sensei8

I understand what you mean here, and am finding myself in a similar crossroads in my training. I rarely teach classes anymore, mainly due to the fact that the classes are so small. That, and I'm of the opinion that the gusy who own/run the dojang now are the one's that should be doing it, and not me. But I always love to teach, and will do so when the opportunity arises, but in more of an individual nature. I've gotten to the point where I'm not sure I want to test again. I kind of want to, and one reason is a bad one...I don't want to get "outranked" by the guy running the show now. It's an ego thing more than anything, but I couldn't take this person outranking me seriously. What I have been enjoying is defensive tactics training, and really getting into that for the department I work for. I've restarted with one successful session, and am prepping for the next one in January. I've already got the session planned, and am looking at planning the next one, too. My boss is all-in on providing the training for the department, making it mandatory. He let me order some wrestling mats to train on, some rubber guns for weapon retention training, and we've already got some striking pads for hand and kicking techniques practice. I'm really focused on this. So, back to the thought of testing again. If I did, and passed, it would put me at 5th dan, which is a Master rank in our organization. I wouldn't really want to be called Master, nor would I consider myself a Master. A Master-level instructor, maybe, but just due to years of experience. So, like I say, I'm at a crossroads myself. Brian, Your dojang has a NEW OWNER and/or CI?? What's his rank, not that it matters, and it doesn't?? I'd not let the labels persuade you one way or another from not testing. The Testing Cycle has its merits, but that's where it all ends. If you don't want to be called Master Brian, then make it perfectly clear to whomever that it's Brian and nothing else. After all, you'd be testing for the rank and not for the label. If you don't consider yourself a Master, that's fine. Master just means that you've mastered the basics, and if that's too much to swallow, then it means that you do the basic far better than others who have not earned a 5th degree black belt. If I can be honest with you, Brian, I'm surprised on all of this talk about rank this and that from you because you've never expressed any concerns when rank is considered. It's the knowledge and experience that you've always strived after. We can be proud of whatever we've earned, there's no shame in that. It's when the labels define us that the shame is worn like a badge of who knows what. I've more labels attached to me that it sickens me to even look at myself. How I get through without puking every day is that all of my labels aren't that important when the whole, yes, malarky is considered. I'm Bob on and off the floor, and nobody better never forget that, or I'll just puke all over myself again. Test or not test is up to you, but please don't let labels and all of that malarky prevent you from any Testing Cycle. No matter what, Brian, I got your back until the end of time. Labels, labels, and more labels is what has turned the MA inside and out from what it used to be and what it should be...an Art...an Art of effectiveness, and not the three-ring circus it has become, no matter the governing body.

12/05/2022 930am for my Treatment Shot of Eligard 5mg. DONE!! Appointment was changed to same day, but a later hour: 1pm. Same burning in my left arm the last few seconds. Treatment shot hit me real hard this time for some reason. I couldn't drive home right away because I couldn't focus so I sat in the parking lot for about 30 minutes. By the time I got home, I felt very sick. I went to bed for several hours and when Linda woke me up for dinner, I still wasn't feeling any better. I chocked down some chicken noodle soup and went back to bed. Next day I felt drained but not down for the count. 12/09/2022 8am for an MRI Thoracic Spine with and without contrast. DONE!! MRI's aren't my most favorite scene because I'm claustrophobic. This MRI tales about 30 minutes. 10 minutes in, the tech tells me over my headset that it'll be another 30 minutes...one of us can't tell time. Tech piped some fantastic rick n' roll through the headsets, like, Queen, Billy Joel, The Beatles, Journey and Eagles so I didn't quite mind the MRI tunnel...just as long as I kept my eyes closed. The last 5 minutes the tech gave me a shot in my right arm. This shot is a dye that helps the doctors see things much clearly. Nothing else until: 02/09/2023 9am for an MRI Lumbar Spine with and without contrast 02/10/2023 Blood work 02/17/2023 9:15am Follow up appointment with Dr. Goodman

Sounds like taking 2 weeks off to rest the nagging elbow is a very wise decision on your part. Might drive you batty as well as strange to not train, but the docs advise seems quite paramount in this regard. Rest and take it care because the floor will be there with welcoming open arms when the time is right return to the floor. Oh yeah, careful while at home because an unwelcomed movement around the house, like chores, might irritate your healing elbow in such a way that returning back to the floor might be an unwelcomed delay. Hang in there, Ken!! Is there such a thing as writers' elbow that might interfere with posting at KF might be prevented.

