sensei8

Ouch!! Tell us what you really think!!

Miguel Da Luz - founder of the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau (OTKLB). Miguel has lived in Okinawa a long time…20 years or more. Miguel would be the main contact between you and any given Okinawa Master; I’d say his list of Okinawa Master is the who’s who of Okinawa Masters. If you are a black belt holder, it is recommended that you bring both black and white belts: you should wear a white belt first. If sensei urges you to wear your black belt, only then you can wear it. Good luck!! (EDIT: Auto Spell hates me)

Congrats, Revario; well deserved!!

I’m going to figure out how to do the Taxi/Wolf whistle. I have to become it’s been on my bucket list for far too long long. Btw, I love the name Wolf Whistle much more than Taxi; sounds pretty cool to me.

One of my most frustrating things that I deeply regret at 67 years old is… I STILL can’t do the taxi whistle!! Whether it’s the two-finger or 4-finger or without fingers in my mouth, all I get is a headache and a sore jaw and lips. I use to be able the hand-cupped whistle whenever I was a teen, but no more. I’ve watched a countless YouTube videos to learn how to do the loud taxi whistle with no success. I can regular whistle without a problem; I can whistle a tune. How am I going to hail a taxi if I can’t do the loud whistle?!? No, buying a whistle isn’t an option. Can you do the loud taxi whistle?!? What non-martial arts regrets do you have?!?

First let me say that I believe that by the time that one earns a black belt, that practitioner possesses within them the power to inflict upon another human being a great amount of suffering. After all, we martial artists are not learning how to bake, no, we’re taught to be very effective in defending family, friends, the innocents, and of course, ourselves in a timely manner. Earning a black belt should not be treated as though it’s some kind of trophy to brag about, but remaining humble through respect, reverence and honor. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely", and this is true if the earning of black belt is misunderstood and misused. Earning a black belt can get in your head, and therefore, it can begin to corrupt the practitioner. “With great power comes great responsibilities”; power is to not be used for wrong and should not be exploited at will. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked". We martial arts instructors have both the privilege as well as the responsibility towards our Student Body, of which, we shouldn’t ever take that what we’ve been entrusted with lightly. As a black belt, our moral compass demands that our responsibility is directly proportionate to our power. Where there is great power there is great responsibility, where there is less power there is less responsibility, and where there is no power there can be no responsibility. No matter the rank, responsibility exists!! Imho.

You’re more right than wrong!!

Thank the Lord that the pre-season W-L doesn’t count…WHEW!! Why?? My Cowboys lost to the hosting Rams…31-21. CO COWBOYS!!

I do admit that my usage of “stay in your lane” was uncalled for. I surely could’ve said something much more positive. I took a cheap shot and I do regret that. Forgive me. I was taught that students should not earn a Shodan until the age of 18 years old. Primary reason was that those students under the age of 18 years old were not mature enough to handle the responsibilities of earning a Shodan. Whether or not if this mindset is right or wrong, imho, is something that will never satisfy either side of that discussion…It is what it is. I greatly took offense to not being allowed to earn my Shodan because of my age. As a JBB, we were strongly encouraged to train as though we were adults because that’s how he trained everyone. In training his JBB’s, he didn’t see age, no.. he saw a black belt and trained accordingly. Dai-Soke continued training us very hard and because of that, I earned my Sandan before I should have. Why?? As Dai-Soke put it…”You’re ready; you’ve been ready.” Because of how Dai-Soke approached how he taught his JBB’s, is how I trained all of my JBB’s. Dai-Soke believed that obtaining knowledge and experience isn’t reserved for adult students only. Heck NO!! Dai-Soke never restricted our learning curve whatsoever, and because of that, neither did I. I respect you; I always have, and I always will!! I pray that I’ve not lost any respect that you might’ve once had for me because of my poor choice of words.

