MasterPain

Being dazed with head shots is not good for you.

Adults need to learn about the laws and case studies on these things. Legal defense is a very real part of self defense.

Mental note: Never disrespect MP higher than the ground floor.. It's part of the unwritten Bujin Code, that disrespectful people are to be thrown down the fire escape. Well now it's been written, I guess. So it is written, so shall it be done. (I've always wanted to say that.)

Also, Sammo Hung is awesome.

You know, there are plenty of legit reasons for not being able to lose weight. I don't have one. I just really like food. I think I transfer knowledge fairly well anyway. If someone would rather learn from a fitness model, I really don't care. But if they are disrespectful to me, I have an extra 40 pounds that creates useful inertia for throwing them down the fire escape.

From the wiki page it sounds like 5th was awarded to him and he holds 12th dan in his own system. I'm unsure of the motivation behind the OP. I think there are some organizational politics here, but maybe I'm misreading. Maybe shoalinninja could explain in more detail.

Yep. Been to several gatherings at sensei's house, and he's worked on my plumbing a few times. And adult students are always welcome at my house.

Nice find. I would hope I could come up with something pretty like one of these or A Toute Le Monde, but I'll probably just write a dirty limerick.

Needs the kanji for heaven on the back.

I believe Hari Kiri (belly cutting) originated as a general who was defeated and being chased decided that he would not risk being captured and giving up information. The method of death chosen was such to show that he was not a coward, but would not give the enemy the satisfaction of killing him. In my mind, the ritual was mostly used in cases that were reasonless. That and a samurai who lost his station in life could expect a poor future, might be preferable to starving in the street, but that's more a matter of practicality than honor. In cases such as you are talking about, it would be better to live a life dedicated to atonement through doing good. Better yet, just don't do bad things. Personally I think it's bogus that Darth Vader got to be a good Force ghost for one moment of lashing out at the Emperor. It's far better to start a Nobel Peace prize or something.

That makes as much sense as a lot of things people think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=382yTWtIxoY&feature=fvwp&NR=1 This one.

I think the hand was made for pointed sticks. It's hard for a male to reproduce when he's starved to death after trying to hunt sabre toothed rabbits with his fists.

Several years ago, I spent some time watching Hwarang in slowmo, and practiced the kicking combinations. Not very practical, but looked cool.

I have a GED and read constantly, so I can pull off pretentious in the midst of phrases like "ain't got no." And yes, Master Ken is a black belt under Jeff Speakman's Kempo 5.0. Personally, I like the descriptive technique names. Once you hear the reason behind the names, it makes it easier to remember, much like Roy G Biv. Try naming the colors of the rainbow without it.

Thanks. My beard's gone grey enough that I get to philosophize and pontificate a bit anymore.

If we look at the old writings, a big part of it was combat psychology. About being ready to act in the midst of chaos.This was at a time when combat was mostly close range and very bloody, the kind of combat which has the most powerful and immediate emotional response. So yes, that's a big part of it. But there is more, with every bit as practical of reasoning. The samurai, in times of peace, were riot police, town guards and all around civil servants. For this reason, they were expected to learn about the ways of monks, merchants, farmers and carpenters and such. It does an officer of the law little good to be perceived as a stupid yokel with 2 swords and a funny haircut. Besides, these were warriors without much of a central government. Without a code, there would be total anarchy and tyranny. To serve and protect, Semper fidelis, ya know? Musashi was a poet and a painter, a common thing among the samurai. It was wise to have a non-martial hobby. Combat readiness involves a lot of visualization and thought on the darker sides of the human experience. This needs to be balanced out. As Nietzche would say if he were alive today- He who gazes too long into the abyss should go to icanhas.cheezburger.com/ and look at the cute kitty pictures.

What do I want to do? Hit people with sticks! What should I do? Uggh, cardio.

You'll find great training in some of these places. Some of the best schools I've seen were in a one car garage in the back yard.

Don't neglect to check out a local mma gym. They are not typically the bunch of meatheads they are stereotyped as. You'll get honest contact and a great self defense skill set.

You're giving humanity too much credit, they just want to make sure THEIR stuff isn't burning.

They do the vertical fist because that's what they do. A vertical fist works well up close to slip inside someone's guard, but lacks the power at fuller extension that a horizontal fist has. I doubt they would keep this if they typically sparred with more contact. Light contact allows a lot of theoretical stuff to survive.

I once hit a woman half my size way too hard. She immediately taught me to always apologize with my guard up. One of 2 or 3 times that I've had to straighten my nose back out. She was respectable empty handed, but give her a blade and it was a thing of beauty.

Bloodsport changed my life.

Good point with the self esteem. It seems to be a common problem with victims of violence, especially those who grew up abused. It becomes part of a pattern of abuse.