sensei8

KC and the Steelers are going to freeze, but I suppose they're use to it, but ICE, bbbrrrrrrrrrrrr!! My vote is for the Chiefs!! Dolphins loss, for me, was unexpected; like Brain said, tough loss!! Falcons dominated the Seahawks! Patriots dominated the Texans! Patriots now are waiting for either the Chiefs or the Steelers for the AFC Conference Championship in New England; winner of that goes to the Super Bowl. Falcons are waiting for either the Cowboys or the Packers for the NFC Conference Championship; winner goes to the Super Bowl. If the Cowboys win, the Falcons will come to Arlington,TX, but if the Packers win, the Packers will go to Atlanta, GA. My prediction will be of no surprise to anyone here...the Cowboys WILL defeat the Packers!! GO COWBOYS!!

Yes, the style in SD is YOU!! Survive however YOU need to!! Self Defense (SD) is within you, it's there, lying there dormant until you need it. It doesn't require you to abide by any core style and belief because it only needs you to act effectively in order to survive an attack.

Thanks for the support! I think you have made an important but above but I am not sure if I understood you correctly . I think you are trying to say that use of stances should be internalised by the individual so they understand and become comfortable with how their own bodies move? Yes, that's what I'm saying, even though I said it poorly. I didn't want to get way too technical, as I have a habit of doing just that. Sorry!!

I've struggled with this very question back in the late 1970's, when I first opened my Kyuodan Dojo in the San Fernando Valley, in the city of Van Nuys, California. What was too much?? What wasn't too much?? So on and so forth. Finally, I decided on a price, and I stuck to it with very little variance, if at all. As a part of my searching within myself, I decided that what I was teaching was a "WANT" and not a "NEED" of any of my prospective student. Also, what I was teaching was just the MA, and while one can learn effectiveness and so much more from the MA, I felt that the MA shouldn't be constrained by what one can afford. Coming up with the right price defines if the school will be open for the long term or just for a season. Tweeking the price is a must, however, doing that too much gives the consumer an uneasy feeling right in their wallet about a lot of things, especially if the school cares about me or my wallet. After all, it's just the MA!! Well, as a consumer, that's all it is to me; nothing more and nothing less. To me, as a consumer, the MA is a 'want' because I don't 'need' it to sustain a more healthy quality of life. Is a $100 dollars to much?? For me, the consumer...yes...that's way too high of a price to pay. Yes, I know that the time of the instructor is of value. However, so is mine!! And if I'm the consumer, than I decide to darken the door of any MA school or not, and more importantly, what price I'm willing to pay. To me, the consumer, I could care less what amenities that school of the MA might have because I'd be there to learn the MA, and that alone. I want to be taught, that's what I'm paying for...amenities mean nothing to me!! The consumer within me doesn't tolerate much across the board, and right at the very top of the list of expectations is price. I've a number I'm willing to pay for before I even come to any MA school. If the price is around or at my desired price, then I can check that off my list, and my list is long. If the price is akin to me buying that CI a brand new fancy car or house. Sure, that CI deserves those monetary rewards, but I'm not going to pay for them. Yes, I'm as cheap as they come!! $100 per month is high, however, anything above that $100, to me, is criminal, and I've seen $250 per month. For the MA?? I don't think so, not today, not forever!! Yes, and perhaps, that might warrant a MA school to ask for absorbent payments for their services, but only if THAT was in demand. For something, to me, to warrant $250 per month, that better be more than being on demand. All of the business excuses for charging so much for lessons are just that...excuses...with I don't accept. I'm a reasonable man, I have my faults, but I will not gouge my prospective and current students for any reason(s); and that's integrity. What another CI/School does is there business. After all, if they can get what they're asking for, then more power to them. Why? We live in a free-enterprise system, and they're protected to pursue whatever it is that they desire. It's their choice and it's their life to do with as they see fit, just don't ask me to cast away my rights away with the baby water as a consumer. Now, as a MAist, is that $100 too much?? No, it's not!! How do you find that middle ground?? Btw, I've never ever charged $100 or more per month. I floated around the $50 per month point of sale. I personally wouldn't sleep well if I charged away from what I'm familiar with. When I first opened Kyuodan Dojo, I charged $15 per month; I lived quite comfortable, but that price point was back in the late 1970's. Can I, at the end of the day, sleep soundly with my chosen price point?? That battle right there, might rage for sometime, one way or another. Having said that, overhead dictates quite a lot when coming up with a comfortable price point. The more overhead, the more one might have to charge to make a profit, and even non-profit schools have overhead! To make any profit or to meet monthly obligations, one has to divide ones overhead by how many students one has. Either you'll break even or you'll have surplus or be in deficit...here's where the tweeking comes in. Charge what the market will bear!! That's Business 101!!

