sensei8

Yes! The Yankee's swept the Twins. Now the Yankee's will face the Angels. I believe that this championship series for the American League will be a fight. Angels aren't to ever be taken lightly and the worse thing that the Yankee's could do, and they won't, would be to underestimate the Angels. Mo did his job and did it well! In my opinion, Mo's about the best reliever in the game! GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe, I will, but, before I do please let me just say this. When the title of this thread says "Kids MMA", I immediately envisioned little kids, not high schoolers. So, that's why I said what I said! Yes, I assumed, my bad!

When is it time to retire from active MMA competition? Maybe when ones loss record is about to catch up to ones win record? Maybe when the loss record is about to pass the win record? Maybe when the loss record has skyrocketed way pass the win record? Maybe when the only record is in the loss column? OR... Maybe when the drive's no longer there? Maybe when the fires been snuffed out? Maybe when the light within is growing dim? Maybe when the will is gone? Maybe when the abilities are no longer realized by the fighter...finally? Either way, it isn't pretty to witness. What's even worse is when the fighter doesn't even recognize that the end of their MMA career is near or has passed already. Recognizing isn't a trait that's desired in any person when that recognition means to admit to oneself that it's time to retire; hang up the gloves, so to speak. Denial becomes an enemy and this enemy isn't that easy to defeat. When one has their dreams and desires dashed and their hopes become nothing more than a distant memory, one has nothing to look forward to anymore. Anyone who's ever retired from anything that they truly loved for whatever the reason knows exactly what it feels like. And for those who haven't, well, they only have speculations, but, they've no idea. Many retire before they're star even shown. Championships never realized, but, never gave up on. Therefore, they fight! Therefore, they endure! Therefore, they continue. Still, retirement is a signal to the world that this is over and their existence is mere and nominal. But, it's not! Remember I said that denial becomes an enemy. This enemy disguises itself cleverly. Doubting oneself, hating oneself, unworthyness, and the list goes on and on. Yesterdays are just that, but, believing in the many tomorrow's to still come, this brings the enemy to its knee. Dusting off themselves and fighting day by day in a regular everday can be and at times it is boring, but, it's still a pursuit for that championship that's within, and this can't be denied! When is when? I bow to all who've been in any octogan because that alone takes courage and courage is a mark of excellence and courage is ever part of the martial arts. Is sooner before it's later? Because the ugly of it isn't pretty to witness for all. This topic isn't to single out or to point out any MMA fighter. No, it's to just ask... When is when?

Kids in the MMA?!? This has BAD written all over it. Besides, who want their kids face/head looking like Randy Couture? Sheech! Kids in the MMA is BAD...IMHO!

Go for it! Tournaments can be educational, beneficial, and FUN! Tournaments provide new friends who share in the martial arts. Tournaments let us see what it's like on the other side of the fence, not just in our backyard, but, across the world. Go for it! Take a sip, just a small sip, and you'll soon find that Tournaments/Competition can be good. There are bad tournaments, but, that's for another topic. I just want to encourage you to go for it!

Check these out... http://www.angelfire.com/ms3/memphisshotokan/ http://www.shotokanmemphis.com/ Good luck!

Please let me add a comment if I may. In the OP video, there are many references that this person is of Shindokan Karate. This person is NOT or has NOT, past and/or present, ever been associated in any shape, way, and/or form with Shindokan Karate-Do as founded by Soke Fuyuhiko Saitou Sensei, which is currently under the leadership of Dai-Soke Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei!!!!

Here are some more videos about this person and/or those affiliated with this person, although these videos aren't as disturbing as the OP video, but, well...you decide for yourself...

This is one of the most disturbing videos I've ever seen... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1dCc1Ae3nY

I commend cathal 100% and I wish cathal the very best and much success! I'm just so facinated that the school was so willing, when it's been my experience that school's are very closed-minded about being so willing to help outside programs. "Not on school property!" is what's heard the most from principals/administrations. Therefore, it's not what one says, but, it's the way it's said. I go in with a clad-iron program and presentation, then, cathal, for example, walks in with a clad-iron program and presentation, but, the school/administration picks her over me. It's not what I said, but, it's the way I said it. Maybe, I wasn't clear enough and cathal was. Again, it's not what I said, but, it's the way I said it. Maybe, I gave them everything that they were looking for, but, I was short/rude/down-my-nose to them and cathal wasn't! Cathal...I bow to you and I sincerely wish you the very best!

