sensei8

Look for organizations that accept textile donations, such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army. These organizations can repurpose the material or sell it to raise funds for their programs. New students are always losing or misplacing their white belts. I used to keep the white belt that came with the gi I've just sold to a student that had no need for the white belt as spares for just that purpose for a student who has found themselves without their white belt. Happens more than I care to remember. Donating any belt, not just white belts, to a dojo or school that may need them for new students or as spares. Donating can be a great way to give back to the MA community. It can also be a way to inspire and motivate new students who may not have the means to purchase their belts. Donate to someone who's quite crafty with a sewing machine and scissors to makes things out of MA belts, like, key chains, for example, that can be sold at either their store and/or swap meets or wherever they might. Someone's trash is another man's treasure.

Sounds like you've tried a lot with no luck. Trying Ken's idea might be worth a try. Here's some links that might be worth a try... Yes, that link addresses how to soften a belt, but why would it not work for a gi?!? https://www.a4fitness.com/how-to-soften-rough-karate-clothes/#:~:text=To%20ensure%20optimal%20performance%2C%20here%20are%20some%20easy,directions.%20...%203%203.%20Repeat%20Washing%20and%20Drying Some interesting methods, like, using vinegar, might do the trick. Other than that, wear and tear might be the ticket if nothing else works. Please let us know how it works.

I don't think that the Knights are out of their slump yet with their 2 recent wins. They're still in 4th place, and they better win a bunch of games if they want to get back to the promise land of the Stanley Cup with only 19 games left in the regular season. Knights remaining schedule looks promising, but the Knights will face a lot of teams that can play the role of spoilers and dash many a team's hopes and dreams. GO KNIGHTS!!

Excellent points Fat Cobra and Wado Heretic of which I agree with for the most. I'm an old softy that cheers for the supposed Underdog, which seems to be Tyson. Not sure if I'll even watch the fight at all. May the best man win.

As a kid who seriously played baseball all of the time. From little league to high school; I lettered in baseball as a star 3rd baseman. I collected mainly MLB and NFL trade cards even before I started to play baseball because I got the free bubblegum. By the time my first son, Daniel, started to show a serious interest in collecting both MLB and NFL cards himself, I had amassed quite a lot. Finally, for some reason, I gave Daniel all of my cards to add to his. I suppose I started to lose interest and he hadn't through his high school. I believe that he still collects but not as heavy as he use to. He still has all of mine, which were box full after another box full. It was fun.

I forgot about those discussions. Great reminders. Thank you, Patrick. Perhaps I can use my work/life experiences for college credits. I should have enough credits for a Bachelor degree from Bridgeport.

Finding a dojo that embodies safety for all, and not just the Student Body is primary, and I take everyone's safety very seriously. I've had new students, both children and adults, join my dojo because they were scared to return to their dojo for one reason or another. I never pressed them for their reasons as to why they wanted to leave their dojo because that was to me, unimportant. I had to earn their trust, first and foremost. I'm strict and firm, yet compassionate. I'm on first name basis with everyone in my dojo and my students are on first name basis with me. My Student Body is everything to me and their safety is paramount without any exceptions whatsoever. If any student isn't giving their best at all times both in class, and they're not sick, then I've no problem in sending them home. Repeated lack of efforts earns them a varying suspension. I've ended Testing Cycles before they've even started or at any given moment because of attitude and/or effort, to name a few. Whenever the dust settles, safety of my Student Body has no exceptions whatsoever!!

I've been watching Tyson's workouts and such, and I got to say that while Tyson's up there in age, he looks solid as before and quite formidable; doesn't seem to have lost much of anything. A force to still be recognized. The 30 years of ages between Tyson, 58 years old, and Paul, 28 years old, is the most with a significant age difference between the fighters in pro boxing matches. Other boxing fights where the age is a big difference: *Anthony Osbourne [31] vs Saoul Mamby [60] = 29 years difference *George Foreman [48] vs Shannon Briggs [25] = 23 years difference *Carlos Baldomir [39] vs Saul Alvarez [20] = 19 years difference *Harry Dulven Jr [21] vs Harry Dulven Sr [39] = 18 years difference *Kelly Pavlik [26] vs Bernard Hopkins [43] = 17 years difference Jake Paul is the younger brother of Logan Paul. Both are YouTube influencers. Logan Paul had 2 pro fights, 1-1, as well as an exhibition fight against Mayweather before signing up with the WWE, of which he's the current U.S. Champion. Jake Paul seems to have a more serious boxing career than his brother, Logan, with a pro boxing record of 6-0, of which he has four wins via knockout, one via split decision, and one via unanimous decision. Tyson wins against Jake Paul soundly via a knockout. Age, while relevant, is just a number when one looks at Tyson's experience/knowledge vs what Paul brings to the table of boxing. I guess we'll see what we'll see.

Congrats, Himokiri Karate; well deserved.

What are great win for the Knights over the Kraken. The fat lady didn't sing. For most of the game, the Kraken held the Knights at bay. But, with 17 seconds left in regulation, the Knight tied the game when Marchessault with his second goal...4-4. At 3:01 in OT, Eichel found the net for the 5-4 win over the Kraken. Next Knight game is tonight on Flames ice. GO KNIGHTS!!

