sensei8

shortyafter, great update, thanks!! Sounds to me that you've got a great grasp as to what you want and what you need when it comes to your MA betterment. Btw, congrats on you earning your Green Belt!! Feels good, huh?!

Starting your own club, Danielle, is a great idea because you've got everything required in making it a great success!! Your Student Body will be very fortunate in having you as their instructor!! I hope so... though it probably won't go over well at my current club or with my instructor True. However, I believe that they'd both support you across the board because you represent them. Albeit, If your current club and/or your instructor create difficulties for you then neither of them are worthy of you, therefore, there are more fish in the sea than the for you to affiliate with. Why do you believe that it probably won't go over well with your current club or with your instructor?? After all, neither of them own you!! I believe that the club is just a chip off any Governing Body, and in that, if the club shuns you, the Governing Body should still support you opening your own club. Sure, it's always important to have their support, I respect that, but you have to follow your dreams, and not theirs. I ran into some difficulties when I first wanted to open my first Kyuodan Dojo from my Dai-Soke, but, it was my decision, and not theirs to make. If that meant that I'd be shunned with no direct relationships with the SKKA and/or Dai-Soke, then so be it. There are worse things to have happen. Like being their slaved robot. When Dai-Soke saw and realized that I was going to open my dojo without his blessing, and that it was my right to do so, he quickly jumped aboard in full support. No matter what anyone says, you have to follow your own path, and not the path of others...no matter what!!

Starting your own club, Danielle, is a great idea because you've got everything required in making it a great success!! Your Student Body will be very fortunate in having you as their instructor!!

The Cowboys beat the Eagles 6-0. Yeah, I was both shocked and not shocked. After all, whether the Eagles won or loss, the Eagles were already in a great spot for the playoffs. Still, it's nice to see the Cowboys finish the regular season with a 'W', and not a 'L'!! 2017 NFL Playoffs AFC: *Patriots *Steelers *Jaguars *Chiefs *Titans *Bills NFC: *Eagles *Vikings *Rams *Saints *Panthers *Falcons Well, it'll be the Wild Card teams facing off against one another that's next!! Should be some pretty good games there. Looks like it might be the Patriots VS Vikings at Super Bowl LII in Minnesota. That's why I'm rooting for the Vikings during the playoffs because if the Vikings make it to the Super Bowl, they'll HOST and PLAY in their house; they would be the very first team to do so. As far as my Cowboys, well, they can do what I'm doing, but in better style, watch the playoffs on their TV at home!! GO VIKINGS!!

Seeing that I'll have Afib for the rest of my life... 1. Continue to teach 2. Continue to train 3. Continue to put the Student Body of the SKKA first

Styles aren't anything; whereas, substance is everything!! We're not suppose to learn the MA so that we are a member of something, or if we're here studying how to model while walking down the ramp at some fashion show. Substance must be effective because it is said that to much of a good thing can destroy everything on the floor. This is where the dojo pageantry gets in the way of effective training. A buffet is appealing, however, it only satisfies for the moment, and not for a life time!!

In all of my days, I've seen men/boys go easy on women/girls because of their mistaken acceptance that the female is of the weaker of the two. It sickens me to witness these type of acts because these acts are unwarranted. How is any student going to learn effectiveness if they're treated as though their a fragile flower that's meant to be coddled and protected?? Their not going to learn anything effective, whatsoever!! Worried to hit a women?? GET OFF MY FLOOR until you can learn that the person in front of you overrides anything else. "I'm afraid to hit women in their chest; it's inappropriate!!" To my students, please get over yourself, and do it quickly, or get off my floor immediately, if you were one of my bashful men/boy students. Women will make field goal attempts with your groin at the very first opportunity with such resolve; you men better learn how to deflect/receive the attack much better or that fragile flower will make a 3-point field goal with your you know what's, and she won't bat an eyelash one bit!! "Ah, she's so cute; I can't hit her!!" Well, she's not saying the same thing about you men/boys; not in the slightest. "When there is an opportunity, I do not strike, 'it' strikes all by itself!!" ~ Bruce Lee Now do it with the person that's standing before you without hesitation!! If not, it'll be your own fault when you're singing 12 octaves higher and your prostrated on the floor. Perhaps that's when the true AHA moment arrives. Imho!!

