sensei8

Why not!! If an NBA player can play in the IOC, then why not allow a pro boxer enter the Rio 2016?!?!?! Let me say this, then I'll shut-up!! I hate the fact that NBA players are allowed to play in the Olympics. I thought that the Olympics were for amateur's, who then moved up to the professional status. I do know the difference from a pro and an amateur...one gets paid while the other doesn't. How many Bronze and Silver medals have the USA Basketball team won since NBA players have been allowed? ZERO!! Nothing but Gold...each and every time. Levels are not to be ignored!! High school...College...Semi-Pro...Pro!! As one goes from one to the other, they're much more better than that of the level before. To me...it's an unfair advantage! Imagine Mayweather at the Rio 2016...quite unfair to his opponents. Sure, the upset might happen, but that's a hope and a dream for his opponent.

Either...both the Makiwara and the punching bag are needed, yet, necessary tools for any serious MA practitioner. Hit either incorrectly, you'll know it...same with...hit either correctly, you'll know it as well!! Strength...speed...power...etc...are achieved with either, and imho, it depends highly on what drills are being utilized and with which tool, and if they're used correctly...proper. I suppose, how I address either tool, differs from others, and this includes those within Shindokan. Call me wrong, but if you've not been on the floor with me, then you can't assume me being wrong. I can train speed on a Makiwara...I do it all of the time. Many things are worked on across the board with either the Makiwara or the punching bag. As I've told many, you train them how you want to, and so will I...and I do!!

I hope that Karate doesn't become an official anything with the Olympics. Why? I believe it might further devalue Karate. How? Karate ISN'T a sport, and this is my opinion, and Karate shouldn't become a sport. Hence, Karate-do!! Just because Judo and TKD are a part of the IOC, doesn't mean that Karate should follow suite. I'm not going to speak toward Judo and TKD being a part of the IOC beyond that they are, because, I'm not either a Judo practitioner or a TKD practitioner. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, but as far as Karate is concerned, imho, it's not, not in the least. Call me old fashioned!! Nonetheless, change is good...except this!!

Check local laws though. Pepper spray is illegal to carry by civilians in the UK. Then what's left for the civilian to use in the UK? More importantly, why is pepper spray illegal for civilians in the UK?

Thank you, Iskrax, for sharing the video. Would I dare face him on the tatami? Sure, he's just another MAist to me!! From the video, he seems to be solid across the board, and the floor will decide that each and every time.

The sad truth is, many years ago we bought into the lie of "work smart, not hard." Which has meant, " go to college instead of "settling for" some "menial job." As a result, those who work with the hands as well as their heads, are looked down upon. So much so, that a bachelors degree is now considered to be what a high school diploma used to be 40 years ago. The problem with devaluing trade school & working with one's hands is not only that we are devaluing people & work, but it actually handcuffing those who are more educated. By that I mean, many of those with more education will not know how things really work, and how to make simple repairs themselves. We, as a society, are shooting ourselves in the foot by not valuing other ways of learning & working apart from college. Solid post!!

I use my hands 85% of the time; that's Shindokan!!

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

My understanding is that many fortune 500 and 100 companies prefer job candidates that have a degree over those who don't possess a degree. Why? Those with a degree are teachable, while those without a degree aren't. So, I don't possess a degree, I guess I'm stupid?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I feel so good about myself, as well as my possibilities.

I'd like to thank each and every person who has served in the Armed Forces with their ultimate sacrifice...THANK YOU!! Without their sacrifices, we'd not be able to enjoy many things taken for granted daily, especially our freedom. I bow to them, their families, and to their friends for all that they've done....for their unselfish duties and sacrifices!!

Welcome to KF, yamamoto49; glad that you're here!!

Sure would like to hear from acott001, if nothing for the desire to engage in a conversation. How about the rest of you?

You'll lose kids in retention and up-starts to sporting events that they're into throughout the year...this is the beast of the whole thing. Now, if you're not able to support the infrastructure of the school, then a decision must be made, and made in a timely manner. Otherwise, debt will grow unsubstantiated. It's a hard pill to swallow because of what's been invested thus far. Sometimes the plug has to be pulled and allow the patient peace. But, by all means, if you can save the patient, then fight the good fight and do so. Find a way to breathe new life into it!! You're in between a rock and a hard place, but if your other school is doing well, then duplicate that in the new school as well. Hang in there, Lex!!

