sensei8

I've, in my 52 years in Shindokan, have had my share of opportunities to teach my fellow MAist's that held a higher rank than I, including my Soke and Dai-Soke, albeit, not every MAist that I've had the privilege to teach were students of Shindokan; many a seminars I've conducted were open sessions. Ego must be checked in at the door, or that practitioner(s) not allowed on the floor, nor is that practitioner(s) allowed to remain inside the dojo, and this applies to any dojo that I've been a guest running a seminar. We're on the floor to learn!! Being taught requires an openness towards whom it might be that's running the floor at that given time. There were countless amount of times that I ran the floor within any Shindokan dojo, and many of those present outranked me. Not one of them were there to look at my rank, but to learn!! I become quite blind where rank is concerned whenever I'm on the floor to learn, and that's always, because it's the knowledge that I seek, no matter whom is teaching. Yes, even the lowest rank can teach a higher rank a thing or two. Humble!! That must be more than just a word!! It must be felt!!

Stretch more often, and not when only at the dojo. Also, stretch the left side much more, however, ease into that carefully in order to avoid any unexpected injuries. Albeit, look into some sport doctors to see if they can help.

Thanks, JR; nothing ventured, nothing gained. Seek out those who are the experts in their respective fields, and listen, not talk, but listen!! Those college's are in my area, and I'll definitely look into all of your suggestions. Again, thanks, JR!!

Welcome to KF, danbrendel; glad that you're here!! Not to steal anyone's thunder from them, so the only thing I know is Hondu Undo, and all that it entails; it's all I've ever known. What Chinese conditioning I know, can fit into a thimble; my background is Okinawan at nature!! I hope someone here can help you find the info you're seeking!!

Now that's a solid post, and man oh man, so familiar to me as some of it has that way to familiar ring.

Yes, any of his fingerprinting on the SKKA would greatly be a negative effect on the whole enchilada. However, I don't foresee that to ever happening, not the way our Legal Team has taken those painstaking efforts to protect the SKKA, especially when it concerns Iwao. I'll speak with our Legal Team to ensure of that. One of the Regents asked me why am I being being so aloof towards him and with this entire situation. I told him, I'm not there to be his friend, nor am I there to be nice nice with him! He came to us, we didn't come to him, and I owe him nothing. He wants a friend?? He'll not find it in me!! I don't have to be nice to him...and I'm not going to be!!

Stress? No...maybe...I don't know!! Last time when I was at the Hombu, just this January, I had a few episodes where I felt quite fatigued and short winded at times while I was teaching, and in that, I averaged about 4 classes per day. That, not teaching with that same vigor, that, stresses me out the most. I know I'm not that whippersnapper that I use to be, but man oh man, me just doing everything minus the physicality, drives me crazy...adds to my stress level. As my wife reminds me, if I push yourself to much, I could do more harm than good, and that could end any future contributions on the floor!! What's one to do?!

You know what, JR...you make a lot of since...seeking out a cardiologist that works with athletes is something I hadn't thought of!! I'm still reading about my Afib as well as the many procedures against my Cardiologist advice because he doesn't want me to assume anything because I'm not a Cardiologist...I love to read, and this is how I educate myself. However, what do I know...I'm not a Cardiologist whatsoever!! Thanks, JR!!

Thank you all; means the world to me!! I remember when this particular journey began, and I was only averaging about 250 cardio calorie burn, but then I quickly averaged 520 daily cardio calorie burn...out with the old and in with the new, nowadays, my cardio average calorie burn is 800: 30 minutes on the StairMaster 25 minutes on the Treadmill 20 minutes on the Rowing Machine That gave me a cardio calorie burn of 801 today; not bad for an old man?!

Preemptive!! Each, and every action took against the perceived enemy, Iwao Takahashi, was by me, preemptive, for cause. Iwao's response, while of no surprise to myself, to my punctilious stipulations are to be expected. Even though my courses of discard was quite premeditated intentionally; I've no qualms of disheartening whatsoever towards Iwao. In short, he made his bed, now he can lie in it, for all I care!! Higher Hierarchy's feelings, as of now, are a bit disheveled towards me for the moment, because they see me as the unwilling proponent of peace. While Iwao's destructive past is evident, and without cause, my unwillingness to consider a peaceful accord is being thought of not much better. Think what they might, it's their right, but as I've reminded them, I run this...the SKKA/Hombu, and my obligations towards the SKKA/Hombu and its Student Body, is without ambiguity and/or reservations, and I will protect and defend the SKKA/Hombu as well as the Student Body, to the best of my abilities...and without approval and/or permission!! I'm Kaicho, and in the manner of how our By-Laws and the like have been written, my decisions are final, without contestation, and that is why my stipulations were not overbearing, but to exact that which is perceived as harmful to the SKKA/Hombu/Student Body. There's a reason why we've only 5 Regents in the SKKA. That's to avoid any vote that might end up tied votes, of any type!! Any votes of mine aren't beneficial because a tie can be birthed, and a tie vote, stalemates the SKKA. That isn't allowed; either a vote passes or it fails!! Now, for potential tied votes, and this matter is just that if I was to add my vote to the final tally, our Legal Team made my decision to be the only authority of vote to be considered if the Kaicho has determined that a viable threat exists against the SKKA/Hombu/Student Body. Only a newly voted for Kaicho can override any Executive decision...that means, when I'm no longer the Kaicho, then, if necessary, the newly elected Kaicho can suspend, and invoke a change of this matter. Iwao has asked for more time to consider, and I've given him until February 3, 2017 at 5pm PST, to consider. He must make his final decision by then, and if that time expires, so does any and all petitions and the like!!