Boys are doing quite well, which isn't much of a surprise considering the training and support they've both received all of these many years. It was, and always is, quite a refreshing thing to walk beside while all of you are in this journey. Thanks for the update, and all of you, especially Kendall and Kenneth, stay safe and have fun!!

I'm proud in being a MAist; have always been!! I just don't boast and brag about it, even when among other MAist's. If asked what I do for a living, I'm honest...I'm a businessman. If they press, I'm a successful businessman. And no, I'm not ashamed, not even the slightest, but I'm guarded over what I say. It has been my experience that once they find out that I'm a MAist, they become guarded themselves in how they act towards me. They either are intimidated by me or they have measured challenges and jokes. Either way, it's not enjoyable for me!! I work out at a local gym with another member Gutner. He's 6'6", and Gutner is RIPPED; he's muscles were I didn't know muscles were even there. He's a physical specimen of greatly appreciative achievements. He's 33 years old, married, and they have a 3 year old girl. I walked up to him and introduced myself, and we sat for a solid 30 minutes just getting to know each other. He invited me to train with him, and it's been a Godsend. His discipline is visually impressive, as well. A pure joy to work out with him. He once thanked me for our friendship because not one person at the gym ever approached him; they'd shy away by his size, which again, is Mr. Olympia status. He use to work out at Gold Gym, but that ego driven atmosphere wasn't productive at all. He was relaxed around me, and I was around him. 3 weeks into our training together at the gym, he walked right up to me and said/asked..."I hear your a MAist, the gym owner told me that because he's several friends that are your students, or have been...so, are you??" I asked him..."What does that matter?? You and I are, if nothing else, human beings, and we put our pants on the same way...one leg at a time!! What we do, aren't the reasons that we've become friends and why we work out; we better one another." He then asked me..."What rank??" "I've been in the MA for 53 years, and that's all I'm going to say about that. My rank has nothing to do with us working out as friends." I replied. "You a black belt or what??" he pressed. "Maybe! Hopefully, you'll never find out the hard way!!" I responded. Neither of us were intimidated by the other. That's why we found it easy for us to talk to one another because in our approach to one another, we were real to each other...no masks...no pretend...no trying to impress each other...honest from the start towards one another!! You could tell by Gutner's physical prowess that he was a bodybuilder, but he couldn't tell by my outward appearance if I was a MAist or not, and that's a good thing across the board. I don't have to wear the air of a MAist because I am a MAist...very proud of it!! What's to be ashamed of if all one ever did was to do their absolute best while on the floor?? Nothing to be ashamed of, but everything to be proud of!!

I saw that about KC, Brian!! Congrats, you must be relieved!! Seeing that the Chiefs secured 4th seed, they could be facing in the playoffs...Ravens, Titans, or the Bills; depending on how the last week ends up!! Get by the 5th seed opponent, that's when the real hard work will begin. However, you've home field advantage against the 5th seed, whomever that might be. Patrick's Dolphins and my Cowboys can watch the playoffs in the comfort of their homes. Good luck, Brian!!

For me, quite possible!! How can I separate one from another?? For me, that's impossible to conceive because I can no longer separate my thoughts from my being than I can separate time; they've already happened. I'm complete in my totality as a MAist.

Well, for me, my way of living is through the MA via owning my own dojo and being the Kaicho of the SKKA on a full time basis. So, I would say that my area of expertise in making my living is akin to my strategies for fighting; they work hand in hand!!

