sensei8

I, too, have always seen TSD as a Korean art. As far as it being identified as 'Karate', that I believe is for marketing purposes. The average layperson readily knows and understands what 'Karate' is whenever it's mentioned directly and/or indirectly, but have no idea what TSD is right off the bat. Karate and TSD have some similarities, meaning they both have stances, postures, blocks, kicks, punches, strikes, and so on and so forth. It's for the most, the Kata's are where the similarities end. Marketing speaking once again, if I had a TSD school, and knowing what laypersons know and understand as far as the MA is concerned, I'd stick a big sign that reads...KARATE. The immediate goal is to get the prospective students interest, which will hopefully get them to come inside, if nothing else that to watch class. But, the "KARATE" sign is an attention getter, business speaking, and imho, any MA school that has to meet a monthly overhead, is a business. At the sit-down is when the TSD school can explain a many of things, including TSD and Karate differences, if need be.

I'm pretty sure it's Thomas Ian Griffith who plays Terry Silver. Saw many hints of Silver, to think otherwise. In a final flashback, we see one of Kreese’s comrades, Silver, promise him lifelong loyalty, as in the present-day Kreese looks at his photo and gives him a call. You see them both, Silver and Kreese, in Karate Kid 3; Silver makes Daniel's knuckles bleed at the request of Kreese. Cobra Kai HAS been renewed for Season 4!! No release date, as of yet.

Welcome to KF, Miick 11; glad that you're here!!

Wife and I finished all 10 episodes tonight, with no regrets, whatsoever. Well just one regret...Wish there'd be more than 10 episodes!! Can someone say Cobra Kai Season...4?? Season 3 was far more than what I expected, in a good way.

Sounds just like Shu Ha Ri to me; knowledge and experience change constantly, and have to repeat the newness all over again.

While, for the most, Shodan don't actively promote by themselves; they can sit in on a Testing Cycle but they've no administrative authority. Now, that's the formality of it all. If I was a Shodan, and I wanted to open my own dojo, with or without, the backing of my Sensei and/or the Governing Body, then by Jiminy Cricket, I'd open my dojo no matter what. Of course, there'd be backlashes and the such, more than one can even imagine. Without the proper backing, a Shodan would be a Shodan for quite a long time, if not forever. That Shodan's Student Body would technically be stuck at Shodan themselves with no future rank advancements. Imagine a Shodan promoting ones Student Body beyond Shodan, like Nidan or Sandan, but then remaining a Shodan him/herself. Now, a Shodan could assemble higher Dan ranks to sit upon the Testing Cycle to administer higher Dan ranks than shodan or Nikyu; with a stamp of approval. The scenarios would boggle one's imagination. The worse thing would be the Shodan, as the CI of his/her own dojo, self-promoting themselves to a higher Dan rank, like Godan, or even more alarming to Judan. Integrity would be thrown out with the baby bath water....and this happens at the blink of an eye. My Sensei would've burned me at the cross if I did that, but if I did that, that's my business and not his. Sure, I'd face the reckoning from a school of upset Senior Dan ranks, starting from my Sensei. It would be an upsetting that might never see the daylight of trust ever again. But if I did, I'd first link up with a legitimate Senior Dan rank with authority for the order of administrating Testing Cycles from Nikyu and above. However, here's the stick in the bicycle spokes...as a Shodan, how can I ever teach the necessary materials above Shodan?!? I'd rather abide by integrity across the board. A Shodan has the authority, however limited; any MAist should never assume a position that they do not possess. Imho.

I'm still a huge fan of the original Hawaii Five-O tv series, which aired from 1968 - 1980, starring Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett. However, the remake, which ran from 2010 - 2020, have never sat to well with me for one reason or another. Some remakes make sense, while others make no sense at all. For me, remaking Enter The Dragon is a remake that shouldn't be made because no matter who plays any of the roles, they'll do no justice at all. All in all, that's not for me to say one way or another as to if a remake of ETD should be made of not. Should a remake ever see the light of day, I MIGHT go watch it out of curiosity sake alone.

