sensei8

I agree, Bob.Displaced egos anywhere cause the same elsewhere. We Martial Artists aren't the only ones who deal with them, that is for sure. But, such is life, and it goes on. I concur wholeheartedly!!

Recognizing that it IS ego and not well placed confidence is quite important before one can counsel another within the dojo/school. Imho.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!!

Martial arts weapons are often deadly in the hands of an expert but are more dangerous when handled by a novice; to both the innocent by-standers and MA weapon wielder. Having taught kobudo for over 4 decades, I've learned one undeniable truth concerning MA weapons in general, as well as concerning kobudo students; a life can be changed in just seconds, both for the good as well as the bad. Those who are unskilled/novices of MA weapons are their worse enemy because striking another person will prove to be much more difficult than striking yourself by accident, which of course, is much more easier to do and much more often. Imho, the legal ramifications multiply expeditiously because they're more likely to injure by-standers than themselves by just playing with any MA weapon. Having said that, MA weapons are very dangerous in the hands of a skilled kobudo expert, but MA weapons are even more dangerous to the unskilled. Injury suits over MA weapons can have no good outcome for the unskilled in a court of law; injury is injury, no matter intent. Then there's the other legalities; MA weapons that ARE legal. Well, there's not to many, if any, MA weapons that are legal to carry around on your person and/or in your car. If a LEO finds a MA weapon on you or in your car, you better be to or from a MA school and you better be prepared to prove it. If you can't prove anything...you're going to jail at the discretion of a sworn LEO. His/her badge has more power than your quick wit and guile. Novices don't have the same respect for the MA weapon(s) as a skilled/expert would, and that's mainly because the novice thinks that MA weapons are toys...NO WEAPON IS A TOY!! It's a very dangerous thing and it needs to be treated with the utmost respect, otherwise one can by seriously injured/maimed or killed. Even the kobudo expert, must respect the MA weapon; getting cocky and sure of oneself can do just as much harm as the novice is capable of. Remember...only a second separates one from awe/appreciation to deadly consequences. The MA weapon isn't a respecter of person(s); it passes its judgement without pause/cause!! Please respect the weapon, seek a qualified instructor, and keep all weapons locked up for safety. Train seriously because a MA weapon is a serious thing!! Having said that...I'd rather depend on my hands/feet over any MA weapon, even though kobudo is a big part of Shindokan.

I am no more impressed with a UFC champion and/or the like in a controlled engagement than I am with a 10th Dan over a 10th Kyu in a controlled situation. Why? Anything, especially when the MA is concerned, will have the perceptive preponderance of unbridled and unabridged effectiveness within the scope of a controlled engagement(s). Imho, the only thing(s) beneficial about any controlled engagement is when, (1) Teaching/learning/refining a new/old technique(s), and/or, (2) Any competition venue that's governed by rules, regulations and the like. Mastering controlled engagement(s) isn't indicative that any said style and/or practitioner of the MA possess effectiveness across the board. Not even close, imho. For a practitioner or a style of the MA to be effective in the arena of the uncontrolled engagement(s) it/one must excel in the various restrictive/resisting drills. The MMA/UFC and the like are the closest thing to a real fight, and these venues do an excellent job across the board; I commend them. Kyokushin practitioners do an excellent job as well through their knock-down style of karate especially in their 40/50/100 man kumite's. Shindokan religiously teaches restrictive/resisting drills from day one; compliant training is extremely limited because when outside of the protective dojo/school, nothings compliant about any attacker bounded by their type of body violence unleashed upon their victim. Therefore, Shindokan teaches controlled engagement(s) ONLY in teaching/learning/refining a new/old technique(s) to our students. After that, and under the very watchful eye of their sensei, what is/was taught is now tested by NOT being complaint to what is being used/tried. Step 1 and step 2 and step 3, so on and so forth, no longer exist because the parameters change faster than the winds. In an uncontrolled engagement, step 1 might not even stand a chance of effectiveness, let alone steps beyond step 1, and that's because when you try this and that, I'm going to resist you at every turn. This is when Shindokanists LEARN the nuts and bolts about every technique that we teach. It's not because we said so, no! It's because you tasted it and saw that it was good because it was untainted with controlled engagements. Outside of any controlled engagement(s) will test ones mettle to its core. Your thoughts please.

I applaud the Chiefs for doing what they had to do under the difficult circumstances, and the show must go on...OSU to the Chiefs. Nice win!!

