Spartacus Maximus

A title is something other people use to address someone or acknowledge that person's accomplishment. It is not intended for self-referral and those who use it in that way will generally give an impression of self-importance, inflated ego or peculiarity at the very least. In China and many other asian cultures it is unthinkably rude to call oneself by one's title. Even in the Western world, it would be a safe wager to assume very few people refer to themselves by their title when they have one, nor do they expect or demand to be called so by everyone they meet. One who is truly worthy of being called a Master need not be concerned with titles. A master is one who has reached an almost intuitive level of skill and understanding, yet continues to seek betterment.

The idea of compiling a database of instructors is probably a good one and it can certainly be of some use. However, it should not be construed as something that guarantees or verifies anything except claimed lineage. Not being registered means nothing. To be registered an individual must know that said database exist, and by the looks of it, be computer-literate. There are many many martial artist of varying skill who neither know or care about being on such a list.

Everyone has a way of dealing with personal issues, difficulties or challenges. The best way, is one that is not compromising of health or general well-being. Whenever and wherever possible it is best to push on through until one can think clearly and rationally.

When given such a heavy responsibility, it is a sign of trust and one will do well to honour it to the best of one's abilities. That is the best and only way to be worthy of it. An assistant should assist, but should also not be afraid to ask for assistance from others above nor should there be any hesitation to seek confirmation or reference from the instructor.

The makiwara is a tool made for learning and practising correct structural alignment to strike without injuring oneself. Striking it hard with all one's might is dangerous and counterproductive. It is advisable for beginners to focus on correct structure before attempting to put any power into the strikes. Only once the correct structure is consistently done should power be increased. Increased slowly and gradually up to no more than about one third of full power. Full power strikes are better practised on other tools, not the makiwara.

Martial arts magazines can be an unexpectedly valuable resource for instructors. Even if there may not be anything useful or truthful in them they can give a great insight on what kind of expectations potential students might have. It can help an instructor challenge the popular conceptions and understand their origin and why they persist.

One of the best aspects of training alone out of the dojo is that it is entirely free. Having to choose something to practise can be confusing, especially if the dojo has a predetermined schedule. I find it is most effective to have at the very least a general plan of what to focus on for the day. In my case, solo practise is just like the dojo except nobody is there to help. Every time is something different. Only once in a while the whole curriculum is practised. Generally it is easier to split everything up such as having a day for "basic techniques" another for "kata" etc. this works very well if the curriculum has "serial kata" such as Naihanchi(series of 3) or Pinan(5).

Everyone I have ever met with an authentic, verifiable seventh Dan or above was at least sixty years old and had begun to training in their teens.

I personally always somehow felt that it was somewhat odd to "register" one's grade with a governing body. Skill and progress are individual and the only approval or recognition that are really meaningful are from one's instructor.

Knowing the origin and history of what one does is important, but obsessing over it is futile. It is admirable and respectable to continue practising as one was taught. It is an even greater thing to continue passing on what one was taught faithfully and precisely. However, there is no better way to honour one's teacher than making one's own discoveries and growing on the same path instead of just following it and stubbornly refusing to look for oneself merely for the sake of being " the succesor of Master So-and-So".

Regular Life and family takes up a lot of time but I still somehow manage to train/practise a minimum of four days. On a good week I train every day for an hour at least. This is in addition to dojo time which unfortunately for me is only feasible once a week.

It depends where and with whom one associates with. In my case, the alcohol is much more likely to be affecting the attacker's system. Then again, I make it a point to avoid being in places where there might be people who are drinking and or likely to become aggressive. For me it just isn't a likely scenario. There is nothing quite like a cold, frosty one AFTER training. Mmmm, dojo beer!

Sometimes it can be difficult to decide what or how long to spend on each item chosen for a day's training. Ideally, I try to do everything on my schedule but if I'm not satisfied with one part I will end up doing that one thing almost the entire time. Punching, kicking and blocking techniques are probably the bulk of what I practise outside the dojo. It is always those plus whatever else I decided to focus on for that day. The biggest challenge is trying to balance everything because there is so much to work with.

