sensei8

As I've always done whenever my dojo was closed; I trained at home. This is what I'm doing now, while my dojo is closed until the end of April. Nonetheless, my OCD has always forced me to always clean the equipment I use during my home training, including its entire given space. Nowadays, I'm much more conscientious towards cleaning/disinfecting any and all surfaces, like, door knobs and the like. Common surfaces that I normally wouldn't be concerned about, even though my workout area is in my own home. I Lysol EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that I touch or might've or will touch(ed) now, more than before; everyday is DISINFECTING day...all day. Psst...I love the smell of bleach!!

That's the responsible thing to do in the proactive ways to stave off the Covid-19. We've always done a complete clean-up at the opening of the dojo, in between classes, and at the closing of the dojo with every student participating in the cleaning/disinfecting of the dojo. Once we reopen, we'll also adopt a complete cleaning/disinfecting of all common surfaces, like the door handles and light switches and things of that nature. Sure, we did that before, but not in the scope it will be at our reopen and beyond.

Patrick has a similar thread... https://www.karateforums.com/post562200.html#562200 Nationwide in the USA, even though it varies per local/state, businesses are closed or closing in record paces, and here's some of what we're already facing: Schools are closed, can only gather no more than 10 people, restaurants only allow take-out/drive-thru/delivery, all major concerts/sports/entertainment venues are cancelled, stores have modified hours and limiting only 10 customers at any one time inside the store, movie theaters are closed, gyms are closed, flights are limited as to where you can fly internationally and some, but not all countries are allowed to fly into the USA, our Canada borders are closed except for essential travel. I'm sure there's more that we're experiencing, but what I've posted right above might give you an general idea of what we're facing. No lock-down, as of yet, nationwide, but I'm sure the powers that be are seriously thinking about it. I'm not doing any LiveStream or Skype or anything similar to that because I'm just not. After all, and this is just me being me, imho, the responsibility of training/practicing belongs to the students; time to step up by taking accountability of their own training. Let's not forget that dojo/dojang/etc class time is only just, perhaps, 25% of all the learning and training/practicing. The other 75% is done while the student isn't at the dojo/dojang/etc.

Oh, that seems...well...fun...while Vicky and you holding down full time jobs. Glad our kids are grown up now. Even if our kids were still in school, we'd have no problem because Linda is a school teacher with a Masters in Education. Hopefully, you'll be able to download their required classes and materials, as well as how and where to obtain that, at hopefully no charge. I wonder if Kendall and Kenneth loved the idea when they heard that even though schools closed for the rest of the year, they STILL had to go to school...at home.

As of yesterday, I decided to remain closed until the end of April, more of a precaution, than anything else. Better safe than sorry, I suppose.

The 100 Man Kumite will test one's mettle, that's for sure!! Oftentimes, the 50 Man Kumite is tested first before one sojourns to the world of the 100 Man Kumite. I've witnessed the 25 Man Kumite, as well as the 50 and 100 Man Kumite's, and I got to tell you, if the 25 Man Kumite is any indication of what one's going to face, the 50 and 100 Man Kumite will make oneself question their own sanity. I personally would love to endure any of them myself!!

Yeah, if there's even a baseball season. Gatherings of 10 people or more in Houston are cancelled for the next 8 weeks, and larger venues until further notice. Covid-19 is crazy. Restaurants and bars are forced to close, and in the restaurants, only take-out or drive-thru is allowed. Houston schools closed until April 10th. Oh what fun!!

Better late than never, right!?!?! The floor is patient; it'll still be there when you can return. Train hard and train well, meanwhile.

The floor will be waiting eagerly for our return whenever that might be; the floor and the MAist are inseparable!! Hang in there, train hard and train well, even if it means at home.

They both had another great season, imho; both winners in my book; win some and lose some, but what they learn from their experience, is undeniable. Knowledge and experience for them both has been absorbed already, that to me is a win win situation. They've a great coach, great teammates, great parents, and great support across the board. It's a bummer that Covid-19 caused them to close down, but it's for the best, and they will understand that soon enough; better late than never. I look forward in following them next season with excitement. GO KENDALL AND KENNETH!!