After talking to all parties involved and lathering the necessary information, and I believe there’s enough evidence that a falsehood has occurred, all parties would be dismissed from the tournament, all involved matches where the guilty has been assigned to would be reassigned, and the guilty would be receive a lifetime banishment would be imposed immediately for cause. Of course, if there wasn’t enough evidence to justify said accusation, then nothing would be done. I’d then speak with whomever had initiated the enquirer, explain my findings, and thank them for their time .Any tournament wherever I was its arbitrator never verified rank. If said competitor isn’t a black belt, for example, and they want to sign up to the appropriate black belt division, and run the risk of getting their lunch handed to them, then so be it. However, if a case of rank abuse is proven, that competitor will be removed, affected matches reassigned, and a lifetime banishment would be imposed immediately for cause. Most, if not all, tournaments don’t verify rank, who they trained with, or said dojo was legitimate; tournaments put their competitors on a honor system…innocent until proven guilty. Local tournaments, unfortunately, are the breeding grounds for what the OP is talking about. Proof is on the floor!! I’ve removed competitors from the floor if after watching them I don’t feel that they’re what they are claiming to be. Integrity is everything!! I’ve not either the time and/or the inclination for those who don’t posses one iota of integrity. That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?!?

It’s very true that the pre-season games shouldn’t be taken seriously because those games don’t count as far as standings are concerned. Those games are more for the coaches than us fans. I don’t watch pre-season games either but when your wife is a die-hard Raiders fan and says that we’re going to watch a Raiders pre-season game, then guess what I’m gonna do? Exactly!! I’m going to watch the Raiders pre-season games whether I like it or not. Remember, a happy wife, is a happy life. Speaking about Raiders pre-season games, my wife, Linda, our son, Nathan, and myself are going to Allegiant Stadium here in Las Vegas, NV next Saturday to watch live the Raiders VS 49ers pre-season game. Why?? Because my wife wants to finally see a live Raiders game and pre-season game tickets here are far more affordable than regular game tickets. I’d rather see the Raiders VS Cowboys regular season game live in October but, sheesh, lowest ticket for that game is $500 per ticket…ah…NO…I don’t think so. So, Raiders VS 46ers pre-season game is a done deal. Linda had the nerve to try to get me to wear a Raiders Tropical Black and Silver sun hat to the game. I told her that will never happen!! I’m gonna wear my Cowboy hard hat, so poo-poo!! GO COWBOYS!!

Raiders VS Seahawks pre-season game ending in a 23-23 tie. Not a bad game on both sides of the ball. Raiders demonstrated that they just might have a better season this year as opposed to previous seasons. Maybe!! My Cowboys will be traveling to California for their first pre-season against the Rams August 9, 2025. I can only hope that my Cowboys will demonstrate the same strength as my wife’s Raiders did yesterday. Maybe!!

Perhaps ESPN is taking over the world like Disney. ESPN will start streaming WWE Raw and all PLE in 2026; Netflix honeymoon with WWE is apparently short lived.

That’s sure does sound like an unfavorable situation. Sorry you have to endure that, and nobody should. I don’t envy the situation you are in. There are those who bend to the will of others. As though the statement of, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, applies to MA training…and imho, that statement does NOT apply to MA training. Short of it all, if you’re not happy, go somewhere else. Learning will be affected drastically by staying where you’re not happy. Here’s the bad news. That sensei doesn’t have to get on the same page with you across the board. As the student, you have to get on the page with that sensei across the board. You came to him, he didn’t come to you. As crazy as this sounds, it is what it is in a lot of MA schools. That school is a business, you’re the customer. If you’re not satisfied with the service that that school is providing, voice your concerns to that sensei, but no not whine. That still might be a waste of time, from what you’ve described about that sensei. No sensei is THAT good where you have to be unhappy in your training and put up with a one-sided relationship. Rank gets in the way of everything, especially for those who put rank above all things. Those who think that they’re all that and a bag of chips are a lost cause. The reality for those that put rank above all things lack a lot of important things, like self-esteem, to begin with. They lack a billion tons of humbleness across the board!! Being humble escapes them in the Nth degree. Just because someone’s a human being doesn’t mean that they know how to be a human being!! That’ll not solve anything!! Learning will still be greatly affected; not a good way to learn. Remember, you’re the student, but I hear what you’re saying. If this is where you want to be, then try your best to work it out. Grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Every MA school is going to have pros and cons, there’s no avoiding them. How you deal with these issues tells a lot about one’s character. Does the sensei in question lack integrity?!? If so, dump him fast!! If his integrity is solid and intact, then decide whether you should stay or leave his school. I’ll compromise with a student, but that has its limits. If the student is worth my effort, that student tries and is respectful, then I’ll compromise, but only to a point!! If the student isn’t worth my time, doesn’t put forth any effort and is disrespectful, I’ll kick that student to the curb in a flash. I’d NEVER EVER compromise my integrity for anyone…that’ll never ever happen!! Imho!!

