sensei8

The weapon that's not understood and respected! After that, it's called...PRACTICE for the rest of your life.

Very cool Patrick; thanks for sharing it! BTW, if you don't mind me asking, how old was your grandpa in 1960? Congrats to Patrick J. O'Keefe!!!!!! I don't have any new info for you Patrick concerning the Samurai Judo Club of New York, although, I did a search on one of the black belts who had signed your grandpa's certificate; Jerome Mackey! Here's a link with some tidbits that I think that you'd find useful/interesting... http://judoforum.com/index.php?showtopic=24338 *Look at Post #3*

Most, if not all, Japanese/Okinawan Karate-Do are linked someway/somehow to one of the legendary Masters of yester-year. Whom without, no style exists, both Japanese as well as Okinawan. We're indebted to these Masters for their foresight as well as to their unmatched skills of Karate-Do. Some of these great Masters are known to everyone within the Karate-Do world. Masters such as: Master Sokon Matsumura, Master Kosaku Matsumora, Master Higaonna Kanryo, Master Anko Itosu, Master Choki Motobu, Master Chotoku Kyan, and Master Choshin Chibana, Master Gichin Funakoshi, Master Kenwa Mabuni, Master Chojun Miyagi, Master Motobu Choki, Master Kanken Toyama, and Master Kanbun Uechi. These prominent Master's of Japanese/Okinawan Masters are responsible for the spreading of Karate-Do. There are many, many noted yester-year Karate-Do Masters, this is without question. Today's Masters are direct lineage of the aforementioned founding legendary Masters. Whether alive or dead; these modern-day warriors forged a path that can't be denied by any Karateka worldwide. Masters like: Master Masatoshi Nakayama, Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, Master Hirokazu Kanazawa, Master Hironori Ohtsuka, Master Shimabuku Tatsuo, and Master Masutatsu Oyama. These legendary Masters had the entire world as its stage in which to showcase their particular style/brand of Karate-Do. The stars upon the worldwide stage are the very students of these same said Masters. These same students became Masters in their own right. Whom? For example, Master Fumio Demura, Master Morio Higaonna, Master Ed Parker, Master Takayuki Kubota, Master Peter Urban, and Master Gordon Doversola. Some of these noted Masters founded their own style of Karate-Do, while some chose not to. Either way, their lineage must point back to the Masters of Old. IMHO, every Karateka is linked together, one way or another. Whether one likes to admit it or not; we're nothing without each others paths intertwining harmoniously, one path, one course, one unity...one Karate-Do. Some Masters are well known while some Masters aren't. This can be also said for styles of Karate-Do; some styles are well known while some styles aren't. Does the unfamiliarity lessen their own greatness within Karate-Do and within the plethoria of Martial Arts spanning the world over? No! We can't be expected to know about them all. Especially when one realizes and accepts that the world is a very big place, and in that, nobody can know everything/everybody involved in Karate-Do/Martial Arts. That's impossible! After all, modern-day Karate-Do isn't that old. History informs us that modern-day Karate-Do came about in 1901 when Itosu helped to get Karate-Do introduced into Okinawa's public schools. Here it is 2009, therefore, modern-day Karate-Do is only 108 years old. That's infancy compared to history informing us that the Martial Arts was birthed as a common fighting system known as "ti" or "te" among the pechin class of the Ryukyuans in 1372. How much further back does the Martial Arts travel to its very beginning? There's speculations, at best, but, nobody truly knows with any certainity. For the exact date to be known, accurate record keeping would've had to have been created and obtained way back to the beginning of time...good luck with that! My own style; Shindokan Karate-Do has its own lineage/history. Briefly, My Soke, Master Fuyuhiko Saitou Sensei, was a student of Master Shigekazu Ishikawa who was a student of Master Anko Itotsu who was a student of Master Sokon Matsumura; my Dai-Soke is Master Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei who was a student of my Soke Master Fuyuhiko Saitou Sensei, therefore, I'm a student of my Dai-Soke Master Yoshinobu Takahashi Sensei. My Soke was also deeply immersed as a young lad into Okinawa-te as well as Shuri-te, both taught to my Soke by his father, Choshu Saitou as well as Master Shigekazu Ishikawa. Out of the listed names above within the Shindokan Karate-Do lineage/history, only two are well known; Master Sokon Matsumura and Master Anko Itotsu. The others listed within the lineage/history of Shindokan Karate-Do aren't as well known, if at all, outside of the Shindokan Karate-Do circle, yet, this doesn't discredit and/or lessen their accomplishments, nor does this change the known facts found within the Shindokan's Densho, Hand Scrolls, and By-Laws. In closing, many things are known and unknown within the many circles that make-up any and all styles within every Martial Arts. Just because I don't know you and you don't know me, this is of no consequence, nor has it any other valid meaning to either of us. You are what you are because your Karate-Do Master says you are! I am because my Karate-Do Master has said so! My students are what they are in Shindokan Karate-Do because I say so. The rest is just noise; petty noise! Let us not forget and/or assume who these unknowns are. No! Let's allow the floor to decide for us, at it's specific and meant time! Therefore, let's not chose to disrespect one another because this isn't Bushido. Outside of our very own style, it's possible that we've no value. In short, you've nothing to prove to me, therefore, I've nothing to prove to you! We're of any known value ONLY within our own system/style/Hombu/Dojo/Organization/Association/Federation; this includes Rank and Title. Who are the unknown Masters? You, and you, and you, and.... Your thoughts?

