sensei8

My bad, sorry about my post!! A different list...or is what JR posted, what you're asking for??

That was funny...very funny. Thanks for that singularity6 for sharing it, and to hammer for the link. We are a sick people; laughing at someone else's misfortune!! HA HA HA...sorry!! He only thought that he was going to get into his car so he could go to work...maybe he should park close to the mailbox instead.

Solid post!! This is what we do in Shindokan, with a very strong emphasis on Go-No-Sen...receiving/deflecting your attackers power against him. As far as Tai-Sabaki, the way we do it in Shindokan, it is separate. Which I still get a tickle because everything we use either works together and/or at different times and/or in a domino way. But of course, it all makes perfect sense, whereas way before, I was going..."Huh?? What?? Really??" Time slowly erases confusion!!

Great question, TJ-Jitsu!! I'm quite sure that the answer to this fantastic question will vary from individual to individual, so here's mine... Quality; the lack thereof!! Priorities have run askew in the wrong direction. However, that direction is the choice of that individual, for intent. One can't have quality in those things that are beyond ones basics if those basics are ignored for those things that have a desired flash. What is basics?? Another question where the answer will vary from individual to individual. Basics, imho, are those things that solidify ones foundation. Without a solid basics foundation, there can be no intermediate substances, and without the intermediate substances, there can be no advanced substances. Furthermore, without the solidified basics, those things that are considered fancy, are no more than an illusion. When one concentrates on reaching the stratosphere into the fancy/flash more than the necessary and required basics of ones core MA, then, instead of building their core basics on rock-solid ground, one has purposefully built their core basics on sand instead; ineffectiveness becomes the proponent of that individuals flash/fancy arsenal...no future can survive. The great Nolan Ryan, former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher of the Texas Rangers, survived a 27 year career, and became considered one of the most dangerous pitchers, because he never denied just how important basic are. Throwing in the ranges of 100 mph, garnered 7 no-hitters...three more than any other pitcher. With Nolan remaining true to the basics, provided him a long and successful MLB career. He didn't need fancy/flash at all because of his mastery of his necessary and required basics. At 100 mph pitches, had he not believed in the basics, he would've blown out his pitching arm very much earlier than this legendary 27 years in the MLB. Want to be fancy/flash!?! That's good; it might have its place!! But logic dictates that one should first practice ones basics properly every day, or at least quite often, on a daily basis in order to solidify the foundation before one starts to wonder in the genre of fancy/flash. Imho!!

Me neither!!

Without the basics, there can be no intermediate, and without the intermediate, there can be no advanced!! OK...going back to my corner!! I love watching a good fig...discussion!!

40!?! Whippersnapper, said the big 6-0 to the big 4-0!!

Expulsion for cause!! You want to demand me? In my own dojo? You've lost your every loving mind!! You apparently don't know me!! Any promotions MUST BE EARNED THROUGH ME!! Threatening to leave and take the other students elsewhere!! There's the door!! I'm not moved by threats!! GO... YOU'VE JUST BEEN EXPELLED FOR CAUSE!! Students come and go, so go, all of you; don't let the door kick you where you sit!! Take those who blindly believe you with you immediately. Through the front door, you and them, will find a new horizon, so go seek, and feed your egos like no one else can. Oh, btw, I won't miss any of you!! See you...wouldn't want to be you!! EXPELLED FOR CAUSE!! They're assuming a position that they do not possess!! I run the Kyuodan Dojo, and only I run the Kyuodan Dojo. Therefore, your vote is nullified by my presence alone. Again, any promotion has to be earned through me!! To be promoted, one first has to apply, then be accepted by the Hombu before any student can be allowed to attend any Testing Cycle!! You can't vote me out because I am the proprietor...owner...CI of the Kyuodan Dojo...me, myself, and I!! You want to test much more often? NO WAY!! The Hombu sets the Testing Cycle dates, period, and they're non-negotiable. You want more grades (belts)?? No, that too is set by the By-Laws, as created by Soke!! Easier requirements?? To get that, you better find another dojo and/or style of the MA. Less training time?? Sure, better yet, just don't train at all; see how far that will get you!! Yeah, I tell you what!! Quit the Kyuodan Dojo and take as many of my students that you think that you can, and start your own dojo where you can be whatever you want to be!! Just leave me out of the whole darn thing!! EXPELLED FOR CAUSE!! Bad try!! The Hombu doesn't interfere with affiliated dojo's internal politics and the like in any shape, way, and/or form. It's pretty assumptive of you and them across the board. Let's say you do, ok, then all of you are expelled forthwith, and the Hombu, for being idle minded, can take a long walk on a very short pier, as far as I'm concerned. I started the Kyuodan Dojo by myself with NO STUDENTS...I can do it again and again and again!! EXPELLED FOR CAUSE!! Ha, that's a laugh!! You want a position or partnership of Kyuodan Dojo? NOT IN A TRILLION BILLION MILLION YEARS!! I own the Kyuodan Dojo...me, myself, and I, in which I've no desire to be in business with the likes of you!! Proof is on the floor!! My reputation is solid and in tact; has been, and will be, way after you've faded away as a bad memory. Oh Yeah, you're expelled forthwith!! I've refused promotions from the Hombu before; nothing new to me, and it's well documented!! Again, bad try!! I'm complete in my totality!! Btw, the word "you" isn't YOU MatsuShinaii, it's the hypothetical "You"!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Brian, Happy Birthday to you...and many more!! So, Brian, how old are you now??

