sensei8

To Angela...to wayneshin's daughter...and to those that suffer, or have suffered from cancer, and to their families...I want to submit these... ...

Your daughter fought that good fight, and she's in remission, once again; victories are won...one victory at a time! Shugyo is a term that speaks about "sucking it up"...toughing it out, with not ever giving up by walking through that fire...one step at a time. What your daughter, Angela, and the countless cancer patients have gone through, or are going through, is that Shugyo...that giving up is not in their vocabulary, not even close. You and your daughter still train, this is what MAists do, no matter the trials as well as the tribulations; they strive forward, in spite of what the world throws at them...one day...one hour...one second...day after day...month after month...year after year...they fight with one goal...defeat cancer!! I bow to your daughter with defined purpose, for she's travelled a road that few can understand and/or appreciate, yet they travel that road with an unyielding determination..."I will not give up...now or forever...I will fight with a determination that can't be denied!!"

The sleep emoticon is directed towards myself, and not the topic, nor any KF member...I was picking on myself for being, well, dorky me! Sorry!! Why Red? I suppose the Red choice because, if I remember, the color Red is held in high regards with the Korean culture. I notice that the Red belt is just before black belt, and I've not seen any Korean styles that have a Brown belt. Japanese/Okinawa use the Brown belt right before black belt: Sankyu to Ikkyu. Another way that the Korean styles differ from the Japanese/Okinawa styles.

To the bold type above... Solid post!!

First, if I may, convey my sincerest thoughts and prayers for Angela, you and your family during this fight! As hard as this fight will be, the goal of remission is a fight that can be won, and I believe her fight will be short, but the remission will be long!! Angela, imho, deserves to be at the testing table; she's earned it, and it's your right as the CI to put whomever on the testing table you decide. What's Angela doing in that picture link? She's smiling!! She's beautiful!! Thanks, Luther, for sharing the picture link. All that she's enduring, she's still smiling. That, speaks in volume to me. Her courage is going to fight the good fight. When the times are right, she'll be back on the floor doing whatever needs to be done to assist you, and to continue in her training. During her fight, imho, I believe that this is the time when things need to be hassle free across the board. Being at the testing board, right beside you, is being hassle free to the Nth degree. Angela, you're a fellow MAist! Side by side, bow by bow, technique by technique...together...near or far...the fire still burns within you, and no one can extinguish it! Angela, I respect you...I honor you...I bow to you; now and forever!!

Another Million dollar question! What would I do? Who would I train under? What would I love to do if I had the opportunity? Whatever/whoever would increase my MA betterment, from time to time! I don't outwardly seek out these things; when I feel that that is right for me, then I earnestly seek it out because I believe that "it" will increase my MA betterment. Would I start a new Art? No!! That's not within me to do!

As I said, I left it deliberately ambiguous as your own interpretation of the term is part of the answer too. So, there's no right or wrong answer!?

Solid post!! I've not ever had the honor to teach a student that's an amputee. Had I, I would've went along the lines of what Nidan Melbourne posted.

I believe that kata is only lifeless if the practitioner only performs said kata, and not execute said kata with all of their heart, mind, and soul. Performances are not part of kata being the soul of Karate. Imho!

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

Thanks for sharing that video, Ken! Proves that fakes are in every industry...every industry is without any exceptions.

Well...it's Red because...that's what they selected! ok...I'll shut up now!

LOL!!

Solid post!! Welcome to KF, Sarah; glad that you're here!!

Politics are quite abundant in the MA, no matter the style!!

The one thing that they both have in an advantage over the other boys is...YOU!! You're a solid tactician across the board in everything that they will do in practice and in competition; you've been there, and again, this isn't your first rodeo. The boys can tap into your knowledge and experience, which imho, is priceless!! GO KENDALL AND KENNETH!!

Thank you for the explanations.When I used to point spar in the ATA, that flicking back fist strike was a popular one. Brian, I'm sure that it still is...popular...it can be an easy score!! One of my most favorite to execute.

Great job, Kenneth...AWESOME!! Hips starting to solidify, and btw, 3rd place is a respectful finish!! Rock and roll, Kendall and Kenneth!!

Relax!! The more you spar/kumite, the more you'll improve...OVER TIME!! But sparring once a week or less, is counter productive across the board. Things like timing, distancing, transitions, focus, and the basics will take time, but if you don't spar/kumite often, then you'll not have a minimum of an idea what to do in a real fight. Finding out what works and what doesn't takes that time on the floor with different sparring partners because every fights differently, even those from the same dojo under the same Sensei, and that's due to the fact the were different people; none are the same. Study your opponent Study yourself Make a plan Carry that play out In order to wrap your head around all that's involved in sparring will take you doing it more than you could ever imagine. Don't be afraid...don't be over confident...wait for that AHA moment! Every sparring session is a chance to learn something! Take it all in, make n otes, and if possible, have someone record you sparring. Have fun, and just relax! You're going to be hit, it can't be helped; you'll not deflect/block everything coming at you!!

Being Proficient isn't being Perfect; no one is...perfect! Just because one feels that they could've done better, doesn't mean that they're not proficient. Those who want to be perfect in everything they do, will never feel satisfied with their performance, no matter what.

Well, I think your excitement is warranted; go for it!! Good luck with it, and please share what you can whenever you can!! Btw, check this out...from IcemanSK... http://www.karateforums.com/cane-techniques-for-those-w-actual-mobility-issues-vt49236.html

Nice tutorial...as always, Alex; thanks! Let me just say this...arm bars aren't that easy to lock into with a resistive attacker. Why? They'll, my opponent, be doing anything and everything to get/stay out of it, like, fish out of water. Is what Alex teaching effective. YES!!

"If I tell you that I'm good, you'll say that I'm boasting. If I tell you I'm not good, you'll know that I'm lying!"~Bruce Lee Proficiency means..."Well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge...adept, skillful, expert, masterful, mastery" ~The Merriam-Webster Dictionary Then the question always arises..."Whom determines that?" You, others, your instructor, his/her instructor, or the governing body?!?!?!?!?!?!?! That's the Million dollar question...depending on the individual!!

Solid post!!

Solid post!! I also have always seen that the difference in Judo throws from Karate throws is that Judoka's remain with the opponent while the Karateka's remain upright for a follow/finish technique. Which ones correct? Both! Different ideas bring different models which also bring different desires based on what's to be achieved. Also, Mr. Abernathy's Bunkai is what it is, I don't like it and I don't hate it either. Why? Oyo Bunkai allows ME, and me alone to discover the different avenues while on my own MA journey. To not follow someone else's ideology, but to discern on my own what they're a proponent of...discard or accept as my Oyo discovers. Good topic, Brian; thanks for it!!