sensei8

I agree with The Pred; awesome job!! You could've decided to just chill, seeing that the dojo was closed, but instead, you decided to train; that's called dedication!!

Example would be similar to KF's most latest April Fools Day joke, yet tweaked way much more. Patrick is the furthest thing from what he proposed to be, yet, the website that was created to further on the April Fools Day joke was excellently, and professionally, done. Therefore, had that website been activated within the wild world web, some unexpecting prospective student might've been manipulated to join by the sheer preponderance of how Patrick manipulated the internet to the Nth degree; he made money, the poor student received nothing of any MA value!! The unbelievable, as in KF's April Fools Day joke, can be made believable, especially if one knows how to manipulate the internet!!

This, I sincerely believe, can be said of any MA Governing Body!! The government of any MA Governing Body can stand to learn a thing or two from what President Reagan is saying. If the Governing Body determines them to be the sole solution to any situation, then their own agenda is themselves, and not the Student Body. The Governing Body isn't the solution, but the solution lies within its people, the Student Body. Imho, this shouldn't be taken lightly by any MA Governing Body, and in that, without the people, the Student Body, there is no Governing Body. This should be true at all times. Your opinions, please!!

However, not everything found on the internet is true; it can be manipulated to the Nth degree. Alas, many will believe what they're reading, and fall victim to it's untruthfulness. As in anything, research into it's validity can not be taken lightly!!

That's exactly what people has to understand & that's I guess is the main reason for frustration ! Frustration for the CI or for the student/parent/whomever else?? Frustration for Instructors ! Imho, I sincerely believe that frustrated instructors are those that are still unseasoned on the floor in their role as an instructor. In time, and with proper guidance, that which is unseasoned turns into a well seasoned instructor. I, too, once was that unseasoned and frustrated instructor until time and proper guidance seasoned me. Time tempers everything and anything, if it's allowed!!

For the moment, I've NO OCCUPATION; I'm on a hiatus!!

That's exactly what people has to understand & that's I guess is the main reason for frustration ! Frustration for the CI or for the student/parent/whomever else?? As a CI, I've no illusions as to the owner of frustration because I've no frustration whatsoever. The ownership of frustration belongs solely to the student/parent/whomever else!! However, they can take their frustration out of my dojo because I will not permit it to permeate the inside of my dojo. You want to be unreasonable with all of that whining and complaining and whatever else?? Take it outside where it belongs!! Leave your cares and woes anywhere else beside in my dojo!! I JUST DON'T CARE WHAT A STUDENT/PARENT/WHOMEVER ELSE THINKS THAT THEY THINK THEY DESERVE!! EARN IT!! As the CI, I, and only I decide who has earned it and whom hasn't!! Whether it be harsh or crude or rude or whatever, is of no concern of mine, now or ever!!!!! Proof is on the floor!!!! Always has been, always will be!!

I love and respect your values and the fact that you put your students before yourself. Again I bow to you. Thank you so very much, MatsuShinshii, for your kind, as well as, supportive words; they mean everything to me!! Please allow me to reciprocate the bow to you, sir....

Let me just say this, for now, and possibly, I might add some more concrete thoughts... You want it?? THEN EARN IT!! Don't want to earn it?? Then get off my floor!! This goes to the student(s) and/or the parent(s)/guardian(s) and/or whomever... I run the floor...NOT YOU!! Don't assume anything on my floor, and this includes a position that you do not possess; not now, and not ever!! EARN IT...HUSH...TRAIN!! That's all I require of anyone on and off the floor!! You came to ME, I didn't come to you, for training in Shindokan Saitou-ryu!!

Welcome to KF, jaacvb; glad that you're here!! I, as well, haven't heard of this gi brand my entire MA career, which spans over 52 years. However, what stoneheart suggests is quite possible. I'm sorry that I can't offer you any concrete leads in your search. Hope you find it or at least have a closure, if that brand's no longer being manufactured anywhere.

I've been on the floor with you, Brian, and in that, you're solid across the board as a MAist, without a doubt!! I'm glad that you eventually began your MA journey, and I've your dad to thank for that!!

So, because I'm no Olympic medalist or a Pan American medalist or a WKF Grand Champion or a UFC Champion, and/or the like, and/or by any thought of qualification(s) that define what is an elite MAist, I'm, therefore, not qualified to be an elite MAist?? That's cool; I'm good with that!! I despise labels, even though, within Shindokan, we've our share of them...that was Soke's idea, and not mine!!