Move over ordinary method's of fighting the pesty nasty germ... http://www.yahoo.com/?nm=1 *Click on Video link *Click on Germ Fighting Gadgets For Your Home link *Click on Play Video link to watch *Click on Germ Fighting Gadgets link to read the info

Show's you that nothings perfect... http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-bulls-celtics-error&prov=ap&type=lgns

Stories like this, for me, are always good to read about. Dream's are no more further away from one's grasp as some might imagine. Why? Determination, talent, and drive! Check this out... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-jets-greene&prov=ap&type=lgns

This is turning out to be a year of rarities in MLB...that's why I will always love Baseball first, Football second/Basketball third... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=290503130&prov=ap

Bingo! Even though I've not gotten the Wii bug, nor do I think I will, Wii is not to be ignored as a powerhouse in the gaming industry, that's for sure.

Looks to surpass the first one...I'll be taking the fam to that one. But I'll be the only one in my fam going to see the new Star Trek movie...they, my fam, don't know what they'll be missing. Beam me up! Wwwwwhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I love Dr. Pepper! Do you? The origin of Dr. Pepper might've been found... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_re_us/us_dr_pepper_auction

I wouldn't want to try to hit her. And she's only in high school...wow...again.

Makes one want to move to a land far, far away! Very relaxing places to live, I imagine.

Breathtaking! Thanks for sharing those Patrick!

Heaven must've needed a new angel; RIP!

Here's the link... http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=942076 WOW!

I learn from my students, from my fellow Martial Artists, yet, primarily from my Dai-Soke. I don't test for rank anymore because my last rank testing was for my Hachidan. I've been offered/awarded/presented/whatever my Kudan this year, but, I've refused it for personal/private reasons of my own. I like that...very solid analogy!

I'd rather have my hands free then to have one or both engaged. You grab me, well, I've got two free hands for Tuite; I like my chances. But again, control is an illusion at its core, imho. I'm glad to see that we see eye to eye. Nobody, attacker, and/or defender; all have control for THAT moment until the parameters are changed by whomever, but, then it's ever changing. The summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because'! Wwwhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The Zen Master said to a hot-dog vendor when asked what he'd like..."I'll have one with everything!"