Well, wife and I watched 5 of the 10 episodes last night. I enjoyed the flashbacks; not overly done, and helped the storyline. Great to see many characters of the Karate Kid lore reprise their roles; expected and pleasantly surprised, even though rumors were hinted at. All in all, thus far, my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed what we've seen, and we look forward to finish watching the remaining episodes today. I'm still hoping and waiting for Elisibeth Shue to reprise Ali, as that's be rumored...looks like that just might occur. ::fingers crossed::

Happy New Year, belated as it is!!

Being captured, and not being able to or willing to escape, within one way or in limited way within body, mind, and soul as both a MAist, but as equally as an individual, on and off the floor. "There's more than one way to skin a cat" Many MAist refuse to explore and/or believe that there's other ways, no matter what that might or might not be. They're stuck in a ruck and refuse any other way but theirs or what they were taught. To me, a lot of what Bruce says revolves so close to what I've spoken about in recent posts in this thread... Shu Ha Ri, Mizu No Kokoro, and Tsuki No Kokoro. Spencer Johnson wrote in his book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" Change IS inevitable; stop fighting it. It's about how people handle, or do not handle change. It is a part of life and knowing how to cope is a necessary life and leadership skill. The key to successfully break away from the static is by realizing that change is inevitable and actually a good thing. "There’s more than one way to skin a cat"...this simply means there are many ways to do something, there are many ways to achieve a goal. I was taught under the very watchful eyes and nourishing hands as to the methodologies and ideologies of Shindokan, and they still serve me as both an individual as well as a MAist. Nonetheless, at a young age, while attending high school, as a JBB, I knew that Shindokan WAS NOT the best and/or only way across the board. Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken" wrote in the closing paragraph of that poem... "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Just how rigid and/or unyielding is rigid and/or unyielding?? As rigid and/or unyielding as one can allow. Albeit, just how free and/or open is free and/or open? As free and/or open as one can be. Choices are just that, choices; either way, they're entitled to their own designs. Here's the permission to search for that which makes you the MAist that you are ON YOUR OWN away from your MA core. Not to abandon your MA core, but to enrich it ever the more. Nothingness provides that we'll not be bound to one thing or one belief or to one methodology/ideology. Grasping it, whatever it might be, makes it something with set rules; just because it's tangible, doesn't make it permanent. Holding onto Shindokan, and all that makes it what it is, as though my MA journey depends on it defines it, imprisons its methodology and ideology...but it happens more than I care to express. I don't worry about any pending attack(s) because their nothing until they materialize. I don't fret about that which is nothing until it becomes something. To worry about nothing will cloud the mirror image, which must be clear. The Shaolin Teacher, in Enter The Dragon touched on that very thing... ". . .the enemy has only images and illusions. . . . . . behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image and you will break the enemy." In Enter The Dragon mirror room battle between Han and Lee, Han only had images and illusions to hide his true motives. What does Lee do? He breaks countless amount of mirrors, thus the images that Han hid behind were destroyed, thus, Han had no where to hide from Lee. Han tried to cloud Lee's mind through those illusions, and Lee took away that which Han hid behind. If I express outwardly MA methodologies and ideologies, then Shindokan, my core, can't be defined, and because it can't be defined, then that flexibility can't be snapped, like a tree that's become rigid over time. Imagine one kick or one punch or one strike or one block...JUST ONE, not a combination of these four things, JUST ONE. For example, I choose just one punch, and nothing else, just how rigid, thus limited, would my MA and me be?! No, I choose to be water, my friends. This is just my take on the topic at hand... Imho.

Thank you for your heartfelt words, Brian; they mean everything to me.

Thank you so much for what you shared just now, Patrick; I needed that desperately. I will check out Talkspace asap; my social worker isn't quite social with me; thank you, Patrick, for that heads-up.

