sensei8

Sounds like you are running a tight ship. The mask one I debate back and forth. Non-students like parents must wear one if they are to stay and watch (they are only allowed to observe if there is a specific need). The original WHO guidance was not to wear a masks during sport as sweat would make it wet increasing the growth of bacteria: I also think, especially with the kids, it encourages them to touch their face more as they'll be constantly fiddling with the mask. Yeah, it's a tad tight. Masks OFF the floor, except my instructors and myself...Masks ON anywhere else. If anyone claims medical reasons why they can't wear a mask inside, I ask them to wait outside, and if a parent doesn't want to wait outside, then the parent AND their son/daughter can both wait outside. Anyone under 9 years of age, don't have to wear a mask per our Governor.

My first visit with my Oncology this morning September 4, 2020 at 8:30AM. Things are still quite positive in that both my Urologist and Oncologist are on the same page. Spoke with the that doctor for about 30 minutes. I only take the Bicalutamide pill for 30 days!! The shot, well, I continue it every 3 months for the next 2-3 years, at least. I did LAB work today for my PSA Levels. Quite depressing... >CBC w/Differential EVERY 2 weeks until 3/4/2022 >CT ABDOMEN & PELVIC WITH CONTRAST EVERY 12 weeks until 3/4/2022 >CT Chest w/Contrast EVERY 12 weeks until 3/4/2022 >Comprehensive Metabolic Panel EVERY 2 weeks until 3/4/2022 >NM Bone Scan - Total Body Delayed EVERY 12 weeks until 3/4/2022 >PSA EVERY 2 weeks until 3/4/2022 >Testosterone EVERY 2 weeks until 3/4/2022 ***CT Scan November 6, 2020 1PM ***Bone Scan appointment not given as of yet, but it'll be made before November 20, 2020. Urologist ruled out Chemo and Surgery, but the Oncologist is on the same page, however, nothing is ever ruled out until the fights been won!! I'm having a much more appreciation of a Pin Cushion, nowadays.

Not sure on brands you have over in the States but I don't think there is much difference between most store vitamins. They all should give you recommendations on the pack for how many to take and when. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me as my sister is a pharmacist here in the UK and I can ask her what she thinks. Solid post!! Yes, and thank you....if I've any specific questions I'll forward them to you, Danielle...like this one... What's the difference between 5K and 50K IU?? What is a IU?? If my Urologist wanted me to have 50K IU, he would've written a prescription when he wrote the BICALUTAMIDE prescription. Here in the USA, a prescription has to be written for a 50K IU. I'll ask my Urologist tomorrow morning, for sure.

Solid post!! Thank you, Brian!!

I was just checking on my Urologist portal to check to see if they've responded to my last email...which they've not read yet. So I sent a 2nd email; I've my fingers crossed. I was instructed to get Vitamin D and Calcium, BUT, what type of Vitamin and Calcium as well as their dosages?!?! While I was in the portal, I found out that my Urologist sprung on me an unaware new appointment for this Friday, September 4, 2020 at 8:30AM. I was under the impression that I didn't have an appointment until November. I've just sent an email trying to find out its purpose.

I thank each of you for your supportive and heartfelt words; they mean everything to me!!

I plan on riding around my apartment complex, around my immediate neighborhood, and around east Houston, TX. To my knowledge there's nothing around that has trails and the like.

Men's Cruiser Bike?? OR Men's Mountain Bike?? I'm 6ft tall...what size bike?? 26"...29"?? Doctors, all of them, are pushing me to get a bike seeing that swimming pools are closed where I live; public or gym pools. Last bike I had was a Schwinn Road Bike...some 10 years or more ago. What do you all think?? Thank you!!

Thanks for your words of support across the board; they mean everything to me!! I'm staying positive, even though I've shed a ton of tears yesterday with the news of stage 4; I'm strong willed, but also human, and emotions will come and go during this fight!! I WILL WIN THIS FIGHT!!!!!!!!

This message spoke to me. I usually hate internet message boards. There is so much hostility and trolling. You guys are such a nice, civilized, and mature (yet friendly) community. And most important to me, you make me feel comfortable enough to ask the martial arts questions I don't trust anyone enough in real life to ask (e.g. like how I dislike some schools that teach made up kata). Funny story, I found this place years ago out of pure chance. I forgot what I wanted to ask, but I assumed that "there must be an online forum (now called message boards!) for karate... a... karate forum? let me enter that as a URL!) I've been able to share my martial arts journey in a way with all of you, and that is something quite special. How did karateforums.com start, anyway? It must be such an intertesting story. To the bold type... That question I believe would be best answered by KF's Founder and Administrator, Patrick.

