sensei8

Great point!!!!!!

I don't believe in them. Once Mr. Dillman said he uses his chi abilities to move people out of line at Starbucks so that he could be in front of the line. Okie dokie! Does chi exist? I believe that it does, but, that's it! How it exists and why it exists, I'm not convinced/sure about. We humans have an aura that surrounds us, but we're a form of energy, so how hard is it to display that aura on scientific monitors/insturments?

You must have a personal reason(s) as to why you'd want to avoid sparring. This, imho, will depend on both the style as well as the Dojo. To not spar is like having a two-legged stool; very unstable. In that, most traditional Karate is based upon the three K's. Kihon (basics), Kata (forms), and Kumite (sparring). One must have all of the K's, not just one or two; there can be no exception. One must engage in sparring as much as there are stars in heaven; unlimitless, without an end. If one wants to learn how to effectively defend oneself, then sparring is paramount. Sparring is like a rose! While a rose is bueatiful, its incomplete without its thorns. These thorns serve a vital purpose. Take away the thorns, then the rose becomes helpless; defenseless. While a rose is bueatiful to smell and to behold, its not a harmless plant. This becomes very evident from the first time that one of its thorns pricks ones finger; never judge anything by its outwardly appearance. Spar without end! Embrace sparring and it will embrace you back!

Kyu is "boy" and Dan is "man" OK, that's my 2 cents

What about Matt Bourne? Sorry, I'm just kidding!

No way.....I dry clean mine. Why? Dry cleaners are so good at keeping the pleats nice and crisp.

I use to never wash my belt because I too had heard about the washing of ones obi washes away the practitioners blood, sweat, and tears...the willing sacrifices that we endure. That was during my teenage years as a Jr. Black Belt. After I turned 22 years old, I washed by obi often. Why? Because my Soke and my Dai-Soke didn't like the uncleanness of the Karateka, the Gi, and the Obi. We/they/it are representative of the Shindokan, Soke, and Dai-Soke, therefore, to appear unclean/unkept was against the code of Bushido which states... Rei - Respect; in this, this includes having respect for oneself, our uniform, and our belts. Yo - Honor; in this, this includes Honoring those who have authority over others, as well as honoring the Do, the way, in which one is directed. I was raised in the martial arts my two very old school types, in that, I will respect and honor their wishes and demands.

Congrats Kuma!!!!!!!!!

Not many things are known about the behind-the-scene of a martial arts Hombu...sometimes, many Hombu's keep a shroud of secrecy from any outsiders for one reason or another. This has never been a problem nor has it ever been the case with the Shindokan Hombu under the leadership of Dai-Soke Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei. Therefore, I would like to peel away a small layer to reveal some of the internal going-ons at the Shindokan Hombu. I've authorized this glimpse as it is my duty, honor, and right as Kaicho and Chief Instructor of the Shindokan Hombu to do so. The Shindokan Hombu itself is staffed by approximately fifty-six (56) staffers, not all will be listed here. At the top of the structure is Dai-Soke Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei, Judan. Directly under him is the Executive Team; in the Executive Team there are Kaicho, Kancho, and the Board Of Regents in which there are twelve (12) members. Under the Executive Team there are three (3) departments including the General Affairs Department, the Instructor Department, and the Administration Department. The General Affairs Department is headed by a Hachidan who is the ranking member of the Board Of Regents and his team includes eleven (11) staffers. The Instructor Department is headed by the Kaicho who is the Hombu/Style Chief Instructor. The Administration Department is headed by the Kancho and also has three Assistant Directors as well as nine (9) staffers. The Instructor Department, which is made up of twenty-four (24) teachers, is the largest department. Also within the Hombu there are various committees made up of higher ranking teachers, as well as various sections and staff members responsible for handling contact with outside parties and so on. The Hombu itself has become no longer just a dojo, but also a kind of corporate entity. Still, the focus of most activity remains on the Instructor Department. In addition to teaching, many of the instructors are also involved in publishing the Shindokan Hombu Newsletter (One Heart...One House), planning and preparing for various events, administering the Shindokan Annual Testing Cycle held every June/July, and accompanying Dai-Soke, Kaicho, and Kancho when they travel. Also, there are quite a few requests for Hombu teachers to teach in various Shindokan Dojo's, as well as visiting many various martial arts venues, so some instructors are usually off doing that. There are so many things for the Hombu to do and be involved in every year, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. The whole place always gets very busy in the days leading up to these major events, and the Administration/General Affairs Department has its hands full doing this and that for most of the rest of the year as well. Hopefully, you've enjoyed a very small glimpse of the behind-the-scenes of the Shindokan Hombu.

