sensei8

That definition never ever once crossed my mind! A Keyboard Warrior, by your provided link, would be stopped very quickly here at KF!! Having said that, Is this type of Keyboard Warrior on MA forums nowadays on a normal basis??

NO!! Not as long as human beings are involved!! This both saddens and angers me all at the same time. Why? The poor TKD student is really not left any plausible recourse. As a TKD practitioner, this must be quite disheartening because the poor TKD student is caught in the cross-hairs of the governing body, no matter which governing body it might be, in that the long TKD student must pick sides, or be cast away. Their rules. Their regulations. Their organization. Their toys. Play along or go away!! Politics taint everything.

Nope!! Never have, never will!! Reading that Bruce did things like that, turned me off on the idea quickly because, to me, it seemed strange and cheating, and to be honest, a fad. But, that's me. Skeptical to the end.

First time I've ever watched that series; thanks for sharing it, Danielle!! That video served up some solid points on the subject. Shindokan stances are more upright. This allows us to move around more easier, and for us, close range is everything for us...the closer the better. A proper stance is a point that can't be swept under the rug of confusion because the stance is everything!!

That puts the style on a pedestal though- I don't think anyone or anything has earned the right to "not" be critiqued. Its a scientific approach you know? Put something out there and let people tear it this way and that and see if it can stand the tests of others. If you're left with something tangible afterwards, you're probably on to something. All this provided we're all working from the first assumption: We are learning how to fight. If you interest is that, I continue with my regular (and predictable) critique and discussion. If not, then my line of thinking doesn't necessarily apply.... To show common respect to others, no matter how different the other thing is, doesn't place 'it' on a pedestal. For that to happen, someone has to actively place 'it' on a pedestal. Critiquing is one thing, and I'm for it, but at the risk of being rude in my critiquing is another. Is my mindset wrong in this? Maybe!!

Many obstacles pave the road of ones MA journey, this is to be for sure. You're experiencing things that you've never experienced before...you just have to love it!! Hang in there...train hard...train well!!

If it was me, I'd follow the instructions of my Sensei, and not any black belt; methodologies separate styles quickly. How one style executes a technique is not universal across the board.

Hopefully, we've not disrespected Wing Chun through our own observations. I believe that we've no right to do that to any style of the MA. Good and bad runs in every single MA style; no style is excluded from that. What's my cup of tea, might not be someone's cup of tea, but my cup of tea is still my cup of tea, no matter what!!

Finding that balance can be a tricky thing; that's to be for sure. Between running a dojo and a MA supply store, my time spent at home with the wife and the kids was minimal; I spent much more time away from home than at home. The saving grace was my wife, Linda!! She's a very strong women; one I've learned a lot from. She was that heart of the family, and knew what it took for me to run a full time business across the board. Then you add into the mix my wife's full time career as a school teacher; compromising across the board, isn't always an easy thing, not that it's meant to be. The real test for our marriage was the oftentimes spent traveling back and forth to the Hombu many, many times each year; at the discretion of Dai-Soke. This wasn't so bad when we lived in California, but when we moved to Texas, then to Oklahoma, that did take a toll on our marriage, but Linda, was that understanding wife and mother; she fully supported my MA career 100% and never once regretted the life I chose. When Soke and Dai-Soke passed away, my travels to and from the Hombu were just quarterly, and at my discretion. As Kaicho, I now only appear at very critical and sensitive events. This gives me much more home time with the family!! Compromising!! That's the key between the wife and husband, and I believe my wife and I have done compromising honor towards one another.

When someone like Bill Wallace is concerned, who's roundhouse was once clocked at over 70mph, well, I don't know about you, but the odds of blocking something like that, are nearly impossible. Just ask all of his opponents!!

Where KarateForums is concerned, a "Keyboard Warrior" is someone who has absolutely no MA experience whatsoever, or very little, and pawning it off as it's something. Hard to nail someone like that because they are well read and cover their tracks. I might suspect one being such, but one can wallpaper an entire house with suppose and/or suspect. Two people I can't stand...thief's and liar's!! I don't want them near me...EVER!!

As in anything, this comes to my mind... Shu Ha Ri Bunkai, etc., doesn't have to be practiced as though it's written in stone. If so, then discovery is limited. What's beyond what's written in stone?? There must be something there that surpasses what's written in stone.

Listen!! Don't talk!! Learn!! Be that sponge!! Practice correctly until the wheels fall off, and then some!! Ask questions respectfully!! Follow the Kun!! Be patient!! Seek knowledge and experience; NOT RANK!! Remember, you'll not pass every Testing Cycle, no matter what!! Your CI is the final authority!! None of these are in any particular order, nor is it a complete list, either!!

