sensei8

Here's a belated CONGRATS!! It's well deserved!!

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone in advance for their input in this discussion. Secondly, I'd like to bow to each and everyone who is now, and who was a beginner in any martial arts because without being a beginner first, you'll have never became an experienced martial artist. This topic is specifically for any and all Mudansha, ones without dan; the beginners of the martial arts. However, those martial artists that possess a Yudansha, person who holds a dan grade, it’s their experience that will be immeasurable in this topic for any beginner. Degree turns are measured counter-clockwise, so turning 270 degrees would be the same as turning clockwise 90 degrees. So, then why does the 270 degree turn exist? The answer to this will be almost impossible to imagine due the many methodologies as well as the many ideologies preached by the infinity of different styles of the martial arts. Within Shindokan, stance attitude affects the quality of any turn, but with the 270 degree turn, it’s vitally important to know a few tips. This big turn, for any beginner is not only difficult for them at first, it also becomes easier with constant practice; and we’re all familiar with an old saying… ”Practice makes perfect!” 1) The deeper the stance, the more difficult it is to turn. 2) Each single movement within the 270 degree turn should follow one another without any stopped-hesitation [head then shoulder then hips then knee then to stop] as one complete movement. 3) Control the excessive sine wave movements at all times. Having said that… *Do you find the 270 degree turn easy/difficult for you to learn? *Do you consider the 270 degree turn an effective/ineffective tool in the martial arts? *Do you consider the 270 degree turn an effective/ineffective tool only used in Kata? *Do you think that the only time you’ll ever use the 270 degree turn is in Kata? Let the discussion begin....

Well...I've an XBox 360, first time having an XBox. I've always enjoyed the PS format over any other. Having said that, I wish that I had purchased a PS3 because there are a lot of FPS games out there, that I love as well as their sequels, that can only be found on the PS3 format, like SOCOM and MGS, two of my favorites. So, I have to get rid of my XBox 360 and get the PS3. MGS:Rising will have an XBox format that's coming out around this November, I'm still coming back to PS, PS3 that is.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

A lot of great ideas thus far, but, with each of those great ideas comes a price...A LOT OF PRACTICE!! Without it, you're still not going to be able to defend yourself against a knife adequately enough, if at all, imho. Having something is better than nothing, but without practice, it's still nothing.

GeoGiant, It's the same for me inside the martial arts world; people wish I'd shut up...take a deep breath...do something....but please...shut up! Once the curtain is open and the spot light is upon me to instruct, I'm not shy about instructing. It's the world OUTSIDE of the martial arts that I'm quite shy. It's a wonder I'm married and a father.

I love that, and the sad thing about that saying is that, in smaller towns, it's still being done all over the world.

Imho, talking to the organization probably won't help. Why? Martial arts POLITICS!! It's not the game, it's who's better at playing it!!

Great topic. I know I need to lose some weight; my tire is really showing...DOH...

Depending on how sick I was, I'd sweat it out and drink a lot of fluids, but if sweating it out wasn't working and/or I was just more sick than I realized, I went to bed, took whatever medicine the doctor prescribed and sleep as much as I could. Being sick; that's another one of those things that I believe that we should pay attention to. Why? Who knows us better than our own body? It's time we start listening!!

Maybe, and I maybe, the emphasis is on kicking, because TKD is known for it's kicking, and not on punching and/or blocking. Remember I said...maybe.

A very solid and moving post; it truly brought both a smile to my face as well as a tear in my eyes. Thank you Montana!!

Basically, in witten Japanese there are no spaces between words, but in many western languages such as English there are. Therefore, when translation occurs, there is naturally some variation as to where to put spaces or hyphens (as they weren't in the original word). For instance, "I'm a practitioner of karate" in Japanese is "watashiwakaratekadesu" Now, that's really hard for someone to read in western characters, so usually people break it up like this when spelling Japanese phonetically: "watashi wa karateka desu" However, I've also seen these interpretations: "watashi wa karate-ka desu" "watashi wa karate ka desu" Any way you read it "karate" + "ka" = "karate practitioner" And everything sounds the same when spoken as well. So Isshin-ryu vs. Isshin ryu vs. Isshinryu are simply differences in romanization of Japanese words. The sound and the meaning is the same, but people just can't agree on a standard way to write Japanese words... that's all. I don't know about anybody else here, but, that was about the most solid explanation across the board that I've ever heard...and I thank you Shizentai for that!!

Solid post!! Of all the Wavemaster types that were in my dojo, our BOB was utilized the least, and it's mostly due to what Wastelander posted. I tried it a few times and after that, I went back to my favorite...a hanging heavy bag!!

The first time that "you" faced your sensei in kumite, I'm pretty sure that "you" were either a little scared or "you" were very scared of "your" sensei. I'd think that that would be a normal reaction/feeling. It's ok....go ahead...admit it...I ADMIT IT!!

To every KF member who's a dad, knows someone who's a dad....Happy Fathers Day!!

Having been the Chief Instructor for my Kyuodan Dojo, and then as the Chief Instructor of the Shindokan Hombu, both were different for me. When I was the Chief Instructor for my Kyuodan Dojo, I was only responsible for my immediate students. Yet, when I was the Chief Instructor of the Shindokan Hombu, I was responsible for the entire Shindokan student body. Our Dai-Soke, when he was the Kaicho, was the Shindokan Hombu's Chief Instructor for over 40 years under our Soke. Imho, our Dai-Soke was the quintessential Chief Instructor in both technique and administrative. When I became the Hombu's Chief Instructor, I wasn't trying to fill his shoes, that would've been impossible, however, I was trying to maintain my own balance while at the same time establishing my own identity that was separate and away from the largeness that was our Dai-Soke. I was very honored to have served in that capacity!!

Karate is a way of life!! Karate expounds the virtues of movements, and in that, movements are the proponent of karate. Strip away all of the intrinsic value labels attached to karate, it's still one thing; raw and basic. All of the decorations that we, man, attaches to 'it' to make it appear more important/effective than the other, or more than it truly is, that destroys the intent of its simplicity. What is Karate to me? It's mine!!

How many KF members are shy? I am! It's the bane of my existence at times. However, in familiar venue's, I'm very much at home, but even then, I can be shy for a moment at hand. So, how does being shy work when you're the instructor??