sensei8

College first, martial arts second. No need to worry about putting in more time to martial arts. Get your college education and martial arts will come along. SOLID!!!!!!!!

This is a good way to be for any martial artist. However, many of martial artist get caught in complacency as shown for a goal such as a black belt, or degrees thereof. In other words, the rank and symbol are more important and tend to instill complacent tones instead of striving for excellance in ability(ies) I agree with you sir! Those who are in the martial arts for rank and degrees only are in the martial arts for entirely the wrong reasons.

They're both martial arts! Not by name and not by literal definition!

Yeah, because it must've taken some time to count 300,000 birds and at least one...or many more of the birds had to relieve themselfs onto someone or something....yuck!

ROFL...Sure...why not!

Very interesting topic! Yes! An extension of my "empty hand"! Yes! Yes! [i'm assuming that you're referring to Kobudo.] No! No! Yes!

Rank is what it is and nothing more. The inexperienced make the rank something more than what it's not. The inexperienced make fun of those who are ranked, whether it's a kyu or a dan. The belt is just that...a belt. Therefore.... When I take off my belt, I'm still who I am; I still possess the knowledge. When I take off my belt, I'm still training; seeking more knowledge. When I take off my belt, I'm still competent; finding more knowledge. When I take off my belt, I'm still a martial artist; trusting in the knowledge. Please finish this sentence.... "When I take off my belt, ..." If your system doesn't wear belts denoting rank as done in Karate, then, that's cool. I respect that!

Jim Wagner said... "When I started training in karate, the actions and attitudes of my instructor left me thinking that if I was ever attacked, I'd be barefoot, wearing a loose-fitting gi, and sufficiently forewarned to be able to drop into a wide stance and plant my rear hand at my hip. I was also left with the impression that my enemy would do the same. If he had a weapon, I surmised, it would be a sword, sai, bo or nunchaku. Of course, the sensei didn't say these things outright. He conveyed the message through his behavior and the ways he had us train. My kung fu, judo, aikido and savate teachers did the same. Their message was crystal clear. This is how the enemy will attack, and this is how you will respond." Your opinions?

Check this out... That's alot of birds! Don't be under them without an umbrella!

Don't I know it...^^ this is re-building years for you guys. That's what everyone always says during a rough season. True...very true. My Cowboys and still, ahem, rebuilding, ahem, with, ahem, Romo as the, ahem, starting, ahem, QB...:::cough:::man, excuse me, I've got a frog in my throat or something....:::cough::: GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!

Cowboys LOST!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't a pretty win for the Packers, but, a win is a win. Woodson forced two fumbles and 1 interception....OF A ROMO PASS...IN THE ENDZONE....aarrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! The Packers sacked Romo five times and allowed the Cowboys to convert only three of 12 third-down chances. Can someone say...tank on empty! Cowboys are now...6-3 and are still by some miracle...in 1st place in their division. Dallas hosts the Redskins...I think that the 'Boys will win this one, but, we'll see what the fat lady sings for the 'Boys. BTW, way to go Brian...you're Chiefs won their 7th straight against the Raiders. Next week you host the Steelers...that will be a barn burner of a game, imho. Patrick, WOW....what a close game and a close win for your Dolphins against the Buccaneers...a nail bitter for sure. Now you've got to go to Carolina...this too will be another barn burner of a game, imho. GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!

Very clever! Very cool!

In the latest issue of Black Belt Magazine, January 2010, there's a short article on page 18 entitled "Ireland Bans Samuari Swords." Here are some points from that article... *This new law is based on the ever increasing knife crimes. *It's illegal to sale, importation, purchase, and/or possession of a samurai sword. *Those caught manufacturing, importing, selling or renting the weapon COULD face up to seven years in prison. *Handcrafted swords made before 1954 are exempt from the ban. *Possession of a knife in a public place was increased from one to five years in prison. *Police have been given more power to carry out seaches for caches of illegal blades of all sizes. I'm still wondering ---Why are handcrafted swords made before 1954 exempt from the ban? I'd still think that a sword is a sword and if the blade can be sharpened or is already sharp...a sword from 1954 and before can still do alot of damage. It surely isn't like a car in the USA that was made before 1968 is exempt from the seatbelt law! Or is it? Let me just say this one quick thing. A samurai sword is one pretty big knife!

