sensei8

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:

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.