sensei8

Very similar, yet at times, not so similar. Yes, but oftentimes, it doesn't. In both my personal style, as well as in Shindokan, but that is an unauthorized addition from Soke and Dai-Soke, even though I incorporate what I felt was effective from JKD while I'm teaching at the Hombu, right in front of them...they weren't too happy; they left me alone. Yes; many times. But I must say this, I believe that what they offered me was their interpretation of JKD, which is cool because Bruce said to "take what is useful, and discard the rest!!"; often imitated but rarely duplicated, which I suppose is cool too. No. I didn't know who Bruce Lee was in the year I started learning Shindokan; October 1964. I didn't start to become aware of who he was until I saw him at the 1967 Long Beach International Karate Championship. They're both different. Imho, Wing Chun is more of a style, whereas, JKD isn't a style. By that I mean, Wing Chun is more of a stiff wind that goes where it's suppose to, whereas, JKD is more of a flowing wind that goes wherever it wants unrestricted. I refer you back to question #1, at the top of my post. No. No. Depending on the JKD practitioner, it is a useful method of self-defense. Otherwise, then it's not worth being in the motion picture industry. It's the right of any individual to believe whatever they want to. If one wants to believe that Bruce is the father of MMA, then let it be so. If one wants to believe that Bruce is not the father of MMA, then let it be so. Again, perception is everything. Because his quotes are applicable to all MAists no matter their core style. I can only speak intelligent to that as far as by what I believe, not what others might believe. For me, yes, Bruce's influence on the MA is a good thing.

Sometimes, things are best left alone...this, imho, would be one of times. Just let it go, and I'd not mention it to the CI. I understand how it must of made you feel, but you know what, it just doesn't matter; it's just not that important. Things might escalate where it doesn't have to, or need to be. Making a mountain out of a mole hill can be quite counterproductive, to say the least. Why? Misunderstanding can be so easily blown out of proportions unnecessarily. Why? Hurt feelings? Perception is reality to THAT person. Remember, that's a two way street. You'll have your own perceptions, in which the other person will have their own perceptions, and they rarely are on the same page. Just let it go!! If you had brought this to my attention, and I was your CI, I would've instructed you to just go back to training, and leave it alone.

So would you step into the ring with the current men's heavyweight Stipe Miocic? Or how about Michael Bisping? Conor McGregor? I'm sure you believe in your own abilities and I don't doubt that you have infinite skill and knowledge, but would that be enough? Danielle, you're a 3rd Dan. In being a 3rd Dan, you've both the knowledge and experience; that must count for something of value. I believe that you've the effectiveness to defend yourself against the person that stands before you. Your instructor believed in you across the board, and that's why he promoted you!! This is me! This is what I was taught, and therefore, this is what I teach! I'm never ever concerned with height and/or weight and/or the notoriety of my opponent. No matter who it is! Mayweather, McGregor, Gracie, Bruce Lee, My Soke, My Dai-Soke, Urquidez, an Olympian, or whomever else it might be. Why? Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro means something and everything; solid maxims!! I believe in them wholeheartedly!! I'm fighting the person that's before me!! No matter my opponent, no matter what they might bring with them, I always do this: *Study your opponent *Study yourself *Make a plan *Carry the plan out Of course, this changes and occurs constantly until the very end of the fight. One will win...one will lose! But not until the end arrives! In a matter of seconds, I'll have a solid appreciation of the opponent that stands before me as to his/her knowledge and experience, in which, I"ll then make the necessary adjustments in my approach & the like toward my opponent. I've my share of knowledge and experience of my own. My opponent doesn't have the monopoly on that; I will get a turn...too!! So, yeah, I'd have no qualms and the like about facing Stipe Miocic, Michael Bisping, or Conor McGregor; bring them on!! They're nothing special to me; they're human beings, just like me, they put their pants on one leg at a time!! I'm fighting the person that's before me!! Yes, they're much younger than me...much better shape than me...much better health than me, but I'm no push-over either!! I'm complete in my totality as a MAist!! I might lose against them...but I also might win too!! Imho!!

