was the chosen Arbitrator for most all Open tournaments in that region. So, it was of no surprise when I approached the Arbitrator of the Bakersfield Open to see if I could enter, and when I received the Arbitrator’s green light I signed up for everything I could. I bring this up because 30 years ago it was nearly unheard of for a Senior rank of my status to enter open tournaments to compete; to Arbitrate, yes, to compete, no. I didn’t lie about my rank, of which I could’ve, but that never ever was something that I’d even consider; my overly high sensitivity regarding integrity would never ever allow me to do that in the first place. Allen Tackett, a Nanadan under Master Toma of the Siedo Organization, and a friend of mine back then, who is now a Kudan, vouched for me with both that selected Arbitrator and the Bakersfield Open Committee beforehand without my knowledge. It was Allen that encouraged me to compete in that tournament; I did feel uneasy to do so due to I didn’t feel it was appropriate in general.

I’m still of the mindset that those of multiple rankings should bring that attention to the tournaments Arbitrator for integrity sake. A Arbitrator worth their salt will make the correct and appropriate decision. Imho!!

These teams, if possible, can now play the spoiler for other teams…if they win said game.

Well, Dak and company just put a big fat exclamation point on what I previously posted here. After losing 44-30 to the hosting Lions last night on TNF just gave the Cowboys a 9% chance of reaching in the playoffs. Field goals don’t win games against a team who seemed to reach the end zone at will; Lions won by 2 TD’s. Didn’t help the Cowboys that Lamb suffered a concussion in the 3rd quarter, and didn’t return for the rest of the game. At one brief point in the game there seemed to be a glimmer of hope that the Cowboys might have a better chance at winning the game with the Cowboys only trailing by 3 points; 30-27. However, that hope was soundly dashed when the Cowboys could only amass 1 field goal to the Lions 2 TD’s. Next the Cowboys host the Vikings and Rams at home before going on the road against the Commanders and the Giants!! A fitting end for the Cowboys as more nails will be driven into their coffin. GO…oh who cares!!! (Chiefs don’t let me down)