sensei8

I'm a Karateka and I'd like to think that I too am liberated from 'rank' because I don't EVER put rank before knowledge! Rank has its purpose, yet, I learned along time ago that 'rank' must be PUT IN ITS PLACE! When rank is as or more important than knowledge, it's time to walk away, until that practitioner CAN put rank in its place! Over the years I've suspended/expelled students of mine who became "ruled" by rank; knowledge wasn't that important to them any more!

Nothing ventured is nothing gained! One will never know until one tries it. The inventor of the "Pet Rock" made millions while his family laughed at his idea as dumb at first...later-on...he laughed all the way to the bank! Would I buy a pre-warn bb? NO! But, I never bought a pet rock either!

"Kung-Fu" TV star found dead in Bangkok... http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/actor-david-carradine-found-dead-bangkok-ap My prayers go out to his family/friends during their time of mourning! RIP!

Enjoy...

Possibly adding Expert Picks might juice it up a notch. Seeing and then comparing KF members' MMA picks against MMA picks from noted experts/analysis in the MMA field AFTER THE EVENT and/or BEFORE THE EVENT.

Kuma, that's a very solid post! I concur with it wholeheartedly!

That's a solid post! Study your opponent, study yourself, make a plan, and then carry the plan out...in total commitment.

It's a good thought, but for me, I want both side working! If one trains the one side to become a force to be reckoned with and then that side becomes injuried. What now? Switch! 10-4! I hear you! Mr. Wallace was just an example of kicking, I admit that, but I believe my intent was understood whether it's a kick or a punch/strike. While a single side model might work, but, will it work all the time, for me...my odds of success, imho, are increased by using both sides. Either way, whatever works for that individual is what that individual should go to. I just don't subscribe to the single side model, that's just me.

Although Mr. Bill Wallace favored his left side, not many could do anything about it. They knew which leg was going to kick them, but, there's nothing they could do about it...it wasn't if, it was when. Mr. Wallace might be the exception to the rule...train both sides! Even then, I'd still beat his left side until he switched, even if it was for just a split second, but I'd be ever vigilant against his kicks from his left side.

One of my most favorite things to do is to disrupt. When I find someone who likes to favor a particular side, I'll torment that side with everything at my disposal until that person switches to the other side, the unfavorable side, then it's time to close the deal. It works more often than it doesn't! Beat the lead leg or the lead hand or anything over and over until they switch to their unfavorite side...then...whack away. Therefore, train BOTH sides equally, this should be of normal training in any martial arts, imho. Sometimes, instructors don't make the students train both sides for whatever reason(s) an instructor might have. Either way, train both sides or be prepared to be run over by a train!

That's awesome. Kids make us adults seem so...well...lame. Looks like the little tike might be the next Tiger Woods of pool. Thanks for this Patrick!

I love to play Donkey Kong and I've gotten pretty good at it over the years, although, my skills are timid compared to some of the players who've mastered Donkey Kong. Steve Wiebe was poised to break the worlds record until...well...check this out... http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/power-cut-glitch-foil-donkey-kong-record-attempt/1321196

A kick to the shin would also be a good defensive/offensive kick. Why? Most attackers are laymen, and by laymen I mean someone who hasn't trained/conditioned their shins, therefore, a well placed kick to the shin might be enough to get away. "You've got alot of nerves!" some might say, and my response would be "Thank you...and so does the shin area." The shin is a great attention getter, but if you don't capitalize at that very moment, the attacker might beat the heck out of you for general purposes because he's mad already and in pain (you hope) and mad because of the pain you caused.

Isn't the world of possibilities just wonderful. Someone's negitive is someone else's positive, and vise versa. As in Chess, whomever controls the center of the board for most of the game, usually wins, although, make one mistake and it's capitalized against and....WHAM...a hidden checkmate has you sitting there going...."What happened? Where did that come from!" It doesn't take much to have the tables turned against you...does it?

My experience with the Red Man suit is limited. Reasons for it being limited is that when I wore the suit, I felt rather restricted across the board. The other reason, believe it or not, I'm extremely claustrophobic, and I don't like that feeling. Yet, everything I've seen about the Red Man suit has more positives than negitives. Embrace its teaching tool on two planes; safety/reality.

This appears to be a very generalized label, imho. Therefore, any and all Karate falls under this category. Many schools would be affiliated with, or heavily influenced by, one or more Karatedo styles. What do you all think?

Aha! He can teach Shotokan! Another great point! Teaching isn't the same, as many have already pointed out, as certifying! This is just me, but, I only achieved a green belt in TKD under GM Young Ik Suh therefore, I wouldn't 'teach' TKD because I believe that my TKD knowledge is limited. Now, if its Shindokan, well, that's another thing!

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!!!!!!!!!