sensei8

It's been quite a while since I chimed in any updates on this thread; sorry about that. The update is not good at at all...so bad, that I'm not willing to share it in its totality here as of yet. DEPRESSION is my constant companion, and has been since my sister passed away in January 2018!! Then, there's been the SKKA being dissolved in its totality this past July. One thing after another, even my own dojo has had its difficulties away from the floor; the floor is as solid as its ever been, but off the floor have hit a bump in the road. Deep depressions has set in, and often times, my thoughts have been betraying me across the board. I ask myself as of late...Where is my value anymore?? No answer has been given, if ever at all. Then in July 2019, I once again severely hurt my lower back once again, but this time, worse than before...it's now been nearly 4 very long months since my lower back injury. Days turn to weeks and weeks turn into months... Just last week, I was given the green light to return to the gym and the floor by my PCP; but no more than 3 days per week for now; light duty, so to speak. My restrictions are 2 hours maximum of walking, standing, bending, and 15lbs of lifting; Physical Therapy of 3 days per week. Weight has come back, not in its totality as when this thread began, but enough to keep me very deeply depressed. So much so that I still wonder what my value is anymore?!?!?!? If I've let anybody here down because of this setback in this threads journey, I beg for your forgiveness!! I...I...never mind...thanks!!

Yes, we practice Hojo Undo regularly as it's intertwined with practically everything that we do.

Karate 1 TKD 1

As you describe in your OP, as part of the curriculum?? No, sorry. My students can do things like that on their own, if they feel a need to do so, and I'll help them if they've any questions along those lines.

At the moment my strength training is focused on monkey bars, a kenisis cable machine, supplemented with (at the moment sitting around 20kilos working my way up to 36kilo) dumbells, hand stands and push up; among other things, such as squats just not with heavy weights 16hrs per week.Supplemented with an additional 10hrs boxing (including agility skills, focus striking, ballistic punching and hand conditioning) also 10hrs kicking and stretching also within the week. Plyometric exercises is something which needs attention however I am very boxer agile. I fully understand that an Olympic weight lifting programme is suitedable for maists, it however doesn't grab my attention as much as Callesstetics; Also comprehending that combat sports needs a good weights programme, however I am plenty strong enough to fight martial art wise, where I probably give up strength for flexibility; which is another issue. My martial arts journey is inseparable from JKD where my physique is similar to Bruce Lee than it is to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite seemingly looking (myself to be) deluded in the area of strength and not looking like a Hollywood Spartan Warrior, I'm happy enough to not look like a cartoon Potato Couch Armchair Warrior LOL Not that it's any of my business...with you having had 4 heart attacks, what does your PCP and/or Cardiologist suggest to you as far as exercise limitations?? I mean, what you've described in your first paragraph above,as to what it is that you do, seems a tad tasking, but that's me. More than likely, if your PCP and/or Cardiologist is anything like mine, they both tell me "Listen to your body while you exercise; do what you can tolerate, and if you push yourself, take extra care!!" I hate their advise because I'm asking them to help me set up an exercise program so that I DO NOT task myself overly too much. I've let them read over my exercise journal, but even after then, they give my their standard reply. I always push myself because that's born within me to do so, and I'm dumb enough to push and push and push.

I've not done jumping jacks since I was in high school; didn't like them then, don't like them now!! Just not my cup of tea!!

Yeah, Higaonna Sensei just might have a problem with the courts, IF, an issue was to arise with his actions...after all, Higaonna Sensei's hand conditioning is quite impressive. I, myself, don't worry about what the courts might or might not consider in this regard because the issue at hand is for me to defend myself, therefore, I'll use whatever means are at my disposal; I'll worry about the police and/or courts when the time comes.

Kind of sounds like demotion!! However, forget rank because rank means nothing whatsoever. If one doesn't seriously train on and off the floor, then yes, they lose the ability to remain sharp and effective. Rust sets in when one becomes sedentary to such a degree, that any effectiveness once obtained is lost to some degree; the lower the ability, the harder to regain an effective edge....doable, but difficult. Train as though your life depends on because one day it just might!!

Any questions I have regarding health, I ask my PCP and Cardiologist. Very important to me to adhere to their advice, so much so, that if my Sensei and his Sensei were still alive, I'd ignore all of their suggestions completely.

Rank can't be taken away once earned; rank is forever!! We only demote if an act of moral turpitude has been proved in a court of law. In the first video link in the OP, there was no sense of needing to maintain anything because, imho, there was never any quality of knowledge or experience with those shown in said video; can't maintain quality when quality never existed. I train everyday, albeit, I don't train to maintain rank because rank means nothing to me compared to knowledge and experience, but to maintain effectiveness through live resistant training as well as the 3-Ks. Nonetheless, I've just turned 62 years old, and I've medical concerns that might take my sharpness away, but I'm on the floor as often as I can. Whenever my health concerns interfere on the floor, then my assistants do those physical attributes under my ever watchful eye. My physical abilities might wane away from time to time, but my knowledge and experience remains, and my effectiveness remains as tangible as ever. I just reached my 55th year in the MA, and while I might not be in my peak anymore, I'm as effective as ever, if even more so; a fine wine gets better and better with age.

Thank you, Danielle and Alan!!

Nope, not directly/intentionally, because it's just not.

Thank you, JR!!

Perhaps tournaments involving the MA should be banned all together because while they act as some type of a test, they're one of the most ineffective means to reach an honest conclusion of any type. Imho!!

Solid post!!

Thank you so very much, Patrick and Brian!! Now that I'm 62 years old, I can still smile every day!!

Perception is reality to THAT person. We here will have varying degrees of interpretation across the board based on our own perception through our own understandings and knowledge and experience. This is a WKF Tournament, and whatever they had decided is their given right, and while I might not agree, I do respect their decision. Therefore, my decision in this regards still stands, nonetheless!!

It was a clash!! In clashes, accidents occur!! I disagree with the Judges decision!! Thomas is unable to continue, therefore, Stefan wins!! Under WKF Rules, Noah is right-on the money!!

Excellent article; thanks for sharing it, Brian!! As I'm quite fond of this saying... The summation of 'Why' is to the summation of 'Because'!! It's often overlooked when one forgets to add and consider the 'How' of it all.

If it's effective, than it's real!!

Congrats, pers; well deserved!!

Control the distance, control the timing, control the fight.Strategic stepping, timing skills, makes everything else possible to fall in to place. If you're not teaching timing, for one, then imho, you're not teaching anything whatsoever. No matter what one feels is preferred the most, so on and so forth, just as long as what is being taught is effective to its Nth degree. Pushing that which is important to the forefront, and everything else to the background, whether it be Distancing first or posture first or timing first, and i.e., footwork second or angle management second or stances second...just as long as the whole vehicle is addressed, and not that the vehicle isn't built in bits and pieces.

I think it's definitely down to the individual skill and talent. Not the form of martial arts at all. You can have the strongest punch in the world and best looking head kick but if you can't deliver it at the right time then it could be of no use. You can say that to a tennis player, you could have a great backhand but if you don't get there in time and hit the ball at the right time then it all goes wrong. Same with the goalie in soccer or etc.. Solid post!!

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

Welcome to KF, Kung fu master warrior; glad that you're here!!