sensei8

No matter what, breathing is vital, and Sanchin develops correct breathing techniques as well as proper pinpoint kime. While to an outsider, Sanchin is a bit peculiar, to any given MAist, Sanchin is vital across the board. I don't believe that it's a waste of time.

Excellent review!! Whether the MA practitioner has a lot of experience or not, I sincerely believe that we as MAist needs to keep our minds open to the many things outside of their MA core. Thank you, DarthPenguin.

I'd say, in short, to add to my previous post here, our Testing Cycles are quite arduous, to say the least. I suppose that I'd have it no other way.

Mizu no kokoro...A calm mind like water and Tsuki no kokoro...Mind like the moon are maxims that cannot be separated. This is a very reality to many MAists, one that I've believed in for a very long time. This maxim awakens ones senses but cannot be alone because each of them are dependent of each other. Bruce's quote has one underlying thought, and that is to “Master Life.” Once an individual masters life he/she can then begin mastering all things that life brings. Mastering life is the basis of the art of the soul. Each individual person must master their life in their own way. The way you master your life may not be the same way I master my life. This is a lifelong process for some, and for others takes only a short amount of time. However, don’t fret for Bruce Lee has a starting point. That point is referenced in his next quote, of which I'm sure Brain will introduce shortly.

That's exactly it...especially the bold type above!!

Many decades ago, I taught Karate, not Shindokan, at the Los Angeles Valley College, located in the San Fernando Valley in Valley Glen, CA 1975-1977. What I taught was a elective named Karate 1 (101) and Karate 2 (102) that was a part of the Physical Education Department that a student could earn 1 college credit, similar college credits as Bowling 1 and Bowling 2, which also earn the monstrous college credits of 1. I was allowed to teach Shindokan, however, I was not allowed to use Shindokan whenever I was asked about the curriculum. Instead, I was to remind students that the style of Karate wasn't the focus of the class. Which was fine with me because students were there more for the college credits.

Yeah you do...and you have NYY Pitcher Cole...nice!! My team is full of...well...it's full.

Way too many get hung up on the too many things that are of the MA. Master is surely right up at the top. it's just a word. How one treats the word can cause such strife in the MAist for one reason(s) or another. Sad that MAists get all bent out of shape whenever the word Master is used no matter the context it might've been used in when it relies to the MA. However, we're quite ok when the word master is used in other professions, i.e., Master Plumbing, Master Electrician, and Master Automotive Technician, to mention just a few. Expertise or Master are just labels, and labels in the MA separate us unnecessarily. We oftentimes can't see the forest because of all of the trees. Guess what? Expertise or Master or Whatever other labels all have one thing in common...Proof is on the floor. I neither possess Mastery or Expertise but if I may borrow the words that Bryan Millis eloquently spoke... "What I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career!"​ Even then, proof is on the floor.

Gave this a lot of thought, this is the personality as a reflection of our soul, without our social persona, we put on for show. Anything that you do has been created by you, and without you, nothing has been created, even the mimicking that we do as MAists is STILL a creation with you as its author.

Welcome to KF, Devonl glad that you're here!! I've not personally used a face shield with M/L headgear, small or otherwise. I hope someone here has so you can get that which you're looking for.

Solid OP, Noah and I commend you for your forthright thinking. I totally agree with you across the board. Ever since I earned Sandan, I always consider rank in general, especially those of the yudansha, nothing more than a nuisance in the Nth degree because proof is on the floor and not around the waist. Lack of effectiveness and maturity should be the measuring stick, and again, especially whenever the yudansha ranks are concerned. I've two Senior ranks that I earned over 5 decades from my Soke and Dai-Soke as well as a Hanshi. I'm as humble as apple pie with what I've earned, nor am I ashamed of them either. Nonetheless, I don't flaunt them around in any manner on or off the floor as though I'm better than anyone and what I say goes, so on and so forth...that's not me!! I was part of the SKKA hierarchy for over 3 decades of which I held various positions from The Regents all the way up to Kaicho. However, my priority has always been in the support of the Student Body, and I fought for them against the other powers that be for the sake of the Student Body and not for the ego of the hierarchy. What good is what I've earned as a yudansha ever since the SKKA was dissolved several years ago. After all, for the most, rank outside of the Governing Body and/or the dojo means nothing. Wearing a plain black belt proudly without all of the decorations as if my yudansha was a Christmas tree strongly appeals to my integrity. Integrity must be more important than anything!! I say earn Shodan and leave it at that. Unfortunately, that ideology, more than not, will get thrown out like the bath water because quite a lot of practitioners love power and rank means just that. Using the excuse that Tradition dictates this and that is just that....a very bad excuse, and the lack of effectiveness as well as maturity becomes acceptable back then and even now...and will be still the rage of the page way after I've shed off my mortal coil. Again, proof is on the floor...ALWAYS!!