For the time being while I fight Prostate Cancer, I've decided to turn my dojo over to my most Senior Dan Student. Having slowly reopened my dojo during this Covid-19 pandemic, we've all gone through some classes on how to better protect all concerned whenever they come into either my dojo and/or my retail store. I purchased four sanitizer fogger machines, which we use before and after each class. We've spaced the classes so that there's 30 minutes between classes for sanitizing the dojo. The foggers sanitize all contact areas imaginable. So, 2 foggers for the dojo, 1 for the restroom areas, and 1 for my retail store. We've temporarily closed both the men's and women's locker rooms. However, within those locker rooms the restrooms area are still open. I'm big time OCD whenever it comes to being clean, so I believe that we'll be protected during this pandemic. All coming into either business are screened for their temperatures. Anyone with temperatures above 100.4 are instructed to go home, and we hold up a list and we ask them if any of these pertain to them at all...any yes, they are instructed to go home. Yes, I've 2 instructors manning the doors of the dojo and 1 at my retail store for this process. All entering must wear a mask at all times; no mask...no entry. I do have masks to provide should they not have a mask. Those in class do not have to wear a mask, except myself and my instructors while teaching/assisting. While I'm not on the floor right now, I still walk around the dojo wherever necessary. I'm mainly now in my retail store. I've got to be extra careful right now because my doctors advise me that while I'm fighting this cancer, and it has spread, my bone MIGHT become brittle. I WILL WIN THIS FIGHT, God willing!! Well, that's what we do to protect our students and everyone else concerned during this pandemic!! Please be safe!! Train hard and train well!!

I sincerely doubt that there are many, if any, Uchi-deshi programs around the Karate world. Albeit, give this a look over... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uchi-deshi Getting accepted might be quite difficult, depending on the program/CI. Still, I'd approach any Uchi-deshi program with a grain of salt because one never knows what the program/CI sole intent(s) are; money driven or pure and true MA training. With that, I'd visit said program with a fine tooth investigation. Good luck, and please, let us know what you find out and decide.

Today was the day for my Scan results at 9am, August 28, 2020. Results: 1) Stage 4 Cancer!! There are 5 stages. 2) Metastatic; Cancer spread in my bones near my spine. 3) No Chemo 4) No surgery Treatment: 1) 1 pill orally per day 2) 1 shot every 3 months Goal: To lower my PSA levels to zero/unreadable!! Prognosis: Doctor indicates that the oral pill is just for 30 days; after that, I've no idea. However, the shot in my arm might take as long as 2-3 years. Next Appointments: 1) November 6, 2020 8:10am 2) November 20, 2020 8am In Closing: Both the pill and the shot will lower my testosterone, however, while the side affects are nothing to be excited about, but, for now, testosterone depends on protein, of which I need to lower my PSA levels to zero. That zero means CANCER FREE!!!! The pill is BICALUTAMIDE 50mg The shot is LEUPROLID Is this curable?? YES!! The cancer is slow moving!! Doctors have great high expectations of becoming cancer free!! Doctors also have great expectations of me living beyond my dad's age...89 years old...I'll take that. Of course, just because I have prostate cancer, it doesn't mean I'll die from prostate cancer. After all, I do have Afib (Atrial fibrillation) as well. I need to do other tests very soon, like, colonoscopy; which seems like a dream come true, but necessary, I'm 12 years overdue for that. Treatments will have its side affects, like, men's menopause, which in itself has its own built in side effects, like, hot flashes. Oh boy!! Treatments started today. I wonder why my PCP didn't advise me to visit a Urologist 5 years ago when my PSA levels were at 7, but advised me recently when my PSA levels hit at 29??!!?? I'll ask him whenever I see him again. I also have to take some Vitamin D and Calcium daily; 2 times per day. I'll keep updating as they come. Time to fight and WIN!!

