sensei8

I've truly tried, but in the end, I've not watched and enjoyed the movie, but instead, I've just only completed another Testing Cycle. Shoot, I did, and still do that with Enter The Dragon...I'm totally hopeless!!

Thank you Brian and singularity6; means the world to me.

Forgive my question, please... Why are the forward stepping so robot-like?? With each step, the stepping forward foot goes in a straight line...shoulder width to shoulder width, step after step; to me, that way of stepping forward is disjointed. The feet aren't, as one's stepping forward, having the back foot, going to the inside/center of the body, then returning to the outside, shoulder width, for the ending of the forward step. This is also what GM Suh taught us, and is akin to what Shindokan teaches. I'm just wondering. I know style differences exist, this is why I'm asking, and I'm not implying that what I see in the videos is incorrect, just different.

Is it possible that within your community that you're well known as a LEO as well as a MAist; anyone in your community won't hassle you if your wore MA apparel around town. The first thing I'd notice, if I lived in your community, and I wasn't a MAist, is that you're a LEO, and I don't want to go to jail for being stupid. Second thing I'd notice is that you're a BB in TKD, and I don't want to get my head handed to be for being stupid and dumb, all at the same time. Respect goes along, long way...so does common sense!! That would also apply with Alex, tallgeese, too, if I lived in his community!!

Great news, shortyafter!! You'll get Yoko-geri before you know it because, imho, it's a staple technique, like tying your shoelaces is to getting dressed...remember what I'm always saying to you...TIME!!

Quite briefly... Testing Cycles are just what they are meant to be...A TEST of proficiency held once every quarter at the Governing Bodies designated locations throughout the year. Some Testing Cycles are held only once per year, usually at that Governing Body's Hombu, in which all candidates from within said Governing Body's network, after having been approved by the Governing Body, are allowed to attend. Some Testing Cycle locations are held at either a dojo or at the Governing Body's Headquarters or at some other venue to be determined by the Governing Body. As the word "TEST" implies, candidates are examined from time to time to insure that their proficiency demonstrates an marked and noted improvement since that candidates most recent Testing Cycle; effectively, as determined by said Governing Body. Strict adherence to applied, and therefore obeyed, requirements are enforced without any ambiguity whatsoever, and without violating the integrity of the Testing Cycle. Close scrutiny hovers over each and every segment of any, and all, Testing Cycles, from the tiniest to the largest, to therefore erase any, and all, impropriety in any shape, way, and/or form. In short, the credibility of each and ever Testing Cycle must be stainless; pure to the most discerning eye, no matter who's eye it might be. OK... To the question... What Are The Unyielding Testing Cycles that you might've seen, read, and/or heard about?? But, please, let's try not to speak about YOUR dojo or gym or dojang or whatever else because there's a possibility of not being biased. So, I'll start... 8th Dan in Kendo is the highest attainable physical/written rank/dan level attainable from the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (All Japan Kendo Federation). Since the 8th dan test only has a pass rate of about 1%, it has a reputation of being the toughest Testing Cycle in Japan. It's held 2 times a year...In May in Kyoto and in November in Tokyo. Hachidan Requirements: *10 years or more after receipt of Nanadan, and age 46 or higher. *Kata 1-7 and Kodachi Kata 1-3. *Written examination & thesis. Your turn, please...

