sensei8

How'd the tournament go, John??

We have failed more than we've passed in our Testing Cycles, especially at the Hombu. It's not an ego thing at all, it's just a fact. The Testing Candidates somehow and someway fall apart from the pressure of the Testing Cycle. I can't remember just how many Testing Cycles that I've failed myself.

Traditions have its place in a multitude of contexts in any MA schools/Governing Bodies, and the gi is not exception. As Montana notes, "What difference does it really make?", and I couldn't agree any more. I've worn a blue gi ever since they came out; it's my favorite. Seeing that my students are also my customers, and I sold gi's as well, I broke away from the traditional handcuffs when it came to gi colors. If my students/customers want to wear a different gi color, go for it. However, because at the Hombuv we're guests, therefore, any of my students, as well as myself, wore the traditional gi colors of WHITE or BLACK or combo of the two. In my closet I've a wide plethora of gi's hanging of all types and colors. Because change is inevitable, I changed the traditional look of wearing all white except the CI and the black belts. I like the sea of colors on the floor!!

This speaks to me about Mizu No Kokoro (Mind Like Water) and Tsuki No Kokoro (Mind Like the Moon). These two concepts are a cornerstone of many MA beliefs through and through. To be focused one's mind must be calm and undisturbed in order that it can properly reflect, analyze, and effectively react according.

Happy New Year to everyone!! Have a safe and prosperous year!!

Your workout routines are quite solid across the board. In time, your side kick height will improve, if that's one of your goals. Keep up the good work!!

There's nothing wrong with the practitioner choosing either to perform or to execute any given MA technique under any circumstances. Where it becomes problematic is when there's no effectiveness whatsoever at its most given crucial time, whenever that time might be. What focused efforts in either direction, the human factor must be realized at that given crucial threshold. Cast away any and all simulations with either to perform or to execute because whatever drills might've been practiced over and over again, the comfort and safety of the dojo wipes away any and all human factors. Adrenaline, fear, and whatever else matters in any delay to one's perception, decision, and/or response time is a vital consideration. Reaction time can be complicated by human factors such as line of sight, sensory overload, habituation, sensory deprivation, and environment also play a role. Perform on the streets like one does in the comfort and safety in the dojo without any cause, will drastically affect how one executes out in the streets.

When I was a teenager, I really wanted to be a chef. If you knew nothing about me, then you knew that. For years, all I got for Christmas was cooking materials. Finally, I started giving people lists of things that I wanted which, notable, included no cooking materials.A couple of years later, I finally stopped receiving them. In the past, I received so many Bruce Lee posters from family that I started to despise Bruce Lee posters of any kind.

Excellent research, Brian through and through. Like Karate, TSD/TKD have quite the variety as to the different styles with their own rich history. Oftentimes, the mish-mash of styles, for me, seems to have so much in common with one another. What is your TKD style?? I pray I'm not to amiss when I say that since your TKD follows the Chung Do Kwan style forms, that that's your core TKD style is Chung Do Kwan?!? Not sure what style of TKD that your Sun Yi's Academy teaches. How similar is Soog Moo Kwan to your TKD style? Btw, I'm not referring to anything that might be of the ATA.

Yes, how did the CT Scan go, please!!?? I pray nothing to serious!!

Some very nice tidbits of serious research there, Brian. Even I, who's not deeply entrenched in TSD, except the occasional seminars and such over the many years, values what your research has offered through and through. I believe that any TSD and TKD practitioners can gain quite a lot from what Brian's research here has uncovered. Learning about one's own history can be quite important towards one's own knowledge and experience.

Nope!! Anything but MA stuff, of which I'm very thankful for what I was blessed with. Family tends to stay away from that area because I'm like that car mechanic that has every single tool under the sun whether they use it or not. Having my own fully stocked MA Supply store for many, many years attached to my dojo, and having a dojo busting at the rafters with nearly every MA training tool under the sun, the family doesn't try to get me any MA toys anymore.

Congrats, Nevinyrral; well deserved!!

Merry Christmas to everyone!! Please be safe and have tons of jubilation!!

Thank you, Brian and Zaine!!