Let me add or reiterate these words from a Army Captain who fought in WW2, that might make better sense… “The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.” Ronald Speirs, Lieutenant Colonel, Army, Retired

The short of it all is that ego took root. Soke passes away. Dai-Soke passes away. Son of Dai-Soke closes our Hombu because he wants to move the Hombu to Okinawa. The Regents, of which I was a member of for 25 years, reopens the SKKA under a brand new charter and By-Laws; Dai-Soke is expelled for cause. I’m elected Kaicho for a short time per our By-Laws. By a majority vote, San Dai-Soke is re-established as the new Kaicho. Several of us Regents fight him being re-established. Civil unrest begins with the SKKA Hierarchy. I’m expelled by Kaicho and Kancho!! Most of the Regents refuse to bow to the Upper Hierarchy demands. Student Body is at an uproar. Civil war erupts between varies factions within the SKKA network and the Hombu. Dojo’s within the SKKA network withdraw their membership from the SKKA. Student Body at the Hombu diminishes to nearly zero. SKKA and Hombu dies. I failed the Student Body, Soke and Dai-Soke by not fighting much harder to save and restore all that Soke and Dai-Soke had built, and rebirth the integrity that was everything to them…and us.

I agree wholeheartedly with you!! They’re excited until their effectiveness fails them. Their effectiveness is only as good as their fear will allow.

Should then, MA training be discouraged and dismissed; thereto, discredited?? One might not have an inkling as to if they’ll be effective at that moment of cause. Assumptions as to how effective one WILL BE, and not, MIGHT BE, are questionable, if not completely accurate. Ineffective techniques are birthed by having not matured in techniques, of which are because of fear. FEAR equals Future Events Appearing Real. FEAR stands in the way of creating effectiveness. This isn’t an overnight phenomenon at all. One’s sparring sessions are riddled in fear. One’s afraid to be hit. Therefore, one’s block or deflection are ineffective because instead of executing properly, one’s thoughts are more concerned with being hit instead of stopping said attack. As long as fear is concerned, fear has already made one ineffective, and unfortunately, fear will just grow and grow. Best way I can express it is by saying… Act as though you’re already dead. Only then can one perform effectively as one is meant to do. If only one could have a Vulcan Mind-Meld performed on them because then pain doesn’t exist, therefore fear doesn’t exist…ask Mr. Spock; he’ll tell you. MA is effectively but only when the practitioner is effective, and their effectiveness relies on one not becoming afraid. Imho!!

As a martial artist, particularly in a fight, we have two outcomes—win or lose—survive or fail?!? Fight or flight?!? I do not ridicule what decision(s) one might make when their faced with an attacker who’s filled with a such a resolve that hell itself will not quench its appetite for destruction. One does what one believes to be the best for them—I will too—you will too. Whatever resolve is within you at that very moment, I pray that it’ll aide you to a certain victory. I do pray that at that certain moment that my resolve is that of Jerusalem with a no-quit attitude and that after the dust settles, I’ll still be standing. Do we martial artists have resolve within us, especially whenever we’re faced with an overwhelming challenge, whatever that challenge might be?!?