Stances in Karate, whether they be in Kata or Kihon or Kumite, are tools, and tools alone, and in that, they'll change to fit the moment at hand. We're adapted creatures by fault!! If one way doesn't feel right, we'll change in order that it does. Stances, no matter how taught or learned or what have you, are necessary if one's got to stand up and transition here to there, and so on and so forth. When we're drilling, our stances are so and thus, and we accept them for what they are. However, outside of that, stances are meant to be reevaluated from time to time by that practitioner alone. After all, no ones instructor moves you or fights for you or whatever...no...you have to do it all by yourself!! I wholeheartedly concur with LeighSimmsMA post; makes a lot of quality points!

If you're not wanting to test, as you've explained, then you have the right to decline the invitation to that testing cycle. After all, you must FEEL that testing cycle no matter what, or whom, this might affect. Your Sensei might, and that's a big word in the MA, feel offended that because you're wanting to decline the invitation, you're questioning his abilities as your CI. Otherwise, attend the testing cycle as scheduled and DO YOUR BEST!! Remember this, the testing cycle will take care of itself, and in that, if you pass, you pass, and if you fail, you fail. Also, you don't have to score a 100% to pass because that's unreasonable of any CI/Governing Body, imho!!

High side in both Juche and Moon-Moo I guess it depends on how you define High. The encyclopedia states high but the performers look more like middle section turning kick in Hwa rang. http://www.swanma.com/Lib/TKD/FullEnc/Vol10/#p=174 Not sure which ITF or instructor you are with but high is defined as above the shoulder line. High means high. If you have the ability, both the side kids in Juche and Moon Moo must be performed like this. You would be marked down at gradings and tournaments for anything lower and would be expected to know that they are written as nopunde. Are any exceptions made by the governing body and/or tournaments and/or the CI for disabilities?? I see ATA doing that quite often, especially in the dojang. I know a man that's 54 years old, and he can't kick high at all, and he's just earned his black belt in the ATA. Just how strict is the high kick requirement, if at all??

I wholeheartedly concur. If the local cuisine isn't to your liking, there are familiar food staples there as well!!

Quality long hours over time are not required, however, if one's going to be accumulating some long hours, over time, it would serve ones MA betterment much better if it was quality. Quality begets good!!

If, hypothetically, you, as the CI, have absolute authority away from your Hombu, then, imho, when and whom are to test or not, is only up to you, and you alone. However, if your Hombu has a say so, one way or another, than that final decision is left up to the Hombu, and the Hombu only. If I was free to choose the when and whom, and with your hypothetical parameters, I'd not invite any student with less than 3 full months of training into any testing cycle; testing cycles would be scheduled once every 3 months, aka, once every calendar quarter, having 4 quarters each calendar year. 1 month of training isn't enough to warrant a testing cycle due to the lack of knowledge, if any. 2 months of training, while it's better than having only 1 month of training, however, it's not much better than having only 1 month of training. Yes, more is taught and drilled, however, what that type of student possesses is marginal across the board. 3 months of training, leading up to my acceptable time of training before any one student is ever to be considered for an upcoming testing cycle. Those 3 months, one more month than one with only 2 months of training, more is learned and drilled, and in that, the marginal parameters are narrowed down, thus, more maturity is gained. Albeit, even after 3 months of solid training under my supervision, and the noted improvements across the board, still doesn't guarantee that any one student under these parameter(s) will even be allowed, or invited, to a scheduled testing cycle. Attendance, while it might be admirable, doesn't guarantee anything on and off the floor.

