sensei8

I prefer the black ones because the digits are free for grasping and such. The other two, for me, are too confining and limited..again, for me.

Both aurik and Brain are really getting the benefits of both their core training as well as their cross-training as well as n their Kobudo training. Words haven't been better spoken than when someone say/s the Okinawan practitioners disrupt our opponents through and through. In Shindokan our main goal is to get behind our opponent t and what better way to achieve that goal is to disrupt our opponent as often as possible. For Shindokanists, disrupting our opponents base is key by constantly attacking ever/y inch of our opponents legs/base. these constant attacks to the base...imagine what starts to happen with these unrelentless attacks to the legs/base is that the opponents body starts to falter in keeping a well-balanced profile, and when that becomes quite apparent, well, my opponents profile tilts to one side or another, and with that, getting behind my opponent becomes much easier to achieve. If I can't directly get behind at that moment, then, I can force my opponent onto the ground, which is the next best thing for a Shindokanist. Keep training and train well!!

Well, well, well...the ALDS is all set up. The Tigers swept the Astros and the Royals swept the Orioles in their Wild Card. Of which, I'm tickled pink because I didn't want to have to meet the Astros in the ALCS because lately the Astros seem to have the Yankees figured out and I also didn't want to battle with the Orioles in the ALDS because they can be really hot as they were all regular season which was no real surprise that they ended in the standings right behind my Yankees. Padres swept the Braves in the Wild Card and find themselves now in the unenviable position of squaring up to the Dodgers in the NLDS. Brewers and Mets play tomorrow in a win takes it all in their Wild Card game: winner between these two teams will meet the Phillies in the NLDS. Brian's Royals and my Yankees will play ALDS best of 5 game 1 this Saturday, October 5th in Yankee Stadium. Should be a great series. Yankees are 9-8 against the Royals during the postseason, and the Yankees went 5-2 against the Royals in the regular season. Yankees are starving to reach the WS again since they've been denied 15 years in a row. While the Royals are biting at the bit themselves to return to the WS after a 9-year hiatus. GO YANKEES!!

Kiai's, for a lot of differences, are cultural differences. For example, the over-the-top kiai's that are seen at many tournaments are based on their individual culture, therefore aren't frowned upon by both the tournament and the competitors. MA school cultures regarding kiai, for the most, don't approve the over-the-top kiai for whatever their reason(s) might be. Cultures should be respected because it does help us understand the different perspectives and banish negative patterns. Imho!!

Very sad for the passing of Pete Rose. Sorry he never earned his place in the MLB Hall Of Fame. Yes, I'm cheering on the Royals for the win over the Orioles in the WC because the Orioles make me nervous whenever they play my Yankees. I'd rather play the Royals, not that the Royals are an easy win, not in the least at all, but between the Royals and the Orioles, I'd rather play against the Royals for the ALDS. That's just me. Glad to see that the Tigers beat the Astros, so, I'm cheering for the Tigers to win that WC series because the Astros seem to have the Yankees number whenever they battle against one another in the playoffs. GO YANKEES!!

Vikings and Chiefs are the only undefeated teams in the NFL after the Seahawks lost to the aforementioned Lions on MNF. It drove my friend, Dwight, crazy when his Seahawks lost...I just laughed at his misfortune. Cowboys edged past the hosting Giants on TNF 20-15. Had it been Eli Manning, the end would've been way different, imho. Cowboys travel to the hosting Steelers this Sunday/ in what I assume the 2-2 Cowboys will struggle to get back-to-back "Ws" against the 3-1 Steelers. GO COWBOYS!!

Interesting mindset. One I'm not a practitioner of for my own personal reasons, however, I do see how what you're speaking towards, Brian, does have its positive across the board. Whatever it takes to motivate and that slight edge to one's training.

I'm in awe of your serious efforts across the board, Brian!! I've nothing but TONS of respect for you, my friend!! Keep up the great work!!

Great point. Strongman and Crossfit competitors, for example, will "kiai" at certain parts of their routine. I suppose that nearly everyone at one time or another of their lives, whether it be deliberate or accidental, will "kiai" whenever they feel necessary to exert themselves in both body and vocally. A release, so to speak.

That's exciting to hear the PJ has the Yankee twinkle in his eye. GO YANKEES!!

Well, the Pirates in the first 2 games of their 3-game series to end the regular season won against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Not a great way to end the regular season especially at home. Yankees lost the first 2 games against the Orioles in their 3-game series at home (5-3 and 9-7) but at least the Yankees won the last game (10-1). Then come the Pirates winning games 1 and 2 (4-2 and 9-4). Pirates and the Yankees end the season with a game tomorrow. Seems to me that since the Yankees clinched Division and Best Record in League and that the Orioles have no chance of overtaking 1st place that the Yankees are lackadaisical about the last 6 games of the regular season. I know I'm wrong...just frustrating to see the Yankees stumble over themselves. Hopefully the Yankees win tomorrow to put a cap over the regular season. GO YANKEES!! C

Yankees fell to the visiting Orioles on September 25th by the score of 9-7. However, on September 26th, the Yankees took task with the Orioles in a final score of 10-1. Not bad for a Yankee win, if I say so myself. The Yankees With that dominated win over the Orioles last night, the Yankees lock in the AL East title. This was the Yankees 2nd title in just 3 years, which has given the Yankees first round bye as well as home field advantage in the best-of-five AL Divisional Series this October 5th. Judge hammered his league-leading 58th HR. By winning the 3-game opener between these two, the Orioles have secured the 3-game Wild Card berth when they visit the Minnesota Twins. Yankees will host the Pirates in the 3-game season ender starting tonight. GO YANKEES!!