My “Stay in your Lane” is directed to minors that earn a Shodan and believe that they can be effective against an adult who’s only desire is to destroy said minor at any cost. It might happen, being effective against an adult; stranger things have. I earned my JBB at 13. As a 13 year old JBB, I wasn’t effective against an adult. I was a scrawny little kid, and my brother, who was 20 years old when I earned my JBB, was still smashing me at will. I learned real quick that even if I was a JBB, I needed to stay in my lane because my techniques and mindset was immature. Shodan’s in the dojo were destroying me at will even though I was able to get a technique or two in but it was very rare. 5 years later, this JBB earned a Shodan and my brother wasn’t smashing me at will anymore. Stay in your lane is NOT meant to be an insult whatsoever, it’s just some advice.

Minors seem to think that having Shodan by itself protects them from a very determined adult heck bent on destroying said minor. The lack of maturity in both techniques and mindset aren’t an imaginary problem. Not that I’d ever want to intentionally harm a minor, but if I ever did, that minor’s Shodan would not stand any chance against me. Their actions would only anger me at their blatant audacity. My only advice to any minor that has ever earned Shodan, and I do commend them for training hard to achieve Shodan, is…stay in your lane.

Hulk’s ex-wife, Linda and Hulk’s daughter, Brooke, refuse to attend his memorial and funeral. Hulk’s son, Nick, was at his memorial and funeral.

My one regret is that I wasn’t strong enough to prevent the SKKA civil unrest and war that eventually caused the SKKA’s collapse and closure.

I was a JBB for 5 years; those students that were not 18 years old for earning a Shodan but were very capable of passing the Testing Cycle for Shodan were awarded a JBB. I’m not bitter…now…but I was for several years because I wasn’t mature enough to deal with my feelings. Rank is not about one’s feelings, rank is about being effective on and off the floor!! It’s the way of Shindokan and the SKKA to NOT permit any student to apply for the Shodan Testing Cycle because minors aren’t mature enough to deal with the awesome responsibilities that come with Shodan. At one time, as the Kaicho of the SKKA, I could’ve campaigned and partitioned the SKKA’s Higher Hierarchy to adopt the change in the SKKA’s By-Laws but that would’ve taken an unanimous vote. Seeing that we of the Higher Hierarchy were deeply dedicated/loyal to Soke and Dai-Soke, and those two wrote the SKKA By-Laws, we weren’t going to go against their wishes even if we wanted to, and we did want to, in this particular instance, no matter how close minded we were towards this issue, change wasn’t inevitable…not going to happen because as their students, we eventually learned that in this regard that their mindset was the correct decision. One could say we became brainwashed in this situation by obeying a By-Law that seemed to be stuck in the past…they could. BUT we didn’t see it that way. You see, while one can bring a horse to water, but one cannot make the horse drink the water.

Nope!! First Class; both ways!! Our thoughts on this is that if we invite, and the guest(s) accept our invite, then it’s our responsibility and obligation to provide the Airfare. However, we set a limit as how many we’d include in the Airfare; 3 was the limit because some guest instructors travel with a lot of assistants, etc., so if they want to bring 5, including the guest instructor, they’d have to pay the airfare for 2, and so on. Of course, it’s not like we invited guest instructors every month. No!! There was no set method of our madness. On an average we’d invite 1 guest instructor a year, usually right after our annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu, with was held every June/July. Many times we wouldn’t invite a guest instructor for several years. Let be serious, there’s not that many effective guest instructor globally but there’s a ton of ineffective instructors all over the world. And if a guest instructor wowed up across the board, we’d invite them more than once. Can’t put a price on a great guest instructor, so while it can take a bit out of our wallet, but that’s why there’s a budget and planning department that oversees things like that. Okinawans, and this isn’t an insult, can be quite frugal, and in rare cases, quite frivolous to a point; Soke and Dai-Soke were, that’s for sure.