sensei8

Being out of ones element, imho, can make one much more stronger as time passes. Pick what you think you're the strongest at, and enter into that division, and once the cobwebs are worked out, then start entering divisions that you're not as strong at. Good news about tournaments is that, nowadays, there are enough Divisions to enter whereas no one person is limited in available Divisions to compete in; you won't find it hard to choose one. However, I do tell my students that one won't know exactly their weak vs strong divisions UNTIL one competes. Kata, if it's strong within you, then afterwards you can enter Open Kata Division, and then there's the Music Kata division, and then there's the Team Kata Division, and then there's the many varieties of Weapons Kata Divisions. Same with Kumite!! There's the Team Sparring Division, and so on and so forth. Then there's the Breaking Divisions. Then there's Divisions for Seniors, then there's the Master Divisions, and so on and so forth. There's such a wide variety of Divisions to enter, that, to me, it's pretty impossible to be out of ones element because, after all, you're a MAist and with you being a black belt, you already know your weaknesses as well as your strengths, so, all you have to do is just enter in as many divisions as you like. Are you out of your element in any of your schools?? Of course not, and imho, a tournament is just an extension of your schools. Sure, you're not familiar with the rules and regulations and the culture that is of that tournament, but like anything else, those things are so easy to learn. Before you know it, you'll wander just why you even felt that you were out of your element because, at any tournament, you'll be both in your element and a tournament veteran helping others with the very things that you felt once. Good luck, Lex...hang in there!! Tournaments, imho, are a blast and a learning tool across the board!! HAVE FUN!!

Before I took one year of TKD back in my high school days, when I was a JBB in Shindokan, I was under the impression that the Axe Kick was quite flashy. That darn kick was the bane of my tournament days...I hated that kick because it scored on me out of nowhere, and quite often. Nowadays, the Axe Kick is as normal as the front kick, and not flashy at all!! I think the jump spinning crescent kick, inside or outside, is flashy, and the rest of the TKD kicks are NOT flashy at all...just common everyday TKD kicks.

Imho, one can't ever have too much Bunkai; it's the not enough that would cause me concern!! Train hard and train well!!

1. DONE: obtained all six and placed in 2 of them. 2. DONE: hardest year of training in my life. 3. DONE: No injuries to speak of. 4. NOT DONE: Unfortunately I failed my dan grade. Just nowhere near the standard I know I can perform to, just wouldn't come together on the day. 3 out of 4 ain't bad, just the one I really wanted didn't happen. Mo. To the bold type above... Hang in there Mo; times always on your side!!

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

JR, Sorry to hear that, and please, never apologize for getting things off your chest whenever health is an issue; we, here at KF, are a family!! What has your doctor told you, if I may ask, beyond what you've posted, that you'd be willing to share with us?? What's your doctors prognosis?? Are you taking any antibiotics?? Was the diagnosis caught early?? Hang in there, JR!!

Thanks, Bulltahr and Brain!! I use to be stuck at 300lbs...No more...now I'm stuck at 290lbs. Give me a break!! My routine, for the most part hasn't changed, but what I'm doing in addition is adding time spent on the different cardio machines...adding a touch more weights on my free weight routine...swimming extra laps each Saturday. Still watching my diet...watching my portion sizes...getting healthy foods/ingredients...I'm crossing all of the 't's' and dotting all of the 'I's', and upping my workouts. Things like that, yet, here I am...290lbs...still!! I've a theory, as to why... What I believe might be happening is that my body has to balance itself for the moment before weight can be loss. One pound of fat is much larger than one pound of muscle! Therefore, as my muscles grow through my strength training, my fat will diminish. Whereas before, my fat dominated my body; surrounded my muscles, therefore, my muscles we being smothered by my fat. Now, I'm on a course of reversing that trend by having my muscle mass surround my body fat. As my muscle mass increases, my body fat decreases, and in that, weight is loss. I'm not a fan of plateaus...never have...never will; they frustrate me to no end, and I've no tolerances and/or patience with them. Do any of you concur with my theory?

To the bold type above... The underlined, that right there, is forgotten in quite a lot of discussions whenever the discussions are centered around the MA. Shindokan fulfills my needs, for the most part, and that's why I've crossed trained in the MA for as long as I can remember. Whatever the MA might be, and I see value in it, and I believe that my MA betterment and needs are meet, than, how can I be told that whatever style I'm training in is wrong?!? Aren't our MA journey ours, and ours alone, until we shed our mortal coil??

Here's a link to Merriam-Websters definition of "Martial Arts"... https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial%20art Through the acceptable definition of "Martial Arts", I, too, would have to believe that Systema is a MA, yet, with a strong emphasis in military combat methodology/ideology. Couldn't one also argue that military combat is a MA as well, by its acceptable definition?? Only thing I disagree with dictionaries definition on the "Martial Arts" is when they call the MA, like Karate/Judo, a sport, because to me, my Karate-do isn't a sport. But that discussion is for another time!

