sensei8

The whole one strike one kill mentality has gone a little too far for me in most explanations of the meaning of the phrase, however this is the concept. To end the fight as quickly, violently (I'm sure I get flack for this) and as efficiently as possible so you can walk away with minimal or no damage. The concept is to disable, hurt, submit, maim or kill as a last resort in order to avoid possible death yourself. When two adults fight it is not a scrap in the school yard. In most scenario's someone is going to the hospital or the morgue even if it was not the intention of the fighters. Toudi (Karate) was created to end the conflict as quickly as possible by any means necessary. Modern Karate instructors cringe at this mere premise because in their minds it taints the concept of "DO", however one must remember than it was created by the Okinawan's as a combative system of self defense not as a peaceful method as the Japanese changed it to. For us, Ikken Hissatsu, beyond its acceptable definition, means to put EVERYTHING into whatever it is that you're doing at that very moment, as often as it is required. 100% is put into EVERYTHING I do as a human being, as well as a MAist!! Not 99.99%...not 80%...not 50%...NOTHING less than 100% at all times with resolve, and without any ambiguity whatsoever!! Otherwise, if you're not going to put 100% into that very moment, then don't do anything. Either show up or stay home!! But, when you do show up, you better be willing to give your everything all of the time, and if not, stay home and bake a cake or something. But a MAist must be willing to expend 100% in everything at that very moment every time. Everyone gives 100% one way or another...in effort or in quitting...we were taught to live by Ikken Hissatsu in everything, not just when it comes to the MA. You want to kill with one blow?? That's fine, kill with one blow when you're at your job...kill the yard work with one blow this weekend...kill the vacation with one blow...kill the bills with one blow this weekend...kill the movie with one blow tonight...kill the job interview today with one blow...kill the wife/husband with one blow by giving her/him the day off...so on and so forth. Anything worth doing is worth doing right, so, kill it with one blow!! Are you a 100%er or a 0%er??!!??

In short, being quite honest as I can be here....I don't!! I don't tell a new student how to spot real from fake or vice versa because they've not even the most minimum of an idea of what is real and/or fake. To a new student EVERYTHING looks one way or another, and that's where the CI earns their money. The new student will have to learn it for themselves with the guidance from their CI...over time!! What is fake? Hitting those answers right on the nail for a new student will be akin to me spotting a fake Mona Lisa or any masterpiece painting; I'd not even the slightest idea, even if it came up to me and introduced itself one way or another. I'd go..."Oh, ah, cool; that's what I thought", having no idea if it was or wasn't. Only way I can ascertain if that Mona Lisa is real or fake is...drum roll please...through knowledge and experience achieved under the instructions of someone who's an expert in that field...over time!! Our Dai-Soke was keen to always remind us... "Go with your gut!! If it feels wrong, then it's more than likely, wrong. But you must experience it for yourself first before you can say for sure!!" During our Oyo sessions, Dai-Soke wouldn't say "WRONG!!", instead he'd ask us..."Is that feel right or wrong to YOU!!??" Afterwards, he'd either congratulate us, however, if we were incorrect in our application(s), he'd demonstrate the many reasons of compromised act(s) we'd find ourselves in. I always tell anyone on the floor with me, if you want to learn Shindokan's brand of Tuite, you must experience it first hand. Actions do speak louder than words!! Experience!! Knowledge!! What works for me, might not work for you. Why?? Experience and knowledge, and for this to be true, I have to have learned through the trials and tribulations of endless research, but for myself, first, before I can teach anything to anyone!! Otherwise, I'm just flapping my gums to hear myself because my voice is so soothing to me; I'd have no basis of comparison or reference...I'd be the blah blah blah blah master of duh!!

How does one start a "governing body" without it being a governing body?? Is that even possible?? Won't an affiliation be a prerequisite of a governing body?? How does a "governing body" sustain without politics??

For the moment, let me just say this... Perception is real to that individual, no matter if it is of if it isn't...especially with new students; student that come to learn without any preconceived notions!! Applications that preach a block as nothing else but a block because it's a block, says the CI to the new student. Knowledge and experience allows one to change their initial perception!! Nonetheless, time is necessary to learn!!

To me, loyalty to a style is not being slave to that system, nor the person(s) that govern the style. I'm loyal to Shindokan, but I'm not a slave of it, nor am I a slave to Soke and/or Dai-Soke because I'm my own MAist, and I decide my journeys path, and not someone else. If I was a slave to Shindokan, then I would've never ever cross trained!!

