sensei8

Not to beat a dead horse. The definition of legitimacy says...Something legitimate is the real deal; according to the law. "the quality of being allowed and acceptable according to the law"~Oxford Dictionary With that being said, who's law says that something of the MA is or isn't legitimate? A recognized MA Governing Body? Who said that that MA Governing Body is legitimate? Other men?? Which other men?? Not all noted MA Masters are the powers that be over Shindokan. I respect them wholeheartedly without any reservations. That's where the relationships end. Yeah, yeah, I know some Governing Body a long time ago formed by a group of men who were practitioners of some MA. They got together, and based on their reputation, that, whatever that was, claimed the necessary legitimacy. All followers thereafter attached themselves to that that was created and formed. Yes, many noted men have/do determine(d) that which is or isn't legitimate in the realm of the MA. That then turned into, and remains, the naked truth within the MA. MA history is important, yet it shouldn't be much more important than serious training. Oftentimes, a MAist focus is askew. I believe that the focus on legitimacy will be at the forefront of many MA practitioners minds, for quite a long time, if not, forever; I've been listening to this very same topic for 56 years, so far. Instead of focusing on that which might not ever have the lowdown of an answer for this topic, a MAist should be effectively training to the Nth degree; as if their live depended on it. Just start teaching it, whatever it is, and if it has quality, it will attract students, and then it will be both taught and learned. Sweep the naysayers under the rug, and do your thing. More than not, us human beings, have a propensity of seek out acceptance and approval from whomever and whatever. "The term Jeet Kune Do was coined and put into use in 1967 by Bruce Lee in an attempt to put a name to his martial expression. Lee wrestled with putting a name to his art as he constantly veered away from any type of crystallization (and thereby limitation) of its essence, however, the simple need to refer to it in some concrete way won out and Jeet Kune Do was born."~ Bruce Lee Foundation Imho!!

Received a phone call from my Oncologist referring to what my Team and my doctor decided the treatment plan. RADIATION No pill, which I was hoping for. I was hoping that Radiation was for a date in the far future. My doctor and the Team decided that this is the best path to go. This is primarily to prevent the cancer from becoming aggressive, of which the cancer isn't. So.... Consult Monday March 22, 2021 Arrive by 2:40 PM CST Starts at 3:00 PM CST (1 hour) SC Radiotherapy It's then that I'll know just how often this might be. Hopefully, not that often; I'm cool with once every two weeks, or even better, once a month. My insurance is covering my Radiation Treatments. Am I scared?? YES!! I never do good with the unknown!! I've promised to too many people that I will not get on the internet to read. That's because I tend to be my own doctor, and I think the worse, and depending on what I read, I shut down for a moment.

The Bo is my most favorite Kobudo Weapon; my 2nd most favorite Kobudo Weapon is the Short Stick, just half the size of a Jo Staff...similar to the Baston of Arnis. The Short Stick is compacted, unforgiveable, and direct. It's a fantastic companion to our Short Range Techniques; up and close, and will get an opponents attention quick...oh yeah, acquired speed of the Short Stick can be numbing in more than on way. I LOVE THEM!!

No...and Yes! No school needs children as a part of its Student Body to financially survive. Yes, a school can survive financially with having only adults as a part of its Student Body. Either way, to a good CI, demographics never matter at all...if I might be course, a student is revenue, and a business needs revenue to survive, no matter if it's for profit or not. Things, someway and someplace, require some type of legal tender to survive. Overhead needs never take a rest, ever. The CI has the authority to do whatever it believe is the best for whomever this might concern. After all, it's their school; their decision. The school is a business. Therefore, students are customers, whether the student is a child/youth or an adult. Paying students generate revenue for said school. Sales Revenue=Sales PriceXNumber of Units Sold...month worth of lessons. If a CI is capable of teaching students, then either a child or adult can benefit said school. Sometimes, CI's are quite selective as to the demographics that are to make up its Student Body; that too is their choice. I see that revenue can be earned by either demographic; quite affable and agreeable towards a schools bottom line. Understand and study ones P&L Statement; the answer(s) lie within the P&L. Imho!

