sensei8

@sensei8, that is an awesome Thanksgiving! Thank you, Fat Cobra. I thought it was too.

From our family to your family and friends, Happy Thanksgiving full of love, joy, and safety. My wife, Linda, and I had the shock of our life. We're at Linda's parents for the Thanksgiving holidays until this Sunday. Our son, Nathan had to work over these holidays, and we wish he could of joined us. My niece, Dawn arrived yesterday afternoon from Santa Barbara, CA, but not alone. Then the shock of our lives...first Dawn walks in...right behind her... ...walks in was our daughter, Krystal, our grandchild, River, and our son-in-law, Jason from Colorado. We had about a hour prior wished them all a Happy Thanksgiving on their phones via texts. They weren't answering our FaceTime calls. We were under the impression that they weren't able to attend up in Tehachapi, CA for the family gathering. But holy moly did we get the greatest shock of our lives when they walked through the front door. Several of the family members were taking pictures and videos of the shocked look on our faces. Reminded me of the videos on YouTube that we've seen similar to what we were experiencing. Every family knew this was going to happen for to us for months. That's how long they've all been planning it. They sure showed me that they all know how to keep secrets apparently for as long as they need to. We golloped those three up with kisses and hugs once the shock allowed us to do so. I was in tears of sheer joy. Dawn's leaving this Saturday back to Santa Barbara, CA, and Krystal and family are flying back to Denver, CO this Sunday, and we're returning to Las Vegas, NV this Sunday. Best Happy Thanksgiving ever!!

November 21st will mark the celebration of KarateForums.com’s Half-Birthday. On this occasion, Patrick invites a member of our staff to address the community. It was on May 21, 2001, that KarateForums.com braved the unknown as it took to the internet airwaves. On launch day, Patrick welcomed the interested as well as curious masses to partake in a journey of communications. The one thing that I’ve noticed ever since I became a KF member way back in February 2008 is that there’s always been that one undeniable constant that can never be negotiated: Communication. Communication is greatly encouraged by all its members, no matter the status held within KarateForums.com, to reach out to one another by communicating. This communication can be found in every nook-and-cranny of KF. Communication helps to lessen anxiety about any topics or guidelines. Communication between members can build stronger relationships, which allows any desired information to get out much faster and accurately. Communication is very important to KarateForums.com because it acts as a base for any action. When KF undertook the daunting task of reorganizing all threads, communication made planning far much easier. Wherever you search the community, it’s easy to see that communication has taken the front seat in reaching an answer. Communication at KF boosts morale and motivation. Communication allowed me the opportunity to become part of the staff, something that I value and cherish. I never take that responsibility lightly. In closing, no matter where you are on KarateForums.com, the value of communication is evident. One of the most important aspects of communication, which is on display in this community, is listening. Without successful listening, there’s no communication whatsoever. Listening to the members isn’t a passé thing here: It’s everything. Good communication requires listening intently and carefully, which is what we do every single day. Happy Half-Birthday, KarateForums.com!

I hadn't heard about this until now. Very sad!! Condolences to Adam's family and friends. RIP Adam!!

Super Congrats to both of you!! Love the photos, thank you.

Congrats to you and Zach; well deserved. Thank you for the photos as well. Very proud of you both as well as the others who passed their Testing Cycle.

Yeah, that's a tough way to lose. Sure that someone from the Bills office will be having a talk with whomever is responsible for doing a head count of how many are on the field.

Those games you mention were exactly as you report. Darn networks kept moving from one game to another where I never got to see a complete game except for the Raiders and Jets game. and that game was a battle to the last second with the Raiders winning over the Jets 16-12. My Cowboys dominated the Giants from the start to the end. So much so that the Cowboys took Dak out of the game to rest and brought in their back-up QB in the 4th quarter. Final score 49-17 which now has the Cowboys 6-3 in the NFC East 2nd place. Next week the Cowboys travel to Carolina gridiron of the NFC last place Panthers that are holding 1-8 record. GO COWBOYS!!

One of the best decisions for both brands. Served its purpose in those times and I did get a kick out of seeing both brands' field layout in a birds-eye view. It should me that one can put a square peg into a round peg, so to speak.

Well said, my friend!!

It's hard to accept death but then again, what other choices do I have. The chairs around my table are quite empty nowadays, and one day, my chair will be empty. I don't like that reality!! We are born once, and we die once.

I knew you weren't, Bob. I recalled that you were one of those darned Yankees.