Excuses are like the stars, they are endless; to many to count. Guess what else about excuses?? They (excuses) are live and well in the MA, and at every level of knowledge and experience; quite normal in every imagined endeavor, including the MA. The good news for you, OneKickWonder, is that you've realized the importance of Kumite (sparring) across the board. Perfecting what one's learned, and/or is learning, and/or will learn is critical, however, that's not enough. Without Kumite, many aspects are lost, and so is the practitioner. The fatigue you're experiencing, shortness of breath, if no medical issue is causing it, while engaging in Kumite, it's more than likely due because you're holding your breath...and/or...you're just not use to the physicality of Kumite, but I dare to lean more towards you are holding your breath in Kumite. Proper breathing is everything in the MA, not just with Kumite. If you're not fatigued at any other time while training EXCEPT at Kumite, I stress once again, you're holding your breath. One holding ones breath for any duration outside the normalcy of when one should hold ones breath for only in micro moments, happens quite a lot with beginners and somewhat with intermediate students. I believe that beginning and intermediate students hold their breath quite a lot during Kumite is triggered by the brain to protect the body in the best way it understands. Fear might be the initiating factor during Kumite why beginning and intermediate students hold ones breath. Again, the mind is trying to protect the body from any imagined injury. In that, Future Event Appearing Real...FEAR!! Beginners and intermediate students will also hold their breath while executing Kata. Next time you go to a tournament, watch the Kata division with beginners and intermediates...you'll see them, not all of them, trying vainly to control their huffing and puffing at the end of their Kata. Oh, they'll still Kiai at the appropriate times, but before and after, they're holding their breath. That's why you hear a lot of audible sharp exhales of ones breath at each and every technique executed in said Kata; it's to control ones breathing and to handcuff the urge to hold their breath for the entire Kata. Like anything, it takes time and patience to overcome ones limitations, and holding ones breath improperly is a limitation that must be erased for ones MA betterment. Hold your breath, but only at the appropriate time, which that time is a micro short sharp exhale just before one's about to be struck; hence, Kiai time.

Nope. I don't want to draw attention to myself outside of the dojo because it can backfire on me by someone wanting to test me. Sport apparel is all I wear that's even close to something MA like.

To the bold type above... Nope!! Just how many MA styles have been diluted?? Many MA styles are STILL around!! Again, who's to say that YOU/I/WHOMEVER is better than their Sensei?? Well, in my case, I suppose Soke would be better to make that determination if I'm better than Dai-Soke because Soke taught Dai-Soke. My Governing Body?? NO WAY!! That would be an assumption that bears no fruit. It's not about saying you are better. It's about going into the dojo every time and working your hardest to be the best you can be. Aspire to be better. Work you hardest to be better otherwise you've already put limitations on yourself. To me saying I can never be as good as them is already constructing barriers and putting limitations on yourself. I guess this is where TKD differs as in ITF TKD our founder was explicit in that the greatest compliment a student could pay their instructor is to surpass him. In General Choi's Encyclopedia (The TKD Bible) it explicitly says: "An instructor should be eager for students to surpass him; it is the ultimate compliment for an instructor. A student should never be held back. If an instructor realizes his student has developed beyond his teaching capabilities, the student should be sent to a higher ranking instructor." It's about building on those before and aspiring to something better. This is the conversation people have I suppose when the word "better" is used, like in the bold word way above. Once again, of course we want our students to be better than us, like we parents want our children to be better than us. I too, want my students to be far better than me, therefore, I hold nothing back from my students; holding things back from my students is a disgrace on my part. Aspire, better, whatever label we choose to attach to it, I have never came to my Dai-Soke with the intent of ever being better than him; I just want to be better today than I was yesterday.

Solid post!!

Is stretching overrated?? I don't know, is breathing overrated?? I believe that anything that helps one body can't be overrated, I suppose, but I'm not a medical doctor.

To the bold type above... Nope!! Just how many MA styles have been diluted?? Many MA styles are STILL around!! Again, who's to say that YOU/I/WHOMEVER is better than their Sensei?? Well, in my case, I suppose Soke would be better to make that determination if I'm better than Dai-Soke because Soke taught Dai-Soke. My Governing Body?? NO WAY!! That would be an assumption that bears no fruit.

Well, slowly but surely, I've scratched my plateau purgatory. No, I've not broke through to the world of things that are under 250lbs, but the upturn of weight has started to reverse itself. DIET!! Have gotten that by its tail, and I won't let go!! Weight is slowly falling off me. The death of my sister took a toll on me, and no, as a friend suggested to me a few weeks ago, I've not gotten over it, nor will I, but life goes on, and I must go on!! Too many empty chairs sit around my table nowadays, but that too, is life. Got the gym blues for a few months, but that too is over, well, not completely because I'm only going 3 days a week, instead of my usual 6 days a week. I'm in no rush to return to that 6 day a week schedule at the gym, but at least I've returned. Next month is our annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu, and I'm actually looking forward to going to Administer the event, and not dredge over it. Our Student Body deserves my full attention, so, I've pulled my rear out of my butt. Self pity has its place, and the Testing Cycle isn't the place for it. Today, no gym, just a morning and dusk jog and some resistant band exercises.