Once I checked in and paid my co-pay around at 0930, I say in the waiting room for me to be called in. I waited about 45 minutes, and I was starting to think they either forgot me, or they tried to call for me, and I wasn't in the waiting room...my water pills are necessary, yet, its timing isn't convenient, nor does it apologize. 50 minutes in total since I checked in, have passed. Irritating, for sure, but importantly vital. Leuprolid is stored in a freezer. Therefore, before any injection, it must first reach room temperature. Understandable! Can't imagine what that would feel like, well, I can imagine that but I'd prefer to not. I'm ushered into the back my the nurse who's administrating the shot. Time for my negotiating skills to save my backside another assault. Last injection to my backside wasn't enjoyable at all because for half-hour my backside was on fire. Nurse stuns me and asks me where would I like it?! I roll with that question, and inform the nurse that the first time for this shot was in my left shoulder; no lingering pain. Second shot was in my backside, and I shared to my nurse that that wasn't good for me at all. Nurse tells me that she hears that complaint quite a lot, and many nurses only know how to aim for the backside. Nurse verifies where my previous shots were given. Nurse informs me of where I can have the injection can be administered. Backside...I don't want that again. Stomach...I don't relish that whatsoever. Either shoulder...BINGO! We've a winner! Shot administered! No pain, no dull headaches; I'm on my way home. Next shot will be on May 25, 2021. This is a little disheartening. As of this post, I've not heard from my Oncologist Team, as of yet. I'll contact my Oncologist first thing tomorrow; time to reach out.

You're right, the MA style needs not to be effective to be legit; just the practitioner. The MA is just a thing, and things need someone to demonstrate how effective it works to others, but that thing better be effective, or the breaking down of it is already on the horizon. You won't be effective if all you learn is kata. So it is relevant what style you are learning. Lets be honest, if you would have to bet on one, who would you choose: someone with 3 years of muay thai experience or someone with 5 years of for example tai chi or aikido?So saying that it comes to practicioner is wrong. There are styles that are legitimate but no mater who would practice them and how long would still not effective in a fight. We seem to be on opposite sides on this, and that's quite fine. I thank you for your opinion, and I respect it as well.

UPDATE: On February 19, 2021, my wife, Linda, and I meet with my Oncologist in order to discuss my Scan results. These meetings always make me so nervous; the unknown can rest so unsettling on my sleeve. >Cancer remains stable; everything >Cancer, a very tiny, tiny spot, is ONLY on my L4 vertebrae. Which is located at the very bottom of my spine, just above L5, which is the very lowest vertebrae. The L4 myotome is a group of muscles controlled by the L4 spinal nerve and includes parts of several muscles in the back, pelvis, thigh, leg, and foot >Bone and CT Scans are GOOD; treatment is right on track >PSA went DOWN from 1.6 to 0.86 >Testosterone, which is the protein that the cancer cells feed off, level is NOW AT 43. This is good and bad, depending on which side one wants to know about. Decreases in testosterone can lead to physical changes including the following: increased body fat. decreased strength/mass of muscles. fragile bones. I'm still doing whatever necessary to lose the weight...I still feel strong...I take calcium for bone strength. >NO CHEMO >Radiation MIGHT be possible...maybe >The shot, LEUPROLID, still every 3 months; I will get that shot on February 25, 2021 >Continue exercise and diet >This week my team will be meeting to discuss what our next treatments plan(s) might or might not be. One, is to discuss if I'll be put back on the pill, BICALUTAMIDE 50mg >Great chance that we'll beat the cancer. However, it's too early to use the word "Remission", as of yet Revisit will be on May 28, 2021 with my Oncologist. So, that's it for this update. Thank you for allowing me to share this fight with you all!!

RW wrote: You're right, the MA style needs not to be effective to be legit; just the practitioner. The MA is just a thing, and things need someone to demonstrate how effective it works to others, but that thing better be effective, or the breaking down of it is already on the horizon.

Solid post!!

I'm not sure if effectiveness is a good measure of legitimacy.Because compared to mma or boxing most traditional karate styles with only point sparring, or for example internal kung fu styles like tai chi would have hard time to defend their legitimacy. Forget the style, it's just a thing, and that thing doesn't really do anything. It's the practitioner that must execute effectively. Call the MA style whatever, and the whatever might be one's core, but without the practitioner being effective, and that's what most MAists look at is the barometer of whatever, the practitioner better be effective somehow or someway. If not, the style is going to appear worse than a whatever. Imho, without a highly plausibility of consistent effectiveness of whomever, the whatever is meaningless. I'm not referring to point sparring either.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” ~Sun Tzu "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" ~Sun Tzu I believe that these two Sun Tzu quotes might be a preference of what Bruce was getting at about in page 8, paragraphs 6, 7, and 8. However, like you, Brian, Zen stuff confuses me. It'd be great if other members here would chime in to this thread.

