sensei8

I hope that you'll enjoy this little tribute to my son...Nathan Mitcham. He's an 18 year old special needs adult who was able to live out his dream...To dress out and play for his high school basketball team, The Owasso Rams. It was quite an emotional week leading up to the Tuesday game against Sand Springs, OK Sandites on 02/13/2013. It was quite an emotional night...last night, and the emotions have overwhelmed me beyond any capacity that I can muster. I could tell you about this story, however, I've not the vocabulary nor the skill to properly tell this amazing story how my son lived his dream. So, for now, I'll let others tell Nathan's story. While at each link, you'll see other links embedded within these links that might help you fully experience Nathan's journey. You might also need to do some of your own searches to learn more because I'm sure I'm not fully aware of everything that's available. So here we go... http://www.facebook.com/Dressnathanout?fref=ts **The second link on the above link is one of two articles that were written by Tulsa World's John E. Hoover World Sports Columnist** http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=708&articleid=20130213_29_B1_CUTLIN502311 **This is the second of two articles written by Tulsa World's John E. Hoover World Sports Columnist. There's a slideshow and a video included** http://www.ktul.com/story/21141916/dressnathanout-was-a-huge-success http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/owasso/Twitter-campaign-a-success-for-Owasso-High-School-basketball-team-manager-Nathan-Mitcham My wife and I have recorded just about every news show on our DVR about Nathan dressing out, ever since it began last week. You can imagine just how much Nathan's Facebook/Twitter and the like have increased over the past week, but even more so since the game last night. If you "friend" him at Nathan Robert Mitcham, you can see quite a lot of pics/video's as well. I'd include them here, but, I'm not computer smart and I've no idea how. My thanks go out to each and everyone who has made Nathan's dream come true. Allowing Nathan to dress out and to allow him to play validated many, many things within his life. Even more so, it's validated within Nathan that he can hoop...he's got game. It was validated when he stepped onto the floor in an official high school basketball game...PROOF IS ON THE FLOOR!! I never truly realized the impact until last night. Channel 6, Fox Channel, Channel 8 and Channel 2, all from Tulsa, OK were there. Cars were everywhere; I had to "make" a parking spot near the gym because cars were everywhere, and I mean everywhere. His 8 points and everything else he did during last nights game will be forever recorded. I don't even know what he's feeling today, but I know this... I LOVE YOU NATHAN...I'M SO VERY PROUD OF YOU...YOUR MOM IS VERY PROUD OF YOU...YOUR SISTER IS VERY PROUD OF YOU!! GO NATHAN!!

My question simply implied that I was unsure exactly what he offered. Does he offer full-training, or am I going to go for one class, learn some techniques, and that's it? Since my Shotokan dojo was from white to black, I was unsure what made his teaching style different. Will I still progress like that? It's hard to say. You're going to have to ask the source; that'll void any and all concerns.

No!! Schedule won't allow it.

1st Place in Kata; CONGRATS...and well deserved!! Nice looking trophy!!

First of all, I'd like to welcome you to KarateForums!! Imho... Take him at his offer. The only thing you'll lose is the time it'll take for the evaluation and the like. As far as on-line VS at the dojo, I'm a firm believer that nothing's better than live training at the dojo and that's because immediate feedback is tantamount in ones training. Do what you feel is right for you...live or on-line. Good luck and please let us know how the evaluation went!!

For Kids...Does your style use a "Junior" black belt?

My prayers and condolences heartfully go out to her immediate family as well as to her followers/students and friends including the entire Judo family world wide. Find peace!!

Calling it what you did is good enough to get your point across; it's all good!

All I've ever done was to make sure that my pants were between my skin and the drawstring; comfort achieved for myself. Also, I've never tied the drawstrings at my back/behind me. I've always tied it at my front.

Kata for competitions is more theatrical. Longer pauses, kiai often, movements for show, and ever so slight changes to said kata. I don't fault them nor do I ridicule them, and that's mainly because I use to do whatever it took to gain the advantage over my fellow competitors. For kata, I would even wet the very bottom of my gi pants, and at the end of each gi sleeve top, just to get that extra snap from each technique in the quest to garner more points.