Cowboys barely took care of business with the Giants while visiting MetLife Stadium by the score of 20-15, which gives the Cowboys a record this season so far at 2-2 and 3rd place in the NFC East. It was a close game, with both teams showing strong defensive efforts on both sides of the ball. Dak threw over 200 yards with 2 TDs, while Jones threw for nearly 300 yards but unfortunately, he couldn't find the endzone. Giants tried there darnest with 5 field goals. Speaking of field goals, Cowboys place kicker Aubrey was zeroed and dialed in, as usual. In the 3rd quarter, he drilled a 60-yard field goal to put the Cowboys ahead by 5 points. Aubrey's streak came to an end of 16 straight field goals over 50 plus yards when he went wide right with a 51 yarder. Last week against the Ravens, Aubrey smashed a 65-yarder between the uprights. Cowboys visit Acrisure Stadium to take on the hosting Steelers which is sure to be a bran burner...or not!! GO COWBOYS!!

Welcome to KF, LoneWolf1401; glad that you're here!!

Welcome to KF, LoneWolf1401; glad that you're here!! Are you wanting to ONLY engage in solo training?? Which is fine, however, as, you know, having an instructor to train with is really important on one's MA journey. Running is necessary in one's training, solo or not because one surely doesn't want to run out of gas before one's attacker. Hand strengthening solo training with either by squeezing a resistant ball and/or the various hand grip tools because once you've got your attacker by your hands you surely don't want to let go prematurely. Of course, if you hand handy some Hojo Undo tools that would increase hand strength, to mention just one of Hojo Undo's many benefits.

I'd tend to think that a lot of things, including BJJ, is tough on the knees as one gets older.

The final day of the MLB 2024 regular season is this Sunday, September 29th, featuring 8 divisional matchups. My Yankees have had a great season. They sit in 1st place in the AL East with a current record of 92-64 with a 6-game home stand to end the regular season. First, 3 games against the Al East 2nd place Orioles and then 3 games against the NL Central 5th place Pirates. Unfortunately, to my dismay, the Astros find themselves in 1st place in the AL West with a record of 85-71. Astros are always a thorn in the sides of the Yankees. Texas Rangers on SI article wrote on May 15, 2024, by staff writer, Cole Thompson... "Right-handed pitcher Ronel Blanco was ejected prior to the start of the fourth inning in a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics after umpires found a sticky substance inside his glove. Blanco was slapped with a 10-game suspension by MLB on Wednesday, this hindering Houston's rotation, which currently ranks 27th in ERA at 4.78." It's kind of old, being back in May, but the Astros are talented enough, which pains me, that they don't need to stoop that low to win. https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/houston-astros-cheating-again-pitcher-ejected-for-sticky-substance-on-glove GO YANKEES!!

The Presidents Daughter by James Patterson and Bill Clinton (It is NOT a sequel to The Presidents Missing by same authors)

Well, the 2024 NFL season has just begun, Already, there are 5 undefeated teams making themselves noticed...Steelers, Chiefs, Bills, Vikings, and Seahawks. Meanwhile, my Cowboys are 1-2, which have my attention because this isn't how to start the season. Cowboys travel to MetLife Stadium to the hosting Giants on TNL. My wife's Raiders are 1-2. What a difference a week makes. After having a great win over the Ravens, the Raiders were dominated by the Panthers in quarters 2 and 3, the 0-2 Panthers defeated the Raiders at their home opener by the score of 36-22. Raiders host the Browns this Sunday. GO COWBOYS!!

You're absolutely correct...my bad. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I was confused.

Excellent post, aurik!! Quite excited for you that your Kobudo training is off to a good start!! There's nothing more vigorous than adding Kobudo to your MA journey!! Keep up the good training!!

First of all, Welcome to KarateForums.com, MartialAGuy; glad that you're here!! The Sai's in your pictures look like Shureido Sai's. They're not Century Martial Arts Supply Store Sai's, which have distinctive Tsukagashirs. The basic rounded look of the Tsukagashirs found in your pictures make me believe that your Sai's are Shureido Sai's. Enjoy them!!

Conditioning in the MA is quite important. It takes a lot of fortitude to be loyal to one's conditioning because of what's all involved during one's conditioning journey. The old adage that speaks, "No pain, no gain!!", that scares a lot of beginners to question the methods. I know I questioned it myself whenever I began learning my conditional training. Like anything else, time is essential to when a practitioner starts to notice the many benefits of Kitae. Okinawa Kitae training has some of the "strangest looking" training tools, but once forgotten how the training tools appear, they're not strange at all...necessary to the Nth degree. How many times have us students looked at one another in awe, fear, and confusion whenever we first saw Sensei show us and demonstrate the tools of kitae; I'm sure we all looked like a calf staring at a strange gate?!?

Your journey, aurik, is very inspirational for all levels of experience because you drive through the situations one at a time and there's no give up in you at all that I can see, which is very admirable. Making weapons can be quite rewarding. I tried to make my own Nunchaku's once, as crud as it was, but I gave up trying to make them myself when during my High School demo, one handle flew away into the audience, thank God nobody was hit, leaving me only with just one handle and the Kusari (Chain). I've never been quite a carpenter at all.

Day 2 of the Golden Knights training camp was yesterday as they are gearing up against the Sharks this Sunday on Shark ice. GO KNIGHTS!!