sensei8

Yes...very inspirational as well...through and through!! Thank you for sharing it!!

It might be worth the trip to your local cleaner. They might be able to help you because of their experience and the type of cleaning agents they have access of, that you and I can't get. Sorry to hear of your mishap...hopefully, you'll resolve this to your favor!!

Thank you, one and all!! I did have a good birthday...quite busy day, albeit, busy week considering all that was involved in celebrating my birthday and my 50 years in Shindokan...very busy indeed. I had my share of CAKE...I ate almost a cake by myself...today...I'm starting to work it off!!

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

The waiver, for the gym, is a means of not taking responsibility over your health, just a way to get the dollars. Fine!! But, if the gym is so concerned about your health, and they want you to exercise at their establishment, then they shouldn't forgo doctor advice. Waivers DO protect the liability of the gym! Fine!!

Overall, it's the experience that's paramount, imho, over the win and lose. It's nice to win, but it's nice to lose! Both are learning tools for the MAist to aspire for. Zach looked good!! It can be difficult to stop over thinking ones fighting at the moment...Emotional content, not anger!! Thank you for sharing Zach's tournament!! Tell Zack I said...Train hard and there's always another tournament!!

This. Do some checking with the school you want to go to, and see what it takes to get into the competition. If you are looking into ITF specific tournaments, you are going to need to do the form the way they do them, with sine wave and all that. I don't know if Jhoon Rhee does them that way or not.I also thought that Jhoon Rhee made his own forms, and did those for his students. Or does he still do the ITF forms? I'm interested to know. Please let us know! Solid post!! Sine wave...I'm of the opinion that sine wave lacks many elements...if I had to join any MA that supports sine wave, I'd reconsider it. No ones shown me the positive of the sine wave. That's my two-cents about the sine wave!

Honesty you'd probably be best starting over but I would imagine that once you've got the different nuances in movement down you'd pick it up pretty quickly. Might even be offered the opportunity to skip or double grades. That will be up to the governing body...ask them!! If not, rank isn't that important, or it shouldn't be, imho...training hard is paramount!!

Looks, to me, like a good routine. Of course, check with your coach to get proper feedback. Your coach should be the final word!!

Great answer. DITTO!!

I'm of the opinion that your kata should reflect your rank! If you're a 4th kyu, and you do Pinan Shodan, I'm going to score you quite low off the bat, and it'll be up to you to make me score you any higher. And, God forbid, if you chose to perform Pinan Shodan as a 4th kyu and don't show marked abilities for it; I'd be forced to give you either a pass or the lowest score I can muster.

Our Hombu's ratio is... Kids: 20 to 1 Adults: 30 to 1 My Dojo ratio is... Kids: 15 to 1 Adults: 25 to 1 Spead out over many classes from 9am - 9pm [Class starting times]. However, without assistants, either ratio would have to be smaller, imho.

You've received some sound advice and encouragement from many here, and I can't add much to their excellent advice and support!! Shugyo...suck it up! Sounds uncompassionate? But, it's not. For me, it's a motivator...things DO happen, and when they do, they happen my accident. Two forces will collide, as one tries to best the other. Respect one another, and when an accident happens, quickly apologize, bow, and then continue in the training. Don't quit over this...IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!! I've tagged and bagged my share over the many years that I've been on the floor, but it was never deliberate nor was it full of malice and intent!! Our Dai-Soke would shout out, not Yame, but..."Block or move!!" And when forces collide, it's to be expected from time to time in the MA. Control is essential, and it will come in time!! Even with ultimate control, accidents will happen in the heat of the battle!! Greg and I literally try to kill each other during Kumite because that's how we train to improve our betterment. It's no exaggeration when I say that we try to kill each other. We're two Senior Dan's, and we've decided a long time ago to kumite in the manner that teaches us. Sure, our Dai-Soke, at first didn't like it because we looked like Barbarians instead of MAists striving to improve our betterment. After time, Dai-Soke saw the value in our personal sessions of kumite, and he would, at times, just grimace because we go at each other extremely hard. I WILL GET A TURN!! The respect we have for each other allows us this. I win some...and I lose some, but neither of us are doing this out of malice and evil intent. We're like two bulls in a china closet, and it's with no ambiguity and/or reservation that we kumite the way we do. I don't recommend to kumite like we do; it's for us, I suppose!! Dust off any ill feelings that you may have about this. Train hard, listen to your Sensei, respect your fellow dojo mates, and don't be so hard on yourself, especially over this.