I feel both sad and glad all at the same time, by just knowing that Heidi will no longer be a part of the KF Staff, yet, she'll, when time permits, still be that vital part as a KF member, and in that, I'll be tickled pink just knowing that she'll still offering up her advice across the board. I will miss her tremendously from the ranks of KF Staff as a KF Sensei!! Her contributions here at KF, both on the public forums, as well as the KF Staff forums. I've valued her being one of my mentors, who has guided me along the way on my KF journey. I consider her a friend, on and off the floor!! I bow to you, Heidi; now and forever!!

Yes; I've crossed trained ever since my high school days when I was a JBB. I already knew, and felt, that Shindokan has its limitations, as does any style of the MA, when I first began to train in other styles of the MA. Both my Soke and Dai-Soke weren't too keen of his students embracing other MA styles, nonetheless, they both knew they couldn't control us outside of the dojo, and in that, they never punished us for doing so, in any shape, way, and/or form; it was our choice alone. Over time, they both insisted that we train outside of Shindokan for a "more rounded base"; pride comes before the fall, and we're all pleased to know that that didn't occur. I'm extremely loyal to Shindokan, but I'm not overly loyal to Shindokan, or any other style of the MA because of limitations!!

Thanks, LLLEARNER, I appreciate that, and if you did live closer, I'd take you up on that offer for sure!!

Now we are talking/grunting! Well done!!!!Not only flipping them, but rolling them, as well, is quite a cardio warm-up and calorie burn. Then, I also drag them behind me for 50-100 yards. More and more I see gyms, especially Cross-Fit gyms, have several tires in varying sizes that their members can use. I'll also hit them with a 20lb sledgehammer 100 times per side. Of course, with my lower back in its present state, I'm not as active with them as I use to be.

Closest thing to a Caveman workout for me is whenever I use the very large truck/tractor tires. Flipping them can be a challenge!!

Welcome to KF, navi72; glad that you're here!!

Oh, those situations; you're absolutely correct!! And now, to make the move much more challenging, I threw out my lower back last night, so bad, it required me to have an ambulance ride to the nearest hospital. My back spasms were that severe!! After 6 hours at the hospital, I was finally released!! Doctor gave me some pain killer medication as well as medication for inflammation, and of course, I've had one back spasm after another, all day today...not fun. Worse time is whenever I have to go the the restroom...spasm city there!! So, there's a chance that the move might be delayed until my lower back improves. Even then, I don't want to aggravate and task my back, and in that, I can't move furniture at all, or anything up and down stairs; I live upstairs!!

I was wondering if the training injuries incurred, with all the comments so far are all from male participants, or are there females that have sustained injuries, such as broken noses and cracked ribs also?Allow me this... Injuries are not respecters of gender; all are subjective to injuries while training in the MA. I'm a male practitioner/teacher, and I will say this, I've seen the ratio be a 50/50 in both genders; accidents happen!!

Hips are hips!! Usage of the hips will vary per its use!! Hips drive the power apex, and without the proper use of the hips, the difference between a push VS a hit are day and night!! Without being way to detailed in my explanation, the hips turn, it's impossible to do anything static with hips effectively. Hip turnout is the beginning and the end of any technique. Without hip turnout, the rigidness steals the power apex curve out of any technique, and almost immediate. Therefore, the fights over before it even began!! One has to understand hip usage when it comes to the MA, and if not, then carry with you some type of an equalizer, whatever that might be.

The short of it all is that you have to wear what is comfortable and looks good on you, BUT at the very same time, freedom of movement can't be restricted!! If the clothes you wear are restricting your freedom of movement, then things that you don't normally do, become those things of normalcy too, directly out of need. You don't to leg kicks...fine!! In the moment of self-defense, you'll do leg kicks in order to save your life, I'm sure of that. And if need be, just don't kick at all; relying on your other tools!! Wear clothes that DON'T restrict movement!!

I believe that the circumstances are more positive than negative across the board. What circumstances regarding the move are you sorry to hear??

Thank you, MatsuShinshii!! It's all doable across the board!! And I HATE MOVING!!

Quite a few car lots at Memorial/41st St; many dealerships to choose from. You're just a skip and a jump from Owasso. Yeah, we'll have no excuse to not meet one another, as well as train!!