Any Governing Body needs to prepare for that inevitable, otherwise anarchy will set in certain areas of the Administration. Integrity doesn't only exist in ranks but in every aspect and corner of the Governing Body at all times. Like a will, certain things must be assured for the protection of the Governing Body as well as its Student Body. Reading Fat Cobra's post, I thought of you immediately, Bob. Hopefully, they get something in place to preserve what has been built. I can't offer much in the way of experience with Karate organizations, but I've been a part of a few TKD organizations, and the pros and cons tend to be the same. I agree that setting standards for technique and gradings is a big pro for many organizations. If used properly, it should be a great evaluation tool for producing quality students across the organization. However, I've seen great disparities between schools within the same organizations. Some instructors are good, and some are not, and it tends to show up in the students. I think some aren't hardline enough, and are afraid to be the "bad guy" that tells a student that they shouldn't be testing. This is something that I feel organizations should have a handle in addressing, but that kind of oversight can be difficult to logistically plan for. Of the cons, I agree that many organizations get stuck in a rut "teaching to the curriculum," to the point where it can stifle creativity and branching out. The organization I'm currently a part of has been adding curriculum to the black belt ranks, and from what I've seen of what's been added, it has no practical use other than providing more stuff to spend time to memorize in order to test on it. This is bad, and it's curriculum for the sake of the curriculum, and doesn't help to better the students. Be careful who the successor of the Governing Body is to become because the wrong choice is the difference between integrity and a living nightmare. When the Governing Body's Administration becomes far more important than the Student Body, it's time to jump ship.

I think this is a great way to approach kata training in general, but I always add a caveat to it. I wouldn't necessarily encourage students to change things right away; any kind of changes should only be made if and when necessary (and reluctantly), after an extensive amount of study into the how's and why's of it's original intent. Change for the sake of change benefits nothing. A change made due to the physical limitations of aging, an accident, or even in relation to body style and physical capabilities, can benefit the practitioner, and also provide others with an option to explore should they see the need to based on similar circumstances.Soid posts!! If the change has been deemed effective by those who have made said changes to said Kata, then the question remains. Is said change effective? If the change is proven to be so but the practitioner isn't effective, and this is vital, than the practitioner is at fault, and not the change. One has to make it effective. and this takes a deal of maturity in technique.

Any Governing Body needs to prepare for that inevitable, otherwise anarchy will set in certain areas of the Administration. Integrity doesn't only exist in ranks but in every aspect and corner of the Governing Body at all times. Like a will, certain things must be assured for the protection of the Governing Body as well as its Student Body.

Educational training at its very best...especially whenever Master Ken's involved.

Congrats, scohen0300; well deserved!!

Solid post!!

I'm NOT a Rangers fan at all. I'm a pinstriped diehard Yankee fan and always will be. I cheered for the Rangers during the World Series because I wanted to see them win their first World Series.

Cowboys are STILL NOT effective in the Red Zone. In the Cowboys final drive, the Eagles penalties allowed the Cowboys into the Red Zone and had the makings of an Eagles upset. BUT NO...the Eagles effectiveness in guarding the Red Zone drove the Cowboys backwards. Then the final Dallas drive still befuddles me. I'm at the edge of my seat not believing that the Cowboys have ended up at the 11-yard line because of Lamb, threatening to win the game. BUT NO!! Dak sacked for a 11-yard loss. Then a incomplete pass into the end zone...this paly imho was a very rushed play. Last play, but now a delay of the game for the Cowboys. We're going in the wrong direction...the end zone is the other way. With 5-seconds and on the 27-yard line. Dak completes a pass the Lamb at the 4-yard line but a crowd of Eagles cause a fumble that is corralled by Eagles safety Blankenship comes up with the ball. The Game Is Over!! Eagles win 28-23 and are now 8-1 while the Cowboys are 5-3. Eagles have a bye and the Cowboys host the Giants who were demolished by the Ravens. Get effective in the Red Zone Cowboys!! GO COWBOYS!!

Nothing lasts forever. The Ducks gave the Knights their first loss yesterday in Anaheim by the final score of 4-2. Knights have a record this very young season 11-1-1; Still tons of the season to play!! GO KNIGHTS!!