CT Scan completed today, August 26, 2020. 7:45am: Checked in at the LBJ Hospital in Houston, TX at. 8:40am: Had IV inserted on my left arm halfway down at. Needles and me just don't get along. Having said that, the technician was smooooooth as smooth can be; no pain to speak about. Yeah, Bob the needle baby. 9am: Had CT Scan performed at. This included me lying down on a table/bed apparatus with both of my arms resting above my head. In and out over and over; had to hold my breath whenever the machine instructed me to do so, and then I was instructed to breath normal. Last thing done was the technician inserting through the IV Iodine; this caused me to feel quite warm, but not hot. 9:10am: Yep, the CT Scan took a big total of 10 minutes to perform. I was driving home at 9:15am. Results and visit with my Urologist will be this Friday, August 28, 2020. I'm not going to lie; I'm pretty scared because it's the unknown that drives be crazy. When I'm scared, I read a lot to understand, but the reading causes me even more anxiety; doctors and family tell me all of the time to stop reading; easier said than done. Right now I wish I had a emoticon for a needle pin cushion!!

Congrats, Devin; well deserved!!

Thank you, Mo; means everything to me. Feels great having my KF family in my corner during this fight. 7 times down, 8 times up!!

Imho... There are two different types of maturity in the MA. One is the maturing of tenure. One matures in this regard through ones own time spent on the floor by training hard and training well. Over time, the practitioner matures through familiarity. Sort of like when someone says that they know something like the back of their hand. The other is maturing in techniques. Shu Ha Ri always changes as we mature in techniques. In short, maturing in technique is what Bruce Lee said... "I do not hit, it hits all by itself." That to me is maturing in technique. Thinking about 'it', clouds the mind; can;t think straight at all, Being afraid of 'it', defeats the practitioner before it can be given a chance. All of this robs the practitioner of consistent effectiveness. Mizu No Kokoro = Mind like the moon Tsuki No Kokoro = Mind like the water Some practitioners never mature in their techniques.

Getting back to the dojo is always a great thing; glad that you're able to return to the dojo, especially during this pandemic. Train hard and train well.

To answer your question, I'm complete in my MA totality. It's not ego, just downright to the core confidence of my MA abilities, as well as my MA limitations. I've MA limitations because I'm not perfect. I've had my fair share of altercations throughout my life, but I'll not speak about them; that's not within me to do so. I don't fear anything or anyone; what happens happens; but I'm no push over. Sounds like ego, huh?? It's not because I've no ego to bruise or pump up. I train not for the win or the loss, but for the increased abilities to survive any altercation(s).

--- This is fascinating. Thanks so much guys. I am so intrigued by this kyoku kata. If I search for pinan/heian/tekki, etc videos, you will find hundreds. But Kyoku kata seem almost unknown in the world of youtube? How come? My friend does like in the west coast, by the way. To the bold type above... Perhaps there are not many Shudokan practitioners that aren't interested in posting anything anywhere, including YouTube and/or the lack of how to use YouTube or, well, there might be a lot of varied reasons to your question.

Perhaps, but please don't quote me, but, I believe that it's of Shudokan linage; and the Kata in question isn't spelled incorrectly, as far as they're concerned. That Kata is also known as Kyoku 4, but not at all Shudokan dojo's. I've trained with several Shudokan Karateka's over the many years in the past, however, the last time I did train in Shudokan was back in 2001 or 2002.

Devin, I echo wholeheartedly what Patrick has already said quite effectively. As far as what Devin's stepping down from being part of staff, another empty chair sits around the KF Staff table. I've always felt in my heart that she was that quintessential part of staff; being that vitally important cog of the KF Staff wheel. I, too, shall miss her here on staff, in which I believe that staff won't be the same. As a member, she's far much more than affable across the board; that extremely genuine trait that can be noticed immediately. She never put on airs with anyone no matter the topic and/or the member. Great knowing that Devin will still be around mean the world to us all. Thank you, Devin for everything you've done for KF and its members all of these many years unselfishly. See you around and I look forward to many more discussions with you, Devin!!

I suppose that the best thing to do before attending any tournament is to fully read and understand the Rules of said tournament. Some tournaments don't allow throws of any type for whatever their reasons might me. Better to know beforehand than finding out the hard way.

...and Uechi-ryu Karate trains to kick with the big toe... and it hurts, I know because I've been kicked with the big toe from a Uechi-ryu practitioner...got my attention quick!!

Solid post!!