sensei8

There's great value in your observation(s), TJ-Jitsu; solid post!! Muscling will get the practitioner absolutely nowhere fast. Technique will, and always; knowledge and experience. Muscling through will not help the practitioner pace themselves, and before long, that same practitioner will tire out...run out of gas. Why?? I'd rather be strong in my technique(s), than in my physicality. No, muscles are important to aide in keeping our opponent at bay and the like, but one's strong muscles will tire before I decide to take advantages, and I'll still have plenty of gas in my tank.

There is, without any doubt, imho, the simplicity of Bruce's 5 Ways of Attack, in which I believe any MAist can learn from, and apply. However, these ways are not everyone's ways, nor do they have to be; it's a choice. Thanks, Alan, for sharing the video.

"I do not teach, you know, Karate, because I do not believe in styles anymore. I mean I do not believe that there is such thing as, like, a Chinese way of fighting or a Japanese way of fighting...or whatever way of fighting, because unless a human being has three arms and four legs, there can be no different form of fighting. But, basically, we only have two hands and two feet. So styles tend to, not only separate man because they have their own doctrines and the doctrine became the gospel truth that you cannot change! But, if you do not have styles, if you just say, "here I am as a human being, how can I express myself totally and completely?" ...now that way, you won't create a style because style is a crystallization. That way is a process of continuing growth." ~~ Bruce Lee For quite a long time, I did believe in styles, most assuredly so, without a doubt. That's all I ever knew; blind faith, and nothing more. But as I grew up both as a man, and as a MAist, I, slowly, with time, turned away from the doctrine of styles. First Shindokan...then the remaining styles of the MA that I was exposed to, went the wayside of their own doctrines. In which, I took away from my cross training the things that I considered valuable and effective from each of them, so called, styles of the MA. I can't pretend that those styles outside of Shindokan, do not exist within their own proponents doctrine, and as in Shindokan, I walked away from those forced upon doctrines and only kept that which is useful, and nothing else. "How can you say that, when you yourself, is the current Kaicho of the SKKA/Hombu?? Isn't that an oxymoron??" It's easy to say that because it's the truth. I can be Kaicho because I don't push and/or force the doctrine of Soke and Dai-Soke upon the Student Body. Yes, I speak about it, because it's Shindokan history, and in order to learn, and to grow, one's history has to be taught. I allow the Student Body to make their own decision(s) as to what they do or don't believe. It is not an oxymoron because I treat them separately because they are separate!! The history of Shindokan's doctrine can lead the student to find for themselves the truth within their own MA journey. They can embrace whatever they choose, and I will never say that they are wrong if it's against what I believe. Shindokan doctrine teaches that Shindokan is complete. That is history. That is a false believe. To be complete, it first must be perfect, in which it is not, across the board. Nor will it ever be. I do not teach that doctrine because I know, and believe that Shindokan is not complete; it's incomplete. That's why I've crossed trained outside of Shindokan for quite a long time, and always will. However, guess what?? No style of the MA is complete...perfect...not one!! I do, however, believe that Shindokan is an effective MA!! With the addition of other MA, it's even more effective than ever. But the practitioner, well, that's where the problem arises. No matter how effective the MA is, it's the practitioner that makes it effective. If that student...that individual.. can not make "it", whatever "it" might be, effective, then it'll never be effective; the fault belongs to the practitioner...the individual. Be accountable...have ownership through and through but without excuses. Either it/you is/are, or it/you isn't/aren't; there's no middle ground. Imho!!

To the bold type above... We're not always right in everything or in anything. We try. Oftentimes, we're out there in left field, when we should be in the right field, and until much later, we finally realize that we should've been in center field the whole darn time.

That's the shear beauty of applications for THAT MAist!! Applications are not written in stone, nor are they meant to be. But it's so easy to accept that they actually are, and in that, they won't walk away from what they're taught for the act of convenience. It's easier to blindly follow than the status quo of what's being taught by whomever or whatever, than to seek their own truths in any application.

Labels!! They're, imho, the bane of MA existence, one way or another. While I've studied the MA for 53 years this October, I've never cared to abide by labels, and in that, I believe that the labels in general, when speaking about the MA, are the forest being in the way of the trees. I just want to train, and I've not the time nor the inclination to label what it is that I do MA wise. Is Shindokan a style or a system or a concept or whatever else?? It's a martial art, and for now, that's good enough for me. Besides, if I choose one way or another, it'll just a matter of time before someone disagrees with my thought process that Shindokan is a martial art; and demand me to justify my answer, of which, I've no desire to do that, now or tomorrow. Shindokan...that's the only label I need and/or want!!