Thank you, GojuRyu Bahrain!! Imagine how I feel, now that I just turned 57...things creek and snap whenever I move...however, the floor cries out for me to return, therefore, I do. I think the floor is a sadistic unfeeling taskmaster....hehehehehehehehe....I'd have it no other way...nor would you!!

Thank you, OleOle!! Even though your MA journey has just begun, those 50 years will fly by, and even though you'll be 92, that's still young. Recently a granny earned her Yondan in Kyukoshin at...a young...83!!

Thank you, Ken!! 1976...was a very good year...you were born and I earned my Nidan!! Life is so wonderful!! My Nidan was earned that year on July...what month were you born??

Thank you, chrissyp!! I'm glad that my advice was helpful to you. And yeah, I've been around the block a few billion times!!

Thank you, Noah!! Earned my Rokudan the same year you were born...hhhmmmm...I might need a walker or a AARP membership!! Please, let us know when you Sensei's Sensei celebrates his Golden Anniversary so that I can wish him well!!

Thank you, ShoriKid!! Nice perspective, indeed. Perspectives like this can be awarding in themselves, makes one appreciative across a broad spectrum. In time, you're time line will cause your students to marvel. I also observed, through your comparison that...well...I'm old!! I will strive to hang around for another 20 years, God willing!!

Thank you, Danielle!! It's been my joy to have shared my journey with everyone here at KF!! My students are my personal highlight...always have and always will be!! MA wise...Hanshi is my MA highlight because NO Shogo title can ever be tested for; it's bestowed upon you, and in my case, Dai-Soke bestowed upon me, Hanshi. It was totally, as with everything, a shock to receive Hanshi. It happened at the end of class one night at the Hombu. Dai-Soke was conducting class that night, when he called me to stand beside him, Soke came to sit where I had been sitting...that was very unusual for Soke to do that. I was confused. Before I knew it, I was presented with my Shogo for Hanshi...I broke down in tears...No advanced warning, nothing...sheer and utter surprise. I cherish my Hanshi over any rank, even Kudan!! Before that, my Shogo titles were bestowed upon me at the Annual Testing Cycle dinner, however, all were a surprise! Can't petition for them!!

Thank you, Patrick!! It's been my deep honor and privilege to have been part of the KF community, more than I can ever express with mere words. As with Shindokan, KF is my family, as well!! In my Golden Anniversary, I'm in good company with those who have reached this milestone...I bow to them!!

Thank you, Harkon72!! My progression from Shodan to Sandan was quite quick, yes it was. Reason for that is that I was a JBB for just 5 years, and Dai-Soke continued to teach us, even though we were not allowed to earn any rank above JBB. So, at 18 I earned my Shodan, then the next year, I earned my Nidan, and then the very next year after that, I earned my Sandan. As Dai-Soke put it..."You were more than ready, no reason to delay!!" Many of the times, Dai-Soke would petition for you if he felt you were ready, even though you hadn't reached ranks minimal tenure as of yet. Soke, never questioned Dai-Soke when it came to testing cycles.

Thank you, AdamKralic!!

Thank you, Kusotare!! What Otsuka Sensei speaks toward is still in front of me, and by all means, there is only training and an unending journey.

Most backfist injuries occur with improper execution!! Mechanics, imho, must be paramount to any technique. This will lessen injuries from the get-go!! Hitting with only the knuckles should be backfist 101. Hitting with the soft tissue of your backhand area ISN'T proper for any backFIST, key word here is FIST. Not HAND. Train to strike with proper mechanics at all times. Imho, some hand conditioning is essential. I'm a proponent of hand conditioning, so therefore, I'm going to train my students to train their hands to absorb impact trauma because it serves no purpose to strike/hit any target if it's going to hurt you as well. First, proper mechanics, and second, hand conditioning of some sort.