sensei8

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.

We, his JBB's, once asked our Dai-Soke what was his preferred kata in the Shotokan syllabus and he said... Heian Yondan We asked him why that one? Isn't that in the Shotkan kyu syllabus? His retort was... "Yes it is. But it contains a lot of necessity; it's complete" He demonstrated it for us, and we were made believers!!

Either of these three...in no particular order Wankan Gojushiho Dai Unsu [i can't do the big jump anymore because of my right knee; nowadays, that knee helps me to walk, and not jump/land]

Imagine a Golfer, for just a moment. When they first take up the game, they might have only very few clubs. Then as they progress in the game, they'll begin to add one club at a time. Before they know it, they've now acquired a full set of clubs, and in that, they can now attack any possible situation on the course now. However, whenever a golfer finds something in the pro-shop that might give them that needed edge, they'll buy it and add it to their golf-bag. However, all of the golf clubs in the world won't guarantee victory alone because one will need knowledge and the like to propel them above their opponents, and in that, they must know how to use said clubs to their advantage.

How is wrestling not a sport? How is boxing not a sport? How is MMA not a sport? Every competition is a sport. Spelling Bee? Sport. 5k run? Sport. Eating competition? Sport. Karate sparring? Sport. Solid post!! It's how we TREAT IT, that makes it a sport, imho.

Yes!!

Sparring for the very first time, ones head seems to get in the way, not because my mind can't wrap around the concept. No. My head kept getting in the way of my opponents attack...WHAM...WHACK...OUCH!!

I've always treated the word "best" as an illusion, and in that, it's a personal opinion. An opinion that's mine and mine alone because we see the beauty differently. Having said that, For me... Dai-Soke Yoshinobu Takahashi of the Shindokan Saitou-ru!! Beyond him... Bruce Lee.

I've not experienced that for myself before, but from time to time, I've counseled many students who have. Albeit, I've tried to retire once before, but after a short absence, it was as if I never really left; I was welcomed back with open arms across the board. The horse is only as scary as one allows it to be. Hence, getting back onto the horse is, according to the experts, the only was to lessen ones anxiety. You'll have rust, and it's to be expected, but serious practice will remove the tarnished surface. A few classes back on that horse will seem like not such a big deal, and that is because it's not a big deal...unless...you make it a big deal. Hang in there and TRAIN!!