sensei8

"You fat pig!!" "You disgust me!!" "There's no way that you can be a black belt, let alone, a high ranking black belt!!" "We're not interested because of your weight; you're not a positive role model!!" "You're out of shape, grossly out of shape, and you call yourself a black belt?!" "You're a liar; you are not a black belt. If you were, you'd not be as fat as you are!!" Words thrown on me as though I no more better than horse dung!! A pain that will scare me until my dying days; no band-aide can cover the forever lasting pain...hurt...more long lasting than one can imagine. These are only just a few that I've heard over the past many, many, many years concerning my weight. A book shouldn't be judged by its cover, but just by its content!! However, this doesn't seem to apply just to books!! There once was a time when I weighted 350lbs...yes...350LBS!! Do you know what it's like to hear doctors label you as "Grossly Obese"?? While these labels might be medically approved, they still leave a wound that's difficult to heal. I've not owned a size 6 gi, in like, forever. As my weight ballooned and skyrocketed out of control to that 350lb range, I had to find a solution fast, because, to my knowledge, there are no gi manufacturers that produce a gi to fit a 350lb girth. I'd buy 2 size 6 gi's and have some talented seamstress build me a gi that I could wear by combining the two gi's. Key in pulling this off, is to hire a master seamstress to do so, but to not leave it where it showed that the gi that I'm wearing wasn't made from 2 gi's. There's a picture here at KF with Brain and me in it, and the gi I wore for that picture was a gi made from 2 gi's. I'm not sure if Brain could tell or not, but not many, if any knew that. Matter of fact, I don't think I've ever told anyone at any of my dojo's and/or at the Hombu of that tailoring secret. But, it's true!! To be shunned by others, due to my weight, especially from the MA world, is, oftentimes, more than I can bear. Many years I've wept over the rejections that I've received from other MAists. Words cut deeply, as do the disapproving looks, and I'm not immune to either. Yes, I'm taking the measurable steps to improve my healthy life style, and I'm proud of what I've accomplished thus far. It took a diagnosis of Afib to get my attention. Had it not been for that wake-up call, I might've died more prematurely than expected. No, I'm not out of the woods yet, but the hope I feel is not in vain or hopeless. Those outside of the Shindokan circle who took a chance with me, despite their less than hopeful expectations about a many things regarding my MA knowledge/experience, walked away with a changed appreciation concerning me once they shared the floor with me. While the anguished pain of those many years may never fade away, I'm doing what I can to improve my healthy life style, and one pound at a time, by trying my hardest to renew myself. Cut me, don't I bleed?! Hurt me, don't I cry?! Being cast aside like an unwanted rag because of my weight history is a hurt that I don't wish upon my worse's enemy. Many sleepless nights have I experienced, and many tears have I wept because of being not accepted by fellow MAists; those who doubted me...those who defiled me...those who scorned me...those who called me a liar...those who passed ill-begotten judgement on me... And why? Because I'm "obese"?! Because I don't fit into their expectations?! Because I'm a few steaks short of cardiac arrest?! These hurts...this pain...is forever!! Even nowadays, I'm laughed at and I'm lampooned because of my weight. Even here at KF, over the years I've read posts where members have spoken about just how disgusting it is to see a "so-called" instructor who's out of shape and the like, and while none of these posts were ever directed towards me, it still deeply hurt me. Again, I'm trying my best to renew myself!! That should be for myself, and not for others!! The floor speaks for me quite wholeheartedly!!

266lbs; that's a 60lbs weight loss from when I weighed 326lbs, back in October 2016!! Up a notch or two...2 and a half hours at the gym... StairMaster for 35 minutes at levels 7-10; 10 is the highest level. It was a workout, to be for sure, but worth it all. Treadmill for 25 minutes! Rowing Machine for 20 minutes! Battle Rope and Rope Pull Down for 3 sets!! Cardio for 90 minutes! Then... Free weights for 90 minutes with varied equipment!! For a motivation, I bought a new size 6 gi; it's been awhile since I've worn a size 6 gi...so long...ago!! Here's to the continued journey down to 215lbs!!

