sensei8

Time in rank (i.e., you have to be x belt for y number of months to test for the next) is one thing, but minimum hours of training is a different animal. Minimum hours of training is unfathomable because in any given ratio years and months outweigh trained hours.

There's a funny thing about obligations. Who to give it to or who to take it away from or keeping itself to oneself or even to the style itself. But here's what matters...once decided, and only the individual can decide, it requires serious dedication and thoroughness. Fun? Sure? Of course. Who wants to learn and train and whatever else if it's not fun. Nonetheless, obligation and fun have to be entwined with each other for the betterment of the practitioner. Imho.

Yeah, I've not done this in so long I feel like I've no idea what in the world am I doing or if my poor team is doing. Someone has to be in last place.

Thank you, Brian for starting this thread and to all who've contributed to this thread. I've enjoyed reading the OP as well as the other posts. Fantastic information and viewpoints all around.

Still haven't heard from the Financial Department of Dr. Goodman's practice, in regard to my Eligard shot, and a possible Grant that pays for the shot. That shot costs $15,572 EACH. My first year with Dr. Goodman's patients receiving Eligard and the like didn't have to make any payments because we had a Grant. Second year, there was no available Grant to pay for the shot due to the fact that there was no money available for any Grants, for which we had to meet our out-of-pocket, which for me was $2,500. There is the beginning of my third year and the Financial Department is still waiting to find out if any Grants might be available this year. I was informed when I went to speak to the Financial Department that they'd not heard anything yet. I did fill out, as I do every year, a Financial Assistance form. Fingers crossed!! Until then, my last shot, which was on April 5, 2023, I was told to not make any payment until they hear back about any Grants. If there's no Grants, then I'll pay $50 to $100 a month. My out-of-pocket is now only $1,000 this year. I've been assured that my shot will NEVER be refused!!

Yes, the fa jin ideology is alive and well in Karate. Being relaxed before reaching said target is vitally important. Why? if any part of the body is already tensed, then any said technique(s) is already arrested before it even begins. Being tensed permits any telegraphic movement as well. "Not being tense but ready. Not thinking but not dreaming. Not being set but flexible. Liberation from the uneasy sense of confinement. It is being wholly and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for whatever may come." ~Bruce Lee "Everything you do, if not in a relaxed state will be done at a lesser level than you are proficient. Thus, the tensed expert marksman will aim at a level less than his/her student." ~Bruce Lee If we ignore the properties of fa jin in any MA, then the other Bruce Lee quote can't happen... "'I' do not hit, 'it' hits all by itself." ~ Bruce Lee

You're welcome. In actuality, it's a two-way street with each of us helping each other across the board. Your contributions are greatly appreciated, and for that, I thank you.

Congrats, Drew; well deserved!!

I wholeheartedly agree.

Yes, Congrats to Zach and the other testing candidates!! Zach is NOW Ikkyu, and that threshold by itself is a special milestone across the board. CONGRATS!! I gave a knowing nod of appreciation whenever I read about how large the Testing Cycle was because in our Hombu's Annual Testing Cycle held every June and July we had to use the Hombu's Gymnasium AND the first and second floor. Our Annual Testing Cycle at the Hombu takes us 2 weeks to complete. Soon, Father and Son will both be Yudansha...I'm so excited and proud of you both so very much!! Train hard and train well!!

I just carry the darn thing. However, I do like Fat Cobra's suggestion a lot. Please let us know, Fractured, what you decide.

Even consensual, that type of relationship should be avoided for some obvious reasons, as well as unobvious reasons. The floor needs to stay as pure as possible whenever integrity is concerned, and the floor is quite pure in its judgement. One of the biggest things that are highly frown upon is their being a relationship between the CI and its Instructor staff is dating because feelings can be hurtful, which spills into the relationship of the Ci and its Student body, who end up being the ones hurt one way or another. I've had instructors of mine fall in love with a student of mine. Each time, which was few, I pulled them both in my office to just let them know that I'm happy for them both and I wish them happiness. Nonetheless, leave your love for one another outside of my dojo because in my dojo we're in the business of serious training and I will not allow my floor to be used for anything else. I've expelled students and the instructor for violating the integrity of the floor and the dojo. New love can birth favoritism, of which integrity can be put on the back burner. That risks the purity of the integrity of the CI AND the school. Can two people in love leave their newfound or established love be left outside of the school while still business is the only thing happening.in the school?!? If not, then end one or the other because no one can serve two masters; one will be jealous or the other. Imho.

Definitely agree. While i said that i think it is best tailored towards someone with some experience to make the full use of it, the concepts would obviously help everyone. If said book is more geared towards those MAist with some experience, this book can still be a reference whenever said experience is attained or very near so.

Great news, aurik all the way around. My sister had similar shots but it only helped her for 30 minutes before the pain returned. My Cardiologist refuses to allow me to be off Eliquis for any time, so not steroid shots to my T12 and L4...oh well. Glad that you are able to get to class, even if it's a modified amount of time on the floor. Karate will be there, so get better soon. Zach...You got this!! Train hard and train well.