Congrats, wagnerk; well deserved...and for the 3rd time...NICE!!

I'm not sure if I'm in or not. Nothing I read on the invite screen implied that I have or haven't joined. Any ideas?

What does rank mean to me? These two questions pop up here at KF from time to time... What is your rank? What does rank mean to you? Both questions are harmless across the board. Seeing those questions are harmless, I will answer the latter question. To me, rank means nothing!! Not anymore and hasn't been in a very long time. It's more of a nuisance that varies as much as the wind does. Rank is ineffective, and without effectiveness there is no knowledge/experience and without knowledge/experience there is no betterment. There was a time that I sought after rank like the flower seeks after the rain until I earned my Sandan. Then like a light switch, I no longer sought after rank because within rank there is no effectiveness. I seek effectiveness. Rank is the last thing I ever want. Back then, I sought after rank to Sandan because I needed Sandan to open my own dojo. After Sandan I needed to improve my MA betterment through knowledge and experience, and not through rank. Yes, over the many decades, I earned rank as well as Shogo Titles. Yet, I never sought after rank/titles; that was up to my Soke and Dai-Soke. I've turned down Testing Cycle invitations many times for my personal and MA reasons. I sought after anything, other than rank after earning my Sandan, in order to improve my effectiveness through my knowledge and experience which was dependent on my MA maturity. Knowledge and experience without effectiveness, no matter the rank, has no fruitful bearings whatsoever. What does rank mean to me? It means nothing. Rank has its place and purpose. Whatever respect I might have towards rank is that I respect the maturity that rank can never bring. Rank? Proof is on the floor...now and forever.

Yes. Let's opt 6 teams so we can give this a try while being competitive.

Congrats, Fractured; well done and well deserved!!

Lord, I'm super rusty with Fantasy anything. Please bear with me as I knock off all the dust and cobwebs.

Welcome to KF, KumiteDutchie; glad that you're here!! Good luck on your upcoming Testing Cycle for your NiKyu at the end of this year. Train hard and train well.

Congrats on being selected for your Nidan Testing Cycle. Congrats also that your Sensei is donning his gi once again for this most auspicious moment. Don't worry about being nervous because any Testng Cycle takes care of itself; just do your best. Good luck!!

Is this Part 1?

Welcome to KF, Fractured; glad that you're here!!

Welcome to KF, KumiteDutchie; glad that you're here!! Doesn't ring a bell with me, but I'll do what I can to help you find what you're searching for. Meanwhile, I hope you'll introduce yourself in the KF Introduce Yourself Thread.

Very few QBs are given the reigns to run their offense. QBs, again, like Peyton Manning had complete authority to run the offense. QBs have to prove their worth and not all QBs in the NFL are given that right. Like in anything, one down at a time to prove themselves worthy of full authority with their offense.

While reading your post, ramymensa, I started to tear up because you've also been in my corner with everyone else here at KF throughout my continued fight with my prostate cancer, and seeing your warm smile and your big red nose, it means everything to me as you and everyone here at KF. THANK YOU!!

I agree with DarthPenguin that there's really no right or wrong answer because it's up to the practitioner. The CI/Governing Body can guide, but the decision lies within the practitioner and not in the Governing Body!!