At first! At first involves many parameters: having just learnt, is still learning, and is discovering [bunkai]. After that, muscle memory kicks in, and imho, that's not a bad thing because to much "thinking" about it all causes one to make a mountain out of a hill.

Kendall's a wrestling champion in the making...AWESOME work!!

That's a VERY SOLID post!!

Shoulder to hip roll...I won't do any other. Btw, I like the fact that, in the video link provided, he was doing rolls downhill.

As far as the three hops in Chinte... I've never given much credit to the Bunkai's found and preached about; some were, imho, laughable. I'm on the opinion that the three hops are there so that one can return to the starting point.

I've never meet, nor have I ever been taught, a kata where the start/finishing spot didn't arrive at the very same exact location.

Thank you so much for the links Zoodles; a treasure chest full of valuable information on the subject. THANKS!!

Congrats...well done!! Feels good huh!?!

Thanks for the link Danielle. And they have a Royal Armouries in the USA; Kentucky. It will be worth the time it'll take to go through the entire website. That's got to be on my bucket list!!

You're more than welcome Brian. And I thank you for your informative post. I've been really interested in Medieval Combat ever since I became a member here at KF; it being on your list of styles that you practice. Before that, I was only curious about it from seeing the many, many Medieval movies that I've seen throughout my life. I think that both the Samurai as well as the Knights were something to be reckoned with across the board. How they trained, how they fashioned their swords as well as their many other weapon, how their mindset is on the field, how they treated their enemies, how they were received by those who came in contact with them in passing, how they lived, and how they died. To know your opponent; their times are something that MA of today need to study across the board. I will study the link you've provided as well. Thanks Brian!!

Within Shindokan, they do and they better start and end in the same spot. If not, then the kata is incorrect across the board concerning every aspect of ashi sabaki [Footwork]. Rhythmic...No! Timing...Yes! Both of these words aren't the same. Kata is NOT a dance. No technique, no matter how small or big should ever be executed until that very moment demands to do so, no sooner or later. Exactly!! Like you say Brian, sloppy isn't good at all, plus, ineffective. Kime...FOCUS!! Treat each technique accordingly to the level that they deserve. Breathing is paramount. Can't hold your breathe throughout the entire kata because you might pass out/die. Proper breathing oxygenates the muscles. When and where one should breath in/out is dependent on how the kata is taught per the style. One last point, relax your breathing. As in everything in the MA, there's a time for this and for that. Postures time is NOW and ALWAYS...Muscle tensions time is NOW at its exact moment; with no ambiguity whatsoever. Remove/shorten one of the chair legs, the chair falls over or the chair leans; neither are good. IMPOSSIBLE!! We're imperfect, and in that, we will never perfect anything!! It's doesn't mean that we shouldn't try; it's the journey and not the goal that drives me. Having said that, I've not perfected even the most basic kata!! Great topic Brian!!

Bushido_man96/Brian, You might have written an article or made a thread/topic about Medieval Combat, but... Could you tell us/me about Medieval Combat? Thank you sir!!

Can the line, no matter its path to said target, change directions from its committed path, at the very last second? Great input thus far...thank you all!!

I've only allowed only two answers because I believe that the answer should be voided of any uncertainties for the sake of our discussion. Maybe/depends, are for another time. Thank you!! Study your opponent, study yourself, make a plan, carry your plan out. These words mean everything to me, however, the opponent doesn't always make the idea seem plausible. In any altercation, both opponents are in constant motion to one degree or another. Trying to achieve the advantage over the other in any way possible. Shifting and the like doesn't always keep your opponent just where you want them at the time of execution. You punch, they bob and weave. You punch, they slip your punch. You punch, they move to one side or another. Doing whatever they can to evade your attacks. So...when your opponent moves.... Should your punch remain in line of the target at all times?

Royce Gracie competed in an era when many martial artist were blind to grappling concepts. Now that all mma fighters have a knowledge of ground fighting the gi would basically become a handle for an opponent. The grips provided would help your oponnent strike, submit, sweep, and controll you. I don't think that MAists were blind to grappling concepts, no, they just weren't effectively experienced in them, and for the most part, they still aren't.