sensei8

I noticed my name's not listed above. lol

Very good stuff; can you please add something else, other than the video link, to the conversation. Thank you!!

Well, I've really no idea why Bruce added this Buddhist Eightfold Path to the Tao of JKD, other than his upbringing and all. This surely falls under the category of take what is useful and discard the rest, for me. For me, this excerpt does nothing much for my MA betterment. I suppose not everything ever written is to be understood and/or applied.

20 years is indeed a milestone, and can't be anything less than landmark; one I'm so proud to be part of. Joined: 23 Feb 2008 I've never ever once looked back in any regrets whatsoever. My beginnings here at KF were almost my endings. I've been very fortunate to have exchanged many things here at KF with many outstanding KF members. I've tried my very best to be that transparent with everyone, and not just here at KF; this is just how I am. KF came to me at a time when I needed it the most. I had been part of the SKKA hierarchy for quite some time, when Brain, bushido_man96, invited me to give KF a try. I did, just that because I saw KF as a place that I desperately needed to be a part of. You see, life is so lonely when you're part of the SKKA hierarchy, no matter how many are in the Student Body, and no matter how close I am to Soke and Dai-Soke. Egg shells can replace security in a heartbeat, whether one wants it to or not. The SKKA WAS everything to me in every shape, way, and/or form. However, the SKKA bubble is a very fragile thing, as is every MA Governing Body because ones own heart is often used as a stepping stone to the next rung in the hierarchy, and the SKKA was no exception. I was once the Kaicho, President, of the SKKA, the highest administrative position, and I can tell you without any reservation, that that position is the loneliest of them all. I climbed up the hierarchy slowly but surely, but that fragile bubble remained as a daily pressure cooker. I thought the bubble would pop at anytime, and sooner than later. Nonetheless, that proverbial needle never relaxed, but instead, day after day, that needle was going to burst the SKKA bubble. Then KF quickly became that escape from the SKKA bubble. I once again could breathe in and out painlessly, and not hyperventilating. So. I kept coming back, and I still keep coming back to KF because KF and its members are that proof that is on the floor, and I need them, more than they need me. Patrick exercised mentoring me for some reason, of which, I will never take his friendship, understanding, and leadership lightly. Neither would I take lightly that which the KF Staff has given me. Thank you all!! I have many KF members to thank in every shape, way, and/or form for all that you've each given to me. Some to the point, and some not so much to the point, but either way, I need that frankness daily. Brian, bushido_man96, became one of my closest friends here and away from KF; I own him a thanks that I might not be able to ever repay. Thank you, Brian!! We trained once, wish we had trained together more because Brian's a very solid MAist through and through!! I was able to have lunch with Ken, Bulltahr, and my wife, and we talked MA shop, and other things, as well!! Thank you, Ken!! I've enjoyed far more than I haven't while being here at KF, and God willing, I pray that I can enjoy even more here at KF, in any shape, way, and/or form. I'm no one special, just Bob who loves his family, yes, KF and it's members are part of my family, tries to do his best, and loves the MA with all of his heart and soul. Congrats KF for 20 years, and here's to 20 more years, God willing. Thank you all...I love you all!!

Congrats, Zaine; well deserved!!

Once a MAist, always a MAist. Take the dojo away and all it provides, the MAist still remains. Take the training away, the MAist remains; knowledge and experience might get rusty, but the MAist remains. Should all MA is forsaken, the MAist is still somewhere inside. After all, the MAist label is still just that, a label. I've no desire to live by any label, nor do I desire to be placed into any label by others. I'm complete in my totality as a MAist, and not because others say so. By getting on the floor and train your heart out, as though there's no tomorrow by yourself if need be. Train with other MAists that you know and trust in a plethora of topic that keep that effectiveness alive. If you train seriously, then the needed connection to Karate IS STILL THERE AND ALIVE!!

Sandan's are the bare minimum to run/open their own dojo(s), imho, however, they better know how to teach. Otherwise the dojo will run them instead of the CI running the dojo. Not one of my Sandan's need my approval to open/run a dojo as a CI. Why? That's not my place in the first place because said dojo isn't in my name as the owner; it's not my dojo. Nothing ventured is nothing gained. Trials and tribulations, as well as the unknown are part of running any business, no matter how large or small. I believe that from what you've told us, you're more than ready to take the opportunity. If I, as a Sandan, had not taken the necessary steps to open my own dojo back then, I would've not done it at all. I never needed anyone's approval to do anything whenever it came to my dojo whatsoever. That has made all of the differences. I've never opened a branch, but just a single dojo because I didn't want to serve my Student Body in any part-time capacity; that's not fair to my Student Body. Business is business! Separate the dojo from the business; both deserve that. If one suffers, than the other suffers one way or another. I've made a living in running and operating my own dojo for over 40 years, and I've never looked back. As many have stated....you got this!!

Unsu or Naifanchi

I wholeheartedly agree!! Rank should never ever enter any conversation with a student because they're there to train.

Bruce Lee wrote: This quote of Bruce reminds be that he didn't have a fixed way of teaching for his Student Body. Inasmuch, he tailored JKD to the individual, and not to the group. Like the potter, gathers up the broken pieces of a vessel he wishes to mend he doesn't put it back together like a puzzle but on the wheel he molds it again; he molded the student in order to find their own strengths...their own weaknesses...to be honest with themselves. “A good teacher can never be fixed in a routine. Each moment requires a sensitive mind that is constantly changing and constantly adapting. A teacher must never impose his student to fit his favorite pattern. A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence. A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. I am not teaching you anything, I just help you to explore yourself.” ~Bruce Lee I can not teach you, only help you to explore yourself. Nothing more. ~ Bruce Lee Brian, what can we do to wet the curiosity to get others interested in our conversation here?!?

