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Thank you, Wado Heretic!!

Thanks, Danielle!! And no, it's not easy at all! When all of this is behind me, I'll spend some time with Greg at the Hombu to shake the rust off and see if the floor will accept me back!

Ditto!!

Great tutorial, as always, Alex!! Thank you for sharing!! I believe all of us who've been on the grappling mats have struggled one way or another with being static; it's the unknown familiarity of it all! Took me some time because I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Solid post!!

He did. I'm just not sure when he did so. I don't think he got started with BJJ until the 1980s, but may have had his Judo black belt before then. Didn't Lee also do some training with Judo Gene LeBelle? I don't know when Chuck got either of his grappling black belts, but his bios aren't given into stating dates, which is fine with me. And yes, I believe anybody who's anybody have trained with Gene, including Bruce.

This is the year, 2015, that I've had to step down, even though it's a temporary setback!!

Often all I can do is offer that shoulder to cry upon and that ear to listen; being there for them whenever they might need it. If my help isn't enough, then I refer them to licensed professionals!! Often, I wish I can be of much more help, and that can be frustrating for all concerned. I can only offer very little in this area because I've never suffered this myself!! And often, I'm reminded my those licensed professionals that only others who have experienced this, and have rallied over it, are much more equipped to help them. I don't take what they're going through lightly!! That wouldn't help them, and I want to help them anyway that I can.

Bring on the Packers!! What a game the Lions played; I thought the Lions were going to win...but that was not to be. Great game! Now on the road to Green Bay with a 12-4 record against the Cowboys' 13-4 with momentum. The Cowboys will have to do much better on January 11th than they did against the Lions! I'm optimistic for a win in Lambeau, and the stats of both teams do favor both teams; Packers have won 8 straight home games and the Cowboys have won 8 straight away games...stats can be misleading!! Good luck to both teams!! GO COWBOYS!!

Sounds great and very doable from every aspect. You'll enjoy Shotokan, even though it'll test your mettle and soundness, and that's a good thing!! Please keep us updated!! Enjoy the journey!!

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words; means everything to me!! What I'm battling isn't a terminal disease/illness, but only a chronic issue one. One I've battled for quite some time, but its morphed into a different phase, and nonetheless, the pain is unbearable at times, and the pain is more on than off. When the pain hits me, it takes all of the Shugyo I can muster to endure it, but for the most part, I'm reduced to tears. Medicine I've been taken before no longer works, my body laughs at my medicine. This Tuesday, my doctor will hopefully prescribe something to lessen the attacks and pain...hopefully!! I've not slept in my bed since the onslaught and I average about 4 hours at best! I miss my bed; I sleep in my recliner, and that by itself sucks!! One more thing...I'm NOT retiring!! I'm taking a break, hopefully a small break, while my doctor and I put all of our ducks in a row. Retirement isn't even a consideration, nor is it in my vocabulary anymore; tried that once and it sucked. I will return to the floor...you can take that to the bank!! Doctor told me that this will pass, and this temporary moment allows me to concentrate on my recovery!! I'll teach again!! Greg's just keeping my seat warm for me!! One day at a time!!

I think that sums it up perfectly! Only do what you HAVE to do in self defense and no more. If you stick to that you should have no worries. I did want to mention an interesting tid bit though, did you guys know that back in the 70's in his prime Chuck Norris walked around with a whole group of body guards? Do you know why? Because he did not want to be sued by someone whom attacked him and he defended against! I think the biggest thing to keep in mind here is not the criminal charges you would face but the civil ones. In other words in a clear cut case of self defense the police are not likely to even arrest you much less have the case go to trial, however what you have to worry about is when the attacker tries to sue you, that is when all the training comes out into the public realm, this is the point where an attorney is going to call you the big bad Bruce Lee wanna be who was just out looking for a fight.. And believe me the attorneys who sue innocent people on behalf of convicted criminals are the bottom of the barrel, they will not hesitate to bring out any fact they find about you and exploit it. Great posts, both of them!! Courts in the USA tend to allow the most minimums when it comes to self-defense. Did you leave at the very first opportunity, or did you continue to hit your attacker? Courts don't like it when one takes the law into their own hands! It's a thin line to define for us, but not for the courts!

Solid post, Patrick!! Very interesting about your report on the MVP. I remember the buzz on the many sport programs on the TV touted Romo as the favored winner of this years MVP. Having said that, your analysis made much more since. Yes, imho, Romo had a great year compared to prior years. Whomever wins the MVP, they deserve all of the spoils that accompanies the award. I feel for the Dolphins....makes you miss Marino all the more. The Dolphins will put everything together again chemistry-wise, but finding that championship chemistry will take some time. Hang in there, Patrick!! Cowboys meet the Lions today! Should be a great game or a blowout!! Either way, I hope the Cowboys win...just as long as they keep their heads screwed on straight!! GO COWBOYS!!