Orlando Magic VS Los Angeles Lakers This should be a barn-burner as well as a slobber-knocker. With that being said....GO LAKERS!!!!

Contact Century Martial Arts and ask them how to safely remove logos. Why them? They put logo's on them, therefore, they might know how to remove them. Just a suggestion.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090531/ts_afp/britaintitanichistorypeople My prayers go out to her family/friends!

Check out the following: http://www.tangsoodoworld.com/

tallgeese, I understand and I hear you! One thing I've noticed is that the "Under the banner" stuff is this... Disciplines which are officially approved and recognized by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai are the following: Jujutsu Aikijujutsu Karatedo Aikido Judo Iaido Kendo Okinawan kobudo Any other martial arts discipline doesn't merit recongnition/approval of the DNBK! If your discipline isn't listed, you're discipline's nothing per the DNBK. Organization, big or small, being recognized isn't just a martial arts thing; it's a human thing.

Standing or on the ground? Only thing I've to say is this...one better learn how to do BOTH because one will be involved by doing one or the other during defending oneself. Don't be caught unprepared while your attacker is extremely versed in BOTH. Finding out you lack in one or the other during defending oneself is akin to a pilot not knowing how to fly an airplane!

Man, I'm guilty of that! It sucks! Why? I'm the first one in a normal conversation to point it out that there's no such thing as best when one is speaking about anything that is of the martial arts because "best" is an temporary illusion! But, soon as the topic goes to Bruce Lee...I'm placing him on a pedestal and praising him...give me a break...I'm the biggest Bruce Lee mark. Here I am...painting a target on my back...DUH! I will from this point on refrain myself from using the word "best" when I talk about Bruce Lee. Why? Because I'm no slouch when it comes to the martial arts in any shape, way, and/or form! Bruce Lee was just a man, nothing more and nothing less!

One more rung up the ladder! Congrats!

Kiai's so low that only a dog can hear them have plagued us instructors for along time. The thing on the timid kiai's is this. Do your students truly understand the purpose of the kial? If they don't, then educate them on the purpose of and how to kiai. Once the student begins to understand the importance of the kiai, I believe that they'll kiai so loud that they'll strain their voicebox. Knowledge is paramount, this includes the kiai!!!!!!! As far as shyness goes, this is a real situation and shouldn't be ignored nor should the student be made fun of...unless you don't want your student to escape their shell of insecurity. Greatest tool for any instructor with shy students is this...are you ready?...here it comes....PATIENCE!

What about shin spurs? How does one avoid them and the like? I've ran 5 miles per day/5 days a week, weather permitting [Rain is for a duck and snow/ice is for penquins...I'm neither!] for as long as I can remember. I use to run at night until I almost got ran over...twice...in one week, now, I'll stick with a nice morning run...I can see the cars and they can see me.

Well, I could never do this with my Lego's. I was good to connect the darn things, let alone make something like Mr. Wright has/does! AMAZING!

Can God create or can God really create? Awesome! Humans are just infinitesimal in the vast that's been made by God! Imagine what's beyond the reach of the Hubble? Boggles the mind, well, my mind that is!

Now that was cool! Thanks for sharing that with us!

LOL!! A few moments? Can someone say...this is a difference of where did JusticeZero sleep that night?! The couch or in his bed....most of us men would've ended up in the dog house...with a couch/bed! Congrats JusticeZero!

Sorry! About what?

My intent is not to argue! Legitimacy can become meaningless when I, for example, start to certify my students in Shindokan TaeKwonDo or just TKD under the Shindokan banner whilst my TKD rank isn't high enough in TKD to certify/rank in TKD, eventhough my Shindokan rank is more than enough to certify/rank ONLY in Shindokan, not TKD. It seems that I'd be passing out oxymoron certs; oil and water just don't mix.