Well, your Dolphins took care of the Jets...one down 2 to go. Bills first, then the Patriots; Dolphins need on more per your quote above. Both the Bills and the Patriots are not going to be easy, however, anything's possible in the NFL. Imho, you've better chance to get the 'W' from the Bills, then with the Patriots because while your Dolphins, at home, have a 6-1 record, against the Patriots away record of 6-0...tough game, indeed. The Dolphins have a tough season to still be played!! Brian's Chief's seem to be sitting far better than our teams, Dolphins and Cowboys, playoff's that is; Chiefs with a 4-0 divisional record, even though the Titans squeaked by the Chiefs late week. GO COWBOYS!!

If I can arrest my technique(s) just millimeters from said target, at will, imagine just what I can do if I choose to not arrest my technique(s); this is Karate-do!! Some would call that mindset ineffective mercy, whereas I call it controlled, and I choose that time, not my attacker!!

Welcome to KF, abusadiq84; glad that you're here!!

Imho, I believe that the question might be better asked...How does the practitioner of said style hold up against any style?? After all, imho, all of the fault...all of the blame...goes to the practitioner, and not the style. I hold up quite well to the practitioner that stands before me!! I don't fight the style, but the practitioner!!

Very nice...well done, Noah!! Thanks for sharing it!! The one thing that I always teach my students, especially those from 10th Kyu to 8th Kyu, is that while we've several drills to address and highlight the proper use of the hip, I drive into them the one simplistic point, and while the Tai Sabaki does produce the opportunity to engage the hips through Ashi Sabaki... One MUST proactively USE the hips, and at the right moment and with the correct manner. The hips don't move UNLESS one moves them. Students within the previously mentioned Kyu ranges, are more likely to be guilty of having, what we call, "Lazy Hips"!! But these "Lazy Hips" can infect all ranks!! I, even at my rank, can Tai Sabaki through Ashi Sabaki properly, and still have those "Lazy Hips" while executing any said technique. I point this out, again, because any rank can have those "Lazy Hips" because, well, we humans can be lazy from time to time. The higher the rank, the less likely the "Lazy Hips" will still be a factor!! The drill(s) within your video, Noah, emphasize ones hips within Te Sabaki; that's a very important part of training. After all, without the proper usages of ones hips, all they are doing is pushing, and pushing isn't as powerful by itself, as a push that utilizes the hips, for example. Does a student of the MA want to have pushing power or hip generated power?? I chose the latter over the former!!

I think that will be rare to find ! To the bold type above... Why is that, iyho??

Let me see... 1) Lose weight!! Goal will be to go from my current 290lbs down to 216lbs by October 4, 2016. 2) Maintaining a healthy lifestyle across the board: Watching my diet and exercise 6 days a week; ensuring a much better quality of life. That's it for now.

NOT MET!! I only lost 36lbs, however, I didn't get serious until October 4th. Sometimes, I have a billion degree black belt in procrastination...better late than never...ah...no...that's not an acceptable excuse.

For now, I only wear glasses while reading, but the time might come where I'll have to wear glasses every waking moment. As far as my students who wear glasses. I've no set rule as if glasses must be removed during Kumite, I leave that to the student. However, I do strongly request that they remove them, just in case, but again, that decision remains with the student. I've seen quite a lot of my students wear the prescription safety goggles, and this seems to be the rage of the page. Also, the wearing of contacts seems to be the norm.

Again, your thoughtful and kind words haven't fell on closed eyes and/or mind; thank you, MatsuShinshii!! I've never understood as to why so many instructors feel threatened!! The MA, imho, is a gift, and not something that can be owned, and not even by the governing body!! In that, we instructors have been given the responsibilities to teach, and not to harbor it into some private place that only the instructor, and the governing body can access at their discretion. That which the instructor of the instructor has deemed as "secret", and has forbade the sharing of said techniques, is not theirs to do with as they feel fit, even though, to them, they believe that they are the owners of that which is, or should be, for every MAist. Maybe, if it's even possible, during a time so long ago, that some instructor(s) have made certain techniques "secret", and have not allowed, for the sake of their student body, the teachings of "secret" techniques but for the few, and only at the anointed prescribed time, and no other time sooner. The pages have been turned through the time...the orchestrate has been assembled...and all of the players have been made ready...YET, the instructor denies to do what the instructor has been sworn to do...teach. Teach with the unbridled zest each and every technique within said style of the MA...freely!!

Have a very safe Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone here at KF!!

Congratulations, MatsuShinshii; well deserved!!

Got a call today from my Cardiologist to inform me about the results of the ECHO Sonogram I had this past Monday!! According to Dr. Marlos Fernandes... My heart has returned to regular sinus rhythm, and my Afib is GONE!! How? I've no idea!! My Cardiologist will speak with me on the details at my follow-up in January. Meanwhile, I continue to still take Eliquis, blood thinner, until the doctor says otherwise. This is great news!! This also means that I continue to improve my quality of life: losing the weight, watching my diet, and so on and so forth!! On and forward to 215lbs!! **If I had a 'back flip' emoticon, I'd use it about right now!!

That was indeed, imho, a great win for the Dolphins!! Patriots with an 11-2, and the Dolphins with a 8-5 record...Do you feel that your Dolphins can secure a wildcard spot?? I do!!

Congratulations, Hameed!! That's awesome!! Mo. I wholeheartedly concur!!

Ok; thanks Alan Armstrong, I was just wondering.