The avatar I use here at KF is the Shindokan Shield, or our logo. The following link describes the Shindokan Shield... https://www.karateforums.com/the-shindokan-shield-vt44461.html

It's suppose to be designed as a learning tool for BOTH the Uke and Tori; if it's not, get as far away from it as possible.

My family and I got out of there just in the nick of time, 3 months ago. We lived in Pearland, TX, which has officially received 50" of rain in 4 days!! WOW!! My sister, her kids, and grandchildren live in Channelview, TX, a eastern suburb of Houston, TX; they're all safe!! 9 people have died during this storm!! My prayers go out to their families and friends, as well as anyone who has, or who is about, to endure Harvey!!

Welcome to KF, Douwe Geluk; glad that you're here!!

I immediately brought the descriptions on the HR readings to the MOD. The MOD agreed with my findings, and is going to have those two machines calibrated. I've been doing the resistance training, but to be honest, not as often as I should be. Thanks for the ideas, singularity6!!

Thank you, The Pred!! Yes, but only at home. I won't do that at the gym.

Stupid Afib!! I'll never beat this current weight loss plateau; been two months that I bounce from 251lbs to 266lbs then back to 251lbs.... Yesterday at the gym... 23 minutes on the StairMaster from levels 1-10 with 3 two minute cool-downs. Average HR = 59pbm [WRONG...NO WAY...NOT WITH AFIB!!] 10 minutes on the TreadMill on the Pike's Peak program, with a varying inclines at a .05 speed. Average HR = 178bpm [ALARMING...at one time, 183bpm with the warning alarm sounding off for all in the gym to hear] I ended my workout immediately!! I just don't get it. Either the specific StairMaster and/or the TreadMill machine(s) are off calibration or what. But whatever was going on, I ended that workout session abruptly!! Every darn time I ask my Cardiologist for workout advice while I'm in Afib, he only tells me to do what I can tolerate. GREAT ADVICE!! Thanks for nothing. I can tolerate a lot. Had it not been for the sensors on the TreadMill, I might've had a heart attack right there in the gym. Why? I felt absolutely fine!! I wasn't fatigued!! I wasn't huffing and puffing!! I wasn't gasping for my next breath!! I felt absolutely fine!! Yet, I didn't push myself! I did what I felt was tolerable! I can tolerate a lot! I listened to the machine, and not to my own body warnings. My body warnings were telling me that I was fine. Who or what do I listen to?? Why won't the Cardiologist give me a workout plan?? I've 2 months to reach my weight loss goal!! I feel I'm failing everyone, including myself!! I've 40lbs to go, and I'm stuck in a weight loss plateau from the depths of you know where!!! I watch my diet...I don't binge eat...I exercise...I've completed three (3) 5K runs...I walk a lot...I drink water...After all, I'm eating more healthfully, getting more physical activity, trying to lose weight at a slow and steady pace -- and just not getting results. Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhh...I feel like a big fat failure right now. Can't seem to break away from the 250lbs range to save my soul!!!!!!! I change my workout routines constantly so as not to allow my body to get use to something...I remember this quite well... The mark of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results!!!!!!!!!!!! I change routines religiously!!

Isn't the body a wonderful thing; one time it's wrecked with havoc, and the next time, it's like a spring time morning. Good to hear that your body is like that spring time morning; refreshed!!

Well, I'm personally glad that that fights done and over with, and the winner wasn't really a surprise to me. I did believe that the fight wouldn't go beyond the 8th round, with Mayweather the victor. While McGregor might've won the earlier rounds, whereas McGregor won the early battles, but it was Mayweather that won the war. That's what counts! Mayweathers plan to wait McGregor out worked. McGregor was fatigued, and was hanging on by the TKO by an almost invisible thread of hope. Mayweather showed what experience brings you. In Mayweather's case, his experience brought him to a 50-0 professional record. And McGregor's lack of experience brought him to a 0-1 professional record...and a $100 Million paycheck...not bad for a pro-debut!! McGregor showed heart...all heart. My caps off to McGregor for going toe to toe with one of the greatest champions that boxing has ever begotten. At the TKO, McGregor was wanting to continue...“Let the man put me down,”McGregor said. In the face of defeat, McGregor fought the good fight. Even Mayweather was impressed and surprised with McGregor's abilities...“He’s a lot better than I thought he’d be,” Mayweather said. “He’s a tough competitor. … He kind of shocked me.” McGregor landed 111 times on Mayweather, and Mayweather is known for avoiding being hit, no matter how hard one tries to hit him, it's a very difficult thing to accomplish. Yahoo sports best said it... No, Conor McGregor didn’t win the boxing match Saturday. He won his share of everything else though, earning respect for lasting as long as he did, taking the early rounds as Mayweather let him tire out, and then standing tall in defeat and actually asking for more."--Dan Wetzel Even in defeat, McGregor won!!