21 years old, and Sandan!! 18 years old at Shodan 19 years old at Nidan 21 years old at Sandan Minimum!!

I understand the differences concerning height and weight differences, and all of that. I don't take those concerns lightly, and I know that they weigh heavy on the minds of many MAist. An individual who's complete in their totality as a MAists, isn't concerned the slightest whether an opponent is or isn't an elite athlete and the like, just the person that stands before them!! And if that MAist is even the slightest concerned whether an opponent is an elite athlete or the like then it's very possible that that MAist isn't complete in their totality, therefore, the fights already been lost, before it ever began. I'm not saying to not adequately prepare themselves for the tasks before you in the Nth degree. That's always a great idea. What I was taught, and what my knowledge and experience are, weight and height, to me, are inconsequential because, the opponent and myself are MAists, and there's more than one way to skin a cat. After all, if David can defeat Goliath soundly, then so can YOU/I!!

A definitive answer might not ever be found; perceptions are varied!!

That's some great news, Patrick. I was getting those messages at sign-in all of the time, and I only assumed that the problem lied within my laptop. Thanks, Patrick; where would we be without you?!

Seek the advice of a doctor for advice to improve your healthy life style...then follow the advice to the Nth degree.

Solid post!! Welcome to KF, oldbear343; glad that you're here!!

First of all...Welcome to KF, Pineapple Deficiency; glad that you're here!! *Study your opponent *Study yourself *Make a plan *Carry that plan out Over and over and over and over...

That's just the problem. They are inferior when it comes to muscle mass and athletic ability. You can't change biology. I'm all for championing equal rights and equal opportunities but there is no way an elite female fighter will compete on the same level as an elite man. We can't pretend that MMA is any different from other sports in that experience and tactics count too, they do in every other sport as well. Aside from pure speed or strength contests like weightlifting or running (where women can't compete, as per Lupin1's comment), I still can't think of any contest where women consistently hold their own when going head to head. It's not the movies where a female MA fighter might call on some mystical higher power to give her strength or outmanoeuvre the jock in some quick thinking. Like my previous example of Serena Williams. Tennis involves just as much technique, experience and cunning as athletic ability, and yet the Williams sister still couldn't beat the 203 male seed. And IMHO to tell a female MAist she will have success against men is irresponsible. She might have success against weaker men and might do OK some of the time. But against the vast majority of male attackers, to fight them for a prolonged amount of time drastically increases the female's chance of losing and of getting seriously hurt. In teaching women MA we are increasing the chance they might survive an encounter, but lets not pretend they will get a KO or submission on the street. The best policy is still for them to cut and run, to do what they have to do to get break, and when they have an opportunity to run like a bat out of hell. An unskilled, athletic guy still has a really good chance of winning in that scenario but at least with some MA training we're giving females a small chance. But in MMA or UFC? You're asking a female to go toe-to-toe for 15 mins+ and now you are no longer just asking her to escape, but to try to KO or submit her opponent. It's not going to happen. Than, why learn the MA, if one's female, at all, if they've not a snowballs chance against any male attacker/opponent because they believe that they're inferior to males?!? I'd not want a female student on the floor if they won't believe in themselves, no matter the level of difficulties that might be before them. I BELIEVE IN MY STUDENTS, ALL OF THEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE, AT FIRST, HAVING DIFFICULTY IN BELIEVING IN THEMSELVES!! I believe that the fault lies within the practitioner and not the style. I'm a firm believer that women have an equal chance against a man, providing that the woman believes in her abilities across the board. Believe in the style...believe in the instructor...believe in yourself!! The MA is for both women and men to learn an effective style of the MA without any contradictions. If a woman can't effectively defeat a man, then that woman should return her, for example, black belt to her CI, especially if there's not much hope for defeating a male opponent/attacker. The MA isn't just for show. Imho!!

If the CI is versed in multiple MA styles outside of the core MA style, then all a CI can hope for is to offer them up. After that, it's up to the student if they want to learn what's offered outside of the core style. Alternate choices can be the bread-and-butter of the CI's bottom line.