It's been many years since I once weighed 350lbs. When this weight loss journey began on October 4th, 2016, I weighed 326lbs, and as of this evening, I now weigh 253lbs...73lbs loss. I'm trying to do the right thing everyday across the board. I'm proud of what I've accomplished thus far on this journey. With the Afib returning, my October 4th, 2017 weight loss goal of 111lbs, bringing me down to 215lbs will NOT happen. As of right now, I'm 38lbs away form my goal. Unfortunately, October 4th is only just over 2 weeks away. To reach my goal, I'd have to lose 19lbs a week...NOT DOABLE!! While I've won many battles during this journey, I've lost the war!! I was on track until my Afib returned!! I'm very disappointed in myself, and proud of myself at the same time...mixed feeling abound, for sure!!

However, their Kumite as their Bunkai still puts a huge hole in the well known maxim...Three K's, down to it missing a very key part. I'm for the Kumite, but it also starves for Kihon and Kata; in equal portions, with not one being more important than the other parts. I'm speaking towards Karate-do, but from a time that seems to be ignored for one reason or another. I can't learn Kumite effectively without learning some of the tools of the trade, and this is where Kihon, and Kata, play into it wholeheartedly. Yet, then is the old school that's akin to how dads taught their children how to swim...being thrown into the pool, and it's at that very moment that their children either sink or swim. Cruel, yet effective. Same with Kumite as the only thing, and as it's own Bunkai. Throw the Jukyu out there with seasoned Karateka's and have at it. Either that student will sink or swim. That too, is cruel, yet effective. The three K's are a proven maxim that I believe to this very day must be embraced by all Karateka's, or they'll either sink or swim, the hard way, and at times, the impossible way!! Sensei8, I have to disagree with you on your statement above. I know we have discussed this before but I do not buy into the three K's as the only way to train or learn to fight. Kihon was never a training methodology, as performed today, in Toudi (Karate). To be honest neither was Kumite as it is performed today. The way I was taught was minus Kihon and Kumite as it's taught in most schools today. Kihon is an invention of the Japanese not the Okinawan's. Kumite was utilized but again not as it is today. Kumite today is a hudge pudge of whatever. Ever watched a class and see the students earnestly learning their Kata and then when it comes to Kumite it looks like boxing with a kick or two thrown in for good measure? It doesn't even resemble the art or what is taught. It's ok to forget everything that was taught, just throw some punches and remember to kick a few times. It's not Karate. If the only way to learn how to fight is to train this way, I would say these are the students that are treading water. Old school is systematic. It's not akin to getting thrown into the deep end and sink or swim. But we are taught per the Kata and our own creative minds in the way we are able to put techniques and applications together, how to utilize them and how to draw and create from them. This is closer to the way the old Okinawan's were trained than the way most are trained today. Kihon comes from Kata. Kumite, unless it's the sport, boxing with a few kicks that we see today, comes from Kata. Without Kata you do not have an art to study. However I respect your view points and agree that the three K's are a systematic way to learn. I am just pointing out that it's not the only or best way. Its a way. Just how boring it would be if we agree all of the time!! Different methodologies/ideologies, even though you and I are well versed in an Okinawan style, we're different, in what we teach, and in what we were taught, as it's suppose to be. The one thing you and I hold sacred is that Kata is the heart, and everything comes from the heart!! Without Kata, what's the reason!?

This post of yours, and the one right before this one are SOLID!! Things for me to consider and remember!! Thanks, Alan!!

It already is too political, and has been that way since the creation of Karate. This is due to the sad fact that wherever human beings are involved, things of well meant intent, tend to muddle up a good thing faster than grease lighting. A governing body isn't needed to insert politics into Karate!! Human beings involvement are quite sufficient in doing that all by themselves. However, the creation of a governing body tends to solidify the underlying manipulations of possession of ruling over other human beings. I don't speak as someone who is from outside, but more as someone who has been in the inside for quite some time. I was once part of the SKKA's Regents, and am currently the SKKA/Hombu Kaicho [President]. What I've witnessed from the inside for these many, many years is enough to force one to take notice, and to take a very long pause in a state of bewilderment. Want to avoid the surge of politics in Karate?? Then, train by yourself, teach yourself, promote yourself, and be by yourself, having only you to manage!! But not so fast!! Forces outside of yourself will embed you with politics whether you've control or not over yourself. You want tomatoes?? Then guess what?? You have to go to the tomato vendor, and not to the watermelon vendor!! And both of those vendors are deeply ensconced in politics of their own making as well as the established politics of government, whether it be at the local, state, and/or federal level. These vendors will force you to abide by their rules and regulations if you want to buy from either of these vendors. It's, and it'll be your choice, one way or another. In life, there will always be someone and/or something to tell you what to and not to do everyday of your life. I doubt that Karate can function and/or survive without politics; it's a Catch-22...the impossible solution to attain. As far as you being told what your doing, Karate wise, is wrong!! Ignore them!! Your Sensei is the FINAL WORD!! Others might be well intended, but their dead wrong because they're not your Sensei. Not today...not tomorrow!! Their opinion isn't wanted, and more importantly, their not that important!! Everyone has opinions!! However, your Sensei's opinion is the only one that matters, and is that important. No matter how I might differ with what your Sensei is teaching you, his teachings trump my opinion automatically. Not lend an ear to those who are not your Sensei!!