ABSOLUTELY and SOLID! One of my sensei's biggest maxims for his instructors was to NOT fraternize with ANY student. Reason for this was to keep the association of sensei/student professional. Also, things are presumed/assumed by the student when fraternizing occurs. In this, the student thinks that they're at liberty to get away with some/many things in the dojo and the like because of the so-called friendship. Signals are misunderstood by all and in that, fraternizing is taboo! A big no no! This is why my Dai-Soke/Sensei's circle of trusted students is so small. It's sad! Why? Because many Shindokan students only know about him from afar. But, if they knew him as some of us do in a more personal way, then, they'd see him more differently.

This has been said before but I feel that it bears repeating. As crazy as it makes me, I don't see much of a problem with little kids/pre-teens wearing a full gi outside of class. Yes, I make it understood to each and everyone of my students, but, little kids/pre-teens are so darn proud of themselves and this includes the gi/belt. So, they wear it outside and to and from the dojo...I'm ok with it. I too was once a little kid/pre-teen, I started in the martial arts when I was 7 years old, and even I wore the gi EVERYWHERE my mom/dad would let me...I WAS SO PROUD OF MYSELF! Yes, my sensei didn't tolerate the wearing of the gi outside of the dojo no matter the age, but, even he surrendered to little kids/pre-teens because even the hardest heart will melt under the gaze of a puppy-eyed look. What's one to do?

Congrats armanox!!!!!!

Interesting way to describe a snap/thrust! I like it!

The unbalancing of an opponent can be mental and/or physical! Physical is more vital than the mental, but, both are important depending on the situation and the situations aren't constant. Physical unbalancing requires a sharp distancing ability, both creating and closing. I can initiate the action(s) OR the opponent can; both are the same. Huh? I can use the actions of the opponent, and, when that occurs, both actions are in motion, but, the opponent isn't in an advantage. Footwork is important! Proper footwork can dictate angles and proper footwork can expose flawed angles in the opponent. Mizu no kokoro and Tsuki no kokoro are the elements of mental unbalancing an opponent. One either has it or one doesn't! If the opponents confused, angry, upset, scared, unfocused, distracted, etc. Then the waters are no longer calm and if the reflections of the moon are cloudy, then, the opponent is at a great disadvantage if I'm in full Mizu no kokoro and Tsuki no kokoro. This is as simplistic as I can explain kuzushi. WNM, might be able to shed more light on it.

I just wish I would shrink in the wash sometimes...ROFLMBBO!!!!!! You and me both! But, I can't fit in the wahing machine...DRAT!!!!!!!!!

Even though I already know the answer, I just have to ask.... Isn't the Axe kick a front kick type?

The school didn't bark at it because it's a for-profit program? They just let you hang up the posters...on school property? Again, it's not what one says, but, it's how one says it!

Bottom line...my bottom line...my choice... I will "flee" whenever the opportunity presents itself to me! This, fleeing, is my virtue to a proportional response. In that, it's my personal moral obligation to avoid/end the fight just as soon as the opportunity presents itself. After that, the rest, imho, is mute. In my martial arts, I'm complete in my totality!

Teaching proper weapons retention should go hand-in-hand with learning the deployment of any said weapon. While the tactics/techniques of the martial arts in the teaching these areas are effective, I venture to even say that they're seriously limited. No organization, other than the military, teaches weapons deployment and retention better than law enforcement...NOBODY! Not even the martial arts!

How did you get the school to agree to this????

Well, I've never thought about the belt being able to shrink. But, why not, after all, it's made out of some type of fabric(s). That'll be my new excuse...I'm not getting big in the tummy area; my belt shrunk. Go figure!

I'm with rogue2257...speak to the instructor! Here's some links... http://usajoshinmon.com/jks_1_website_004.htm http://sabaki.8m.com/katashorin.htm

In Shindokan, we use: *Ball of the foot *Heel *Instep

Date all they want! It's their right and I'm not their dad! I'd only speak with them if their actions were disrupting, being inappropriate and/or interfering with the school.