Solid post!! As far as "Heavy" is according to ones understanding. In Shindokan, I'd most assuredly say that we're "Heavy" in grappling. We train in grappling from day one because our founder was a firm believer that sometime during a fight, it'll end up on the ground, and a lot of that will come to pass because we take the fight to the ground according.

Welcome to KF, Bobd400; glad that you're here!!

While I'm staunchly opposed against earning a BB on-line, nonetheless, you're post is solid!! Welcome to KF, Bobd400; glad that you're here!!

Made me smile, lol I'm glad! I wonder how many get it...Hopefully quite a few! Yes, I got it too. Btw, none of my Okinawa friends and contacts have ever heard of the gi in question.

Bruce Lee wrote: I take this on how one takes a break from a project, no matter what it might be, and then return with fresh eyes. Over thinking does happen with everyone. Same in the MA. We train, and while we're training, we try to perfect whatever it might be, and we try and try with no satisfaction in sight, and our frustration doesn't allow us to see the nose on our own face; it's always been there, but we only see the solution with fresh eyes. Bruce Lee wrote: Watching a technique is not the same thing as executing a technique. Like what I do whenever I watch any MA movie, I can't enjoy said MA movie because I'm too busy treating the MA techniques within said MA movie as though it's a Testing Cycle. To both of these, let it flow, and quite over thinking the darn thing; "I" do not hit, "It" hits all by itself. We might over think as to why the sun comes out when it does, more than enjoying that the sun came out in the first place.

Congrats GojuRyu Bahrain; well deserved!!

It's a heavyweight GI, but it's the most comfortable GI i own. I try not.to.wear it a lot since I want it lasting as long as possible How'd you find that Gi manufacturer?? Are they in the USA or Japan or somewhere else?? Are they affordable?? Would you recommend them for beginners?? I got it from my Sensei, and that's my issue I cannot find it anywhere online. Can your Sensei tell you where he got it from?? Are you the only one of his students that got one? I'm not sure he even remembers, lol. Yes I'm the only one that got it as it was his old uniform top. I've several friends as well as connections in Okinawa, so, I'll reach out and ask them about it.

It's a heavyweight GI, but it's the most comfortable GI i own. I try not.to.wear it a lot since I want it lasting as long as possible How'd you find that Gi manufacturer?? Are they in the USA or Japan or somewhere else?? Are they affordable?? Would you recommend them for beginners?? I got it from my Sensei, and that's my issue I cannot find it anywhere online. Can your Sensei tell you where he got it from?? Are you the only one of his students that got one?

Noah, your patch design and all, from what I can tell, look quite solid across the board; looks very nice. I've been using PVC patches for as long as I can remember. I've tried other types of patches, but for one reason or another, I never stayed with them. The PVC patches seem to last through the wears and tears of training and the like. Yeah, that of course depends on the individual across the board. Imho, patches, especially PVC's are worth the investment. After all of the trails and tribulations, I finally found a manufacturer that meet my criteria's. In this area, quality is above all things. After that, affordability. I'd send in a rough drawing, and they'd work with me until we reached the final draft. The manufacturer I use now, and have been for a very long time, they've from day one, always sent me a sample product so that I could handle it, but I'd not get that sample until I authorized the final drawing. After that, if I was cool with what it looked like in my hands, I'd place an order; the more I ordered, the more I saved. Beyond the price costs of said patch to put on owns gi, there's the marketing of that patches design. I could now use that patch to transfer it to practically anything, and I mean anything. Pens, hats, t-shirts, car decals, jackets, training equipment, business cards, drink koozie's, so on and so forth. For those schools of the MA that don't believe in putting patches on their gi or anything on their gi, that's cool; to each their own. My dojo has always been my business, and any business needs to advertise beyond word of mouth, which is still the best advertising. In the beginning, any patch manufacturing company I used, the treads would not sustain after 6 months. Then I found PVC, and I've not looked back ever since. That's me.

It's a heavyweight GI, but it's the most comfortable GI i own. I try not.to.wear it a lot since I want it lasting as long as possible How'd you find that Gi manufacturer?? Are they in the USA or Japan or somewhere else?? Are they affordable?? Would you recommend them for beginners??

Nope, I can't say that I've ever heard of that Gi. Can you tell us anything about it at all??

Congrats, Zach; well deserved!!

Welcome to KF, Questor; glad that you're here!!

There's far to many pedestals in the MA for ones ego to stand upon. A MA should feel complete enough by being oneself without the labels and adorations pinned to ones chest. “Honestly expressing yourself...it is very difficult to do. I mean it is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky and be flooded with a cocky feeling and then feel like pretty cool...or I can make all kind of phony things, you see what I mean, blinded by it or I can show you some really fancy movement. But to express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself...now that, my friend, is very hard to do.” ― Bruce Lee

It's about $234 for two trackers and everything you need to use them. Oh ok, that seems quite reasonable. Might have to give it a try; many of my Student Body might enjoy this one way or another. Thank you, Patrick. If you want to trial might be worth getting in contact with them. I got sent 8 trackers for free to test for 2 months. Then if we want to keep them we can sign up to a 12 month contract. On the club subscription I get to access all the students' data plus I can set up training programs in the class though I've not yet been able to trial that due to COVID. Apparently I can stream a live score board of sorts to a big screen so students can see how they perform in real-time. That's a great idea, and that's what I'll do. Thank you, Danielle!!