sensei8

Thats some good stuff. Sometimes I'll even soak my gi in the stuff. Without having to google... What IS Dihydrogen Monoxide?? That's not peroxide, is it?! Just guessing....wrong....probably.

As a MAist, I've done more than my fair share of stretching; from my head to my feet and back. Stretching ones body before, during, and after performing any activity, especially those activities that in line with the MA. We warm up...moving this way and that way in order to wake our body up for what we're about to do. Then, we stretch, and then we stretch some more. All of that is good! But are we stretching properly?? Wait, was our instructors wrong about which stretch to do and how many reps and just how long to hold each stretch?!?! It's the HOW LONG TO HOLD each stretch, that I'm concerned with. We've been told to not bounce by Expert A, yet, Expert B says light bouncing is good. Hhhmmmm!! Then Expert A says, hold this stretch for 15-30 seconds, yet Expert B says to only hold this stretch for 5-10 seconds. Expert then find a loophole in the whole equation of HOW LONG by stating... "Do what you can tolerate!" Boo...BOO!! I expect more of a definitive advice and instructions than that because it seems to me that that decision, being left to me, will not provide the optimum results. I, might think that 5-10 seconds is a short-cut; a cop out way through the loophole. And, 15-30 seconds is a way to be superman like through that same loophole. "If I do more, I'll be better!", OK...OR..."If I do less, but more reps, than I too, will be better!" HA!! So, HOW LONG?? What is right?? Who is right?? All sounds good, but those who can't decide one way or another need assistance in deciding a proper course. My doctor, well, my doctor is my doctor, and physical trainer is a physical trainer; both experts in their respective fields, but, oh my gosh, CAN'T SOMEONE GIVE ME THE TRUTH TO... ...HOW LONG??

That's a valid and solid point!! The right tool for the right job; goes down to make that smart decision, therefore, nothing can replace solid experience/knowledge. Bruce Lee once said... "...Then, you better train your entire body." Some wisdom's there, I believe.

I don't use any supplements because, imho, nothing is better than hard work. For those who use them, I don't pass judgment either. If they help, then I'm for it, just as long it's not addictive and/or harmful. Of course, I'd encourage anyone to speak with their doctor before taking any supplements.

Its a nickname one of my fellow karateka's gave to me. I was competing once in kumite and another bo demonstration was happening at the same time; the bo flew out of one of the trainees hands and hit me in the head cutting and fracturing my skull. I didn't know it had happened until I looked down and saw my white gi was now red. I never felt a thing, so my club named me Titanium and bought me a gi with that stitched into the fabric. That's cool...not the ouchy part, but how you earned the name Titanium!! So, I suppose your fellow karateka's think that you're hard-headed, huh? Thanks for sharing that with us all! My pleasure, they sure do. It puzzles new member to the dojo, they actually think that is my name. That's funny!!

These are those who are the true masters of the perceived notions about what the MA is/for!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! It's NEVER to late...NEVER!! Besides, the MA isn't a respecter of age; it's for all ages!! 16?!?! Many great MA Legends/Masters, started at your age, or later...So, you're in good company!! Don't give it another thought...WELCOME TO THE MA!! Train hard...train well!!

Yeah, I like this answer...it's much better of an answer than mine!!

To the bold type above... *I too, don't have a ton of info on that school, other that that schools website, and you'll need much more info than what a website can provide. Having said that, visit the school often until you get the feel about the school. Speak with the CI, students, and those who are just watching class. **Have an open mind; no preconceived notions!! If you don't, the road will be quite rocky and unsatisfying, and then some. Be prepared that you'll have to train hard, possibly harder than anything that you've ever done before. Please put rank out of your mind, be that sponge for the CI, and for that style and for that governing body. Don't be a robot, but be that student that seeks and finds that which improve their MA betterment. Things take time, therefore, allow time to take time!! ***Sparring rules greatly vary from school to school, and style to style, and governing body to governing body. Some won't allow sparring until they reach the intermediate level, while other schools will allow sparring from day one with or without safety rules. That means that students will train up to Jiyu Kumite [Free Style], having to first do the perquisites of Jiyu first. I don't believe in delaying sparring training; the best time is now!! Train hard...train well!!