I didn't know exactly where to place this, so, I hope that Self Defense is where this topic should've been placed, Nonetheless, I want to bring the following questions to get your opinions. Scenario #1: I've grasped my opponents right wrist with my right hand! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? Scenario #2: I've grasped my opponents shirt collar with my right hand! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? Scenario #3: I've grasped both of my opponents wrists with both of my hands! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? Scenario #4: I've grasped my opponents shirt with both of my hands! WHO'S GOT CONTROL? One might think that I've got the control for that moment and for that scenario. Well, let's now switch roles with my opponent...WHO'S GOT CONTROL NOW? Many parameters reveal themselves when we play..."What If!?!?" Allow me, even if for fun, look at this from my point of view. Control of either person doesn't have to be for any extended duration; for a mere moment to until heck freezes over. I'm not caring as to the duration of the control because ANYTIME IS TOO LONG! If I grab one of your wrists with one of my hands, as in one of the aboved scenarios; you HAVE CONTROL! If you grasp one of my wrists with one of your hands; I've CONTROL! So on and so forth from scenario to scenario. Get the point thus far? So...here we go! I've just seized/grasped one of your wrists with both of my hands...YOU HAVE CONTROL! HOW? You STILL have BOTH of your HANDS FREE! I've NO FREE HANDS! I've just "grabbed" myself and you've done nothing at this moment. To defend myself from your counter-attack/escape, I'm going to have to FREE one or both of my hands...NOW YOU'VE JUST ESCAPED FROM ME! So much for me having control! Control's an illusion, temporary, at best! How one properly reacts might be as to how one looks at this. For how long depends on...whatever...the man in the moon!?! Having a mind like the moon and mind like the water favors the one who's as cool as a cucumber! Next time you grab someone or someone grabs you, ask yourself this one question... WHO'S GOT WHO?

Check out the link...(Please scan thru the link for other pics) http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dronnie%2Bcoleman%2B%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501-s%26ei%3Dutf-8%26x%3Dwrt&w=238&h=269&imgurl=www.bodybuildingpro.com%2Fronniecoleman_front.JPG&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bodybuildingpro.com%2Fronniecolemanjan2005.html&size=15.3kB&name=ronniecoleman_fr...&p=ronnie+coleman&oid=9f0413428bc855b4&no=1&tt=14797&sigr=11orklb46&sigi=11f3rsr6p&sigb=12s33m2t6 and this link... http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dronnie%2Bcoleman%2B%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501-s%26ei%3Dutf-8%26x%3Dwrt&w=250&h=261&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F28%2F57209722_15456d09ae.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F64406299%40N00%2F57209722%2F&size=26.7kB&name=bigbeachsm&p=ronnie+coleman&oid=2acf40d9599a9166&fusr=throughthewa...&no=15&tt=14797&sigr=11jt37jer&sigi=11ce9in60&sigb=12s33m2t6 Would this be beneficial/hinderence to doing the Martial Arts?

Depends! Depends on the speed of which the roundhouse kick was delivered. Sometimes the kick is way too fast to trap as shown in the OP examples. Power/angle as well as speed all combined together back the examples difficult to execute. Impossible? Nothing's impossible! Many parameters are involved in this type of a trap being successful, imho. Seeing that we're different across the board; i.e. weight, height, structure, skill, and the like, it's difficult to say without reservation that these types of trapping of a roundhouse kick is to assume that I'm superior to my opponent. Am I? Are you? Today/tomorrow? I've done more seizing than trapping, and there's a difference. Trapping is holding onto the given weapon; capturing. Seizing is denying it's continued path completion; delaying. Miss a trap to the head and you're knocked out! Missed a trap to the body and you're ribs are broken! Impossible? Nothing's impossible!

Simon stopped Shaheen from singing almost immediately as he started...but...check this out from Britain's Got Talent... http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200105.htm