Just discovered I had an appointment with my Oncologist on December 25, 2020 for 12 noon...on Christmas Day?!?!? No calls to alert me, whatsoever. Next schedule appointments are... *February 19, 2021 at 12 noon for Lab *February 19, 2021 at 1PM for office visit with my Oncologist On another note. Side effects of treatments quite disturb me, but can't be avoided at all. One side effect that gets to me is how emotional I get over, which is pretty much everything; I cry at the drop of a hat. I don't mean just once in awhile, but every single day, over one thing or another. I know that my testosterone is getting lower and lower per the treatment; testosterone feeds the cancer, so the testosterone must get as low as possible, but give me a break, even a tiny break from crying like a big baby everyday. I cried harder and harder every time it got closer and closer to the day that my daughter. Krystal, and my son-in-law, Jason have to go back to Colorado. The night before they had to leave, they both could hear me bawling hard, of which that repeated the next morning when we walked them to their car to say our goodbyes. The loneliness of the house now envelopes me so much so because they both are gone...again; feels just like when our daughter moved out to attend college, however, it's now magnified by so much, much more nowadays. I'm so alone Monday to Friday, and with their departure, it's much deeper, and depression visits me often. You see, we hadn't seen them both for 3 years, and my wife and I have missed them both so much. Next, I'll be crying because it rained instead of sunshine or vice versa!!

Merry Christmas to one and all!!

Movements of any type live within that void...forever. Never seeing the light of day...forever. Day and night are the same in that void; still, not even the most slightest ripple whatsoever. Not until the mind births it into existence... Study your opponent Study yourself Make a plan Carry plan out Each are residents of the void, neither coming alive until the mind brings actions to them. I can't study my opponent until I consciously do so. I can't study myself until I consciously do so. I can't make a plan until I consciously do so. I can't carry any plan until I consciously do so. However, there must be an awakening that brings it out of the void. Until then, all things within said void are dormant. Techniques are strictly dependent upon movement, no matter how infinitesimal. Thoughts are dependent upon the impetus being aware. Albeit, how can anything escape from the void unless self is awakened from its own void first... "Not thinking, yet not dreaming." ~ Bruce Lee This can't occur unless the void is stirred through the conscious of the very moment... "I do not hit. It hits all by itself" ~ Bruce Lee Thoughts are leading residents of the void, and without thought escaping this void willingly or by force, nothing can be imbued, not even with sparkle, as though that void was a black hole.

Meaning absolutely no disrespect, I think that you may have inadvertently reversed those. Tsuki = “Moon” Mizu = “Water” On the other hand, the descriptions themselves are spot on. Cheers, Scott Well, ::facepalm:: My mind knew better, but my fingers typed whatever they wanted to. Thanks, SLK59 for spotting that. Don't think I've ever reversed those before, ever!! Mizu No Kokoro = Mind Like Water Tsuki No Kokoro = Mind Like The Moon Now, I'll go sit in the corner while wearing my dunce cap.

In Shindokan, the answer is NO!! Not without the explicit written approval from the Governing Body, the SKKA, and in our history, that's never been granted. We've a strict By-Law that dictates that only Sandan and above are authorized to petition for any Testing Cycle either in-house or at the Hombu. Shodan and Nidan aren't permitted to authorized any promotion of any type. As a matter of fact, no one, no matter their Dan Rank, are ever permitted to promote anyone to any rank; only the SKKA can promote anyone of the Student Body. The SKKA a very long time ago entertained to allow Shodan and Nidan the right to petition of SKKA/Hombu. The SKKA has a strict policy that requires the tenure of any Dan rank be no less than two ranks under the CI of any dojo within the SKKA Network. A Sandan can petition up to Shodan and under, however the SKKA must authorize all promotions. Yeah, I know, sounds quite narrow minded, but it is what it is.