Great topic, Patrick. For the time being, I've suspended ALL classes until April 6, 2020. At which time, we'll revisit, and address, the COVID-19 pandemic issue at that time as to what our next decision might or might not be. If be it, we'll remain closed until further notice, however long that might be. I've already contacted both my bank, as well as the SBA to inquire our options across the board. I've a large Student Body, and support pool, and they're all extremely appreciative of how we've swiftly, and professionally, moved in their behalf. Karate...Shindokan...Martial Arts...whatever; they're just a thing, nothing more. If God willing, Karate...Shindokan...Martial Arts...whatever; they'll still be there, but only when the time is appropriate, not any time sooner!! For me, it's ALWAYS been human lives before money!!

Congrats on earning your Orange belt, Radagast!!

If I'm not mistaken, he was there around the end of October. So that was before anyone knew about the disease. I imagine it was related to the language barrier, and also it's at least implied in the videos that as an outsider there were many things he was not shown. That's very different from the karate world where he's something like a rock star for popularity. Or maybe it's just me and I'm not as interested in this particular content? That would be weird though, since history in general is one of my lifelong fascinations. Yeah, your perhaps, in the bold type above, are far more concrete than mine.

Welcome to KF, Ilya1980; glad that you're here!!

Solid post; I agree. Perhaps that's because his knowledge and experience in what he was speaking about/toward wasn't enough to provide much more solid content; he can only speak about that which he's the authority of/on...perhaps. Perhaps, with the pandemic spread of Covid-19, and him being in the epicenter in China, and he rushed his videos so he could return home...perhaps.

Congrats Kanku65; well deserved!!

I wholeheartedly agree with Fat Cobra. It's the integrity thing to do, and it shows the CI that your main drive is knowledge and experience, and not rank. Whatever rank he assigns to you after his evaluation, accept it and work on getting rid of any rust. Good luck, train hard, and train well!!

I agree wholeheartedly!! Oftentimes, taping is all one can do in your situation. I'd try to avoid doing anything that would exacerbated the problem. Good luck and hang in there, Radagast!!

Do you know what MA training has in common with?? PLATEAUS!! You'll have these plateaus from time to time; there seems to be no way to avoid them. Why?? Because we're not perfect, and guess what?!? You're learning something brand new to you, and...it takes time to improve in it. Guess what else?? You'll never ever become satisfied with your progress. I've been doing Shindokan for 55 years and while I'm complete in my totality as a MAist, I'm never satisfied. I can be better across the board, and because I can be better, I'm not satisfied, so I train to become better...each and every single day. Who's my worse student?? ME!! All I do is complain about my progress, or the lack thereof...consistently. The spiritual side will come...in time. No exceptions. Just like the technical aspect will always need improvement, so is the spiritual side. The AHA moments work in every single aspect of your MA journey continuously. Please, if you've not started to learn and understand this one thing, then start doing that now... Shu Ha Ri That, right there, is what you and every MAist experiences over and over again...from one stage to another, and then right back again. The 3 steps forward and 5 steps backward will oftentimes haunt your every single day of MA training. You're not perfect. Faster that's learned, the better. 7 times down, 8 times up!! That is Shu Ha Ri...that is the MA...that is training....that is learning...that is teaching...that is everything. Hang in there...train hard and train well!!