Solid post!!

I’m sure that the topic at hand might be purely embraced in semantics, nonetheless, for the sake of conversation, we’ll entertain which might be correct...or not. Perform: 1. carry out, accomplish, or fulfill (an action, task, or function) 2. work, function, or do something to a specified standard Execute: 1. carry out or put into effect (a plan, order, or course of action) 2. produce (a work of art) 3. perform (an activity or maneuver requiring care or skill) I know what you’re thinking right now. I was thinking about the same thing. The above definitions are the exclamation point of the word ‘semantics’, especially when under the very word “Execute” one can simply see at the third definition, the word “Perform”. I can’t argue that which is staring us all right in our faces. Semantics set aside, I’ve always considered both words, and actions, complete and totally different. How so, you quip?!? As a seasoned MAist, I EXECUTE individual technique(s), whereas I PERFORM demonstrations and the like, i.e., Kata and/or various drills and/or as such. Inasmuch, I’ve never once performed a MA technique against an opponent because every ounce of effectiveness depends on my executing said technique(s) for cause. However, I’ve performed Kata and/or various drills and/or as such because those performances have a very explicit purpose as part of a MAist training. All in all, either of those words, Execute and Perform, have an effectiveness about them for each MA practitioner. All things concerned, how do you, for the sake of our conversation, define PERFORM and EXECUTE??

1K Kata in one month only means 32 Kata per day. Seems quite reasonable. Only resolution I have is to continue kicking cancer's butt and to remain in complete remission as well as remaining healthy in body and mind.

When we punch, kick, receive, or whatever, it must have meant something. The core of the MA is that the practitioner has talent. Talent enough to move effectively when it's important to do so. When the practitioner moves, he/she expects it to be recognized as its being understood. This speaks to me that to move just to move is wasted motion. Movements must be evident, clear, and discernable. Otherwise, without cause, then why?!

Congratulations on your 1st place, Zaine. Sounds like everything fell into place for you. Judging is always a fun thing, so I'm glad that you were able to do that as well as competing. As far as your daughter, I believe that she did very well across the board. She set out to compete, and she did exactly that. Her spirit was solid towards her results. Both your daughter and you have every right to be proud of your achievements as well as your results. All in all, it was a great day for your both.

