sensei8

Solid post, Brian, very solid post!! Thanks for your supportive words; they mean everything to me. I suppose what gets me the most is that both my PCP and my Cardiologist want me in the 220-230lbs range, respectfully. So, I tend to want to get to those ranges. Hard for me to argue with what both doctors want for my weight. They both argue the fact that in those ranges, my heart won't work that hard, Afib or not, and I can be considered to be taken off my blood pressure medication, however, it's the combination of Eliquis and Metropolol that lowers my stroke risk.

It sure does!! Keep on healing and get better soon, Danielle!! We got your back!!

Solid post!! It could also be, the summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because'!! And/or this... Post hoc, ergo propter hoc..."After this, therefore, because of this." The term refers to a logical fallacy that because two events occurred in succession, the former event caused the latter event.

Are we hero's?? That's not for us to determine!! Even then, I'm no hero doing the right thing!!

Well, it's been some time since I updated this thread, so, here's nothing!! I'm plagued in the 250lb weight range, and seems like I've peaked...I SURELY HOPE NOT!! I did the CrossFit...no weight change!! I've been very strict with my diet...no weight change!! I've changed up gym routines...no weight change!! I've ran/jogged...no weight change!! I've rode a stationary bike, and if it was a real bike, I'd have biked all the way to Paris and back...no weight change!! When I say no weight change, I'm referring to significant weight change...lowest I've gotten is 250lbs...I'm 251lbs as of this post!! WHAT GIVES!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Now it's time to try bike riding on a real bike, but not to Paris, because the ocean between the two might be difficult to traverse. The thing about real bike riding is the challenges of topography and all that one encounters on a sojourn. I got to GET BELOW 250lbs!!!! My weight loss goal is still 220lbs-230lbs!! But, man oh man!! Still at the gym 6 days a week...2-3 hours each day. Thus far, I've lost 75lbs...went from wearing size 56 pants to 40-42...4X to 2X. I was to have meet my weight loss goal by October 4, 2017, and now I'm 4 months overdue....I failed!! I've lost that battle, but I'm going to win the war!! I moved back to Houston to help care for my sister, but just days after we moved back, she passed away on January 24, 2018 at 1543, on her 64th birthday. I miss her so much!! My Cardiologist has been receiving my blood pressure diary monthly, and he's very pleased, and no changes have been ordered. My next appointment with him is in May 2018. Still, no other procedures, and I'll have to live with Afib for the rest of my life, which is hopefully another 20 years!!

One of the cruel and fun things that I love to do, is scramble up a Kata, just to see how the student deals with it...plus...I get to entertain myself at the students expenses. Have the student go opposite because it's opposite day. Have the student go backwards. Have the student segment it. Have the student blindfolded. Have the student start/end it at my discretion. These, and many more. Not allowing the student to ever finish it because they messed up, even though, the mess up is extremely minor. Do every other movement. I've a million was to humor myself. Yes, it's cruel fun for me...I do get bored of the same old thing over and over. If no one can execute any given movement in any shape, way, and/or form, then, I agree that that person doesn't really know said Kata. To know the Kata is to be intimate with said Kata, and not in a casual passing!!

As I've already said, I'm not criticising anyone who likes breaking. And you and I seem to be agreeing on many points. But I shared my opinion in good faith, not to ruin anybody's fun, but to stimulate thought. If after reading my comments someone thinks for a moment then dismisses it, fine. At least they considered it rather than blindly doing what they've always done without question. When we go to a martial arts class, as we start slowly destroying our knees through bad posture and an instructor corrects us, do we say no, this is how I've always done it, or do we think maybe it's worth considering this? I haven't simply said breaking is silly or anything like that. I've offered sound reasons for my thinking. As martial artists, are we not encouraged to keep an open mind? Some folks give solid reasons why they support breaking. I give reasons why I don't. So far I can only see one post dismissing the whole notion of debate. Solid post!! I was speaking about myself across the board, and not to any KF member. If the appearance is that I was speaking to someone, directly/indirectly, then I apologize wholeheartedly!!

My bank and I wish I had invented the darn thing!!

Solid post!!

I've never concerned myself with things like these because it had to start, and it had to go somewhere, and then it had to end. I've never heard our Soke and/or Dai-Soke speak towards these things mentioned in the OP!! I suppose some things are better left alone.

The lack of change, starts the burnout!! If I teach one rank, and only that rank, the stale of it begins to grow. Teaching black belts to long...I want to teach kyu ranks...teach kyu ranks to long...I want to teach black belts; to much of a good thing spoils the bunch. When I say too long, I'm referring to 3 months at a minimum. As the CI, I've the right to teach all ranks, and I do. Yet, I'll spend time with certain ranks because I see they need my undivided attention. Yes, it's possible that my burnouts are self induced...that's fair...but I don't go into that with that on my mind...I want to help my students improve their MA betterment.

I agree!! When it comes to building things, I've a green thumb; those skill sets are beyond me!! I have seen guys remove part of their thumbs. Count yourself lucky. Yeah...and ouch!!

I can't help you because I haven't figured out how to do this as of yet. Maybe Patrick or one of the moderators could tell you how this works. I'm what you call technologically illiterate. I can do enough to barely scrap by. That's me, too!!

