sensei8

Whatever the market will bear...I wholeheartedly agree!! Managing the brand properly also helps keeping one busy/in demand. It's like public speakers. They'll have pretty low prices for their speaking fees when they're just starting out, unless they're already very famous. Then as they start establishing themselves, their speaking fees will slowly start rising, and behold, they're in the bank. Get positive feedback and manage the brand, imho, vital keys.

You're still active in your MA training, aren't you?? Yes Cool, then that's all that's important, imho. Hang in there and rock and roll in your training.

Congrats!! It's well deserved!!

Our first week of our annual testing cycle at our Hombu was quite successful despite that 49 testing candidates didn't fair well. 101 testing Kyu candidates did do quite well, and they'll receive their promotions in house this up coming Saturday, July 6, 2013. Already it's the 2nd day for the Dan testing candidates, and we've failed 9 thus far. The pressure test of any testing cycle can serve notice to many because there's no such thing as a guaranteed test. No matter how hard one trains and no matter what their sensei might feel. It's a TEST!! Be prepared or not...it's up to YOU!!

Solid post!!

Get into the swimming pool!! It'll help you build up many of the required muscle groups needed to execute kicks. Also, get the densest hanging bag and whack the tar out of it. Make the bag wish you hadn't bought it!!

Viewing your pics was quite refreshing...thank you for them!! It caused me to think about my very last tounament, which was just over 18 years ago. I garnished 3 Open Kata Grand Championships and a 2nd place in Kumite in the Senior Masters Division. I wish you much success!!

Perhaps one thing that qualifies you for this rank so much is the fact you are so determined you don't want/deserve it? Referencing my earlier comment about humility, maybe the more you push against receiving the rank, the more you deserve it? Possibly you're absolutely correct in the long run. Thank you!!

You're still active in your MA training, aren't you??

CONGRATS!! Very nice!!

Bob, I find my jumping ability has visibly waned, as well. Nice to have someone who can relate...heheheheheeee

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Why do you think it is that way? Both can be viewed by politicians as violent, and since they make the laws; impressing them just isn't that easy.

Congrats on your promotion!! There are so many types of belts on the market, I just can't steer you towards any particular. Over the many years, I suppose that I've seen my share of them, and it boils downs to personal preference. Silk...satin...cotton...and so on and so forth. Some belts are affordable and some a not; the value isn't the belt around your waist, the value is in your heart. I'd say this though, look for one that's in high quality because you want it to last for some time.

Imagine if EVERY MAist STOPPED at Shodan!! There'd be an unimaginable amount of Ikkyu's that would never reach Shodan.

You're NOT clunky and slow!!

It's so easy to do...block with our faces!!

I agree, inasmuch, Karate WILL be treated as a sport in the Olympics because of its venue. Are you trying to say its not a sport, because it is an art? Nope!! I'm saying that anything MA that lands appears in the Olympics is treated as a sport, and not as a MA!! Imho!!

Hhhmmmmm...interesting the way you put that.

Personally, I prefer your ideology of not accepting the rank due to your Dai-Soke not being around to award it to you, as you clearly valued his opinion higher than any other. Good luck with your testing, but it's highly commendable that you do not wish to attain the Kudan rank - it shows great humility, and I think that's fantastic. Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words...it means everything to me!! I'm allowing the test to happen because Greg, our Kancho, put this little bug in my ear... "Dai-Soke's gone! His guidance is above all! But, many of his immediate students are STILL HERE; trust them and allow them to test your mettle in ways that will reflect Dai-Soke!! They've earned that right, even though they're not Dai-Soke!!" That's poked at me ever since he threw this on my lap!! The test will occur, and I do it for my Dai-Soke. I don't do it for myself because I'm just a cog in the wheel; nothing special, but grateful for everyone who believes in me.

Imho, character, and the lack thereof, defines us, and in that, our potentiality. For MAists, I believe that without sound morals/characters, they're just bullies.

Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Lau Kar-leung. http://www.avclub.com/articles/rip-lau-karleung-legendary-martial-arts-choreograp,99429/

Politics have landed another devastating knockout for MMA... http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/blog/insider/2013/06/mixed-martial-arts-knocked-out-other.html Just when it was save to got back into the water.

For your pleasure... https://www.kyokushinkaikan.org/en/news/2012/10/83-year-old-super-granny-tests-for-4th-dan.html

You've matured in the MA more than I had by the time I earned my Shodan; Ranks nothing to you already. It took me a while to mature!! Rank, in my much earlier days, was everything to me up to Sandan, I'm not proud of that. After that, I finally woke up and then I matured, since that, rank has modicum of value to me, thereafter, rank's just not that important to me. I wasn't allowed to test while I was a JBB; 5 years of servitude. Then I earned my Shodan in 1975...earned my Nidan in 1976...and earned my Sandan in 1977; I had 5 years of BB lessons that readied me for Shodan thru Sandan.