A great victory on the gridiron under very dark skies. I echo these words by you Brian wholeheartedly!!

Solid post!!

Congrats...feels great, doesn't it?!!

This site might help you in your research as well... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isshin-ry%C5%AB+ Please look at the very bottom of the page of the link above, especially at the "See also" and "References", click on the other included links as well and see what happens. Good luck in your research.

I'd like to echo everything Zaine has said, and to add my own...Congrats to you...and yes...a meal is always a good thing to drown tourney blues.

Where I live...TKD is dominant. Yes, there are one or two BJJ schools, and a sprinkle of Japanese Karate dojo's, alas, no Okinawa Karate within 20 mile radius. Traveling to ones preferred school of the MA is a good thing for that MAist so that they can get what they need in their training. I'm for it and I support it.

First of all...great topic Ev!! I think that all of us MAists have experienced this syndrome at one time or another. I know for a fact that I've experienced it more times than I care to remember, even though the syndrome has exposed me as a MA dork in the awe of some of the greatest MAists; old age and/or experience has dulled that syndrome within me from a giddy dork to an appreciative smile and a bow/handshake.

As always MP, you've found the truth by being both real and being funny. Knowing that the stranger is indeed the true victim, I believe that you'd have to be there to witness the entire "situation" because if the stranger isn't the victim as you perceive it to be so and you save the actual attacker...it's more than just a..."my bad"!

Solid post!! I like it that you spoke about having confidence in their bodies ENOUGH to BELIEVE that they can save the stranger. Putting one in direct path of existing danger does take more than one is willing to realize; being truthful to oneself isn't always that easy.

My 2013 goals are Hombu related...sorry. 1) Finalize our very first official website...and then make it public. 2) To make our monthly newsletter, One Heart...One Way, available to other MAists, not just for Shindokanists. 3) Open the new Central Hombu...located in Oklahoma...Tulsa county. 4) Reassign the current Hombu as the Western Hombu...at its current location. 5) Amp up our seminars from every other month to every month. 6) Invite other styles of the MA to conduct seminars at BOTH Hombu's. Forgive me Alex for this...but...I believe that they are in concert with my MA goals somehow...Ok...I've some personal goals...I hate making them because something always gets in the way...like me. 1) Keep losing weight...I use to be about 350lbs...hush now...and I'm now 298lbs...my goal is 250lbs...my wife and kids deserve that. 2) Spend MUCH MORE time with my family...hence one of the reasons for goal #3 above. 3) Get two more MA related tattoos...I know...I'm an old idiot. 4) Learn how to dance...my wife deserves that...I've two left feet when it comes to dancing...kata doesn't count!! 5) Finish my memoir's...or at least get closer to finishing it. Well...now my 2013 goals are in the hands of fate...good luck!!

2012 is almost over...so...How did your 2012 MA goals finally go for you?

That is awesome! Yes...that is awesome...keep it up!!

Do you think that one of the biggest reasons as to why the MA styles around the world don't get along with one another is a proprietary issue? If not; why? If so; what can be done so that the issue in question can be returned to the path of resolution? I think that the proprietary issue(s) is one of the biggest reasons because no style wants to share their "secret" methodologies/ideologies. Why? They're in direct competition over one thing or another; namely...students. In order for the MA styles of the world to walk side by side on the path of resolving our differences, we must begin to trust one another. I feel this is the key to bridge the valley that separates us. The totality of our MA betterment must be reached somehow/someway; us being united begs us to do so, if not for the good common, but for our students. Your thoughts?!

Imho, what separates heroes from the rest of humanity is that heroes are heroes because they're so rare and their actions are so unprecedented. I'm not totally sure that every MAist would truly help a stranger as that said stranger is being attacked. After all, the skill sets of MAists should be more than capable for saving a helpless stranger. Your thoughts? EDIT: Spelling/grammer errors.

I've never been a great fan of "external"/"internal"...I just know one thing...attack me, and I'm going to hit your external so hard that your internal is going to hurt...a lot!!

Solid post!!

Solid post!!

Fool me once; shame on you...fool me twice; shame on me!!

No sooner than Sankyu. Why? Students have many other things to worry about than dragging around a heavy gi, not alone a heavy gi made more heavier with sweat. No, Jukyu through Yonkyu...wear a light gi for the time being.