Solid post!!

Tool!! We're debating MA tools!! Why?? Opinions are like shores...every island has one. If said tool helps improve the betterment of the MAist, then I've no right to criticize them, just because I don't agree with their process of said tool(s). To each their own!! For that to mean something, then I have to allow them to exercise their own freely. Even when the person is my own student.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say!! Important, and necessary!! But, for the love of something, can it be articulated while I'm still young...and able...and willing!! Nothing feels worse when the Kaicho [me] walks out of the class because they're going on and on, like some Rush song; long and with no end in sight.

The physicality is the exclamation point of the mind!! Nothing can be done...even the most basic of human needs, without the very thought; careful initiation as well as intent, author everything...the MA is not an exception. Moreover, no movement in the MA isn't birthed by happenstance, but on purpose!!

Both, Brian and Danielle, share excellent points; there's always a fine line. Too much or too little of a verbal explanation waxes effectiveness across the board. It's those novel sized verbal explanations that make me want to take a long walk on a very short pier!!

True!! Without the mind, nothing can be accomplished!! The physicality is a mere fraction of the MA. Without said knowledge and experience stored in the mind, the physicality is mute. The mind learns, then memorize's, over time, regardless, even if what it has learned/is learning is effective or not.

Just how technical do you want any verbal explanation of any technique of the MA be presented to you?? A simple verbal description might attract many others, whereas, simplicity turns off many others; to be or not to be. I detest a drawn out verbal explanation more than I detest a root canal; one kills me, while the other, is a necessity. I want the presenter to get to the point as quickly as possible because anything else beside that starts my mind to become quite numb, and as we know, a numb mind can't remember important facts.

I've suffered my share of burnouts in my 53 years in Shindokan. My first indication was the loss of desire to be on the floor; made excuses to stay away from the floor, in any capacity!!

I used to believe that true, until I thought about it, and realised it's just yet more brainwashing. Think about it's value in psychological terms. What are we teaching when we ask students to smash a stationary object that is being held still by often several of our friends? How does that help develop the self defence mindset? Then think about other aspects of training that help develop self confidence. In sparring we have a moving, resisting opponent trying to hit us. At first it's scary. Over time it becomes less so, as you learn that you can move as well as anyone, judge distance, and land strikes against resistance. Of course in sparring, unless it's full contact, we don't kick full force like we do in breaking, so we could say that breaking gives us that opportunity. But so does pad work. You could say you need to know that in a self defence situation, you need to know that you can and will kick with enough force to disable an attacker temporarily. There's 2 problems with using board breaking to help with that. One is that a pre cut breaking board or an inch of soft pine tells us nothing of our power, and secondly, if you're full of adrenaline because you're under attack for real, you won't hold back. So when we analyse the pros and cons, we find that at best, most of the time it looks good and makes a satisfying noise. At worst it teaches you to kick stationary restrained objects possibly bruising or breaking your foot just to win the approval of a panel that have only asked you to do it because that's the way it's always been done and they've never questioned it. I suppose that you're against Tameshiwara [Art of breaking] all together?!? Are you against the usages of the Makiwara?!? Either way, that's your given right, in which I wholeheartedly support!! It's a practiced art that I've been involved in for quite along, long time. I never questioned it, not because I'm an idle-minded robot, but because in time, I understood its necessity and importance through much trial and errors, as well as research. Sure, the successful trails do make a very satisfying sound, this I don't deny. But the more satisfying sound doesn't even emit from the material being broken. No. But from within having that solid technique(s). "Boards don't hit back!!"...neither does the fallen opponent. In the end, Tameshiwara is a tool. Just because a tool isn't used, for whatever the reason(s), that doesn't mean that said tool shouldn't be used, and/or believed in. If a student doesn't want to, then don't do it, and don't be forced to do it. Tameshiwara ISN'T on any Shindokan curriculum, and the student won't be forced to do it on any Testing Cycle, because, once again, it's a tool. Imho!!

If I am willing, as well as not shy, in defending strangers, imagine just how much more I am willing to do anything and everything when it comes to protecting my wife and/or kids with unmitigated resolve!! Fatality outcomes are always a possibility, and that's not what I want to happen, however, when it comes to my wife and/or kids, then let it me so with cause!! A perfectly natural and understandable emotional thought there. But what about practical ideas? Just what about practical ideas?? Attack my wife and/or kids, and if necessary, I'll demonstrate practical ideas to the Nth degree. If I can defuse the situation without being physical, then I will. However, if I feel that physicality will be necessary, then so be it. Keeping my wife and/or kids separate from harm is my job. Keeping us together...staying in well light areas...not going into well known unsafe areas...ushering them away from potential situations immediately...using common sense, and not being irresponsible...paying attention to signals...etc!! My Dai-Soke taught us to escape from danger as fast as possible without haste. But if we can't, then defend ourselves/family with whatever one has to, with cause. There's no shame in running, if one can!!

Solid post!!

As life has this nasty habit of getting in ones way on a personal basis, life also, being not a respecter of persons, gets in the way on a MA basis, as well. What, if anything, has ever restored your faith in anything MA related??