A very difficult situation across the board. Not being any easier, for sure, with President Trump ruling that things similar like this are no longer a Federal concern, but a State concern instead. On the part that I'm quite ignorant in things like this, and please forgive me of that, and I'm not on any sides whatsoever, but, in a very, very small way, I do understand their reason(s), however, that doesn't mean that their reasons are ok!! People are afraid of that which they don't understand, and/or believe in. That too, doesn't mean that decisions made out of incomplete knowledge are correct either. However, what's one to do. You want tomatoes, then go to a tomato vendor. Meaning that, if one wants to participate in whatever it might be, that individual has to abide by the rules and regulations, and in this regards, the wrestling's governing body, whomever they might be. In my dojo's as well as in our Hombu, any and all transgendered student are welcomed!! I/we will not allow any prejudice to exist at any level; none whatsoever. I/we are there to teach, and not to pass any ill-judgement against any individual; that's not why I/we teach. To improve the MA betterment of each student without any bias being attached whatsoever, and not to be concerned with each one's privacy, as one's privacy must be protected, for their privacy is their given right to pursue unabated without free of it being stalled and/or interrupted in its full course. While we might be living in a cynical world, we have several choices... 1) Accept 2) Deny 3) Fight I choose to fight until the fight is lost!! I accept that which I can't change, but in that same light, I deny the strongholds set against my fellow man/woman, and until the final decision(s) are made, I'll fight for what I believe is the right thing to do. “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” ~John Lydgate This shall always complicate man's/women's thought way long after I've shed my mortal coil!!

Welcome to KF, Dani_001; glad that you're here!! There's a saying...Better late than never!!

If I was McGregor, I'd be going... "Please let this happen, Lord, please....I need that kind of money. A 'L' would be fine for me on my stats, because, I'd take the 'W' all the way to the bank!!"

Solid post!! I seem to forget to stretch for one good or bad reason afterwards. As I approach 60 years old, , I can feel the difference quickly and long lasting. For 2 weeks or so, my left hip flexors have given me a few pauses. Neglect stretching before and AFTER a workout is quite beneficial to ones overall health.

Welcome to KF, LiamODell; glad that you're here!! Good luck with you upcoming Dan Testing Cycle, and I'm looking forward to read your posts here.

To the bold type above... For me, I use to do that as well, in my youth, both at home and at the dojo I owned and operated; ego is the worse evil. Yet, once Dai-Soke saw those as well, I was taught a lesson on humbleness, quite sharply, I might add. Again, it's up to the individual, and in my opinion, it's the given right of the individual to decide one way or another...I will always respect the rights of the individual, and will never pass judgement, even if I disagree with it. And if I disagree with it, it's none of my business, and I won't say a darn thing...not even shaking my head as to demonstrate disapproval.

Solid post with solid points!! As they will undoubtfully cater to their own strengths, and depending on the format, one will fall hard, while the other will rise just as hard. In the end, I'm really supposing that this fight might end up to be a exhibition match where both won't lose face...if they can agree on each others stipulations.

I've a difficult time watching movies, like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" because, imho, it doesn't accurately portray the MA. I get the point that it's a fantasy, however, I still can't watch MA movies like that. "Enter The Dragon", is, imho, the model of how a MA should be made. However, there's a scene in that movie that has Bruce leaping up into a tree to avoid detection by Han's roving guards. When Bruce leaped into that tree, I hated it because there was nothing MA about that at all; theatrics. Theatrics, that took away from the movie, and didn't add anything at all, imho. "The Real Miyagi" and documentaries like that, are my most preferred thing to watch. Documentaries don't depend on theatrics, just facts, and facts are history, and history surrounds the MA.

It might seem to be a silly question but do the instructors teach Kumite ?! How they should teach it because in both dojos I have attended they just say Kumite time get your gloves on and start 1 or 2 min rounds .... that's it, is that how it's supposed to be ?! Yes!! The CI instructs everything, while the instructors support the teachings of the CI!! If the CI isn't physically teaching Kumite, that doesn't mean that that CI isn't teaching Kumite. Observations of a CI are vitally important element of teaching. Sees things, then corrects things; this is the CI teaching Kumite. So observing & correcting is the way of teaching kumite ?! But how this happens when you have 4 or 5 partners sparring at the same time ?! Yes, observing and correcting IS the way of teaching Kumite, but by far, not the only way to teach Kumite. Drill after drill are found in a curriculum, and then there's the personal experience that the CI has. To watch...to correct...without those, students have no compass to guide them; that ability is quite evident in any group class with the CI's eyes darting here and there, and when it's necessary to do so, correcting the observed errors. Depending the level of the students, depends on the Kumite drills. Not all CI's teach Kumite the same way; be thankful for that!! It's far more easy to do than one might think for a CI to do; it's the steak and eggs of a CI's teaching ability across the board. Teaching is akin to putting out a fire, but only one fire at a time. With a CI, the observing and correcting is as normal as when the CI is tying his/her shoelaces...or brushing his/her teeth...or opening and shutting a door.