Any legitimacy of any MA style depends not on what others may and/or may not say, as if their approval legitimizes any said MA, but on its effectiveness. However, for said MA to be effective, the practitioner MUST BE effective; more than not, because THAT practitioner is the vehicle/representative of that said MA. I mean, if the MA style and/or the practitioner isn't effective, then who cares one way or another. Imho!!

Congrats, advfhorn; well deserved!!

I've stated this belief many times here, and that is, of all of the ranks there might be, white belt is the most important belt because without it, no other rank is possible whatsoever. Imho.

Thank you, ramymensa, Brian, and Patrick for all of your very supportive and encouraging words; means everything to me. On another note, I received my 2nd Covid-19 vaccine yesterday!! My wife, Linda, and our son, Nathan are STILL waiting to receive their 1st Covid-19 vaccine. My left shoulder, at the injection point, is very sore this morning; I had to put on a tank-top to prevent my t-shirt from rubbing up against it.

Yesterday, February 9, 2021, was Scan day; Bone and CT. Went through the normal check in procedure at 730am; which has 2 parts; financials and the like. Took a ride up the 3rd floor, where Nuclear Medicine is located. Checked in there at 8am. Was ushered to the back; this is where the IV is inserted...top of my left hand, at 830am. That went well. This Tech/Nurse doesn't pass me off to anyone else in this department; she inserted the IV, Dye, and she will conduct my Bone Scan; she's 25 years experience, I feel comforted with knowing that. Now it's the waiting game; that IV contains Radioactive Dye, of which I have to wait 2.5 hours for the Dye to go through my body. This Dye allows the Scan to take pictures of whatever the Doctor has ordered. It's the waiting that can drive me batty, but what's one to do. Bone Scan will begin at 1030am!! During this waiting time, I'm instructed to go down to the 1st floor; that's where I can find Radiology...I found it...I've been there before. So, I check int there...15 minutes later, the CT Technician has come to take me to the CT Scan room. It's roughly about 840am. Have you ever done an MRI? There are several types of MRI machines. but for the most part, the patient is moved in and out of a tube like machine. If you're claustrophobic, that procedure can be quite unsettling, to say the least. I'm severely claustrophobic!! While the CT only took 10 minutes, it seems far much longer due to my being claustrophobic. Tech took the necessary scans, inserted more medicine in my IV; it was cold. In and out of the scanner I went, and every few minutes, that scanner would talk to me..."Please inhale deeply, and hold your breathe"..."Breathe normally". During this, I can peak through small slits at the Scanner, and I can see the Scanner spinning right over me. All done now. The worse is still to come, in that regards. So, now I'm back upstairs at Nuclear Medicine; it's about 905am; sitting in a TV room to watch some TV; time doesn't go faster while watching TV. While watching TV, that Tech/Nurse now removes my IV; it's done it's job, so therefore, it's no longer needed. 1030am; Bone Scan time! I will be inside of 2 different machines, the first is the worse of the two due to me being claustrophobic. In any Scan, your movements are restricted one way or another, and the Scanner is right in your face. Turn your head this way and that way...holding that posture for 5 minutes, which this lasted for 15 minutes. Whew, I survived that. The light was left on and they kept talking to me; there's about 3 Techs assisting my Tech/Nurse. Now to the next Scanner. This ones not as bad because it's a bit more open, yet, the scanner and all is in my face, and my movements are restricted. This part of the Bone Scan takes 20 minutes. During this procedure, I'm very, very slowly moved out of the Scanner machine...one moment at a time. I can track progress by looking up and slightly back at roofing ceiling tiles and vents and lights. Otherwise, I'd have no idea that there doing anything, and that I'm just laying here wondering. Finally, the scanner is out of my face, and I can breathe once again. This scan takes scans from the top of my head to toes. All done. 5 minutes later, the Doctor says that the all the scans are complete. There's always a chance that certain procedures have to be redone for one reason or another. Bone Scan and CT Scan are complete!! Results forthcoming when I see my Oncologist, and Lab Work on February 19, 2021!! My hopes are that my PSA has not raised, that it's still at 1.6 or lower. Hopes that my cancer is STILL NOT AGGRESSIVE!! I pray for great news from my Oncologist. For next 24 Hours, I had to stay 15 feet minimum away from Linda and Nathan at home; I’m was radioactive!! I've great faith in the Great Physician!!