Lupin, don't sweat it. Seriously. I feel like that with each individual promotion. It takes a little time to grow into the rank. Your Sensei made the decision based in his perception which is what matters. In a little bit of time, you will (in your mind) fill the roll well. Don't give up. Your development is important to becoming the shodan you are meant to be. Solid post!! If this means anything to you...in my 52 years in the MA, specifically Shindokan, I've doubted myself more than I care to remember. It's a natural thing to doubt oneself. However, it's not a good thing to possess over it. When we doubt ourselves, and we dwell on it, we're inadvertently questioning our Sensei's ability to evaluate as well as promote us as he/she feels fit. That's not appreciated quite well by any Sensei!! Take that break and return to the floor with both a fresh eye and heart; you deserve that...your Sensei deserves that. Shake off the doubt one layer at a time. Train hard...Train well!!

You had to do what was necessary across the board! I missed you, as well. You're knowledgeable in the MA, and you bring a lot of humor into the community, and for myself, that element has been greatly missed. Welcome back....train hard!!

Walk away!! Take a needed break! Give time a chance to put fresh eyes on what's more important. What you're feeling is quite normal; happens to everyone once in a while. And this feeling also happens in one's work place! Give yourself a pep talk!! If you've not heard anything negative from your instructor, then ignore the feelings, if you can. If you can't, then take a brief break to clear your mind. This allows one to release any anxiety; to give time to do what's needed. Doubt is the enemy, and it could care less about you. Doubt can tie your stomach into knots. Time heals all wounds!!

Is this how the masses select a MA school? No! However, those who don't know any better are out there, especially those who shop in the fast food mentality of "I want it now" over the investigative manner. Trust me, you handled it spot on....I'd be relieved that she hung up and not darken my door anytime soon. I'd give it no further thought.

I'd not use this technique because it's more of a fantasy rather than anything else, imho. Imho this technique success ratio against an active opponent is akin to swatting a fly with a chopstick. Sure, I can see possibilities with it, but not more than a punch, which imho has a much higher success ratio. Imho!

Respectfully, I have to disagree. Effectiveness exists but I think it's also fair to say that ineffectiveness also exists. Though I guess we have to define what exactly we mean by effectiveness; are we talking combat effectiveness? Effectiveness for self defense? Effectiveness for health and fitness? I don't think we can categorically say a style is the best (at least not without defining "best at what") but we can definitely say some styles are poorer than others. A practitioner can have good athletic ability but without proper tools (techniques) and instruction for using them (methodology), they may as well take up dancing or gymnastics. Again sorry but I disagree. The style can contain all sorts of training methodologies and tools for testing ability and competition can be one of them. If your Soke or Dai Soke stipulated that you had to stand on top of a mountain and train kata every 3rd Tuesday of the month, that would be a part of Shindokan would it not? Disagreements are fine, and needed from time to time. Effectiveness is effectiveness without applying one label after another...until it's molded into what one needs and/or wants...combat or self-defense or health or all or whatever the label might be. Either way, the practitioner is at fault if they can't execute that which their MA styles methodology/ideology...either one can or can't!! However one slices up the watermelon, it's still a watermelon. I don't believe in the word "best", to me, that's an illusion. An illusion that one creates out of necessity and belonging. No style of the MA, imho, is "best" at anything. Practitioners might have the proper tools, but if they don't know how to properly execute them, then, you're right, all of the athletic abilities are for not!! I'm a MAist, and I'm not an athlete, nor do I strive to be one. I'll save that for those who want to strive for that; that was never my desire when I began my MA journey. No...I believe you're misunderstanding what I'm saying about competition. I was highly involved in competitions of the MA types for the most of my MA journey. My Sensei and my TKD instructor weren't the most understanding when it came to their students competing, but they allowed it, with guarded intent. The practitioner, as my experience has been, decides to compete, and only the practitioner!! Seeing that Shindokan is it's own governing body, the student body isn't under any rule that said that we had to compete or that competition was required or that competition is highly recommended. NO!! As a student, it was up to me if I wanted to compete or not, and I choose to do so, against the desires of my Sensei as well as my TKD instructor. And no... While it might've been part of Shindokan, I surely wouldn't have followed them because I would've thought that they lost their minds. And while I was under 18 years of age, my mom would've thought the same and pulled me out faster that a speeding bullet. The only thing I HAVE TO DO, is be born, then die, between that, MA wise, I decide and not the SKKA or Soke or Dai-Soke or GM Suh or anyone. I will admit, however, I did get a big laugh out of it and tried to visualize it, and laughed even harder. I'm glad that neither of them tried to stipulate anything as foolish as that.