That's good question...great topic...gloves but no feet guards?!! Somehow I can only assume the summation of why this is true, and that is, feet guards might offer up an obstruction of some type. Maybe...they're ungodly a waste of material: Often times, they don't stay on your feet whenever you put them on...the darn things move, and the top ends up on the side, or quite near to the side. Reach down to adjust them in MMA...you're an open target, then you're toast. Again, I'm only guessing. I've really never gave the rule any thought because it seemed natural to glove the hand, and not guards on the feet. Sorry, I can't give a more plausible reason as to why one and not the other!!

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

The upper-dans in my system are worried that they may soon face a similar situation. There's a lot of material between 6th and 10th dan, and dementia, or worse, death, could mean that a lot of the system is lost. When the time arrives, the Senior Dan's in your system will have to do what we've done...and that is...comfort one another and depend on one another off and on the floor!!

Its a nickname one of my fellow karateka's gave to me. I was competing once in kumite and another bo demonstration was happening at the same time; the bo flew out of one of the trainees hands and hit me in the head cutting and fracturing my skull. I didn't know it had happened until I looked down and saw my white gi was now red. I never felt a thing, so my club named me Titanium and bought me a gi with that stitched into the fabric. That's cool...not the ouchy part, but how you earned the name Titanium!! So, I suppose your fellow karateka's think that you're hard-headed, huh? Thanks for sharing that with us all!

That's here in the USA, too. Burglar falls through the skyline window while trying to break into your house...hurts themselves...goes to jail...sues you...then wins. Good Grief, Charlie Brown!! I know, wheres self defense anymore. I think politicians and courts see us, martial artists, as violent people looking for fights - we train because we want to protect ourselves and learn the art. My question is this, "Will they ever understand?" To the bold type above... That, my friend, is the Million Dollar Question!! Wish I had the answer because I could use a Million Dollar about...right...NOW!!

The hardest thing for us who were direct students of Dai-Soke for eons and eons, was when he passed away...Who's going to teach us all of that needful stuff now?? We kind of teach each other; spending a lot of time on the floor together, but, it's not the same. Takahashi Sensei's knowledge, for us, is still untapped; there's much more to Shindokan to learn from him.

DWx wrote: Of course I'm referring to Sandan's and Godan's that CAN teach!! If you can't teach or run a school, and you're a Sandan or a Godan, then you've no business being the CI at all...ever!! WITHIN THE SAME STYLE...YES, exactly, and I agree. This is well known, and well understood, and that wasn't my argument. A BEGINNER IS A BEGINNER no matter how one dresses it up! DWx wrote: OK! However, a Shodan isn't qualified to be a CI based on the minimums that I've posted. A beginner, as in a Blue Belt, isn't the same thing as a Shodan is a beginner because a Shodan is a beginner of the advanced level; eons above the blue belt. In BJJ, I'm sure a BJJ Blue Belt isn't even CLOSE to being the same beginner as a BJJ Black Belt is!! And ok, because of no other reason(s), I'm paying no mind to the Black Belt was the original 2nd rank in Judo. Even though, eons of knowledge separated them both. DWx wrote: Got me there! I concur with you. He could be called an instructor, and be fine with that, can't he?!? Can't he become the CI...later?!? Is this another form of self-promotion?!? Please don't beat me up; it's just my opinion.

How'd you come up with the name, Titanium??

It's just a name. Valve is the parent company (like Microsoft), and Steam is the product (like Xbox). Like liger said, probably just a theme on the names. AHA...thanks liger and Danielle!! I thought I needed a machine that worked off steam...that might be kind of cool!

Looks nice, and all, but is what they're doing effective. Stick a Bo in the middle of all of that fancy smancy stuff, then the Nunchaku is void. Still, in the competitions that these are usually viewed in, their context is right there, and quite impressive; not all can do all of that tricking stuff and then some. I respect them. It takes some guile to not constantly drop anything doing all of the tricking. Copying? Might be? I was watching the mechanics and saw nothing effective except what can happen when the body meets inertia: PAIN/DISCOMFORT/OUCH!!