It's not all that easy to set up in any public school, private schools are even more difficult, the means and ways to run any program type. I've done these type of programs at public school back around 1991-1994; I had 5 schools approved; 3 elementary and 2 junior high school. I ran a program for 2 years at my local collage before I decided to teach a program in any public school. As a matter fact, I obtained those 5 schools before day one; Monday-Friday...5 days...5 schools...1 day per week. The difference is that I had a pool of instructors underneath me. I'd open the school programs one at a time, within a 2 week time period. There'd be my self and 3 instructors on the floor at one time. I'd spend 2 weeks at each schools, 1 day per week, and then I'd install an permanent CI of that school. After spending 2 weeks at each school, I'd return to my dojo, and then I'd pop in from time to time during these 3 weeks, and for each and every Testing Cycle. RANK WAS NEVER GIVEN EVER!! I charged $5 per lesson...sold white Gi's of varying sizes...Shindokan patch...safety gear [Hand, feet, shin, forearm, mouthpiece, and head]...training gear that we used in class [shield, blockers, and focus pads]. Here's what I did... Spoke to the ISD first. Why?? To see if they RENTED OUT the gym AFTER SCHOOL...5pm-9pm...1 day per week, of which I paid for 3 months at a time to secure the time slots and days in advanced. Worse thing is to have a basketball game/practice to STILL be in the gym, of which communication took care of that. Now, I had to find the schools that would be interested in RENTING OUT THE GYM. The ISD administers the District, however, the Principal runs the individual schools. So, I put together a brochure package that fully explained out what we had to offer. In this package it had a complete curriculum It did help that I was operating a very successful dojo for many, many years. I encouraged the Principal to visit my dojo as often as they felt necessary. That way they could see what it is that I was offering. Now I had to have insurance at each of the schools. No Insurance with a hefty coverage, no program at the schools. I had to provide proof of that before the final approval was given. The old saying says...It takes money to make money!! This might seem a costly endeavor at first, and it is, but I can teach and so can my instructors. I made a huge profit from these programs. Once I was approved by each school, and contracts signs, I was allowed to shower each school with my flyers 3 months before the classes ever began. My weekly attendance was 200-300 students each week. I never had a job outside of my dojo; my dojo was my full time job. I had time to devout to my dojo and outside programs, like what we're staking about. So... ***Speak to the ISD ****Speak to the Principal *****Obtain adequate Insurance **RENT the gym *Promote You better have one great presentation to gain their trust and interest...like a Shark Tank type of presentation, center only on the kids, and what are the benefits for kids leaning the MA and all. After all, the schools teach kids!! Perhaps that's enough to give you an idea. Good luck, and don't let the pools of 'NO' discourage you, you are going to hear them, I promise; if at first your don't succeed, try, try again!! There are after school programs all over everywhere!! I don't run after school programs like a babysitting club, so if I've said I don't do after school programs in the past, that just means that my classes at the schools are ran just like my dojo, and I'm not a babysitter, now or ever. I know of after school programs that are run like a babysitting club, and everyone gets promoted no matter what...not me!! These KF links might remind, and answer some of your questions/concerns... https://www.karateforums.com/post561900.html#561900 https://www.karateforums.com/post562068.html#562068

According to my latest MRI, my lower back problems will haunt me for the rest of my life, as will my neck; chronic as they might be, this dog's not going down without a fight. And you're absolutely correct, Brian, about keeping it moderate, even though that's not my style...I'm just now learning to be moderate.

Weights falling off, but at a dismal slow rate due to me throwing my back out...again...3 steps, 5 step back progress. I'm limited, for the moment, to only walk in the gyms swimming pool for 30-45 minutes. I do several different drills in the pool, not just walking, which of course, that's all I could do at first. Not cleared by my doctor to return to the cardio and free weights areas due to my doctor doesn't want me to aggravate my lower back more than necessary. Going 3 days per week, one time each day, at doctor orders; rest between workouts is essential. If I had my way, I'd get out of the pool and do 5 days a week, but that's stupid and irresponsible of me. On another note, I've a Urologist appointment this Thursday, and well hopefully get a firm date for my prostate biopsy...the sooner. the better. My Afib is still here, and my Cardiologist is in no rush to perform another Cardiac Inversion until I drop much more weight, which was my own dumb fault for falling off that wagon like an idiot. Back to living that healthy lifestyle once again and watching my diet like a hawk, and exercising whenever my lower back doesn't have a mind of its own. As far as the weight regain is concerned, yes I regained some weight back, but not all of it like it was when this particular journey began. Any weight gain isn't acceptable, and I'll not fall of that wagon again; I only need a brick to hit me in my head only once to get my attention. I falling apart!!

I agree with Brian here. Try this too...Place the fur-covered item in your dryer on a low heat cycle like Permanent Press with a couple of wet microfiber cloths, the hair will stick to the microfiber cloths, and tumble until slightly damp. Remove the clothes from the dryer and use a clothes brush or sticky lint roller, if necessary, to remove the remaining fur.

Welcome to KF, Radagast; glad that you're here!! Enjoy your MA journey; remember, it's yours alone; take accountability and responsibility of it each and everyday!!

Solid post!! I do appreciate, and thank you for bringing forward some history, thus far, Raul Perez.