sensei8

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

My family and I are going to honor them with a moment of silence before we pass out gifts. Our prayers are with them all!!

hat I don't completely understand is how some teams, like the Ravens, aren't in the playoffs, at any level, yet, other teams are in the playoffs, at any level, BUT their stats ARE THE SAME!! Huh? Someone explain that to me...please...I'm confused.

Yes...Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to EVERYONE!!

As far as I'm concerned... When on the floor; gender doesn't exist!!

MMA and the like have had no effect in my dojo and/or the Hombu. Basically, the MMA and the like are just another form of the MA, and in that, I don't worry about 'it' being the rage of the page.

Kyan Shorin Ryu is the closest version to what Shindokan teaches.

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy. I know that I'd lose my mind if this would ever happen to any of my children...an emptiness that I pray I never have to feel for even a second. What can someone say to a grieving parent(s)? Words would seem felt, yet, empty; shoes that I don't ever want to wear.

Congrats to your son for his wins!! And by all means, please keep us updated as the season progresses. Also, great that you were there...these times are going to be great for you and your son as you bond in the MA. I bow to you and your son!!

Injuries that you speak about in your OP are going to happen when the MA requires one to spend a lot of time on the ground or getting up from the ground or taking someone down to the ground.

I too own and have read quite a few MA related books, including kata, however, I take most kata books with a grain of salt because I'm a firm believer that kata is ones interpretation, especially concerning Bunkai/Oyo Bunkai. I love kata; it's an important and vital part of the three 'K's!! There are many noted "experts" on the subject of kata in methodologies/ideologies and the like, but I can't and will never say..."Hey, this "expert" and that "expert" is correct/right concerning the understanding or the interpretation or the application or whatever" and that's because while we've been taught a certain methodology/ideology and the like, I can't ever admit that one's right and the other wrong and vise versa. My Dai-Soke taught us, but I'm my own MAist, and in that, I've my own beliefs and the like. Am I wrong? Maybe, but that's only to be seen through my own research and the like. Do I keep an open mind on the subject of kata and entertain the methods and ideas from the "experts"? Yes!! The book you're talking about Brian is a great book, but it's one "opinion" and not written in granite.

There's quite many Kyokushin karateka's here as well as those karateka's that practice Shotokan. Go where your MA heart is. If your heart is in Kyokushin...go there! If your heart is with Shotokan...stay there. If your heart wants you to finish Shotokan before you go to Kyokushin, then do that. Btw, one never "finished" because it's a lifetime commitment...imho...that's karate-do!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!! You're more than welcomed here...if there's anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask. There's many KF members that are form the UK...just reach out, and have fun, and relax.

You all kill me!!

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

If you've filled an ocean with your blood, sweat, and tears through your earnest MA training, and you've been fortunate enough to have earned a Dan rank through an untold amount of years of sacrifice, and you don't own/run/operate/manage a dojo/school or you've never taught your beloved MA style...let me tell you this... Your MA life hasn't been wasted and you're not an empty vessel!! To you, my Dan Sisters and Brothers, I bow, no, I prostrate before you in humble respect and admiration. Whether you teach or not means nothing to be because we're Black Belt Brothers and Sisters nonetheless. I've heard it before..."A true black belt teaches!" No, a true black belt trains their betterment through every trail and tribulation. Teaching isn't a prerequisite to earn a black belt. A black belt is still a black belt without all of the platitudes. Most learn how to teach from Sankyu to Ikkyu under the watchful eye of their instructor, and this is true, however, the choice to teach is a personal choice, not a requirement, and it shouldn't be, to earn a black belt. I've been teaching in some capacity or another for 42 years, ever since I was a JBB at 13 years old; just because I teach, I'm no better of a black belt because I do teach, than a black belt who doesn't teach. Your thoughts?!

If you had 3 months to devote to one thing...What would it be? Remember, this question is MA related...thanks.

What version(s)...huh?

However, Royce Gracie "threw" a lot of front kicks during his UFC days. I said "threw" because Royce's front kicks were for disruptive and closing the distance reasons, not any focused front kicks, not that I saw any.

Please describe "people at the top". Nobody's above the law, so to speak, at the dojo/school. I'm one of the "people at the top" within Shindokan, but I always keep an open mind and an open door. Also, are you referring to things in general or are you referring to what's on the curriculum? Imho, things in general are everyone's business and everyone should keep an eye wide open. Things within the proven sound curriculum is the concern of the Chief Instructor alone and not anybody else's business; don't like what's being taught...go somewhere else. However, if a student is being taught things that are unsound/unsafe/dangerous/harmful/disservice, and a student perceives it to be so, then by all means leave and leave immediately. For me, if something in general is "seriously dangerous and harmful, or do something that is a real disservice to their students", someone from the Hombu or myself will stop it immediately providing facts dictate to do so. Here say and conjecture don't work with me. For me, concerning the curriculum, I'll only give consideration when the curriculum is concerned to very, very, very, few within Shindokan.

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.