sensei8

Astros leading the ALCS series 3-2. Rangers have had their backs against the wall since game 1...Rangers back remain against the wall as game 6 approaches as the drama returns to Minute Maid Park in Houston. Rangers beat the Astros at home for games 1 and 2, then the Astros go to Arlington and win 3 games. That's either Astro luck or skills OR the Rangers bad luck and no skills. I just don't know. Game 6 Sunday 5pm on the west coast/7pm central. I'm as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof or something like that. Hopefully the Astros will continue a lose 2 games at home again!! Rangers starting pitcher in game 6 will be right hander Big Game Nate, Nathan Eovaldi. Astros will send to the mound left hander Framber Valdez. Rangers need their bats and gloves alive. GO RANGERS!!

Well, my Cowboys barely survived against the Chargers 20-17 at SoFi Stadium in LA. Cowboys just might as well stay in LA because the Cowboys face the Rams at SoFi Stadium in LA next week. Cowboys increased their standings to 4-3. I'm trying to be optimistic that the Cowboys will return to the playoffs, but the pessimistic side says...ah...NO!! My hats off to Herbert who played despite his non-throwing hand was wrapped up due to an injury back in week 4 in a win against the Raiders while trying to tackle after Herbert threw an interception; his hand got stuck in the helmet of Crosby. OUCH!! Cowboys kicker, Aubrey made 2 field goals; 2nd field goal with 2:19 remaining in the game gave the Cowboys the lead. With one last chance to win or go to OT, but Herbert threw an interception to Gilmore at the LA 33 with 1.22 remaining...that sealed the victory for the Cowboys. As I mentioned earlier, next week for the Cowboys in LA against the 3-3 Rams. I just have a bad feeling about the game against the Rams...I just can't shake it...the Rams and the Cowboys have meet 37 times with a record of the Cowboys have won 19 times and the Rams have won 18 times. Rams are favored by 5.5 points!! GO COWBOYS!!

The Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA have won the WNBA championship once again BACK TO BACK!! The Aces defeated the Liberty in New York on Liberty's home court on October 18, 2023 with a record in the Finals of 3-1. The final score was 79-80; a barn burning nail-biting game from buzzer to buzzer. This championship win for the Aces was done with 2 of their key players out with injuries. Star point guard Gray and starting center Stokes who are both suffering foot injuries sustained in game 3. Despite that, the Aces showed just how good they are. What fueled the Aces was when all of the doubters thought that Liberty would win in 5 games; they thought wrong. Wilson had 24 points and 16 rebounds. Still, Liberty wasn't going to just lay down. Both teams traded runs up and down the court for 3 and a half quarters and tied 60 all with just a tad over 5 minutes remaining in the game. Teams both continued to trade baskets, with only 8 seconds left and trailing by just 1 point, Liberty called a timeout and penciled a play for Breanna Stewart, the 2023 MVP. It was not meant to me. Aces Clark tormented Stewart so much that Steward kicked the ball in the corner where Vandersloot rushed her 3-point shot; she air-balled it and that was it. Championship Parade will be down the Las Vegas Strip this Monday at 5PM. The last time the WNBA had a back-to-back championship was back when the LA Sparks handled their business back in 2001 and 2002. Now for the Golden Knights to go back-to-back their championship of last year, which that feat can be quite daunting. Even though Tampa Bay did that very same thing back in 2020-2021. GO ACES/GO KNIGHTS!!

I might be alone on this but, size needs to be recognized as to what it's capable of unleashing, on the other side of the discussion, skill should know how to effectively manage size and not to be overwhelmed at size while not forgetting that size will hurt. Both need knowledge and experience. For the skill set to effectively manage size, fear must be controlled because the future event appearing real causes the skill to crash. Size is no joke. Neither is skill!! Imho.

This is a great practice to get into. Being open and honest should be the hallmark of what we do, but not all business people see it that way.I agree with Brian wholeheartedly.

Great win against the Broncos. I know what you mean about the red zone, and the problem some teams have with it. The Cowboys red zone success is a mere 26%...dismal!!

The CBT is what happened. The CBT is MLB's soft salary cap. It is intended to discourage runaway spending. The CBT is the Competitive Balance Tax. Yankees ownership wanted to get under the CBT threshold to reset their tax rates since they had been a multiple time offender. In English, that means the Yankees cut payroll rather significantly. The Yankees one year very recently cut their payroll by $31M. The Yankees have to pay CBT penalty fees of around $29 million even on the current payroll.