Good question; it's a two-folded answer. My curriculum/syllabus was the same as the Hombu. Although Kobudo isn't offered until 6th Kyu/Green Belt, most of my new students were brand new, and they had not done the MA and/or Shindokan before, therefore, they weren't 6th Kyu or above ranked. While I had transfers from the Hombu that were of 6th Kyu and above, Kobudo classes were held 3 times a week, where the Hombu held Kobudo classes many times a day, six days a week. I'm sure, but not for certain, my class times didn't match up with the Hombu's, no matter the theme of the class. And if they did, I'm sure it was by accident, and not planned. I was open 6 days a week from 10am to 10pm...so was the Hombu. First part of each Saturday was for open training...so was the Hombu. There's a pattern beginning here somewhere!! The Hombu held more seminars than I did, and that's because they had the staff, and I didn't, at first. The Hombu would lend me some of their instructors, but only if it didn't prevent them from conducting their own. The old saying..."Going to take care of houses? Great, just make sure you take care of yours first!!" I can't argue with that.

Hhhmmmm... I've always wondered...why? Why accept a grade/rank transfer?? Unless one's already established in that grade/rank in that same style...JKA to JKA, for example. If not already established, then shhhhhhhh...please put on the white belt and let's train hard!! Come to Shindokan and you're rank is established with the JKA, for example, then you're going to start at white belt and line up in the far back line, and with a big smile on your face.

That's here in the USA, too. Burglar falls through the skyline window while trying to break into your house...hurts themselves...goes to jail...sues you...then wins. Good Grief, Charlie Brown!!

Why is/are they called Steam?? I've not ever heard that terminology before.

Thanks for sharing Yes, thanks for sharing. You bring up a great point...proper push-ups!! Nothing outweighs the proper execution, no matter the discipline!!

If you don't mind me asking if your dojo was 6 miles away from the Hombu, wouldn't people just go to that one instead. I mean since it's so close. I mean no disrespect No disrespect taken!! That's exactly how it was...people wanted to train at the Hombu...I understood that, and I couldn't blame them for that. It took some time to build up my student body to a level that allowed me to acquire things that I only dreamed about...like additional instructors of my own. I choose to be that close to the Hombu, for the same reasons as other students...Hombu training...can't beat that with a stick!! Being that close also was important so that neither Soke and/or Dai-Soke didn't have to dredge through the ungodly traffic of the San Fernando Valley, which is akin to being stuck in Los Angeles traffic during the rush hours; miserable. On the same coin, I didn't have to dredge either to get to the Hombu!! Second reason to be close...I negotiated a pretty sweat lease to that building, one that I couldn't fathom a good enough reason to avoid. Nice large and well light parking lot, hardwood floors with mirrored walls, huge lobby, huge main dojo floor, great bathrooms, and there was plenty of wiggle room to any additions I wanted to add. A sweat deal!! I got lucky, and I grabbed it faster than one can blink. A room to grow into, instead of out of!! Now, both Soke and Dai-Soke approved my Kyuodan Dojo affiliation, which was of no big surprise, and when the affiliation was open, Hombu students were greatly encouraged to visit my dojo as often as they wanted to. The Hombu student body was also encouraged to join my dojo if they desired to do so...no harm and no foul, and they'd always be welcomed at the Hombu. Soke and Dai-Soke had no egos whatsoever!! Hombu students had two close dojo's to enjoy the differences of Shindokan, while keeping the core of Shindokan true to Soke's vision. There was never any competition between the Hombu and my dojo concerning students and the like. A competition that I'm sure I'd loose, but I'd fight for myself across the board. I was allowing Shindokan to be seen in a different part of the San Fernando Valley. San Fernando Valley residents are quite loyal to their city within the Valley, and that means that they live, shop, and entertain in that particular city. Only going to the other cities within the Valley because it's ONLY in that city, and nowhere else. You want to see movie stars, then go to Burbank, they're everywhere because major movie studios are in Burbank. Want to fly on Southwest Airlines, then you'll have to go to Burbank. Burbank is in the most eastern part of the Valley. Weird, and uncomfortable thing at first, is that many students came to my dojo on day one of opening Kyuodan Dojo. Dai-Soke laughed at my Grand Opening day, which both Soke and Dai-Soke were at, because he was proud of what I had, and what I had accomplished under his wing. "Good...very good!" he said at the amount of students that were in attendance, and he knew them all because they came from the Hombu on their own, and to know him, you'd jump for joy inside; it was a good thing!! Close is good, but it can also be bad. Mine was good, very good!!