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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!!

To yours and you, both near and far; Merry Christmas, JR!! Being with family and friends on Christmas day are magical!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!

Anything is possible! Visualization isn't a joke! Neither is positive thinking! Imho!!

One of the simplest tests I find is to ask someone to punch. IMHO regardless of what striking style they've done in the past, people who have trained before will move their feet, legs and hips when punching. You see them ground themselves and their hips move in coordination with the arm. Your average Joe on the street punches with just their arm, not their whole body. Solid post!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, a MAist can recognize a MAist right off the initial meeting. Those unintended clues shout out because of the unavoidable likewise mannerism's that are caught immediately. A MAist isn't, or imho shouldn't be, boisterous whatsoever. Confident, but measured!! A MAist has enough about them through both their knowledge and experience, and having been on the floor, don't stick out in any type of bad light. A MAist, even if they're new to the dojo, have a more than noticeable calmness as to the surroundings; the dojo floor is the one place that they feel at ease through and through. While they might not know the Kun of that particular dojo, they've been on a dojo before, in which they already know enough dojo etiquette to not have that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look. Same thing with Kumite. A MAist, even a 10th kyu who's been on the floor before, has the familiarity to not be surprised and all. Nonetheless, a MAist that's been on the floor for some time, have that familiarity of Kumite. Again, their Kumite mannerism's are there, and very much so is their polished level of movements. Another MAist can recognize noticeable mannerism's right off the bat, I know I can!!

Yep...I see that a lot and I deduct accordingly without haste!!

PRACTICE!! Without knowledge, the dull blade remains, but with knowledge, the blade is sharpen...IN TIME!! Familiarity is a vital ingredient to the understanding of EVERYTHING that encompasses the Kata; knowledge and experience are the hallmarks of quality. Unless one practices with resolve until the end of time, the dullness will remain!! How one trains is how one fights!! Train in a haphazard way, then one will move in a haphazard manner!! Everything must be trained with a quality of purpose of one mind and body and soul; otherwise, just sit down, and stay down!!

Oh yeah!! Likewise practitioners of the MA can tell quite quickly; it's like the moth drawn to the light. Other MAist's, especially those who've been on the floor for quite some time, can almost immediately recognize another MAist, even those who've not much time on the floor. There's a certain quality that can be denied from one MAist to another MAist. Way one walks, talks, mannerism, movement, and the like are quite identifiable by another MAist, and once again, especially by one's who've been on the floor for quite awhile. Signs can't be avoidable...signs can't be covered...signs can't be disguised...signs can't be misunderstood...signs can't be waved off...signs can't be denied, so on and so forth; there's an unquestionable tone of truth that can be easily spotted if the person that stands before you is either a MAist or isn't a MAist...ahem...the proof is on the floor!! It takes another MA to recognize another MAist. Either one is or one isn't!!

Who's to say enough is enough?? That too, imho, is subjective, and for cause!! I personally believe that our Soke's choices of what kata's, both empty as well as kobudo, were for a reason, but was Soke's choices a personal or a professional one!? I do know that Soke despised anything and everything about what was current in the realm of Okinawa Karate-do, and it was his most profoundness desire to separate himself from the powers that were operating in his days as far as way as possible!! The funny, or not so funny, thing is that neither of us here, or anywhere else for that fact, have the authority to rename and/or remove said kata's from your current curriculum as authorized by your Governing Body!! However, as MAist's, we can learn and explore and whatever else anything we want to, and this includes any kata we choose that's outside of our core style without anyone's permission. Might make this thread/topic mute, but interesting!! Interesting enough to converse about it, as we are doing now. Kata on!!

Top notch solid post; I wholeheartedly concur!!

Well put; solid post, and to the point!! I wholeheartedly agree!! Thanks. I know it's uncharacteristic for me not to write a novel. You and I can be the very model of writing...ahem...novels; we seem to share that trait.

Normally, I report a lot of things that are NFL here, but for some reason, I've lost the drive to do so this season...Sorry!! My poor Cowboys have been kidnapped by aliens or something because the team that was on the fields last year have gone missing!! The replacements have tried to play, but they've failed. No playoff hopes!! About mid season, the Cowboys needed to win ever single game to be wild card hopeful!! However, the Cowboys have not lost a game since then. But the last two games of the season will drive the nails into their coffin, for sure!! First the Seahawks!! They've helped by losing some they shouldn't have, welcome to the NFL. We face them December 24th!! We've not done so good against the Seahawks, as history will stand. This game against the Seahawks...the Cowboys will lose that one!! Then to end the regular season, we've the Eagles. Only two teams have beaten the Eagles this year, and the Cowboys weren't one of them!! This rivalry goes along way back, and with the ways the Eagles are playing this year...the Cowboys will lose to the Eagles, as well. The Cowboys need to win the Seahawks for sure, and to beat the Eagles would be the icing on the cake, and secure them a wild card. But the Cowboys of lately, when it comes to be the playoffs, well, the Cowboys are a 1-and-out team. Yes, I love my Cowboys, but real is real, and I have faith in the real and now!! GO COWBOYS!!