Yes, you're right! It's not something easy to ever forget. I remember my first tournament. I was a 7 year old white belt. The tournament was an open tournament. I lost!! I lost in both the Kata and Kumite divisions...badly!!!!! I was scared to death!! I did nothing right. Bowed in and out incorrectly!! Forgot my stupid name!! Couldn't remember Pinan Shodan!! I couldn't remember the Kata!! I ran away from my opponent right out of the ring over and over!! Butchered the name of our style, as well as my Sensei's name!! It was a disaster. I was ready to quit Karate all together, and for good!! I had trained for 3 months, which is the total amount of knowledge/experience I had; I was still a 10th Kyu. As far as the training being to unrealistically too soon to compete, well, both of our Soke and Dai-Soke (My Sensei) was dead against it, and didn't train us for sport karate because, according to them, sport karate was unrealistic. Still, he didn't prohibit it either because "We're not your parents!! Do what you want to!! But do not talk about your experiences inside the Hombu, ever!!" So, I competed, as did many others of my dojo mates for quite a long, long time. I competed until my last tournament in Bakersfield, CA back in 1994. Those were the days!!

Thank you, LLLEARNER, for your kind and supportive words; they mean everything to me. Hopefully, one day we shall share the same floor; it would be an honor!!

Steady is good!! It's the saying in weight training, that says, less weight, more reps...unless you're a body builder. When I first swam, I struggled to be consistent in my lap count. After all, one way in a pool at my gym is 30 yards. Doesn't sound like much, until you try it after having not done that for so many years. I was lucky to finish 1, and not 1 lap, just once from one side of the pool to the side. Then, staying steady, I'm now able to do 12 full laps, but I'm not trying to go as fast and hard as I can, but to just a slow and steady, NON-STOP!!

I thank each and everyone of you for your kind and supportive words; means everything to me. Student Body, ALWAYS before anyone, especially me!! They deserve that, imho!! The one thing that I need to remember, is that I'm not being put out to pasture...permanently removed. When the doctor clears me to resume my traveling, I'll sign the one piece of paper that reinstates me as the current Kaicho. And if this never happens, then it never happens!! I want what's best for the Student Body!!!! We've an interim Kaicho now!! And, we've an interim Kancho, as well. They're settling down into their new roles quite well. And I'm on conference calls with them once per week, and whenever they need to, to help them assimilate into their new positions. Kaicho and Kancho, can be, and will be, from time to time, a challenge, if one's not use to the fast pace it warrants and demands. Because they're interim, they will not be promoted in rank, per out By-Laws, unless they are made permanent. Then, they will be promoted per our By-Laws.

Thank you Safroot, JR, and SaiFightsMS; means everything to me!! Ever since my journey began last October to lose 100lbs, I've plateaued from time to time, with each plateau driving me absolutely crazy. With those plateau's, I eventually broke them. However, this plateau is one stubborn beast!! I do change up routines, and quite often. I push, and my weight pushes back at me. I'll lose, then I'll regain; back and forth with no end of this mind numbing ratio. Gggggrrrrrrrrrr!! I watch my diet like a hawk, when maybe, I should be watching it as an eagle!! I've strict on my intake of food, as well as it's portions. Yes, I've lost 70lbs since October 2016, and I'm quite proud of my progress thus far. Still, I'm frustrating. Up and down...down and up...over and over and over and over...today I smile...then a week later, I frown...this endless pounding at my weight is one day a celebration, then before I know it, the celebration ends. My daily routine at the gym is being constantly tweaked and refined by myself, however, in this, I do not do the same routine week after week, nor do I do the same thing daily. What I've posted lately, as far as my journal is concerned, is based on an overall weekly average, in the attempt to not have a long drawn out of each days activities. However, I've a big journal that I do care to the gym with me, and it's much more detailed. I'll look over the journal, and tweak from there!! I ran the other morning for 3 miles...without a stop!! I felt great instead of one thing...my right thigh was screaming in pain at me right from the beginning of the run; I'm paying for that. In that, no more running for me; my right leg's already constantly numb from the knee down 24/7 due to a pinched nerve in my lower back. I do give my weight loss quite a lot of thinking because my doctor wants me to be 216lbs by this October; I can do this!! However, I'm becoming quite obsessive over it, and it's not my intent. Ggggrrrrrrr!! I do monitor my heart while at the gym. However, I only monitor it while on the StairMaster and the Treadmill because those machine have built in HR monitors. I might look into buying the one you mention, JR, because I'm aware that my heart rate must be elevated in a healthy manner in order to loss weight. As well as monitoring my HR so I don't danger myself by doing more than my body allows. This right here, is a key I have to push more for. Looking over my journal, perhaps, I do need to shorten my duration's to break that plateau beast. I became addictive to increasing the duration because I, yes me...I, decided that increasing my duration's and the like would be the short-cut to reaching my goal much sooner. Am I the idiot?!!!!!!!!! Been in the MA for 52 years and I think my ways the right way!! WRONG!! MA training and conditioning IS NOT THE SAME THING AS WEIGHT LOSS TRAINING!!!! Two separate beasts with different goals!! JR, in re-reading your post, and reviewing my journal, I believe you're on to something that I've walked away from. I'll do some tweaking to be more akin to what you're suggesting just to see if it'll help me to finally break this stubborn beast of a plateau. It's been 7 months...I've lost 70 pounds...that's a 10lbs per month weight loss...that is 2.5lbs weight loss per week. At first, I was dropping 8-10lbs per week. Now, I'm slow crawling to an almost dead stop!! I've 5 months to lose 30lbs, which should be 6lbs per month, which should be 1.5lbs per week. Seems doable, except for the fact that I've been a ping pong ball all over NO WHERE FOR 2 MONTHS!! Ggggggrrrrrrrrrr!! What in the ding dong?!?!?!?!?!?! Nothing ventured...nothing gained...and everything lost...except some weight these past few months!! Thanks, EVERYONE!!