ME!! I do it all of the time, and have done it for as long as I can remember. I suppose that it's the teacher of the MA that's in me, as well as me just being that MAist. I've a hard time enjoying a MA movie, or a movie with MA in it because I'm too busy being that teacher and MAist.

Absolutely agree with your statement. All of my old cert's and licenses are in my file cabinet in my study but if I were to display them all it would be at home. I don't even display these things at home; that would be very weird as well as an ill begotten ego trip. My wife would lose respect for me, but not before I lost respect for myself.

This was the reason I asked. I agree that my personal medical history is my business and no one else's as is the case in most businesses. How then do you know if you do not ask and in asking does this not put the student in a awkward position if there is something there but they do not want to divulge it. This is the conundrum in whether to require a release or not. However I would think that the doctor could ok the student for training or not without divulging personal information on the release form. Be it a simple box that is checked yes or no. It can be the Catch-22, for sure. The doctor saying yes or no, and nothing beyond that, would be sufficient enough to allow the enrollment of said student.

Now that is interesting, and I do respect your opinion on this subject wholeheartedly. To clinch, McGregor has to get TO Mayweather, and with the hand speed and power, along with his ability to slip and slide, Mayweather might not be that easy to get into a clinch. Sure, while "boxing", them both would end up in a clinch, as boxers do during a boxing match, but I believe that Mayweather respects McGregor's ground and clinching skills, and will be everything in his power to stave off McGregor, as much as he can. I will say this, keeping McGregor off, and at a distance will be difficult to do so for the entire match, but still doable. Mayweather might want McGregor to get close so he can unleash his power and speed with his hands. "Come on...get closer...that's it...get closer...please", then...WHAM, WHAM, WHAM, WHAM... Takes a lot of guts to get within Mayweathers range, and I mean a lot of guts. Takes a lot of guts to get within McGregor range, and I mean a lot of guts. Both have undeniable mad skills, however, Mayweather is far superior than McGregor...IMHO!! Mayweather's reach is 72"!! McGregor's reach is 74"...could be a deciding factor...maybe...maybe not.

Excellent points, Danielle!! In a MA comparison, and forgive me for this, Mayweather would be the Dan rank and McGregor would be the Kyu rank under any of the available venues. McGregor is not slouch, however, Mayweather outranks him across the board. Imho!!

There was a time, quite a very, very long time ago, I'd display everything, and I mean everything. Certificates and awards and trophies, alike. However, and forgive me, but the reason(s) why they were not always for marketing and/or verification, but for vain reasons as well. I didn't stop all after the vanity until one day my Dai-Soke came to visit, and unceremoniously chewed me out. Normally, I would've ignored him because it was my dojo and not his and as the owner of my dojo, I can do whatever I want to without his blessing and/or approval. However, after he explained why my actions weren't agreeable to him, I gave it some serious consideration, and took them all down. Ever since that day, I only display current/latest certificates [Rank and Shogo]. Everything else, stowed away, and that's where they'll remain!! In short, how one displays or doesn't display, imho, is up to the individual, and in that, I'd never pass judgement on those that do elaborately display anything in their school of MA; I respect them and their school!!

Aren't someone's medical issues the business of the doctor and the patient, and nobody else??!! Seems quite invasive if the SKKA were to want to know more than I'm willing to share??!! Patient rights, imho, should be extended beyond the doctor/patient, whereas, I'm not required to reveal more than I'm comfortable with. Catch 22...stuck between a rock and a hard place. The safety of the student body as well as the CI, instructors, other employee's, and visitors/guests, must be addressed, for everyone's sake!! Or is it??

To put into context, this was recorded after the students had been practicing the drill for a while. I noticed a few were missing the grab of the lapel, so I quickly gathered them around to point that bit out. At that time, this was recorded. It would have been nice to have had the initial demos recorded! Now that you've explained what I didn't fully see/know, I apologize for my assumption of incompleteness; you were spot on!!