Congratulations to all nominees, and to all the winners. I'm humbled to know that my fellow KF member thought enough about me to nominate me, then to vote for me. The credit belongs to the KF members, and not to me at all, for creating the topics, as well as the engaging conversations that we all partake willingly and enthusiastically in with sincere meaningfully warm tones across the board. I truly enjoy conversing with MAists and non-MAists all over the world. And I'm very privileged to be in their excellent company; without them, I'd be having a very long and quite conversation with myself. For reasons that escape me, I've been blessed enough to learn that I've 21 KF Awards, most all-time; thank you all.

I do suppose that, as a MAist, the wood conceptual strategies that you're speaking about are being used by MAist's without deliberately drawing them towards those similarities because any disadvantages/advantages must be recognized for its values and merits. Yes, we've the use of the wood floor in the dojo as well as the usages of many wooden Kobudo tools.

Topography and its surroundings must be quickly observed so know what both the advantages as well as the disadvantages are. The world is all around us, and our attackers surveys what the immediate area will or will not provide them their necessary advantages. This is so true for our attackers so that their ambush will be in area(s) that they're well aware of. So, get the students outside of the dojo as often as possible, and drill various situations on unfamiliar topography. Teach them how to recognize how the topography can be used for them as well as how the topography can be used against them. This way, your students will do all that they can do to stay away from recognizable threats within any given topography. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!! After all, it's our responsibility to even, as much as possible, the score!! Our attacker will more than likely attack you outside of the safety of the dojo!!

Very, very true!! For as long as Century MA Supply has been around, I've been buying from them for both my students and for my own MA Supply Store, and I make a killing due to my massive discounts for the huge orders I place. However, the Century Brand is only about a 1/4th of my inventory because I believe in offering quality from the other brands, and Meijin Brand, for me, is the quality that I eagerly speak highly of to both my students and to my retail customers. I've every Meijon style available, and not just a style or two. I personally have a wardrobe of Gi's at home from several brands. However, I won't personally wear any Gi that has their brand name where I consider inappropriate, like for example, on either chest area or down the pant leg(s); just turns me off because I'm not their billboard. Meijin, imho, is tasty in where they attach their brand name on their Gi's!

Fire is life!! If one doesn't have that fire, then that individual isn't alive at all. Fire is an element that IS alive...it talks...it reasons...it attacks...it destroys...not in our language, but language enough that can't be ignored. My MA betterment is on fire; it's alive, and it's like that unquenchable fire that spreads and consumes that which keeps it alive and increases the betterment of my MA betterment. The fire within me will follow no set course, but it will make its own course, for its betterment. That fire within me will leap...dart...whatever it feels are necessary, for its own betterment.

The only thing that I can tell you about the mountain is this. If I have faith, I can command that mountain to move, and it will obey. With that same faith, nothing is impossible...NOTHING!!

Speaking about Bruce Lee... "Running water never grows stale. So you just have to 'keep on flowing.'" And of course, then there's this well known classic... “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

Excellent review, singularity6, across the board, thank you. Me, myself, and I love the Meijin Gi's, and I too, have several for specific occasions. Imho, the Meijin Gi quality surpasses many other well known brands across the board.

Once again styles differ from one another, with purpose, for example, whenever I teach Zenkutsu dachi, the weight distribution is not equal, however, it's more 60% for the front foot and 40% for the rear foot. Now, Kiba dachi, is one of the most widely used stance in all of Karate, no matter the style, and its weight distribution is equal, with both feet sharing the load...50% each.

Make sure you of course, ask your CI (Chief Instructor) as to the proper foot/feet placement, just to be for sure. With any quality instructor, there is no such thing as dumb or irritating questions, so ask away.

I believe that if ones not born with either of them, they can be learned, but in time. However, in order to learn, one will have to be born with the special totality, and/or they've been raised by parents who already possess those characteristics, in which they then pass those abilities to their children by how they raise them. Nonetheless, not everyone can or wants to learn those characteristics for their own reasons.Fight or flight!! Pick one!! Oftentimes, and that varies in individuals, those characteristics already exist. Just takes the right person and the right situations to bring them to bare.

First off, welcome to KF, pati1r; glad that you're here!! Kake dachi... Tsuru ashi dachi... The exacting placement of the foot and/or feet, as well as hand placements will vary from style to style, school to school, however, these might give you a reference. What style do you train in??

You want something, then work for something as though you want something, and not in a passing fancy, but with an unreserved resolve. You want something, then earn it, and earn it honestly. Never giving up on that which one is wanting; preserving without admitting defeat are the earmarks of a MA, because the light can still be seen at the end of the tunnel.

Perception is reality to THAT individual!! His workings are dynamic; this I can't deny, and possibly more modern than some might admit openly. But he's just one man, and the world is full of notable individuals. Often times, I feel that his time was then, and it's not now; things that were beneficial back then are not beneficial now. He was Samurai!! I admire that!! His days were brutal and feudal, and his battles were glorious, and were fatal with an unreserved resolve; his survival depended on it.

Body language is everything to me, and so is facial expressions!! Ignoring them or not understanding them are the first mistakes in learning how to defend oneself. Sizing up an opponent might start with recognizing the body language and/or the facial expression. There's no mistaking them. Can't recognize them? Then learn them before one even begins to learn the MA.

To soak in or to not soak in; that's the question!! Do I have that mindset? I believe that I most assuredly do!! What worked for Musashi, no matter what it was, worked for him, and was unique for him. I respect that, if nothing else!!