Yes...to you and everyone here at KF, and your families and friends!!!! Happy Easter!!

Workout are still going strong, and each every week, I change up my routines in order to maximize my potential weight loss journey...on going...no quitting!! So, I'm abusing the StairMaster, and I've gone from 1 hour and 30 minutes, to 1 hour and 40 minutes...and if I was climbing real stairs, I would've made it to the summit of Everest. I've done several sessions on the Treadmill of 1 hour...and if I was really walking I would've made it to California. I've done a few sessions where I'm rowing 1 hour...and if I was really rowing, I would've made it to South America. I've swam a few times whereas if I was really in the open waters, I would've made it to the Caribbean. Well, of course, my distances above are way off base, but that's what I'm feeling, at times. Here's my question... I'm on a plateau of 256...for several months. Is it even possible to think that I've reached my maximum weight loss?? Not ever going to reach my goal of 216 by this October?!?! It's perplexing, to say the least!!

Welcome to KF, Eaglepainting; glad that you're here!! What, if any, MA style is your preference?? Nope, sorry, I'm not familiar with that part of GA. I did a quick internet search, and it appears that there are several MA classes in that town. Whether they're any good, well, like MatsuShinaii have suggested already, visit them all, more than one time, and decide from that. Good luck in your search!!

Gorilla Tape; it's a super duper Duct Tape!! Not always the most attractive thing to put on your ankle weights, but, if they're expensive, then Gorilla Tape might be much more preferred than throwing them away.

PittbullJudoka and I had a talk with a young student a couple of months back. If he had a hard night, you see on his face he was down. He has a lot of potential, but he gets down on himself for not picking things up quickly or having a bad night. We told he that in our time training, we've had more off nights than on, more nights when we struggled to do simple combination, than nights when everything flowed smoothly and with effort. Some nights you're the hammer. Some nights you're the nail. And some nights you're the board. Solid post!! To the bold type above... Yes...yes...yes...and I'm no beginner, by any means!! Been there...bought the T-Shirt, and then some, more times than I can even remember.

A most profound impact across the board; can't be denied, imho!! Whilst, I've not joined the modern world by not having a website, nor do I want one, a much more proactive involvement when it comes to the internet, and the MA in particular. What's for others, isn't for everyone, or others. No, imho, this tradition hasn't been lost; it's been supplemented. How so? Students of the MA, no matter how traditional or how eclectic, still need the guidance as well as instruction from their instructor; that interchange between teacher and student must still be the core of learning. Albeit, the internet is just a finger stroke of the keyboard away from revealing a many scores of unanswered question; we all live in a very big world, and knowledge is abound. No. That's because no matter how much of a marvel the technique wonders might be, it/they can't ever replace the human connection. I can learn from the technical wonder, but that technical wonder can't correct my mistakes. Those technical wonders have their place in today's world, but nonetheless, without the human factor, that technical wonder has already reached its potential. Neither!! "Better", imho, is only a suggestion...an assumption. Even more so, we're fallible creatures, through and through; the accountability of effectiveness lies within the practitioner, and not within the MA. A tool is only as good as the bearer who wields it!!

I train with heart issues, not as much as you have, but nonetheless. I've spoken about it here at KF at these KF links... http://www.karateforums.com/training-with-afib-vt50022.html http://www.karateforums.com/renewing-myself-or-at-least-trying-to-vt50082.html I, as you, am taking a pro active approach to the Nth degree because our health is very important to us, as well as our families. I will fight the good fight, and will not give up!! My life depends on it!! Your hang in there Alan, you shall be in my prayers everyday!!

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