Maybe you have hit on the fountain of youth. You could be turning into a teenager. Seriously, I understand the sleep thing. Even on nights which I get less than five hours, my legs do not want to settle down. Then I stress that I am keeping the other half awake. So I go to the couch and watch Netflix. While not your situation I can empathize more directly with parts of it. I have an MRI scheduled for my back in two days in an attempt to resolve my leg numbness and restlessness. Lol on me turning back into a teenager!! Your leg numbness might be due to a/some pinched nerves, and of course, I'm only guessing. When you do your MRI, ask them to turn up the volume of the music in your headset. Otherwise, the groaning of the machine will drown out the music. All I could hear was the MRI moaning and groaning; a little unsettling...I was in my MRI for 20-30 long minutes.

I think they listened to your complaints... http://www.centurymartialarts.com/mobi/training-bags/century-versys-vsbob It won't make an appearance at my house for $500 any time soon though. About time someone listened to me!! It's pricey, imho, however, our Hombu has 3 of them, without my approval, and with that many, I believe that our Hombu has gone beyond the experimental stage. Last time I was at the Hombu, I worked out with one, and I've mixed feelings about it; it was ok.

I was thinking about the title of this thread... "Karateka who can only kick midsection?" In my thinking...about that title, you know, that's not so bad of a thing, to be only able to kick midsection. Many of a fights have ended with a midsection kick to their opponent!!

Definitely make sure that it is away from the dojo and not after class, you want to be away from that environment to make the conversation a bit more neutral. After class he may still be in the role of "Sensei" and as you have said that you have a friendship outside of the dojo thats where you want the conversation to be, outside of the dojo, as friends. When I read your scenario I imagined it was my student (who is also a friend, and is actually going through the process of becoming an instructor...your not him are you!?) If I was the sensei I would rather this conversation take place outside of the dojo... That is just my view anyway... To me, your Sensei will still be the Sensei, no matter where you two speak about your concerns. Away from the school or not, imho, is of little concern. However, neutral might be good from a safety point of view, but only if your Sensei has a violent history whenever he and his teaching style is criticized by one of his students...it has, and will, happen to someone in the future. To me, if you've not worries about any violent reactions from your Sensei, then I'd have that conversation between you two IN THE SCHOOL. Outside, again, violates the CI maxim that speaks towards fraternizing with students outside of the school. Keeping the conversation 100% business as well as professional, imho, is paramount across the board. Anything else might only serve to undermined the entire conversation as to your concerns. Always remember that while he's your Sensei, but just like you, he puts his pants on one leg at a time. However you decide, you'll have my full support. Best of luck!!

Yes...that...very much so!!

Points well taken, Safroot; thanks for them. I do have that habit of assuming my self-diagnosis is correct...that is too, a learning curve that I must learn. One thing that I've noticed, and I forget to ever mention this to either my GP or my Cardiologist that my breastbone seems to be much larger than ever over the years, and much more prominent nowadays.

First off, I'd like to welcome you to KF, LostAtKarate; glad that you're here!! Not all black belts can teach, nor should they ever try!! In all MA schools there are two roles...teacher...student. Having said that, I believe that you need to sit him, your Sensei/CI, and have a heart to heart talk with you expressing just what you've expressed to us here. If you've done that to no avail, then the fault and decision is both of yours. His for turning his back on you, especially on the floor!! His job is to teach you irregardless of any personal feelings he might or might not have towards you for whatever reason(s). Your job is to learn the style that his teaching you!! Your job is not to be the next instructor, even though brown belts are usually groomed for that role, because it takes quite a lot to be an instructor at any capacity. Your also responsible to explain your reason(s) to your Sensei/CI as to why you do not want to be groomed in that fashion but to only learn the style. If not, then it's time for you to leave so that you're not wasting his time or your time. WHY? Communication is a fragile two way street. One's that full of many potholes along the way, and the only way to avoid these communication potholes is to be honest up front across the board so as to there's no misgivings and/or misunderstandings whatsoever!! Sounds like he's giving up on you as far as you being groomed as one of his instructors, and that's ok because he offered, and you politely turned him down...again...that's fine and acceptable. Happens in MA schools everyday all of the time!! However, it's not ok that your Sensei/CI has turned his back, even if only slightly, because, and again, it's his job to teach everyone all of the time without ambiguity and/or reservations. If not, he needs to close the school asap because he's wasting his students time and money. THAT'S NOT COOL!! Don't be afraid, sit him down and with emotional content, express to him everything you expressed to us here asap. Otherwise, the relationship will further fester between you two. Your Sensei/CI violated one of the most important maxims for Sensei's/CI's...and that is... Do NOT interact with your students outside of the school ever!! Why?? Students tend to misunderstand the relationship between Sensei and student when they interact outside of the school. They, the student(s), misunderstand that NOW, since they're interacting outside of the school, that the Sensei owes that student something, and that that student can start becoming rather demanding of quite many of things. Things like special treatments surrounding anything and everything that's about testing cycles...which is the worse of them all...class attendances, authority by association, access into the school whenever it's closed, violating school integrity by undesired actions through breaching personal space, and whatever else can be birthed from the Sensei being all buddy and buddy. There's a fine line, and your Sensei/CI crossed it with a very broad stroke of his brush. You both are going to have to share the responsibilities, and not assign blame on anyone of you two because that will just make the matter far worse than it was before. Things can't be solved during the blame game!! It's time to listen to one another openly and reach that agreeable solution across the board. IMHO!!

