sensei8

Yes it is; my anxiety needs a hug from time to time. This is great news! Do your current doctors perhaps have some recommendations, or can make referrals to doctors in Vegas, to get you set up with them prior to moving there? No, unfortunately. Everyone of my doctors whenever I first asked them for references, they would just tell me that they can't offer me any referrals outside of Texas because they concentrate on their immediate county. I even spoke to my social workers, and they told me the same thing...but they did give me a $100 American Express card.

Brian, I think it's time for you to enter the next CrossFit event. This is my way of saying....YOU ROCK in your consistent workouts!! Keep at it!!

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.

Yes, rank is for sale worldwide in one way or another; business 101. Having said that, it's dead wrong for anyone to sell any rank that throws ones integrity into the trash for the sake of profit. I've owned and operated my dojo for a very long time, and while my dojo IS a business, and any business must meet and exceed its monthly obligations, and earning a profit is the name of the business game, I've never sold my integrity and any rank; no business is worth selling ones integrity for anything. I'd close my dojo first super duper fast, and find me something else to do...like feed the ducks at the cities park pond.

I appreciate it, I plan charging an extremely small fee or donation for people I know. The goal is to teach them what I learned and I insist they train at other places so they feel like what they are learning is of value to them. This clears my conscious of knowing that no one is getting ripped off. Another thing is that today, I had an incident with a random person. Both were walking, we cam close, he stepped on my shoes, I looked on instincts alone, he started going off on profanity and I stood my ground letting him know if he wants to make a move that I am here and he walked away cursing. Today I was able to apply psychology of not being able to look like a victim and get pushed around. This was in a rough area which is where my boxing gym I train at is and this stuff never really happened all that much until Covid. Now afterwards I was pretty shook up, boxing workout helped but I was pretty livid and this is where breath work came in handy. But it also opened my eyes that in my dojo I wish to incorporate profanity training. This revolves around real life situation with an assailant screaming and yelling with profanity, tons of top martial artist get shook up and this incident opened my eyes to not just skill, conditioning and fighting but also psychology of combat and becoming immune to someone yelling and screaming the nastiest words in the loudest tone. This can be scene with UFC star Conor McGregor who used to resort to these tactics early in his career. The Diaz brothers of the early UFC era also did possess this type of edge to them that would fluster athlete based fighters. Today, I realized that I still have ways to go in street psychology. Some folks can and have a knack to say things bizarre or acting in a way that throws the opponent off. I am not sure if I have the affinity for it. My thing is, I for some reason can raise my voice extremely loud and in a very hostile manner like some steroid freak hopped up on street drugs despite having a meek appearance. For my students, I have to discover what they possess that they can use as a psychological weapon to make themselves more formidable but today was extremely eye opening. Sorry for the rant but long story short, I now have to add psychology to the mix of my three original criteria. Solid post!! The bold quotes above are quite telling about you as well as your teaching abilities and concerns for your Student Body.

Imho, rank should never ever be for sale, no matter the reason(s), no matter who. That act robs the integrity that seems to be hanging on by the most thinnest thread of honor. The summation of "why" is to the summation of "because".

Today I had my Radiation Treatment Consultation at 830am. Doctor this morning was very pleased with how well I was responding to the treatments thus far. So pleased that the Radiation can be put off until I move to Las Vegas on April 26th. That means that I need to find all of my doctors asap when I get to Vegas. It's never a good idea to start and stop Radiation Treatments if they can't be finished completely. I was informed that my treatments will last 8 weeks, 5 days a week. I'm to continue receiving my shot of Leuprolid every 3 months, and ON TIME with no exceptions. There's no worry about my numbers going back up just as long as I keep the shots up, and begin the radiation treatments. The Bicalutamide pill us still on the back burner for now. The Radiation doctor will concur with my Oncologist as to her suggested plans. She wants me to make sure that I get my records before I move.

A black belt is one who accepts the honest truth that first and foremost, they're a student of the MA. After that, that that black belt treats rank with very little concern whatsoever. Character...Integrity. These are the staples of what a black belt is. Yes, I agree that a black belt should possess the effective and necessary skills across the board. Yet, it goes much further than that. Knowledge and experience are important embraces of that black belt. Having said that, what a black belt is in one school, doesn't hold any water at another school. As far as teaching is concerned, and let me state this once again, and I believe that it bears to be repeated over and over...Not all black belts can teach. The black belt better have every iota of control in and off the floor. What's tangible about a black belt?? Not much in the wrong hands!!

Integrity!! Anything short of that is deplorable. Promoting oneself is despicable. To promote oneself, no matter the reason(s), speaks that rank is far superior than anything else that truly matters. For those Masters that have self-promoted themselves have tainted the heart of the MA through and through. Not an honorable message to make past, present, and future. I've told this before here some time ago. There's a Karateka who at Nidan, where his Sensei passed away. Ever since then, he retained Nidan, and didn't seek any promotions for any reason(s) from anyone, no matter the pressure from others. His knowledge and experience are far superior than his Nidan. When he was once asked about this, he simply stated that his Nidan was his last promotion from his Sensei, therefore, he went further to say that he IS Nidan, and that's that. I'd have nothing to do with anyone who's ever self-promoted, no matter whom that individual was. INTEGRITY!! Imho.