Most assuredly so. The burn one gets from pegboard exercises are undeniable, but in a positive way. Try it, you'll love it. The only thing I can vividly remember about when I first used this particular exercise was that, at first, I couldn't hold my spoon or fork because of the burn.

Solid post!! Seems to me that the MA has been wrapped like a Christmas present with a big fat bow that all concerned can pass judgement on the whole thing that lays before them. Makes me think of what John Lydgate penned so long ago, and seems quite fitting when it comes to the MA and its practitioners... “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” The novelty of it all might rest with that rank and all of its bobbles only hold water when spoken about within either the dojo and/or its governing body. Outside of either of those hallowed halls is where the appreciation tends to end...or should end. The floor can never be conned whenever the MA is concerned. The floor is the most honest and straightforward critic yet is very harsh in its honesty. The floor cries out loud...Either you can, or you can't...effectively!! I too, like Brian, applaud your decision here.

Excellent post - i've never used battle ropes but they have always looked interesting. You did mention one exercise i wasn't familiar with that has piqued my curiosity : what is / are pegboards in this context? Battle Ropes are FANTASTIC. I encourage anyone to give them an honest try. Pegboards are roughly when you're holding a pair of 1- to 2-inch-wide pegs in your hands, you climb up, then descend, a board that has been attached to a high wall. The pegboard can come in any shape or size but is commonly a 3-by-3-foot square. Other pegboard shapes include long vertical rectangles for advanced climbers, or larger, horizontal surfaces for swinging side to side. Pegboards usually have 60 to 100 holes accommodating a 6- to 8-inch climbing peg...roughly.

Robert Frost penned these iconic words once... "Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." This, I believe, is where you stand. You've an M.A. in English. That's nothing to sneeze at whatsoever. You've also 20 years' experience in the MA as a Shodan in Matsumura Seito. That too, is something that one can sneeze at. Knowledge and experience are the noted exclamations that what you've earned on and off the floor. You're absolutely right about wanting to be the highest ranking anywhere because that's not what's important in the scheme of things. If wherever one trains at, and that practitioner is having second thoughts about many things that aren't positive across the board, then by gosh, it's time to pull up stakes and move on. Whenever the effectiveness of learning has and is difficult, then nothing can become of it whatsoever. The CI sets the tone, and when the tone is tainted, then it's time to go. If the student has given their best to stay with a sinking ship, and the ship is sinking for sure, then it's time to swim away to dry land. Red flags vary from practitioner to practitioner, and imho, its one's own perception of any red flag that matters, and not what others think. Sure, we can say this and that about what someone else is or has already decided about their situation and concerns, but as thoughtful as one might be, that decision belongs to that person and should be respected and honored to the Nth degree. You can STILL own and operate your own dojo as a Shodan. The Sandan is only a suggestion so that the CI can oversee a Testing Cycle for a Shodan. If Sandan is still a goal, then go for it. By the time a student of yours reaches the opportunity to test for Shodan, and you've continued your own training in Matsumura Seito in a far better dojo with a better CI, you'll find yourself being invited to your Sandan Testing Cycle. Everything you wrote about the dojo and its CI are perfect reasons to cut bait and run to better fishing grounds. I know that you love the MA; I sense that in you, but it's not the end all of all things. I love the MA too because I do; it's all that I know, but you know what?? To me the MA is just a thing, and a thing can be replaced because the MA a want, but not a need. like air or means to pay for rent and food and clothes. Not that it matters much, but I believe that your decision(s) have hit the nail on its proverbial head. Hang in there and do what you want to do; I got your back. Imho!!

I've one word. BATTLE ROPES!! They'll take you to and through things that you've never thought existed and appreciate all at the same time. The more variation of exercises with them, the more neglected areas become worked at. My legs are very strong and ever since high school, I was lifting off the top step, and nowadays 1K pounds is a normal weight. Often times, I'll max out the weights and do leg lifts with one leg at a time. Grappling is a big part of Shindokan, and one of the things we strengthen is our grip strength. Hojo Undo is an important part of our grip strength training as well as: 1) Wrist rollers 2) Pegboards 3) Crush grippers 4) Landmine exercises 5) Rope climbs For striking, my most favorites are: 1) Cable press 2) Face Fulls 3) Anterior Oblique Sling 4) Supine rolling Heavy bag and makiwara training are paramount to increase strength as well of correcting incorrect striking techniques. I've a very routine regime whenever it comes to my core strength training, and to blast through stalling plateaus, amendments to my routine have to be its own routine. Now, I've been attacked by what my prostate cancer has done to my T12 and L4. In such a way that I either can no longer do certain exercises or effective changes has to incorporated how I can do certain exercises that are still effective without causing too much unwanted pain. While I've moved from Stage 4 to Stage 3 with my cancer, the damage to my T12 and L4 has already been done. Swimming has always been my Saturday workout, but now, it's 3 times a week. The pool absorbs all of my weight which relieves pain and stress of my lower back and my lower back.

Congrats on your up-and-coming 2nd Kyu as well as your daughters first Testing Cycle!! The Testing Cycle takes care of itself, train and train and train...after that...just do your best and DO NOT WORRY ABOUT its outcome. I know! Sometimes that's easier said than done. This is not your first rodeo, so this Testing Cycle shouldn't be any more stressful than the other ones...right?!? I believe that your daughter might be more at ease than you because she'll have no misconceptions about the Testing Cycles one way or another. In short, congratulations and go have some fun beforehand.

Congrats to all of the winners; very well deserved across the board!!

Metal Gear Solid Phantom Pain was a great game! I played that loads on my PS4. Would be great if they released a native PS5 version : Kojima is a genius at taking advantage of a systems capabilities. Have you been an Xbox gamer for long? This is the first generation where i almost switched. Game Pass is very tempting. Am considering getting my boy a Series S as a way of 'dipping a toe' into the Xbox world Quite a long time. Ever since I got my first XBox for Christmas; wanting the newer PS was far too expensive for my taste, so, I'm a XBoxer.

Congrats, Wado Heretic; well deserved!!

Now that's a very nice birthday present, Patrick. If I had a PS5. I'd want any and every first-person shooter game, like any of the Call of Duty series, and of all...Metal Gear Solid. Bad thing is that I'm brainwashed into thinking XBox or nothing...what do I know?!? Here's a link to the top 10 PS5 games...hehehe...Metal Solid Gear made the list...I just love that... https://insiderpaper.com/top-10-best-ps5-games-list/#:~:text=Here%E2%80%99s%20The%20List%20Of%20The%20Top%2010%20Best,Duty%3A%20Black%20Ops%20Cold%20War%20...%20More%20items Enjoy!!

Great to hear that your birthday, Patrick, was a smashing success...and a PS5...nice cherry on the top birthday!!

What a great post, Danielle; right from the heart. May I say that your contributions here at KF have helped to form KF as it is now. Your 16 years here in every know capacity has helped KF as well as its members in so many ways. KF is a family, and as I see it, a very close-knit family because of people like yourself and the uncountable number of members that have come and go. What you've accomplished on and off the floor is undeniable here as well as elsewhere in your life both as a MAist as well as an individual to the Nth degree. Good luck in everything that lies ahead, Danielle. I will greatly miss you across the board. Yes, thank you Patrick for making KF the place to be for all walks of life, and for ensuring that KF is the non-judgmental media that the members can relax while sharing their knowledge and experiences safely. The plethora of members that have contributed to the KF Forums sure do cause one to pause and think and have those AHA moments. Thank you, members, for helping KF to reach its 21st and a Half anniversary...and here's to many, many, many more KF birthdays.

Happy Birthday, Patrick. Have a safe and fun birthday.

Thank you, Danielle!!

Yes. You can get away with just 2-inch mats. Btw, there's no cleaning under a subfloor unless one just wants to, and subfloors are very affordable. Just 1 crash pad? At 5'X8' that means taking turns. Yet, crash pads can be quite costly at $350 to $550 each. Like you said, crash pads stacked to the side oit of the way does make cleaning easier.

Fuji Mats and Subflooring!! I choose Fuji because their Tatami mats have that high quality to them. Their Tatami Mat Kit prices are dependent on size of the area to be covered...the bigger the area, the bigger the costs...$1K to $4K. Tatami mats, in general, are both expensive and traditional, if wanting a more traditional look and appeal. Now, Tatami Mats come in a variety of different colors, Fuji is no exception to that rule, as well as patterns. if someone's to take a tiny step away from the traditional look. Of course, they come in different sizes and thicknesses. I went with 2 inches because in my mind, I want a ton of cushions whenever I literally hit the mats, and that extra half-an-inch gives me some piece of mind, subfloor or not. Personally, I've tried a vast variety of mats, but whenever I finally decided to go with Tatami mats, I really understood why our Soke covered the majority of the training areas at out Hombu with them. As far as subflooring goes, I'd stay with the spring subfloor. So, if Fuji is the rage of the page, you can do all of your mat shopping at one location...Fuji...for example. Fuji has both available, Tatami Mats AND the Subfloor. Whatever the subflooring, get the underlayment pads...2 layers at least. How long does the subflooring last?? 5 plus years, easily. There are many factors to consider for that concern, for example, is your dojo full time or part time?? Wear and tear affect anything over time, moisture is the worst thing for any subfloor, even in a dojo. My very first subfloor was me covering the training area with old tires underneath 1" plywood sheets, then my mats right over the subfloor. Crude, but effective back in the day. At first, that subflooring was in another room, but once we saw how much of a positive impact it made, I covered the main training floor with that crude subfloor. For grins and giggles, I'd go with the thickest mat known to mankind if a spring subfloor isn't possible. My dojo donned Fuji 2-inch Tatami Mats, with 2 layers of underlaying mats, and Fuji subflooring system. Once of the best investments I ever made.

Thank you, Patrick!!

Thank you, Brian!!

Rats!! I just moved from Houston last May to Las Vegas. Houston's a bedrock of what you're looking for. Like Brain suggests, check with Google.

UPDATE: Had my appointment this morning with Dr. Oscar Goodman. Poor guy had a quarter size scrap on his upper middle forehead from losing his battle with his car hood. Ok, onto business... Upcoming appointments: 12/05/2022 930am for my Treatment Shot of Eligard 5mg. 12/09/2022 8am for an MRI Thoracic Spine with and without contrast 02/09/2023 9am for an MRI Lumbar Spine with and without contrast 02/10/2023 Blood work 02/17/2023 9:15am Follow up appointment with Dr. Goodmam GREAT NEWS...I'm beating cancer!! I'm NO LONGER Stage 4, I'm now at Stage 3. Dr. Goodman confirmed that the diagnosis of my Houston, TX Oncologist for my Stage 4 Prostate Cancer was correct. The MRI's are to MAKE SURE that there's no cancer anymore in my T12 and L4; more of a safety factor....better to be safe than sorry...a concrete way to verify prognosis that there's no cancer anymore in my spine!! MORE GREAT NEWS...My LAST TREATMENT SHOT OF ELIGARD will be in February 2024. That means, I'm 5 shots away from no more Eligard Treatment Shots. Still not out of the woods, yet!! Will have to continue monitoring my PSA levels, which are STILL at ZERO. SOME MORE GOOD NEWS...Once I finish my current prescription of Bicalutamide 50mg, which is used for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, I am to discontinue taking it because I'm no longer in Stage 4. Dr. Goodman wants me to continue losing weight...I'm trying!! Well, until my next update, see you all then. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!! I give all of my Praise to God for His Grace and Mercy in the continued healing me of my cancer!!

Congrats on the birth of your new daughter. Glad to hear that you all survived the Covid scare and that all of you are doing much better now. Now, time to catch up on some much-needed sleep...unless your new daughter has different plans...that is.

Thank you so very much for your continued support, Patrick!!