"Used-to-be" is something in the past, and what matters is whatever is happening now. My former rank of sandan is more of an obstacle than it is an advantage. So much so that I dread being asked to help lest I pass on some old habit that stubbornly reappears despite my honest efforts to follow my teacher's instructions.

Any serious martial arts practicioner will eventually reach a point where training alone becomes more difficult. The hardest part about training solo is knowing what to do, how to track progress and above all how to avoid boredom or exhaustion from overtraining. I believe being organized is the first step. Knowing where and when in the day one has time to train is essential. Next is deciding how much time one can reasonably use without compromising vital activities such as meals or sleep. Once all that is clear, the next step is deciding how to make use of that time. This can be the most important yet difficult thing to do. Here are questions to think about: What is effective and productive practise? How much time should be spent on a single technique (a punch or a kick, for example)? How many times should it be repeated? Is simply repeating each technique or kata until exhaustion really effective or efficient? What is efficient solo training, to you?

Just one alcoholic drink before training or any sustained physical effort is enough to disrupt the system. I did it once as an experiment and the results really put me off of drinking anything except water. With just one drink an hour or two before training, I had to push myself twice as hard to do less than an hour. Usually I train almost two hours, but because of that one drink I was about ready to collapse on the floor and go to sleep. In fact I felt sleepy and heavy when I started. If you really, really want a drink save it for after training and then the later the better.

Back then I lifted weights every other day in addition to going to the dojo. I also bicycled everywhere I had to go. I only consumed the supplements on tge days I weight trained but it was enough to mess me up. Besides the bladder issue, I was also left with swelling and scarring on my limbs. These faded after I stopped but are still visible. In retrospect, I am convinced that muscle strength and size can only be gained slowly through natural training. Functional strength for lifelong health is more important than just getting bigger for the sake of it.

The most cautious attitude to have is probably to only offer help when asked specifically and explicitly. Differences between peers are cleared by consulting the instructor at an appropriate time.

I used to subscribe to most of them including BB Mag. To that I preferred Inside Karate. I also liked Dragon Times, which I believe is available online. There are also a couple magazines from outside the English-speaking world that I read often. Classical Fighting Arts is also an excellent publication I highly recommend because of the serious, quality content. This one is also found online as well as in magazine format

Did both whey protein and creatine for just a couple of years in University. The results were just barely noticeable but there was a nasty surprise. A bladder irregularity that took nearly two years to reverse. It could have been permanent if I had failed to stop when I did.

A very simple rule applied without question or exceptions or second chances: train or GO HOME! The second someone is disruptive, refuses to listen or otherwise disrespectful, send the offender home without warnings.Call parents if applicable or necessary. They will either get the message or quit. Either way everyone else benefits.

The only kind of restriction about dogi I have ever come across was on the colour. No specific brand or design. It just had to be white and fitting as to not hamper or restrict movement. Shodan level and above were expected to wear 100% cotton canvas. Not surprisingly, most dojo practising an Okinawan style seem to favour Shureido brand as it is made locally on Okinawa. I personally swear by it as does every sensei I ever met who trained in Okinawa or was from there.

Blackbelt Magazine is a far cry from what it used to be. Most of what it publishes seems to have taken on a cheap entertainment slant. It has become more and more difficult to gain or expect any quality information because of the overwhelming quantity of less-than-serious or poorly supported articles. It seems entirely more concerned with the latest trends rather than serious discussion about martial arts topics.

No matter what the current trends are, there is no way ANY kind of supplement is beneficial or necessary. All those powders and shakes are unnecessary and will disrupt your system and cause all sorts of unpleasant problems. Some even have addictive properties. It is best to forget the creatine powder, whey protein or other such poisons. They are as bad for the system over time as any other kind of doping. Problems may not appear instantly, but they will happen eventually and then it might be too late. All the nutrients and benefits supplements supposedly have can be found in a regular healthy balanced diet.

There are several very good brands available form all the martial arts supplies stores on and offline. The choice should match the risk level and type of impact intensity expected during training. The best mouthguards are designed to protect the both top and bottom teeth AND the jaw in a way that will dissipate an impact and prevent or reduce a potentially dangerous concussion. The professional grade ones can cost almost a hundred US Dollars.