mazzybear

All The best for the new dojo!! Pretty cool that you and your Sensei both have history together there too. Mo.

Congrats TJ-Jitsu. Well deserved! Mo.

Stranger things have happened. Mayweather has to be red hot favourite but, you can never write of McGregor off. I'm not a fan of either tbh but, could definitely be worth a watch, depending on how much they'll want for PPV. Mo.

My instructor is 67 years old and still puts folk to shame in what he can do. Obviously there are limits to what he can demonstrate but, that's what the senior dan grades are there for, to call upon when needed. His knowledge is unreal and he has a way of explaining things to everyone in different ways so they understand. So in short, are you too old? As long as you have air in your lungs and knowledge in your brain, my answer is a big fat....... NO, YOU'RE NOT TOO OLD!! Mo.

This is not what Plato meant. What Plato writes in The Apology is that human wisdom is worth little when we consider the wisdom of the gods. Furthermore, logic is not the absence of wisdom. Applying logic gives us a clear and defined path to our goal. The Chinese use logic as well. In Daoism, those in the School of Names were logicians. Again, I think it is incorrect to call philosophy exclusively Greek, and wisdom exclusively oriental. There are plenty of other branches and traditions of philosophy that aren't Greek, and Eastern philosophy has a rich and very ancient tradition. Wisdom is universal, and in the end I think that anyone can seek wisdom, regardless of what are of philosophy they ascribe themselves to. I think this particular statement is a little unfair. Silkworms are native to China. Would European nations have created silk if they were native to Europe? That's unknowable. Since it is unknowable, it's not something that we can really debate about. However, I will say that clothing depended heavily on the climate of the area. People that wore fur generally lived in frigid climates, whereas people in warmer climates moved to other, lighter materials when they could. I think this is also an unfair statement. Multiple countries offered Greece aid. Was it wisdom that caused Greece's collapse? It's unlikely. Nor do I think philosophy played a hand in the event either. Source? Eastern martial arts are certainly more globally popular, but Greece is far from the dominate area for WMA. We are beginning to see a restoration in interest in WMA, and it's been very awesome to be a part of. While this is true, I do not see how this is different from what Eastern cultures steal from the West. Culture is a constantly evolving thing. Every culture takes what it likes from others, and adapts it to themselves. China used firearms before the West did. Furthermore, Middle Eastern countries were the first to use what we generally think of as a gun in the 14th century. I couldn't anything that agreed with this. The closest thing I found is that the Italian spaghetti noodle is likely a descendant of Asian noodles. Again, I think this goes back to my argument on cultures borrowing from others. The dish called spaghetti is solidly an Italian one. The earliest evidence of crop rotations we have are from around 6000BCE, and originated in the Middle East. So while that is still Asian in origin, it is not Chinese. It seems that the West knew about it long before the Middle Ages. Agriculture can also be traced back to this time. Again, the West knew about agriculture long before the Middle Ages. I think we would be in the same spot. This is a great forum, and I think that logic plays a large part in the questions and answers that make up this community. I think that it is important to remember that the goal of philosophy is wisdom, regardless of origin. Greek philosophy is big in the West because it is a part of Western culture. Chinese philosophy is big in the East because it is a part of Eastern culture. I think that as MAist, we pursue wisdom through philosophy. I think that as humans we pursue wisdom through philosophy. Excellent post!! Mo.