Your link is titled Shindokan, HOWEVER, the style in that video is Shidokan!! As far as the other video links, well, Bruce has the right for his opinion, and so do I, and so does everyone else. This is, or possibly should be, what every MA feels, I know I do... "Before I learned the art, a punch was just a punch, and a kick, just a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick, no longer a kick. Now that I understand the art, a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick."-- Bruce Lee My every step isn't focused upon any particular style and/or way because of their own limitations, but moreover, my every step is focused towards me improving my MA betterment, however I can.

To the bold type above... Every step of the way?? E-V-E-R-Y...S-T-E-P?!?! That's going to be quite a large order to fulfill. And to me, JKD isn't that important, past, present, and/or future, enough for me to include JKD into my MA betterment. After all, my core is Shindokan, and not one iota of JKD is found in Shindokan, nor do I want/need JKD to be so. I can do with or without the influences of JKD in any aspect of my MA betterment, and live a satisfied MA existence. JKD is effective!! But to me, it's not the end-of-all things in the MA, and quite frankly, neither is any style of the MA. JKD, to me, is just another thing; nothing more and nothing less.

While Bruce most assuredly passed away, JKD remains, and as long as there's interest in JKD, it will live on far much longer than most, if not all, of us here. Whether one likes it or not. JKD is the creation of Bruce Lee, and Bruce's iconic status will fuel the fire in the countless bellies of MAists concerning JKD forever and a day. Imho!!

What type of MAist...teacher...would I be if I've never tapped into the power of love. Love allows me to be compassionate enough to act accordingly to the matter at hand. Sensibility earned through love should be an hallmark learned through what the MA teaches. Without tapping in love, just how can a MAist unleash the horrors of what we're capable of with an uncanny resolve?!

Yes, well worth watching. But I can't express just how much it must've been to attend that particular seminar. I've attended my share of Urquidez seminars over the years, but I've also been fortunate enough to have lived in the San Fernando Valley, more in fact, in North Hollywood, where his teacher Bill Ryusaki, also had a dojo, whereas, several of us cross trained with them both as much as time would allow us. Thanks for sharing the video, Alan!!

Whoa!! Oftentimes, I thought I was watching Shindokan; eerie how the similarities can be seen outside of Shindokan. Makes me wonder if Soke meant it to be that way, or am I seeing what I want to see when I want to see those similarities. Thanks for sharing the video, Alan!!

Thanks for sharing that documentary, Patrick; I fully enjoyed it!!

Thanks for sharing those videos, Alan!! The rawness of Kyokushin, for me, is the excitement of effectiveness. Not all would enjoy this type of MA, and that explains why not everyone trains in Kyokushin. I've always loved this...I WILL GET A TURN, IF I EARN IT!! With Kyokushin, mistakes made are quickly capitalized upon, with much resolve.

I liked what I saw in the OP's video link. Seemed effective; nuts and bolts type of practicability in it's raw state. I would've wanted some resistance demonstrated. However, resistance training can be mute if the movements/attacks/counters/reactions are not telegraphed; surprising elements are preferred.

Well, I'm one whose no desire to be as flexible as demonstrated in the OP's link. Flexible? Yes! Just not that much!! Yes!! Weight training and flexibility training are compatible. That with correctly performed resistance exercise does not negatively affect flexibility. It's possible to shorten muscle length, and therefore decrease flexibility by performing many contractions within a decreased range of motion; however, I believe it is safe to say that most resistance exercises performed with good technique through a full range of motion will not reduce flexibility. As a matter of fact, certain types of resistance training can actually increase flexibility. There has to be an understanding by the practitioner across the board as to the proper methods. Otherwise, injury will occur. Gradual...that's the name of the game. Nothing in training is automatic, nor is it guaranteed, and neither is it instantaneous; time must be respected. Cardio...free weights...stretching, and in equal proportions; one done more than the other(s) goes against the grain of sensibility of training.