Solid post!!

I've seen schools allow the new student, who's a BB in another style, keep their BB while allowing said student to earn rank in the new style that their learning without ever taking their BB off. While I might understand the reason(s) behind this, I agree that ego gets in the way much too often.

Nope, not yet, and I probably won't for no special reason(s), Thanks, Brian, anyway!! I don't do good with watching MA stuff because I end up judging it like I would a Testing Cycle.

Sorry I missed this topic!! Unsu is one of my most favorite Kata's, even though nowadays, my age is showing at the wrong time. That big jump does task any practitioner, especially at first...hundred times or so. I'm a firm believer that to get height in ones jumps/leaps, one needs strong and muscular legs. I've very strong and muscular legs, and here's what I do at the gym... STRETCH FIRST!!!!!! You'll have to look these exercises up to learn how to do them, unless you already know. *Leg Presses *Step-Ups *Pistol Squats *Glute-Ham Raise *Lunge Squats *Bulgarian Split Squat *Hack Squat *Romanian Deadlift *Front Squat *Barbell Squat 3 sets of 10 each; slowly. Making sure your adhere to correct form!! Adjust the weights to your tolerance. Remember, it's not about the weight as it is about the reps. I work my legs 3 times a week!! I start with cardio for 30 minutes...Rowing or StairMaster or Treadmill or Battle Ropes or Tire Flipping or Bike Riding, then hit the weights. Have fun, be safe, and train hard!!

There are milestones, then there are MILESTONES!! KarateForums.com is one of those MILESTONES, this is for certain. With the flash of light, KF came and did what few ever do within this sensitive industry. An industry that sees the comings and goings of the plethora of forums as often as the waves in the oceans go this way and that way to its end. The steadfastness of KF's success lies with Patrick!! His consistent administration of KF brings its harsh criticism from the variety of places and people, but that's OK because as John Lydgate's famous quote states... “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” This is very true of Patrick's managing style. A style that I've grown to respect and depend upon. His mentoring of his staff, past and present and future, is as unwavering as the rainbow is in the sky after a rain. What’s a leader without any followers? Just a guy taking a walk. I've yet to see this of Patrick and/or KF. Patrick IS that consistency that takes no prisoners, and this, too, has earned my respect and it's what I depend upon. I've made many life long friends here at KF, and I pray that I'll earn many more friends in time; thank you members, thank you all!! Patrick is a firm example of what Spencer Johnson, M.D., spoke about in his book, Who Moved My Cheese?, in which he unearths change, and how change can make you or break you without change breaking sweat. Patrick, continues to change KF across the board to attract new members in a positive way. I'm proud to be part of KF's Staff and one of it members. I'm even much more proud to call Patrick my friend; these aren't idle words!! Happy 17th Birthday KararteForums, and may your have many, many more in the future!!

Between you and me, I'd comply with the system changes, albeit, I'd still train on Gekisaida ichi kata because it still contains valuable and effective contents; kind of train on it on the side for your MA betterment. Imho!!