Ok! It's said that things come in three's. Well, I'm not exception to this rule, no matter how I might be preceived as...not playing with a full deck. It's the year 1995. I've been asked to put on a very small Tameshiwara (breaking) demo during a benefit hosted by the Sheriff's department for a teenage boy would had lost his life 3 years prior to this annually held event at the hands of a drunk driver. Main focus of this benefit was a car show because this teen had a love for all types of cars. I was honored to have been asked to do this, so I loaded up my materials and headed to Carpenteria, California to do my thing at the request of the Sheriff department. I only had 10 minutes but that was plenty, afterall, it's just breaking. I set up several stations consisting of landscaping bricks. These bricks are primarily used by, you guessed it, landscaping companies. These bricks are 2" X 4" X 16" which are commonly used in landscaping and breaking demos of the Martial Arts world. Why not? There easily availible at most, if not all, home improvement stores across the USA. By the way, this story isn't about mistakingly choosing the wrong materials. No! It's about choosing the right or the wrong assistant for this demo. Well, it's not about choosing the right assistant...it's about choosing the well intended, yet, still wrong choice of an assistant. This assistant isn't even a Martial Artist who's familiar with this type of demo. No! This assistant, chosen by myself, is the dad of one of my 12 year old students. I'll call him Terry, eventhough that's not his real name. Why Terry? Why not! Here's the key. Terry is a Sheriff! Aha! There's the key. Terry willingly volunteers my name to the Sheriff department, which is fine with me. Terry asks if he could assist me with the demo. I usually take some of my students for my demos for the main reason of my students will be familiar with every aspect of a breaking demo; set up and the like. Yet, it's the Sheriff department and Terry that are asking me to do this. Also, I thought that it would be cool to have a fully dressed out Sheriff assisting in the demo. The kid part in me still gets me into trouble! We do one stack after another stack during this demo. Some of the stacks of 10 bricks were hit with so much force, according to some of the Sheriffs officers watching this demo, that the bottom 3 bricks literally exploded when broken. All seems fair as I come to the last stack of 10. Well, it's not as fair as I thought, thanks to Terry. I had briefed and coached Terry for 2 weeks prior to the actual event. Terry a Sheriff is use to being briefed and coached in very exacting details. This last stack has a surprise for the crowd in attendance...yet, little did I know that the surprise was on me. This last stack is a fire break! Again, Terry's a Sheriff and I've briefed/coached him, I feel he's ready. Well, ready is fine but properly prepared/trained is another. I've also not allowed the excitement factor to be included in both the crowd as well as Terry; but it was evident. I forgot to inform Terry as to just how much charcoal fluid to put on the stack. An important point in detail, a far more important to leave for Terry to "guess" and one point that caught my attention immediately. A baptismal in fire...literally! WHAM! WHOSH! Well, wham is fine, but, whosh isn't. Whosh is the sound that I hear as the flame surrounds my head. This is just a split-second in duration, but, it's something I'll never forget soon. Because the flame surrounded my head so fast, it was more of a flash, and therefore, the heat wasn't enough to cause me any serious and/or any minor injuries. Superficially at best, thank God. In Terry's excitement and inexperience...oh heck...because of my stupidity...Terry had practically drowned the stack in this charcoal fluid which puddled up on the top brick. Yeah...picture starts to come more clearer, huh? Oh yeah! My eyebrows we nearly gone, both of them, the front part of my hairline was singed, and my eyelashes looked like a badly plucked chicken. I smelt burnt hair for longer than I truly cared to. Moral of this story...leave the charcoal fluid for a BBQ...and don't let anybody but you treat the material to be set on fire. Otherwise, you'll be on fire! Doesn't look good during anytime especially in a Martial Arts demo. Am I really the only Martial Artists that's that much of a dunderhead at times? I hope not! Marshmallows anyone?!?