Yeah, as you've been advised here already, I'd speak with your CI (Chief Instructor) about your concerns. Making sure that you mention any physical as well as medical limitations, if you're comfortable to do that. If your style is TKD, high kicks are dominate, and required. If your style isn't TKD, then perhaps, kicks above the waist/stomach are not required, but just your desire to do so. I understand that because when I was a JBB (Junior Black Belt) in Shindokan, an Okinawan style, and our kicks are waist/stomach down, never high, I wanted to learn other kicks, both offensive as well as defensive, so I took one year of TKD in my high school days. However, the CI determines any adjustments allowed within the student. In short, it's the CI's call across the board. You're a MAist, through and through, and the inability to execute any type of high kicks doesn't change the fact that you are first and foremost...a Martial Artist (MA)!! That's within your heart, and not within what your limitations might and/or might not be. If this deeply troubles you, then again, seek out your CI for his/her advice and support in this matter at your nearest opportunity. His/Her advice is paramount over mine/ours.

Allow me a moment, please! We're being asked how "many" kicks we are capable to do in a one minute time frame. As a MAist, I've absolute clarity as to what a kick is, per the parameters surrounding "a kick" within my core style. I've been taught by my Soke and Dai-Soke that a kick is... Up Out Back Down However, I'm aware that some MA kicks do not return to the "Back"/Chamber per the model above. Generating effectiveness within ones hips is difficult, but doable if properly executed without chambering. Per the video...I must say that this individual completed zero number of kicks, however, this individual did, according to that show, 126 foot flicks!! Imho, a foot flick isn't a kick. Then again, I might be guilty of being overly semantics. If so, I do apologize sincerely.

Happy Birthday, Brian; and many, many more!!

Happy Birthday, Heidi; and many, many more!!

Everyone with any heart disease would be scared at some point but believe me in most cases if you stick to your dictor's plan , you wil be able to live with it with no problems. I know many people have been living with it for years. Stressing over it won't help much, I know speaking anout it is easy but to do it in real life is hard but I am sure you can do it 👍🏻 Solid post!! Stress is not a favorable companion when ones dealing with Afib and everything else involved. Stress really gets me right after I've seen my Cardiologist, because while he's being honest, I'm freaking out about what he's talking about. I've been told to stop reading up on things and to just follow my doctors instructions....and I'm trying...to not read!! I don't sleep well, lately. It's 0340...and I'm STILL AWAKE!! I'm suppose to get a good nights sleep, but I don't end up going to sleep until 0600, and I'll sleep until 1200. Not good...I think!

True...very true!! Btw, I've edited that very post just a minute ago to add a thought!! I don't want to host my own pity party because I just don't want to. A good cry never hurt anyone, I suppose!!

Thank you, Brian for your kind words of support, as well. I'm trying to be strong, however, oftentimes, I'm awash with emotions about this Afib and the like, and it's more than I can handle at times. How can I teach if my Cardiologists wants me to "take it really easy"?? I don't know know to do that! Walk around and point, or have my assistants demonstrate said techniques?? I don't know how to do that either!! This is an underlying concern of mine, but defeating this Afib and everything else to achieve that quality of life is paramount AND tantamount over everything!! Have I cried often?? Rivers!! I've left all of this at the feet of Christ; His way shall be done!!

Thank you, Safroot, for your kind words as well as your support!! I'm not going to lie, because oftentimes, I break down because this is more than I can handle...in short, I'm scared, to say the least.