Has anyone ever seen the movie Moneyball with Brad Pitt?? In the move, based on a true story, the GM for the Oakland Athletes of MLB, Billy Beane, who's rebuilding the team from scratch, is convinced by the newly hired Assistant GM, Harvard-educated statistician Paul DePodesta, to use sabermetric principles to run his team, with OBP, On Base Percentage, was the way to win a game, the way to win the pennant, the way to get into the playoffs, and a way to win the World Series. After all, the more 'W' than 'L', the better chance to the promised land of the World Series. So, the GM of the Oakland Athletes starts filling his roster with players that have a proven OBP. The scouts were irate!! The way to pick a player was to scout them, following them, track them, fretted them, and to go by owns gut feelings about potential players. Over the 2002 season, the Oakland A's, went from the basement to the stratosphere by winning consecutive playoff appearances. Like-minded GM's started to adopt Billy Beane's strategies for their chance of similar successes, including the efforts of In-Play Percentages for an improved "Outs" ratio, and looking more at High School players for the draft. Oh, btw, at the end of the 2002 season, the Red Sox offered Billy Beane over $12 Million dollars to GM the Red Sox; Beane turned the offer down!! Actions of Beane changed the game of baseball forever!! Within the world of MA, and in your opinion, who were the game changers?? I'll start... Bruce Lee was that game changer. How so?? By one statement...one quote... "Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, and add what is specifically your own" This, for me, and I'm pretty sure a countless number of MAists as well, was a game changer. This started me looking, and respecting, other styles of the MA. My first exchange was with TKD because they had a kicking arsenal that respect to this day; Shindokan kicks are waist down. Had it not been for Bruce Lee's quote above, I'd be stuck in the limitations of Shindokan, and not changed my game to be eclectic as possible. Over my 53 years in Shindokan, I've cross trained in a wide plethora of styles of the MA to add to my own; it has made all of the difference in my MA betterment. I'm complete in my totality as a MAist, even though, I'm still learning something new and effective every day. Another game changer was our own Soke. He refused to compromise with the status quo that permeated Okinawa Karate of that day, and possibly still today. Soke was cast aside by the powers that be in Okinawa Karate because he refused to join their organization(s) and follow their way and their rules. The powers that be in Okinawa Karate back then, made it extremely difficult for Soke across the board. So, he finally decided that he and Dai-Soke would travel to the USA in order to teach Shindokan. That too, has made all of the difference to me. I don't succumb to any governing body of Okinawa Karate or any other governing body of any MA style. After all, proof is on the floor; now and forever!!

What if, on your path to be better today than you were yesterday, you suddenly find you are better than your teacher? Do you cease your quest of self improvement foe fear of losing your humility? Would that not itself be an act of arrogance? I should point out by the way that this is just me sharing philosophical musings as a thought exploration exercise. I don't believe there can be a definitive answer. Though I could be wrong even about that. To the bold type above... Who's to say that I'm better than my Sensei?? Me?? Yeah, that's very arrogant of me, and that's not me. Someone else?? While that's kind of them, it's quite assumptive of them. My MA journey continues, irregardless, because my MA betterment requires it of me daily. What another MAist possess is for them; I can only be myself and not someone else. I strive to be better across the board; I'm never satisfied with myself!! My Sensei said I was better, therefore, he promoted me over those many years, and if it had been left up to me, I'd still be a white belt; I'd be fine with that. If I was still that white belt after 53 years on the floor, I'd be fine with that too. And I'd still strive to be better today than I was yesterday!! Very valid points well made. In all your years, when as you say your sensei said you were getting better so he promoted you, did you work really hard to perfect what he had shown you, to be able to do the techniques as well as him? Having tried your very best to replicate what your sensei had shown you, did you then stop, or did you keep on trying to further improve your technique? I always try to improve myself beyond what my Sensei taught me as well as what he was teaching me; always with his guidance, after all, I'm his student!! Is that not the same as trying to be better than your sensei, not in the sense that you are trying to be superior as a person, but better in terms of martial arts skill? Not for me!! I never try, nor want, to ever be better than another person, but to only improve my MA betterment across the board. I've never thought that about my Sensei, to be better or whatever than him in any shape, way, and/or form. Why?? He has his own abilities, of which, he partook of himself to provide the necessary efforts to help us, his students, find that which is within us in order that we can be better stewards of our own MA betterment and MA journey. Like a father who wants the best for his children; to be better than himself, so did my Sensei, and so do I as the Sensei of my students, however, for me, that's what I want for my students, but that doesn't mean that my students, or his students, like myself, desire that. I didn't come to learn from my Sensei so that I could be better than my Sensei. No!! I did come to learn from my Sensei how I can improve my MA betterment second by second, minute by minute, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, but ONLY ABOUT MYSELF. Our MA journey can be shared, nonetheless, our MA journey is extremely personal, in which in the end, we must be accountable to no one else but ourselves. Imho!!

