sensei8

The title of this thread is "Confidence In Your Art", however, before one can have confidence in the art that they practice, one MUST, imho, have confidence in themself first. Which one should one have confidence in first? YOURSELF! Without confidence in yourself first, there's no way to properly judge your art nor is there anyway to build any confidence in your art.

Thanks for sharing that with us! Indeed that was a very large group demo.

Yes, you could enter your son in an open tournament for varied reasons. But, if your son has limited sparring experience, he'll get ran over by those who don't have limited sparring experience. A lot of open tournaments determine where competitors fit the best, and in that, they'll want to know the years of experience. Now, that's fine unless the sparring experience has been limited because that's going to be like throwing someone in the deep end of the pool knowing they've limited experience with swimming. The sink or swim method, imho, is not how students need to learn. This could totally discourage for any future within the martial arts.

Aggression is an emotion and it's only effective if it's controlled. Anything short of controlled aggression is, imho, a means without purpose. Check out what Bruce Lee had to say about emotions... Lee: [a student approaches Lee; both bow] Kick me. [student looks confused] Lee: Kick me. [student attempts kick] Lee: What was that? An Exhibition? We need emotional content. Now try again! [student tries again] Lee: I said "emotional content." Not anger! Now try again! [student tries again and succeeds] Lee: That's it! How did it feel? [student thinks; Lee smacks his head] Lee: Don't think. FEEL. It's like a finger pointing at the moon. [Looks at student who is looking at the finger; smacks student again] Lee: Do not concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of the heavenly glory! [student bows; Lee smacks him again] Lee: Never take your eyes off your opponent... even when you're bowing! [student bows again this time keeping his eyes on Lee] Lee: That's better. Mizu no kokoro is often translated as “mind like water.” This is a lovely phrase which is too inexact to be very helpful, standing alone. What is meant by this is to make the mind calm when facing an emergency or an adversary. The calm mind, like still water, accurately reflects all that comes before it. It is otherwise referred to as fudoshin or “immovable mind.” Tsuki no kokoro is usually translated as a mind like the moon. This refers to the necessity of maintaining surveillance over one’s surroundings at all times. As the bright illumination produced by the unclouded full moon as it reflects its light earthward, so the mind must be aware of all conditions surrounding it. This is often described as zanshin or kan-ken futatsu no koto, or “perceiving with both the eyes and the intuitive mind.” The emotion of aggression must be controlled while sparring. Why? Negative aggression refers to behavior between members of the same species that is intended to cause pain or harm. Is your intent to cause pain or harm while sparring? Of course you're not! Therefore, control your negative aggression at all times.

Karate the Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting by Hidetaka Nishiyama and Richard C. Brown

I can only assume that those schools that would allow this are far and few in between. For what reasons? To varied to pinpoint, imho.

Yes I did, but as soon as I noticed them, I forgot them even sooner.

For your enjoyment...

Each and every one of you have offered up some solid ideas, and I thank you all. I've toyed with the memoir idea, but, I'm nobody special and/or extraordinary. Wouldn't this be a prerequisite for writting a memoir? Even so, I'm still undecided, meanwhile, I'll just be bored out of my skull for now.

Tampa has be bitting at the bit! We're tied...for now. Those races you've mentioned are going to be just that RACES and thank the stars that I have the MLB channel. I agree with you, you're Royals have shown a marked improvement. I've enjoyed watching them this year. Pujols deserves the triple-crown...absolutely! GO YANKEES!!

That was a close game and I thought the Chiefs were going to win....but they didn't. Your poor Chiefs have been struggling, haven't they? But, it's only pre-season. Chiefs against the Packers...well...this will be a blow out for one of these teams, hopefully for the Chiefs. Hang in there Brian!

Now, that's a great answer...I didn't understand it, but it's still a great answer, LOL!!

Great answers so far...thanks! If I use a level to see if something is level or not, and the earth is round, then shouldn't the bubble be to one side or the other. I don't know how to use a level on a round object, aka, Earth. Ok...I've finally went bonkers.

I can only imagine just what the cardio is like for the Colorado Rockies and the Denver Broncos, let alone just playing 1 mile high!

AHA!! I'll check that out...thanks!

Congrats and way to go!!

Congrats...Way to go!!

I would think that any local lumber yard would care your desired board. I usually go to Home Depot and/or Lowes here in the USA. Century Martial Arts Supplies sells boards of varying sizes, but, I'm thinking that this would be a pricey option.

Brian's on the right track. I'd only add this...DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!! Without going into a great deal of detail, and/or receiving incorrect advise that could do more harm than good; please read this.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness#Altitude_acclimatization

Just a small note. Bruce was a child actor way before he became a martial artist. Bruce had his first role as a baby who was carried onto the stage. By the time he was 18, he had appeared in twenty films. Bruce didn't begin in the martial arts until he was 19 years old. Still, Bruce's prowess in the martial arts way overshadowed his acting skills.

In Shindokan, we've Tuite; therefore, we've tons of grappling. Tuite is the method of manipulating joints through grappling to control and incapacitate an attacker. Tuite is literally translated as "grasping hand", and is an advanced art that requires the knowledge of Kyusho-Jitsu in order to weaken and release joints. In addition to the study of the pressure-points, Tuite also requires the study of the body's joints, how they function mechanically, and how they control the rest of the body. Any joint can be injured or dislocated using much force and pressure, however this is not what Tuite is all about. Tuite is the ability to create total vulnerability in a joint using minimal effort. The key is to manipulate the joint so that this vulnerability is created before the joint is actually "locked out", or dislocated. This is accomplished by stimulating certain pressure-points in order to override the body's defenses that protect the joints from injury. Therefore, Tuite and Kyusho-Jitsu are interrelated in self-defense.

You say that green belt, in your style, is an advanced level. Your confidence should be fine. Will it get shook from time to time? Sure, especially when you're learning new things about your art as well as yourself and those around you. It's a good thing to have your confidence challenged from time to time; it's no big deal unless you make it a big deal. You should notice a quite significant improvement in you kihon, kata, and kumite; the 3 K's. You shouldn't have any difficulties with those practitioners below your current rank, no matter the situation or drills or etc. As a matter of fact, your Shodan ranked students shouldn't be able to have their way with you each and everytime. No, you should start to gain their attention, and in that, they shouldn't try to just run you over at will. In hind sight, they should still have a level of surprise availible to show/give you. After all, they're Shodan and your a green belt in the same style. In most styles, asking a black belt to spar with you is a sign of disrespect; a sign of a challenge to them. It's ok for a black belt to ask you because they're black belts. In that, you can't ask for tit for tat, but the black belt can. Befriend a black belt to help you guage your sparring improvements as well as your unimprovements. You could always ask you sensei, but, you might or might not get the answer your seeking. Your sensei, if he/she is worth their salt, already knows of your abilities as well as your inabilities. SPAR until the wheels fall off and then some. As Kuma said...spar friendly, but, not just within your style. Seek out those on the outside of your style, but, keep the sparring friendly, not threatening. "Does the river dwell on how long it will take to become the ocean..." - Sensei Bruce Payne

Cliff, I your honest opinion, who and/or what person and/or type of person would be in the 3 percent of the martial arts?

Does anyone here recognize these weapons, and/or know anything about them and/or from what era/circa? I took these pictures when the family and I were at a local museam. I don't remember what the nonmemclature said that was beside the exhibit. Check this out.... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=302463&id=100000348765429&ref=fbx_album

There are two sides of any argument. The one side agrees with the benefits of kata. The other side disagrees that there are benefits in kata. Nonetheless, either side will not agree with the other. In the game of chess, this is known as a stalemate. Now; go train!