lowereastside

Lupin1 - thanks for the info.

This is an ongoing thing - that goes back to Okinawa, Japan, Korea...... Chojun Miyagi the founder of Okinawan Goju Karate never gave out rank - after his death many of his students promoted each other from 6th Dan up to 10th Dan - some of these students were in their 30's to 40's. Gogen " Cat " Yamaguchi from Japanese Goju-Kai never received a rank form Chojun Miyagi but in the early 1950's was ranked 10th Dan at age 40. The founder of Okinawan Isshin-ryu karate promoted himself to 10th while in his mid 30's - and many of his students came back with high ranks while still in their 20's - and these students including my Goju teacher Peter Urban were pioneers in promoting karate in America in the late 1950's - 60's. And how many Koreans came to the USA with inflated ranks of 7-8 Degree's while still in their mid to late 20's. And I could go on and on. Do I agree with this? NO I Don't. But it is what it is.

Years ago while driving I passed by a Dojo - and decided to take a look - on the Dojo window was a poster - stating that the instructor had created his own style and was a 10th Dan - at age 21. Then again my karate teacher broke away from the parent organization and promoted himself to 10th Dan at the age of 33/34. I guess whatever makes one happy

Sensei8 says - "an instructor have to teach the individual and not the group." I totally agree - Teaching large groups ( 15-or more students) is Ok - however, there comes a time when the teacher must/or should work 1 on 1 with a student(s).

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL - 2014.

Congratulations to all the Winners - Very well deserved.

Hi, Sensei8 - in a few months I'll be 60. Let me say this - I have a very good friend who is 86 years old ( Young ) - this friend started in MA in the mid 1950's. About 5 years ago my 86 YO friend started studying Chinese Wrestling under another good friend. And he's doing the full boat - throwing, falling , rolling , ground work etc......The thing is that about 25 years ago my friend had stopped training for a few years - opened up a business and got a Heart Attack. When he left the hospital he could hardly walk 2 City Blocks without stopping to catch his breath. He started on a simple exercise program - 1st walking about 10 min a day then he started with basic exercise and so on and so on. This man (my friend ) is an inspiration to me and my other MA's friends. We look at him in amazement and just shake our heads. Look getting older I try to do what I can - we gotta find a way to take our MA's into our old age. And looking at my 86 yo friend - there is still hope for me LOL. Again just my 3 cents worth.

Ask around - try finding a good instructor - and a style that won't put to much pressure on the knees. Anyhow - Good Luck

Hmmmm - proper execution or effectiveness - let me give you my 3 cents worth. Much in life is learned by experience - we all go to school and learn proper execution - in the medical field - accounting - law and so on....... And then we go out into the REAL WORLD and with our proper execution we now must be effective - A salesman must wine and dine a client and $$$$ to get the contract. A surgeon while learning proper execution must now operate and be effective in his/or her surgeries. A well trained Martial Artist get into a fight with several individuals - picks up a weapon ( a stick, bat, chair .......) and smashes/hits his assailants over the head and walks away. Is it proper execution or just survival - being effective - getting the job done no matter what? IMHO - its all intertwined. Just my 3 cents.

Solid Posts - My saying is "not bad" - just bend your knees a little more or "not bad" - just try to relax a little more - and so on.......

Thank You - for the kind words.

I've gotten a lot of Ah Ha moments -for me these days its more like evolving and refining - I have not reached my peak yet and I'm almost 60. Nice topic CredoTe.

I go by this 1st - it's Family 2nd - its the job - to support the Family 3rd - it's everything else.

How people walk correlates with risk of attack - I,m in total agreement. It's not only how you walk but also the body language that you send out. Like a friend said to me a few years back - you have to send out a message one way or another. And always be on your guard. A few years ago I had relatives visit NYC - My Cousin said I was getting her nervous - she noticed I was looking over my shoulder - looking when I was going around corners - looking before getting into elevators and so on. My Cousin said what gives. First off I did not even know I was doing it - it was just part of my reaction from growing up in the Projects on the Lower East Side of NYC. It is the attack you don't see coming that is most dangerous - the weapon that comes out that is the most dangerous and so on.... That's why in the last few years I've been very critical - and have tried to take the fantasy out of what I teach.