No matter what, breathing is vital, and Sanchin develops correct breathing techniques as well as proper pinpoint kime. While to an outsider, Sanchin is a bit peculiar, to any given MAist, Sanchin is vital across the board. I don't believe that it's a waste of time.

Excellent review!! Whether the MA practitioner has a lot of experience or not, I sincerely believe that we as MAist needs to keep our minds open to the many things outside of their MA core. Thank you, DarthPenguin.

I'd say, in short, to add to my previous post here, our Testing Cycles are quite arduous, to say the least. I suppose that I'd have it no other way.

Mizu no kokoro...A calm mind like water and Tsuki no kokoro...Mind like the moon are maxims that cannot be separated. This is a very reality to many MAists, one that I've believed in for a very long time. This maxim awakens ones senses but cannot be alone because each of them are dependent of each other. Bruce's quote has one underlying thought, and that is to “Master Life.” Once an individual masters life he/she can then begin mastering all things that life brings. Mastering life is the basis of the art of the soul. Each individual person must master their life in their own way. The way you master your life may not be the same way I master my life. This is a lifelong process for some, and for others takes only a short amount of time. However, don’t fret for Bruce Lee has a starting point. That point is referenced in his next quote, of which I'm sure Brain will introduce shortly.

That's exactly it...especially the bold type above!!

Many decades ago, I taught Karate, not Shindokan, at the Los Angeles Valley College, located in the San Fernando Valley in Valley Glen, CA 1975-1977. What I taught was a elective named Karate 1 (101) and Karate 2 (102) that was a part of the Physical Education Department that a student could earn 1 college credit, similar college credits as Bowling 1 and Bowling 2, which also earn the monstrous college credits of 1. I was allowed to teach Shindokan, however, I was not allowed to use Shindokan whenever I was asked about the curriculum. Instead, I was to remind students that the style of Karate wasn't the focus of the class. Which was fine with me because students were there more for the college credits.

Yeah you do...and you have NYY Pitcher Cole...nice!! My team is full of...well...it's full.

Way too many get hung up on the too many things that are of the MA. Master is surely right up at the top. it's just a word. How one treats the word can cause such strife in the MAist for one reason(s) or another. Sad that MAists get all bent out of shape whenever the word Master is used no matter the context it might've been used in when it relies to the MA. However, we're quite ok when the word master is used in other professions, i.e., Master Plumbing, Master Electrician, and Master Automotive Technician, to mention just a few. Expertise or Master are just labels, and labels in the MA separate us unnecessarily. We oftentimes can't see the forest because of all of the trees. Guess what? Expertise or Master or Whatever other labels all have one thing in common...Proof is on the floor. I neither possess Mastery or Expertise but if I may borrow the words that Bryan Millis eloquently spoke... "What I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career!"​ Even then, proof is on the floor.

Gave this a lot of thought, this is the personality as a reflection of our soul, without our social persona, we put on for show. Anything that you do has been created by you, and without you, nothing has been created, even the mimicking that we do as MAists is STILL a creation with you as its author.

Welcome to KF, Devonl glad that you're here!! I've not personally used a face shield with M/L headgear, small or otherwise. I hope someone here has so you can get that which you're looking for.

Solid OP, Noah and I commend you for your forthright thinking. I totally agree with you across the board. Ever since I earned Sandan, I always consider rank in general, especially those of the yudansha, nothing more than a nuisance in the Nth degree because proof is on the floor and not around the waist. Lack of effectiveness and maturity should be the measuring stick, and again, especially whenever the yudansha ranks are concerned. I've two Senior ranks that I earned over 5 decades from my Soke and Dai-Soke as well as a Hanshi. I'm as humble as apple pie with what I've earned, nor am I ashamed of them either. Nonetheless, I don't flaunt them around in any manner on or off the floor as though I'm better than anyone and what I say goes, so on and so forth...that's not me!! I was part of the SKKA hierarchy for over 3 decades of which I held various positions from The Regents all the way up to Kaicho. However, my priority has always been in the support of the Student Body, and I fought for them against the other powers that be for the sake of the Student Body and not for the ego of the hierarchy. What good is what I've earned as a yudansha ever since the SKKA was dissolved several years ago. After all, for the most, rank outside of the Governing Body and/or the dojo means nothing. Wearing a plain black belt proudly without all of the decorations as if my yudansha was a Christmas tree strongly appeals to my integrity. Integrity must be more important than anything!! I say earn Shodan and leave it at that. Unfortunately, that ideology, more than not, will get thrown out like the bath water because quite a lot of practitioners love power and rank means just that. Using the excuse that Tradition dictates this and that is just that....a very bad excuse, and the lack of effectiveness as well as maturity becomes acceptable back then and even now...and will be still the rage of the page way after I've shed off my mortal coil. Again, proof is on the floor...ALWAYS!!