Come on JR...YOU CAN DO THIS...I believe that with every fiber of my being!! Fight, as you've never fought before; with a terrible resolve!! Got to get your BP down, and you've got to fight to exercise, no matter!! You're in my thoughts and prayers, JR!!

I, too, look forward to read your thoughts while your MA journey slowly, however certain, rolls always forward. Your MA journey is yours alone, and no one can take it away from you. Sure, those will try to rob you of your joy anyway that they can!! As the old idiom says..."7 times down, 8 times up", and that right there is the exclamation point of anyone's MA journey, and what one does is everything. All proof, without any ambiguity and/or reservation, is on the floor...you...your training...your MA journey...everything...is out there for all to see. MA character is a fragile thing to harness and protect, albeit, the easiest to do so because one does what's right!! Train hard...train well!!

Yes, 1,000 square feet is a bit large for 12 students!! I suppose 500 square feet would be adequate enough for 12 students, and to be sure, my Tatami calculations would serve that. Smallest I've ever worked in commercially was 1,000 square feet, and that seemed quite cramped, to me.

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

1,000 square feet should be more than adequate 12 student. For example...4 Tatami mats for 2 students, and a usual Tatami mat is 6'X3'//3'X6'...that's 18 square feet X 4 Tatami mats = 72 square feet X 6 pairs of 2 students = 436 total square feet. That leaves room for a very small office, lobby, viewing area, and retail display, if one's lucky, and knows how to manage small spaces. Imho!!

Update: 276lbs!! That's 50 pounds lost since October 4, 2016!! 60lbs to lose by October4, 2017!! Goal...216lbs!! That means that I must average a 7.5lbs loss per month....that's less than 2lbs per week. Seems doable...seems probable....I can do this!! I've been averaging a 12.5lbs per month loss!! It's conceivable for me to get as low as 176lbs by October 4, 2017; that would be an additional 100lbs loss...40lbs more than my goal, from this post's time stamp!! So far, so good!!

I've not faced similar situations and/or concerns, and that for me, because I face the person, and not the style/methodology/ideology/etc. As far as how long it'll take you to adapt, well, that is entirely up to you!! To me, this question straddles right along with..."How long before I can earn a black belt??" Even while it's up to you as far as how long it might take to adapt, that isn't the only parameters that you've no control over. Train hard, and train well...this will go a long way to help you adapt.

Well oh well...the 51st Super Bowl is finally upon us; New England Patriots VS Atlanta Falcons inside of the NRG in Houston, TX, February 5, 2017!! Yeah, I'm as equally surprised as some of you might be because I predicted that this SB would be the Patriots VS Packers; however, that, as history would record, didn't occur. Oh well, what's one to do?! The Patriots, as well as the Falcons dominated their respective opponents. Patriots VS Steelers...36-17, as with the Falcons VS Packers...44-21; pretty much identical scores with same desires. Who's favorite to win SB51?? I've read that the Patriots are favored over the Falcons by 3 points, that's only a field goal, but to be perfectly honest, odds change as often as the weather. I've also read that the Patriots’ are -155, and the Falcons are +135 underdogs. In the next 2 weeks, one might need either a degree in Mathematics or an old Chinese Abacus to figure this one out, which isn't more impossible to figure out, as in any sporting event, than which shoe lace should I tie first...the left or the right. Falcons are entering their only 2nd trip to the SB, with no titles as of yet to their credit. But on the other hand, the Patriots are returning to the SB for their 9th time, with 4 Championship titles to their credit; SB51, imho, should be either a shootout or so boring that watching paint dry would be much more entertaining. I myself vote for the shootout. If it's a shootout, this game score might be close to 60 points for one of these gladiators of the gridiron!! Who'll win or who'll lose?? That will be determined between those two teams, and no one else!! I love to cheer on for the underdog, therefore, I'll be cheering on the Falcons this up and coming SB Sunday!! Btw, an interesting statistic is, in the history of the SB, currently, the National Football Conference (NFC) leads the league with 26 wins to 24 wins for the American Football Conference (AFC); with that in mind, the Falcons have a chance, while it's a slim one, increase that to 27 SB wins; widening the thin margin between those two Conferences. Good luck to both teams; may the best win!! GO COWBOYS [sorry, had to sign-off that way...that's my MO]