1. Where are you from? New York City, New York 2. Why did you get started in the martial arts? My Uncle Frank and Dad wanted me to learn some form of Self - Defense. I started in Boxing at the age of 9 in 1963. My Uncle who was a boxer took me to a Boxing Gym that was co-owned by one of his friends. 3. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken and your ranks in them. I did Western Boxing from 1963 to 1968. Then USA Goju Karate from 1968 to 1969 received the Rank of Purple Belt from Sensei Peter Urban. From 1970 to 1973 me and a friend took Self-Defense Classes from a man named Charles ( Charlie ) Nelson. From 1973 to the Present kwong Sai Jook Lum Jee Praying Mantis Kung Fu ( Southern Praying Mantis ) From James Soo he is much more than just my Teacher he is a friend that really opened the door for me - not easy to do in Chinese Kung Fu even among Asians. From 2003 to 2008 studied Kali - Traded Jook Lum Mantis to learn kali from a friend Joe Musse - this man's skill is on another level. Both James and Joe are incredible - skills not often seen these days. 4. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I was lurking - I joined because ( the Moderator ) Patrick does not let things get out of hand - in other forums the moderators just let the mud slinging continue. 5. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? And why did you stay? I stayed because of the great group that posts on this forum 6. What does KarateForums.com mean to you? Your answer. An exchange of knowledge by the written word by a group of very knowledgeable individuals. 7. Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey? Your answer. My Dad - who was not a Martial Artist told me years back " never under estimate anyone " and " Life is to short make the best of what you have ". My Uncle who was a fighter would say " If outnumbered and you can't run take as many of those with you ". Sensei Peter Urban would say " Never put your guard down even when you think it's over " My Jook Lum Teacher James Soo once told me " Everyone's got a plan until they get dropped on their Butt - can you ( Talking to me ) get up and finish it - it takes heart ". These sayings were told to me years ago and there still in my head - I have not forgotten.

Great Interview MasterPain - and I agree with the others Good Sense of Humor.

Harkon72 - Great Interview - I'm saying this to the other's as well but all the interviews are a great reads.

CredoTe Thank You for the mention - very kind of you. And by the way Great Interview - I'm kinda an historian when it comes to Martial Arts and I'm enjoying reading everyone's history. Thank You.

Again another Great Interview.

Great Interview Tallgeese - I enjoy the history.

Great Interview Sensei8 - very insightful.

Congrats - well deserved

Wastelander says "That's what pressure testing is for" That's a key element - to pressure test. I like to use the 1 to 10 scale - 10 being a street confrontation - we start out at 1 then go to 2 and 3 and so on.....we ( me and my students) try to get close to 10 as possible without killing ourselves. Doubt our effectiveness? - My journey is filled with different stages when I started it was the fantasy stage - my style is the best my teacher is the best. then came the arrogant stage - this system or person is no good. Then came the reality stage - this brought me back down to earth - somewhat - and I started to questions certain things. Then came the practical stage - the most effective way for me - and to pass down my experience. That being said - I still have elements of my other stages in me - hard to get rid of old habits LOL - but I'm getting better. One of the most difficult things not only in Martial Arts but in life is to be truthful with ourselves - I would like to think -LOL - I've done that to some extent. Doubting is a good thing - it made me thing outside the box the safety of the Dojo or Kwoon. In the last 4 months I witnessed 2 confrontations - one was this past Saturday at a Restaurant - between two individuals who knew each other - and one pulled a knife. The other was on a subway platform - and both pulled a knife on each other - don't know what happened I got on my Train. It's not always going to be empty hand vs. empty hand. Just my 3 cents worth.

CredoTe says " For instance, my forward stance (front leg / knee bent, back leg straight and solid) isn't going to look or measure exactly the same as yours. My body is not your body, and vice versa. Same with all the other stances." Well said CredoTe. And to reinforce what the other's have said - RELAX.

Thanks Patrick for the heads up. And Credo-te THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the mention - it was really nice of you. And lets not kid ourselves Credo-Te I find your posts informative along with other's on this forum. This is the only forum I post on - the reason no XX is tolerated and the informative info that's put out. Angelo