Interesting how Bruce uses Zen, a Japanese belief, due to him being Chinese. Nonetheless, this speaks to me as well because Bruce speaks briefly about this in the beginning of Enter The Dragon. If I may... (Italics are that of the Shaolin Teacher, and the Bold are that of Bruce) What are your thoughts when facing an opponent? There is no opponent. And why is that? Because the word "I" does not exist. So. Continue. A good fight should be. . . . . . like a small play, but played seriously. A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come. When the opponent expand, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity. . . . . . I do not hit. It hits all by itself. Now, you must remember. . . . . .the enemy has only images and illusions. . . . . . behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image and you will break the enemy. The "it" that you refer to is a powerful weapon. . . . . .easily misused by the martial artist who deserts his vows. In Karate, there's a a maxim that speaks towards this... Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro. Mizu No Kokoro (A Mind Like The Moon): Both of these beliefs speak towards to the mental attitude required while facing an actual opponent. Mizu No Kororo refers to the need to make the mind calm, like the surface of undisturbed water. Smooth water reflects the image accurately of all objects within its range, and if the mind remains calm, apprehension of the opponent's movements, no matter the movement, will be both immediate and accurate, and one's responses, both defensive and offensive, will be appropriate, and accurate. On the other hand, if the surface of the water is disturbed, the images it reflects will be distorted, albeit, if the mind is preoccupied with thoughts of attack or defense, it will not apprehend the opponent's intensions, creating an opportunity for the opponent to attack. Tsuki No Kokoro (A Mind Like The Water): What's referred here is to the needs to be constantly aware of the totality of the both the opponent and movements. As the moonlight shines equally on everything within its range, so shall ones undisturbed mind. With the complete development of this attitude, the consciousness will be immediately aware of any opening in the opponent's defenses. Clouds blocking the light of the moon are akin to nervousness or distractions which interfere with correct apprehension of the opponent's movements, thusly making it impossible to find an opening and to apply the proper techniques. Both speak loudly to me of that self-annihilation because without that, there's no self to separate. It's so easy for us to get in our own way.

Shu: PROTECT/OBEY In this beginning stage students follow the teachings of one master precisely. They concentrate on how to do the task, without worrying too much about the underlying theory. If there are multiple variations on how to do the task, they concentrate on just the one way their master teaches them. Ha: DETACH/DIGRESS At this point students begin to branch out. With the basic practices working they now start to learn the underlying principles and theory behind the technique. They also start learning from other masters and integrates that learning into his practice. Ri: LEAVE/SEPARATE Now the students aren't learning from other people, but from their own practice. They create their own approaches and adapts what they've learned to their own particular circumstances. ShuHaRi repeats itself with no ending in sight; we're ALL students always learning, of which, every new learning repeats ShuHaRi. Our learning, EXPANSION, has no ending, BOUNDLESS.

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

It's great that Bruce didn't expound and/or expand on much of his philosophy, therefore leaving us to our own interpretation, which can lead to being way out in left field somewhere. Yet, then and again, Bruce greatly encouraged us to... This includes his many philosophy gems. So, having said that, here's my interpretation of boundless expansion. There's no limit to what we can do and/or achieve within oneself, let alone when the MA is considered. As the Karate maxim teaches Shu Ha Ri, that too, is an boundless expansion of some type. Learning and applying and experiencing the endless opportunities that have not revealed themselves, and change endlessly and effortlessly. Without allowing any boundless expansion in self to ever exist is a staginess that can greatly bog one down into some unescapable abyss. I not being an authority of Zen or the like, to me boundless expansion is/can be expressing ourselves willingly and eagerly across the board. Proof is on the floor is ones boundless expansion. Explore and witness as well as accepting accountability in discovering ones boundless expansion. Perhaps, these two idioms have a meaningful correlation with Bruce's boundless expansion..."A rolling stone gathers no moss" and this..."Change is inevitable; change or die". One truly can't expand if one does nothing, hence...

Congrats, SLK59; well deserved!!

The style that I've trained in for 56 years, Shindokan, does not advocate high kicks whatsoever. Our methodology and ideology on this subject is we're 85% hands and 15% feet; no kicks above the stomach/waist. Please follow the guidance of your CI in this regards. High kicks will come to you whenever the time is right. Key tip, stretch!! Good luck!!

I like that idea quite a lot; the gold mine of the Tao of JKD touches each and every MAist differently because knowledge and experience are different from MAist to MAist. I've crossed trained in JKD for many, many years, however, by no means am I a JKD authority whatsoever. The Tao, is like Enter the Dragon, in that they both have become staples in their own rights. The one thing that I've never been fond of is that Bruce didn't publish it himself, and in that, who's interpretation are we grasping? Linda. or Shannon, or Dan, or any other proven JKD authority, or Bruce himself?!? I believe that this can be a solid discussion across the board. Let the discussions begin!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!! Be safe all of the time during these Holidays!!