My Cowboys had a nail-biting game with the Chargers, of which they won 20-17. The win brings the Cowboys to 4-2 and 2nd place behind the Eagles on the NFC East. My hats off to the Chargers because they kept the Cowboys on their toes with their solid defense. Chargers quarterback, Herbert, played a great game considering his non-throwing hand that was fractured on week 4; gutsy!! The game tied up 3 times. 20 penalty flags. Turnover on downs. Many punts: of which the Cowboys messed up badly in the 4th quarter that allowed the Chargers to tie the game up 17-17. The win felt good after the Cowboys were embarrassed by the 49ers last week 42-10. Oh yeah, speaking about the 49ers, who lost to the Browns 19-17, there are no more undefeated teams. Next week for the Cowboys: The 3-3 Rams at home. How'd your team do?? GO COWBOYS!!

Astros are the most dangerous when their backs against the wall. I'm rooting for a Texas sweep or at least eliminating the Astros. It's been many years since the Rangers have been to the WS, 2010 and 2011 respectively where they lost against the Giants and Cardinals; Rangers have never won the WS. My poor Yankees need more pitchers desperately if they want to return to the playoff any time soon. GO RANGERS!!

You've had some very productive weeks, haven't you?! I like that your dojo has had many prominent Seniors to train with and such. Very important that Seniors be In-House within the network. Very valuable. We always sent out myself with other Seniors to every Shindokan dojo in the SKKA network leading up to our Hombu's Annual Testing Cycle in June/July. Students getting to train with your Seniors give untapped effectiveness that Sensei's may not zero in all of the time or as distinctly as needed. You're really enjoying your training and that to me means that you're in for the long haul. Hang in there and train hard.

Great topic; thank you for it!! You've so far received some great advice and insights. Business wise, does the CI and/or owner think competitively vs creativity?? I believe that when you're thinking competitively, you're thinking more about what the other MA schools doing. When I think creatively, I'm thinking about what I'm doing and I put more of that energy in that, So, I don't think competitively, I think what am I doing right here?? How can I do it the best?? As I focus on that and put all the energy in that, I create a product, and what we have IS a product, that's outstanding and it's a full expression of who I am. Find a way to express yourself fully. Don't worry about what other MA schools are doing, including price structures. Any business is in business to make profit, and yes, if you're charging for your product, then you're a business. When you find that expression of who you are, that's going to really resonate out there, in what you're doing and how you're doing it, no matter what genre you're in, whether it's art, food, tech, doesn't matter. Whatever price structure you decide, believe in it and support it wholeheartedly. There's no magic formula whatsoever because if you believe in yourself, put out a stellar product, have an unblemished integrity, students will darken your door gladly.

Way too soon to get excited about the standings as they are. Even though my Cowboys kicked the Patriots to the curb 38-3 which left the Cowboys 3-1 in the books for this season. Next for the Cowboys are a trip to LA for the Chargers, which should be a W for the Cowboys. GO COWBOYS!!

It's a very sad day!! My beloved Yankees lost to the D-Backs Sunday with the final score of 7-1 which means for the first time since 2016 are NOT in the playoffs and haven't been to the WS since 2009. First losing season since 1992. Only ray of sunshine is that our archrival, the Red Sox are behind the Yankees in last place!! As far as the playoffs and the WS are concerned, I just don't want the Astros to win the WS...please. Until next season!!

Congrats, Danielle; well deserved!!

.... Then what did you do? What did I do?? Not much. What else could I do?! I did my best to defend myself against them, but as a beginner in the MA, I was no match against one let alone against all of them. The good news was that they'd be going to Jr High School next semester and out of my hair.

By no means whatsoever are his actions appropriate in any shape, way, and/or form. Give someone an inch, and they take a mile with no conscious thought at all. Totally unprofessional on both your student and the venue. Having said that, anyone can open and start their program whenever and wherever they fell. Nothing prevents that from happening. There's no local, state, or government law that states that like business can not open their business right next door to their competition. In the USA, landlords do not allow like business open in the same venue, aka in the USA, a strip mall, for example, due to the fact that one like business is already established and causes distress to the established business. Not a can of worms that any landlord wants to open. In a store front location, similar businesses don't exist in the same location, and not because it's not cool, but because the landlord doesn't believe it's a smart business practice, and no CI would open their school at the same location where another MA school was, for the most part. So many long years ago, I was approached by a CI in order to inform me that I didn't get his Sensei's permission to open my dojo because I was in his Sensei's territory!! I never laughed so hard and showed him where the front door was. We were opposing styles, and I was 25 miles away from his Sensei's dojo!! I suggested to that CI that if he persists, I'll open up right next door to his Sensei's dojo. Now, I've seen community centers and the like rent space to competitive tenants based on the fact that said space IS for rent and NOT the community center. of which time slots do dictate quite a lot as far as availabilities and the like. Yes, it's strange that 2 TKD schools be in the same community center, but not unheard of because money talks. I've seen that at YMCA's do that very same thing and how they worked around any difficulties was that one TKD school taught beginners and the other school taught the intermediate and advanced. Also, have seen where one TKD school taught kids and the other taught adults. If it was me, I'd remain the consummate professional and make sure that what I have to offer is what the prospective students are looking for across the board. Sour grapes are unpleasant to swallow especially if you cause the grapes to sour. Lease agreements are the bible between landlord and tenants. Therefore, if there's nothing written in the lease agreement that prohibits same like programs in the venue, then the landlord can do whatever the landlord wants to do. It's a sticky wicky situation, for sure. Good luck and please keep us updated. Imho!!