Here's another true story by yours truly... The year is 2001. It was in the mid-summer, the heat and humidity was unbearable, thank God I was in a nice air-conditioned building. I had been asked by a charity, The Special Olympics, to do a Tamashiwara (breaking) demonstration for them at one of their fund-raising events. I jumped right on the opportunity to help out this fantastic organization. I set up all of the materials for my 30 minute demo. This demo of mine was in 3 stages. Stage one was the largest of the 3 in both materials as well as surface area; this was my Phantom Of The Opera demo. Lots of pyro, lots of movements, lots of drama, lots of music, lots of costumes...the whole shabang. Stage 2 was height orientated...simply meaning that the higher the stack, the better...ice blocks and fire were part of it. Stage 3 was more traditional...simply meaning that every station was more geared towards small and familar types of Tameshiwara...stacks/holds of 5 or less of boards, bricks, and roofing tiles. Stage 1 and 2 went off without any problems whatsoever. Stage 3 went off without any problems...until...the roofing tiles. Key to this is to never, and I mean never let anybody purchase any of the materials for breaking; this can lead to problems, as you'll see very soon. Trust nobody on selecting materials because one miscalculation on materials will seperate the man from the mouse...quickly! Only a fool has himself for a lawyer, therefore, only a fool has someone else select Tameshiwara material. Let me introduce you to that fool...me! Why would I have broken my own rule? Can anybody say...DUH!?! Yet, I did my own set up...1 out of 2 rules obeyed isn't too bad...WRONG! Had a relative small stack of 5 roofing tiles. I hit this stack, WHAM! Nothing! I hit this stack again, WHAM! Nothing...wrong...OUCH I said loudly to myself, fighting the grimice on my face. Only an idiot would keep hitting this stack until something breaks...and something did break...about 2 bones in my hand went...SNAP...one at a time because I hit this stack many times until FINALLY, my pea-brain went...STOP...the other side of my brain said...break this stack and break it now...what do I do?...I stomped on it with the force and penetration necessary to not only break this stack, but, to demolish this stack of roofing tiles into dust. Meanwhile, my hands quivering, I'm still not letting anybody know that I'm hurt...macho or dumb I'm not sure, but I bowed out to a thundering applause for a demo well done. Why didn't the stack of roofing tiles not break with my fist? It wasn't because of an unsteady stack, it wasn't because of improper technique, it wasn't because of lack of power, it wasn't because of improper penetration, it wasn't because of a lack of focus, it wasn't because of doubt/uncertainity, and/or it wasn't because of fatigue. It was because of what those roofing tiles were made of for certain places on the planet. What were these roofing tiles made of? SLATE!!!!!! Slate is like IRON! Iron isn't the choice of breaking by...anybody with half a brain. These roofing tiles were made of slate! This slate is part, mind you that it's an important part of these roofing tiles in order to protect roofs from breaking during a...HAIL STORM! Roofing tiles manufactured with Slate are resistant to hail and other impact damage. Come on! Who would buy roofing tiles and not ask and/or have been told by the salesperson, about these roofing tiles and its secret/important ingredient...SLATE!?!? My wife, that's who would buy roofing tiles from hell and not ask if these are ordinary roofing tiles or not. My wife doesn't even tell the salesperson that her husband, me, would be using these special roofing tiles for a Karate breaking demo using MY HAND! No, why tell the salesperson this? Only thing that this salesperson knew was that she wanted some roofing tiles, that's it, nothing more, yet, certainly less. This info would've have saved me pain, money, and a visit to the hospital. It's like my wife thought I'd look more manly and/or husbandly if I had, say, a cast on my hand. SHEECH! Moral of this story is...ask important questions about the materials that are going to be used for Tameshiwara and...BUY/SELECT the materials YOURSELF! Can anybody say...DUH! And the DUH is all ME!

The year was 1992! I was at my Dojo, it was shortly after 1PM, because I was working out after having a light lunch in preparation for my 2PM Adults Green Belts and up class. I've a good size Dojo main floor area, yet, there's never been a place to hang any type of Hanging Bag due to the drop-ceiling; therefore, I've alot of different Wavemasters instead. Since I wanted the means of hanging a bag, I had to use my genius to figure out a location for my hanging bag. My first problem was I was thinking, and the other problem was where I hung the bag; something that would prove to be not one of my smartest decisions, as you're about to find out why. Solution! I found the perfect place...the only place afforded to me...southwest corner, out of the way as to not disturb anyone, just inside of the Mens washroom. The Mens washroom is adjacent to the Mens locker room entrance, seperated by a ceiling-to-floor wall. This area is also carpeted. I know, what a place to put a hanging bag...it stinks, huh? Necessity is the mother of invention...I was inventing a location for my hanging bag. This area has a bueatifully beamed ceiling, which added some touch to its decor. Yet, I never thought that these very beams would be used for anything other than holding the roof up...and my hanging bag. I'd work out with this hanging bag whenever time permitted, this bag was for my personal use. For the next 45 minutes I hit this bag like it had stolen money from me. I hit it, and I hit it, and I hit it some more. I was at the end of my solo workout when 'it' happened. I did my cool down. I stopped, I wiped my face and neck dry, took a couple of deep breathes, and only God knows why I did the dumbest thing... I jumped to do a Jump Spinning Back Kick and...WHAM! WHACK! The ceiling in the Men and Women washrooms is much lower than the ceilings in either locker room. I'm 6'1" and I can reach up and touch these ceiling beams with ease. WHAM! WHACK! I smack these ceiling beams very hard with my head, and I mean, HARD! I still have the scar! I was unconscious; lights out! I can't believe that I've knocked myself out, and by the way, there are no birds going "tweet," "tweet" and flying around your head. Lights out means just that...lights out! When I woke up, I was in my office on the couch, holding ice to my head, with some of my students standing around me. One of my students had came into the mens locker room and saw me in the corner of the washroom with blood running onto the carpet. He went and got some more students, and they helped me to my office. My head was pounding, I tried to stand up, and at first I was woozy, so I sat right back down. I rested a few minutes and then one of my students took me to the hospital to get checked out; 3 tiny stitches and alot of aspirins later I was back at the Dojo. I went back to the scene of the crime, hanging bag was nowhere to be seen, and there's a small dab of blood on my nice carpet, thank God my carpet cleaning bill wasn't as painful. Thinking back, I'm not sure if I was upset for being a complete dork or for ruining my nice carpet. I asked where the bag was and my most senior student had taken the bag to his house because, according to him, I shouldn't have a hanging bag near me. I said that it's not the bag's fault, and it's not my fault; it's the buildings fault for having a low beam ceiling in that location...actually, it was my fault for putting the bag where I put it. My students didn't seem to trust me with a hanging bag...my students can be so thoughtful...ha, ha, and ha! Trust me, all of my students had a good time with it! What could I say? Nothing! I was at fault and I deserved their ribbing. It took awhile for me to live this down! This is the time, and the only time, that I knocked myself stone cold out!! Big bad Karate man gets dropped by ceiling...news at 10. Has anybody ever done anything as...ahem..."brilliant" as this before? Or...am I the only "elevator stuck between floors" person to have done something that needs to be filed in the "Dumbest Martial Artist" category?