And it will be that way for some time!! All of you are in my prayers daily!! Please excuse me for asking this, and I mean nothing but respect... What's to become of the Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts & Healing Center dojo now?? For the time being, we are going ahead with classes in January as normal. He wouldn't want us to stop. Those of us who are instructors will have to sit down with Tiffany, though, and figure out where to go from there. I don't think anyone wants the dojo to close, but we may have to downsize to a smaller/cheaper space at some point. It's hard to keep such a large dojo going with only part-time instructors. Thanks, Noah!! Whatever's decided will be a difficult one for all concerned!!

I believe everyone has an inherent survival instinct and tactics but just how mature that might be, one might not know until that moment arrives. Still, learn all that one can so that one can be much more than prepared.

Every strategy is immature at its birth!! Strategy has to be nurtured and cultivated over time before it can mature!! Any strategy that is immature, and not improved upon, is worthy to grieve over. Who can find joy in that?? Yes, if that MAist accepts and continues in being a proponent of a immature strategy. However, that's for the individual, and isn't directed towards the general masses of MAists at all. No!! Who wears battle armor nowadays as far as MAists are concerned?!? I might be misunderstanding the question. Isn't that more of a question for the individual to answer, and not a general question for the masses?!? I personally believe that my fighting strategies are mature because I fight how I train: WITH A RESOLVE!! When that opponent stands before me, and only then, will I be able to determine for myself if my opponents fighting strategies are mature or not, and not until then!! I can't afford to assume a posture other than that, however, I will be ready to expect the unexpected. Imho!!

And it will be that way for some time!! All of you are in my prayers daily!! Please excuse me for asking this, and I mean nothing but respect... What's to become of the Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts & Healing Center dojo now??

I also do not, and will not teach my Student Body Kata's that are outside of Shindokan because those outside Kata's aren't two things: 1) Part of the curriculum as it was handed down from Soke. 2) Shindokan!! I can visually see, and feel, both Soke and Dai-Soke turning in their graves if I was to actively teach Kata's outside of the Shindokan. That's mainly because it's wrong. How is it wrong?? Are the Kata's outside of Shindokan wrong/incorrect?? It's wrong to teach my Student Body Kata's outside of Shindokan because those Kata's outside of Shindokan ARE NOT Shindokan Kata's; not even close. Yes, there are similarities, by names alone, but the movements and the like are slightly different, even in the Pinan Kata sets. A different turn or a different stance/posture, but effective in application. Kata's outside of Shindokan aren't wrong/incorrect all together, for example, the Heian Kata set is solidly effective. Wankan...Unsu are two Kata's that aren't Shindkan, but I execute them quite often at tournaments when I was active because the effectiveness within those two Kata's are apparent to me across the board. So is Suparinpei, imho; balanced in its Bunkai's and most effective. I will not teach Kata's that are outside of Shindokan because I just won't!! If my Student Body wants to learn Kata outside of Shindokan, that's OK with me because I can't, and won't, prevent them from doing so; their MA journey is theirs alone!! My Student Body aren't idle minded robots, but they're free spirits to do whatever they want to do. They can learn all of the Kata's they want, as I did, if it'll improve their MA betterment. And they can do this without my permission, as I did without Dai-Soke's permission. While I believe that no one owns any Kata, nor does any style own a Kata, and in that, any Kata can be learned from anyone anyway they can. If Kata is meant to be owned by anything and/or anyone, then that Kata(s) should be kept to the founder alone. "Don't teach this Kata to anyone!!" Yeah, that will be difficult to enforce because man is a curious thing, and curious things like to share curious things to curious people.

Like mindful people; I suppose!! Not to far apart, if at all, can be more overly noticed. Outside of the physical clues that are picked up almost instantaneously, without even a pause of observing; like mindful people stand out to other like mindful people. An animal, for example, a bear, can spot another bear immediately, and be drawn to that bear because they're both the same...bears!!

Seeing that I'm the furthest thing from being perfect, I've nothing to worry about appearing too perfect because I'm not even close whatsoever. Nor do I try to be in any shape, way, and/or form.