While it's true that each MA style is its own stand alone across the board; effectiveness exists. The style is innocent, and it's the practitioner that's not. Without the style, the practitioner is nothing. Alas, the style can be said that it's nothing without its practitioner. Both need each other, nonetheless, the style needs qualified as well as effective practitioners to breath vibrant life, and not that stale dead air, into it. Otherwise, no fruit can be produced of any benefit. Competition or not!? That decision is left to the practitioner to make at their own discretion, and not the style. The style doesn't decide that. No! The governing body decides that, and the style begs difference for the betterment of its own. The TKD I've known was taught by GM Young Ik Suh, and it was a no-nonsense type of TKD, similar to Danielle's second link, but even more so. GM Young Ik Suh once was the bodyguard for the Korean President, which tells me, he was quite effective. The things I witnessed myself were astonishing, to say the least; every standing flying side kick, his head would graze the ceiling tiles. His black belts were in a class way above black belts from any other TKD faction; explosive techniques. He didn't encourage, nor discourage competition in his students; he was nondescript towards competition. Him and his students made their style of TKD come alive and vise versa; two peas in a pod.

The doors of the MA freely open to and fro in ones MA journeyed search for that perfect fit. Doors bring memories, no matter if they're good or bad to that MAist, well, that's to be said by that practitioner alone. Often times, a style of the MA is dragged in the mire and muck of another's opinion without any thought and/or consideration. To be served a heap of observations, no matter if they're true or false, yet, quite absent of validity. It's easier to ridicule, than to teach/help a fellow MAist. To some MAists, it's much more easier to tear down, than it is to build up!! "[fill in the style] is superior to [fill in the style]; no questions!!" It's fine to be a devoted practitioner to a style, but is it ok to be so a devoted practitioner that that practitioner is blinded by its own press?!? Again, as I've stated over the many years here, it's not the styles fault, but rather, it's the practitioner that's at fault. If, for example, I was a practitioner of BJJ, and I've failed to be that proponent of BJJ, does the blame rest on the style or the practitioner?? It's my fault that I've not honorably represented Shindokan! Blame ME, but not Shindokan! Blame ME, but not the founder! Blame ME, but not the student body! When one does that, false securities are birthed about the style in general that ineffectiveness has risen in that style. Don't blame BJJ...Shotokan...TKD...Aikido...etc....blame the practitioner and not the proven styles!! That's a dangerous assumption to blame the style without looking at the practitioner as well!! Just when one has masked a style as it being ineffective in general, that's when that assumption bites them right in ones own backside with a practitioner of that pronounced ineffective style that has effective reckoning that's hard to ignore. Or better said..."Don't be surprised when you're wrong in your accusations!" Every style has a flaw in their armor; it's called...the practitioner!! Let's speak of them with respect and practice some tolerance for those who disagree with us. Your thoughts, please!!

Every MA instructor has the right to decide whom they want to teach. This is so true whenever one's thinking about teaching kids. Not every MA instructor wants to teach kids for whatever their reason(s) might or might not be; kids can be a handful. So are adults, for that fact!! Some MA instructors only want to teach kids!! Maybe that's because kids bring out the best out of them. Maybe that's because kids are those unique sponges. Maybe that's because kids come to the MA without any preconceived notions about the MA. Some MA instructors only want to teach adults!! Maybe that's because they don't want to babysit a bunch of bratty kids. Maybe that's because they interact much more better with adults. Maybe that's because it's easier to patty cake adults than it is with kids; one wrong movement, and the kids breaks in half. Maybe it's because they don't want to have a billion conferences with parents/guardians about a plethora of subjects because of who knows what. It is also true that a quality MA instructor is that diamond-in-the-ruff that mustn't be overlooked and/or taken granted of. Teaching kids takes special gifts, and I'm thankful that I've those gifts. I enjoy teaching my students, no matter their ages; I see a student before me, and their ages mean nothing to me. Yes, I'm aware of their differences, and I'm quite aware of my responsibilities within their age groups. The instructor in this video exercises patience throughout, and never gets rocked into frustration. This isn't always true with EVERY MA instructor. Kids are the future of the MA, and if they're not, then the MA, imho, is doomed to drift away into the abyss. Patience isn't a commonality amongst MA instructor, imho. And if someone does believe that that commonality IS in EVERY MA instructor, I sincerely think that they're both terribly misguided, and without any morale compass. The boy in the video is hinged in being that 3 year old...acting with determination in what he understands to be true for each and every movement he executes in the hopes to break that board. Most MA instructors that tolerate kids in their school might've ended the opportunity out of the MA instructors own frustration due to ill placed embarrassment they felt in the failure of the break, when the true is the failure would've been with the MA instructor, and that instructor alone. I smiled throughout the entire video because the boy was bathed in cuteness as well as in determination; stayed with the task at hand, and the total absence of having no preconceived notions about anything, especially the MA. When a MA instructor opens their doors to teach kids, I believe that they must also open the doors of their heart, as well. This too applies to students that aren't kids.

To the bold type above... As do I!!

Sounds great, Patrick. Please count me in in any way that I can help. I, too, look forward to the 2016 LiveStream; they're always so much fun, as you've mentioned. Love to interact with KF members in any available venue!! See you all there!!

Welcome back, jaymac; glad that you're back!! What have you been up to? Still training?