If I ever make it to your dojo, I'll definitely bring a kitchen sink with me. Hopefully you won't take it from me and beat me senseless with it though. :) LOL!! You can bring the kitchen sink with you, if need be. I won't take the kitchen sink from you because...I won't need it.

We allow everything and anything, including the kitchen sink, if need be!! However, no matter the weapon, it must be controlled at all times. Sure, accidents happen, that's why we're adamant about safety gear for all Kyu students, without exceptions.

Which Kata can beat the other Kata?? No such thing, imho!! It's dependent on the practitioners execution of said Kata!! How believable is that practitioners execution of said Kata?!?!? Rika Usami, in her days, won more that her share of Kata Championships on the worlds stage not from the mere choice of the Kata, but on just how she executed, and how believable her execution was of said Kata!! I believe that she might've won with Heian Shodan against, for example, Unsu, because of her execution, and how believable she was.

However, their Kumite as their Bunkai still puts a huge hole in the well known maxim...Three K's, down to it missing a very key part. I'm for the Kumite, but it also starves for Kihon and Kata; in equal portions, with not one being more important than the other parts. I'm speaking towards Karate-do, but from a time that seems to be ignored for one reason or another. I can't learn Kumite effectively without learning some of the tools of the trade, and this is where Kihon, and Kata, play into it wholeheartedly. Yet, then is the old school that's akin to how dads taught their children how to swim...being thrown into the pool, and it's at that very moment that their children either sink or swim. Cruel, yet effective. Same with Kumite as the only thing, and as it's own Bunkai. Throw the Jukyu out there with seasoned Karateka's and have at it. Either that student will sink or swim. That too, is cruel, yet effective. The three K's are a proven maxim that I believe to this very day must be embraced by all Karateka's, or they'll either sink or swim, the hard way, and at times, the impossible way!!

Withholding anything from a student is akin to not teaching effectiveness across the board. I don't mean withholding anything just for the sake of withholding, but, for example, one has to learn how to crawl before one can run. I'd not be willing to teach Ikkyu material to a Jukyu student because it's inappropriate, as well as irresponsible, to do so. Can't build a house from the roof down!! To not teach any, or very little Bunkai serves no purpose. If there's only Kata in the Karateka's life, and no Bunkai, or the lack thereof, then, that Karateka's life isn't effective across the board. No Bunkai!! No Kata!! Can't have one without the other, and expect to have a very well rounded Karateka!! After all, the three K's are called the three K's and not the two or one K: Kihon, Kata, Kumite!! Kata without Bunkai is a wasteful exertion of time and energy!! Kata without Bunkai is just void of emotions!! Kata without Bunkai is an emotionless dance!! Kata without Bunkai is like the engine that has no gas!! Kata without Bunkai is like a car without tires!! Sure, speak to your CI, by all means concerning any and all of your concerns, just do it respectfully. Not many CI's appreciate being measured by their students. HOWEVER, if it's a cat, it'll meow and purr, and do everything that a cat does, without fail. Kata needs Bunkai and Bunkai needs Kata, without fail!! No Bunkai, but Kata!! RED FLAG!! Imho!!

In my JBB days, I most assuredly made many of my own Kobudo weapons. I wasn't the richest person as a teenager, but I made do with whatever I had at my disposal. Necessity is the mother of all inventions...crude or not!! My youth, and the vigor of it all.

When it comes to changing routine behavior, slow and steady really does win the race. Behavior change is a process, not an event. Rather than picking a day to jump in and try to change everything at once, in the long term it's more effective...and less stressful...to take on a new behavior or two and practice them for a while until they become familiar and more routine. You can then take on another healthy habit, working down your list of behaviors you'd like to change over time. If you're persistent enough, these new routines will eventually become just the way you do things. For many people, the first step in changing behavior is to work on halting negative self-talk. People really are capable of change. I oftentimes see the refusal to change as that stumbling block that stubbornly gets in the way from improving themselves on the floor. Having said that, that individual that can't seem to break the horrific chains that are slowly choking the life out of their MA betterment, in which, the simplest thing in the MA turns into the most difficult.

I'm with Zaine on this!! I've both the original as well as the revised edition by George Alexander. Well written and well researched; a treasure trove, imho. There are resources still available to purchase it. Barnes & Noble sells the paperback for around $32, as does WalMart for $37. Amazon sells a DVD of that book for about $50. If the book is signed by one of the Masters that's depicted in that book, one way or another, then that books value might be increased. However, imho, what's the value of the book depends on its demand, and on the collector/buyer. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.