I've lost complete interest in the UFC a very long time because to me, the UFC was raw and beautiful, but then the pageantry of it all made the UFC ugly to me. I can't remember the last time I watched the UFC and its like. That's just me. Sorry.

I'm with all of you in this!! I love the "ownership" of it all. It doesn't exist until "I" create it at that very exacting moment. I too was raised to use "practice" than "make", and of course, I taught with "practice" more than "make"/"doing". The beauty is there for sure!!

Apparently, the University of Bridgeport located in Connecticut offers a B.A. in Martia Arts Studies. https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-bridgeport/undergrad/ba-martial-arts-studies "Although martial arts study is well established in academic life overseas, UB is the first U.S. university to offer a B.A. in Martial Arts Studies. Combining a range of liberal arts courses with martial arts practice, the program incorporates the historical and psychological dimensions of martial arts as well as other aspects of the sport."~ Page 38 in the UB Knightlines Magazine a publication of the University of Bridgeport Spring 2017 Not sure if the university includes a serious study of said martial arts applications, or just the academics. Academics without serious applications is akin to a rowboat without any oars...goes nowhere really quick.

Had my follow-up appointment with my Oncologist, Dr. Goodman, at 11:45am. Results: *My Cancer is STILL in complete remission. *My PSA is at 0.02. Dr. Goodman doesn't expect that to go any higher than 2.0, if ever. I'm starting to notice my body hair is slowly growing back. For these 3 years of treatment, my body has resembled that of a Sphynx cat. *Dr. Goodman still wants to see me every 3 months, with bloodwork a week before each appointment. Next appointment will be somewhere in June. *Informed Dr. Goodman that my last bloodwork for my PCP doctor, Dr. Budde, that I creeped into Type 2 diabetic, and that I'm now taking Rybelsus. Dr. Goodman said that was to be expected because of the treatment I've been receiving. *Dr. Goodman STILL wants me to get the weight off and he suggests that I do a lot of swimming at the gym due to my current immobility status. I'm on a very strict Type 2 diabetic meal plan, and DO NOT cheat. *Found out that my T12 AND L4 are NOT the reasons for my immobility because the cancer NEVER went into my spinal cord, just into the tissue in those areas. My immobility is due to being weak from all of the treatments; Eligard shots and radiation, ARE what has caused my muscles to become so very weak. Still, my doctors have listed me as a high risk of falling. Time to change or die!! I choose to CHANGE because my life depends on it.

Knights need the trades if nothing else other than a moral boost so that they can put an end to their losing streak, which is now at 4, behind them no matter the ice. GO KNIGHTS!!

Solid post!!

I've just one tattoo that's on my left shoulder, and I didn't have any problems with training whatsoever. I just followed the after-care instructions of the tattoo artist. I did keep it covered with a large gauze or two just in case.

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

As the saying goes, the only thing harder than winning a Stanley Cup is defending a Stanley Cup -- for multiple reasons: - Winning the Cup means that your team had a much longer playoffs than the rest of the League. This means more time to accumulate all those nagging injuries that can only be healed by rest and recuperation. - Likewise, winning the Cup means you have a shorter offseason to heal those injuries - Finally, with the salary cap, you're going to have players who are coming off contracts, and with a Stanley Cup under their belt, those players are going to be due a raise. Which makes the 3 Cup Finals appearance by the Lightning a few years' back an even more amazing feat. Solid post!!

Episode 3 was very good. What happens at the very end was absolutely not in the mini-series, even though I got a laugh from it. I'm admittingly noticing all of the changes made in this Shogun version from the mini-series but even though I'm loving the new Shogun, I'm getting lost in the changes between the two versions where I find myself being critical instead of just enjoying the new version. I hate that about myself. I do the same thing with any MA movie, I don't watch to enjoy the MA movie, I watch the MA movie as a CI doing a Testing Cycle. Can't wait to see episode 4 next week.

My Golden Knights are having a very tough season. As defending champions, it might appear the repeat Stanley Cup might not be in their cards. Thus far... The Knights are in 3rd place in the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. They've won 33 and lost 22 games. They've lost 3 in a row...they lost tonight to the Blue Jackets 3-6 on Jackets ice. The Knights play, at home the Canucks this Thursday, March 7th. GO KNIGHTS!!

Congrats, Wayofaswede; well deserved!!

Not only do they not tone down the language, but they also don't tone down the nudity either. It was surprising to me seeing that it's on FX. Remaining episodes should be wonderful. Brian and DP might have a better enjoyment while watching this Shogun version having not ever seen the mini-series with no misconceiving's as they won't be noticing the many things that aren't seen in this Shogun version but were apparent in the original mini-series. I saw the mini-series before I read the Shogun book, which I enjoyed. As always, no matter how well the movie is done, the movie can't put everything from the book because if so, the movie would be very long.

Congrats Kenneth!! He's a beast on the mat and then some!! Good for Kenneth earning the 3rd seed at State is good, and I don't think he'll have much problem with the 2nd seed!! Keep training hard, Kenneth!!

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