What if, on your path to be better today than you were yesterday, you suddenly find you are better than your teacher? Do you cease your quest of self improvement foe fear of losing your humility? Would that not itself be an act of arrogance? I should point out by the way that this is just me sharing philosophical musings as a thought exploration exercise. I don't believe there can be a definitive answer. Though I could be wrong even about that. To the bold type above... Who's to say that I'm better than my Sensei?? Me?? Yeah, that's very arrogant of me, and that's not me. Someone else?? While that's kind of them, it's quite assumptive of them. My MA journey continues, irregardless, because my MA betterment requires it of me daily. What another MAist possess is for them; I can only be myself and not someone else. I strive to be better across the board; I'm never satisfied with myself!! My Sensei said I was better, therefore, he promoted me over those many years, and if it had been left up to me, I'd still be a white belt; I'd be fine with that. If I was still that white belt after 53 years on the floor, I'd be fine with that too. And I'd still strive to be better today than I was yesterday!! Very valid points well made. In all your years, when as you say your sensei said you were getting better so he promoted you, did you work really hard to perfect what he had shown you, to be able to do the techniques as well as him? Having tried your very best to replicate what your sensei had shown you, did you then stop, or did you keep on trying to further improve your technique? I always try to improve myself beyond what my Sensei taught me as well as what he was teaching me; always with his guidance, after all, I'm his student!!

What JR speaks towards and about are solid points, for sure!! If I can add to what JR has said, the degrees, like the black belt, are the outward identifiers that can be spotted at a mere glance. Still, I could tell a lot about Mr. Martin by observing him on the floor in a matter of minutes, and much more by the end of the session, and he'd earn my respect by what qualities he has while on the floor; he exhumes a great deal of solid information. I'd not respect him more because of the degree identifiers on his obi, but his quality he displays on the floor. I'd like him irregardless of his outwardly identifiers because of the manner of which he carries himself. I don't need an outwardly identifier to like him, or like him more!! Of course, I don't fault anyone who displays outward identifiers whatsoever. They serve a purpose. Unfortunately, the outwardly identifiers become a target of harsh ridicule, one on top of another...black belt AND degrees....two targets of ridicule and judgement from those who've not been on the floor with whomever is being ridiculed and judged. Quality attracts, and I'd be attracted to Mr. Martin because of his quality on and off the floor. We, the SKKA, have gotten rid of the outwardly identifiers. Check out this link... https://www.karateforums.com/returning-to-the-ways-of-old-vt37058.html?highlight=identifiers However, since that article, the SKKA has also gotten rid of any and all Soke type titles!!

What if, on your path to be better today than you were yesterday, you suddenly find you are better than your teacher? Do you cease your quest of self improvement foe fear of losing your humility? Would that not itself be an act of arrogance? I should point out by the way that this is just me sharing philosophical musings as a thought exploration exercise. I don't believe there can be a definitive answer. Though I could be wrong even about that. To the bold type above... Who's to say that I'm better than my Sensei?? Me?? Yeah, that's very arrogant of me, and that's not me. Someone else?? While that's kind of them, it's quite assumptive of them. My MA journey continues, irregardless, because my MA betterment requires it of me daily. What another MAist possess is for them; I can only be myself and not someone else. I strive to be better across the board; I'm never satisfied with myself!! My Sensei said I was better, therefore, he promoted me over those many years, and if it had been left up to me, I'd still be a white belt; I'd be fine with that. If I was still that white belt after 53 years on the floor, I'd be fine with that too. And I'd still strive to be better today than I was yesterday!!

No!! I strive to be better today than what I was yesterday. I don't want to be better than anyone else because envy is as bad, if not worse, than jealousy.