I would tell you that there is no need to kick above the abdomen. There are too many targets south of the chest to take the chance on kicking any higher. High kicks are great for showing off but do to the danger of being caught, taken down or kicked in the privates, there is no reason to do this in real life, not to mention the reduction in power and balance. As far as take downs/throws, I was unable to follow why these are now an issue. I take it you are looking to learn more throws but your outer garments are an issue? If this is the case buy looser clothing or wear a Gi which is not restricting at all. Yeah...what MatsuShinshii, has posted!! Don't, if you can help it, kick mid-level, kick low; many targets there to choose from!!

The one thing that has to be remembered when one considers the 270 turn, or what I call, the Big Turn, is the follow through of the leg. Many times, the leg isn't traveling far enough, to its conclusion, because that leg is placed down to soon...WAY TO SOON!! Keeping the hips level throughout the entire turn is vital for the smoothness to be effective. Controlling that particular leg is tantamount for the Big Turn to be successful, aka, effective. The practitioner controls when and where that leg comes down, and not the other way. Don't set the leg down until it has to be, not sooner. You control that leg, so control the darn thing by not setting it down until it has to be, and YOU CONTROL THAT, not the leg controlling you.

Very good, thanks!! Btw, I'll not go anywhere never Woodland Hills Mall, especially on 71st Street, around Christmas...IT'S A TRAFFIC MESS!!!!!! It can take FOREVER to drive from Hwy169 to Memorial, on 71st Street, no matter the time of the day/night, in either direction. And parking at the Mall, once you get there, if you ever get there, forget it because it offers it's own horrific challenges. Better like walking because your parking spot will be in the boondocks, if you're lucky!!

From time to time, especially if one considers just how long I've been on the floor, while executing any given Kata, I'll be overcome with feeling quite mundane. Continued dwelling in the mundane births inadequacy across the board in any given Kata; bad form creeps outwardly like a fungus. I don't mean to, nor do I plan on it, either. It just happens, out of nowhere!! I'll fight it off because that, for me, is unacceptable to experience. Walking off the floor, for me, is the wrong thing to do because that means that the fight was won by the overwhelming feeling, and not of my own doing. Shugyo has to win this feeling because if I don't suck it up and shake this mundane feeling, then the Kata, for that very moment within me has died. That is the worse thing to do because if that happens, then the Kata loses it's importance, and that just ain't going to benefit me at all!! I don't walk off the floor in the hopes that I'll shake this mundane feeling because to do so, walking off the floor for the hopes of putting a fresh pair of eyes on the problem, the I've lost the fight, as well!! Losing the fight, to me, isn't an acceptable option!! Why would I have these feelings of mundane towards Kata, any Kata? After just over 5 decades on the floor, I've executed each Kata so much, the Kata, at that very distinct moment, is the same old thing and bores the heck out of me. I know this is wrong because Kata is the heart of Karate-do, and without it, Karate-do is dead!! How many times can I tie my shoe laces, for example, before I become bored of this most basic of functionalities, no matter how important that it might be, and it is important, otherwise, I'd trip over my own shoe laces. I take as many deep breaths as I need; clearing my head. Reminding me of Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kororo. Revisiting the reasons why I'm on the floor executing any one given Kata, and the most fundamental, as well as important reason of them all is attaining that MA betterment within me. To do this... I focus on one thing, once again... Bunkai, and the seek of it, especially the Oyo of the Bunkai. That lies, and awaits to be discovered only one way...EXECUTE THE KATA OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER...and then some. It's THAT Bunkai that I seek and the only way to discover it, I MUST EXECUTE KATA!! No other way to find it...no other way to appreciate it...no other way but forward...no other way to improve my MA betterment...no other way to shake off the mundane but by executing the Kata with focus and determination, and not by whining over the darn thing. Suck it up...SHUGYO!! Shut up, Bob, execute the Kata, and with resolve!!

Will do!! Where about in Tulsa is your dojo at?? Please just tell me east, west, north, or south, in Tulsa, but not exactly, so I can have an idea. Are you near the Woodlands Mall, by the Pepsi plant, by the Eastland Mall, or by the BOK Center??

Thanks, Tempest!! For my family and I, Owasso is HOME, and we've desperately missed it. Can't live somewhere as long as we lived in Owasso, for it to not have any special effects on us. Tempest, maybe the two of us can get together for some cross training when I return!!

Century Martial Arts Supply offers some for about $53.00; I've purchased quite a lot of differing Sai's, including the Aluminum ones, for as long as they've offered them. I've been quite satisfied with them across the board.