Techniques have a maturing to them. Like a fine wine. You learn them, you train them, and then you mature in them. Then, that process begins all over again, hence the Shu Ha Ri concept. Doubt hinders the maturing efforts, and that doubt can be quite difficult to shake. That doubt can be an awfully long plateau to deal with, and at that point, doubt sets its teeth deeper into your confidence. For example, I’ve Senior Dan students that haven’t matured in many of their techniques for one reason or another because they doubt themselves. Why? They’re afraid. So, they can’t Receive any given technique into them. Uke, roughly translated, means to Receive. Emphasizing Uke, Receiving, is a defining feature of Okinawa Karate. Receiving skills are really valued and that such force is put into receiving speaks for the Okinawa Karate in itself. Never initiate the attack. Receive first, and then go on the offense. Attacking always comes last. Uke means to block, literally, meaning to block or prevent an opponent’s attack. Receiving means to catch or to accept. Kill the force and take him by surprise. He cannot advance so quickly. In Shindokan, we never block an attack, we receive it, or we deflect it. Receiving skills aren’t just meant to prevent one’s opponent’s attack. That Received attacking force can be redirected into a counterattack that follows. Receiving is the starting point for the counterattack. Receiving still lies in reacting to the opponent’s weaknesses swiftly. For example, when the leg moves, you start too. Get his leg and it’s all over. Attacking is much easier, however, Receiving is far more difficult. The reason Okinawa Karate never initiates the attack rather than Receiving is rooted in Okinawa history. With that mindset of “we can’t lose” has always exited in its people. Perhaps that is what started the spirit of Receiving, and persevering. That became the weapon that is Receiving, and that strength was reflected in Karate too. If you can properly Receive your opponent’s attack, you should never have to backdown. If your made to backdown, then your Receiving is still weak. As if you have no style and movements; just kind of like, carelessly swinging at the wind. Nothing’s left once your opponent takes control over you. For example, if you’re still getting tagged and bagged by your opponent, then that’s evidence that your Receiving is still weak. If the struggle with receiving has become paramount, perhaps you’re not listening. You respond to the CI, but there’s no change. If one’s thinking about winning, well. That’s why the practitioner has no style and movements that are of their own. That’s extremely dangerous. You must Receive. Even if it’s not perfect, if you’re doing Karate, Receiving is a skill that must be used. At least, attempt to Receive. You must maintain calmness while Receiving the opponent’s attack. Sure, it’s difficult at first, but you must do it. It takes time!! That is traditional Karate. In the end, one’s not thinking deep enough about Receiving. One’s mindset must be changed. No matter what, keep training even though one keeps running into a brick wall. That AHA moment will surface whenever that time is right. Perhaps, the lack of motivation can be a setback. Character often must be built up to train where the will is starting to learn how to persevere . It’s not about having no trust in Receiving, as it is in not trusting oneself. Again, if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it, which would be so boring. I can’t emphasize this enough when Receiving is concerned. When my opponent moves, so do I. What if my opponent does this or does that, what do I do? That uncertainty comes from the fact that you’re afraid. The heart that doesn’t fear, Receives actively and has the strength to take it on. With Receiving, don’t just back down and take it, but rather, go forward and Receive it actively. The very style and mindset of the MA is to advance forward whilst Receiving. To improve Receiving skills, that attacks need to be improved as well. Receiving is the strength to attack, and therefore they’re inseparable. However, training to win, and training to not lose upon Receiving, are completely different. Facing the opponent without running away while also ending the battle without hurting your opponent…that is the true spirit of Okinawa Karate. Not all styles of the MA train in Receiving, therefore, they’re not acceptable of its effectiveness. That’s alright because the MA is not about just one way, but many ways that are effective. Receiving can be like the floor, unyielding and unforgiving in many ways. If one's technique is still immature, then Receiving remains weak, unchanged, and undecided. Mizu No Kokoro (Mind like the Moon) and Tsuki No Kokoro (Mind like the Water) concepts speak towards focus. Albeit, not in always a general term, but in a specific term. One’s weak in their immature techniques because one’s still afraid. FEAR, can stand for, Future Events Appearing Real. Focusing on the wrong thing births that fear; Receiving can’t exist where one’s afraid and uncertain. Perhaps this following quote speaks directly to being afraid… “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.”~ Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Charles Speirs. Cast away the fear and Receiving becomes much more attainable through that proper focus as the techniques start to mature, just as they’re designed to do within every MA practitioner. Imho!!

Congrats to both of you for your new promotions...one rung at a time. Train hard and train well!!

Great to hear that you've made a decision as to your current school is concerned even though some issues still rub you the wrong way in a darn if you do and darn if you don't. As far as the newly minted 5th Dan, should it ever become a reality, is the perfect time to practice tolerance...and mumble under your breath to yourself...quite a lot. Train hard, train well!!

If this is an on-going practice, then the GM is speaking more towards profit than promoting knowledge, and without knowledge there's no positive experience. That alone would be a deciding factor for me to search for better pasture. Not all black belts can teach. Rank doesn't guarantee any teaching capabilities whatsoever. If you know you're a better teacher, than that too, is a deciding factor for wanting to leave. No matter what, your perception of his teaching capabilities must be taken seriously because if you remain under that cloud, the situation will just become much worse than it already is. Having a high ranked CI doesn't guarantee success for any school of the MA. Current economics riding on the back of a pandemic surely has made it unbearable for any business. After all, learning the MA is more of a want than a need. Having a place to live, food, and basic staples is far more important than paying for MA tuition. Saddle with all of that is magnified when one lives in a small town. If there's conflict within the dojang, this small town will know about it, and will decide to not darken the door no matter what high ranking CI and all of the bells and whistles that school might have.

Yes, I feel pretty snappy lately. Praise God!! Thank you, Brian for your love and support. You're the best friend that anyone could ever ask for. Thank you all for your love and support during this fight of fights; means everything to me and my family. :bowofresoect: