sensei8

Solid post!! Nothing says it better than when a student humbles themselves willingly. You'll be fine, so just train hard and train well!!

Naihanchi Naihanchi Naihanchi Naihanchi Naihanchi The entire series, of course. Outside of that, I'm quite fond of Wankan, Meikyo, Kanku Sho, Pinan Godan, and Unsu.

Welcome back to KF, G95champ; glad that you're back!!

Well...well...well... My American League won against the National League by the score of 8-6. The game was a home run derby of its own...10 home runs...One was predicted...three were go-ahead...two were back-to-back. Aaron Judge, of my Yankees, started bombing the yards in the 2nd inning...of course, I cheered...ok...I cheered LOUDLY!! Then Mike Trout, of the Angels, did his part in the 3rd inning. Then, Jean Segura, of the Mariners, who predicted he'd go yard, and guess what, he did...it wasn't the prettiest HR, but a HR nonetheless. Next, and I love his first name...Scooter Gennett, of the Reds blasted a 2 run HR in the bottom of the 9th. Game now tied 5-5; now we're in extra innings. Wait, wait, wait...it's not fair of me to forget the notables in the Natinal League who went yard, so, Joey Votto, Willson Contreras, Trevor Story, Christian Yelich also HR'd for the NL. My blood pressure went down shortly after my American League recaptured the lead when Alex Bregman of the Astros went yard in the 10th inning...with the go-ahead. But to not be outdone, Astros teammate George Springer went yard for back-to-back HR's. 10 times both Leagues went yard, which broke the record of 6 HR's, which was done back in 1951, 1054, and 1971. Yes sir/ma'am...that was one for the books, and one exciting game for this dedicated Yankee fan because as of late, that midsummers game wasn't the most exciting thing to watch, except for the Home Run Derby. Ha Ha Ha, this year we fans were treated to two Home Run Derby's. This is why many consider, and I'm included among them, baseball is the greatest past-time. OK, time to come back to earth, and back to MLB regular season. I got to get back behind my Yankees and cheer them to the playoffs, and then to the World Series...the land where dreams come true. GO YANKEES!!

I shouldn't ask, but, what's SMH stand for??

You know what gets in the way?? Judges and competitors!! However, what fun would it be without either...or both!!?? Do the best and hope and pray that everything works out in the end.

It is said that the one who understands the rules better than the others...wins. This is true for much anything, including the MA. The inevitable changes without permission, so, one has to learn to adapt faster than others...or be left behind.

While it’s true that a lot of high ranks are political promotions, “political” needs to be defined IMO. Quite often, that “political” means what the person has done for their art and organization, and for the MA overall. Someone who’s continually trained very high quality and deservingly high ranking MAists, and has spread and furthered his/her art and organization is typically worthy of being promoted to a high dan rank without any negative connotations of what people consider a “political” move. Add to that most very high ranking MAists are advanced in age and have been through many, many physical tests, and a “political promotion” isn’t a bad thing at all. As far as Bruce Lee studying and pulling elements of multiple arts to create his own MA is concerned... While it’s true he did that and did that effectively, Bruce Lee is a bit of an anomaly here. Just because he did it the right way doesn’t mean anyone nor everyone can. Nor should they. I’m certainly not saying no one else should nor anyone who does so must be at his level, but citing Bruce Lee is a like an average boxer citing Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson saying ‘hey, he did it’; it doesn’t quite hold up very well. Keep in mind Bruce Lee didn’t train in Wing Chun for that long. He studied under Ip Man (and his students) from 13 or 14 years old until he was 18 or 19, so 5-6 years. He was allegedly quite good and trained hard for long hours daily, but he didn’t “complete” the system nor was he considered a master of it in the traditional sense. I don’t know if Lee was ever formally authorized to teach Wing Chun at all to be honest. I’m not saying that to take anything away from him; just stating facts here. Solid post!! What you've posted above in the bold type... More often than not, the words "politics" and "Senior Dan's", used in the same sentence, are thrown around with the tone of disrespect without considering the points you've made here, imho. Thank you!!

Like I'm fond of saying... Proof is on the floor!! Not all high ranks are political. I earned my Kudan through a Testing Cycle; it wasn't given to me through some political ploy. Even though the SKKA tried to force it down my throat for many years through a political excuse via our By-Laws.

Check this out... https://www.martialartsentertainment.com/michael-jai-white/

I've absolutely no expectations about it whatsoever. I seriously doubt that much will be televised for one reason or another; one can hope, though. After all, it'll not be as popular as Gymnastics or Swimming or Track And Field or Boxing, just to name a few.

Great responses, everyone, thank you!! I've been on the floor for 53 years, and the one thing I'm sure of, MA wise, is... Proof is on the floor!! It's always been that way, and it'll always be that way. The floor will judge you extremely harshly with cause, and unapologetic; can't hide from it, and can't fool it either, even though many have tried to fool the floor, and many have failed in their attempts, and many will continue to do so. If one thinks that their better than the floor across the board, then that's when the floor is at its most resolved.

If I was the instructor teaching Karate/Eskrima and I had a student tell me they were leaving to train in BJJ I wouldn't take it personally, I would just figure that BJJ is more their thing and so that's what they should pursue. I would know that Karate and Eskrima aren't for everybody and if BJJ works better for a particular student than they should do that instead, just as BJJ isn't for everybody and there might be students who quit BJJ in favor of Karate and Escrima. That's just me though, I can't speak for your instructor as everybody reacts differently. Yeah, that's it!! The student should be able to explore the many facets of the MA quite freely without facing any type of discouragement whatsoever from anybody. If a CI take offense to a student wanting to learn another MA, then that CI is lacking from one thing or more. Imho!!

Point sparring is another tool for the student to utilize. However, for any tool to be advantages for the user of the tool, proactive seriousness must be garnered effectively. Nonetheless, if the tool, point sparring, in this case, is only being used to earn a tournament reward [trophy and the like], and to not improve the MA betterment of the student, then that's the damaging side affect of point sparring. Imho!!

His teaching style is one that I can get behind wholeheartedly. He reminds me of my Soke and Dai-Soke, especially Soke because he never taught the MA like other instructors in Okinawa in the 1950. Andre has that about himself, yet, I get what he's teaching the way the HE teaches it; away from any familiar teaching molds of today...it has an contagious effect. There's a charismatic way that he teaches, and it draws in the students from core to non-core backgrounds, and they learn a different way to skin a cat, so to speak. He's not everyone's cup of tea, but that's ok because we're not all the same. The quality is apparent, to me. And even if I don't agree with something that he's said/saying and/or has taught/is teaching, that too is ok. The end result should be about effectiveness, and not anything else. Imho!!

You've been in the MA for [insert] years... What do you know for sure??

Welcome to KF, Fat Cobra; glad that you're here!!

Welcome to KF, Pancor357; glad that you're here!! From what your OP speaks about, it's the dojo that's being disloyal to its Student Body. So, I'd speak to the CI!! If that doesn't pan out, then I'd start looking elsewhere. Good luck, and please let us know how things are going.

Congrats, wildbourgman; well deserved!!

Your mom's Tigers are in 3rd place, 40-55 record, behind the Twins, and then by the Indians; 11.5 games from 1st place. I believe that the true battle right now is between the Twins and the Tigers. Both doing all that they can to upset the others. Your mom's Detroit Tigers Organization sent RHP Jimenez, chosing by the MLB, to represent them at this years All-Star Game with a 2.85 ERA, who possesses a 95 MPH pitch. He's taught the Yankees that Jimenez is a force to be reckoned with. I've a soft part in my heart for your mom's Tigers...until Red October. GO YANKEES!!

The old tried and true way of joining a school of the MA by visiting them is still the most effective method. Then, there's the trusting ones gut, raised hair on one back of the neck, and goose pimples. Then there's the recommendation of family, friends, and other MAists. I suppose you want know exactly if the switching to a new club is worth the time and effort on your part until you attend. If after having visited the new school many, many times before joining, I'd give it 100% effort for at least 3 months. Not every Black Belt can teach, nor should they ever try; either one can or one can't...there's no middle ground. Imho!! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Please keep us abreast of how things are going, and good luck.

Here we are... The All-Star Game is steadfastly approaching...July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC being hosted by the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. As we fans know all to well, the All-Star Game officially marks that seasons halfway point of the 162 regular season games. As the fans pour into Nationals Park for the 7pm first pitch between the National League and the American League, as you hear one of the most welcomed and beloved sounds..."Play Ball...Get your Hot Dog...Get your Peanuts...Get your Cracker Jacks"...the crack of the bat...the kid in us all marvel about games most favorite pass time...BASEBALL. Before the first pitch of the 89th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, there's the exciting anticipation of All Star FunFest Week, July 13-17, that's jammed packed for all ages and all fans with some of that weeks activities, like the 5K Run, All-Stars Prospects Game, All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, and then my most favorite of them all...Home Run Derby. I, being the NY Yankee fan that I am, was pleased that the Yankees Organization had 4 dynamic players to represent them...Judge, Torres, Chapman, and Severino...of which Torres might not play due to a right hip strain he received on July 4th...I hope he's cleared. My dear Yankee's presently, at the time of this post, are in 2nd place right behind our arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox, by 3.5 games, sporting regular season standings of 61-31 with plenty of baseball to still be played. Which team are you cheering for this year?? Of course, I'm cheering on the American League. "Take me out to the ballgame..." GO AMERICAN LEAGUE...GO YANKEES!!

Thank you for sharing that link; very informative, and I throughly enjoyed it.

Welcome to KF, DauntlessDruid; glad that you're here!!

If you are fasting with the guidance of your doctor, then you should be ok. However, if you're fasting without your doctors advice, then be extra careful. Either way, I wish you the best of luck.