sensei8

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!!

The Shomen is a very personal space. Therefore, the Shomen can be very simplistic or very elaborate or somewhere in-between. For ideas, you can look at images of the Shomen on the internet. There's no wrong and there's no right because the Shomen is a personal thing. I believe that the pictures that should be hung might be those of one's lineage. One could hang up just a picture of the founder and ones Sensei and leave it at that. Only picture I ever hung was of Jesus Christ. You can go wild, or you can hang very few pictures, if any. Ask your Sensei if you can xerox some pictures that your Sensei has...then frame them. After all, the internet is its own shopping mall full of all kinds of knickknacks. My go to has always been Century MA Supplies from OKC, OK. Makiwara...Wing Chun Dummy. I had them both, and several sets of each. Don't forget a supply of Hojo Undo equipment, a staple in any Okinawa style dojo. Two Large Taiko Drums with the Okinawan Shield on its skins. Forever I only had 2 Medium sized Taiko Drums, but to have 2 Large Taiko Drums...for me...HELLO!!?? Imho.

Thanks, Brian. I'm usually skeptical until Dr. Goodman concurs with any of my other doctors.

UPDATE: Went to my appointment today with Dr. Becker, my Radiation Oncologist, for a scheduled follow up. According to Dr. Becker, the results of my latest Nuclear CT scan and CT scan without contrast indicate that there's no sign of cancer in my spine at my T12 and L4. Dr. Becker agrees with Dr. Goodman that I'm in complete remission. Dr. Becker questions that my original prognosis of Stage 4 made by my Harris County Hospital Urology Department in Houston, TX. All I know is that test after tests performed in Houston, TX verified my Stage 4 prognosis. Can a cancer patient downgrade from Stage 4 to Stage 3?? I've no idea. Dr. Becker at this moment has no plans for me to do a week's worth of Radiation Therapy on my spine at those prementioned locations. Dr. Becker wants to see me in March 2023. My PSA is STILL at ZERO...Dr. Becker liked the sound of that. I told Dr. Becker that my new PCP wants me to see a Urologist because of the 2-3 times I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Dr. Becker advised me that that's not necessary. Dr. Becker tells me that the results show I have a progressive type of Stage 3, and I'm supposed to be going to the bathroom during the night. Dr. Becker shared with me that all of my CT Scans were NEGATIVE. All in all, I'll be asking Dr. Goodman some questions and clarifications after what Dr. Becker shared with me. Tomorrow some blood work for Dr. Goodman.

Well. in many cases, whether a team or individual has achieved a dynasty is subjective. There's perhaps there's been a tiny hand full of MLB dynasties ranging from the Red Sox to the, I must have to admit, the Astros. After all, according to Websters Dictionary: "a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time" So, seems to be that having a prolonged run of successful seasons, like the Astros, for example, dominated the American League with 6-straight postseason appearances, winning 5 AL West division titles, 4 AL pennants in 2017, 2019, 2021, & 2022, & 2 World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. So, per Websters, the Astros are a dynasty, no matter how much I hate the fact. GO YANKEES!!