Ouch...sorry to hear that. It'll only be 2 weeks, but it'll seems like 2 months. Hang in there!!

I wholeheartedly concur!! Thank you, Danielle, for sharing!!

Congrats...well deserved!!

As professionally and personally upsetting this is to me, I've had to temporarily resign my position as Kaicho (President) of the SKKA! In addition, I've temporarily resign my position as the owner and CI of my dojo, Kyuodan Dojo. Both effective immediately on the medical advice of my doctor, in which, those reasons are personal, therefore, private. After conducting a conference call with those concerned parties within the SKKA, Greg Forsythe will assume the position of Kaicho, and Ben Stevenson will assume the position of Kancho (Vice President), both effective immediately. As far as my own dojo is concerned, Steve Barlow, Rokudan, will assume CI and GM effective immediately. It's without any reservation and/or ambiguity that I've reached this decision, but more as a means of self-preservation. For medical reasons, and for now, I'm unable to adequately conduct myself properly on the floor! The floor that I have sworn an allegiance to uphold without prejudice and/or reservation; it's a place of sacredness and of timely honor!! I believe that my presence in my current physical state would cheapen the floor, therefore, until the time warrants otherwise, I will not return to the floor! When I am able to resume my duties and responsibilities, I will return to every floor that I've stood upon with pride, no matter whether that floor was at the Hombu or at my own dojo or anywhere else I've had the honor to share the floor. My pain, for now, is constant, and more than I can bear or overcome on my own. However, with the help of my doctor, and with the support of my family, friends, and loved ones, I will get much better, but only in time. The time I'm uncertain with!! I will speak with the student body as well as my staff from my dojo tonight, and I will address the entire student body within the SKKA via a video conference call tomorrow. If allowed, I would like to continue here at KF as part of Patrick's staff. Posting as often, if not even more, time permitting. Everyone here at KF is my family as well; I love you, each and everyone of you!! God will carry me through this, and my faith will not diminish, but it will only increase more and more!!

Physicality is an important element, but not everyone attacked is physically fit. So, for me, it's the effectively applied applications through acquired knowledge; hence, learning the necessary nuts and bolts of self-defense in a real world way as to rid it of fancy unrealistic methods!!

Why I say...not all BB's can or should teach!!

Interest charges don't surprise me at all because that's how contract are written...contracts are a binding agreement between individuals. Buy a car; there's interest. Borrow money; there's interest. That's how finances work, and it's legal to do so. Only way to avoid interest is to pay in full! Not many can do that!! How did that school come up with the interest rate to charge? Did they run a credit report? After all, interest rates vary per an individual's credit scores. Glad to hear that the search for a new dojo is happening! Good luck in your search!! One more thing, that dojo telling you that they teach "commitment" through the contract just frosts me. Why? IMHO, they're there to teach their style of karate in an unmitigated way so that their students aren't given a false since of securities!!

Not wanting to turn this into a kiai thread, nicely done, both kata's, considering you were doing it in sandals, and in the backyard, which can possess a hole or two, and some rocks!!

I wholeheartedly concur!!

Well in all fairness, often times instructors do care for their student but they may not be well aware of the best methods to employ in order to ensure the safest and yet more efficient practice. Some instructors might think that a rough training method will "toughen up these lads" while not being aware of the trauma the muscle experience which in a long run may result in physical dysfunction like losing range of motion or various injuries that would slow down someone's athletic abilities. But back to judo, I suppose my one judo club experience has left me with an unhealthy amount of pessimism and conformation bias. However I will take your word for it because I have noticed in Kyokushin karate or different Japanese martial arts that, the teaching models are strongly structured and very organized. To the bold type above... Then those instructors shouldn't be teaching, and those students should be seeking more qualified instructors; qualified instructors do exist! From what you've said about your past experiences in Judo, I can completely understand your feelings! Hopefully, you'll find a Judo dojo that will be more to your liking!!

Back to you...Happy New Year!!

Karate isn't a sport, imho!! Having said that, tell them what you're willing to pay!! If the school barks and is unmoving, then at the end of the contract, leave. It is the easy!! Sounds to me that that school cares more about their bottom line than about their student body!! Do exactly what the contract requires when not renewing the contract! Otherwise, you're stuck with no recourse. Have you looked into other karate schools where you live?? Do they offer contracts too?? Again, contracts are the bane of the MA, imho!! I've never had contracts, and I've been teaching since 1977!!