sensei8

Since being diagnosed with Afib [Atrial Fibrillaton] and Pre-Diabetic on October 4, 2016, I've been on a journey to save my life, or at least lengthen it as much as it's possible, and according to both my Primary Care Physician (PCP) and my Cardiologist, that journey starts with: A) Healthy Life Style B) Strict Diet C) Losing Weight I'm 59 years old. So, starting today, I'll do my best to remember to post in the Health, Training, and Fitness forum, within this topic on a daily basis to record both my ups and downs while on this journey. Just as in my MA journey, which is now in its 52nd year, as of October 18, 2016, the renewing journey will continue until I take my last breath. Thus far, since October 4, 2016... The Healthy Life Style required me to change my mindset from a sedentary life style into a more active/non-sedentary AND healthy lifestyle. As my duties as the SKKA's Kaicho, my Administrative duties took their tolls off and away from the amount of time I spent on the floor. After a long day behind a desk solving and putting out on fire at a time left me very little to no floor time to train and/or to teach Shindokan. That sedentary lifestyle has been traded in for a much more active lifestyle!! The Diet, for me, was much more easier to acquire than I had ever thought possible. Listen, I've always had a large appetite, and it's nothing I was proud of, nor was it something I was ashamed of; I thought it was natural to eat. Now, I eat much smaller portions, and I've cut out salt, sugar, and anything else that was harmful to me, especially with me being Pre-Diabetic. Watching what I eat and how much have gone a long way for me, and in that, I'm very much more conscientious than before across the board. For example, I read every Nutrition Label on the back of anything I buy, so that I will not purchase the wrong food. I've purchased several books for Pre-Diabetic as well as receiving meal plans from my PCP. I will look into visiting a Nutritionist soon. I drink, and always have drank over 100 ounces of water. The change in this is I've eliminated soda, kool-aid, sweet tea, gatorade, just to name a few. Weight loss! That was going to be my Achilles heel. While it's true, if it took awhile to gain that unwanted weight, it's going to take a while to lose that unwanted weight. I hate being called by my doctor, abnormally obesity, to me that was a very nice way, to say fat; there's nothing nice about that at all. I know that other MAist's judge me on my weight, as well as judging me on any and all of anything that I've earned. Due to my weight, I'm that book that's judged before one ever read, or gets to know, that book. Nonetheless, once those who've judged me because of my weight, change their opinions more favorably about me quickly once they share the floor with me. In closing, what I'm about to write is what future post in this topic shall be: October 4th: Weight 326lbs October 31st: Weight 309lbs Initial Goal: 260lbs Final Goal: 215lbs (In One Year) Average Calorie Burn: 520 daily Workout: Daily for 1 hour each day Routines: 1) Stairmaster 20 minutes 2) Treadmill 20 minutes 3) Stationary Bike 10 minutes 4) Free Weights 10 minutes My gym will be closed after tonight for 2 weeks for remodeling, and will reopen on November 12, 2016. So, while the gyms closed, I'll do this at home, daily: 1) Core Sets (Side Lunges, Reverse Leg Kick-Ups, Elevated Push-Ups, and Touch Shoulder Planks)...5 Sets of 10 each with no rests in between. 2) Swimming Laps 20 minutes 3) Leg Kicks in the pool while holding onto the side of the pool 20 minutes Just being true to myself on a daily basis; after all, my life depends on it!! Sorry for the long OP!!

While Godan might be considered the Master level, and with that, many insist on being addressed as such without ambiguity and reservations, I hate that, and I refuse to be addressed in that manner, even though our style uses that distinction for Godan. And it's true, "Master" is used quite a lot in many professional positions, and I've no problems with those distinctions. It's wanting to be address by the title of "Master", as a person, because, for me, there's only one Master, and I'm not Him; his name is Jesus. Master Bob or Master Mitcham or Master Robert...makes me want to hurl on myself; just who do I think that I am...if I was to demand this of other people!? While being addressed by Master as their nom de voyage, it's just not for me.

To the bold type above... While I did request my Kudan testing cycle, and I did that because the SKKA was trying to force the Kudan on me for the sake of our By-Laws for those elected to the Kaicho post. Therefore, I believe that my Kudan testing cycle wasn't for my benefit, albeit, for the benefit of those of my fellow Higher Hierarchy members because they were so desperate to follow the By-Laws to the nth degree. I wasn't going to allow that ever!! Let me add this...they were so desperate to have me a Kudan, they would've passed me no matter what...and that bothers me a lot. I believe their intent was honorable, but a small voice in my head, tells me that their integrity might not have been, and my Kudan might of been that forgone conclusion before the testing cycle even began, with one exception of Greg Forsythe...he was on my side from day one as regards to my Kudan. I use to always tease them by calling the SKKA...As the World Turns...sometimes they acted as though they were the stars of a soap opera, and I HATED THAT, as did Greg.