The rule we have and follow is don't hit anyone harder than you're willing to be hit. It you're hitting someone hard, and they're not returning the favor, lighten up. After you've sparred with someone a few times, you get a feel for how hoed they want to be hit. At least that's how it's been in both dojos I've been a part of. Both dojos were on the smaller side though. That is a general rule that I've seen in and out of the Shindokan circle. Greg, our past Kancho, and I would usually start light, but by the time we had finished, we'd hit one another with purposeful resolve; that's just how the two of us trained with one another. Like JR is saying, I'd go light to medium to hard, no matter the rank. However, the medium was saved for adults ranked 6th Kyu to Godan, and I'd go with a gauged hard with those Rokudan and up. But the intensity that Greg and I chose was reserved for us, with a very, very, few that would engage with either of us, but only for the quick moment, just before they wanted no more of it. Yeah, agree on all points made. It depends who I'm sparring with as to how hard I go. I remember when I first returned to the club one of the black belts told me she had her nose broken by a beginner, and that they're so concerned with hitting you that they can be dangerous, control just goes out the window. Something I've now seen for myself, people swinging their arms like windmills and the like. So if I find myself paired up against a beginner, my main priority is evasion and finding space for a counter. But I like being paired with the senior grades and can go harder. But how hard I go is nothing compared to the two biggest guys in the club, that can only be described as bone crunching The only thing about the way we spar is it doesn't transfer well to competition point sparring, there's always a lot of warnings for excessive contact and also a disqualification on occasion. My instructor is of the old school full contact, no pads era and believes teaching too much "tippy tappy" could backfire when you really need to shut an attacker down. Does he have a point? I think maybe he does. so I'll enjoy how we do things in the club, take it easy with youngsters and beginners but let loose when the opportunity allows. Mo.

I'm all for a bit rough and tumble, Tuesday nights are the classes where we get to let loose and it's a lot of fun. What I don't like is when someone tells you to take it easy but expects to go hard themselves. For example we have a black belt in the club and she was paired with a young guy who has not been graded yet, not unusual as any senior grade knows to take it easy with youngsters/beginners. But she made a big fuss about not being hit in the face but then proceeded to whack this guy so hard as to make his head spring back, thankfully my instructor stopped her and gave her a proper talking to. The young guy to his credit just got on with things without making a fuss. But as a black belt she should've known better. Mo.

Welcome to KF PhilExpat. Good to have you here!! Mo.

Congratulations Danielle!! Massive milestone to reach. Always good to read your posts and opinions!! Mo.

Don't get too down, Bob. Rest as required and jump back into it when you're up to it. A rest will always do you good, don't worry about the weight you've gained, once you're fighting fit again you will smash through the plateau you've been experiencing! Mo.

Happy Birthday KF!!!! Such a great community to be a part of, so here's to another 16 years!!! Mo.

Congrats, Alan!! Mo.

Thanks, everyone! Very much appreciated! Mo.

So far I've been pretty lucky, the worst has been bruised ribs that seemed to take forever to heal, I couldn't sleep on my left side or turn over without pain. Other than that it's been minor bruising and a couple of burst lips. Mo.

Thanks a lot guys. Been a busy week, so no chilled out birthday for me. Hopefully this wkd. Mo.

Happy belated birthday, Noah!! Mo.

Congratulations! Thoroughly deserved! Mo.

I think Chinto is my favourite kata. When it done right, it's a beautiful kata. The flow is very graceful. I not practiced it much lately due to working on others for an upcoming competition and my dan grading. Mo.

I tried to take it but, it hung up and now when I click the link it says I've already taken it. Mo.

Happy Birthday Liam! Hope you have a fab day! Mo.

I have to say, Bob, I love reading your updates on this thread. Not just because you're doing so fantastically well but, because of your attitude towards it. You've flung yourself into it with everything you have and I think that's great. Keep it up, we're with you all the way! Mo.

Congratulations, Safroot! Thoroughly deserved!! Mo.

Happy Birthday, Alex!!! Mo.

Welcome, Mandarin! Good to have you on KF Mo.

For me, a good instructor is someone who has the ability to break something down in a number of different ways according to any particular student's needs. Someone who has the patience to walk you through something they've walked you through a number of times, until you have a better understanding of what they're trying to tell you. Someone who sees when you are struggling with the whole MA journey and pulls you aside to tell you "you can do this, take your time and you'll get there". Someone who carries all his students dreams of progression on their shoulders and does their upmost to make those dreams a reality. Someone who can laugh at themselves and encourages everyone to do the same. And above all someone who has the respect of the students without demanding it through an over inflated ego. Mo.