*Practice, and then some!! *Proof is on the floor!! *The Testing Cycle will take care of itself!! *Resolved Training, always!! *Relax; it's not the end of the world!! *Have fun, everyday!! *You don't need 100% to pass!! *You'll either Pass or Fail; either way, just do your very best!! *And if you should Fail, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue training!! These are things I've told both my own Student Body and our SKKA;s Student Body over and over and over these many years as either their CI and/or as the Kaicho of the SKKA. The MA testing can be quite overwhelming to the Nth degree, but if you allow each Testing Cycle per each rank, you'll make yourself sick with worry. Remember these, now and forever... Mizu No Kokoro [Mind like the water] Tsuki No Kokoro [Mind like the moon] After that, it's all down hill....Don't worry; be happy!!

Why not!?! After all, as MAists, gender shouldn't matter one way or another. If so, then women the world wide shouldn't learn the MA!! Not if men are much stronger and all, than women...they don't have a snow balls chance in you know where, against men. I do not, and will not subscribe to the mindset that women don't have a chance against a man, no matter the venue. To do so, automatically makes women inferior to men!! There's this... http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/2072949-dana-white-ronda-rousey-beat-up-two-huge-men-so-bad-they-filed-charges Yet, to be fair, there's this... https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/3/6/8158595/ronda-rousey-says-she-wont-fight-a-man-theres-no-setting-in-which-we Women VS Men: Both as MAist, imho, are equal as equal can be depending on the knowledge and experience basis. Isn't it about time that MAists start to consider, and to give women their due respect, especially as capable and effective MAists. http://www.lyricsdepot.com/helen-reddy/i-am-woman.html Those lyrics are the champion banner for women...even MA women!! Then there's the maxim that says... Never under estimate your opponent!! This, should be remembered, especially whenever it comes to women

Let's defines Normal: Being normal shouldn't be a bad thing. There are a plethora of times when normal is a great thing. For example: Or Or In the arena of the MA, normal shouldn't be a bad thing across the board, considering the alternatives that do, and can exist. The normal activities of the school where 'you', whomever 'you' are, train at currently; are those a bad thing?!?!

I've seen both of these types of CI's before, and I must say, one's not always better than the other. I want a CI of quality, and not of quantity!! And if appropriate, that the CI can teach so well, if well versed in multiple styles, that I can't tell and/or remember just how many styles of the MA that that CI is well versed in; that they all feel as just one style. And if the CI is only well versed in one style of the MA, and is of quality, then I will not even remember that there are other styles of the MA out there, somewhere, or even care that they exist.

Solid post!! While it might seem unclear as to our intentions when it comes to our brand of resistant training, and to an outsider of Shindokan, it has the appearance of abusiveness, it must be understood that we don't approach it with the mindset of One-upmanship because safety of the individual must always override anything and everything on the floor. To push, even the very slightest, and push ever more, and continue to push in resistant training invites unwarranted injury of one or the other. Teaching and learning must have one thing above all things...respect for the individual over the respect of the training/learning aspects, and/or protocol. I'll resist, as the CI, but not to the point of injury of either of us. I'll counter the resistance, as the CI, but not to the point of injury of either of us. Just enough so that the student knows that I was there; earn either side of resistance, BUT WITH SAFETY IN MIND AT ALL TIMES!! Want to prove something to me or to whomever else, then resist, but not to the point of injury, and that means having the ability to recognize when it's time to stop. Want to pursue, after I've eased off and ordered the engage to cease, I will have a turn, and you will not like the outcome, and that doesn't mean I'm going to inflict extreme harm, but once again, you'll know I was there, and I meant business.

Would I be amiss if I didn't add this gem of a quote... "A good martial artist does not become tense but ready. Not thinking yet not dreaming, ready for whatever may come. A martial artist has to take responsibility for himself and face the consequences of his own doing. To have no technique, there is no opponent, because the word 'I' does not exist. When the opponent expands I contract and when he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity, 'I' do not hit, 'It' hits all by itself." — Bruce Lee I think its deeper than just moving with your opponent. Whenever your opponent is charging hard, alter your tactics to better counter your opponent. For example, if he wants to charge you, take him down, and work the ground game. If he's pensive, and wants to stay up and move around, then use your kicks to give you the extra reach to attack him. To me, this is one of the important reasons behind cross training, to be able to flow with aggression, or passivity of your opponent with the proper countermoves. It's the Yin and the Yang!!

One can't have the iota of talent without the prerequisite of first having heaps of experience, therefore, the distinction is of paramount importance; it’s tantamount to being experienced or talented.

No, I've never stopped learning/training in the MA, to only resume learning/training later on; in which, it'll be 53 years this October since my MA journey began.

And if ones not wearing a Gi, then what!?!?! I USE TO, in my youthful days, wet the very ends of my Gi, and that produces that snapping sound. Then, there's the snapping of a Gi by Rika Usami, in which I wholeheartedly believes that her techniques aren't poorly executed.

Please allow me to answer in my own way... As it's been mentioned to you already, 4 years, in the scope of ones MA journey, barely scratches the surface. Suffice it to say, yours has been both a fruitful one, as well as a negative journey. Nothing ends UNLESS YOU end it!! Your sensei doesn't have that power...not before...not now...not in the future...ONLY YOU can decide that. Whether a resolution to the issues has or hasn't been reached across the board, your stick-to-itivness through all of this, is not only admirable, but it's the mark of a MAist. Sometimes, one has to focus of things other than those things of lesser importance, and in your case...LEARN!! Teaching is on the back burner right now for you, and for you, having only 4 years on the floor, that's a blessing in disguise. Are you in the MA for notoriety; for your 5 minutes of fame?? Or are you in the MA for knowledge and experience?? I believe that the latter, would best describe your motivational intent!! You had your taste, and you saw that it was good, and you wanted more of it, and not just as a passing craving, but more as a permanent fixation; it made you feel, well, important. In the sea of MAist, you were part of the inner circle, and that in itself can be like a drug, and without that fix, your cold-turkey withdrawal hurt you where it counts...right in the good ole' ego. You once reaped many benefits of being within the inner circle, and now that it's been ripped away from you without even the slightest ceremony. It's quite a disappointing pill to have to swallow...without any water. Sits right in the craw of your throat; unable to wash it down. You were once one of the instructors, and not you're not. That's difficult for you, having been teaching on the floor one day, than not the very next day. Neither of you have a class to teach, and I get it...it's difficult for many reasons. However, you're assisting, at least...better than nothing!! The owner, I suppose is the CI!! If so, then the CI has every right to do with his assistants as he desires. As the CI, he's the right to do whatever he wants to do with his students. And let's be clear here...those students that you nurtured through the ranks all of this time are NOT YOUR STUDENTS...NO...they belong to the CI...one and all!! You'll not have your own students UNTIL YOU'RE THE CI!! If your not the CI, then you've no students, but just fellow dojo mates that you're assisting with; you all are students of the CI!! Owner...CI...no matter the title and/or the label, those students, as well as yourself, are the responsibility of the CI, and that CI alone!! Yes, I get that as well...it hurt!! As it should be, and as it would be, for any caring instructor!! You became attached to those small band of students, but once again, you assumed a position that you didn't possess, not even in the slightest, because that authority belongs to the CI!! It's hard to not grow attached to students that you've been selected by the CI to instruct, but that's where the tire meets the road...you were instructing exactly what the CI told you to do, which in and of itself, is where the most difficult maxim for instructors to uphold...creating a relationship that shouldn't ever exist on the floor of any MA school...it muddles and numbs the senses when an instructor has to surrender those students back to their rightful, and only CI. Concerning the CI's P&L statement...why pay for something that the CI is more than capable of performing himself. Business 101 states that unnecessary expenses must be eliminated expeditiously without haste. As painful as it might be, that's the evil of any business...survival of the fittest, no matter whom gets hurt in the process; the business must survive. The CI is only doing what a responsible business owner does...balance the budget in the hopes of profit. Ignore it...ignore the fellow instructor...it just doesn't matter. You joined the MA for knowledge and experience, and not to join some soap-opera because they do not serve ones MA betterment...ever!! Unfriend them, and whomever else you desire to find that peace. Don't feed into the negative...but only in the positive. Let them be who they want to be across the board, and that means that you be who you want to be WITHOUT THEM!! They're just not that important!! Do NOT trade blow for blow with whomever because it'll be for naught, and in the long run, you'll suffer one way or another. Don't surrender the high ground, but at the same time, don't be afraid to surrender the high ground. If you trade blow for blow, and/or even read the negative comments, then you've already lost, and in that, you've allowed them to win because you feed into the negativity; it's senseless dribble!! Go one step further...restrict it so that YOU can't read their posts either. You'll just make yourself absolutely crazy if you keep reading their unwanted, and unwarranted opinions. So end it!! You don't want to go back to class because you're reading their opinions!! Listen, the only opinions that EVER matter to me are from my wife, Linda, and our children, Nathan and Krystal. Everyone else's opinions mean nothing to me!! If you don't go back to class, who wins? You? Them? Don't let them win ever!! Then don't leave!! Train!! Nothing else matters!! Compete!! No matter who else is competing!! No matter the tournament!! You're at the tournament for what?????...KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE!! Nothing else matters!! No matter who else is there or not!! Don't give in and let them decide anything for you. Whether it be where to learn the MA and/or where to compete!! STAY!! Do not ever give them the satisfaction. Make your own decisions!! Leave the drama for someone else who's not training seriously in the MA!! You give up...then you've surrendered the high ground without even a fight; just lied down and gave it up for what? Them? NO WAY...NO HOW!! Be that better person both on and off the floor...always!! If you quit, the bully wins!! Btw, there's nothing wrong with being a Nidan...for the rest of ones life!! Rank means NOTHING, and rank should never be the inspiration for learning the MA. If rank is important, then quit!! Feeling welcome is important because it serves positively to learning. You don't feel welcomed, then ask the CI his feeling towards that. If you've already asked the CI that, and he's not too supportive one way or another, then be that better person by either sucking it up, and just train or, walk away in shame. You'll be fine. You've my support, no matter whatever you might decide!!

I don't agree. You don't get to choose who is going to use violence on you. You only get to choose to react and defend yourself. If this mentally ill person is trying to cause you great bodily harm or death, then you have to be ready to defend yourself as necessary, if you have to. Its similar to someone who is high on drugs or highly intoxicated. I don't care if they don't realize what they are doing. What matters is that they are doing it, and they have to be stopped from doing it. If that means escalating use of force, then that's how it has to be. Actually, it probably would be the best time to use a rear-naked choke. You apply the choke properly and the person goes to sleep. They are done hurting you, and you are done hurting them. Actually, it would probably be a best-case scenario, but I honestly think it would be one of the best applications of that technique. But those who work in that type of environment have very strict protocol as to how they apply any restraining techniques on the patient. And as how a rear naked choke can end up, I'd refrain from applying it, and/or any choke hold, for that matter. One, it's more than likely against policy, and two, if the choke is overly done, then fatal implications could occur, especially if applied longer than necessary; adrenaline can back fire.

Lack of control serves no one with the real McCoy, especially if one can't even control the fantasy ones.

Standards, and the lowering of it, imho, are the sweet candy!! Knowing that the standards aren't as strict as they use to be, and this is motivated by the greed of money. There was a time when, no matter where you were learning the MA, the standards across the board were very strict, and no apologies were given for those very extreme standards. You want it...EARN IT!! If you don't want to earn it under MY expectations, then I insist that you just get off my floor immediately. The greed of money has lowered standards to an all low around the world. I don't think that this problem is found in Japan and Okinawa...but I could be wrong. After all, for every time that I've traveled to either location in the past, and I've been fortunate enough to have visited and trained in either, I never saw any evidence of it. Please let that be the one place where that's the furthest thing from realty!!