Cowboys lost a must win against the Seahawks 21-12!! The Cowboys face the Eagles for the regular season ending, which I'm pretty sure that the Eagles will win that one, as well; just being real!! Now the Cowboys can watch the playoffs on the TV!! Another frustration season, but there's next year!! Try it once again to return to the glory days of winning a Super Bowl. ::sighs::

I extend my deepest condolences, as well to his wife, Tiffany, family and friends on the passing of Sensei Poage. Heaven must have needed a new angel!!

It had been once said that if one only trained in the Niahanchi kata's, one wouldn't be wasting their life!! Imagine only training in those three kata's alone...no other...nothing else!! For year after year; without ceasing...day after day...week after week...month after month...year after year...decade after decade. Having have been doing the Niahanchi kata's for decades, along with much many others, I can see that if that's the only kata I had ever done my entire 5 plus decades, it wouldn't have been a waste of time. Each movement in either of the Niahanchi kata are, to me, quite valuable; effectiveness can be garnered from them. I suppose what I'm saying is simple...I believe in the importance of the Niahanchi kata's!! I'm speaking for myself!! What another MAist believes is up to them!!

The rage of the page is what's happening. If submissions are the rage of the page, then that's what's happening, for the moment. If points are the rage of the page, then that's what's happening, for the moment. Pick one...can't always have one's cake and eat it too. The venue for THAT moment is the rage of the page that's happening. Don't want to compete in what THAT venue is promoting, then buy a ticket, or not, and be a spectator, or not.

Which quotes were good and which were out of date?I'd have to go back and review. I do recall reading it and thinking "wow, the world has moved on from that perspective." Hagakure gave me a similar impression, as well (except Hagakure was way more boring.) Miyomoto's words are two things, a gift and a winning mindset; same holds true also with Bruce Lee.They are not going to be able to re-explain them selves so we can understand them, neither should they. A martial artist, now or in the future will be able to make sense of their insightfulness and make good use of it. If Miyomoto is difficult to understand, just, think how difficult it was for his opponents to figure him out, without his book or manual to go by. Miyomotos teachings are not a read it once and you have it figured out, it is more like a place to review and revisit throughout your martial art journey, to make more sense of his words than the last visit. To the bold type above... If I was Miyomoto's opponent, and his book or manual was available, I'd not have the whole and complete understanding because, imho, books/manuals can have that intention underlying withheld in its manuscript. A teacher doesn't always reveal everything that's taught to their student for that teachers own reason(s). So, I'd be cautious as to what I was reading because one can't judge a book in its totality because Miyomoto might have kept things to himself. Have to keep the blade sharp, at all times!! As Miyomoto was in his 60's when starting writing his book (retreated to the mountains) I don't this as a time to start keeping secrets, very much the opposite, from my understanding of him.Every human being keeps a part of themselves private, for whatever the reason(s) might or might not be. We become proponents of ourselves much deeper and deeper into their own self created quagmire through their own doing(s). Imho!!

Which quotes were good and which were out of date?I'd have to go back and review. I do recall reading it and thinking "wow, the world has moved on from that perspective." Hagakure gave me a similar impression, as well (except Hagakure was way more boring.) Miyomoto's words are two things, a gift and a winning mindset; same holds true also with Bruce Lee.They are not going to be able to re-explain them selves so we can understand them, neither should they. A martial artist, now or in the future will be able to make sense of their insightfulness and make good use of it. If Miyomoto is difficult to understand, just, think how difficult it was for his opponents to figure him out, without his book or manual to go by. Miyomotos teachings are not a read it once and you have it figured out, it is more like a place to review and revisit throughout your martial art journey, to make more sense of his words than the last visit. To the bold type above... If I was Miyomoto's opponent, and his book or manual was available, I'd not have the whole and complete understanding because, imho, books/manuals can have that intention underlying withheld in its manuscript. A teacher doesn't always reveal everything that's taught to their student for that teachers own reason(s). So, I'd be cautious as to what I was reading because one can't judge a book in its totality because Miyomoto might have kept things to himself. Have to keep the blade sharp, at all times!!