sensei8

Solid post!! I've always pushed myself much more than I should, but having that within me has benefited me throughout my entire MA journey, as I believe that you have done the same thing...you and I...we earned everything from our Sensei's wholeheartedly!!

Stances are important, to be for sure. However, they're not the end of all, just part of the whole picture. Put stances in their place before they put you in your place; beginners, and we all use to be one, tend to fall into this much easier. Thanks for this Wado Heretic...

I can appreciate what you're both saying, wholeheartedly, Alan and Brian!! Thanks!!

I think it primarily had its usage in the military for a short period of time. For those here that might be interested... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defendo

Yes, and then some!! I can relate to this topic wholeheartedly because Soke and Dai-Soke spoke very little English; they both were masters of pointing and moving us/handing us where they wanted us to move and where not to move...and a lot of grunting. Their English never really improved, even up to their passing, and they never apologized for it once!! In time, I learned to converse with them both fluently enough to not embarrass them whenever we traveled back to Okinawa, which was quite often. You learn a lot when you're submerged in the Okinawa culture with them both acting as guides and teachers, other than the MA side of them!! The closer I was in their inner circle, the more I learned!!

While Luther unleashed poised to state his pointed remark... Then this leads me to ask... Just what, if anything else, is "average"?? This answer, I can only surmise, from any KF member, might be wider than the skies, in which, there might not be one satisfying response. Is being labeled "average" a good or bad thing?? And just who, what, where, when, why, and how does this give that individual and/or group the power to pass said judgement??

Age is just a number!! Says the guy who just turned 60. What's important is that you're back on the floor; everything else is meaningless. Train hard...train well!!

Jesse's video is right on target across the board!! Start with Jesse's video, then add the jumping onto of and/or over things. Most gym's have stationary platforms to jump upon of varying heights. Remember what Jesse, in the video link you mentioned, says about jumping at the very end of his video...that, I believe, needs to stay at the front of your mind at all times.

You're absolutely correct. There's more than one way to skin a cat!! Having more in your arsenal is far better than having just one core; very limited. There's no such thing as that one core has everything; that's an illusion!! Imho!!

I have to learn what's moderation and what's not moderation, for me. This, I had better learn very soon, and I believe my last workout was on the fence of moderation. Alan, I do like the Chinese visual metaphor; thanks for that one!!

I wasn't aware that KF had a lot of old people on it...my bad!! We have... And I just turned 60 years old!!

There's not a thing wrong with Karate!! The problem lies with the CI of said dojo!! Not all black belts can teach; and many have no business trying to do so!! Methodologies and ideologies are handed down; what was solid once, has the potentiality of being weak in the hands of a CI that doesn't have the minimum of an idea what they're doing once on the floor. Some black belts have effective solid techniques, but they couldn't teach their way out of a wet bag littered with holes, if their live depended on it. Drilling is important, no matter how mundane and/or frustrating they can be. To learn how to walk, I first learned how to crawl. While I had just learned the basic fundamentals of crawling, I drilled and drilled and drilled the many aspects of crawling before I tackled something more complex...like...standing. I'll try to walk before I know how to because I want to learn the advanced stuff...like...walking because I want to, and I deserve it. I can learn standing after I attempt walking first...I know what's best. The wake up of my enthusiasm is when I fall flat on my face, have that stunned and shocked locked on my face, just seconds before I start crying out loudly enough for mom and/or dad to hear my distress. One steps are not the problem either...drilling isn't the problem either...whatever else isn't the problem either...the blame rests within the CI of the dojo. There's nothing wrong with Karate!! Karate, like anything else has to be learned, and the learning process happens in steps...not leaps and bounds...but in steps, and if I may, baby steps, at that. If the CI doesn't challenge students effectively, across the board, then students are going to fall off the wayside at an alarming rate. Don't think so! Then be that CI who doesn't challenge his/her students effectively, and see how fast the Student Body dwindles to nothingness. Don't like drilling! Then quit Karate immediately. Btw, Kumite is vitally important, as is resistance training, and they both must be done often in order for growth in the student. Guess what? These two, to name a few, Kumite and resistant training are drills as well. They're just not labeled as such. Imho!!

I've had those rare students that couldn't wear a mouthpiece. Not that there was anything wrong with the mouthpieces, it's just that in their minds, the mouthpiece caused them to feel that they were being choked. Told them, one and all, no mouthpiece, no Kumite of any type!!

LOL!! Thanks, Bulltahr!!

I agree, and that's why I wanted to see it pretty bad. Glad the family took me to see it; I was all smiles!!

Not me!! Ever since the movie, The Exorcist, I don't do so good with scary movies.

OK... My bad!! Wrong preface in my OP!! We seem to be centered around the medical professions competitiveness and not more around the MA, i.e. Governing Bodies and Dojo's and Sensei's/CI's, and what they are willing to do and not willing to do in order to increase their Student Body. Again, my fault...my bad!!

Thank you, Bulltahr for your Birthday wishes; means everything to me!!

Thank you all very much for your Birthday wishes; they mean everything to me!! You know what? 60 years old sure doesn't feel different than 59 years old!! Had a great one... Many, many birthday cards from family and friends. Family took me out to dinner at a steak house. Went to see a movie: American Made with Tom Cruise; I enjoyed it!! Everyone pitched in to buy me the Archers Theme Chess Set Antiqued Green Copper & Brass Pieces - Green Board; knowing of my infatuation with Chess. Yankee's are one win away from the World Series...another nice way to celebrate my birthday; I had to record the game, but, oh well.

Thanks, Brian!! My latest gym workout, does it appear to be "Moderation" or the very opposite??

How about, if after the pageantry is minimized considerably, or in totality, we do one thing, and one thing only... TEACH...TEACH...Oh yeah...TEACH; nothing else but that!!

One round.LOL I deserved that!! Let me reword my question, if I'm capable... Just how long do we truly believe that that type of business model would last??

When one hurts, we all hurt; the MA is that one big supportive family. This young lady, and her family, will be in my prayers!! I too wish her a speedy recovery!! Hopefully the police caught this drunk driver!!

If I've not said this, forgive me, Danielle, but I do wish you a speedy recovery, and all the best!! How are you sleeping with the cast? Will you have to have physical therapy to regain mobility in your shoulder and/or elbow?? I ask because, in a cast, I'm thinking your arm is in a fixed position across your midriff. Hang in there, Danielle, because at the end of the road, you'll be back on the floor, and enjoying the things you love.

I agree, competition is oftentimes warranted, and necessary for the survival of any business or for any individual. Positive competition is the bedrock of any business and individual; creativity is birthed. Whenever any of those listed in the quote above take the well being of their student body out of the equation, that is when competition is NOT ok. The student body suffers in the short and the long of it all. When the Governing Bodies, the MA school's, and/or the Sensei's put their emphasis over their own Student Body in the hopes of attracting new students, no matter what, that is not ok. When the Student Body is no more important than the money and/or fame, effectiveness is threatened. Imho!!