As the title reads, as well suggests,..."Respect for the Dojo", if one can't and/or won't respect the Dojo, then how can one respect the Sensei of said Dojo; they both must be, and receive the same. How can we serve one, but not serve the other?? Especially, when, imho, they are both inseparable. A student is a guest of the Sensei, as well as of the Dojo, and in that regards, ones proper manners should always be on display, and not because it's polite thing to do, but because it's the right thing to do.

Having the ability to have themselves understood by not only the chosen few, but by all students, all of the time!! That, to me, is essential for one to control the floor, if one can't control the floor, there's no since in unlocking the front door in the first place. I'll, for grins and giggles, call this, controlling the floor, first base; one has to get on first base before one can even attempt to reach the remaining three bases successfully. Second base is listening skills, and without listen skills, how is one too be that instructor of conveyance?? Questions are abound with any student of the MA, this is understood, albeit, congenial answers must be readily available at the drop of a hat, and in that, not just any answer; students are quizzical by nature, and adult students are even more so...any bluff will deride any credibility faster than a speeding bullet. Third base is tangible understandings, and without tangible understandings, how's one going to satisfy the necessary infrastructure of operating a successful school of the MA?!? I've not ever visited a school of the MA where 'it' can tend for itself, and in that, both the instructor and the building are quite dependent upon one another. Home plate can be the most important, yet most difficult to achieve...communication skills!! To say what you mean, and mean what you say, and to be taken serious, not just some of the time, but at all times, while being honest with oneself first, then with others. Credibility is a fragile thing, so much so that if all of ones bases aren't covered, then ones credibility is thrown out with the bath water; so easy to lose, but so difficult to maintain. Want to lose credibility faster than one can ever imagine, then lie to anyone!! Age, rank, and whatever else one might hold valuable, are quite insouciance, because if one lacks both the fortitude as well as integrity, and it's found out to be so, than that instructor doesn't deserve to cast a shadow over credibility; now or ever!!

No, we do not. Albeit, if any student fits into that category, than that's up to the CI as to how their dojo addresses such. It's an easy thing to do, and it doesn't interrupt class flow for me, for example, to give the class instructions, and to modify that specific instruction to those students that fit that category; it's just as easy as pie, to do so!! The other students, well, they're fine with that across the board.

Nothing's stopping you from speaking with your Sensei about your concerns; that's up to you. As far as saying something to any parent or whomever else about your concerns, on your own, I'd say that that responsibility belongs to your Sensei, and no one else...unless you're directed to do so by your Sensei. Know your role!! Assuming a position that you don't possess is one of the worse thing a student can do!! If all of those distractions don't bother your Sensei, then, if it was me, I'd not say a word, whatsoever!!

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

I've a Toyota Camry...it weighs 2,600lbs...if after all that is said and done, and I've done all that I could to defend myself, but to no avail, I'll could use my car...it (the car) has, at that point, all of the style that I need. WHAM!!

The Kancho of the SKKA is not the CI of the system, but only the Vice-President of the SKKA. Kancho's plate is way to full to deal with being the CI. Especially when I'm more out of house than in house. No, if I lived locally to the Hombu, nowadays, I'd not be the CI of the SKKA because, as it stands, my plate would be way to full for me to equally give both of these positions the respect and attention they both deserve. Well, the Term Limits, for now, have been tabled until a time yet to still be make in the future. This is due to the tragedy of July 2016!! This is both for respect to them, as well as their families!! Our current CI, is the Interim CI, as we've not elected a new CI, as of yet. If Iwao accepts my stipulations, he'll be elected as the CI. It is my understanding that all of the Higher Hierarchy will vote for him to be the CI of the SKKA. If Iwao refuses my stipulations, then we'll search for, and then vote for a CI of the SKKA. Our Interim CI is more than qualified to be the SKKA's CI, and feels worthy, however, our Interim CI is very busy being Vice-President of a fortune 500 company. As of now, he's being allowed to be our Interim CI on a full time basis, and we've until the end of February to find, and secure, a permanent CI. So, he feels both honored and worthy, however, had he felt unworthy to hold the CI post, we'd not stop him from abdicating, as no one is ever forced to hold any elected position of any degree.