Welcome back, ramymensa; glad to have you back!! Solid post, as well.

For me, paragraph 4 is all about the we just get in our own way; we oftentimes, just can't help ourselves...or don't want to help ourselves. Paragraph 5 goes back to the saddest truth, and that is...being honest with ourselves is far more difficult, than one might grasp on. Yin/Yang are in everything.

Wado Heretic gave solid history and facts, this is to be for sure!! Quite depending, Yin/Yang is in everything, Karate as well. How it's applied, how it's lived, how it's interpreted, and how it's understood vary as the wind. However, the core of Yin/Yang remains nonetheless. I believe that every MA style have Yin/Yang universally tenets past, present, future within them. While one might not want to acknowledge it or not, their methodology' as well as ideology depend on Yin/Yang, and not one is without nor is it owned. How we move have the Yin/Moon and the Yang/Sun. Depending on the situation, I will move with the precept that my effectiveness can't be acceptive until proven effective or ineffective. I might deflect with Yin, and counter with Yang, or vice versa; not every target has to be addressed with only Yin or only Yang. Shindokan is both Yin/Yang in everything that we do; only the situation dictates that which of the two we must apply. I subscribe that Yin/Yang is within every single MA one way or another; otherwise, nothing exists that's effective. Which side of the hill one stands one means a lot for that moment. Can't stand in both places at one time, either the sun hits you directly on the Yang side or it doesn't on the Yin side, the sun still shines...somewhere. Any Yin, soft/negative/etc in Karate? Yes; undoubtfully...every Karate. The practitioner determines it's own Yin, time and time again, but for cause. Sure, some Karate styles claims to Yin and not Yang, however, no MA can't have the Yin without the Yang; virtually impossible. Imho.

I wholeheartedly agree!!

Did Lab work this morning. Lab work must always been completed prior to any Scan. So it makes since, somehow and someway, to do Lab today because I've Bone Scan and CT Scan on February 9, 2021, starting at 8am. Then, Lab again, on the same day that I visit my Oncologist on February 19, 2021. No Lab that day either, due to a schedule oversight; Lab BEFORE any Scan, and not same day. I was told that the Lab helps with the Scan parameters and such. I should be getting another shot of LEUPROLID the same day, February 19, 2021, because it's been 3 months since my last shot back on November 20, 2020. I hope that that shot is administered to my arm and NOT to my hip; that shot in the hip is NOT fun at all.

Congrats, Himokiri Karate; well deserved!!

Solid post!! Welcome back, odsouza; glad that you're back. Look forward to reading your posts.

To know ones enemy, is to know oneself. If I only know myself, then I am limited. Breaking free from limitations enables me to experience and understand that which is not just Shindokan. Therefore, the shackles that are of Shindokan are broken for all time because I'm learning my enemy far better, and therefore, I can be far more prepared for whatever my enemy is capable of. For example, TKD practitioners are well known for their high kicks. In my early tournament days, I wasn't able to defeat a TKD practitioner much because I'd never been exposed to the effectiveness of their kicking arsenal; I walked into them as though I was wearing a blindfold. Drove me absolutely nuts. So what did I do? As a Shindokan JBB, I joined a TKD Dojang, against my Soke and Dai-Soke's wishes, for a solid year earning a Green Belt. Shindokan kicks are stomach down, yet with my learning TKD as well as their evasive and surprising kicks, I was understanding more about their methodology and ideology; I was learning to know my enemy better. There's not much a TKD practitioner can surprise me with; I got in their heads as much as they got into mine. That's why I began, and continue, to cross-train to this day.

Interesting. How does this affect the curriculum? e.g. maybe you need pinan shodan for yellow, pinan nidan for orange, pinan sandan for green, pinan godan for blue, pinan yondan for purple (just a hypothetical). So now it'd be "pinan shodan, nidan and sandan for green"? We shifted ever so slightly. Since Yellow, Orange, Blue, and Purple were dropped all together, Kata's were moved to the experience levels; beginning, intermediate, and advanced accordingly. Curriculums changes really are quite easy, for the most part. Kata order is unchanged, in that, move this way or that way into their appropriate experience levels. Beginners: Pinan Shodan and Nidan Intermediate: Pinan Sandan, Yondan and Godan Advanced: Naifanchi Shodan, Nidan and Sandan