How about anything I can find in my cars trunk?? Oh wait, how about anything found in my trucks bed; always goodies there abound. Sure, the cars trunk has to be close and already opened, whereas the truck just needs to be close. I do really like Montana's post about the telephone/light pole suggestion because it has a lot of effectiveness about it.

I agree!! Can't imagine its application with an attached cord. UNLESS the cord is so I'd not accidently drop it while using it only as a hatchet!! Does look intimidatingly wicked.

To the bold type above... Yes!! My general answer is this...It's just a belt!! How one covets the belt is of a personal choice, of which, should be respected by others. Imho!!

And many people inside, as can be seen here in this thread. If they "don't care about rank," why did they wait until after making shodan first before deciding that? I can see not wanting to make a grade that requires greater involvement than showing up to train x number of days per week like everybody else. But staying a shodan for life in order to show off fake humility does the exact opposite of that. Solid post!!

Proof is on the floor!! First and foremost!! Secondly...Integrity!! Thirdly...Transparency!! I believe that we all understand the first two criteria above but the third criteria might escape someone's grasp. How transparent is that proposed instructor?? Transparent teaching helps students understand the why and how of their learning. When students understand the task before them, its purpose, and the criteria for evaluating their training, they are more motivated and feel the training is more relevant. A key to teaching more transparently is to see things from our students’ vantage points. What would they find bewildering, frustrating or alienating? Being transparent does not mean that you don’t expect the training to be challenging rather that you will engage your students in a productive struggle. Providing instructions in more than one format is helpful. For example, you should include information on training in writing on your syllabus, verbally in class, and again in written form in handouts, if needed, to be sure that students aren’t missing important details. How much transparency?? The amount of transparency that you provide to students depends on their maturity and the level of the class. There are times when you don’t want to be explicit about everything. For example, you don’t want to constrain their creativity by priming them with examples, you want them to struggle with figuring out what the first step should be, or you want them to be more independent in their learning. To do so handcuffs the student's possibility to have those many Aha moments. So, Proof is on the floor...Integrity...Transparency are at the forefront of what I believe are what gives said instructor credibility.

For the most part, Testing Cycles have been a means for the school to earn an income. Testing Cycles have been around for so long that they have become so ingrained in any MA school one wat or another. Therefore, testing is as common as breathing is. Again, I would've never gave it a second thought of staying Shodan for the rest of my training days because my MA betterment is far more important than the seeking for ranks. The Testing Cycle has been around forever and a day whether there was any money attacked to it or not. Testing Cycles are what they are and will continue on way past the time that we shuffle off our mortal coil.

I'm a very firm believer in learning in any venue just as long as the student receive effective feedback. Above all, feedback is very critical to the growth of the students MA betterment. Imho.

That might be the million dollar question. While that might seem quite possible on the surface to approach said given instructor for continued training, however, behind closed doors those instructors can be quite guarded across the board. Training for a moment isn't the same when one's considering long term training; trust is a very high commodity for Sensei's, especially Okinawan Sensei's. It's that guarded approach that makes one, who's basically a stranger, feel like a red-headed stepchild. If one's going to approach an Okinawan Sensei for any type of training in Okinawa, one better not just show up and ask, better have an advocate to make the initial contact for them. Proof is one the floor, and seeing that it is, proving oneself while on and off the floor for continued training, no matter if it's for just a season or long term is a reality that must be embraced wholeheartedly. That's been the experience that I've witnessed and was instructed by both our Soke and Dai-Soke, who were both born and raised in Okinawa. Our founder despised anything and everything with the powers that be in Okinawa, which is the main reason why they both opened shop in the USA. However, nothing ventured is nothing gained. The first step has to be made. For me, my Soke and Dai-Soke have passed away some time ago, there's no one that can continue my training in Shindokan, therefore, I'll have to continue taking cold showers.

Thank you, Brian...and me too!!