It might seem to be a silly question but do the instructors teach Kumite ?! How they should teach it because in both dojos I have attended they just say Kumite time get your gloves on and start 1 or 2 min rounds .... that's it, is that how it's supposed to be ?! Yes!! The CI instructs everything, while the instructors support the teachings of the CI!! If the CI isn't physically teaching Kumite, that doesn't mean that that CI isn't teaching Kumite. Observations of a CI are vitally important element of teaching. Sees things, then corrects things; this is the CI teaching Kumite.

The one thing about phone apps for me is that I'm quite thrifty towards these type of things. Because of my being thrifty, I don't want to buy a memory card because, and to be honest, I just want to be able to receive and place phone calls, and nothing beyond that. I've very few phone apps, like the weather, my car insurance company, and my bank. I don't even have games or music. I can blame it on the fact that I'm old school when it comes to a phone...call me or I'll call you, and texting with me is a stretch and so, well, rude.

Sounds like they both did well in that tournament. Hats off to them both!! Next week's tournaments should go without a hitch, and I believe that they'll both do well there also. Are you and/or their coach working with them both on how to engage with a bigger [weight, height, etc.] opponent?? If I may ask, how much does Kenneth weigh??

Is it possible to define my position as a MAist?? Oftentimes, as I grow older, I feel that I'm at a point of neutrality as a MAist; and perhaps, that's where I've been for these past 5 decades...neutral. Not one way or another...not day or night...not up or down...not left or right...neutral. In my own MA life, after 52 years on my MA journey, I feel that I have never done that one thing, that noble thing that defines my MA life. Possibly, I have not been truly tested. As a career MA, what have I done?? What have I truly contributed to the MA, to the betterment of another MA, or to my students?? What have I accomplished when it comes to the SKKA/Hombu; past, present, and future?? I'm unknown in any venue known to a MA; I'm not published...I've not created anything of real value...I've not a website...I've not a blog...I've not a podcast...I've not a LiveStream...I've not a YouTube channel...I've no Twitter...I've no MA Facebook page...I've not traveled away from the Shindokan circle!! Neutral!! I have said “later” to most anything that required true sacrifice. Later...I will merge outside of the security blanket of the SKKA/Hombu. Later...I will spend a weekend teaching Shindokan to those MAists that are not of the SKKA, not just attend one. Later... I will do this or I will do that. Later...later...later...later. It is too easy to say “later” because I believe my MA "work" to be too important to stop, minute to minute, for something that might interfere with the restless and relentless pursuit of forward motion. Neutral!! I'm not bitter, nor am I sorry how my MA life has been; I've had no preconceived notions about my MA journey. It is what it is, and I'm proud of the things that I've accomplished in 52 years...and yet, I'm still searching for that forward motion. But tonight, I could be wrong in my thinking, but there are still things to accomplish. However, medical issues are preventing it, and as hard as this is, and how hard I've fought to avoid the inevitable conclusion, I might have to walk off the floor for good. Even though I swore to an oath that I'd never, ever, walk away from the SKKA and/or my MA journey. Neutral!! I will not be missed in the MA world outside of the SKKA, and to be honest with myself, I won't be missed in the SKKA because I'm not Soke and Dai-Soke, and they were great MAists across the board. Whereas, I'm not!!

Good news that you're enjoying the training after 4 classes; each journey starts with a few steps!! While you say that you can't kick high, I'd like to encourage you to remember this... Muay Thai has several devastating low kicks. For example, their Cut Kick is capable of dropping an opponent to the ground. And I'm sure that you've either seen or have trained on a Muay Thai hanging bag...let me tell you this...I love those bags because of their density. First times you unleash a kick on those hanging bags, you'll swear that you just hit a stone column. Then, as time goes by, those bags are moving and bending with your kicks...you start bending and moving those bags, your opponent will wish they'd moved out of the way. Don't let it discourage you about your inability of kicking high. Instead, become the best friend of those Muay Thai bags; they'll make a difference, as well as making a believer out of you, and out of your opponent. You chop at a tree long enough with resolve, that tree will fall!! Many times I've seen a fight end with one well placed low kick.

Even though you've just only began in training Muay Thai... How many classes have you had?? Are you enjoying the style?? What's the most challenging thing about it that you noticed right away??