No, but Ikkyu DOES exist as one of their grading ranks, and the Ho part is not much to be concerned with because the CI's able to proceed as though it never existed.

Same styles doesn't mean same grading requirements and the like. Why? Different CI's!! It's the absolute right of the CI to run their dojo THEIR WAY, and not the same way of other dojo's within the same style, under the same governing body. When in Rome, comes to my mind. So, if you want to attend a different dojo, you'll have to abide by the way that they do their testing cycles and everything else that embodies rank. Want to keep current rank, then stay at your current dojo. If you want to attend the other dojo, thank the CI, and wear the appropriate rank per THAT CI!! Rank, even in the same styles, doesn't always transfer from dojo to dojo because, again, the CI at dojo 'A' might have a more stricter requirements and the like than the CI at dojo 'B' or vice versa. Remember this, rank means nothing; it's the knowledge and experiences that are paramount. Train hard, and let rank happen whenever they happen, if they happen. Good luck, train hard, and allow the testing cycles take care of themselves!!

::Note...Give LLLEARNER copy when they're ready!!:: Done deal!! BTW, there are other members here at KF that I want THEIR autographs too because with so much knowledge and so many better writers than me....yeah...I want their autographs TOO!!

Congrats to all of you; you've ever reason to be proud.

Thanks, LLLEARNER, as matter of fact, I'm writing two books, however, life keeps interrupting...if it's one thing, then it's another. One is my MA memoirs and the other is based on this very topic; memoirs is almost finished, and the other is in its beginning stages.

Our Hombu as well as all dojo's within the SKKA Network choose a Kata and perform it 100 times. We usually reserve it for the 25th, because that the official date for this event in Okinawa. The Hombu will print out the official poster that we ask for in advance from Okinawa, and send copies of the poster to the appropriate dojo's. This years Kata challenge was done 106 times as a memorial to the 6 of the SKKA's Higher Hierarchy who lost their lives last July of this year!! So that all students could participate, we choose Pinan Shodan.

Yeah, I'd just walk away while shaking my head and snickering to myself!! Ah, the things that people ask!!

Ah...muscle memory reactionary drills in their simplistic form; I love them, and we train in them quite often in Shindokan. Thanks for sharing them!!

Solid post!! You know, maybe WC is the simplistic way; right to the heart of the matter.

It's true that it's been labeled as "the lazy man's Kung Fu"! However, that's an assumption by some but not by all; opinions vary, and in that, opinions are a given right. Imho, it's a statement to discredit Wing Chun for one reason or another! Why? The summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because'. Who's to say that the words 'true' or 'fair' or 'fallacy' but the practitioner him/herself. I'm of the opinion that the style should be labeled one way or another, but the practitioner him/herself because of ineffectiveness within that practitioner. Who considered that opinion? Another MAist? A credible MAist/group? Just who? If the techniques that are found to be effective within the style, then the assumptions are just that, opinions. Not much credit can be given to opinions because they're just that...opinions. That again would be, imho, an opinion. However a style gains it popularity is of no grave concerns, just as long as the credit is given honestly and without any ambiguity whatsoever. I will say that the term 'lazy', imho, is mean and hateful, and without of much stability. Everyone has opinions about any MA for whatever the reason(s), and not much credibility rests upon it...can it or can't it?!...that's what matters. If I was in the ocean, and I was drowning, and I had already gone down twice, and was about to go down for the third and final time, and an inner-tube floated by me, and saved my life; I'd kiss an inner-tube for the rest of my life!! And that would be my opinion about that inner-tube!!

Great OP, Alan Armstrong; thank you for starting the topic!! The term "Weekend Warriors" has a much different significance to me, nonetheless, the dings, as well as the battering that we all MAists endure form time to time, were fulfilled by our passions, some how and some way, while on our MA journey. It's THAT drive that propels us to unbeknownst heights in our endless pursuit for that one perfect technique...just one...just once...as the echos of our expenditures reverberate throughout our accustomed familiarity, yet without resolve, with the inevitable recrudescence of one injury or another. Having just turned 59, I'm slowly surrendering to a realization that I'm no longer that spring-chicken from my yesteryear's begone vitality. Albeit, once on the floor, there's nothing new about my MA highbrow, in my sinking lack of ability with my physical prowess. Nowadays, I'm more akin to a bowl of Rice Krispies...with all of the unsettling, as well as unnerving of snap, crack, and pop!! Time has finally caught up with me, even though that time has been here for many seasons ago, with the unmitigated gall of its constant reminders that have been brought on by more than 5 decades of MA training. No pain, no gain!! Yeah...while I've heard about this before, I don't have to like it...still, although I endure through it all; Shugyo comes to my mind!! To be or not to be; that is the question!! Yeah...while I've heard about that as well, I, again, don't have to like it...still, however, to be IN PAIN is the downside of anything physical; and that perfectly defines the side effects of MA training. Rewards are aplenty, but as with anything that's riddled with rewards, there are oftentimes, punishments; and these my friends, are the Yin and Yang of the MA. Minimizing pain on one side of the coin, has to be overshadowed by the flip of the coin that maximizes rewards more often than not. The enemy of pain, in the hopes of thwarting it, is exercise, and all it contains. The ally of pain is ignoring that a problem exists, and to heal the problem first comes with admission of said problem. Sometimes, it's much more easier said than done, yet, doable with the right mindset!!

Thank you, gunner!! I like what both your GM and instructors approach fear because one can either use that fear for you or against you; it's about having that positive mindset!!

Solid post!! There's a lesson in everything, and how you approached it with a lesson, and not with scornful words and the like, was quite admirable!!

Every beginner wants to spar or roll or whatever so bad, UNTIL, they do it for the first time, which makes them realize that it's much more difficult than what they thought. I call these sessions...eye opening sessions!!

Out of the mouth of babes...huh?! That was a great story because how many times have I had juniors tag and bag me relentlessly. And I never got upset, I smiled from ear to ear and high five them because, as you've said, they're starting to listen AND APPLY. That's what the training is for...for those many AHA moments for everyone!!

Congrats, Kusotare; well deserved!!

Nope; me neither...or at least here in the USA. However, whenever we traveled to Okinawa with either or both of Soke and/or Dai-Soke, we did exactly that which you've posted; there's no excuse for lacking in etiquette in Okinawa. To do so, would mean that that student is in a lot of trouble from Soke/Dai-Soke...not a favorable position to be in, for sure!!

In Shindokan we do train in those traditional ways, however, we don't use the Toe Kick at all. I've never asked as to why we don't, I just accepted what we do and not what we don't do.

Sorry to hear about that Patrick. Can the Dolphins recover from that injury setback, iyho??

Under our Soke and Dai-Soke, our Hombu, from top to the bottom, and especially on the floor, was very diplomatic as well as formal. The usual attitudes and acceptance towards the Hombu's rules and the like was without any ambiguity. Any deviation away from both the formal as well as the diplomatic wasn't tolerated the even slightest. And God help you if you violated the sanctity of the floor. To appreciate and understand this, one would first have to know them both, and there's no reason to seek their forgiveness in any capacity because they both were from Okinawa...born, raised, and trained in Okinawa. And no, not all Okinawan Masters of Karate-do act the same, or expect the same as other Okinawan Masters...at least as far as Soke and Dai-Soke are concerned. After their passing, the Hombu slowly became less formal and diplomatic, even on the floor. However, any and all formal events, like our Annual Testing Cycle, still remain as formal and diplomatic as ever!! I could list a before and after Hombu rules and the like. but I'll try to refrain from listing them all. That's at the Hombu! At my own dojo...well... I'm far less diplomatic and formal across the board, and this is my choice and mine alone. After all, the Kyuodan Dojo was mine to do as I wanted without any approval from the Hombu or Soke or Dai-Soke, nor did I ever seek it out. Why would I want to do that? I never interfered with their Hombu, and I don't want them to try to assume a position within my dojo that they didn't possess!! Nonetheless, whenever either of them visited my dojo, any of us that had trained under either of them for any period of time, would, out of habit, be diplomatic and formal, especially on the floor. I can say that that was more like respect to them for whatever reason(s). I prefer to be addressed at my own dojo simply as Bob!! I mean that is my informal name of Robert!! So why wouldn't I?!?! However, any formal events held at my dojo was under the strict compliance of diplomacy and formality to the nth degree. Not all habits are easily broken, nor did I want to break them; a choice of mine!! I'm not from Okinawa, I'm from the USA!! Our two cultures are different, and I don't like being told how I'm suppose to act in my own dojo. I had a hard enough time accepting the way and means of the Hombu at first because of my Christian upbringing. Albeit, I did succumb to the Hombu rules and the like because it was their house and not mine. Besides, I was under two absolutely fantastic Sensei's, and I was willing to forgo the implications that come with being a Christian. Again, it was my choice!!

Great article across the board!! You hit every cylinder about being that parent, and not just a parent!! I applaud everything you wrote because I'm an advocate of everything your article speaks towards, and I've been so for as long as I can remember. The parents that are negative, and I've dealt with them in my own dojo's! Some parents come around after I've sat them down in private, while others, haven't and wouldn't make a positive impact for their own kids. It's sad to witness!!

Great article across the board!! Meditation through movement!! It has a ring to it, a ring that can't be denied!!