Practice time is vitally important in the martial arts. Even with your very busy schedule of college/studying, you'd be surprized just how much practice you can get in a day. Yes, you'll NEED unwind time from everything from time to time otherwise you'll get burned out of one or another or both. So, find time to just relax and do absolutely nothing. No school/studying and no martial arts, even if just for a few hours. Now. Practice opportunities will present itself to you all through out the day. A few minutes here and a few minutes there will add up to be more than one could imagine. Try to find a day where you do nothing! That might be hard, but, if you've time to watch football or NASCAR or the NBA or the UFC or something on the TV, well, there's the time right there to practice...just turn off the TV and PRACTICE! Practice makes perfect, or as close as one can get. Whether you practice or not; it'll show and your sensei will know if you've practiced or not. I'd not worry about wondering if you're letting your sensei down or not. That's good that you're aware across the board, but, your sensei knows that your a full time student in college and sometimes college MUST and WILL come before the martial arts. Therefore, your sensei will understand, but, at the same time, he'll encourage you to find time. If you don't practice the martial arts then it'll be akin to jumping out of an airplane, but, without the parachute! You'll find the time! And if you don't find the time...well...I think you'll make the time because Shorin Ryu as well as any martial arts takes one thing...and that is...PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...........!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok! My bad! My point has either been missed or not understood. That's my fault! The reason I don't worry about my becoming complacent is because I'll never be that good. Meanwhile, I'll just keep on training and training and training... I just don't have the time and/or the inclination and/or patience for any complacency! Let others worry about complacency...I just don't!

Well...I didn't do so good on my picks. I got Hathaway and Bispring right, but, that's all I got right. I've egg on my face!

ROFL!!! It would work for me....I'd let the stinky win!

OK?!? I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but, HUH????

I don't charge for testing fees either! Why? I eliminated ALL testing fees at my dojo when the economic downturn took a ugly downspiral. I did many other things to make life easier for my students, for example, I drastically lowered the pricing structure of the lessons as well as the retail side. Why? The martial arts, imho, is a want; not a need. Our students, imho, don't need the martial arts. But, our students, imho, need to be able to pay their rent/mortgage, buy food, buy gas for the car, pay the utilities, and the like. When I took over the Shindokan Hombu, I eliminated ALL testing fees for the same reason as stated above. Why? It was and is my preference, it's something I wanted to do and it's been positive across the board for my students pocketbook, therefore, I'll not charge any of my students any testing fee. How long before I re-start the testing fees? NEVER!

Yepper! It's the old water and oil don't mix thing; they don't go together. Oxymoron: something (as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements

Gi colors? Well...I've several Gi's of different colors/style. For example... White Gi Blue Gi Black Gi White Gi top and Black Gi pants and/or vice versa *Black/Red Demo Gi w/o sleeves Except with the last entry above *, I could be in any of the color Gi and/or combinations. Now, if it's a formal gathering, I'll be in a White Gi with/without Hakama. As far as class goes....any of the top 4 work for me. My favorite...Blue. I had my first Blue Gi in 1975. I once had a stars n' stripe Gi but it was way to loud for me. In Shindokan, there was a time when all kyu students had to wear White. Only black belts could wear a solid black and/or the combination of white/black or black/white. I was the very first one to wear a blue gi in class...and my Soke had a fit. But, my Dai-Soke allowed me and others to wear the blue gi to teach class, but, not during formal gatherings. I pushed the envelope, even with Gi's, but, even with that, one has to leave the envelope alone. Soke and Dai-Soke only wore White! No adventure taking with these two.

Nnnnnnnooooooooooooooo! Run! Not this thread/topic...again! BTW, A junior black belt IS a legitimate black belt, but without rank; Shodan and up!

Nice dodge!

Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera.......................Vera Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang...........................Bisping Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy..................................Swick Aaron Riley vs. Ross Pearson.............................Riley Paul Taylor vs. John Hathaway...........................Hathaway Matt Riddle vs. Nick Osipczak.............................Riddle Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jared Hamman............Hamman Paul Kelly vs. Dennis Siver.................................Kelly Terry Etim vs. Shannon Gugerty.........................Gugerty

Complacency in the Martial Arts/Martial Artist is a oxymoron!