That's the billion-dollar question of which I'm more than sure that will vary greatly. The meaning of life is understood according to the beliefs that people adhere to. Why are we here? Do we serve a greater purpose beyond the pleasure or satisfaction we get from our daily activities, however mundane or heroic they may be? Is the meaning of life internal to life, to be found inherently in life’s many activities, or is it external, to be found in a realm somehow outside of life, but to which life leads? What is the meaning of life? The meaning of life is connecting with the purpose, and for that purpose to guide us into development and service. We have this intrinsic, burning desire to know what we are made to do, but before can get on board with developing into that, we need to understand why we are here. There are any number of subjective answers to this question. I'm sure that whatever our belief system is, so is that which drives our answer to this answer. What's the meaning of life?? The summation of 'Why' is to the summation of 'Because'. The meaning of life is not being dead. There's no meaning of life, we simply exist. Interesting question, as its answers, for sure!!

I've never used one, neither have anyone I know. Yes, many benefits can become from using an electrical muscle stimulation device. For example, *Increased muscle strength *Enhanced muscle endurance *Improved blood circulation *Pain relief With everything, there are risks and side effects. For example, Potential Risks *Skin irritation *Burns *Allergic reactions Side Effects *Muscle soreness *Muscle spasms *Tingling sensation As a substitute for traditional strength training exercises, as with everything, there are the pros and cons. I'm sure that this device can provide many benefits, however, I can't help, on a personal note, to feel that this device can't provide me the same overall benefits as a well-rounded strength training program can. Any current physical conditions or injuries might be aggravated or worsened by the use of this device. So, I'd have a serious conversation with my doctor before I'd use this device or any other equipment in my training regime. Good luck.

This subject is quite sensitive to me because of the spiraling downfall that occurred which eventually caused the SKKA, the Governing Body I was once the Kaicho and a member of for a tad over 5 decades, to close for good. While the founders of the SKKA, our Soke and Dai-Soke, were the Kaicho (President) and Kancho (Vice-President) everything was a fine-tuned and well-oiled machine. When they both knew that their retirements were inevitable, they both made some significant organizational changes that would serve its Student Body as well as the SKKA the best after they both were gone. Soon after they both had passed away, the SKKA elected me as the Kaicho and Greg Forsythe as its Kancho. The trimming of the fat, so to speak, was continued as Soke and Dai-Soke had meant it to be. For many years, Greg and I ran the SKKA like a Swiss clock. Then tragedy came to the SKKA. A very mournful and dark cloud settled over the SKKA. One that I had never thought possible. Emergency Elections had to take place. For now, I was to remain as the Kaicho. Still, EGO was the new driving force behind the SKKA. Whenever several key members of the Regents as well as Directors had eventually forced me out through affirmations, every tool available to oust me was so well played that according to the SKKA's Legal Team, my time had come to vacate not only my position as Kaicho but my membership with the SKKA was also dissolved permanently. When that happened, the networked dojo's that are under the umbrella of the SKKA, slowly and one-by-one quit the SKKA. So many, that before long, the SKKA no longer had any network at all. Even worse, the Hombu's Student Body were seeking somewhere else to continue their Shindokan training. The SKKA is no more!! I wholeheartedly concur with Noah's listed Pro's and Con's above!! I will note the differences the SKKA of old had going for them, and this is not to say that the SKKA of old was better than what Noah has listed. The SKKA of old Pro's were what Noah listed. The SKKA of old Con's turned into a Pro... *Political machinations and scheming...Strictly forbidden!! Yes, The SKKA of old had its Higher Aarchy, however, it was ruled with an iron fist of checks and balances with serious repercussions across the board. *High rank trading between friends...That was never ever allowed. That could get someone expelled for cause. *Too controlling of curriculum or training methods...The SKKA allowed dojo's under the SKKA umbrella complete free reign. The SKKA never interfered with how a networked dojo was operated. Strictly forbidden!! *Too expensive to be a member...Students' membership was a part of the tuition, which as long as I can remember, wasn't very high at all. I never paid more than $50 a month and as low as $25 a month. *High testing/certification fees...Before they were dissolved, Kyu Testing Cycles were $50 and Dan Testing Cycles were $100. The SKKA of new had no Pro, just one Con...EGO!! The SKKA of new has soured me against any Governing Body and I've no interest whatsoever in joining and/or forming another one.

What did you think of his decision to bench Garoppolo straight away? Seemed quite surprising to me and a little risky for an interim coach who presumably wants the permanent job! I believe that Garoppolo's benching was appropriate because he has been quite inconsistent as a QB. Appears that the interim coach has the Raiders interest in mind. How it'll reflect on the gridiron is another thing.