Incredible SLK59 with all you have endured and continued with your MA journey. It really goes to show how your spirit is a winning one. I second that! What a horrible experience that must have been! Keep up the good work, and you'll get there! I third that wholeheartedly!! Hang in there!!

Ooh, that does sound like a bit of a pickle. Do you notice any ill effects if the dosage is increased?Great question, Brian. I've not started the radiation treatment yet. I've got a consultation on March 30th where we'll discuss a myriad of things, especially time frames. I'll ask what an increased dosage might do to me, and go from there. The week of the consultation, we might start treatment. If it's put off until the up and coming Monday after the consultation, that'll only give 2 weeks to complete the treatment. Why only 2 weeks and not 3 weeks before we move? That last week is the week that we'll be packing for the move to Vegas. We'll see what the consultation brings.

Sounds to me that everything is working out for you on and off the floor! Train hard, and train well.

This is a really good point. Kids are also the right demographic to target in that most parents are looking for after school activities for them and kids will generally have lots of free time for hobbies. Adults have fewer hobbies and even less time, especially if they have their own families and are karting the kids around to their own activities. Perhaps. I guess I'll be taking the negative, and not the affirmative in this particular debate. I've always believed that not one adult is really that busy to not learn any MA, no matter their excuse(s). If they've any "free time", then they've time to learn the MA. Needs and wants decide that; MA is a want, and not a need. Therefore, to train in the MA, one has to really want it. If the want is strong, then they'll find the time to learn the MA, kids activities or not. Imho.

My Quote: What I'm speaking about here is that the Instructor Training Program (ITP) ISN'T a prerequisite for one opening their own school. DWx wrote: "Can" isn't "Will". The ITP also weeds out those that can't teach worth beans after all; seeing ones assumed potential is far from actual reality. The ITP is designed to do what's mentioning in the quote here, if that student has that about themselves. Not all black belts can teach, and that's an unfortunate reality, that can be hard to swallow.

Thanks, Brian!! What gets me is that I'm moving on April 26th to Vegas, and there'll not be enough time to complete a one-time 6 week session of radiation. They've hinted to me that they'd INCREASE the dosages...that super sucks from my side because I'm the one getting the increased dosages, and not them.

How much does it cost in USD? Thanks!

Thank you, Danielle! We were given our official address today. Time to get lights and cable set up.

We start allowing students to assist classes from Sankyu (3rd Kyu) and up, if they show any interest in teaching, yet, they will need to be approved by the CI in order to enter that training. Not all pass that training period for one reason or another; not all can teach. SKKA refused to certify any SKKA network dojo before Sandan (3rd Dan). No one ever had to enter that teaching training program in order to open their own dojo; either they can or they can't teach, and that's the concern of that CI, and not the SKKA.

Nonetheless, demographics exist, and therefore they're the same everywhere. Not to ones liking, but they still exist. I mean, where kids are, adults are there as well. The CI has to find out why adult prospective students aren't lining up at the school's door, then try to fix it, if fixable at all. Some CI's could care less one way or another. I talk about the importance of knowing and understanding of interpreting a P&L Statement, so, let's look at Hays, KS... Population 20,899 (2019) Median Age is 31 Of those 28,899... BY AGES: 0-9 12% 10-19 14% 20-29 23% 30-39 12% 40-49 9% 50-59 9% 60-69 12% 70-79 5% 82+ 4% Adults 18 to 64 is 65% Kids 0 to 18 is 26% Adults demographics outweigh kids by over 2X. There's no one to blame, and it's not my place to do so. Not every adult in Hays, KS wants to learn the MAists, even though just a smidge of the adult population in Hays, KS could fill any MA schools P&L sufficiently. Demographics don't have to be the same because someone lives somewhere...therefore, demographics are the same because they exist. Reference: https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US2031100-hays-ks/

UPDATE: Rescheduled... Consult Tuesday March 30, 2021 Arrive by 8:10 AM CDT Starts at 8:30 AM CDT (1 hour) SC Radiotherapy They love to reschedule like crazy.

Thank you so very much, Danielle; means everything to me!!

No. I've not ever seen or used this training device; looks quite interesting. Like any training device, it has its share of pros and cons. I've from the side of the fence that'll darn near try anything once, if not just for curiosity sake. Something I just might have to give it a go; worse thing is that it'll have its novelty, yet it has my interest peaked. Thanks for sharing that, Danielle.

Student is the most important title, so on the floor your students don't call you Sensei? Yes, but I prefer to be called Bob. I don't ever allow my students to address me by Hanshi or Kaicho because my dojo isn't the place for that sort of stuff.

Sounds pretty good! I wish them best in baseball, as well. BATTER UP!!

Yes. the SKKA, the Governing Body that I was a member of for over 5 decades, used titles like what the OP states. As it was their right to do so without judgement and/or reservation. I earned, and held, several titles during my time with the SKKA; none of which I'm ashamed of nor proud of because at the end of the day, those titles and the like are just a thing. Nothing more and nothing less. Yet, in my dojo, those titles are not used because the most important title of any MAist is that of "Student" of which I'm lucky to wear that badge most proudly. Outside of that, we use Sensei and Sempai, if so desired, yet, my most favorite way to be addressed by anyone on and off the floor is...Bob, after all, my parents thought that that was a good one. Imho.