Politics in the Martial Arts are what they are. They're not to be ignored, but, when we hear of something political happening within the core of Martial Arts Organization/Associations/Federations; it might just cause a lifted brow or two. From your side of the fence, it's not always greener...or is it? Depending on whom one would ask the following question would depend if the above statement is true or not, to that person. Joe Smoe, not real name...duh, is the head of his own Karate Organization. By 'his' I mean Joe Smoe's founded his very own Karate Organization. Let's call his organization...ABC123 Karate-Do Organization...for fun...or because I can't think of a cool/catchy title. Joe Smoe has been in Karate for...lets say...45 years. Joe Smoe's resume is as long as the Nile. Joe Smoe's held this postion, this title, this award, this honor and he's been featured everywhere but on the moon...that's for later on in life. Before Joe Smoe founded his own Karate Organization, Joe Smoe had earned the Dan rank of Godan (5th Dan) from a noted Shotokan Master. Joe Smoe started studying Shotokan Karate in...lets say...1965. Achieved a Shodan ranking in...1972 from Super Duper Karate Union and Nidan ranking from The National Karate Okie Dokie Union in 1976. Joined United States Karate Kick-Butt Association and eventually received Godan from that organization in 1984. Joe Smoe then founds the ABC123-Do Karate Organization in 1978 and have Rokudan and Shichidan certificates from the High Dan Board. Have studied in clinics and seminars conducted by a plethoria of who's who in the Martial Arts world. Now, Joe Smoe decides that it's time to receive his Hachidan (8th Dan) from the High Dan Board. Several years later, Joe Smoe decides that it's time to receive his Kudan (9th Dan) from the High Dan Board. For some and strange reason, known only to Joe Smoe, he stops at Kudan and doesn't obtain a Judan (10th Dan). Perhaps this is pushing his luck...or...that's for when he's much, much older. I see a pattern here! Do you? Joe Smoe's Rokudan, Shichidan, Hachidan, and Kudan are all from the High Dan Board. This High Dan Board...is from the very Organization that HE FOUNDED HIMSELF!!!!! From Shodan and above, Joe Smoe's received his Dan rankings from everywhere EXCEPT Shotokan!!!!! Joe Smoe didn't promote himself, no way, that would be...wrong. But, Joe Smoe, being the founder of his very own Karate Organization, had an influence; an undeniable influence on the High Dan Board! Joe Smoe's ranks above Shodan aren't from Shotokan, therefore, is Joe Smoe a product of Organizations and the like, but, not of his instructor of Shotokan? Hhhhmmmmmmmm....something smells...fishy...very convenient to me...well...to Joe Smoe at least. What do you smell?